Many public transit Buses around here are setup where you enter from the rear, pull into the space and then exit from the front or vice versa, no need to backup. many also have advanced restraint systems that don't require the bus driver to do anything. Not sure why Disney doesn't at least do the first part, I could see they may want to ensure the bus driver st least checks the restraints for liability reasons.
Gold Mobility Rental
- Thread starter TallyTutter
- Start date
- Status
mamabunny
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2012
Sounds like that bus had a broken "kneeler"! I have had that happen only once, and when we realized how steep it was, I stopped, got off my personal device, and we pushed it into the bus for safety.
RaySharpton
Retired and going to Disney.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2000
This happened to me over a decade ago when I was at OKW. No sidewalk. The driver said the bus was lower, but I said that I didn't think so. He told me to drive on. I flipped back onto the parking lot pavement.
It shocked me. But I was okay. I had just rented my first outside vendor heavy duty mobility scooter.
If I knew what I know now, I would have driven up backward or walked it up.
WDW did come out and the driver was apologetic. I was okay. If I had known better, I would have asked the WDW supervisor if she thought the bus had been lowered. I was too embarrassed.
Back then the mobility scooters were heavier.
Live and learn.
You will notice a difference in ramp angle depending or if they pick up on a curb or without a curb.
RaySharpton
Retired and going to Disney.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2000
I wish the buses in Atlanta let you enter one end and exit the other.
All Atlanta MARTA buses can kneel and have a fold out ramp at the front of the bus where everyone enters. The two front wheels of the bus narrow the space after entering and making a left 90-degree turn. They usually suggest to back up instead of driving straight into the bus. This took me a while to learn to do with my 3-wheel REVO mobility scooter since it was hard driving backward and making a 90-degree turn.
My Victory 10-LV Sport mobility scooter couldn't make the turn at all.
Now with my wheelchair, I can drive in face forward and turn around.
UncleMike101
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2014
At least I'm not the only one to have this happen.
Last August was my first WDW vacation in an ECV and I presumed that all buses were equipped the same and were in working condition.
As I said the driver apologized and he was really whizzed off that he had to take out a bus that wasn't working properly.
RaySharpton
Retired and going to Disney.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2000
Wow, Gold Mobility Scooters is really upping their game with these new heavy-duty Pride Maxima mobility scooters. I like this a lot better than my heavy duty Pride Victory 10-LX Sport that I bought several years ago. But it costs over twice as much.
If you need a heavy duty scooter that is better than what you can buy anywhere else with all of these extras, I would keep my eye in six months after they start renting them. That is when they usually start selling their inventory.
Last edited:
Madeleine Arnold
RETIRED ARNOLD'S
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2019
Hi Ray, just a question. On our next trip durring the Epcot food and wine festival we are thinking of purchasing one of the used rental Victory 10 scooters they have for sale at Gold Mobility and bringing it back on the plane. I checked with the airline they said they transport mobility scooters for Free. We had a great experence with using Gold Mobility on our last trip and was impressed with the scooter and the extra options. Since you're familiar with this model do you think is a good choice for me at home? We live in walking distance to grocery store and park so I don't need to transport on a bus or a car. I used it in the parks on the last visit and it was a perfect fit for the parks. We have also used them in the past trips from other companies but by far this was the nicest ones ever. It easy was to maneuver, comfortable and easy for me to get on and off the buses and monorail. Cost wise it would save me about 50% by buy a used rental over buying a new one locally. They said they still look like new and they are all tested and reconditioned to like new condition. They sell them every 6 months. They let you rent it to test it for an entire week before you buy. They also deduct the total price of the rental. So overall I think its a great deal. They also leave all the extra options on the scooter that they add for rental. Next visit we are only renting 2 scooters, a maxima for my husband and a Victory 10 3 wheeled for me. The Maxima's they said is to new to sell, But they have lots of the Victory 10's that will be ready for sale by then. If we purchase it, this would be the first one we purchased for at home use. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
RaySharpton
Retired and going to Disney.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2000
Hi, Madeleine.
I usually fly with Delta. I fill out their form online and print it out to carry with me. I also call them the day before to remind them that I will be bringing my own wheelchair and previously my own mobility scooter.
Check online with your airline to see if they have a form to fill out and print. It comes in handy when they ask you questions about the dimensions, total weight, type of batteries, etc. of your mobility scooter.
I remember the first time when I was checking my luggage in leaving Atlanta, and they asked me the questions. I didn't know off the top of my head, but I could read the info off of the printout.
I was able to drive it to the gate and down the jetway to the airline's door. The airline staff came to pick it up and store it on the plane.
The reason that they wanted to know the dimensions at the luggage check-in was to make sure it would fit on that particular plane. So I also measured the height with the seat folded down and the front steering tiller folded down. The length and width do not change for the Pride Victory 10.
So even if they don't have a form, the airlines will ask for the following information:
1. Total weight of your Pride Victory 10 mobility scooter
2. The length and width.
3. The height should be the folded seat and folded front tiller. You could tell them the height unfolded, but make sure that you tell them the folded height because they will look on their computer to see if the mobility scooter will fit the dimensions of their cargo storage door.
4. The type of battery is DRY. They ask if it is dry, wet, or lithium-ion.
I could have requested that they take my mobility scooter down their elevator, but two men came to lift it down the stairs by the jetway to the plane.
I could have checked it in with my luggage, where I guess they could have had the crew come to get it, but I preferred to drive it all the way to the gate. I think that one time they asked me to drive it to the gate and another time they asked me to take a photo of the mobility scooter to send to the person loading the scooter.
Once at MCO Orlando, I waited for them to bring my wheelchair or in the past my mobility scooter up to the jetway and I drove down to the Disney Magical Express.
It is also important on your resort reservation for DME to tell them that you will need a lift on the DME bus.
I was escorted to the DME bus, backed up on the bus lift. At the top, I slowly backed up into the bus and turned to my left into a space where they had moved seats for me to park. I reversed the procedure when arriving at the resort and exiting.
I also found that it is a good idea to take some photos at the airport gate of my wheelchair and previously my mobility scooter. I would take the same photos at my destination in the airline jetway.
That way I could show prove if there was any damage done during transport.
Some of the things that I missed before taking photos was damage to the armrest and seat material where they might have brushed up against something metal.
Also any damage around the outer edges of the mobility scooter that could have gotten torn off or bumped into.
You don't need many photos. I just take photos for the four sides and armrests.
That way you can prove damage with the before and after photos.
This is purely precautionary and I haven't had any problems since I started taking photos. I just mention this a good habit to get into.
I think that it would be a very good choice because Gold Mobility Scooter, LLC, takes very good care of their equipment and actually replaces them every six months. You can not find one single company in this whole world that does this. That makes the mobility scooter practically seem like brand new.
It will also come with extra heavy duty batteries which would cost you more if you had to buy them separately. And it would come with two extra add-ons that you won't have to pay for. And they will subtract the rental from the total price. So many extras that you don't have to pay for, plus an honest seller and a great price. I would jump at the chance to buy from them.[/QUOTE]
As far as using at your home, there are some things to consider. I don't know if you have owned or rented mobility scooters that you have used at home.
I don't advise using the Pride Victory 10 mobility scooter inside your home to drive around from living room to bedroom etc. since they are too big.
But I also don't know the size of your home.
Do you have a place where you can park it and an electrical outlet nearby where you can recharge it?
I assume that you might keep it in your garage where there is a flat driving area from your garage to your sidewalk.
You could also park it somewhere inside your house if you have space, but make sure you measure the door width and hallway width and turning space to make sure you can do that inside your home. And no steps.
Just some things to think about.
And when you get home, how will you get it home? Do you have access to a handicap van service that helps you get from the airport to your home?
I live three blocks from the subway station that I take directly into the Atlanta ATL airport.
My newer electric wheelchair easily drives into my condo.
My older, larger Pride Victory 10-LX Sport 4-wheel was too big to drive into my condo and so I parked it in the garage.
Do you have any more questions?
I have just been typing and I really haven't proofread anything.
I usually fly with Delta. I fill out their form online and print it out to carry with me. I also call them the day before to remind them that I will be bringing my own wheelchair and previously my own mobility scooter.
Check online with your airline to see if they have a form to fill out and print. It comes in handy when they ask you questions about the dimensions, total weight, type of batteries, etc. of your mobility scooter.
I remember the first time when I was checking my luggage in leaving Atlanta, and they asked me the questions. I didn't know off the top of my head, but I could read the info off of the printout.
I was able to drive it to the gate and down the jetway to the airline's door. The airline staff came to pick it up and store it on the plane.
The reason that they wanted to know the dimensions at the luggage check-in was to make sure it would fit on that particular plane. So I also measured the height with the seat folded down and the front steering tiller folded down. The length and width do not change for the Pride Victory 10.
So even if they don't have a form, the airlines will ask for the following information:
1. Total weight of your Pride Victory 10 mobility scooter
2. The length and width.
3. The height should be the folded seat and folded front tiller. You could tell them the height unfolded, but make sure that you tell them the folded height because they will look on their computer to see if the mobility scooter will fit the dimensions of their cargo storage door.
4. The type of battery is DRY. They ask if it is dry, wet, or lithium-ion.
I could have requested that they take my mobility scooter down their elevator, but two men came to lift it down the stairs by the jetway to the plane.
I could have checked it in with my luggage, where I guess they could have had the crew come to get it, but I preferred to drive it all the way to the gate. I think that one time they asked me to drive it to the gate and another time they asked me to take a photo of the mobility scooter to send to the person loading the scooter.
Once at MCO Orlando, I waited for them to bring my wheelchair or in the past my mobility scooter up to the jetway and I drove down to the Disney Magical Express.
It is also important on your resort reservation for DME to tell them that you will need a lift on the DME bus.
I was escorted to the DME bus, backed up on the bus lift. At the top, I slowly backed up into the bus and turned to my left into a space where they had moved seats for me to park. I reversed the procedure when arriving at the resort and exiting.
I also found that it is a good idea to take some photos at the airport gate of my wheelchair and previously my mobility scooter. I would take the same photos at my destination in the airline jetway.
That way I could show prove if there was any damage done during transport.
Some of the things that I missed before taking photos was damage to the armrest and seat material where they might have brushed up against something metal.
Also any damage around the outer edges of the mobility scooter that could have gotten torn off or bumped into.
You don't need many photos. I just take photos for the four sides and armrests.
That way you can prove damage with the before and after photos.
This is purely precautionary and I haven't had any problems since I started taking photos. I just mention this a good habit to get into.
I think that it would be a very good choice because Gold Mobility Scooter, LLC, takes very good care of their equipment and actually replaces them every six months. You can not find one single company in this whole world that does this. That makes the mobility scooter practically seem like brand new.
It will also come with extra heavy duty batteries which would cost you more if you had to buy them separately. And it would come with two extra add-ons that you won't have to pay for. And they will subtract the rental from the total price. So many extras that you don't have to pay for, plus an honest seller and a great price. I would jump at the chance to buy from them.[/QUOTE]
As far as using at your home, there are some things to consider. I don't know if you have owned or rented mobility scooters that you have used at home.
I don't advise using the Pride Victory 10 mobility scooter inside your home to drive around from living room to bedroom etc. since they are too big.
But I also don't know the size of your home.
Do you have a place where you can park it and an electrical outlet nearby where you can recharge it?
I assume that you might keep it in your garage where there is a flat driving area from your garage to your sidewalk.
You could also park it somewhere inside your house if you have space, but make sure you measure the door width and hallway width and turning space to make sure you can do that inside your home. And no steps.
Just some things to think about.
And when you get home, how will you get it home? Do you have access to a handicap van service that helps you get from the airport to your home?
I live three blocks from the subway station that I take directly into the Atlanta ATL airport.
My newer electric wheelchair easily drives into my condo.
My older, larger Pride Victory 10-LX Sport 4-wheel was too big to drive into my condo and so I parked it in the garage.
Do you have any more questions?
I have just been typing and I really haven't proofread anything.
Last edited:
Madeleine Arnold
RETIRED ARNOLD'S
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2019
Thanks for the quick response Ray. I agree the condition was perfect of all 4 scooters we rented from Gold Mobility last trip. This was our first trip ever where we never had to worry about a dead battery. When I heard you can buy them and take it home I thought about it. Now wished that I had after I returned home. We have been renting scooters from other Disney refferal list rental places for over 10 years. Gold Mobility company is far superior in every aspect as far as I'm concerned.
The fan attachment was great it worked so good but they don't come on new ones, I think they they have them made. I couldn't even come close to finding a deal like that.
This would be our first purchased scooter. The batteries we were told are 2 40amp dry cell batteries. Not lithium. We wouldn't be using it in our house at all. More to drive it to grocery store and local shops near our home. It would be parked in the garage with plenty of plugs in there. I have a friend with a large SUV that can pick us up at the airport. I was told that it comes apart into several pieces to transport in a larger vehicle and that it was easy to take apart and assemble. We are using Southwest Airlines for transport. The agent on the phone said to have the manual available that shows how to disconnect the battery ready for inspection for the gate handlers. Thanks for the point about taking the pictures at the gate thats a great idea. I wrote down to notify the Magical Express about the lift requirement on the return trip to the airport also a good point. Anything else you can think of let me know. Thank-you for all the pointers. Maddy
The fan attachment was great it worked so good but they don't come on new ones, I think they they have them made. I couldn't even come close to finding a deal like that.
This would be our first purchased scooter. The batteries we were told are 2 40amp dry cell batteries. Not lithium. We wouldn't be using it in our house at all. More to drive it to grocery store and local shops near our home. It would be parked in the garage with plenty of plugs in there. I have a friend with a large SUV that can pick us up at the airport. I was told that it comes apart into several pieces to transport in a larger vehicle and that it was easy to take apart and assemble. We are using Southwest Airlines for transport. The agent on the phone said to have the manual available that shows how to disconnect the battery ready for inspection for the gate handlers. Thanks for the point about taking the pictures at the gate thats a great idea. I wrote down to notify the Magical Express about the lift requirement on the return trip to the airport also a good point. Anything else you can think of let me know. Thank-you for all the pointers. Maddy
RaySharpton
Retired and going to Disney.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2000
It sounds like you are all ready to go. The reason that I bought a wheelchair is that I could no longer physically take apart and lift it into a rental car the Pride REVO mobility scooter. I never even considered taking apart my Pride Victory 10-LX Sport because I used it to drive all of the way to work and I longer owned a car. I lose my balance trying to turn to lift heavy objects.
So make sure that either one of you practices taking it apart or have someone else help you take it apart to put it in the van for you.
I don't know if you are buying a 4-wheel or a 3-wheel, but the 3-wheel Pride Victory 10 says,
You will have seven sections that come apart.
Front section 3-wheel 54 lbs. and 4-wheel 61 lbs.
Rear section
Two batteries 32 lbs. each (40AH)
Battery shroud
Seat 28 lbs
basket
As far as the batteries, Southwest may be different, but Delta didn't ask to look at the batteries because I knew and told them that they were DRY batteries and not WET batteries. Wet batteries must be taken out and boxed separately and most staff at check-in have no idea what is what, but when they look on their computer and see dry, they know that you can leave it on the scooter. But as I mentioned that is just my experiences with Delta.
When you call SouthWest make sure you talk to the handicap or disability representative and not the regular staff. It will save you a lot of frustration as they understand mobility scooters.
Also here a link to a 3-wheel Pride Victory 10 online manual. But I don't know which one you are buying.
https://www.pridemobility.com/pdf/owners_manuals/us_scooter/us_victory_10_om.pdf
So make sure that either one of you practices taking it apart or have someone else help you take it apart to put it in the van for you.
I don't know if you are buying a 4-wheel or a 3-wheel, but the 3-wheel Pride Victory 10 says,
You will have seven sections that come apart.
Front section 3-wheel 54 lbs. and 4-wheel 61 lbs.
Rear section
Two batteries 32 lbs. each (40AH)
Battery shroud
Seat 28 lbs
basket
As far as the batteries, Southwest may be different, but Delta didn't ask to look at the batteries because I knew and told them that they were DRY batteries and not WET batteries. Wet batteries must be taken out and boxed separately and most staff at check-in have no idea what is what, but when they look on their computer and see dry, they know that you can leave it on the scooter. But as I mentioned that is just my experiences with Delta.
When you call SouthWest make sure you talk to the handicap or disability representative and not the regular staff. It will save you a lot of frustration as they understand mobility scooters.
Also here a link to a 3-wheel Pride Victory 10 online manual. But I don't know which one you are buying.
https://www.pridemobility.com/pdf/owners_manuals/us_scooter/us_victory_10_om.pdf
Last edited:
Madeleine Arnold
RETIRED ARNOLD'S
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2019
The seat weights a little more because all the Gold Mobility rentals are upgraded to the larger captains chair, but it still meets the airline requirement. After renting scooters with the shorter standard seat all these years and switching to the captains chair I would never rent a scooter with a regular seat ever again. It was a major difference in comfort the bigger captains seat made. It was night and day. Plus I could tilt it back. Some days on the last trip we were seated for 6 plus hours. No back soreness at all the next day.
We are looking to buy the 3 wheel one it was a little cheaper than the 4.
RaySharpton
Retired and going to Disney.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2000
That's what I have on my Pride Victory 10-LX Sport, too. I loved that seat like you said after years of using my smaller seat on my older Pride REVO. I like 3-wheels because they turn so much easier. At the time my Pride Victory 10-LX Sport was only offered in a 4-wheel version, but it was new and on sale, I thought it would be better stability driving on rough sidewalks to work and back home.
I am happy for you.
I am happy for you.
Marlyn
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2003
A question about rear basket. Is it a problem having that back there when getting on buses? Last year I found my backpack, that I hung on back of my seat, would get crushed if I was going into the back spot on bus for scooter as they make you back up quite a ways. I worry basket could be a problem
Simba's Mom
<font color=green>everything went to "H*** in a ha
- Joined
- Aug 26, 1999
For me it was not a problem at all. Never even noticed it. And having that basket was probably one of my favorite amenities, next to the cell phone charger.
Simba's Mom
<font color=green>everything went to "H*** in a ha
- Joined
- Aug 26, 1999
I kind of wondered about that too, since I've done like you in the past. Frankly I didn't tip at all, mostly out of habit. I have no idea how typical it is to tip-maybe now I have a note on my card-"Watch out-she's a cheapskate!"
i didn't tip either, not sure if we should have or not, but really they are still very nice to me, so I doubt there is anything like you mention there.
CatNipRules
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2008
I asked them this question on Facebook messenger. They said that while tips are appreciated they aren't mandatory nor are the expected.
I also did not tip. It honestly never crossed my mind. But hearing others say they have or ask about it makes me wonder if we should have. Nick was so nice when we met up with him to get the ECV and when we returned it, and now I feel kind of bad. Am interested what others have done or those that have not in the past what you plan to do in the future.
kaytieeldr
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2005
Yup. Back is much heavier!
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