So...why do wheelchairs/scooters get priority boarding?

[Pstecker]

My mother was using an ecv and we had an instance where the first bus was broken, the 2nd bus was full. The 2nd bus driver called a bus to come just for her that was empty and working. It was really appreciated especially since my mom always felt like the ecv made her into a burden on everyone .

[mrsksomeday]

My boyfriend uses a power wheelchair, we have been on 11 WDW trips together and used the busses every trip. We have no problem waiting in line at the end of the night with everyone else then break off at the accessible gate. What I have a huge problem with is getting to the front of the line but there are several ECV's/wheelchairs in front of us because Disney likes to double load busses.

Meaning while one bus is in the loading zone, another pulls up beside it and starts loading people, all able bodied because there is no way for the ramp to be let out on the second bus. That means a bus with 2 - 4 wheelchair slots is pulling away over and over again without an ECV/wheelchair in those slots while they have been waiting long after the people that were behind them in the line are well on their way.

This has happened to us time and time again especially at Epcot. I know it is not a great system to let the ECV's/wheelchairs right on the bus, but neither is stacking them up while letting the accessible slots drive away over and over. They should let the first bus fill up, drive off, then the next bus pull right in.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by LadyBeBop

Isn't that a possible ADA issue? That there seems to be too few assessable buses (those with a working ramp)? Or worst, could it be the bus drivers didn't want to deal with the ramps?

Could be...would hate for that to be the case, but with all the complaints we see here, about having to wait for ECVs to board first, it's not hard to believe the some bus drivers don't want to hear complaining guests.

Originally Posted by joelkfla

The lifts on the old high-floor buses break down pretty regularly, but I think they're down to less than 10% of the fleet now.

All of the low floor buses have ramps that can be operated by hand if the motor is not working. I have seen a ramp physically break, i.e. come off the hinge pins, but only once or twice in 5 years.

It's more common, but still rare, for one of the tie-downs or seat belts to not work properly, but I think that happening on 2 or 3 buses in a row is pretty unlikely. And the first driver of the day is supposed to check them before putting the bus in service, and I'd say 80% of the time maintenance can fix them that morning.

If anyone encounters 2 buses in a row saying the ramp is not working, I would encourage them to ask to speak to a bus manager.

Wow, that's a small percentage for someplace as big as WDW!! I remember being at AKL-Jambo a few years ago. It was late afternoon and we all wanted to get to the MK, and it was starting to rain. Well, there was a family with a parent on an ECV. When the bus got there, the driver got it to 'kneel', the ECV was boarded, we all boarded. Then??? He couldn't get it to back up again!!! Tried for about 5 mins..then had all of us get off the bus and he called for another one. The family with the ECV was not amused. And then they went nutty when they found out that the bus wasn't going to take them to the GF...where they had ADRs. I told them that they could get off the bus and then just take the monorail over to the GF. Nope, they would get wet..they needed a way that they would stay dry. Man, they were hopping mad!!!
But, when we finally pulled away from AKL, that bus was still sitting there, the driver scratching his head.

[seashoreCM]

Given the problems and idiosyncracies and irregularities mentioned above, I am convinced that the wheelchair slots in the buses should be regarded as a separate line item or commodity or resource whose utilization should be optimized as a separate important topic.

If a few extra members of the handicapped person's family sneak on board sooner than they should, any impact is spread out over a larger population producing a much smaller per person impact and also this is easier to solve by adding a few more buses to the mix (schedule) in a general fashion as opposed to having to find a bus with a working lift to make a special run where a wheelchair problem occurred.

[SaraJayne]

Originally Posted by seashoreCM

Another thing Disney could do is, at certain stops, require instead of forbid the driver to say something like, "This bus is not going to depart until I see that the guest in the wheelchair is safely aboard another bus" and act accordingly. This would be restricted to areas where other buses can maneuver around a stopped bus.

So everyone that is already on a loaded bus, waiting to leave, has to wait until someone in an EVC is boarded onto a different bus?

I don't see that going over well.

[dburg30]

Originally Posted by mrsksomeday

My boyfriend uses a power wheelchair, we have been on 11 WDW trips together and used the busses every trip. We have no problem waiting in line at the end of the night with everyone else then break off at the accessible gate. What I have a huge problem with is getting to the front of the line but there are several ECV's/wheelchairs in front of us because Disney likes to double load busses.

Meaning while one bus is in the loading zone, another pulls up beside it and starts loading people, all able bodied because there is no way for the ramp to be let out on the second bus. That means a bus with 2 - 4 wheelchair slots is pulling away over and over again without an ECV/wheelchair in those slots while they have been waiting long after the people that were behind them in the line are well on their way.

This has happened to us time and time again especially at Epcot. I know it is not a great system to let the ECV's/wheelchairs right on the bus, but neither is stacking them up while letting the accessible slots drive away over and over. They should let the first bus fill up, drive off, then the next bus pull right in.

They do this?! Granted I've only been there about 6 times since 2007 but I've never seen a bus pull up next to a bus and then have guests cross IN FRONT of a bus to board another bus? For safety being their #1 priority, this IMO doesnt seem to be the 'safest' idea.

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, they sometimes (admittedly rarely) even stack three buses for a single resort. It's not unsafe to walk in front of the loading bus(es), because the one(s) furthest from the curb leaves first. The bus parked next to the curb or loading area doesn't move if anybody is walking in front of it.

Happens a lot with the larger resorts.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by seashoreCM

Given the problems and idiosyncracies and irregularities mentioned above, I am convinced that the wheelchair slots in the buses should be regarded as a separate line item or commodity or resource whose utilization should be optimized as a separate important topic.

If a few extra members of the handicapped person's family sneak on board sooner than they should, any impact is spread out over a larger population producing a much smaller per person impact and also this is easier to solve by adding a few more buses to the mix (schedule) in a general fashion as opposed to having to find a bus with a working lift to make a special run where a wheelchair problem occurred.

1. Granted, I don't have a doctorate, but I don't think you should need one in order to understand a post here. I have no idea what it is you are trying to say. But, perhaps others have figured it out.
and
2. There is an actual city, in Ohio that is Wooster. And it pronounced as such. Worcester is actually pronounced...wusster....no h, no c...period.

[dburg30]

Originally Posted by kaytieeldr

Yes, they sometimes (admittedly rarely) even stack three buses for a single resort. It's not unsafe to walk in front of the loading bus(es), because the one(s) furthest from the curb leaves first. The bus parked next to the curb or loading area doesn't move if anybody is walking in front of it.

Happens a lot with the larger resorts.

Just for all they do with safety, even taking that chance just is weird.. I understand it's not 'unsafe' but anytime you are walking in front of a running bus "sh*t can happen"... Anywhere else would seem normal, but just very surprised at WDW.

[Jenny3]

Originally Posted by dburg30

Yes they are clearly marked, but I've heard of it happening.. Maybe one of those urban legend things, but I have a feeling it has happened..

It's happened. We experienced it last year when my 8 y/o niece (in a wheelchair) was boarding a bus. The person currently sitting the wheelchair seat gave the driver a hard time when she realized she was losing her seat so they could strap my niece's electric chair in.

Seriously, the irony of people boo-hooing on the "unfairness" of having to STAND UP and MOVE for a child bound to a wheelchair absolutely kills me.

[Greysword]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

1. Granted, I don't have a doctorate, but I don't think you should need one in order to understand a post here. I have no idea what it is you are trying to say. But, perhaps others have figured it out.

That's what I was thinking. Seashore is awesome, but that thought train left the station without me

[maxiesmom]

Originally Posted by dburg30

They do this?! Granted I've only been there about 6 times since 2007 but I've never seen a bus pull up next to a bus and then have guests cross IN FRONT of a bus to board another bus? For safety being their #1 priority, this IMO doesnt seem to be the 'safest' idea.

I've seen it many times. And I've never felt unsafe crossing to the outer bus, I've just been happy another bus has pulled up! Being Disney, I'm sure they have strict guidelines as to how and when and where the extra buses pull up and pull away.

[SaraJayne]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

1. Granted, I don't have a doctorate, but I don't think you should need one in order to understand a post here. I have no idea what it is you are trying to say. But, perhaps others have figured it out.

I consider myself fairly intelligent and I have no idea.

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It's a violation of federal law to possess or smoke anything that would allow one to better comprehend those posts...

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

1. Granted, I don't have a doctorate, but I don't think you should need one in order to understand a post here. I have no idea what it is you are trying to say. But, perhaps others have figured it out.

[crashbb]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

1. Granted, I don't have a doctorate, but I don't think you should need one in order to understand a post here. I have no idea what it is you are trying to say. But, perhaps others have figured it out.
and
2. There is an actual city, in Ohio that is Wooster. And it pronounced as such. Worcester is actually pronounced...wusster....no h, no c...period.

I DO have a doctorate and I still don't understand it.