Scooters at Disney

[Beth35]

I recently saw my nephrologist and she says I have about a month left before having to start dialysis.  I had this idea to take a quick trip to Disney with my two kids before the loss of total freedom due to hemo dialysis. 

My Aunt was able to get me a great price at her timeshare resort and we are going Memorial day weekend.  Since I get really tired and my ankles have been swelling horribly, I plan on renting a scooter for the week.  Disney rents them at the parks but it's first come - first serve so I plan on renting one of my own for the whole week.

I've been reading of some people's experience with scooters and I'm a bit scared now.  I know that I don't LOOK disabled or sick on the outside and I'm afraid of dirty looks.  I'm also afraid that it will be hard to drive these things through the crowds.  Does anyone have any experience driving these scooters in public places with crowds?  Any advice?

I'm really excited about the trip.  I am going with my two cousins who are 21 and 25 so I will have help with my four and five year old.  It's our first trip but I am a bit scared about keeping up and not getting into any arguments with folks who think I'm just "lazy."

[jbeany]

You could always wear an organ donor awareness button or t-shirt, if you are worried about the nasty looks from idiots.  Or bring a handful of pens from the local transplant hospital and hand them out with suggestions to sign the back of their license?   

Seriously, no idea about the scooter in the parks, but I have heard that people in wheelchairs and with other mobility issues are often taken to the head of most lines, so there may be less waiting if you are in one.  I've only driven one in a store, and I hope the one you rent has better steering than the ones at my sister's local discount store!  (Either that or I'm a really bad driver for anything smaller than a station wagon....)  Maybe get an annoying bike horn?  Or that canned air horn Karol posted a while back....

[boswife]

Awww, i can respond to this one.  Hubby and i went to disney just a few weeks ago and it was a VERY busy holiday time.  He rented a scooter there (your VERY wize to get outside of disney as you can take it in and out of the park and better price as well) and it made for a wonderful day. It really wasnt bad driving through the crouds either.  People really dont seem to watch out for you so you do have to be very aware of that, but i even rode it for a bit as my back was killing me and it's perfectly legal.  On the second day, we didnt rent one and boy were we sorry!!  With the scooter, no slowen down the family's rush to get to the next ride..lol   And yes, you do get to the front of the line with your group so they will be grateful for that!  IT"S ok to take advantage of that, i felt no guilt at all and i am one whos guilty for breathing to much air.. So anyway, have a great time, and enjoy your ride.. it's really ok... ps,,we didnt get any bad looks at all..

[thegrammalady]

last time i was at disneyland i used a scooter. they travel about 2 miles an hour, which is faster than people walk, so you need to keep the speed down and watch out for people crossing in front of you. not really much of a problem. disneyland will treat you like royalty. you will not need to wait in lines and if the stores are too small or crowded a sales clerk will help you from the doorway. i had a blast. the biggest problem i had was people don't really notice the scooter if you are moving. i didn't get any dirty looks and if you do, so what. i really don't care what perfect strangers think or don't think.  have fun, enjoy yourself and stop worrying.

[kitkatz]

Who gives a rat's ass what anyone thinks. Your health is more important than what people think!

[Beth35]

jbeany, you are too funny.  I think I may just bring a few organ donor cards JUST in case someone has the nerve to say something to me.  LOL!  Maybe a magnet for the back of the scooter with a slogan on it like, "Recycle Yourself, Donate Your Organs and Tissue!"   

In searching for more info. for ways that I can get accomodations, I came upon some type of forum where people were basically trash talking those who use scooters at Disney.  Apparently, if you don't LOOK disabled and you can get on and off the scooter and walk for short distances than you are lazy or fat or whatever.  I was shocked to see so many people who were holding grudges against those with mobility issues or what they thought were non issues.  The fact is that I would trade my kidney disease with any healthy person any day and walk the Disney parks if that was a possiblity.  But because I am young (36) they see me and wonder why I DESERVE a scooter.   

Then I came across another website for people with disabilities that tells you how to deal with the dirty looks.  I guess my only worry is that I don't do well with confrontation.  Meaning I like to open my mouth and say whatever is on my mind yet I will have my small kids with me so I know I have to be good. 

Boswife and the grammalady, thank you so much for sharing your experience with me.  I'm glad to hear that riding a scooter was a good experience for you.  That's awesome. 

[paris]

Beth 35, I am so glad you brought this subject up.  We (18 of us) are going the end of September to Disney World. Big family vacation and we are all very excited. We go almost every year and last year I had a terrible time keeping up and they kept telling me I should have rented a scooter.  Pride got the best of me and I didn't listen to them.  But, another year has gone by and with it even more energy!  And the knees aren't doing too well. I will get cortisone shots before the trip, but I am being told again, that I need to get a scooter.   I also worry about not looking disabled enough!   Pride isn't a good thing, is it?   Everyone's thoughts and answers here are giving me courage to just rent the stupid scooter and not give a hoot what anyone thinks!     I have some time to think about it. 

I hope you have a great time.  It is good you are doing things and not putting off doing any adventure.  It will help the 4 and 5 yr old too, if you are in a scooter. They can catch a ride when their little legs get tired!   Have a Magical time!!!!!

[okarol]

When I was pregnant with Johnny I had 3 older kids too, so I rented the scooter at Disneyland and it was a perfect solution. Becca was 5 years old and she would ride standing up in front of me when she got tired. If anyone didn't approve, I didn't notice because we had a great day!

[Beth35]

Paris, I will let you know how I make out.  I am renting from Walker Mobility and they will deliver it to the hotel and pick it up when I'm done.  It breaks down to fit into the rental car.  I am also renting a sun canopy that attaches to the scooter to cover me from the sun.  I may feel a bit weird about it at first but if it helps me to enjoy myself with my kids, it will be worth it.  I will go in with a positive attitude though so wish me luck!

Okarol, I thought that my five year old son could also get a ride with me when he gets tired.  I'm glad to hear it worked for you.  My four year old will have a stroller and one of my cousins can push her. 

Now if only I could find some kind of fan to attach to the scooter and I would be good to go!  LOL! 

[Quickfeet]

"Then I came across another website for people with disabilities that tells you how to deal with the dirty looks"

Do you remember what site it was?

[Beth35]

I don't remember but I can try to google it and find it if you are interested. 

[paris]

I keep reading this thread.  Now my sister is going to Disney with us and she definately needs a scooter.  I will be anxious to hear how the company works out for you.  Did you find them on the internet?  I think it would be good to have it before entering Disney World and just have your own while there.  Keep posting and sharing experiences.   

[Beth35]

Walker Mobility is a major name in mobility products so I knew they would be good.  I also read good reviews about them down in Orlando.  Their prices were good and they had a nice selection of scooters to choose from.  They claim to be one of the only scooters in Orlando that are totally waterproof.  It can downpour a few times a day in Orlando.  It also came with a cupholder and a light for night time driving.  I didn't see those features on the other sites. 

They deliver and pick up at your hotel room which is nice.  The nice thing about renting one from an outside company is that they are cheaper and you know you have it for the duration of your stay.  It also helps to have something to ride out to the parking lots at the end of the day.  You can't do that with the park scooters.  Plus, you cannot reserve the Disney Park scooters.  It's first come, first served and they do go fast.  So you could get to Disney and then end up not getting one.  Or you may get one the morning you get to a park but then if you want to park hop, the scooter can't hop with you.  And when you get to the next park, the scooters could be sold out. 

We only have five more days until our trip!  I'm getting excited.  I will give you a review when I get back!

[RichardMEL]

I'm with the others - bugger the dirty looks - it's not like you know these people or are going to see them again (well most likely anyway!). You're there to have a vacation and this is a service offered to you to make your experience better. YOU know you are not taking advantage of it for selfish reasons(to get a better spot in line etc) but because of your health, and that's all that matters.

I take the same view of people who stare at my fistula needle marks in my arm when I walk down the street. I'm sure more than one thinks I'm a drug user and a total scumbag!! Well that's THEIR problem if they want to assume things and be judgemental without the facts..... It's not going to affect me in any way.

[Beth35]

Yes, Richard I shouldn't care.  I just have a LITTLE problem with my temper.  So if someone has the nerve to actually say something to me,  I may just have to bite my tongue.  LOL!

I once feared what people would think of my needle marks.  Then I just got over it.  You are totally right.  If people want to assume that, they should go right ahead.  I can only imagine the things that run through their minds.  LOL!

[Quickfeet]

I don't need that site. I don't want to know what some people think.

I can't wait till some one gives me trouble for parking in a handicapped spot. It will be a great ice breaker and then I can ask them to donate one of their kidneys to me .