Mobility Scooter Safety 101
Mobility scooters are, for all intents and purposes, safe. After all, they are built to ensure the safety of individuals who have difficulty walking or who are unable to get around at all. When a person uses a mobility scooter on a regular basis, they learn how to operate it properly so they can stay as safe as possible. But what happens when you rent a mobility scooter in Orlando for your vacation? Can you simply sit down on it and feel secure enough to ride it throughout the city, theme parks, and any restaurants you might like to visit?
When you’re renting a mobility scooter, you may need a little extra information to ensure you are safe and secure when riding it. Here are a few tips you should consider before you begin your vacation.
Safety When You Rent a Mobility Scooter in Orlando
- Visibility- Pay close attention to your surroundings whenever you are driving a mobility scooter. These handicap-accessible chairs ride low to the ground, and while they help you get from point A to point B, cars may find them difficult to see. By paying attention when you’re in a parking lot, on the street, or among a crowd of people, you can be sure you are as safe as possible.
- Terrain- Choosing a mobility scooter rental isn’t as simple as just picking out one that you think looks nice. You need to consider how it will be used. Are you planning on only using it around the hotel or when you visit restaurants? If so, you would be safe using a three-wheel scooter. If, however, you plan on going down a sidewalk, visiting a theme park, or rolling over the occasional patch of grass, you’re going to need a four-wheel scooter. They are much safer to ride on rough terrain and have the right support to prevent you from tipping over.
- Body-Positioning- To stay as safe as possible, always make sure all of your hands, feet, and limbs are fully contained within the space of the mobility scooter. If you have a weakened leg or arm that could drop to the side, use accessories like leg and foot huggers and arm support to keep them in place. This ensures you don’t get hurt while enjoying your time in Orlando.
- Essential Accessories- Do you need to carry your cane, walker, or oxygen canister with you while you go from place to place? Don’t carry these items in your lap; you may accidentally knock over fragile items, hit pedestrians as they pass by, or even have trouble getting through narrow doorways. Instead, purchase or rent special mobility aids that can help you carry these items safely.
- The Ride- In most areas, people on mobility scooters are considered to be pedestrians. What this means is you should be on the sidewalk, not the road. Unless there’s no way around it, always keep your scooter away from traffic on the sidewalk.
When you rent a mobility scooter in Orlando, you may not know what you need to in order to remain safe. Consider these tips and rent with confidence.
Renting an Orlando Vacation Home? Here’s How to Ensure it’s Scooter-Friendly
So, it’s your annual trip to Orlando, and you can’t wait to begin enjoying the sun. You’ve arranged for your Orlando scooter rental already, but you’re not sure yet where you want to stay. A hotel is always an option, but it can become boring in a “been there, done that” kind of way. You’ve been contemplating the possibility of a vacation home, but you’re not sure a rental will offer the electric scooter-friendly atmosphere you need.
Luckily, Florida is a state that is happily caters to mobility-challenged and disabled travelers. It offer plenty of transportation options, scooter-friendly restaurants and theme parks, and even vacation homes that are easily accessible and ADA compliant. You just have to know how to find them.
Choosing an Electric-Scooter Friendly Vacation Home
Finding a vacation home that will provide you with all the amenities of living in a home while catering to your unique physical needs isn’t always easy. Here are a few tips to make it happen.
- Talk to a Realtor- While there are numerous online sites that can help you find vacation homes in Florida, it’s sometimes best to speak to actual person who is knowledgeable about the local real estate. Florida real estate agents can not only help you find a home that is close to shopping, theme parks, and restaurants, but they will be able to find a home that is accessible to your Orlando scooter rental. They’ll also be able to easily assess your wants and needs and find a home that gives you everything you want.
- Make Sure it’s ADA Compliant- ADA, or the Americans with Disability Act, compliant means that a home has several features that make it accessible to those with disabilities- especially those with electric scooters or wheel chairs. Homes that are ADA compliant will have accessible parking close to the home, larger entryways and doorways throughout the home so that your electric scooter can easily maneuver through it, and elevator or stair lifts if the home has a second floor. The home will also have amenities in the bathroom, kitchen, and living room, such as lower countertops and handle grips for transferring from the scooter to the toilet.
- Don’t be Fooled- If you don’t want to speak to a realtor and instead choose to search online for a home that will accommodate your Orlando scooter rental, don’t be fooled into thinking that every home that is listed as disabled-friendly is actually that. Some individuals who rent their homes out will state this simply because the home is one-story. This doesn’t mean it’s ADA compliant. Have a friend or family member stop by and evaluate the state of the home before you rent it if you aren’t able to do so.
Are you thinking of staying in a vacation home instead of a hotel when you visit Orlando? If you have to rely on an electric scooter to get around, make sure the home will have the right amenities and space to accommodate you. This will ensure you are able to truly enjoy your Orlando vacation.
Are You Vertically Challenged? Top Tips for Renting the Perfect Scooter
Renting a mobility scooter may seem easy enough, but if you’re under 5’2’’, many scooters may be a bit too big for you. If you’re planning a vacation in Orlando and need a mobility scooter to get a round, this can put quite a damper on your fun. If your feet can’t reach the ground or the controls are too far away, you will not only be subjected to an uncomfortable ride, but it can also be dangerous because you won’t have enough stability and control to ride the mobility scooter safely.
So how to you rent a scooter in Orlando that is the perfect size for you? Here are just a few tips to ensure you get the scooter you not only want, but need.
How to Rent a Scooter in Orlando When You’re Short
- Do Some Measuring- Measure, or ask someone else to help you measure, the length of your leg from the back of your knee to the floor. This is the height that you need your mobility scooter to be in order to ensure your feet can be placed flat on the floor when necessary. Not all scooters will show that they are this height, but don’t be fooled. Call and ask if the scooter you want to rent has a seat that can be lowered. Most can, which means you’ll easily be able to adjust the scooter’s height to fit your needs.
- Watch the Overall Length- When you’re vertically challenged, reaching a scooter rental’s controls can be difficult. Paying close attention to the specifications before you decide to rent can prevent you from renting a scooter that doesn’t fulfill your special height needs. Look for a scooter that has an overall length of 40” or less. This will allow you to reach the controls easily. It might also help if the scooter has handles that can tilt toward your body for easier reach.
- Look for Smaller Seats- If you also are smaller in width, choosing a scooter with smaller seats can help you feel more comfortable when driving and provide you with the support and reach you need. Some scooter seats can be as wide or long as 20”. For a vertically challenged smaller individual, this is much too large. Look instead for scooter seats that are 17” or less in width and length.
- Ground Clearance- It might seem as if choosing a mobility scooter with a short ground clearance is one of the best ways to ensure you have the right amount of height, but this is not necessarily the case. Ground clearance ensures your scooter can actively move about and won’t become hung up over uneven or rough terrain. Even when you’re short, you need to ensure your scooter has a ground clearance of at least 2.5” to 3”.
Looking to rent a scooter in Orlando for your vacation? If you’re vertically challenged, keep these helpful tips in mind so that you can find a scooter that works for your unique height and physical needs.
Need to Take a Car or Cab? Dissembling Your Scooter Easily so it Fits in the Trunk
There are many ways to get around Orlando, Florida when you’re on vacation when you’re traveling via scooter. Florida is very scooter-friendly and offers a number transportation options to choose from, like public busses with hydraulic lifts and the Amtrak. Theme parks like Disney World even accommodate your scooter rental in Florida, with options like their monorails, shuttle busses, and watercraft.
Sometimes, however, you may not want to take advantage of these options, especially if you aren’t travelling far from your hotel. You may instead want to take a car or a cab. While you may not be able to get into a car with your scooter, scooter rentals in Florida can easily be disassembled (and re-assembled) so they can fit into any trunk. This convenience allows you to take your mobility scooter with you wherever you might want to go.
Disassembling Your Scooter Rental in Florida
While it is easy to break down and store mobility scooters for transport in a car or cab, the specific way each brand or model is disassembled with vary. Because of this, you will want to take the time to speak to the individual delivering the rental and have them show you exactly how your scooter can be disassembled. This generally does not take long and it will save you time in the long run if you know what you’re doing. In most cases, as well, disassembly requires little to no tools.
Although each scooter is different, the majority of mobility scooters can be disassembled with the following steps.
- Turn the power off and remove the key from the mobility scooter. This is essential as the key may break when you are disassembling the scooter if it is not removed first.
- Lift the seat off of its post, and if possible, fold the seat down. Some scooters may require you to fold the seat down first before lifting it straight up and off.
- If the mobility scooter rental came with a basket, remove it.
- Take the battery pack off carefully by disconnecting the cables and lifting the battery carefully.
- If the scooter has a connector, generally located at the back of the scooter, use it. This will allow you to separate the body of the scooter into different sections.
- After you have completed everything, lower the tiller and make sure it has been locked into place. The tiller is the steering column at the front of the mobility scooter where the speed controls and forward/reverse directional switches are located.
It’s as simple as that! Remember, your mobility scooter may require more work or even less. However, the process is quite easy and fast, and it will allow you to place the scooter in a trunk or even in the seat of a car because it is separated into a few different pieces. When you need to ride your scooter rental in Florida again, just reverse the steps and put all the pieces back together, making sure they are securely in place.
Top Questions to Ask When Renting a Mobility Scooter in Orlando Florida
Visiting Orlando, Florida can be a fun and exciting experience. If you’re not as mobile as you used to be, however, taking a vacation may seem like a far-fetched idea. While getting around these days might not be easy for you to do, getting around Florida can be with the help of a mobility scooter rental in Orlando.
Mobility scooters allow you to access places you’ve only dreamed of going, like Disney World, Sea World, or the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. With the help of a mobility scooter, you no longer have to worry about how far you have to walk, whether you’ll be too exhausted to actually enjoy the event or attraction you’re attending, or whether you’ll have the energy to do everything you want to. The right scooter rental can make it happen.
If you’re going to rent a scooter in Orlando, however, you need to know how to do it properly and ask the right questions so you get a scooter that will be reliable and help you get from point A to point B.
Mobility Scooter Rental in Orlando: What to Ask
Question 1: Do your scooters comply with attraction guidelines?
Why It’s Important: Certain theme parks in Orlando, like Universal Studios and Disney World have certain guidelines and requirements for mobility scooters. These guidelines ensure you’re able to enjoy almost every aspect of the parks; without the right scooter, you may be left watching everyone else have fun or be forced to spend additional money renting a scooter in-park.
Question 2: Will the battery charge on the scooter last all day?
Why It’s Important: You don’t want to get half-way through the day and realize you have to go back to the hotel in order to charge your scooter, do you? We didn’t think so. The scooter battery should be able to manage without cutting your day short, as long it’s been charged fully the night before.
Question 3: What affects the battery charge?
Why It’s Important: Again, you’ll want to make the most of every day you spend on vacation in Florida, so you need to know what problems could affect the battery charge. The biggest one is weight. That’s why it’s so important to be honest and rent a mobility scooter that is suitable for your particular weight.
Question 4: How do I pick up (and drop off) my mobility scooter rental in Orlando?
Why It’s Important: Knowing exactly where to pick up and drop off your scooter allows you to make the most of your trip and avoid late charges. We make this simple for you by delivering your mobility scooter rental right to your hotel, condo, or motel. We then arrange to pick the equipment up at the same location when you’re done using it.
Question 5: Can I take my mobility scooter with me when using public or private transportation?
Why It’s Important: As easily as your mobility scooter helps you get around, you’re not going to want to waste the battery charge, and your day, traveling throughout Orlando with it only. At some point, you’ll probably need to get in a car, on a bus, or call a taxi. Luckily, your scooter can easily come with you. When you receive your scooter, the delivery driver will show you exactly how to take it apart so it can easily be stored in a trunk.
Ready for your next mobility scooter rental in Orlando? Make sure you ask the right questions before you rent your scooter so you can be sure it will be able to take you wherever you want to go.
Tips for Planning a Florida Vacation When You’re Disabled
When you’re thinking of taking a vacation in Florida, you have to plan your trip well to ensure you hit all the top sights and attractions. This is even more important if you’re disabled. While Florida is extremely accessible to individuals with disabilities, if you want to experience the best of cities like Orlando, you have to start the trip with a plan in place that will allow you to do so. Not sure where to start? We can walk you through each step of the plan, from your Orlando scooter rental to utilizing your hotel concierge.
Planning an Orlando, Florida Vacation
- Think Ahead- Planning a vacation when you’re disabled takes much more forethought than when you’re not. You have to consider things other people don’t, like where you’re going to use the restroom if you’re out sightseeing, whether or not the hotel you’re staying at will have a place to plug in your Orlando scooter rental, and whether or not that outlet is close to your bed. When you book your trip, ask questions and obtain the answers you need so that your trip is one you’ll enjoy.
- Scooter Rentals- If you have difficulty getting around, consider a scooter rental while you’re in Orlando. Walking around or even pushing yourself in a wheelchair can be exhausting. Instead of wasting your time and energy, let a mobility scooter do all the work. This way, you can spend every moment of your vacation doing exactly what you want to do.
- Talk to Friends- Do you have friends that live in the area that are also disabled? Seek them out for advice on the best locations to go on your visit. They’ll know where to park at Disney World, which restaurants have the best access, and which shops you simply can’t pass over. If you don’t have a friend in the area, consider going online to find a community of travelers with disabilities. One such membership site, the Travelin’ Talk Network, will help connect you with other individuals in Orlando that are willing to share travel information with you.
- Utilize Your Concierge- A hotel concierge is your best friend while you’re staying in Florida. He will not only be the one who accepts your Orlando scooter rental when it arrives, but, if he’s knowledgeable about the area, will be your guide to fun in the city. He’ll help you find adequate public transportation, provide information about accessible attractions in the area, like Disney World and Sea World, and help you find a restaurant that is not only disability-friendly, but serves your favorite food. Don’t be afraid to seek your concierge out for information. They are there to help you have the best time possible during your stay.
Orlando Scooter Rentals, Concierges, and Friends: The Perfect Vacation
If you want your vacation to Florida to be perfect, start planning it now. The earlier you begin researching scooter rentals, accessible parks, restaurants, hotels, and shops, the more organized and fun your trip will be.
Visiting Sea World? FAQ for Guests With Scooters
Orlando Florida offers a number of attractions, theme parks, hotels, and restaurants that accommodate those using Orlando, Florida scooter rentals. Out of all of them, however, one of the most popular to visit (next to Disney World of course) has to be Sea World. This adventure land makes a splash for out-of-towers, residents, young, and old.
If you’re thinking of visiting Sea World for the first time with your mobility scooter, however, there are no doubt a few questions you want answered so you can plan your trip as easily as possible. Luckily, we have all the answers you need.
Orlando, Florida Scooter Rentals and Sea World: FAQ
Before you make arrangements for Orlando scooter rentals or begin packing those bags for the trip to Florida, you need to make sure Sea World is the right theme park for you to visit. Have a few questions you need answers to? Let us help.
Is parking available for those with mobility scooters? The short answer is yes; a parking lot is available very close to the main entrance of Sea World. Every space is van accessible, and you must have a parking permit to take advantage of these spots. Keep in mind, however, that the spaces can not be reserved and are only available on a first come, first served basis.
Can I see the shows with my family? Worried that you and your family might get separated during the main events? Don’t be. The stadiums and theaters within Sea World all have accessible seating for Orlando scooter rentals, along with one companion. If your group is large, nearby seating is available as well.
What about the Soak Zone? Want to the dolphins to splash you as they swim by? The Soak Zone does have wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible seating; however, water and electronics don’t mix well. If you want to get soaked, consider requesting a regular wheelchair you can transfer into during the show.
Can I shop for souvenirs? One of the best parts about visiting a theme park on a Florida vacation is collecting souvenirs to bring back to loved ones who were not able to come with you. It’s a little way of sharing your experience. At Sea World, this isn’t a problem. All gift shops are accessible to Orlando scooter rentals. If you didn’t spring for that extra basket on the back, you can even arrange to pick up your packages at Shamu’s Emporium before you leave the park.
Where can I eat? The majority of restaurants within Sea World are similar to cafeterias; unfortunately, the lines may be a bit narrow for mobility scooters and wheelchairs. This means you may have to ask for assistance from Sea World employees. Table service is available upon request and there are certain restaurants, like Sea Port Pizza and Sharks Underwater Grill that offer more mobility scooter friendly dining options.
Do I have to go on rides alone? Like most theme parks, separate entrances are available to make access easier to those who are riding Orlando, Florida scooter rentals. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go alone while the rest of your group waits in line. Up to three people can accompany you through the auxiliary entrance so they can board the ride with you.
Planning a trip to Sea World? If you have to rent mobility scooters for the trip, make sure you have all your questions answered before you arrive at the main entrance. It will mean a better experience for you and a more enjoyable trip.
