WDW hiking rates on Lockers, scooters...

[k5jm]

Looks like they knew we were all coming down there...

From the Orlando Sentinel

Walt Disney World this week hiked rental prices for some frequently used items by between 11 percent and 60 percent.
The price of renting a small locker in one of the resort’s four theme parks climbs from $5 per day to $7 per day, up 40 percent. A large locker jumps from $7 to $9, a 29 percent increase.
The price hikes are steeper in Disney’s two water parks. Small lockers rise from $5 to $8, up 60 percent, and large lockers rise from $7 to $10, up 43 percent.
Meanwhile, the cost of renting a wheelchair goes from $10 per day to $12 per day, a 20 percent increase. And the cost of renting one of the resort’s electric scooters goes from $45 per day to $50 per day, an 11 percent increase.
Disney says the refundable deposit charges for wheelchairs and scooters haven’t changed.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disabmobility.htm#wchair

 

[PeterPan09]

I can hear Pete ranting already.....and HE'S RIGHT!!!!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Seems like a memo must have gone out to every department saying "Find a way to bring in more revenue or else!". It's getting very discouraging to see these increases over and over again.

 

[drakethib]

Oh Geeze.

Breathing at the MK will be the next thing they charge for.

 

[pal-mickey]

My mom needed to use a wheelchair while we were at Disney in October.I knew she would need one for the parks, but I hadn't realized how much difficulity my mom had walking and I didn't think she could walk around the resort. I asked about get a w/c to use at the resort and I was directed over to the luggage area. I was able to get a w/c there to use not only at the resort but we were able to take it to the parks. And it was free for the whole week.

 

[princessbride6205]

This is getting ridiculous! Price increases left and right with no added value.

 

[FireDancer]

I can't say I am surprised. When they hiked the price on strollers it was only a matter of time before these things went up too. I don't need a wheelchair or ECV and people frown upon me borrowing kids so I can have the opportunity of pushing a stroller so I won't see the increase. If I did need one of those things I would probably get one off-site out of principle.

I'm not really one of the complain about all the rate hikes kind of person but I do try to find a way to avoid them if I can.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Oh Geeze.

Breathing at the MK will be the next thing they charge for.

SHHHHHHH don't give them any ideas!!

 

[wdwpins]

The cost to rent a Disney ECV shouldn't exceed that of renting an automobile for the same amount of time, yet it does.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I'm not really one of the complain about all the rate hikes kind of person but I do try to find a way to avoid them if I can.

I agree with you on avoiding the fees.. you can CHOOSE not to use a locker, just carry your stuff, you can CHOOSE to not rent a stroller, just bring your own. BUT you can't CHOOSE to walk or not walk. I don't own or use a wheelchair at home I use a cane, but I will need one at Disney, there is no way around that. It is way too much walking and I will be in horrible pain if I did not use one.
The price of these should not be raised, this is not optional use. It is a necessity in most cases. I don't know of many people who would willingly use a wheelchair if it is not needed.

This going up in price is so wrong on so many levels!! I am really mad about this.

 

[kaligal]

I didn't care about the stroller thing much. You can go buy a stroller at Wal-Mart for $20 and tell them where to put their stroller fees.

But you can't go buy a scooter.

It makes me ill that they're doing this to people who are obviously having trouble to begin with.

Sometimes I think Disney has no shame at all and I'm about ready to give up on them. Thisclose.

 

[FireDancer]

I agree with you on avoiding the fees.. you can CHOOSE not to use a locker, just carry your stuff, you can CHOOSE to not rent a stroller, just bring your own. BUT you can't CHOOSE to walk or not walk. I don't own or use a wheelchair at home I use a cane, but I will need one at Disney, there is no way around that. It is way too much walking and I will be in horrible pain if I did not use one.
The price of these should not be raised, this is not optional use. It is a necessity in most cases. I don't know of many people who would willingly use a wheelchair if it is not needed.

This going up in price is so wrong on so many levels!! I am really mad about this.

No, but I was under the impression that off-site 3rd parties offered ECVs and wheelchairs. That might be the way to avoid the Disney ECV/wheelchair charge while still getting one. I'm a;most certain Kevin mentioned one of these companies before.

 

[Sammie]

Oh Geeze.

Breathing at the MK will be the next thing they charge for.

No actually I think it will be pay toliets.

 

[gr8leg8]

Thank you for the heads up.

I did add $5 per park day for locker fees into my budget.

I would rather be surprised/dissapointed here at home than standing in the locker area.

Maybe I will bring the bigger back pack and keep our nighttime chilly layer with us all day. I just hate how is looks in photos and I am very likely to set it down and forget to pick it up again.

oh well,
I am still giddy about going back and having a magical trip.

 

[kbelle8995]

No actually I think it will be pay toliets.

Wouldn't be surprised and on that day I will be done with Disney forever.

 

[AlexDurrani]

I will say this about Disney, they are certainly trying to price themselves out of the ECV/Wheelchair rental business. The last three trips i have made to the World, i have rented an ECV off site. With the discount I got I am saving about $12USD/day including tax. Plus the ECV I rent is more comfortable then the ones the parks rent and has a better maneuverability then they do. Plus it is better maintained.

The plus side to renting off site is to be able to use it to get back to the resorts. For guests that have mobility problems like myself, the trek from the parks to the bus stops (Value resorts) is murder on me.

I think that the next podcast will be an interesting one.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I will say this about Disney, they are certainly trying to price themselves out of the ECV/Wheelchair rental business.

Maybe that's their intention. Demand is too high to meet so if they raise prices it will reduce demand which means Disney doesn't need to increase their supply.

There are lots of days they run out of ECV's (not so much wheelchairs) - by raising prices, more people will rent from off site and Disney will be able to get a premium price for the supply they do have to meet a more "last minute" demand (those who did not think they would need an ECV while at the parks and so did not rent from offsite or those who are a more casual visitor who does not realize it's even an option).