Which offsite company to use to rent ECV?

[Minnie0621]

I have been given 4 different names of companies to rent offsite ECV's. All 4 companies are about the same price. I am looking for the information on which company to use or which one you have used and had success with. If this information has been discussed elsewhere can you please send me there?

Here are the companies:
Buenva Vista Scooter Rentals
Care Medical Equipment
Life Air Medical
Walker Medical

All companies will deliver to POR with NO charge. That is where we will be.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs is in Post #2.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

And I have never heard of Life Air Medical. Do you have a link to a site?

 

[Minnie0621]

no, but i have a telephone number given to me by a cm @ disney. I have called them and asked a few questions.

Thanks, I'll look above.

 

[Minnie0621]

I find a lot of information about ECV and businesses that you can get from, but no information about people actually renting them and giving opinions on which company? or a discussion about it.

Am I looking in the wrong place? I just don't know who I should rent from.

 

[ShhhQ]

I have rented from 2 different companies and going to rent from a 3rd this year.

First time rented from Scooterama... no qualms with them but my scooter was not fully charged the first day and it died at AK and had to be pushed up the hills. But my Mom had no problem with hers.

Second time I rented from Buena Vista.. I actually recommend them, they have a better delivery system (didn't get charged an extra day to return it at night) and when I had an issue with my scooter they sent out a replacement in a timely manner.

(My issue with ECVs is this.. I weigh around 280 which is under the 300 mark for the regular ones... however, both of my previous ECVs have had problems with being jerky since they were from seperate companies I believe the issue lies with me... so this year I am renting a heavy duty that accomodates up to 500lbs)

This year I was going to go with Buena Vista again, however I saw the Dream from Orlando Scooter Rentals (it is a ECV that looks almost like a motorcycle and is specifically suited for on property use) I have read mixed reviews on it and know that it is only for experienced riders... but since I have to spend extra for a heavy duty I figured I would just get the fancy one for the same price.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

In the disABILITIES FAQs we do not specifically recommend any company. However, the companies that we have listed there are those which have been used by many people with very few problems.

As there are more favorable reports additional companies are added.

And as far as the person at Disney making a recommendation, I don't know. And unless it is one people have used and told us about they will not get added.

 

[lovindisneyvillains]

i went to walkers website and they have a testimonials section and had a lot of them. so i think im going to go with them for my father in december.

 

[SueM in MN]

The companies that are listed on the disABILITIES FAQs thread in post #2 are companies that DIS posters have primarily posted positive experiences with. Not every experience is positive, but most are.

If you do a search of this forum, you will probably find some testimonials, but I don’t have links to all of them in the FAQs thread. Most of the posts are individual threads where one person gives a positive report and then a number of people say they plan to rent from that company. Reading those kinds of posts is where we got the companies to post in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Some of the companies have testimonials posted on their websites, as someone already mentioned. For some of the others, you can do a search of this board or the internet in general to find recommendations. Other people make their decision based on how attentive the company is when contacted by phone or email.

 

[Minnie0621]

I have rented from 2 different companies and going to rent from a 3rd this year.

First time rented from Scooterama... no qualms with them but my scooter was not fully charged the first day and it died at AK and had to be pushed up the hills. But my Mom had no problem with hers.

Second time I rented from Buena Vista.. I actually recommend them, they have a better delivery system (didn't get charged an extra day to return it at night) and when I had an issue with my scooter they sent out a replacement in a timely manner.

(My issue with ECVs is this.. I weigh around 280 which is under the 300 mark for the regular ones... however, both of my previous ECVs have had problems with being jerky since they were from seperate companies I believe the issue lies with me... so this year I am renting a heavy duty that accomodates up to 500lbs)

This year I was going to go with Buena Vista again, however I saw the Dream from Orlando Scooter Rentals (it is a ECV that looks almost like a motorcycle and is specifically suited for on property use) I have read mixed reviews on it and know that it is only for experienced riders... but since I have to spend extra for a heavy duty I figured I would just get the fancy one for the same price.

Thanks so much! when you say they sent out a replacement, were you at a park or at a resort? My #1 main concern is "what if it breaks down....will the company i rent from come to the park and replace in a timely manner? I have contacted ALL the companies and spoke with an employee and am pretty sure that it sounded like they all have people that will come to the park and replace if necessary!!

Chesfire....thanks for the info....Disney didn't recommend any specific company to me, they just supplied me with the numbers to the companies that i mention above in my first message. Thanks for the explanation. I will do some more research..

If anyone else has anymore recommendations or experiences, please share with me. I'm leaning towards Buena Vista, because we are staying at POR and if I understand correctly they are located right behind the resort.

Thanks Again Everyone!

 

[Minnie0621]

The companies that are listed on the disABILITIES FAQs thread in post #2 are companies that DIS posters have primarily posted positive experiences with. Not every experience is positive, but most are.

If you do a search of this forum, you will probably find some testimonials, but I don’t have links to all of them in the FAQs thread. Most of the posts are individual threads where one person gives a positive report and then a number of people say they plan to rent from that company. Reading those kinds of posts is where we got the companies to post in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Some of the companies have testimonials posted on their websites, as someone already mentioned. For some of the others, you can do a search of this board or the internet in general to find recommendations. Other people make their decision based on how attentive the company is when contacted by phone or email.

Thanks for the clarification....I will keep looking!

 

[ShhhQ]

Thanks so much! when you say they sent out a replacement, were you at a park or at a resort? My #1 main concern is "what if it breaks down....will the company i rent from come to the park and replace in a timely manner? I have contacted ALL the companies and spoke with an employee and am pretty sure that it sounded like they all have people that will come to the park and replace if necessary!!

I decided after one day of jerky use to call first thing in the morning so I was still at my resort. However, I do believe I read that they will come to the parks if needed... I just didn't need.

Good luck deciding... I think there are many good ones out there and its a personal choice.

 

[KPeveler]

I actually had a bad experience with Buena Vista scooters which ended up with my complaining to the BBB... they even gave false information to the BBB about my claim!

I have heard good things about Randys and Walker though...

 

[SueM in MN]

I actually had a bad experience with Buena Vista scooters which ended up with my complaining to the BBB... they even gave false information to the BBB about my claim!

I have heard good things about Randys and Walker though...

Walker has an A+ rating on the BBB.

You can always look at the BBB for ratings. Keep in mind though that some of the companies may not be found because they are actually registered as a business under a different name than they use for their phone and internet lisitings. (For example, I can't find Randy's listed, but I know we have lots of positive reports about Randys').

 

[KPeveler]

Walker has an A+ rating on the BBB.

You can always look at the BBB for ratings. Keep in mind though that some of the companies may not be found because they are actually registered as a business under a different name than they use for their phone and internet lisitings. (For example, I can't find Randy's listed, but I know we have lots of positive reports about Randys').

Buena Vista has a B- rating with three complaints to the BBB in the last 10 years, or something like that...

Good to hear about walker's!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have used Scooterama, Randy's, and Walker's - each multiple times - and I have inquired about Buena Vista Scooters.

Buena Vista is onsite, and is open until 11 daily, so if there were a problem, they would be the most readily available to replace their own scooter for the most hours in a day. What I didn't like was that the price is higher and they add tax.

Once Walker's was great; once I had two different problems outside their operating hours. Walt Disney World was great in both cases, and Walker had replaced ECVs at my resort bright and early the next morning.

I love Randy's. They deliver to YOU, not just to the resort - so if there are any questions regarding operation, or if you get an ECV that can be disassembled, the delivery person will make sure you know how to do that. Plus, I love the color green - and he told me how to get 'a green one' every time in the future .

Scooterama is great, too. I found out by accident that if you ask, they will remove the arms before dropping off the ECV. Why does this matter? Well, I don't need or use them for support, and so constantly forget to pull them back into place once I'm seated... and so, get them caught on doorways This small service works REALLY well for me.

 

[Minnie0621]

Thanks everyone!! We have booked with Walkers...visited their website and was impressed.....and then with what you all said we should be pretty safe!!!

Thanks again, these DISboards sure do make things easier to do at Disney