Scooter provider Scootarama offers advice to those with disabilities who wish to rent a scooter while visiting Orlando’s Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World.

First and foremost, according to Scootarama representative Carlos Figueroa, is to reserve the scooter well in advance of the trip.

“Depending on the time of year it will be almost impossible to reserve a scooter rental the same day you arrive at your resort, condo, or villa. Thanksgiving through New Year’s are usually very busy months, so most reputable scooter companies will be out of inventory. June through November are also busy months, but there’s a 50% chance you will be able to acquire a same-day rental.”

“January through May are slow months, unless of course there’s a major convention in town. Make sure you check the events calendar at the Orange County Convention Center to verify if there are any major conventions during your planned vacation,” he adds, in a media release.

Not all scooter companies are equal in terms of equipment and service, Figueroa notes.

“ECV’s (Electric Conveyance Vehicles) are expensive when purchased from legitimate manufactures like Pride Mobility because all of their equipment is assembled in the USA which means quality,” he says. “The batteries being used to power the equipment are just as important as the equipment. Be sure to ask the company what brand of batteries they’re using to power their mobility scooters.”

Another consideration is whether to rent an electric scooter or an electric wheelchair.

The answer can be complex, depending on one’s handicap or disability, the release explains.

The main difference between an electric wheelchair and electric scooter is the fact that an electric wheelchair is operated by a single joystick and does not use a key to operate. The joystick can be installed on the right or left side as some guests suffer from paralysis after a stroke, which usually renders one side of the body useless.

The electric wheelchair can be a good option for guests who are partially paralyzed, amputees, or those who use an electric wheelchair at their home. An electric scooter utilizes a seat with handlebars and comes in either three-wheel or four-wheel.

Some guests prefer the four-wheel because of the illusion that it has more stability. However, Figueroa recommends the three-wheeled scooter because of its zero turning radius, the release continues.

There are usually three types of scooter rentals in Orlando, according to Figueroa:

  • The lightweight travel scooter is usually a scooter reserved for light use with a weight capacity of up to 250 lbs. It is not recommended for use in theme parks because it also uses a lightweight battery, which drastically reduces battery life. The expected battery life on a lightweight scooter is 3 to 5 hours, depending on the person’s weight and the type of battery used.
  • The standard travel scooter is used by most scooter companies for extensive theme park use. This scooter usually has a weight capacity up to 300 lbs. The batteries range between 12 and 36 amps. 12 amp batteries are usually cheap Chinese batteries and 36 amps are the U-1 gel cell batteries by MK. Travel scooters can also be disassembled into ?ve pieces and can ?t into the trunk of a mid-size sedan if the guest is not staying in a Disney or Universal resort. The expected battery life on a standard travel scooter will be 8 to 12 hours, depending on the weight of the passenger.
  • The heavy-duty scooter is primarily used for guests exceeding 300 lbs. Some manufacturers suggest that you could disassemble this type of scooter, but Scootarama does not recommend this, as it is considerably heavy even when disassembled. For guests not residing at a Disney hotel or resort, the best way to transport this scooter is with a wheelchair taxi. Twelve-volt batteries are used in this scooter, with the batteries ranging between 18 to 36 amps. U-1 gel cell MK batteries are recommended for this type of scooter. The expected battery life on a heavy-duty scooter will be 6 to 12 hours depending on the weight of the passenger.

[Source(s): Scootarama, PR Newswire]