Scooters like the walker mobility ones?

[Schmeck]

and if you read my post CAREFULLY you will see that I spoke directly will the HOTEL MANAGER, not just ANY CM working the desk. I feel fairly confident that Disney keeps its higher level members of management well informed. I cannot imagine the person running the hotel doesn't know what's going on when it comes to a fairly significant change in policy that is going to impact their operations.


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

I did read it carefully. A hotel manager is a CM, and there is more than one manager.

 

[katrina1122]

From my understanding, those companies on the preferred list have agreed to be available to their customers 24/7, 365 days a year. They also have special privileges within the resort to go to where ever their equipment is (this includes wheelchairs and strollers), to repair the equipment and have to be there within a certain time frame. I guess only those 5 companies were willing to provide that type of service.

The preferred vendors are the only ones allowed to leave strollers and wheelchairs also, not just scooters.

Having just used and hated Apple, they were not available to me 24/7. I just posted about it earlier today. We went through 3 scooters in less than 24 hours before one worked. They didn't answer after hours right away when I was broken down in Fantasyland..it took 3 messages of me shouting at the answering machine for some help. The cm's who came to our rescue told us they are revaluating the list and a new one will be published Jan 1. Based on how they spoke of apple and how the luggage storage people spoke of them and the 2 other ecv renters we met at our resort felt, apple will not be on the list for very long. I'm sure others will be added.

The cm's said they are making a better list to allow disney to step in legally when renters have issues with companies on the upcoming vendor list.

I should add, I rented a larger 3 wheel ecv from Apple as I needed the extra size/weight requirement, but also wanted the bigger battery. It fit on all of the buses I went on fine.

 

[g-dad66]

Last week was our 10th WDW trip in the last 5 years, and we have always rented from Walker. Their service has always been excellent.

But them not being allowed to drop off the ECV at bell services was a problem for us. When we arrived at the Magical Express desk at the airport, I called them to let them know that our plane had been late.

45 minutes later we arrived at All Star Sports, and I called them again. 45 minutes after that, the ECV arrived (in other words, 90 minutes after the time I called them from the airport). For those last 45 minutes, my wife had to sit on an uncomfortable bench waiting for the ECV to arrive.

I hope Walker is a preferred provider by the time of our next trip, because otherwise we will have to strongly consider changing companies.

 

[StrwLady]

Preferred Provider or not I will continue to rent from Walker. They have always had stellar customer service and have been really good to me. I have been renting from them for 12 years now.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Sorry! Stubby fingers did a double post. :-(

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Ok, rarely post anymore. Melodrama not worth it. This time, however, I cannot let it pass. Flame throwers at the ready, here comes the truth.

As Rhett Butler said to Miss Scarlett......"Drop the Moonlight and Magnolias". (ok, sorry. GWTW has been on all weekend and I picked up all sorts of bad habits. Ypu can tell me...."frankly my dear, i don't give a ----).

Disney's "approved vendor list's" only REAL requirement is the scooter provider pay Disney $30 each time they drop off a scooter. That's it. Very easy, very uncomplicated, very Disney.

The companies who refused......are not approved.

I Personally guarantee Scootarama (and others will say the same about their favorites).......I guarantee it would be physically impossible for ANY company to offer better service or equipment than Scootarama----including emergency service one day at EPCOT. Their staff is beyond reproach.

Believe it, don't believe it. This information comes from my 33 year castmember husband. It's simply a new revenue source. You could be "scooter rental of the universe"----the best on 5 planets. If you don't pay up, you don't play with Disney.

I CAN say, listening to my husbands frustrations dealing with the B or C teams while his best vendors are off the list can be very frustrating. In this case, Apple rentals could be a good example.

Believe the Disney spin if you are not ready for the reality of the company operations. Watching from the inside, it's not an option. I WILL say, it was much more fun back in the day when SPIN was not rule of the land.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Believe it, don't believe it. This information comes from my 33 year castmember husband.

Sorry, I don't believe it.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Sorry, I don't believe it.

So sorry.

Sometimes the truth can be painful. I don't blame you for not wanting to believe!!!!!!

Want to see a copy of my DH's pay stub? He has seen many changes through his years....it's the only company he knows beginning way at the bottom right out of college. Less than 3 years to full retirement and luckily he has one of the Disney pension plans which is fully funded....whew!!! Oops, fully vested to retire early.

He and the few CM's he has known through the long years have watched the changes and sadly, few now are based on guest satisfaction. First, it's revenue, then the legal beagles crawl all over it and finally the spin doctors.

Oh NO! You don't believe the change away from all beef hot dogs to "scrapple" dogs was really for your health vs $$$$$ since the new hot dogs are far cheeper? You don't think outsourcing castmembers is for your personal enjoyment, do you? (wasn't it nice to speak with a castmember on the telephone who actually lived near enough the parks to know what you were talking about?). (wasn't it nice when you had to reach a resort you could actually call the resort vs. Someone pretending to be there?) You don't really think all of the food you eat (including some 2 dining credit restaurants) is actually prepared in the restaurant vs. Much is now prepared in an off-site kitchen and delivered? We started noticing about 2 years ago when soany menus had similar food. Asked around after...so sad.

Perhaps if you don't believe me, why do you think the most popular and reliable scooter rental companies are not on the list? Read some of the past posts!

I found Scootarama right here 5 years ago and followed through with glowing reviews when I returned. If you read through the years, you seem to find the same companies strongly recommended by fellow DIS'ers.

Odd, that the favorites if so many have failed the Disney "standard".

Next time you walk up to a Disney bus checkout the side, back of the bus. Everyone on that lists Mears is an outsourced Disney job. Only difference, these jobs were outsourced years ago so we don't notice and Mears does a great job......it 's the Disney role model!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Preferred Provider or not I will continue to rent from Walker. They have always had stellar customer service and have been really good to me. I have been renting from them for 12 years now.

Good for you!

We plan to do the same!

Setting an appointment for Drop-off and Pickup is no biggie for us.

In a way, I prefer it.

The last couple of years since valet services are no longer Disney employees, I have seen, only on occasion, a little less respect given to the equipment. (watched a young valet ram my scooter into a wall twice retrieving it. I took over and showed him the little TURTLE.).

I have worried more often recently who would be responsible for any damages when left in Disney's care.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

.

 

[Kellykins1218]

LOL What's with all the hostility? I never said anything about hot dogs or outsourcing. If you have issues with Disney then take it up with them. All I said is that I don't believe the only requirement for being a preferred vendor was a $30 fee. I still don't. I find that claim utterly ridiculous especially after that last rant. I stated my opinion and you tried to pick a fight. That's just weird. SMH

 

[SueM in MN]

I am going to close this thread at this point.

There is no point to arguing about WHY Disney chose to make a decision to make a Preferred Vendor list.

The reasons I was given (by some vendors) is listed in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

My personal belief is that liability was the biggest reason.
And, besides a fee ( which, from what I have been told is not a 'per scooter' charge), there were also requirements involving the amount and type of liability insurance, equipment inspection and some other items listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

So, it was definitely not a 'you will pay us the fee per scooter, you are on the list' situation.
Some of the companies did choose not to participate. For example, Randy's has always made arrangements directly with the renter to pick up and deliver equipment, so there would be little reason for them to participate.

Apple, Care and Buena Vista have had generally good reputations and have long relationships with Disney.
Scooterbug apparently has been providing park rental scooters, strollers and other equipment to Disney for many years, so also has a long relationship. The last company on the list is one I had not heard about before, but that doesn't mean it is not good.

As I have mentioned before, NOT being a Preferred Vendor does not mean Disney or anyone else is saying anything about the quality of that vendor.

BEING a Preferred Vendor means that company has entered into an agreement with Disney to provide certain things in accordance with the contract. In return, they get some things from Disney, including the ability to use Bell Services for their equipment.

The information I have also indicated that the contracts were for 2 years, so I expect the current vendors will be on for 2 years from whenever the contract was signed.
There MAY be some changes in January. I do not expect them to be 'kicking anyone off' of the Preferred Vendor list. My best guess (and just a guess) is that vendors will be added, including stroller rental vendors.