If you use a scooter/ECV at Disney, you probably already know there are official rules you need to follow to use them in the theme parks, on Disney transportation, and age limits to ride. But many Disney guests say these rules are often being broken and also list unwritten etiquette that users need to follow. This comes as the viral debate about scooters continues following abuse allegations.
Here is what Disney fans are saying about the rules that scooter users should follow. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including Disney World confirming new rides’ opening timelines for 2027 and a new perk for Disney World annual passholders.
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Disney Has an Extensive Official Scooter Usage Policy
When renting a scooter directly from Disney, there are multiple official rules that guests need to follow. First, guests need to be 18 or older, and these rentals are meant just for one person. The ECV may only be operated by the person who rented it and cannot be used to carry another person. At Walt Disney World, Disney’s rental ECVs also have a 450-pound weight limit.
Here is the full list of the official rules, which are fairly extensive!
According to Disney’s website, “the following are required for Guests utilizing a rented ECV”:
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Must be 18 years of age or older to operate an Electric Conveyance Vehicle (“ECV”).
Only the person who signed the agreement is allowed to operate the ECV.
Do not place children or service animals in the ECV basket. The ECV basket is meant only for personal items.
Do not drive while distracted (e.g. texting, surfing the web, eating).
Do not hang bags or other personal items from the ECV handlebars.
Do not turn the key switch “Off” while the ECV is moving. This will cause the ECV to stop abruptly.
Use caution when operating ECVs in inclement weather. The vehicle may take longer to stop fully on an incline or wet surface.
Use caution when driving on inclines (ramps, hills etc.). To prevent tipping backward, lean forwards in the seat when accelerating uphill. Drive in the direction of the incline (up or down) and avoid driving across or reversing down an incline whenever possible.
Use caution when driving indoors (restaurants, stores, attraction queues, washrooms etc.). To prevent collisions, reduce speed and be aware when making turns and navigating narrow walkways.
Always remain seated with the seat locked in the forwards position and arms and legs within the confines of the ECV while in motion.
Always make sure the key switch is “Off” before transferring on and off the unit and remove key from ignition when leaving the ECV unattended.
The problem, according to many Disney guests, is that not all scooters are following some of the safety guidelines outlined by Disney, which has led to another list of certain etiquette guests should follow. Let’s get into all the “unofficial” rules and etiquette guidelines that many say scooter users should be following.
Scooter Rules Disney Fans Say Are Being Broken
A recent viral video has sparked a heated debate over who should be eligible to rent an ECV at the Disney Parks, with some commenters even arguing that the requirements should be as strict as those for Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS).
The video showed a group of women riding ECVs through Disney’s Animal Kingdom while the song “Ridin’” played in the background. The clip appeared to show the women riding the scooters through the park as a joke. Its caption read, “Don’t worry, Disney has enough scooters to rent for everyone! Best $65 we’ve ever spent!”
The unofficial rules that Disney guests say most scooter users should follow are actually not too different than the official Disney rules.
A few of the comments we saw repeatedly on our recent posts following this viral scooter video focused primarily on what scooter users should not do. This included not weaving through crowds, not stopping in the middle of walkways, not expecting people to move for you, and not assuming guests can always see you.
We also saw repeat comments that called out the issue of driving too closely behind others and not leaving proper space between the scooter and other guests. This helps avoid the issue of running into others while on the scooter, especially in heavy crowd moments like after the fireworks end.
But many commenters also called out multiple issues of guests not following the rules issued by Disney, like seeing scooter users allowing children to sit on their lap while driving, using the scooter without paying attention, and allowing other younger members in their family to drive the scooter. A majority of the comments we followed around this idea of scooter etiquette actually called out multiple examples which would all technically be against Disney’s rules.
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Disney’s official guidelines for ECV usage in the park cover most of the basic rules for operating a scooter, while many of the other expectations discussed by guests fall into a category of unofficial etiquette. But there also appears to be quite a trend of rule-breaking, as many comments pointed out issues they’ve observed with scooter users that all appear to violate Disney’s official guidelines.
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