Scooter or wheelchair rental?

[Betty Rohrer]

Follow up question:
How hard is it to park the scooter on the bus?

We are considering between 2 resorts. One on the monorail just to avoid having to get the scooter on the bus. However the cost is 3x our other option which only has bus transportation.

Money isn’t really a concern. We have the money but the thrifty side of me really likes a ‘deal’. And the monorail resort isn’t a deal.


Thoughts? Where would you stay with a scooter? Monorail or bus resort?

first few times can be a little hard on and off buses but the bus drivers are very helpful getting on and off. might park it for you but you will have to get up the ramp. one thing to watch with monorail is there are one or 2 stops where you could have to back off, not drive off, which I found harder than on the buses. someone will correct me if I am remembering wrong about monorail

 

[Debbie Jean]

first few times can be a little hard on and off buses but the bus drivers are very helpful getting on and off. might park it for you but you will have to get up the ramp. one thing to watch with monorail is there are one or 2 stops where you could have to back off, not drive off, which I found harder than on the buses. someone will correct me if I am remembering wrong about monorail

Yes, there are places you need to back off the monorail. The good news is you will have a CM who will spot you so you can take your time.

I’m always more worried if the monorail door is open on the opposite side when I enter that I might launch myself off the other side! CM’s tell me it’s happened! Needless to say when I enter, my scooter is set waaaay low lol

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Yes, there are places you need to back off the monorail. The good news is you will have a CM who will spot you so you can take your time.

I’m always more worried if the monorail door is open on the opposite side when I enter that I might launch myself off the other side! CM’s tell me it’s happened! Needless to say when I enter, my scooter is set waaaay low lol

I have had that and even more help from bus drivers. I remember all but going off ramp backing off the monorail even with CM helping and it was not my first time using a scooter.

 

[barb969]

If your mom is nervous a about loading and unloading on transportation, you can do it for her and she can walk. Also if she wants to walk some you could ride the scooter.

Also whether you have a wheel chair or a scooter take something like a large ribbon or bow to decorate it. This makes it easier to find it. Sometimes the CMs move the scooter or chairs so it is not exactly where you left. Also someone will not take yours by mistake.

 

[mamabunny]

One quick thing to note for your Mom: She can park the ECV and walk through shops, or ride/attraction queues, or to your table for meals; she does not have to drive it anywhere she does not feel comfortable.

Most of the table service dining venues will ask you to park it outside anyway; if she really needs it to get to the table, they will try to clear a path so she can drive close to the table, and then you or a CM will remove it from the dining room.

A folding cane will be a great helper to bring along; takes up very little space, but is very handy when you need it!

If you are working with a mobility device, a good quality doorstop for the room is so handy; personally I like this one (it's a 2 pack, so you can travel with one, and have an extra at home) at Amazon; you can often find it locally at Walmart and Ace Hardware, etc.

Personally, I vote for the monorail hotel! This sounds like a really special trip - you and your Mom, and I know you will be banking memories of this for the future. I took my Mom on a trip like this (with my daughter, so it was 3 generations!) and it was singularly the best trip I have ever had to Disney World. We laughed so much, and had so much fun, and I promise you that when we lost my Mom, I was so grateful that we went, and had so much fun. It cost more than we anticipated, but we ate great food, and we did some shopping, and we rode rides, and just goofed around together, and had so much fun, and to this day, I look back at those pictures and smile every time. Time together - and the memories you will make - are truly priceless. Give yourself - and your checkbook - permission for one really fantastic trip that will stay in your heart forever.

Now, I know - CR is stupidly expensive, unless you happen to snag a deal on a Garden Wing room, and I think those have evaporated with the 50th, and the return of post-COVID travel. So...

...GF is usually the most expensive when we travel, which leaves Poly. It is - by no one's measure - a "bargain", but it is the least expensive of the 3 Monorail Resorts.

There is, however, a Deluxe that is a "hidden" Monorail adjacent Resort, and I am talking about Wilderness Lodge. Hear me out - this is my reasoning:

WL is easily accessible to MK by *boat*. (We can talk about boats and ECVs later - just follow my logic for a moment LOL) You can boat directly to the MK docks for MK day, and for EPCOT day, take the boat to the MK docks to either take the Ferry to Ticket and Transportation, with the EPCOT Monorail from there -or- just hop on the Monorail and change trains at Ticket and Transportation.

But, maybe you are not in a boat mood. That's cool. You can still take the bus from WL to MK, and you can still ride the Monorail from there! You can ride it just for fun, and hop off at every Resort to visit, or you can ride it to EPCOT.

WL is *so* lovely; it is one of my most favorite places to stay at WDW. The food is fantastic, the rooms are recently renovated, and it is singularly quiet - you really feel like you are tucked away in a lodge in the piney woods.

But, it also has all the features of any of the Monorail Resorts, including the Electrical Water Pageant! You can see it from the docks, or Geyser Point, or even some of the rooms that have a lake view! And because the Resort is relatively compact, there is one bus stop, and no one has to walk super far to get to it.

It's just something to consider - my second choice, hands down would be Poly. I love that stinking' old place; it will always have a very special place in my heart as well.

And if you want a Moderate level, I would strongly suggest POFQ - smallest Resort on property, quiet, and you can ride the boats to and from Disney Springs. It is about the most centrally located Resort as well; the average bus time to any Park from there is less than 30 minutes - it is literally right across the road from EPCOT (although you cannot walk there; there is no sidewalk) The QuickServ food court is charming, with several not-so-hidden nods to "Princess & The Frog", and in the evening, there is a great jazz combo that plays in the bar. Also, beignets. Just sayin' is all.

But whatever you decide, I just hope that you and your Mom have a wonderful, memorable trip together. Take a million pictures, and act your shoe size, and not your age! (((hugs)))

 

[HHMcG]

One quick thing to note for your Mom: She can park the ECV and walk through shops, or ride/attraction queues, or to your table for meals; she does not have to drive it anywhere she does not feel comfortable.

Most of the table service dining venues will ask you to park it outside anyway; if she really needs it to get to the table, they will try to clear a path so she can drive close to the table, and then you or a CM will remove it from the dining room.

A folding cane will be a great helper to bring along; takes up very little space, but is very handy when you need it!

If you are working with a mobility device, a good quality doorstop for the room is so handy; personally I like this one at Amazon; you can often find it locally at Walmart and Ace Hardware, etc.

Personally, I vote for the monorail hotel! This sounds like a really special trip - you and your Mom, and I know you will be banking memories of this for the future. I took my Mom on a trip like this (with my daughter, so it was 3 generations!) and it was singularly the best trip I have ever had to Disney World. We laughed so much, and had so much fun, and I promise you that when we lost my Mom, I was so grateful that we went, and had so much fun. It cost more than we anticipated, but we ate great food, and we did some shopping, and we rode rides, and just goofed around together, and had so much fun, and to this day, I look back at those pictures and smile every time. Time together - and the memories you will make - are truly priceless. Give yourself - and your checkbook - permission for one really fantastic trip that will stay in your heart forever.

Now, I know - CR is stupidly expensive, unless you happen to snag a deal on a Garden Wing room, and I think those have evaporated with the 50th, and the return of post-COVID travel. So...

...GF is usually the most expensive when we travel, which leaves Poly. It is - by no one's measure - a "bargain", but it is the least expensive of the 3 Monorail Resorts.

There is, however, a Deluxe that is a "hidden" Monorail adjacent Resort, and I am talking about Wilderness Lodge. Hear me out - this is my reasoning:

WL is easily accessible to MK by *boat*. (We can talk about boats and ECVs later - just follow my logic for a moment LOL) You can boat directly to the MK docks for MK day, and for EPCOT day, take the boat to the MK docks to either take the Ferry to Ticket and Transportation, with the EPCOT Monorail from there -or- just hop on the Monorail and change trains at Ticket and Transportation.

But, maybe you are not in a boat mood. That's cool. You can still take the bus from WL to MK, and you can still ride the Monorail from there! You can ride it just for fun, and hop off at every Resort to visit, or you can ride it to EPCOT.

WL is *so* lovely; it is one of my most favorite places to stay at WDW. The food is fantastic, the rooms are recently renovated, and it is singularly quiet - you really feel like you are tucked away in a lodge in the piney woods.

But, it also has all the features of any of the Monorail Resorts, including the Electrical Water Pageant! You can see it from the docks, or Geyser Point, or even some of the rooms that have a lake view! And because the Resort is relatively compact, there is one bus stop, and no one has to walk super far to get to it.

It's just something to consider - my second choice, hands down would be Poly. I love that stinking' old place; it will always have a very special place in my heart as well.

And if you want a Moderate level, I would strongly suggest POFQ - smallest Resort on property, quiet, and you can ride the boats to and from Disney Springs. It is about the most centrally located Resort as well; the average bus time to any Park from there is less than 30 minutes - it is literally right across the road from EPCOT (although you cannot walk there; there is no sidewalk) The QuickServ food court is charming, with several not-so-hidden nods to "Princess & The Frog", and in the evening, there is a great jazz combo that plays in the bar. Also, beignets. Just sayin' is all.

But whatever you decide, I just hope that you and your Mom have a wonderful, memorable trip together. Take a million pictures, and act your shoe size, and not your age! (((hugs)))

Thank you for such a well thought out, informative response.
Unfortunately, Contemporary and Poly are not showing any availability for the 'slow' week in Jan that we are going (not sure why?) so we have a tentative ressie at GF. While deluxe sounds nice my Mom will think it is too "foo-foo". Wilderness Lodge is a good suggestion and more her style.
And thank you for mentioning POFQ, I think I will switch our 'other' reservation there. The smaller size will be less overwhelming for her, a single bus stop is nice and beignets!

Oh and the link to the doorstop did not post. If you could repost. I love these little tips to make life easier.

 

[Lewisc]

Right, I'm thinking backward, been a minute. We avoided it last trip. They wouldn't let us back into it, which would have been easier for the awkward RIV drop off.

For the benefit of people reading this thread

It might be easier to scooter over to the CBR skyliner station

 

[mamabunny]

Thank you for such a well thought out, informative response.
Unfortunately, Contemporary and Poly are not showing any availability for the 'slow' week in Jan that we are going (not sure why?) so we have a tentative ressie at GF. While deluxe sounds nice my Mom will think it is too "foo-foo". Wilderness Lodge is a good suggestion and more her style.
And thank you for mentioning POFQ, I think I will switch our 'other' reservation there. The smaller size will be less overwhelming for her, a single bus stop is nice and beignets!

Oh and the link to the doorstop did not post. If you could repost. I love these little tips to make life easier.

It may be that CR and Poly are sold out because the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts starts in January every year now. It's actually a pretty cool festival; in addition to the art, there will (of course) be food & drink & desserts to be sampled at a whole host of booths (like those they use at Festival of the Holidays, Food & Wine, and Flower & Garden Festival(s).

And remember - if you book an Accessible room of any kind, there are fewer of those overall. It is often the case that the Resort I want to stay at simply does not have an accessible room of the type that I need. In that case, I book at another Resort, and we keep checking in case someone does cancel that room, and it shows back up on the website.

Until then, both WL and POFQ have lively boards of their own here on the DIS. Both boards are full of friendly folks who will help you with any particular questions you might have regarding the Resorts. WL and POFQ both have very special places in my heart, and I hope you and your Mom have the most lovely time at both!

°O° °o° °o° °o° °O° °o° °o° °o° °O°

I am so sorry about that link! I did correct it in the post above for anyone else who comes along. Thanks for letting me know

However, here it is again for easy reference - and in a handy 2-pack, so that you can travel with one, and have a spare for at home:

Wedge-It Doorstop

Another thing I always carry on every trip are clean, cotton bandanas. They are super handy and versatile; you can use it as a handkerchief, to tie back your hair, you can loop it through shopping bag handles to keep them all together, and give your hands a break! You can spread it out to have a clean place to sit instantly, or to have a clean spot on an outdoor table to dine instantly. And, of course, if you have a brightly colored one, you can tie it somewhere on the rental scooter to help you identify it quickly in a sea of similar rentals. (I actually recommend a length of brightly colored grosgrain ribbon for that task - makes it easier for you to spot, and it makes it a bit more memorable for the CM who is helping you spot it that it is "The scooter with bright pink flowers on the ribbons we tied on the basket"). Can you tell I was a Scout Leader once upon a time? LOL

Be sure to let us know if y'all have any more questions before your trip!