Scooters

[DfromATX]

How does one go about renting a scooter at Disney World? I Googled it and saw off-site rentals - is that what most people do? Or do they rent them at the parks? What is the best option?

My mother finally agreed to go on a trip with us and my nephew (her grandson) so he could see the Star Wars stuff. She recently had lung surgery and has some other health issues. Without a doubt, she needs a scooter. (She might even qualify for the DAS pass, but first things first.) I think with the scooter she'd be fine, but we'd definitely take it easy and go when it's cooler outside. Any other tips from those experienced with older people and scooters would be appreciated! Disney is physically demanding and I'd feel awful if something happened.

 

[networkpro]

As you've seen there are two different types: In-park and off-site. It makes a difference indeed in the experience that you're mother can have given the limitations you've expressed. Superficially I'd guess that walking endurance and standing for lengthy periods of time would be an issue. My mother (in her 80's) definitely benefited.

So now comes the question: Staying on-site or off-site? (matters on what type to rent, off-site would be one that can be disassembled and popped in the trunk) vs a fixed one (which IMHO has a longer range and is much more comfortable). In the parks is $50 dollars a day and is only inside the park. You'll have to get to the gates on your own, sometimes the hospitality wheelchairs are missing).

Scooterbug is the only company that can deliver to your Disneyworld resort toat bell services prior to your arrival. Others you'll have to arrange a meet in person time or off-site delivery.

Either way I'd recommend doing some pre-park training to familiarize her with operation and control.

You'll have to be aware that kids/people wander and dash around in all directions without watching or even looking. They'll also walk 7 wide across a path, just stop without any thought, and use strollers like battering rams. Now "strollers" at WDW are quite a misnomer as they vary from something you'd see in everyday life to glorified dumptrucks you could haul a few cubic yards of material.

 

[DfromATX]

As you've seen there are two different types: In-park and off-site. It makes a difference indeed in the experience that you're mother can have given the limitations you've expressed. Superficially I'd guess that walking endurance and standing for lengthy periods of time would be an issue. My mother (in her 80's) definitely benefited.

So now comes the question: Staying on-site or off-site? (matters on what type to rent, off-site would be one that can be disassembled and popped in the trunk) vs a fixed one (which IMHO has a longer range and is much more comfortable). In the parks is $50 dollars a day and is only inside the park. You'll have to get to the gates on your own, sometimes the hospitality wheelchairs are missing).

Scooterbug is the only company that can deliver to your Disneyworld resort toat bell services prior to your arrival. Others you'll have to arrange a meet in person time or off-site delivery.

Either way I'd recommend doing some pre-park training to familiarize her with operation and control.

You'll have to be aware that kids/people wander and dash around in all directions without watching or even looking. They'll also walk 7 wide across a path, just stop without any thought, and use strollers like battering rams. Now "strollers" at WDW are quite a misnomer as they vary from something you'd see in everyday life to glorified dumptrucks you could haul a few cubic yards of material.

Thank you so much! We would definitely be staying on-site and we would be flying in so no vehicle for us. So they do have them inside the park? For the life of me, I could not find that information on their website. I guess I better look again lol. That may be the easier option and $50 doesn't sound too bad. I think she is ok going from the bus stop to the gate, etc. and it seems like then we wouldn't have to worry about loading it on the bus. Adding - just looked at the Scooterbug website. That may be the winner. $34 per day on 4 days and they deliver. Thank you for the information!

P.S. - We've rented a stroller before at Disney and I fondly remember those days, but now we are on the other end of the life cycle...

 

[networkpro]

Thank you so much! We would definitely be staying on-site and we would be flying in so no vehicle for us. So they do have them inside the park? For the life of me, I could not find that information on their website. I guess I better look again lol. That may be the easier option and $50 doesn't sound too bad. I think she is ok going from the bus stop to the gate, etc. and it seems like then we wouldn't have to worry about loading it on the bus.

P.S. - We've rented a stroller before at Disney and I fondly remember those days, but now we are on the other end of the life cycle...

They do have them in every park and at Disney Springs and they are covered with diamond plate around the base.

Magic Kingdom is under the train station.
Hollywood Studios is to the right at the place that looks like a gas station
Epcot is to the left-hand side before the tapstiles
Animal Kingdom is to the right-hand side just past the tapstiles.
Disney Springs are just at the foot of the parking garage escalators.

ECV Rentals

Be our guest! Your wish is our command, as you enjoy this Walt Disney World service.

disneyworld.disney.go.com

 

[Smiley/OCD]

The company I would recommend is Buena Vista scooter rental…they will drop it off and pick up at your resort. The Disney rentals are expensive, very “clunky”/cumbersome and you can’t take them out of the parks. Plus, they’re rented daily on a first come basis. A few tips:
Since this will be the first time she’s using one, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE RESORT, give her at least 15-30 minutes for her to drive it around the resort. Starting, stopping, steering, acceleration etc. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it! A crowded park is NOT the place to learn! (They are VERY easy to drive, just get used to it beforehand)
The bus drivers are very helpful if that’s the way you’re traveling to the parks…if you’re taking your own vehicle, when you reserve it, ask for an ECV that can be taken apart for travel.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT…make absolutely sure you recharge EVERY NIGHT!! Nothing worse than running out of juice first thing in the morning! If you’re going to spend the day at a park, take the charging cord with you…most restaurants and stores will allow you to plus in (as long as you’re nice to them) lol
I used to rent one and then bought one. It gets 15 miles on a charge and the airlines will fly it free.
HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!

 

[erstwo]

We rented from Scooterbug for our trip last summer with my 84 year old father in law. It was a great experience. As mentioned above, Scooterbug is the only company that can drop off with bell services before you arrive and pick up after you depart.

It was new to me, but now all other offsite rental companies - you must meet them in person to pick up the scooter and you must meet them in person to return the scooter to them at the end of your trip. Not that big of a deal in the long run, but we knew we'd need the scooter first thing upon arrival and until the last minute of departure, so having the Scooterbug scooter already at the resort and having no hassle of waiting around for someone to meet us to pick up the scooter at the end of our trip (we could just drop off the scooter at bell services and take off for the airport whenever we wanted or get on the road) was key.

I read a ton of Scooterbug reviews before booking a scooter - several reviews mentioned the great customer service. One even noted they had trouble with their scooter and called Scooterbug. The people renting the scooter were in a park, and went into a restaurant to eat - when they came out, Scooterbug had already been there to replace the scooter. Now that's customer service! Not sure if any of the other companies provide park access like that or not - but something to consider. We also added on the sunshade which was a lifesaver in the heat.

Finally, my father in law wouldn't have been able to walk from the bus stop to the park entrance - he's just not able to anymore - so having a scooter in his hotel room was key for us. We couldn't have made the in park rentals work - keep that in mind when deciding on whether to rent at the parks or not.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I stand corrected…Scooterbug is indeed the only company that will pick up and drop off without the customer being there… I guess BV didn’t feed the mouse enough cheese…it’s too bad because in their day, they were able to leave them and they have great customer service

 

[HoustonHorn]

I will echo the Scooterbug recommendation. My parents finally agreed last Thanksgiving to them. When we arrived at the Contemporary, they were waiting for us, fully juiced. We went straight to MK (daughter and I walking, my parents riding), which was enough time for them to get familiar. By day 3, my dad was using it to make the hairpin turns in the RotR line.

Also, we had 4 people in one room, and both scooters fit in there fine to charge overnight.

Sounds like your mom is in a similar position to my folks - she can transfer from the scooter to a ride vehicle. When you get to each attraction, ask if she can stay on it for the queue. Some you can (and they will be moved to the ride exit for you), some you'll have to get off of.

Have fun!

 

[G00fyDad]

It would be nice if these off-site rental companies would have the option to rent out a trailer hitch carrier for the larger scooters they rent. For those of us with a rental car.

 

[DfromATX]

They do have them in every park and at Disney Springs and they are covered with diamond plate around the base.

Magic Kingdom is under the train station.
Hollywood Studios is to the right at the place that looks like a gas station
Epcot is to the left-hand side before the tapstiles
Animal Kingdom is to the right-hand side just past the tapstiles.
Disney Springs are just at the foot of the parking garage escalators.

ECV Rentals

Be our guest! Your wish is our command, as you enjoy this Walt Disney World service.

disneyworld.disney.go.com

Thank you!

 

[DfromATX]

I will echo the Scooterbug recommendation. My parents finally agreed last Thanksgiving to them. When we arrived at the Contemporary, they were waiting for us, fully juiced. We went straight to MK (daughter and I walking, my parents riding), which was enough time for them to get familiar. By day 3, my dad was using it to make the hairpin turns in the RotR line.

Also, we had 4 people in one room, and both scooters fit in there fine to charge overnight.

Sounds like your mom is in a similar position to my folks - she can transfer from the scooter to a ride vehicle. When you get to each attraction, ask if she can stay on it for the queue. Some you can (and they will be moved to the ride exit for you), some you'll have to get off of.

Have fun!

Your post made me laugh! You ought to see how she drives a car so we may be in trouble...

I was also wondering how the pace would be with the rest of us walking. Sounds like it won't be a problem. She said she might have trouble standing in line, but we'll see. And I already know the thrill rides are out (obviously). She said she can no longer ride them, although there was a time when she did! Mostly she will enjoy seeing her grandson (my nephew) enjoying it. He'll be 12 by then so I hope he's not "too old". My kids are all grown and they still love Disney, but they've been going since they were little.

 

[HoustonHorn]

Your post made me laugh! You ought to see how she drives a car so we may be in trouble...

I was also wondering how the pace would be with the rest of us walking. Sounds like it won't be a problem. She said she might have trouble standing in line, but we'll see. And I already know the thrill rides are out (obviously). She said she can no longer ride them, although there was a time when she did! Mostly she will enjoy seeing her grandson (my nephew) enjoying it. He'll be 12 by then so I hope he's not "too old". My kids are all grown and they still love Disney, but they've been going since they were little.

The pace is *slightly* slower, but with the number of people, it wasn't much different (unless you're a park commando, in which case, it will be way slower).

Most rides will let you ride in the queue and transfer.

I'm glad she's getting to see her grandson. Cherish it. I "forced" my folks to go with me and my daughter at Thanksgiving, and they way their health has deteriorated since then, it looks like that will be their last (of more than a dozen) trips. But that trip was special and something all of us will remember.

 

[AKSafarifan]

We used Gold Mobility Scooters back in October after ready many, many online reviews and posts about scooters and were 100% happy. We stayed at the Dolphin and had no issues with drop off and pick up with Gold despite not being there in person. The scooter was dropped off ahead of the appointed time at the Dolphin and we just parked it out front first thing in the morning with the provided departure tag. We partly picked Gold because they replace their scooters more often than other companies so you get a new model with a good battery. We didn't need to recharge every night but did just in case. The Disney scooters are frustratingly slow, even considering how slow you have to go in the crowds and are not as comfortable to sit in or drive as the 3rd party scooters. We felt pretty sorry for the people using them instead of a 3rd party mode.

We had no issues with any of the Disney transportation and all of the Cast Members were very experienced dealing with scooters (one had to show us how to reset it as a couple of times it wouldn't start up again quickly without resetting. We finally just stopped ever turning it off). They are all well-trained to handle them for every ride. Using a scooter on the trip was a little slower, probably, but there were times when it was so nice to have a seat in line or waiting for fireworks (we'd swap out sometimes as the person using the scooter needed to stand and stretch some). I think our whole party was a little apprehensive but it was just so much easier than the we thought!

 

[networkpro]

Your post made me laugh! You ought to see how she drives a car so we may be in trouble...

I was also wondering how the pace would be with the rest of us walking. Sounds like it won't be a problem. She said she might have trouble standing in line, but we'll see. And I already know the thrill rides are out (obviously). She said she can no longer ride them, although there was a time when she did! Mostly she will enjoy seeing her grandson (my nephew) enjoying it. He'll be 12 by then so I hope he's not "too old". My kids are all grown and they still love Disney, but they've been going since they were little.

My 82 year old mother on Expedition Everest would say different

 

[DfromATX]

We used Gold Mobility Scooters back in October after ready many, many online reviews and posts about scooters and were 100% happy. We stayed at the Dolphin and had no issues with drop off and pick up with Gold despite not being there in person. The scooter was dropped off ahead of the appointed time at the Dolphin and we just parked it out front first thing in the morning with the provided departure tag. We partly picked Gold because they replace their scooters more often than other companies so you get a new model with a good battery. We didn't need to recharge every night but did just in case. The Disney scooters are frustratingly slow, even considering how slow you have to go in the crowds and are not as comfortable to sit in or drive as the 3rd party scooters. We felt pretty sorry for the people using them instead of a 3rd party mode.

We had no issues with any of the Disney transportation and all of the Cast Members were very experienced dealing with scooters (one had to show us how to reset it as a couple of times it wouldn't start up again quickly without resetting. We finally just stopped ever turning it off). They are all well-trained to handle them for every ride. Using a scooter on the trip was a little slower, probably, but there were times when it was so nice to have a seat in line or waiting for fireworks (we'd swap out sometimes as the person using the scooter needed to stand and stretch some). I think our whole party was a little apprehensive but it was just so much easier than the we thought!

I'm sure my mom also feels a little self conscious about it, but I assured her it was very common and Disney wants to include everyone at their parks. I think she's having trouble envisioning just how big it is.

 

[DfromATX]

My 82 year old mother on Expedition Everest would say different

Oh my! That's awesome! My mom is 74, but SHE is the one that said no to the thrill rides. But when I was a kid we went to Astroworld in Houston every summer and she rode all the coasters.

 

[Bullseye1967]

Oh my! That's awesome! My mom is 74, but SHE is the one that said no to the thrill rides. But when I was a kid we went to Astroworld in Houston every summer and she rode all the coasters.

What resort are you staying at if you don't mind me asking? I think you have made a wise decision with scooter bug. Some resorts are quite spread out and just the walk to the bus stop or food can be quite the hike.

 

[DfromATX]

The company I would recommend is Buena Vista scooter rental…they will drop it off and pick up at your resort. The Disney rentals are expensive, very “clunky”/cumbersome and you can’t take them out of the parks. Plus, they’re rented daily on a first come basis. A few tips:
Since this will be the first time she’s using one, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE RESORT, give her at least 15-30 minutes for her to drive it around the resort. Starting, stopping, steering, acceleration etc. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it! A crowded park is NOT the place to learn! (They are VERY easy to drive, just get used to it beforehand)
The bus drivers are very helpful if that’s the way you’re traveling to the parks…if you’re taking your own vehicle, when you reserve it, ask for an ECV that can be taken apart for travel.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT…make absolutely sure you recharge EVERY NIGHT!! Nothing worse than running out of juice first thing in the morning! If you’re going to spend the day at a park, take the charging cord with you…most restaurants and stores will allow you to plus in (as long as you’re nice to them) lol
I used to rent one and then bought one. It gets 15 miles on a charge and the airlines will fly it free.
HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!

Thank you, I will also check out Buena Vista scooters. Won't it be similar to driving one like at the grocery store? Right after her surgery we had to go to the pharmacy and she used the one they had. She doesn't normally use scooters for day-to-day activities though.

 

[DfromATX]

We rented from Scooterbug for our trip last summer with my 84 year old father in law. It was a great experience. As mentioned above, Scooterbug is the only company that can drop off with bell services before you arrive and pick up after you depart.

It was new to me, but now all other offsite rental companies - you must meet them in person to pick up the scooter and you must meet them in person to return the scooter to them at the end of your trip. Not that big of a deal in the long run, but we knew we'd need the scooter first thing upon arrival and until the last minute of departure, so having the Scooterbug scooter already at the resort and having no hassle of waiting around for someone to meet us to pick up the scooter at the end of our trip (we could just drop off the scooter at bell services and take off for the airport whenever we wanted or get on the road) was key.

I read a ton of Scooterbug reviews before booking a scooter - several reviews mentioned the great customer service. One even noted they had trouble with their scooter and called Scooterbug. The people renting the scooter were in a park, and went into a restaurant to eat - when they came out, Scooterbug had already been there to replace the scooter. Now that's customer service! Not sure if any of the other companies provide park access like that or not - but something to consider. We also added on the sunshade which was a lifesaver in the heat.

Finally, my father in law wouldn't have been able to walk from the bus stop to the park entrance - he's just not able to anymore - so having a scooter in his hotel room was key for us. We couldn't have made the in park rentals work - keep that in mind when deciding on whether to rent at the parks or not.

Yes, that's what I liked that they will deliver and drop off. Very important. I want it to be available when we arrive.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Thank you, I will also check out Buena Vista scooters. Won't it be similar to driving one like at the grocery store? Right after her surgery we had to go to the pharmacy and she used the one they had. She doesn't normally use scooters for day-to-day activities though.

No, the scooters you would rent are much smaller and compact. The store scooters are more like the ones Disney rents in the parks. Contrary to what Disney rents, they’re really not user friendly. If you go online to either company, I’m sure you’ll see pictures of the ones they have.