Disney offers parks visitors a few options for getting around the parks, including strollers, wheelchairs, and electric conveyance vehicles (ECVs).
Rentals
These mobility aids can really make or break your day if you or someone in your group is unable to comfortably walk for an entire day, but there’s something important you need to know about renting an ECV.
Near the entrances of Disney Parks you can find single and double strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVs available for rent. ECVs will cost you $50 for the day, plus a refundable $20 deposit. But if you’re planning on renting one during your day in the park, you might run into a problem.
Stroller and Wheelchair Rental Prices
Recently, we spoke with some fellow Disney World visitors who told us that ECVs had sold out entirely that day and they were placed on a waitlist to rent one. We had to find out more.
Heading down Main Street
We spoke to a Cast Member in Magic Kingdom who confirmed that ECVs (also referred to as scooters) can and do sell out, and they in fact run out almost daily in Magic Kingdom.
If that happens to you, you are placed on a waitlist and the amount of time you have to wait will vary. It could be 20 minutes or it could be several hours, and there’s no alternative Disney can offer a guest if they run out.
Out of EVCs
On one day midday, a Cast Member told us that that there were 25 people on the waitlist, and how fast the waitlist moves depends entirely on when people return their ECV when they leave the park. They said that the waitlist tends to move a bit faster around 2PM due to Park Hoppers and on party days when people know the park is closing earlier.
Magic Kingdom closes at 6PM for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Once you’re called from the waitlist, you have one hour to get back to the rental area and secure your ECV before they move to the next person on the list. That might be difficult if your name is called when you’re in the middle of a multi-hour line for your favorite ride!
EVCs out at EPCOT
Note that if you do rent an ECV at a Disney Park, you can’t take it outside the park, so you must return it before you exit. You have to rent an ECV at each park you visit, so if you’re the one park hopping you might not find an available ECV when you get to your second park.
You have to be placed on the waitlist!
One Cast Member said that if you absolutely need an ECV, you’re safer renting from an outside company than you are banking on finding one available in the park. Many outside companies will deliver your ECV to your hotel so that you don’t have to worry about transporting it yourself, and you can take it from park to park rather than rent from each individual park.
ECVs in the rental area at EPCOT
Most Disney World rides can accommodate ECVs in a variety of ways so you don’t have to worry about missing out on things in the parks, and Disney World buses, boats, Monorail, and Skyliner also accommodate ECVs so you can easily travel from park to park if you rent from an outside company.
Gate for wheelchairs and ECVs
If you’re still hoping to rent an ECV at a Disney Park, we recommend getting to the park as early as possible (also known as rope dropping), and to also make sure you have a backup plan in case you have to be placed on the waitlist. If you’re staying in a Disney World hotel, you can also take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry, which lets you enter your Disney Park of choice 30 minutes before the general public.
Rope Drop at Hollywood Studios
If you need a mobility device in Disney World, it seems that the earlier you get there the more likely you are to get the rental of your choice, and it doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan (or two). Keep following DFB for more Disney World news and updates!
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Have you rented an ECV in Disney World? What was your experience like? Tell us in the comments!
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What could be an alternative for non-hotel guests? My family is staying in an Airbnb as it was cheaper than the hotels and my mom desperately needs an ECV for the parks. So an outside company won’t be ideal because how could we get the ECV in our car when driving to the parks? We plan to rope drop every day, but I’m worried about the extended hours in the morning for hotel guests.
ECVs are often far cheaper to rent from an outside company. If you’re there for more than a day or two at the most, rent outside for sure. Also, they tend to discount the longer you rent. You can get a full week from some vendors for the same price you’d spend for a few days in the park.
I rented a ECV from an outside company on my last trip in May and not only was it MUCH cheaper, it was much nicer and went faster than Disney’s scooters. They brought the scooter to Pop Century’s reception area on our first day and picked it up the morning we left from the same area. We were actually able to partially disassemble it and put it in the back of our SUV and so we drove to the parks most days. It was easy to recharge and I never had a problem with it. We actually found plenty of places to recharge it in the parks as well. We’d usually go to a quick service restaurant, get a snack and recharge our batteries in the A/C while the scooter was recharging.
The company I rented from was Gold Mobility Scooters and they were wonderful.
I have been to the parks, considered renting an ECV from an outside vendor, but then you have the entire where in a tiny hotel room crammed with family do you store it? The bus can only take 2 ECV’s at a time so you wait longer for buses. Now that my hip has been replaced, I am able to walk the distances required. But the fear of park hopping and not having the available assist at the next park was real.
Also, if you rent from someone outside you will pay a lot less per day. For a Disney Approved company you will pay about $34.00 per day plus tax. The good part is you have it from the hotel, in the parks and back to the hotel. I am lucky as I stay at the Swan and can use a non-approved company. It is about $5.00 less per day. But all in all, a whole lot better than $50.00 per day and you are guaranteed to have one.
Thanks dfb great information. My husband uses an ECV and we rent it from Scooterbug. Scooterbug delivers to your hotel and picks up at end of week. The pricing is so much less then renting at parks and you have it all the time. Use at resort to get around and at Disney springs. Bus drivers are so helpful to board. The ECV is necessary for us. Check it out.
MK is the only park where I’ve had a problem renting an ECV. I usually end up with a wheelchair which my poor family has to push me around in. I once was on the waitlist for an ECV and finally got a text that one was available – at about 7:00 p.m. There was absolutely no point in going all the way back to the entrance for one at that point. I’ve never had a problem renting one in Epcot or DHS; I don’t go to AK, so I can’t comment on availability there. It would also be lovely if Disney could set up ECV and wheelchair rentals closer to the parking lots. The walk from the lots to the front entrance can be very difficult (that’s why we need ECVs and wheelchairs in the first place, right?) and if there are no courtesy wheelchairs available, it’s a HUGE problem!!
I have rented ecv’s in the past. Last time, it was during covid so it wasn’t difficult to get one in the morning since I had my oldest son with me and he’s an early riser. The only reason I rented is because my personal ecv broke down. (found out later that it died at the ripe old age of 30 years old, so I replaced it.) I now have my own and use that one (all tricked out) when I go.
I would never rent an ECV (scooter) at Disney World. However, for the past 11 years I have rented one from Walker Mobility. They have all sizes and some even have a type of roof to keep you out of the sun. If you have a problem, and that is rare, they are there in a very short time to help. They come with a basket and cup holder. There is a light and a “beep beep” when you are backing up. You can charge your scooter in your room and take it everywhere you go – parks, restaurants, shopping, etc. I pay about $25 a day bacause I have been renting form them for so long. I would definitely recommend them.
In July I rented an ECV from ScooterBug that I used last week. It was available when we arrived as planned. Unfortunately, it was in terrible condition – the whole scooter was wobbly and the rear basket was banged up so badly no drinks could be placed in it to stand upright even while stationary. Further, when going in reverse, one had to wait for 7 LOUD and LONG beeps before the ECV even started Going in reverse. However, when I called ScooterBug to complain, they delivered a replacement ECV to my resort concierge within 2 hours, and the 2nd ECV was in perfect condition. I missed about 3 hours of Magic Kingdom time that I can’t get back, but all in all, I was satisfied.
This has been true for literally all time. I add that the park ECVs are hulking 4 wheel models. Outside rentals are 3 wheels and are far more nimble, which makes a difference, especially in crowds and tight spaces. For the poster above who needs to put it in a car, they disassemble. Generally, the battery comes out, which is heavy, and then the seat comes off and folds. When we have needed to take one in the car, we have gotten a somewhat larger car vs our usual subcompact. You can call the scooter place you’re thinking of using, many of the reputable ones are listed above, find out what model they offer, and check out the instructions online so you can assess. It does require some nerve to take a scooter on a bus (requires a turn and backing into place in a very tight space) and other modes of transportation (easier) but the drivers are great about providing direction. Unfortunately your fellow park goers aren’t always the most patient, especially at the end of the day, but don’t let that stop you from doing what you need to do for your mobility. Honestly, despite not loving taking it on the bus (although like anything, it’s a skill), I highly recommend renting from outside. It’s less expensive and a far better user experience compared to the park scooters. All scooters are not alike.
Thanks so very much for this info. My hubby has neuropathy due to chemotherapy and would do better renting a “scooter”. How can I find out the best outside companies to rent from? Our upcoming trip is in December.
It would be nice to be able to reserve online. As an ECV user, getting to the park and finding them unavailable is heartbreaking because it means I must turn around and leave! Come on Disney! Do better!
Not being someone that regularly uses a scooter I found it difficult to use in the crowds. It was hard not to run into people or go around slow people! In addition I felt like it was way too expensive! I also rented a wheelchair and my granddaughter pushed me around which I felt was more controlled and easier for us as a group to get around.