Drop that water bottle! Top Ten Ways to get the MOST for your Disney Snack Credits!

All of Walt Disney World's dining plan information lists examples for using your snack credits. Generally, these examples always include Mickey ice cream bars, single serve bags of chips, a piece of fruit, and bottled water and soda. All these things certainly are available for a snack credit and, no doubt, WDW would be more than happy to see you choose them because these items all generally cost around $2. But, what they are not telling you is that most menu items up to a value of $5 are also available using your dining plan snack credits. There are literally THOUSANDS of options you may not know you can get with that snack credit. So put down those chips and that bottle of water because we are going to tell you 10 of the most delicious and satisfying ways to use those credits! 

1. BREAKFAST

If you are on a Quick Service or regular dining plan, you will only receive 2 meal entitlements per day. Since both of those meals include a dessert, you can use your snack credits to create a tasty breakfast. You can find many great breakfast options at your resort food court as well as many locations throughout the parks. Some of the choices available with snack credits include: cereal, fruit cups, bagels with cream cheese, muffins, croissants, oatmeal and more. So use those credits to start the day off right!

2. The almighty Dole Whip!

While the Mickey ice cream bar is a very cute and refreshing treat, can it really compare to some of the other frozen deliciousness available throughout the parks? First and foremost is the Dole Whip. Either soft-serve or float style, it's a must-have for many park guests. If the Dole Whip isn't your thing (yes, it's true! some people actually don't like it) there are a wide variety of frozen treats such as milkshakes, fruit smoothies and floats available at many locations. You just need to know where to look! 

3. EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

Every fall, EPCOT hosts the largest culinary and entertainment festival of the year. One of the biggest parts of this festival are the booths set up throughout the World Showcase which feature culinary delights from countries around the world. Most of the sample selections available at the festival can be purchased using your snack credits.

4. Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes!

Need I say more? Walt Disney World has hundreds of cupcakes in a multitude of flavors available everywhere on property. They may look too cute to eat, but eat them anyway. You will NOT be sorry!!!

5. EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival

Much like the fall Food & Wine Festival, the springtime Flower & Garden Festival now features outdoor kitchens. These kiosks offer a variety of food samples which are also available for purchase with snack credits.

6. Starbucks

You could always use your snack credits for coffee, tea or hot chocolate on the dining plan. But now that the Main Street Bakery features Starbucks, caffeine junkies can now put those credits to use with a much wider variety. You can get lattes, espresso, chai, frappuccinos, iced tazo tea, and oh yes....coffee.

7. Have a light lunch

Maybe you're still recovering from that huge breakfast buffet or you are looking forward to a fabulous sit-down dinner. There are plenty of light lunch options available to you for a mere snack credit. Some of these choices include: cup of soup, salad, sushi, fried rice, egg rolls or even chili cheese fries!

8. Oh, the bakeries!!

WDW has some of the best bakeries in the world with a variety of tastes to satisfy every sweet-tooth! The nearly endless list includes cheesecake, eclairs, croissants, brownies, mousse, fudge, creme brulee, cinnamon buns, etc. etc. etc. Ahhhhh sugar coma heaven!!

9. LeFou's Brew

This tasty treat has become the signature beverage of Fantasyland since it was introduced at Gaston's Tavern. It's no-sugar added frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow, topped with all-natural passion fruit-mango foam. And, you can sample the "normal" size for just a snack credit.

10. The croissant doughnut

The newest taste sensation is the croissant doughnut. This hot, fried sensation is a cross between a croissant and a doughnut and is available exclusively at the Refreshment Port in EPCOT.


This list just scratches the surface of the many treats available with your Disney dining plan snack credits. To see the most complete list of the thousands of available choices, click HERE to see the disboards complete list.

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Throwback Thursday - Tapestry of Nations/Tapestry of Dreams

The Tapestry of Nations was a parade at the Epcot theme park that ran around the World Showcase Lagoon. It opened on October 1, 1999 and closed on September 2, 2001, after which it was rethemed as Tapestry of Dreams.

The parade had a unity and world peace theme and featured a variety of large puppets and massive rotating drum units. The puppets were designed by Michael Curry who also designed the puppets for The Lion King on Broadway and a variety of Disney theme park shows. The leader of the parade was the Sage of Time, who was represented as a stilt walker in an elaborate costume featuring alchemy symbols, gold trim on a white robe, a staff, and a headpiece resembling a sun with a face.

The Puppets included:

• Reverse Marionette, a large multicolored puppet with a little marionette being held in its arms.
• Disc Man, a large character with discs within the body and dreadlocks. This was the heaviest and tallest of all the puppets.
• Hammer Man, a humanoid character made of pieces of sheet metal.
• The Sprite, a winged character with a three tiered tail.
• Angel Girl, a feminine figure with a massive wingspan and human face.
• Wiggle Girl, similar to Angel Girl, but had a smaller wingspan and lacked a face, also had movement in the hips.
• Bird Man, with a large wingspan and a crane-like face. This puppet was the hardest to control.
• Aztec Man, with an Aztec-style head, small wingspan and several flaps at its end, similar to kite tails.

A variant of this parade was also the theme for the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. Both the parade and the halftime show were directed by Gary Paben.

In 2001, the parade became Tapestry of Dreams. Wishes from children around the world were heard throughout the parade's soundtrack. The middle of the parade had a tribute to Walt Disney, "...the greatest and most wonderful dreamer of all!". In this version, the Sage of Time was replaced with the Dreamseekers, a trio of elf like characters that would open and close the parade and collect Dreamtale coins that children would receive at the Epcot Kidcot stations. These three included:

• Leonardo Columbus, who represented discovery, invention and genius.
• Elfin, who represented nature, magic and emotions.
• Cosmo, who represented space and the unknown.

It ran nightly, although in a reduced fashion compared to Tapestry of Nations and was canceled in March 2003 as a result of safety issues and injuries sustained by puppeteers over the course of the show's lifespan.

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Everything you need to know about: Magic Bands

Although Magic Bands have been in use for over 2 years, many less frequent visitors have not used them yet and have a lot of questions! Here, we will try to answer the most basic ones for you.

What is a Magic Band?
It is an all-in-one device that contains an RFID chip. The Magic Band takes the place of the former Key to the World card, but with many more options. It lets you manage all your vacation choices made with My Disney Experience. Here are the things you can use it for:
Your hotel room key
Your park entrance tickets
Your dining reservations
Your Fastpass+ selections
Your Photopass and Memory Maker photos
Charging purchases to your hotel room
Parking lot access for resort guests
Your special event tickets (MNSSHP, MVMCP)

How much does a Magic Band cost?
Annual passholders and guests staying at a Disney resort will receive a Magic Band free of charge. Other guests may choose to purchase a Magic Band at Disneystore.com or various locations throughout the Walt Disney World resort. Standard Magic Bands currently cost $12.95. Frequently, special design and limited edition Magic Bands will also be available for sale to anyone who wishes to purchase them. Open edition bands currently cost about $19.95 and limited edition bands currently cost about $24.95. See some examples below:

Can I customize Magic Bands?
Yes. When you make your reservations online, you will be able to customize the bands through My Disney Experience. Currently, bands come in seven colors as shown in the photo at the top of this article. You can also customize them with a name or nickname up to nine characters. You do NOT need to use your actual name for this. If you and the hubby want to be "Mickey and Minnie", you can be! You MUST customize them within the allotted time frame. Check your My Disney Experience to see how much time you have. If you do not customize them within the time frame, you will receive plain gray bands. You can also purchase decorative adornments called Magic Bandits wherever bands are sold. See some examples below. They come in a wide variety of character designs and currently cost between $6.95 and $8.95. You can also find a variety of Magic Sliders for about $12.95. Many crafty guests have discussed decorating their bands with magic markers, temporary tattoos and other adornments that do not affect the operation of the bands. Please do your research before adding any of these things to your bands and understand that you do so at your own risk.

Do I HAVE to use a Magic Band?

No. If you prefer not to use a Magic Band, you can request a card ticket at your Disney resort hotel. Magic Bands can be detected by short-range and long-range readers located throughout the resort. The cards can not be detected by long-range readers. If you have any concerns about the privacy of the data collection on Magic Bands, you can read Disney's policies on this HERE. 

Using the Magic Band:

Most of the time, you just need to touch your Magic Band against a sensor called a touchpoint and your information will be retrieved. You will also need to enter a unique PIN code to use the band to make purchases and you will need to provide biometric or photo ID to enter parks. This ensures that no one can use your bands should you lose them. The bands do not have on/off switches and are always operational. If you do lose your band, you can deactivate it on your My Disney Experience so no one can access your tickets or other entitlements.

The bands are waterproof. Therefore, you do not have to worry about removing them for showers, swimming or on any of Disney's water rides.

They are made of a soft, rubber material. However, you can remove them once inside the park if you choose. Just keep them somewhere accessible because you will need them to access Fastpass or dining reservations. 

The bands come in one size, but they do have a removable section to better fit smaller wrists.

Can I have more than one Magic Band?

Yes! You will receive a new Magic Band with each new stay at a Disney Resort, plus there are the bands that can be purchased that we mentioned above. As long as you link all these bands to your My Disney Experience account, they will all be active. However, they will only work with your current reservations and entitlements and will not give you any extras (such as more FP+ selections). All your bands will contain the same information and can be changed with your mood or your outfit throughout your whole trip! 

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Throwback Thursday - Studio Backlot Tour

The Studio Backlot Tour was a combination of a walking and tram tour of the backlot area of Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney MGM Studios). It opened on May 1, 1989 and closed on September 27, 2014.

HISTORY

The original tour was much longer and more elaborate than later versions. The original tour drove through New York Street/Streets of America before driving through Catastrophe Canyon. That portion was eliminated due to need for more walking space caused by the park's surprise popularity. The second half of the tour was a walking tour. It encompassed the current water special effects tank, an effects shop, and the existing soundstages along Mickey Avenue and the soundstages that currently house The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Guests viewed the soundstages using overhead walkways. Portions of the walkway can still be seen in the park. Much of the former walking portion of the Backlot Tour became its own attraction, Backstage Pass which closed in April 2001, separate from the original tour. This greatly reduced the overall tour time. 

The queue area

Upon entering the queue, guests were put into four different lines underneath a large canopy. Throughout the area were props from different movies, including Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and The Rock. A film also loops with director Michael Bay telling guests how some of the special effects scenes from Pearl Harbor were filmed. While guests are waiting, four volunteers are chosen to be used in the first part of the attraction. 

Walking Tour

A number of guests in each line are taken into a show area with a large water tank in front of them. In the water tank are props reminiscent of Pearl Harbor: the deck and the engine room of a patrol boat. Cast Members explain how the water tank and props can be used in filming scenes from action films. Using the volunteers from before the guests are shown a special effects demonstration, known as Harbor Attack. One volunteer sits in the engine room and is overcome by a deluge of water (1000 Gallons of Water) coming into the room through a window from two dump tanks. The other three volunteers are standing on the deck when an attack happens. Explosions underwater, simulated torpedo bursts, and fireballs are used to simulate the attack. When filming is finished the footage is put together with previously recorded footage of airplane attacks and dialogue and shown to the guests.

When the demonstration is finished, guests continue into a large prop warehouse. The line moves guests up and down aisles of props used in different major productions including, Marvin's Room, The Santa Clause, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Great Muppet Caper, and George of the Jungle. Several of the props are tagged with information about each one. At the exit of the building the tram part of the tour begins.

Tram Tour

As guests exit the prop building they are boarded onto a tram for the main part of the tour. As the driver brings the tram through different areas, a prerecorded narration explains what is found there and tells the guests facts about it. Guests first travel past the Earffel Tower, the former icon of the park. The tram ride is the closest that guests can get to the tower in the park. After the tower the tram drives through the costume and materials building, which has a thru-way for the tram and windows for guests to see the costumes and people working. A highlight in the building is the room full of tires used for the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.

When the tram leaves the building it brings guest through an outside area named the boneyard (named after an aircraft boneyard). In the boneyard are vehicles which were featured in many films. Props include the genuine steamroller used by Judge Doom during the climax of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, ships from the original Star Wars films, the duo motorcycles from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the escape pod from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, cars used in the Herbie the Love Bug films (the ex-parade vehicle Herbie was taken away from the All-Star Movies Resort [on account of children kept climbing on it] and is now on display here), bone cages from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, The Spaceship from Flight of the Navigator and boats and other vehicles used in other Disney-produced films.

After leaving the boneyard guests are told that they will be entering a current movie set while the cast is on break. It enters into an area known as , a rocky area with a fuel truck and water tanks inside of it. While the tram is stopped filming starts suddenly. An earthquake shakes the tram and causes the fuel truck to explode, sending a fire ball into the air. Then a flood of water comes rushing down from the canyon and from above the tram. When the earthquake subsides and the water stops, the set begins to reset for the next tram and the host on the tram tells guests how it was done as the tram goes around behind the set to show the back of the set.

After exiting the canyon the tram travels through parts of the boneyard again. Guests go past the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show stadium and practice areas. The tram also passes Walt Disney's private airplane. After this part the tram pulls to the exit and that part of the attraction is finished.

Post-ride

In order to leave the attraction, guests had to walk through an American Film Institute museum exhibit based on AFI's 50 Greatest Villains. Many of the villains on the list are represented with life-sized figures in display cases, with drawings and pictures of them from their films. The entire list is presented with pictures of all of the villains on a wall in the building. While guests on the Backlot Tour must go through the exhibit to exit, it is not necessary to go on the tour to see the exhibit, as it is possible to enter it through the exit. The exhibit and store were closed in August 2014, a month prior to the attraction's closure

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UPDATED: Everything you need to know about: Breakfast and Lunch at Be Our Guest

UPDATED AUGUST 2015: Disney announced this week that testing is over for breakfast and a permanent breakfast option has been introduced. Starting October 4, 2015, guests will be able to enjoy breakfast at Be Our Guest daily from 8 am to 10 am. Reservations for this are now open on My Disney Experience. The breakfast menu will remain the same, however the price will be increased to $21.99 for adults and $13.99 for kids.

In February 2015, WDW started accepting Advance Dining Reservations for Be Our Guest restaurant lunch. Beginning March 20, they will also be testing a daily breakfast menu through June 18. You may also make reservations for breakfast beginning March 17, 2015. The breakfast menu looks amazing. Hopefully, the testing goes well and breakfast will become a permanent fixture at Be Our Guest! You can make the reservations online here, by phone at 407-WDW-DINE or by using the My Disney Experience app. Here are answers to some common questions:

Will Be Our Guest now be a Table Service restaurant for all meals?
No. Although ADRs are now being accepted, Be Our Guest will still be considered a Quick Service restaurant for both breakfast and lunch.

Will the Disney Dining Plan be accepted?
Yes, you may use 1 QS credit for breakfast and lunch. As before, dinner will still require 1 TS credit.

How far in advance can I make reservations?
As with all ADRs, you can book 180 days in advance for all meals.

Does the cancellation policy apply to breakfast and lunch?
Yes. You will be required to give credit card info when making the reservations. However, your card will not be charged. They will charge a $10 per guest fee to your card for a no-show if you do not cancel more than 24 hours in advance.

How do I pre-order my food?
You can use My Disney Experience to pre-order your food anytime from 30 days to 5 minutes before your reservation. If you do not pre-order, you can use self-service kiosks to order at the restaurant. 

Will there be characters at breakfast and lunch?
No. Beast will appear at dinner only.

Will there be alcohol at breakfast and lunch?
No. Alcoholic beverages are only available at dinner.

Are Advance Dining Reservations required for breakfast and lunch?
No. Because it is still considered a quick-service restaurant, walk-ups are still being offered. However, due to the popularity of this restaurant, you can expect availability to be very limited, especially during peak times. While reservations are not required, they are recommended. 

How much does it cost?
Breakfast will be a prix fixe menu including entree, a pastry basket for sharing and self service beverages. The cost will be $19.99 plus tax for adults and $11.99 plus tax for children 3-9 years.
The lunch menu is a la carte.

For a sneak peek at breakfast offerings, click here!

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SUMMER 2018 UPDATES! Everything you need to know about: Fastpass+

What is Fastpass+?

Fastpass Plus now allows you to schedule access to your favorite Walt Disney World attractions before you even leave home. For the first time ever, you can now schedule Fastpass times for Character Greetings, shows, parades and fireworks!

How much does it cost?

Fastpass+ is included with the cost of your ticket, package or Annual Pass free of charge.

How do I schedule my Fastpass+ selections?

You can schedule your Fastpass times through the My Disney Experience webpage or mobile app. Link your park admission to your account and add people you are planning with to your Friends and Family list to schedule times for your whole party.
Select the date and park you plan to visit. Then, select the 3 attractions you would like to reserve. MDE will show you any attractions that are not available. The app will present your choices offering different time choices for each attraction. Just select the schedule that works best for you. After you select these three, individual times and attractions can be changed at any time through the app.
UPDATE: Effective April 10, 2016 - You can now make from 1 to 3 FPs in advance. You will no longer be forced to choose all 3. Also, you will be able to choose the attraction and time simultaneously. 

How far in advance can I schedule Fastpass+ selections?:

Disney resort guests can schedule times up to 60 days in advance of check-in date for the entire length of their stay. Off-site guests can schedule times up to 30 days in advance.

UPDATE: Effective January 12, 2018, Guests staying in eligible rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels will be able to purchase a new “Theme Park Extra” that includes additional FastPass+ benefits and preferred viewing opportunities for nighttime spectaculars.

For $50 plus tax per Guest per day, Guests staying in eligible rooms who have purchased a 3-day or longer theme park ticket or an annual pass are able to purchase a Theme Park Extra to receive the following:

• 3 additional FastPass+ selections per day. FastPass+ attractions and arrival windows are limited. 3-day minimum purchase required.

• Ability to reserve these 3 additional FastPass+ selections in more than 1 theme park when a valid Park Hopper option is purchased with the ticket.
• A booking window of up to 90 days in advance for these 3 additional FastPass+ selections and the ability to book them at multiple top-tier attractions. Guests may not repeat the same FastPass+ attraction in the same day.
• 1 preferred viewing location for nighttime spectaculars per day. Availability of each nighttime spectacular preferred viewing location is limited.

The Theme Park Extra is available for purchase for Guests staying in the following room types:

• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Cabins
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Club Level
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort – Club Level
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn – Club Level
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Club Level
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Club Level
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Club Level
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Villas & Bungalows – Bungalows
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Club Level
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort – Club Level
• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels – Presidential Suites, Governor Suites, Parlor Suites, Premium Alcove Rooms

What about Annual Passholders?

Annual Passholders may schedule 7 days of selections in a 30 day period. You may schedule these selections up to 30 days in advance of your visit. If you will be a Disney Resort guest, you may schedule up to 60 days in advance. 

What if my plans change while I'm in the park?

You can change your selections at any time through the My Disney Experience mobile app or by visiting your Disney Resort Hotel lobby concierge or by visiting any of the Fastpass+ kiosks located throughout the 4 Disney parks.

UPDATE: Effective April 10, 2016 - Another new feature is you will have the ability to remove an individual person from the FP+ reservation rather than cancelling the reservation for the whole party.

What attractions are available for Fastpass+?

Use the photo at the top of this article to see what attractions are available for this service. Note that certain parks have attractions broken into different "tiers". For these attractions, you may only choose 1 Tier 1 selection and 2 Tier 2 selections.

UPDATE: Attractions and Tiers are subject to change as attractions close and new attractions are added. See the MDE app for the latest availability.

How many Fastpass+ selections can I make?

At this time, you may make 3 selections per day in advance using the app or website. Once you have used these 3 selections, you can make another. Make these selections by going to a Fastpass+ kiosk in the parks only after you have used your 3 previously selected Fastpasses. You can continue to visit the kiosk to schedule more Fastpasses after all previous ones are used. These additional selections can be made on day of visit only. 

UPDATE: Effective April 10, 2016 - You will no longer be required to visit a kiosk to make additional selections. You can now choose your additional FPs, one at a time, right from the MDE app!
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How many parks can I schedule in one day?

At this time, you must make your 3 advance selections all for the SAME park. If you plan on park-hopping, schedule your 3 advance passes for the first park you will be visiting. Once they are used, you can visit the Fastpass+ kiosk in that same park or in a different park on the same day to get additional Fastpasses. OR you can schedule all 3 Fastpasses for later in the day at the second park you will visit, and you will not be able to use any FP in the first park.
UPDATE: Effective April 10, 2016 - Additional FP selections can now be made for a different park if you plan to park-hop.

We will keep you updated as new information becomes available with any updates to the Fastpass+ system.

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Everything you need to know about: WDW Height Requirements

If your child is less than 48" tall, they can't ride:

DHS - Rock N Roller Coaster

AK - Primeval Whirl

EP - Sum of All Thrills

TL - Humunga Kowabunga

TL - Crush n Gusher

BB - Downhill Double Dipper

BB - Summit Plummet

BB - Slush Gusher

If your child is less than 44" tall, they can't ride:

MK - Space Mountain

EP - Mission: Space

AK - Expedition Everest
AK - Flight of Passage

If your child is less than 40" tall, they can't ride:

MK - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

MK - Splash Mountain

MK - Stitch's Great Escape

EP - Soarin'

EP - Test Track

DHS - Star Tours

DHS - Tower of Terror
DHS - Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

AK - Dinosaur

If your child is less than 38" tall, they can't ride:

AK - Kali River Rapids

MK - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
DHS - Slinky Dog Dash
DHS - Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

If your child is less than 35" tall, they can't ride:
MK - The Barnstormer

If your child is less than 32" tall, they can't ride:
DHS - Alien Swirling Saucers

Any rides not listed have no height requirement and may be enjoyed by all guests.

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Everything you need to know about: ECV/Wheelchair/Stroller Rentals

People with mobility issues love to enjoy the magic too! Here are the things you need to know if you require the use of an electric conveyance vehicle (scooter), wheelchair or stroller.

All of these items are available for rent at each theme park and Downtown Disney. There are a limited number available and they can not be reserved. They are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, you may not leave the park with these items. If you are visiting another park, you must return the item in the park you are in and you can present your rental receipt at the next park to receive a replacement at no additional charge. Replacements are based on availability. 

These are the current WDW rental rates:

ECV - Guests must be 18 years or older to operate and a photo ID is required to rent

Theme Parks - $50 daily plus $20 refundable deposit

Disney Springs -  $50 daily plus $100 refundable deposit

 Rented units must be returned to the original rental location before park closing time to receive a refund of the security deposit.

Note: ECVs can be held if you will be leaving and returning to the same park that day

WHEELCHAIRS - Guests must be 18 or older to rent and a photo ID is required

Theme Parks - $12 daily or Pre-pay for your length of stay at $10 daily

Disney Springs - $12 daily plus $100 refundable deposit

WDW Resort Hotels - Complimentary plus $315 refundable deposit based on limited availability

STROLLERS - 

Single strollers - Recommended for children 50 lbs or less

$15 daily or Length of Stay $13 daily Note:  a $100 credit card deposit is required for stroller rentals at Disney Springs

Double strollers - Recommended for children 100 lbs or less

$31 daily or Length of Stay $27 daily Note: Not available in Disney Springs

All of these items can also be rented from independent companies. The benefits of renting from outside companies are you will generally save money on rental fees, you will have use of it everywhere you go rather than just inside the parks and you will be guaranteed to have the unit for your entire stay. The drawback to doing this is that you will have the unit with you at all times, in and out of the parks. Therefore, you will need to transport the units on busses, boats, monorail, car or whatever transportation you are using during your stay. While they are generally easy to maneuver, it can be tricky for those not used to handling them on a daily basis. Some practice time when you arrive at the resort is recommended.

WDW policies have changed allowing only approved companies to deliver units to your resort. When you rent from these approved companies, your unit will be delivered directly to your resort and held for you until arrival. When your vacation is over, you can also return the units right at your resort. If you choose to rent from a company not on the approved list, you will be responsible for setting up a meet to pick up and return your unit. These are the current approved vendors:

ECV and Wheelchair

• Buena Vista Scooter Rentals: (866) 484-4797
• Best Price Mobility: (866) 866-3434
• Apple Scooter: (800) 701-1971
• ScooterBug: (800) 726-8284

Strollers

• Orlando Stroller Rentals: (800) 281-0884
• Kingdom Strollers: (407) 271-5301
• Magic Strollers: (866) 866-6177

Some things to keep in mind:

When leaving your units for any reason, look for the stroller and/or scooter parking areas. Be sure to park in these designated areas and not leave your unit anywhere. If you leave your items in the wrong area, cast members will move them! Sometimes it is better to attach something noticeable to your unit to make it stand out and easier to locate in a crowd. 

Although many people pile their bags and packages on units, it's not a good idea to leave valuables on an unattended stroller, scooter or wheelchair. While most items are not bothered by anyone, theft can happen even in our happy place. Don't leave anything you can't replace. Also, squirrels are notorious for stealing food from the vehicles. 

When parking an ECV, ALWAYS be sure to take out the key. Keep the key with you when you leave the unit. This will prevent anyone from operating the vehicle without your permission and possibly hurting someone or taking your unit. However, CMs are still able to move them without the key so please be sure to park in the designated areas. Also you may want to bring your own keyring such as an elastic coil wristband or lanyard to help keep the key from being dropped or lost. You should also bring a towel for your comfort on the seat.

Only one person may ride on an ECV or wheelchair. This includes small children on your lap. If you try to ride with an extra person. you will be stopped by security and/or cast members. Repeated offenses may result in being asked to leave.

Even if you don't need a handicapped room, be sure to mention if you will be using an ECV or wheelchair when you make your reservation. This will avoid getting a room where there is no elevator or can not fit the scooter through the door. You will need to drive the ECV into your room every night to recharge the battery.

Practice, Practice, Practice! Especially if you are not used to using these items on a daily basis. Keep the speed at LOW setting and get used to the starting and stopping. You will be operating these in very large crowds of excited park visitors who are not always aware of the people around them. Don't be one of them! Many people will stop or walk right in front of you without noticing. To avoid arguments and injury, you must be constantly aware of the people around you, especially small children. They can be seriously injured if they are run over with these scooters. Although bumps may be unavoidable or not "your fault", try to do everything you can to keep yourself and the people around you safe. The same is true for wheelchairs and strollers. They can also cause injury and pain if you bump into someone or knock them  over. Do NOT use them to push your way through crowds! 

Driving at slow speeds and taking out the key when not in use can help get more "mileage" out of your scooter. Most will go all day. However, if you plan to arrive early and stay late, you may need to recharge at some point during the day. Try to park near an outlet while you're at a meal or show to recharge a bit. Or if you take a midday break back at your resort, plug in for a while.  There is a charge indicator gauge on the controls, and when it gets into the "yellow" zone and starts to run slower you need to start thinking about plugging in. You can usually call your rental vendor for any problems and they will come out and take care of the problem.

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