As a person with knee and hip problems. My first trips to disney were on the painful side. Back then it was the ankles that were most of my problems. I will say, if you have a "rusty" ankle, knee or hip that gets aggrivated when your on it to much. The last thing your going to want to do is be on that leg every day for a week straight. After the first day your going to ache, and probably want to ice that part of your leg down.
Its not fun, even with the wheel chair I tend to ice down my knees.
I really like using a scooter. I've only had one trip with the scooter, before we always did the push wheel chair. The push chair is much cheaper, but I have more independance, and more control over where I"m sitting, which way I'm facing, etc and so for me its so worth it.
It was easy to learn to use the scooter.
A couple tips. When your in a tight area, shop, line for something, lots of people around, turn your speed down. If you have your speed turned all the way up and are stopping and starting, you kind of give yourself whip lash.
Plus, your more likely to whack someone if your starting and stopping with your speed all the way up.
I'm really short. 5'1". The only bad part about the scooter is that to be sitting up straight properly can't happen for me, because I have to lean forward to power the scooter on the handle. (Short arms and legs) I used a cusion behind my back, so that I wasn't having to constantly lean forward with my shoulders hanched over.
I have some back issues, where sitting up properly helps keep my back happy, slouching over to power the scooter isn't very happy.
So, thats a suggestion if your a short person.
My butt likes the cushion seats on the scooters, we used walker for the push and now the scooter. The scooter was far better than the push !
Plus, it wasn't too bad taking the thing apart. The first time was a little rough. We did a dry run in the room, that was well lit room before trying to take it apart and re-assemble it in the evening (when it was kind of dark at DTD). Knowing where everything went together and getting it back together was nice to do it in a well lit area for the first try.
Connie