The Whill is really cool, and as the daughter of a mechanical engineer, and the wife of an aviation mechanic, under the right circumstances I would not hesitate to try one myself, if presented with the opportunity!
But not every device is the right device for every person. Case in point - where our friend
@RoseGold has a family member who is very well served by their Whill, I actually found (for many years) that my TravelScoot was the best possible device for me.
The
TravelScoot is a kind of stripped down
scooter - the inventor (who was a pilot, and needed a super lightweight device that could fit in any car as he traveled around the world) was able to keep the weight to 35 pounds. It all folds down on itself (even the newest 3rd generation model, which folds differently than my current 2nd generation one) and is not only very compact and light, but actually easy to drive all day, and can be set for either left hand or right hand use simply by turning the steering column all the way around.
It too is a feat of engineering in its own right. For me, it was the best possible device for many years until recently when I have had to transition to a power chair. I still can use it for short trips around town, (and I still love it so much!) and I hope that if we can ever beat my condition back into remission I will be able to use it more often.
The biggest problems with the TravelScoot are, quite frankly, the cost (which is still reasonable once you amortize it over time, considering that I have my first unit that is now more than 10 years old - it does, after all, replace my legs which is priceless to me) and the fact that no one currently rents them.
But, if you could try one, it might change your whole trip, right? Just like the Whill has been life-changing for lots of folks as well. It all comes down to which device serves *you* best, and which type of device you will be most comfortable with.
That's the great thing about renting - you can try out something first to see if you like it or not. If you have the time, you can possibly even visit a mobility vendor in your local area, to see some of the current models (or something very similar) in person.
And, just FYI, if you ever do buy your own equipment, it flies for free on all domestic flights in the US; you can drive it all the way to the gate, and they will gate check it for you.
Back to your rental situation: Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you look at your options. (Don't stress too much about it - I promise, you will probably have so much fun that you won't be paying too much attention to whatever mobility device you end up renting!)
- What is the single most important feature I need on a mobility device? Some of those considerations are things like: weight, overall size, portability, ease of driving, cornering (some queues at WDW have very tight turns) length of recharge time, length of running time (how long the batteries last), seat comfort and/or steering comfort, ease of entry/exit, and last but not least, does it beep when it backs up? (I personally loathe that so much LOL)
- What are your overall goals for WDW? Are you going to be a go-all-day rope-drop to Kiss-Goodnight kind of person? Or, are you going to have a more relaxed visit? You want to consider how much "seat time" you will have in the device.
- If you are staying onsite vs. offsite, that can affect your decision; offsite means you will be loading/unloading it (potentially several times a day) and so you might lean towards the smallest, lightest option that either loads as a unit, or with the fewest/lightest pieces. Remember that if you are going to load/unload any device from a vehicle, things like the leftover height of the vehicle become important. Can you (or someone in your travel party) safely lift 50+ pounds at least 36" from the ground? When you watch a video of how to assemble/disassemble the mobility device, can you imagine doing that at least a couple of times a day, every day during your stay?
Staying onsite means that you do have the option to use Disney's transportation, and you won't have to ever take it apart unless you want to for some reason.
So much of renting and using a personal mobility device at WDW is dependent on how *you* want to use it, and where you will be staying.
It can seem overwhelming until you start taking the problem apart, and looking at what matters most to you, and the members of your travel party. Try to see one in person locally if at all possible, and don't stress too much about it - folks go to WDW every day, and just rent the first thing they find on the internet, and they do just fine. This is not for the rest of your life (unless you decide to make an investment, and buy one) and even the most basic scooter will likely be more comfortable than you might think!
