A recent Disney scooter debate went viral after multiple guests shared videos making jokes about using mobility scooters in Walt Disney World. The posts about these viral moments have exploded, prompting debates among Disney fans weighing in on the controversial topic.
From strong opinions about scooter etiquette to personal experiences navigating the theme parks, fans had plenty to say about the topic. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including why you need to book before ticket prices increase and Disney’s decision to change a ride name for a popular attraction.
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Disney Scooter Video Creates Viral Debate
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).
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The video showed a group of women riding ECVs through Disney’s Animal Kingdom with the audio of “Ridin’” playing as the background music. The clip showed the women riding the scooters, seemingly as a joke, through the park. The caption for the video read, “Don’t worry, Disney has enough scooters to rent for everyone! Best $65 we’ve ever spent!”
The video quickly circulated on online Disney Facebook groups and Reddit pages, with many guests expressing their frustration over what is being perceived as “scooter abuse.” When we published the story and shared it across our social media pages, it quickly became one of our most commented-on news posts.
There were many comments voicing their outrage at the situation and calling for stricter rules surrounding scooter use at Disneyland and Disney World. Vera argued, “The abuse of scooters needs to be addressed. When you have childish social media wanna-bes doing it, it prevents those of us who really need it. If you are healthy and can’t manage the walk, then get healthier or take breaks.” This was the tone of a few comments, with some commenters equating scooter use with laziness and even drawing comparisons to the movie WALL-E. Another user commented anonymously, saying, “The scooters are way OVERused and people using them don’t know what they are doing. They need to limit how many are in use in the parks.”
However, this was the minority of comments on both our Facebook post and the article itself.
In fact, most commenters did not see what the issue was surrounding the debate, with Molly sharing, “I have ZERO problem if people want to rent a scooter to avoid the miles you walk at Disney. Even healthy people who are not used to walking that much can struggle and why have that ruin your trip?” RS shared a similar sentiment, saying, “I don’t use a scooter and I do not judge those who do. You don’t know others medical reasons for needing a scooter.” Larry agrees, saying simply, “The only qualification is that they pay for the rental.” Roger pointed out the high cost of the scooter one-day rentals, arguing, “They charge a high price for a one day rental. And if someone is willing to shell it out more power to them. Enough with the rules.”
There were also many commenters who pointed out the reality of guests with invisible disabilities. An invisible disability is defined as a disability that is not immediately visible to an onlooker.
I personally was relieved to see so many comments from our readers who were aware of this reality. I experienced cancer at a young age, in my late 20s, and I had multiple experiences, especially when I wore wigs, with random strangers accusing me of not truly “needing” a scooter in grocery stores. You wouldn’t know from looking at me when I was wearing my wigs that I was undergoing cancer treatment. This is a common experience for many people, which many readers called out on our Facebook post. Just because you do not look disabled, or are young, does not mean you may not need an ECV.
Our readers consistently pointed out this reality, with RS commenting that they don’t judge those who use scooters because “you don’t know others medical reasons for needing a scooter.” Heather echoed this sentiment, sharing, “Not all disabilities are visible. I don’t get a car placard bc I don’t need that, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need a scooter at Disney.” Other comments also pointed out the high volume of walking at Disney that can be a barrier for many guests. Shari pointed this out in our comment section, “You don’t have to be disabled to not be able to stand for long periods of time and not able walk 25,000 steps.” Amanda also called out the issues of questioning other guests on scooter use, saying, “I’m not the disability police. Just because it’s not something obvious doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
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The majority of these comments are likely correct when they point out Disney will not be regulating scooter use anytime soon. Doing so creates more of an accessibility barrier and may harm more people than it would help. As long as guests meet the requirements to rent a scooter, meaning they are 18 and can put a deposit down, they will be able to rent one.
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