Scooter Rental at MK

[huffjoann]

We are considering a Dec trip and taking my mom along who has had knee replacement and needs to have it on her other knee. While she can normally get around "okay" I feel this is a tremendous amount of walking and she might need use of a scooter. I am sure she will balk at it but I believe by day 2 she might welcome it. Can I rent them in the parks? Appx how much? We are only doing a short trip and honestly I don't want to fool with it on buses etc. so if I had to pay a bit more that is ok.

Also how does Guest assistance card work, I thought I read about that before somewhere, going to search more for it now. While most rides she will prob do fine to go thru regular lines some I feel she will need special help for so it is good to know how this works.

 

[Piper]

Disney's answer to mobility problems is to use a wheelchair or ECV. If her problems are mobility related, then a GAC will not be of help. As a matter of fact, sometimes using a GAC will actually cause you to wait in line longer than other people. Most lines are mainstreamed so that everyone (WC or not) goes through the same line. Utilizing the fastpass system is actually the most helpful thing you can do (along with a good touring plan.)

If you want more information, please read the FAQ sticky at the top of this board. There is a wealth of information there.

 

[SueM in MN]

You can rent wheelchairs and ECVs in any of the parks. They are limited in number and they can’t be reserved ahead of time. If you are at the park early, you should not have a problem renting one. Getting there later, they may be all rented, so you should be prepared that you may need to rent a wheelchair if all the ECVs are gone.
There is more information about renting wheelchairs and ECVs in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

There is information about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs) in post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
As was already mentioned, WDW recommends that guests with mobility or stamina concerns use an ECV or wheelchair. The biggest reason is that most guests walk between 3 and 9 miles per day at WDW and much of it is outside of lines.

Most attractions have “Mainstream Lines”, which means that the line is accessible and there is no ‘disability entrance’. If the boarding area or entrance is somewhere other than the ‘regular’ line/boarding area, guests with wheelchairs, ECVs or mobility aids will be directed there and don’t need a GAC.
GACs most of the time will not shorten the distance walked.

 

[stargazertechie]

Last I checked, ECVs were $50/day with a $20 refundable deposit, and manual wheelchairs are $12/day.

As others have said, most lines are mainstreamed, but the CMs at the entrance will direct you if you need to go to an alternate entrance, or they will bring you a manual WC if your mom cannot walk the queue for rides where you need to transfer from an ECV to a manual chair. You will not need a GAC, as the scooter or WC will alert the CMs to your mother's needs.

 

[huffjoann]

thanks, we will get to the park early enough if we need one. The reason I was thinking GAC was that sometimes she has a problem lifting her legs up high enough to get into things or I read that sometimes it can help if you need to get on rides a bit slower than usual.

 

[connie1042]

I am pretty sure the ECV's are $50.00 a day AND $20.00 deposit. That is what I paid last year.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Being in a wheelchair or ECV automatically lets the CMs know that you have a disability that affects your mobility and/or stamina. The GAC is only needed if you have other problems. For example, most disabled seating is at the back of shows; someone in a wheelchair or ECV who also has audio and/or visual problems will need a GAC so they can sit in the front of a theater.

 

[SueM in MN]

thanks, we will get to the park early enough if we need one. The reason I was thinking GAC was that sometimes she has a problem lifting her legs up high enough to get into things or I read that sometimes it can help if you need to get on rides a bit slower than usual.

She would only need a Guest Assistance Card if she has those problems and is not using a wheelchair, ECV or other mobility device.

As Cheshire Figment mentioned, when the guest has a mobility device, the CMs will know that there is some mobility issue.
In our experience, the CMs generally will slow a moving walkway for someone with a mobility device. They don’t normally come to a complete stop because most people don’t need that. If it is going too fast, it is up to the guest to let the CMs know that - a GAC just has sort of general information stamped on it, not as specific as that.

Also, on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is a post about each park which mentions the attractions that may be more difficult for someone who has difficulty stepping up or down. I think, the specific posts are 18, 19, 20, and 21.
You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.