What if it rains??

[danacath]

Forgive me if this sounds like a really silly question. This will only be my second trip using a scooter at WDW. In the rental agreement it says not to use the scooter in the rain because it can cause damage to the scooter and/or cause it to malfunction. I understand and agree with that, but now it looks like rain is in the forecast for my upcoming trip. Our group of 4 has ADR's on 5 out of 7 days. What do you do if it's raining and it's time to head to your ADR? I'm sure some of you scooter users have had to deal with this at some point. Do you stay back and let your group go to dinner without you? When it's raining, are there any other alternative ways to get where I'm wanting to go so I don't damage the rental scooter? Any advice on this would be great!

 

[I Love Pluto]

I put a clear plastic 30 gallon bag over the tiller. I tie a knot in the bottom of it so that water doesn't leak into the wires. This works pretty well.

The disposable poncho I use is draped over the seatback so that I'm not sitting in a puddle.

I hope this helps. It beats sitting in the room all day!

 

[danacath]

Thanks for the tip, I Love Pluto. So are you able to drive the ECV okay with the bag over the tiller? Do you just operate the controls by grabbing the wet bag that covers them? Just wanted to make sure I'm understanding you correctly. Will the battery case need to be covered too?

I'll be on a Go Go Elite Traveler Plus, in case that makes a difference...

 

[bedogged]

Thanks for the tip, I Love Pluto. So are you able to drive the ECV okay with the bag over the tiller? Do you just operate the controls by grabbing the wet bag that covers them? Just wanted to make sure I'm understanding you correctly. Will the battery case need to be covered too?

I'll be on a Go Go Elite Traveler Plus, in case that makes a difference...

On a Go Go, I would use one of those free shower caps you get at hotels when you stay there. They fit perfectly on the tiller. You can even poke a small hole in them for the controls and keep everything pretty dry. I also wear a poncho and keep it draped over a lot of the scooter. I use a plastic shower curtain to cover the scooter when I leave it in the open and rain is expected. I own my own scooter and I think that the worry about rain is a bit over exaggerated.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Yes - I use the controls right through the wet bag.

I also do this at home. My scooters have always worked just fine this way.

 

[danacath]

I really appreciate the advice-- thanks! Being prepared for the rain sounds like a much better option than missing out on an ADR. I'll add shower cap, clear bag, extra poncho and shower curtain to my packing list, just to cover all the bases! Hopefully the weather will be clear and rain won't even be an issue!

 

[bedogged]

I really appreciate the advice-- thanks! Being prepared for the rain sounds like a much better option than missing out on an ADR. I'll add shower cap, clear bag, extra poncho and shower curtain to my packing list, just to cover all the bases! Hopefully the weather will be clear and rain won't even be an issue!

You can cut the shower curtain to fit. Mine has Mickey on it.

 

[BSchaal57]

I was at WDW in December and rented reom Walker mobility. They broight me 2 like shower caps (had 2 in case one got wet had another) to use. I asked the gentleman that delivered it if it happens to rain, will it ruin the scooter. He said "no. Just please cover the controls and keep movin. It will not ruin it. You will be fine riding in rain!"

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have also rented from Walker and had the 2 shower caps to cover the controls. we have to go in summer long story short and I have been caught more than once. only had one problem and they were able help fix the problem over the phone. I was back on the road every quickly, just a couple of minutes. it was like they had done that before

 

[WantToGoNow]

We tied a poncho over the controls on a rainy day to keep them dry and it was a good thing. We came out of 50s Prime Time Cafe to monsoon rains. There were several ecv's sitting there completely uncovered.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sounds like you got a lot of good advice for keeping the ECV dry.
Here are a few hints about driving it in rainy/wet weather.

1) when it's dry, you don't notice the low spots, but there are low spots or dips in many places that hold water once it rains. So, be on the lookout for puddles. Some can be quite deep and driving thru them can cause splash up onto your feet and legs.

2) you will have less traction when it's wet, so slower speed, longer following distance and being ready to stop sooner than usual are good ideas.

3) some types of pavement can become slippery when wet, even under cover. One of the notoriously slippery areas is the roofed area at Epcot between the Electric a Umbrella and Mousegears.
The similar area on the other side of the fountain between Starbucks and Innoventions also gets very slippery just from the small amount of water tracked into the area by people walking.

 

[danacath]

OP here. Just back from my trip and had 3 days of steady rain. Thankfully I was given such great advice on this thread that I was still able to have fun and keep the scooter well protected at the same time.

I used the large clear garbage bag over the tiller and knotted it just above the front wheel. That worked great! The only hassle was when my purse was in the front basket under the garbage bag, and every time I went through security I had to take the garbage bag off to show them my purse and then knot it all over again. Plus, I had to undo the bag to get at my purse and the key whenever I left the scooter parked somewhere to go use the restroom, etc. By day 3 I finally wised up and used a fanny pack under my rain poncho (I was quite the fashion statement! lol), and was able to get the key out of the ignition and drop it thru the small bottom opening of the trash bag without having to disturb the knot in the bag.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

glad you were able to make the best of your trip even with the rain

 

[bedogged]

OP here. Just back from my trip and had 3 days of steady rain. Thankfully I was given such great advice on this thread that I was still able to have fun and keep the scooter well protected at the same time.

I used the large clear garbage bag over the tiller and knotted it just above the front wheel. That worked great! The only hassle was when my purse was in the front basket under the garbage bag, and every time I went through security I had to take the garbage bag off to show them my purse and then knot it all over again. Plus, I had to undo the bag to get at my purse and the key whenever I left the scooter parked somewhere to go use the restroom, etc. By day 3 I finally wised up and used a fanny pack under my rain poncho (I was quite the fashion statement! lol), and was able to get the key out of the ignition and drop it thru the small bottom opening of the trash bag without having to disturb the knot in the bag.

I always use a fanny pack. I just keep telling myself that they are "timeless" fashion like a Chanel bag! In reality, with the ugly wide brim hat I wear, nobody notices the fanny pack.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

In the rental agreement it says not to use the scooter in the rain because it can cause damage to the scooter and/or cause it to malfunction. I understand and agree with that,

I realise you are now back home, with no problems but ... I would NOT have agreed to this condition in the agreement. If they refused to withdraw this condition, I would have gone to a different rental company.

I assume the rental company was based in Florida, so they know that it rains once in a while. It is for the rental company to ensure the scooter remains functional in all weathers by properly maintaining it and providing you with the means (like a shower hat) to ride in the Florida rain. It might be reasonable for the rental company to assume you won't do anything silly like driving through floods, but a condition banning driving in the rain is unreasonable.

Andrew

 

[Nanajo1]

Remember to drape your poncho over the back of the seat. That way the rain doesn't fall onto your seat but off the scooter.

 

[Huskerfan72]

You'd think they'd come up with a weatherproof chair for areas like WDW that get frequent showers when people are outside a lot.