Calling all Scooter & ECV Experts

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PhillNYC's picture
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Joined: 01/13/2014
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Calling all Scooter & ECV Experts

Hey, Scooter Pies!

Long story short ... I have a spine/nerve thing. It's either a "put needles in your spine" thing, or just deal with it. I choose (for now, anyway) to deal with it. I'm good to tough it out for quite a while if I'm well-rested, but in the later part of the day, it's either use an ECV or ask someone to drag me around by a limb. I've rented from an Orlando company who delivered to my WDW resort, and I was pleased with them. It was $30 per day for a rather nice, SMALL, very comfortable scooter; no extra charges.

So. Here's the rub.

Scenario 1 - I have this stupid scooter all day long and I have to take it on the resort busses (which I hate), and get ugly comments all day long, when really, I don't need it until late afternoon/eve anyway.

Scenario 2 - I pick up the scooter from our resort after a mid-day rest, but I still have to take it on the bus (which I hate), but at least it's just the late afternoon/eve.

Alternative & Questions - I pick up a WDW rental scooter in the afternoon. Last I remember noticing, they looked pretty clunky and big. Those things I remember looked like they could take down an elephant. Any experience with them? Could I likely rent one midday, or would they be sold out? I love the idea of leaving it in the park. I can tough it out to the bus stop when we're leaving.

******And now, my Scooter Disclaimer, for those less-than-fond of the ECVs wheelchair *******

  • I am polite.
  • I have never run over someone's foot or hit an ankle.
  • If I didn't need it, I wouldn't want it.
  • When I'm walking most of the day, I hate the rude ones too.
  • I park it in a stroller area and walk (or "hobble" laugh) through EVERY queue.
  • I stay away from crowds and tight walkways.

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Mrferret's picture
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Will you be travelling alone or would a fold up wheelchair be a more convenient option ? wheelchair
(please don't shout just throwing it out there )

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PhillNYC's picture
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Mrferret wrote:
Will you be travelling alone or would a fold up wheelchair be a more convenient option ? wheelchair
(please don't shout just throwing it out there )

That, my friend, is not a bad idea. I'll bet I can bring the folded up chair on the bus with me! Thanks!

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Mrferret's picture
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PhillNYC wrote:
Mrferret wrote:
Will you be travelling alone or would a fold up wheelchair be a more convenient option ? wheelchair
(please don't shout just throwing it out there )

That, my friend, is not a bad idea. I'll bet I can bring the folded up chair on the bus with me! Thanks!

My Intellect is only surpased by my good looks wink

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Kristen K.'s picture
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Joined: 09/01/2011
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I have most often rented my ECV in the Park from Disney because I don't have to be in one full time. I also really hate the whole bus stink-eye deal. They are a little larger (4 wheels instead of 3) but really no bother to drive once you're used to it. I don't think they handle much differently than the third party rentals. The real issue with the WDW ECVs is twofold. 1) It costs twice as much to rent from WDW than from a third party vendor, even if you're only using it for half of the day. 2) You can't just wait until the afternoon to see if you will need a rental because many times they have all been rented by afternoon and you have to go without.

You could consider doing is renting the ECV from Disney at the Park in the morning, taking it to a middle area, and parking it for half the day until you need it. That has worked very well for me on numerous occasions.

MrHub's picture
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Joined: 10/29/2009
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Well consider this, we rent from Buena Vista rentals. for the week its $165, WDW charges I think $75 per day. The one we got was a little smaller and more maneuverable than the WDW ones. We get a compact that comes apart real easy to put in our car.

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Disney Holic's picture
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Joined: 12/03/2013
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If they are cheaper and more compact rented offsite, then why don't you do that but do what Kristen says and park it somewhere central in the park until you need it later in the day? I know it still means you have to take it on the buses. Otherwise if a normal wheelchair would work I would go with MrF's idea.

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PhillNYC's picture
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I think I'm going to try it with my walking stick first day, see how it goes, and go from there. Especially since I don't need the ECV all day. Only later when the nerve-pinch-spine thing gets really bad. I've used Apple rental before, and rented the little red ones like in the pic for $30 per day. They deliver to the resort or wherever, so if I HAVE to take it on the bus, I guess I will.

You can't return a WDW scooter to a different park - right?

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MrHub's picture
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No you can not Phil.

Mandy's picture
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I know with the strollers that if you purchase one in MK then go to DHS, you can get another stroller at the second park since you already paid for it. Not sure if it works the same with the ECVs.

Kristen K.'s picture
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Mandy wrote:
I know with the strollers that if you purchase one in MK then go to DHS, you can get another stroller at the second park since you already paid for it. Not sure if it works the same with the ECVs.

Yes, that does work for ECVs