Scooter/ECV Question

[DznyGrlSD]

please keep this civil.

My boss's 80 year old father is going to WDW next week and they have rented a scooter/ECV from a 3rd party company and were told they can not take it into the parks. Has something changed recently or were they given misinformation from Disney?

 

[Tom]

Who told them they couldn't? The rental company, or Disney? I don't think it's true, either way.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Who told them they couldn't? The rental company, or Disney? I don't think it's true, either way.

The rental company told them they could. Someone from Disney "chat" (online) said they couldn't. I'm just trying to get clarification w/o having to call Disney.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I'd like to see the pending lawsuit for denying someone access with their mobility vehicle? It would happen so fast ones head would spin. No... it's not true. People can bring their own scooter with them and nobody will care at all. Been there, done that!

 

[Killnme]

I was at EPCOT this past Saturday and saw plenty of 3rd party rental scooters there.

 

[Poofiesdream]

My husband always rents a scooter from an outside party and have never had a problem. We live 3 hours south of Disney and go a lot. Call back and ask, I'm sure there was a misunderstanding.

 

[Hakunamatata]

The rental company told them they could. Someone from Disney "chat" (online) said they couldn't. I'm just trying to get clarification w/o having to call Disney.

I would think Disney is actually the place you want to get clarification from........

 

[arko]

as long as the ECV meets ADA guidelines, you will have no issues

 

[sissa216]

I can't imagine that Disney would even think about trying to enforce that anytime soon.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

Disney even has like five or six "approved" outside ECV vendors that are allowed to drop off and pick up rental scooters at your hotel bell desk. The only thing I can think of that is limited access as far as ECV is the hotel drop off thing, and you also have to have rented from one of those "approved" vendors for the rental company to come into the park to you to do a repair or exchange of the ECV, otherwise you have to meet them outside the park gates to get your ECV repair or exchange. They have to let them in or it would go against the Americans with disabilities act.

 

[Gabe1]

I did notice at the bus stops at the resort there is a very specific ECV size restriction to board buses. Seemed there was an issue similar to the tank strollers, they were not fitting.

 

[Daxiegirl]

I did notice at the bus stops at the resort there is a very specific ECV size restriction to board buses. Seemed there was an issue similar to the tank strollers, they were not fitting.

Is this new? Did they change the buses?
Do you think the "approved" companies would make sure you had the correct size?
Just curious as to whether we need to put some extra thought into what kind we rent....

 

[Goofyernmost]

Is this new? Did they change the buses?
Do you think the "approved" companies would make sure you had the correct size?
Just curious as to whether we need to put some extra thought into what kind we rent....

Don't worry about it. If you get a standard scooter, it will be fine. If you get one with a roof, mag. wheels and whitewalls, they will probably check it out closer. Otherwise, there will be no problem. You even see a number of wider ones to accommodate larger people. There never seems to be a problem with them either.

 

[Daxiegirl]

Whew, ok thanks!
I'm such a newbie and it's showing, lol.

 

[FLmom]

Is this new? Did they change the buses?
Do you think the "approved" companies would make sure you had the correct size?
Just curious as to whether we need to put some extra thought into what kind we rent....

I was in MK yesterday and had to do a double take at a scooter I saw. I looked more like a smaller golf cart, it was larger then a standard scooter you see in the parks, sat up higher as well. It had two "seats" to the bench seat, on it were two adults and two what appeared to be toddler aged kids on the adults laps.

 

[Daxiegirl]

I was in MK yesterday and had to do a double take at a scooter I saw. I looked more like a smaller golf cart, it was larger then a standard scooter you see in the parks, sat up higher as well. It had two "seats" to the bench seat, on it were two adults and two what appeared to be toddler aged kids on the adults laps.

Lol, I can see it now. Could you imagine these replacing regular ones? Between those and strollers there would be quite a racket I'd imagine!
I've read the disdain about strollers and ECV's and their volume at the parks. I wish we didn't need to rely on them for my parents but it's the only way they will get to enjoy the Parks with us. Sigh.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Lol, I can see it now. Could you imagine these replacing regular ones? Between those and strollers there would be quite a racket I'd imagine!
I've read the disdain about strollers and ECV's and their volume at the parks. I wish we didn't need to rely on them for my parents but it's the only way they will get to enjoy the Parks with us. Sigh.

I feel that we, as a group, have to get over the fixations about scooters. Very few (of course, there are some) people will be using a scooter if they don't have too. The abuse is probably there, but, it isn't severe and it would be good if we all just stuck to our own lives and tried not to be so judgmental of others. Won't happen, of course, but it would be nice.

 

[roj2323]

The only ECV's that are technically banned are the 3 wheeled versions that have a bicycle seat with no back. The concern mentioned was that someone could possibly slip off the back of the seat. This is not uniformly enforced however.

There are however other mobility devices that are banned. Basically any device you stand on such as a Segway for example is banned.

 

[Communicore]

I saw a lowrider style scooter one time.

 

[Gabe1]

Is this new? Did they change the buses?
Do you think the "approved" companies would make sure you had the correct size?
Just curious as to whether we need to put some extra thought into what kind we rent....

I didn't take a photo of the sign, I just had never noted there being a sign like that before. I'm sure one of the approved by Disney would only deliver an appropriate sized cart to the resort. I saw the luggage stowage area checking the approved ones in and out at arrival and departure. Plus if something goes wrong in the park I saw them delivering a cart to Epcot, they were authorized to park close to the main gate.

Maybe a member who is going down soon could take a picture of the sign for the thread???

WDW Info says 30"x48" which is compliant to mobility standards of ADA.

Zoom