My bad... where I'm from "gotcha" is usually used when you've got someone making a mistake.
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Scooter accident
- Thread starter zero creativity
- Start date
I was under impression that Disney doesn't rent scooters, and the decision not to was in part based on the liability that they would face if someone using one of their scooter hurt someone.
jloucks
Well-Known Member
Wow, I have a lot of nerve, but you are the master. ...I mean that as a compliment. That had to be a scary adrenaline pumping incident. Your daughter could have been seriously injured.
I mentioned it before, I have only been hit (technically run over) once, but it was an alarming wakeup call as to the danger these vehicles are in the parks. I have also had many close calls. The glares from most of the drivers exemplify the flawed logic in who has the right-of-way and/or how difficult the crowds are to navigate safely.
Your experience also, imho, demonstrates arguably the main issue here... Pootastic drivers. Good drivers = no problem. Bad drivers = extreme problem. Mandating insurance is something to consider.
jloucks
Well-Known Member
The more I think about this situation, the more I agree with you as to why the rentals.
rob0519
Well-Known Member
Yep, they do. From the Disney website:
ECV Rentals
For Guests with mobility challenges, Electric Conveyance Vehicles can be rented at Walt Disney World Resort.
Price
Theme Parks
- Daily: $50 (plus $20 refundable deposit)
- Daily: $50 (plus $100 refundable deposit)
About ECVs
ECVs are single-rider, 4-wheel electric vehicles that help Guests with mobility challenges travel long distances with ease. They are available to rent on a daily basis at each theme park and Disney Springs.
Additionally, wheelchairs are available to rent throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Reservations
A limited number of vehicles are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Vehicles may not be reserved and quantities are limited. Please plan to arrive early. Guests are also invited to bring and use their own ECVs throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Requirements
Guests must be 18 years of age to operate and a photo ID is required to rent vehicles. The maximum weight is 450 pounds.
Multi-Park ECVs Rentals
ECVs cannot be removed from the theme park in which they were rented. When visiting more than one park per day, simply return your ECV to receive your deposit. Then, present your rental receipt (plus the deposit) at the second theme park to secure a replacement ECV (based on availability) at no additional charge.
Additionally, vehicles can be held if Guests leave and return to the same park on the same day.
Disney Featured Providers
In addition to ECV rental locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, several private companies in the local area also offer ECV rentals, as well as wheelchairs, strollers and other mobility product length-of-stay rentals.
- Best Price Scooters and Strollers: (866) 866-3434
- Apple Scooter: (800) 701-1971
- ScooterBug: (800) 726-8284
- CARE Scooter Rentals: (800) 741-2282
- Buena Vista Scooter Rentals: (866) 484-4797
Yep, they do. From the Disney website:
ECV Rentals
For Guests with mobility challenges, Electric Conveyance Vehicles can be rented at Walt Disney World Resort.
Price
Theme Parks
Disney Springs
- Daily: $50 (plus $20 refundable deposit)
Rented units must be returned to the original rental location before park closing time to receive a refund of the security deposit.
- Daily: $50 (plus $100 refundable deposit)
About ECVs
ECVs are single-rider, 4-wheel electric vehicles that help Guests with mobility challenges travel long distances with ease. They are available to rent on a daily basis at each theme park and Disney Springs.
Additionally, wheelchairs are available to rent throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Reservations
A limited number of vehicles are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Vehicles may not be reserved and quantities are limited. Please plan to arrive early. Guests are also invited to bring and use their own ECVs throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Requirements
Guests must be 18 years of age to operate and a photo ID is required to rent vehicles. The maximum weight is 450 pounds.
Multi-Park ECVs Rentals
ECVs cannot be removed from the theme park in which they were rented. When visiting more than one park per day, simply return your ECV to receive your deposit. Then, present your rental receipt (plus the deposit) at the second theme park to secure a replacement ECV (based on availability) at no additional charge.
Additionally, vehicles can be held if Guests leave and return to the same park on the same day.
Disney Featured Providers
In addition to ECV rental locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, several private companies in the local area also offer ECV rentals, as well as wheelchairs, strollers and other mobility product length-of-stay rentals.
- Best Price Scooters and Strollers: (866) 866-3434
- Apple Scooter: (800) 701-1971
- ScooterBug: (800) 726-8284
- CARE Scooter Rentals: (800) 741-2282
- Buena Vista Scooter Rentals: (866) 484-4797
Then I guess you have to hope that if you get hurt by one that it is one owed by Disney so you can sue the company with the deepest pockets.
rob0519
Well-Known Member
I would like to think that the careless obnoxious scooter drivers are only a small percentage of the total ridership, but based on a lot of comments here I may be mistaken. The smaller offsite ECV rental companies should have liability insurance as well. You don't always need the deepest pockets, but you don't need empty ones either.
I have no idea how many scooters are the parks on a given day... Would be an interesting fact to find out... Even better if you could find the historical figures over time... As I look back at past trips getting smacked by a scooter is far more rare than being hit by strollers which I can pretty much be guaranteed to experience more than once on any given day in MK.... Then again there are probably a whole lot more of the strollers than their are scooter.
rob0519
Well-Known Member
I'm sure strollers far outnumber ECVs and Wheelchairs. I wish Disney would get rid of the double wide strollers and go to the back to back single wide strollers. I never had to push one of those, but I imagine they are horrible to try and get through a crowd like Main Street around parade, Wishes or park closing times.
jloucks
Well-Known Member
Oh I'd bet there are 20x the number of strollers than scooters. I get rammed by strollers regularly but they are relatively light and slow so no big deal (very unlikely to knock down 250 pound me)...and I have been lucky in that impact points have been kid feet or swishy foot rests.
jloucks
Well-Known Member
I feel bad for the parents trying to work those double wides in a crowd. Those double strollers are expensive tho, and for lights crowd situations double wides are easier. Buying a new tandem one just for Disney trip can be daunting.
rob0519
Well-Known Member
Oh I agree on the difficulty. I didn't mean for the parents to go out and buy a new stroller. I was saying Disney should retire the double wide rentals.
When my kids were stroller size we tried most every option in the parks. If you have two kids in a stroller the park's side by side version is actually easier to maneuver around the park than the in line stroller where one kid sits in front of the other because the in line requires a lot more space to turn around in. As for getting down main street in a huge crowd to leave... Neither one was very good for that our strategy was to either leave before it happened or stay and wait until the huge wave thinned out.
GrammieBee
Well-Known Member
Golly, geewhiz. Will you guys get your heads out of where ever they are --the clouds or your butts. So much righteous indignation is giving me indigestion, And that, is SARCASM.
The average make of scooter will not go more than approximately 5mph at full speed. The Disney rentals are set even slower. There are very few times where the way is clear enough to allow you to go full speed. Mostly you are rambling along at whatever speed the people ahead of you are going. If they stop, you stop. If you want to pass them, it is sort of like broken field running in football. But at a much slower speed. If there are crowds It is impossible to be zipping along unless it is your intent to knock over people like bowling pins.
A scooter CAN NOT and WILL NOT "stop on a dime" no matter what the circumstances. As has been pointed out in numerous posts, it has no brakes and there is a lag time between when a person stops using the control lever and the scooter stops. Plus, a scooter's controls work in exact opposition to a body's natural reflexes making it even more difficult to stop quickly.
You do not need a "running start" to go up a hill, but you will probably have to increase the speed to get up the hill. Especially the monorail ramps. Of course, this does not give you a license to run into anyone. If they are stopped in front of you, you will have to stop as well.
I am exceedingly sorry if someone has to be pushed in a wheelchair in order to enjoy the parks to the best of their ability, but a wheelchair should not be the requirement for everyone with a mobility issue. You lose all sense of independence when you are being pushed around by someone else. Before I had a scooter my husband pushed me in a wheelchair. I wanted to go one way, he would be pushing me the other way, and he couldn't hear me! Very frustrating.
Until a scooter requires licensing as a street legal vehicle it has a right to be anywhere there are pedestrians. And while a scooter driver definitely needs to be a responsible and careful person, a pedestrian needs to assume at least some responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and to watch where they are going. After all, most of us do look and teach our children to look before crossing or, God forbid, darting out into a street, parking lot or anywhere else there might be moving vehicles. Disney should be no different.
I can only repeat that those of you who are so dead set against scooters should be exceedingly thankful you are able to walk around the parks and enjoy them from a standing position. Somehow, I believe you would not like to change positions with most of us.
So, please stop "tar and feathering" all of us who are responsible scooter drivers because a small percentage of drivers are careless idiots..
The average make of scooter will not go more than approximately 5mph at full speed. The Disney rentals are set even slower. There are very few times where the way is clear enough to allow you to go full speed. Mostly you are rambling along at whatever speed the people ahead of you are going. If they stop, you stop. If you want to pass them, it is sort of like broken field running in football. But at a much slower speed. If there are crowds It is impossible to be zipping along unless it is your intent to knock over people like bowling pins.
A scooter CAN NOT and WILL NOT "stop on a dime" no matter what the circumstances. As has been pointed out in numerous posts, it has no brakes and there is a lag time between when a person stops using the control lever and the scooter stops. Plus, a scooter's controls work in exact opposition to a body's natural reflexes making it even more difficult to stop quickly.
You do not need a "running start" to go up a hill, but you will probably have to increase the speed to get up the hill. Especially the monorail ramps. Of course, this does not give you a license to run into anyone. If they are stopped in front of you, you will have to stop as well.
I am exceedingly sorry if someone has to be pushed in a wheelchair in order to enjoy the parks to the best of their ability, but a wheelchair should not be the requirement for everyone with a mobility issue. You lose all sense of independence when you are being pushed around by someone else. Before I had a scooter my husband pushed me in a wheelchair. I wanted to go one way, he would be pushing me the other way, and he couldn't hear me! Very frustrating.
Until a scooter requires licensing as a street legal vehicle it has a right to be anywhere there are pedestrians. And while a scooter driver definitely needs to be a responsible and careful person, a pedestrian needs to assume at least some responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and to watch where they are going. After all, most of us do look and teach our children to look before crossing or, God forbid, darting out into a street, parking lot or anywhere else there might be moving vehicles. Disney should be no different.
I can only repeat that those of you who are so dead set against scooters should be exceedingly thankful you are able to walk around the parks and enjoy them from a standing position. Somehow, I believe you would not like to change positions with most of us.
So, please stop "tar and feathering" all of us who are responsible scooter drivers because a small percentage of drivers are careless idiots..
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rob0519
Well-Known Member
Well, having used neither type of stroller is was an uninformed opinion. I was thinking the width of the track not the radius to turn around. I do feel bad for the parents pushing those, but if the kids are having a good time it's worth it.
They are certainly wider, maybe its just because they have very good front wheels on them... but they are very easy to maneuver....If they were collapsible they would probably be popular strollers everywhere.
rob0519
Well-Known Member
We bought our nephew a double wide stroller that had 3 wheels, sort of like a tricycle. This particular model gave me sticker shock, but when we were watching the kids for the weekend I was surprised at how easily it handled even with the front wheel being stationary. I'm sure they can be made less expensively, but I would imagine they would not store very easily in the quantities needed for rentals at the parks.
Plus a wheelchair seems to have some sort of invisibility cloak, or makes you mentally incompetent. Along with being unable to hear or speak. I needed to use one to get in and out of my doctor's office and PT after a skiing accident - until I could use a cane. My neighbor drove me to the doctor's office, and wheeled me in. He finally had to tell the receptionist "Look, I'm just the driver! Ask HER the questions and you might get an answer."
I also pushed my mother around in a wheelchair during her last visit to WDW - as I felt she would be an unsafe scooter driver. I had to stop suddenly multiple times to keep from hitting pedestrians - that old invisibility cloak again. They always seemed surprised to see her in front of me!
Smiley/OCD
Well-Known Member
Amen, I say to you!!! I will agree, the ECV's that Disney rents are big & bulky compared to the one that I own...the week after Easter this year, our group of 8 went down. We were in AK, about to enter ITTBAB. A foreign speaking senior was with her family on a Disney ECV. Not only wasn't she able to steer or control it, but she took out one of the big, aluminium trash receptacles in the large waiting are before you enter the theater. The kicker was she, and her whole family got a big kick out of her abilities (or lack thereof).
As I said in my original posting, there are MANY people, especially seniors who can't spend a whole day at the parks walking, so an ECV is the way to go...HOWEVER, someone in the group SHOULD take 15 minutes or so, maybe longer at the resort or, if your'e renting it in the park, an out of the way location and let them practice starting, stopping and steering. Maybe in addition to WDW requiring ID and being over 18, they could give the renter a "crash course" pardon the pun, in operating the ECV.
You can always tell when a new rider or a novice rents an off site scooter...just watch them trying to get in, park, and get off the bus while on it. If WDW or the rental companies want to require proof of homeowners insurance or require a person to spend an extra few bucks for liability insurance, I'm fine with that.
It's just a shame that the less than 10% of the horrible, inexperienced, me,me,me drivers have to ruin it for the other 90+% of the drivers that drive and control the ECV's the way we drive our automobiles...SAFELY.
For those of you who have had a collision, or bad experience with one of those aforementioned ECV drivers, MY SINCEREST apologies!! Please, please, please don't condemn EVERY operator...we're not ALL bad!!! Hell, I've even seen a few good NYC cab drivers!!! LOL
GrammieBee
Well-Known Member
I fully agree that if someone has little or no experience driving a scooter they need to take some time to learn how to use it properly.. ECVs are not hard to drive, but do need some practice. As with anything else, some people will learn more quickly and/ some will be better and more careful drivers than others. If someone thinks renting a scooter is just another amusement park ride; watch out for them!