Scooter drivers, do you prefer Disney buses or using your own car to go back and forth to the parks?

Bete

DIS Veteran
Joined
Sep 14, 1999
I've done it both ways and I do prefer going by car. I will say I need a helper getting the scooter parts in and out of the trunk, but I'm lucky that I have someone to help.

Also, if cost wasn't an issue would you prefer renting a scooter from the park instead of bringing one by car or Disney transportation.

What's your preference?
 
Speaking for my MIL, she preferred it when we would drive our van to and from the parks. She was nervous loading and unloading it from the buses (usually my husband would do it), and we had several times where we had to wait for several buses due to others with scooters. It also allowed us to be on our time, and she didn't feel as rushed. Our first day, she rented one in the parks and used a wheelchair back and forth from the parking lot. After that, she had a rental and preferred the rental. It was easy to get used to just one, and she had it outside the parks so didn't feel like a burden with one of us pushing her.
 
We use a wheelchair and even going during slow season found we often hadto wait for the next bus to accommodatethe wheelchair. Plus lots of stares and dirty looks rfrom other guests when they were loading us I would definitely rent a car next time
 
I prefer to use Disney transportation. Once when with my daughter & her young children, I felt I caused our group to be late for dining reservations due to waiting for a bus that could take my scooter. That caused me stress so we've learned it's best to have a flexible schedule & allow plenty of time if you have to be somewhere.

As long as my husband & I just do our thing instead of trying to keep up with the kids & grandkids, we have no issues with the buses. We wait till the crowd clears at the bus stops & never get dirty looks. Renting a car & driving in traffic is much more stressful to me, plus I feel bad when my husband has to constantly load & unload my scooter.

Be patient, kind & friendly & all of Disney's transportation is fine.
 
Always take a car. We will rent a car if we don't drive because I hate taking disney transportation that much.
 
Well, I guess I'm the lone bus fan! LOL

One of the great things about vacationing at WDW for me is that I don't need a car once I get there. We drove last September (for the first time in over 10 years!) and we parked the car, and then *LITERALLY* forgot where we parked it, because we used Disney's own internal transportation system for everything!

I don't have to load/unload my personal scooter into and out of the car

I don't have to worry about where to park, or how to get from point A to point B

I don't have to do anything but roll on out to the bus stop (or the boat dock, or Monorail station) and go have a great day!

I know that a lot of folks get kind of freaked out about driving up and down the bus ramps, but I promise you - if you go slow and steady, then you are fine! Those ramps are made for wheelchairs and ECVs - and because the bus "kneels" before you are allowed to drive on it, typically the slope of the ramp is actually not that great. I would choose driving my ECV on and off of ramps at WDW over my real life back home any day! :) It's all part of the adventure!

If you are nervous, you can ask the driver to watch your wheels, and tell you if you are not going straight. And they will often remind you to not turn your wheels until you are all the way clear of the ramp at the bottom when disembarking. (which is excellent advice)

And as far as "dirty looks" go... I don't see near as many of those as I used to. People are much more tolerant now at WDW. Yes, there will always be some jerk - and you may have the misfortune to encounter that person on your trip - who says something like "I wish *I* always got to board the bus first!". And the response you should give, every time is very simply this: "Yes, I board first. But you get off first, and I get off last. By the time I am unloaded from the bus, and through Security, you will already be long gone into the Park (or Resort). If I could, I would gladly trade places with you for just a day, so that I could experience the privilege of standing and waiting again. I hope you have a great time today here at Disney World!" And then smile - nicely. Because the reality is, most folks who are "mad" or "glaring" at ECV drivers simply have lousy poker faces. They are scared by what they don't understand, and they resent being reminded that there but for the grace of God...

As you probably remember, I have my own ECV, but if I didn't, I would rent from an outside vendor every time. That way I have the use of the scooter everywhere at WDW - some of the Resorts are HUGE, and Disney Springs is almost double the size it used to be now! I like to feel like I have my freedom to come and go as I please! :)

Whatever you decide to do dearest Bete, I hope you have a lovely trip this time!!!
 
We always rent a van and rent our scooters from off site. On VERY rare occasions I've used the buses and it is a hassle! Since DH and I each use a scooter we would effectively take up the better part of the rear seating in a bus even if we could get on. We've even had issues getting on the Friendship boats at Beach Club. Captain would only allow 2 scooters on at a time. Was already 1 on. So we had to wait. Renting scooters off site insures we will have a scooter to use. Again, on the very rare occasion where we rented from Disney at the parks (or tried to) Disney was out of scooters.
 


It seems from pictures that the scooter that can be broken down has less leg/feet room. Is this true? Are they' comfortable? Can they still have baskets?
TIA
 
I prefer using Disney transportation esp at MK as it is a long walk from handicapped parking with no tram from handicapped and not a good walk with young kids and slightly up hill. you will have to use either the monorail or the ferry from parking as there is no drop off at the gate area at MK
 
It seems from pictures that the scooter that can be broken down has less leg/feet room. Is this true? Are they' comfortable? Can they still have baskets?
TIA

It just depends. Remember that foot room/leg room is a *relative* term for most scooters; most manufacturers concentrate on keeping the overall wheelbase as compact as possible, so unless you get into one of the "street legal" scooters that are closer to a golf cart than an ECV (which are too big to be allowed at WDW), you are going to find that most all of the rentals have about the same amount of room for your feet and legs.
 
Your on vacation you should enjoy your self and that means let Disney do the driving. The drivers will take very good care of you and make sure you have safe ride. You won't find a better driver are bus Disney buys the BMW of buses and they employ the best drivers. And if something happens they act swiftly so I would take the bus their so nice to ride in.
 
It just depends. Remember that foot room/leg room is a *relative* term for most scooters; most manufacturers concentrate on keeping the overall wheelbase as compact as possible, so unless you get into one of the "street legal" scooters that are closer to a golf cart than an ECV (which are too big to be allowed at WDW), you are going to find that most all of the rentals have about the same amount of room for your feet and legs.

Thank You
Do you know if these scooters can have a front basket as well.
 
It just depends. Remember that foot room/leg room is a *relative* term for most scooters; most manufacturers concentrate on keeping the overall wheelbase as compact as possible, so unless you get into one of the "street legal" scooters that are closer to a golf cart than an ECV (which are too big to be allowed at WDW), you are going to find that most all of the rentals have about the same amount of room for your feet and legs.
I own my own. One of the things I looked at was reg room. *I* found four wheel models to have more leg room. I can straighten my leg out straight over the front edge of mine. I could not do that on any 3 wheel model I tried.

I prefer to use the bus. Don't have to deal with disassembling it, lifting it, getting it out and reassembling it. It's not difficult just annoying when I can leave it together by using the bus.
 
Thank You
Do you know if these scooters can have a front basket as well.

Many of the rental units come with a small basket on the front by default. Just ask the company you rent from! :) Remember - never leave anything in that basket you don't mind losing!
 
We use a wheelchair and even going during slow season found we often hadto wait for the next bus to accommodatethe wheelchair. Plus lots of stares and dirty looks rfrom other guests when they were loading us I would definitely rent a car next time

We also go only during slow weeks. Only once have we had to wait for another bus, as there were two people ahead of us with ECV and wheelchairs. It was no big deal at all.

Also, if anyone ever gave us dirty looks, I never noticed. We wait in line like everyone else. Only if the line is really short, do we go directly to the "disabled" loading area.

Well, I guess I'm the lone bus fan! LOL

One of the great things about vacationing at WDW for me is that I don't need a car once I get there. We drove last September (for the first time in over 10 years!) and we parked the car, and then *LITERALLY* forgot where we parked it, because we used Disney's own internal transportation system for everything!

This is EXACTLY how I feel. Being the designated driver in my family gets seriously old. I hate driving everywhere. Once we get to Disney, I park the van and don't want to see it again until we leave. I feel totally FREE! Love, love love it. The internal transportation just makes Disney a million times more attractive to me.

As far as renting ECVs at the park - I wouldn't. My son had to rent one for a couple of days last trip and OMG - they are like driving a ship. They are HUGE. I'm not exaggerating, they are ridiculously large. Only in an emergency, would I ever consider it. It's bad enough to deal with normal size ones, getting through crowds. Those Disney ones are beasts.
 
We also go only during slow weeks. Only once have we had to wait for another bus, as there were two people ahead of us with ECV and wheelchairs. It was no big deal at all.

Also, if anyone ever gave us dirty looks, I never noticed. We wait in line like everyone else. Only if the line is really short, do we go directly to the "disabled" loading area.

This is EXACTLY how I feel. Being the designated driver in my family gets seriously old. I hate driving everywhere. Once we get to Disney, I park the van and don't want to see it again until we leave. I feel totally FREE! Love, love love it. The internal transportation just makes Disney a million times more attractive to me.

As far as renting ECVs at the park - I wouldn't. My son had to rent one for a couple of days last trip and OMG - they are like driving a ship. They are HUGE. I'm not exaggerating, they are ridiculously large. Only in an emergency, would I ever consider it. It's bad enough to deal with normal size ones, getting through crowds. Those Disney ones are beasts.

They *are* giant, wheezing beasties, aren't they? LOL In addition to being huge, they just feel sluggish to me. They start up so slowly... and then they kind of just wind down when you want to stop LOL

I've said it before, and I'll say again - WDW is, by far, the best place I have ever found to vacation on wheels. It really has spoiled us for going anywhere else!
 
Glad to see this question. We've always used the bus because, even though they showed me how, it looked like it would be too hard to break down and put back together.
As far as in park versus off site rental, I've done both and much prefer renting off site. Having that ECV at the resort makes a big help.
 
I have a ramp on the back of my van, so I don't have to break scooter down. I still prefer riding the buses. Like others have mentioned I'm on vacation, let Disney do the driving.
 
I prefer the busses quite honestly. I'm just worried about this upcoming trip.

In the past my DH would alway drive the ECV into the bus for me. I think I panic when trying to get it into the bus. I did notice on our last trip,that the bus drivers were good about helping people. I just don't want to embarrass my son or his friend.
 

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