Walt Disney World ECV Rentals: What You Need to Know

I recently sprained my ankle in a mopping incident. My husband, Derek, and I both had serious concerns about my ability to walk through the resorts and parks at Walt Disney World, so we decided to rent an Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV).

For this trip, we chose ScooterBug, Disney World’s preferred vendor for resort ECV rentals. The online booking process was a snap. Our rental period was for two full days, with an 8 AM drop-off on the third day. The rental was $115, but we added the damage waiver for an additional $12 and a cup holder for $10. I’ll talk more about the cup holder in a minute.

The pickup

Each Disney hotel has a designated area for ECV rentals, usually near Bell Services or Luggage Assistance. We scheduled our pickup for 8 AM at Pop Century. Unfortunately, it wasn’t there. We contacted ScooterBug, who told us they would drop off a vehicle by noon. We weren’t interested in waiting around for four hours, so off we went to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I wasn’t looking forward to walking the park in my walking boot, but I was even less interested in sitting around the hotel lobby.

While enjoying a Kilimanjaro Safaris ride, we received an email that the ECV had been dropped off. It was perfect timing, as my ankle was not loving my decision to go without the scooter. We arrived back at Pop Century around lunchtime, and the ECV was waiting for us.

The ECV comes with a front basket that comfortably fits a Loungefly. It also includes a cute little horn that no one listens to and a charging cable. Our rental cupholder was not particularly sturdy. I recommend buying your own and bringing it with you.

Learning to drive

It doesn’t take long to get the hang of driving an ECV. The right-side pull handle moves you forward, while the left one moves you in reverse (and triggers loud beeping). The speed control goes from tortoise to hare. I’ll admit that it can go much faster than I expected. I honestly had a lot of fun scooting around the resort!

The trickiest parts for me were navigating sharp corners and also exiting elevators. There’s no rearview mirror, so be prepared to turn your head quite a bit or rely on friends and family to let you know if you have obstacles behind you.

Skyliner procedures

Disney’s Skyliner is very accessible for ECVs. There is a dedicated stationary cabin queue at each Skyliner station. A Cast Member CM will instruct you to pull all the way forward into the cabin and turn off your ECV. Your party will join you after the CM secures the back wheels. It’s a very straightforward process.

Exiting the Skyliner is also simple. After your party exits, the CM will release the back wheels, instruct you to turn on your ECV, and you’ll reverse out of the cabin.

Bus procedures

If you have stayed at a Walt Disney World resort, chances are you are familiar with the ECV bus boarding process. There is a separate bus queue for wheelchairs and ECVs. CMs will typically take over the controls and drive you up the bus ramp, securing and buckling the vehicle into one of two positions.

Once you are secured, your party will join you on the bus before the main doors open for other guests. When you arrive at your destination, the process is reversed, with other guests (including your party) exiting first and a CM helping you disembark.

Line queue procedures

You will be able to stay in your ECV until the loading area for most Walt Disney World attractions. Please be aware that queues with tight turns (like Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid) can be challenging to navigate. Ask a Cast Member near the entrance if an attraction allows ECVs.

Many rides that don’t accommodate the vehicles (like TRON Lightcycle / Run) have a courtesy wheelchair you may use. Some rides, like “it’s a small world” and the Mad Tea Party, have a separate entrance for individuals using wheelchairs or ECVs. Otherwise, you’ll need to park your vehicle wherever you find stroller parking outside the ride.

Similar to how they rearrange strollers, CMs may also move your ECV while you’re on the ride. They can release the wheel locks even without your key.

Navigating the parks

It can be challenging to navigate the parks in an ECV. Similar to my experiences traveling with individuals who use wheelchairs, I noticed that many people are careless around the electric carts. It’s especially frustrating when people step directly in front of you and slow down or stop entirely.

Because of that, it’s important to always stay focused. ECVs are not equipped with brakes, as the throttle does all the work. The speed can’t be controlled by any means other than adjusting the tortoise-and-hare knob, which is difficult to do while driving. Also, please be aware that the rental agreement for both ScooterBug and in-park ECV rentals strictly prohibits drinking alcohol and driving. This does not seem to be enforced, particularly at EPCOT, but we recommend following those rules.

Charging your ECV

ECVs are very efficient, but will need to be charged periodically. At the resorts, you can charge in the hallways near your room. Just look for an outlet. You can also drive your ECV into your room, although that is not very practical for most room types. There are also random plugs near restaurants, in the exit waiting areas of some rides (such as near the play area in Mission: Space), inside Quick Service restaurants and Starbucks, and in the main lobbies of resorts.

Final thoughts

Although I was hesitant to rent an ECV, I am very glad that I did. Vacations should not be painful. Additionally, our bigger backpack was easily secured to the chair without any discomfort for me. Derek and Noah both got a break from carrying it around.

If you have any mobility concerns – however temporary – I strongly recommend renting an ECV to help make your Walt Disney World trip as magical as possible.