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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How about some guidelines for the able-bodied? Like, don’t walk backwards or suddenly veer off at an angle without looking behind you or to the side. I was parked, key in my pocket, in a World of Color viewing area and this jerk moved backwards and fell over me and then told people that I ran into him. I was the recipient of nasty looks and comments until my husband told them to look at the ignition, the key wasn’t even in it.
I keep an extra close eye on kids and adults with kids as kids will zoom off wherever and I get that the parent needs to go after them. But adults without kids? Please have some situational awareness! If you suddenly change direction and don’t look where you’re going, it’s not my fault if you dash into me and my scooter!
Believe me, folks. Most of us on scooters wish we didn’t need them and that we could run around the park on our own two feet. It’s not fun being mobility challenged. Please be considerate so that we can enjoy the Happiest Place on Earth with you.
I agree that situational awareness can be the biggest issue. Folks have run right into me because they were looking at their phones or up & off to another direction…we are lower than their field of vision, I suppose. But, don’t start yelling at us for just being there.
The article about ECV IS CRAP! Take a look at the thousands of Volkswagen size strollers or wagons that are supposedly banned but are not TRY GOING INTO A STORE OR RESTAURANT WHEN THERE IS A FAMILY OF HALF DOZEN PEOPLE ACCOMPANYING THESE STROLLERS!!! They do not get out of the way even when walking thru the parks or Disney springs people STOP in the middle of the path that people are walking thru and they do not MOVE these strollers are packed with who knows what and kids are waking unattended ahead of the parents restaurants are so noisy people yell at the top of their lungs so that you can’t hear yourself think there are absolutely thousands of these HUGE strollers taking up space scooters are a necessity for handicapped or seniors or people with injuries they are a necessity if a group of young girls as a group try to rent the scooters for joy ride then tell them NO IT IS THAT SIMPLE SOME PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THEM CAREFULLY SO GIVE THEM A QUICK TRIAL TEST I DO SEE PEOPLE GOING FULL SPEED IN CROWDS WHILE ON THESE SCOOTERS THEN REPORT THEM TO SECURITY
The article about ECV IS CRAP! Take a look at the thousands of Volkswagen size strollers or wagons that are supposedly banned but are not TRY GOING INTO A STORE OR RESTAURANT WHEN THERE IS A FAMILY OF HALF DOZEN PEOPLE ACCOMPANYING THESE STROLLERS!!! They do not get out of the way even when walking thru the parks or Disney springs people STOP in the middle of the path that people are walking thru and they do not MOVE these strollers are packed with who knows what and kids are waking unattended ahead of the parents restaurants are so noisy people yell at the top of their lungs so that you can’t hear yourself think there are absolutely thousands of these HUGE strollers taking up space scooters are a necessity for handicapped or seniors or people with injuries they are a necessity if a group of young girls as a group try to rent the scooters for joy ride then tell them NO IT IS THAT SIMPLE SOME PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THEM CAREFULLY SO GIVE THEM A QUICK TRIAL TEST I DO SEE PEOPLE GOING FULL SPEED IN CROWDS WHILE ON THESE SCOOTERS THEN REPORT THEM TO SECURITY THIS IS NOT A DUPLICATE POST IT IS A REPLY TO YOOUR ARTICLE WHICH TOURISTS COMPLAIN ABOUT SCOOTERS WELL I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT STUPID TOURISTS AND THOUSANDS OF STROLLERS
I find it interesting that they did not include the rule about not drinking alcohol when you rent the ECV you sign a paper that says you will follow these rules.
i wish i had a dollar for every time a parent nudged beside me in a slow moving crowd and angled their stroller barely in front of my scooter to cut me off.
real concern for their little one . or not. just saying – there are obvious no-no’s by pedestrians and ecv drivers. disney should enforce their own rules – and, for the peace of all – monitor and enforce rules against line cutters!!
I have not heard a word here about drunken scooter drivers…I wish Disney would include “no under the influence” as a rule for scooter users. I am glad that booze has been harder to come by at Uncle Walt’s Disneyland (however it is getting very easy, too) but DCA has taken on the stench of boozed up crowds. I had a very drunk “mother” carrying her spawn on the scooter she rented offsite slam into me as I was parked on my scooter in a ’stroller’ parking area. She was so drunk she could not utter an intelligible sentence and laughed so hard she almost fell off her scooter dropping her 5 year old on the ground. I attempted to find a Cast Member (using my cane and walking slowly) but she fled before I found a Cast Member. I took her photo and the crying child’s. She even slugged a guzzle of swill from her giant sealed mug. Yuck! Not first, by far, boozer I’ve encountered there. So sad!