I have finally faced the music that my health is not going to get better. Between needing knee replacement, a neurological condition that has balance and coordination issues, and diabetic neuropathy, that I need a scooter for our adventures. '
What are your recommendations. 3 wheel vs 4 wheel and other features. We enjoy going to Pigeon Forge TN, cruising and a few theme parks thrown in there too. Hubby has been pushing me in a manual WC at bigger places, such as the Island in Pigeon Forge and the Market in Charleston. He is usually exhausted from doing this due to hills, ramps etc.
First of all, make sure that it will fit in the "Disney box" (the white rectangle that is painted on the ground at the Resort bus stops) because it if is larger than
30 inches wide by 48 inches long you won't be able to use the internal bus system (or any other Disney provided transportation) and you won't fit in the queues in the Parks. (Most units you will be considering will be well within those dimensions)
Don't get too hung up on 3 wheel vs 4 wheel; that's a personal preference, and only you can answer that question. Personally, I'm not afraid of using a 3 wheel scooter because I am accustomed to that (my personal scooter is a 3 wheel). IMHO, 3 wheel scooters have a tighter turning radius and 4 wheel scooters tend to have a bit more foot room. Your mileage may vary. You will hear horror stories about people who tip over on 3 wheel units - the trick is to never "crank" the tiller over to the point where the front wheel is perpendicular to the back wheels. That's a surefire recipe for disaster.
Make sure any unit you buy either has solid tires, or has tires/wheels that can be easily replaced if damaged. In fact, check to see what user-replaceable parts are available, and how much they cost prior to purchase. If your new
ECV requires a key, make sure you have at least 2 of them, in case one gets lost.
Overall, look at the things that will be important in your day to day use: How heavy is the scooter, both assembled and the weight of the heaviest component (if you have to take it apart to put it in your vehicle). Can you lift that amount unassisted? How will you transport the scooter? Make sure anything you buy will fit in your vehicle. If you will be using it on solo trips (maybe you just want to go to the art museum for an afternoon...) make sure you can manage it on your own.
How far will the battery take you (on average) in distance? At WDW, the average Guest walks between 3 and 10 miles per day - and frankly, our family tends toward the 10 mile end of that range. So make sure that you can "double stack" (use an auxiliary or secondary battery that you can either store onboard, or carry in a basket) if the range of the scooter is not sufficient for your needs. Increasingly, charging in the Parks at WDW is becoming difficult; more and more outlets are being "locked" from public use by Disney, so do not rely upon being able to "top up" your battery while in the Parks.
Your best strategy is to make sure that the battery(s) is/are charged fully prior to leaving for the Parks every morning. Start the day with a fully charged battery, and you should be OK. In addition to turning off the unit for shows, parades, etc., don't forget to turn it off when on buses, boats, and the Monorails. Also, I turn off my personal scooter if I am going to be sitting for more than 30 seconds or so (in line, or looking at something in a shop, or chatting with a CM) Turn it off at meals - even if you sit on the unit to eat.
(If so equipped) Don't use the headlight in the daytime. It won't give that much additional visibility, and it will drain the battery faster. Some folks don't even use the headlight at night. On my personal ECV, I have a bicycle lighting system that is self-contained and rechargeable so it doesn't pull from my ECV battery. The only time I tend to use the headlights/taillights is at night, between the Park entrance and the buses, just for an extra bit of visibility. (I do have LED undercarriage lighting that I use at night; it uses a rechargeable battery pack that doesn't draw from the main battery)
Look carefully at the seat; if you need a higher back, or if armrests are a deal-breaker, make sure the model you buy has what you need. You will be spending a lot of time in that seat, so make sure it's what you want and need. Many people here prefer a seat back that folds down when not in use; you can fold it over to help keep the sun off of your seat bottom while you are in a show or ride. I took the seat back completely off of my scooter because it forces me to sit up straight and keep my core tight, which is very important to my particular situation. Again, it's all about personal preference and needs.
Don't worry about "extras" that you can add after you buy, like lighting, cup holders, or baskets - focus on finding the right unit, because you can accessorize later. Many of us use backpacks, or aftermarket baskets; I personally have installed the undercarriage LED lighting, the rechargeable bike lights (front and rear), and I have a cup holder that holds 2 Resort mugs nicely that I found on
Amazon as well. Those things are a bonus; focus first on the things you can't change.
Good luck - let us know what you decide!