If you’re going to Walt Disney World and a member of your party is going to need a wheelchair or an EVC/scooter, there are lots of options that range from renting from WDW to renting from an outside source. Here’s a breakdown of all the options:
WHEELCHAIRS
WDW generally requires a lot of walking. And I mean a LOT. Some guests may not be able to complete all the walking that the visit demands, and a wheelchair might be a viable way to see the parks without all that walking…provided the person has someone who can push him/her, or (s)he can wheel him/herself (heads up pusher people or self-wheelers – there are a lot of hills and inclines at Disney parks).
WHEELCHAIR OPTIONS
A. Rent a wheelchair from Walt Disney World
Wheelchairs are available to rent throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs (a $100 USD credit card deposit is required for wheelchairs rented at the water parks or Disney Springs). Daily rental costs are $12 per day and you can also rent your wheelchair on a Length of Stay (LOS) basis by pre-paying the number of days that you will require the wheelchair and you’ll pay less per day ($10 instead of $12). Then, upon visiting a theme park (LOS is not available for the water parks of Disney Springs), simply show your receipt at the rental location to receive your wheelchair for the day (payment, both daily and LOS is based on a per day aspect, not per park. If you are park hopping, you’ll need to return your wheelchair before you leave one park and, upon showing your receipt, get another wheelchair from the next park).
Important things to know when renting a WDW wheelchair:
- Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Reservations are not accepted, and quantities are limited. Please plan to arrive early.
- Guests must be 18 years of age to rent wheelchairs. A photo ID is required.
- The maximum weight is 350 pounds. Wheelchairs are not designed to hold more than one person.
- You are welcome to bring and use your own wheelchair throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
PROS:
— If something happens to your wheelchair (i.e. a brake stops working or a foot rest falls off), Disney will be able to quickly replace it.
CONS/POSSIBLE PROBLEMS:
— Number of wheelchairs are limited; no guarantee you will get one.
— Wheelchairs cannot leave the park gates. There are usually alternate wheelchairs to get you to your car/the buses/monorail, but not once you leave the park property.
B. Rent a wheelchair from an outside source
Several private companies in the local area offer wheelchair rentals. These four are the “Disney Featured Providers,” and you can pre-order and arrange have these wheelchairs or scooters/ECVs delivered to your resort or villa. These 4 companies include:
- Buena Vista Rentals: (866) 484-4797
— Charges $20 per day (2 day minimum) for a standard manual wheelchair (300 pound max capacity)
— Says they will match competitors’ prices. - Best Price Mobility: (866) 866-3434
— Offers choice of standard manual wheelchairs (for guests who weigh under 250 pounds; $42 1-3 days) and standard manual plus wheelchairs (for guests who weigh 250+ pounds; $52 for 1-3 days). Weekly rates are $65 for standard wheelchairs and $75 for plus wheelchairs.
— They say they will price match other Disney vendors for the same equipment - Apple Scooter: (800) 701-1971
— Offers choice of manual wheelchair with 16 inch (holds 80-135 lbs.), 18 inch (holds 140-195 lbs.) and 20 inch (holds 190-275 lbs.) seats for $50 for 1-3 days and $5 for each additional day. - ScooterBug: (800) 726-8284
— Offers choice of manual wheelchairs with 20 inch (holds up to 350 lbs.) and 24 inch seats
All four companies offer free pick up/drop off of your wheelchair to the Disney hotels. Please contact each company for their respective policies regarding delivery to non-Disney hotels. None of the 4 deliver to WESTGATE.
PROS:
— Price is cheaper than renting from Disney.
— If something happens to your wheelchair (i.e. a brake stops working or a foot rest falls off), while in a park, these companies are authorized to enter the parks if troubleshooting by phone isn’t working and you need a replacement or quick repair.
— The wheelchair is yours for the length of your stay so you can take it with you wherever you go while on your vacation.
— Manual wheelchairs are foldable for storage in hotel room or possibly car trunk.
CONS/POSSIBLE PROBLEMS:
— I can’t think of any 😉
SCOOTERS/ELECTRIC CONVEYANCE VEHICLES (ECV)
WDW includes a lot of walking. And I mean a LOT. Some guests may not be able to complete all the walking that the visit demands, and a scooter/ECV might be a viable way to see the parks without all that walking, and without having to rely on someone else to push you or to wheel yourself.
SCOOTER/ECV OPTIONS
A. Rent a scooter/ECV from Walt Disney World
Scooters/ECVs are available to rent throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs (a refundable $100 USD credit card deposit is required for ECVs rented at the water parks or Disney Springs, and a refundable $20 deposit is required at the WDW Theme Parks). Daily rental costs are $50 per day and Length of Stay rentals are not available for ECVs (vehicles can be held if you leave and return to the same park on the same day). If you are park hopping, you’ll need to return your ECV before you leave one park and, upon showing your receipt, get another ECV, if available, from the next park.
Important things to know when renting a WDW scooter/ECV:
- ECVs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Reservations are not accepted, and quantities are limited. Please plan to arrive early.
- Guests must be 18 years of age to rent ECVs. A photo ID is required.
- The maximum weight is 450 pounds. ECVs are not designed to hold more than one person.
- You are welcome to bring and use your own ECV throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
PROS:
— If something happens to your scooter/ECV (i.e. the battery goes dead), Disney will be able to quickly replace it.
CONS/POSSIBLE PROBLEMS:
— Number of ECVs are limited; no guarantee you will get one.
— ECVs cannot leave the park. There are usually alternate wheelchairs to get you to your car/the buses/monorail, but not once you leave the park property.
B. Rent a scooter/ECV from an outside source
Several private companies in the local area offer scooter/ECV rentals. These four are the “Disney Featured Providers,” and you can pre-order and arrange to have these scooters/ECVs delivered to your hotel or villa. These 4 companies include:
- Buena Vista Scooter Rentals: (866) 484-4797
— Offers options of Portable Scooter, which can be taken apart into 5 pieces to place in some cars (for guests who weigh up to 325 lbs; $31/day, 2 day minimum), Standard Scooter, which cannot be disassembled (for guests who weigh up to 325 lbs: $31/day, 2 day minimum), and Maxima Scooter, which also cannot be disassembled (for guests who weigh up to 500 lbs.; $41/day, 2 day minimum)
— Also rents scooter accessories such as sun shade, rear basket, cup holder and cane/crutch holder.
— Says they will match competitors’ prices. - Best Price Scooters and Strollers: (866) 866-3434
— Offers choice of Pride Go Go Elite Traveler Plus 3-wheeled OR 4-wheeled scooters, which can both be taken apart into 5 pieces to place in some cars (both are for guests who weigh up to 225 lbs.; $31/day, 2 day minimum), Pride Victory 10 3-wheel scooter, which can be partially disassembled and folded to be able to place in some SUVs and mini vans (but not cars) (for guests who weigh up to 300 lbs.; $30/day, 2- day minimum), and Maxima 3-Wheel Scooter, which cannot be disassembled at all (for guests who weigh between 300-500 lbs.; $40/day, 2 day minimum).
— Also rents scooter accessories such as canopy/sun shade, cane/crutch holder, rear basket and oxygen tank holder.
— They say they will price match other Disney vendors for the same equipment - Apple Scooter: (800) 701-1971
— Offers choice of Pride Mobility Go-Go Elite Traveler Plus 3-wheeled OR 4-wheeled scooters which can both be taken apart into 5 pieces to place in some cars (both are for guests who weigh up to 175 lbs.; $105 for 3 days and $20/day after that), Pride Victory 10 3-wheel scooter, which can be partially disassembled and folded to be able to place in some SUVs and mini vans (but not cars) (for guests who weigh 350+ lbs.; $105 for 3 days and $20/day after that) - ScooterBug (800) 726-8284
— Offers choice of Tourist Resort ECV (holds up to 375 lbs.) OR Heavy Duty ECV (holds up to 500 lbs.).
All four companies offer free pick up/drop off of your scooter/ECV to the Disney hotels. Please contact each company for their respective policies regarding delivery to non-Disney hotels. None of the 4 deliver to WESTGATE.
PROS:
— Prices are better than Disney’s.
— Once ordered and paid for, you are guaranteed to get your ECV (once you’ve paid, there are no worries about their selling out).
— If something happens to your ECV (i.e. it stops working), while in a park, these companies are authorized to enter the parks if troubleshooting by phone isn’t working and you need a replacement.
— The ECV is yours for the length of your stay.
CONS/POSSIBLE PROBLEMS:
— If these EVCs get wet, their motors can short out and won’t work again until they dry out.
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