I can't answer all your questions, but I'll tackle a few.
aubriee said:
How hard are they to back up onto a WDW bus ramp? and would the canopy get in the way?
No more difficult than backing up a car into a parking spot. Throttle down so you don't have a huge push (0-60 in 2 seconds). Line up your back wheels dead center of the lift/ramp, straighten out your front wheel and keep her steady.
I use a 4-wheeled, rear-wheel powerchair. Backing up is the hardest thing to do on those because I have no concept of where the wheels are on the ground. Powerchairs are the most sensitive to drive. One of those one-thumb is needed to steer and accelerate situations. Scooters are more car like.
Also how long does a charge last? Would she be able to go all day without recharging?
Yup. My dad used it 12 hours a day in all the parks. Biggest one to drain his battery was EPCOT. (Tends to eat up juice in my powerchair as well. Tourists' legs and feet too. That's one HUGE park!) But still he was at least 1/3 full on charge. It takes approximately 2-8 hours to charge depending on how much use it had in a day. We have a ritual of parking our conveyences at the room, plugging them in and leaving them for a night while we sleep. They're fully charged by morning.
Since she can walk short distances I know she would rather walk into the shows and restaraunts. I've seen scooters outside the shows, but what about the restaraunts? Is there a place to park scooters?
Any stroller-parking area will do. You take the key with you so no one can operate it. We've left Dad's scooter outside Rainforest Cafe (the entrance to Animal Kingdom) and various rides, shops, etc. Never had a problem. Only thing you need to remember is to take any valuables with you: store bags, purses, cameras, etc. I've heard rare stories of some pathetic soul stealing a bag or two from an unattended scooter or wheelchair. Same people who rifle strollers.
Oh, one thing you want to think about is putting the scooter somewhere undercover in case it rains, especially at meals. Florida is known for a thunderstorm or two. Usually there is an undercover area nearby. If you don't see one, ask a friendly CM. Scooters are electronic and the seats are fabric. You really don't want to introduce a lot of water to the picture. (Driving in light showers is OK. Even a quick dash through a downpour to safety.)
We also have an Illuminations cruise for Dec 10th. Is there someplace safe to leave the scooter around the Yacht Club marina? Anyone ever lose a scooter while at WDW? Thanks!
I haven't done this but I'm sure the same rules apply for restaurants. When in doubt, ask a CM. They may have a special place to house scooters [indoors] while you're taking special cruises.
One last tip, the only thing you can't do with a scooter is ride the WDW Railroad in Magic Kingdom. I think it's a space constraint. (Bummer since I can ride with my powerwheelchair and Dad loves to do the train with me as a shortcut.) You can ride the train at Animal Kingdom though.
Have fun!
Two more days and I'm Dsney-bound.