Will you be renting outside for an ECV now that the Disney rates have soared?

[Bete]

I like getting my ECV at the parks. I don't want an ECV in my room and I don't want to be responsible for charging it. If something goes wrong with it I don't want to spend valuable vacation time dealing with the problem from an outside source.

With that said it's hard to justify the $45/day price tag, now at the Disney parks. I did call an outside source and I can get a good one for $30/day. The outside rep did state something disturbing though: their ECVs are not waterproofed and shouldn't be used in the rain. Well, hello it rains in Orlando a lot. I confronted him with I never had a problem in the rain with a Disney ECV; so, why is he saying this? I never did get a good answer. This was a reputable place, but I won't mention who. I will say this place is always highly recommended here on the disboards. Now, I'm scared to go to an outside source.

At least at Disney, you can get a replacement very fast.

I need some input here.

Also, how many of you who used Disney in the past for an ECV will jump ship now and go to an outside source?

 

[thop529]

It surprises me that you like the Disney ECV's. I would much rather rent from an outside company if I didn't have my own.

The Disney ones are ugly, slow, and uncomfortable. As for the rain. Buy a cheap shower cap and put it over the controls. Thats all you have to do. It doesn't rain in FL that long. I have never had a problem.

 

[DaisyD]

We have only rented from outside anyway. My mom hates the ones at WDW. They are hard to turn and usually are tore up.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

it's hard to justify the $45/day price tag, now at the Disney parks. I did call an outside source and I can get a good one for $30/day.

I would guess that outside ECV rental costs will rise very soon to more closely match the new Disney prices.

Andrew

 

[mechurchlady]

I doubt outside sites will rise their prices to match Disney. It is a competative market and by being way cheaper than Disney means more clients. Saving $50 a week is incentive but saving $10 is a lot less.

Outside sites also have been increasing prices based on costs such as new equitment, transportation, employees and maintenance for example. Unlike the outside sites, Disney publishes rates for a long time in the future. Outside sites can much more quickly change prices.

I would not worry about outside sites raising the prices for a while.

 

[SeaSpray]

I rented an ECV from Walker Mobility and it came with a little rain cover for the control panel, in case of bad weather. It stayed in the basket and was folded up with a rubber band around it, it was sort of like a clear-plastic shower cap for the ECV. LOL

I'm about to book an EVC for our trip next month, as of a moment ago, the rates were still $30/day.

 

[Bete]

I'm familiar where you put in the key and I know there's a guage where you can see the charge left on the battery, but I'm clueless about a control panel. What does it display? Could you please explain this a little more. Thanks.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The control panel is the little box in the middle of the top of the steering pillar. It has the key slot, charge meter, horn button, litght switch (if equipped) and connector for charging (if charger is not onboard).

You really don't want water getting in this box/panel as it has a lot of electronics behind it.

 

[aubriee]

I rented an ECV from Walker Mobility and it came with a little rain cover for the control panel, in case of bad weather. It stayed in the basket and was folded up with a rubber band around it, it was sort of like a clear-plastic shower cap for the ECV. LOL

I'm about to book an EVC for our trip next month, as of a moment ago, the rates were still $30/day.

We've rented from Walker's several times for my mom and he's always given us a discount for our first and last day (as 1/2 days). I just called to reserve one for our Sept trip, because I wanted to lock the price in. One thing that was different this time, is that they really pushed getting insurance. It was just $20.00, but they have never even offered it before. Apparently some scooters have been coming back damaged. Anyway, with insurance it was $261.00 for Sept 6th-14th. His new ECVs have headlights, which my mom is excited about, because the ones she's had the last few years didn't and at night it seemed people couldn't see her and were constantly walking into her. The offsite ECVs are much easier to drive than the Disney ones, so we've always rented from offsite. We've always been told that if starts raining to just but the little included shower cap over the control panel.

 

[rscash]

I have rented ECV's from Disney and from the outside. I like the outside rentals much better. They are smaller so they get into more spots that the Disney ones can. Also they go much faster than the Disney ECV's. It's not a problem to get them onto the buses or trams. IMHO the outside ECV's are much better, and they really don't take up too much room in your room. Save the money for other things you may want.

 

[DaisyD]

We've always rent from Walkers also. He has great customer service and the ecvs have always been in great shape and looked to be brand new. Once we had one and woke up to find a flat tire. I called and was given a new ecv within an hour. We use those little rain caps a lot and find the shower caps given to you in the room work perfectly and are the same ones given to you when you rent the ecv.

 

[Bete]

The one place I called outside for info told me they deliver the scooter to bell services on your day of arrival and you leave it at bell services on your last day when you leave.

Is that how Walker's works it? What about other places? Thanks again.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

All the outside services, other than Randy's, will leave the ECV at Bell Services prior to your arrival and pick it up after you leave.

Randy's will only deliver it when you have arrived, and will deliver it directly to you. The person who drops it off will make sure that the user will be able to drive it. Also, Randy's will rent to someone under 18 if they are capable of handling an ECV in the judgement of the person making the delivery.

 

[kimsuenew]

I absolutely LOVE the WDW "scooters". They were all new in 2007, so they are quite nice. I think they are easy to use and seem extremely stable (moreso than the three-wheeled ones I have tried elsewhere). I will be in WDW Parks 10 out of the 14 days during our 2008 trip down, and have every intention of getting to the parks at opening, and renting the WDW ECV's! For DTD and to explore Pop Century I will simply use a manual wheelchair.

 

[TriMom]

Well, since we go to WDW frequently, I decided to buy a scooter. DH still will only use it at WDW, or maybe the local zoo, etc.

I found a refurbished one online for less that $800. It will pay for itself in 3-4 trips. I haven't actually recieved it yet, but I will be happy to update once it gets here and let you know how it works out.

If anyone is interested it is at http://www.planetmobility.com/store/scooters/planet/p3-cruiser/referb.html

 

[Lou-Ann]

We have used Wlaker for so many years now and love the fact that they have more comfortable seats available should you choose them. We just sent our friends out for the week with a reservation from Walker and they were very pleased. I think the smaller guys will be trying even harder to lease now that they are being squeezed out slowly.