Illegal Wheelchair Rentals Disrupt Disney Park as Guests Play Bumper Cars

Frustration is mounting at one Disney park as an increasing number of young parkgoers rent electric wheelchairs for convenience, creating chaos for other guests.

Disney parks worldwide provide mobility aids to accommodate guests unable to endure the extensive walking required to navigate their parks. Electric scooters and wheelchairs are available at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, while Disneyland Paris offers wheelchair rentals and relies on external providers for scooters.

Credit: Disney

At Shanghai Disneyland, however, the misuse of these services has led to notable disruptions.

A report from Disney’s newest theme park highlights that some young visitors are renting electric wheelchairs “as a means of transportation in the park, driving around the park with laughter, and even playing ‘bumper cars.’”

Credit: Shanghai Disneyland

Surge in Fraudulent Rentals at Disney Park

According to the Yangtse Evening Post, businesses near the park are capitalizing on this trend by offering electric wheelchair rentals and providing an “inspection form” to help renters gain park access.

The Shanghai Disneyland website explicitly states that electric wheelchairs are intended only for guests with mobility challenges due to disability, advanced age, or medical conditions. However, some visitors are taking advantage of the system, leading to frustrations among other guests.

“I originally brought my children to Disneyland to enjoy a happy parent-child time, but I didn’t expect these electric wheelchairs to disrupt my plan,” one guest told the Yangtse Evening Post. Another shared, “Yesterday I was in a hurry to go to the toilet, jogging all the way, and when I turned at the back door of Sweetheart, several electric wheelchairs rushed out and blocked the road!”

Credit: Shanghai Disney

Electric wheelchairs are vital for guests with mobility challenges, particularly at a park as vast as Shanghai Disneyland. Spanning 963 acres, it dwarfs the original Disneyland in Anaheim, offering popular attractions like Zootopia Land, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure.

However, the misuse of these wheelchairs as a theme park “hack” or an added convenience wastes resources and creates obstacles for those with genuine needs.

Rental companies near the park reportedly exploit the system by helping healthy young visitors bypass Disney’s access checks. “Disney staff sometimes check and sometimes don’t,” a rental service told the Yangtse Evening Post. “If they do, the list we provide can come in handy. In fact, many tourists who rent electric wheelchairs are healthy young people who just want to walk less.”

Credit: Shanghai Disneyland

A Recurring Issue

This is not the first time Disney parks have faced issues with unauthorized resource use. In 2023, stroller wagons were banned after guests used them for convenience rather than necessity. Similarly, a trend of offering fake disability certificates to skip lines for a fee led to arrests in previous years.

Reports of misuse are not unique to Shanghai Disneyland. Guests at Disney World and Disneyland have also expressed concerns about electric scooters, calling for stricter rules such as speed limits or mandatory safety courses to minimize accidents. Past incidents include a five-year-old being dragged by a scooter at Disneyland in August.

What do you think about young guests renting electric wheelchairs for convenience?