People AMAZE me

[ArchOwl]

Wow, I am always shocked to hear that people have encountered such rudeness when using an ECV, wheelchair, or GAC. I had to use a GAC earlier this year post knee surgery and no one said a thing to me. Or maybe I was oblivious. I wasn't in an ECV or wheelchair, just a knee brace and was avoiding stairs on rides like Indy and Screamin'. I wonder if people think ECVs aren't really a handicap aid or something? Let me tell you that the handicap line for Space was insane! Only rode it once that trip because it was a much longer wait. It is not all fun and games for the disabled. I was glad I could use the FP line for Space and Star Tours on my last visit in May.

To the OP and others who experienced this, I am really sorry. I hope you can still have a magical time!

 

[lovebug33]

I think in my case, I am only 34 and people couldn't understand why I was in the ECV because I look perfectly healthy (no casts, no prosthetic limbs, etc). And, yes, I used the handicapped entrance because a) I couldn't stand without pain for more than 5-10 minutes and b) it sometimes took my brother and my husband to get me in and out of the ride vehicle. I didn't even know I needed a GAC until the first ride and I couldn't get out of the caterpillar the CM told me to go get one so that they would know how to help me. However, I think people thought I was lazy. That was one comment that was made to my face. Really? I would have LOVED to be out of the ECV and on Star Wars. One of the worst parts of the trip was telling my 7 yo nephew that he wasn't going to get to ride all the rides with his auntie AND uncle. He actually called me no fun and stomped off. Broke my heart. The only reason we went so shortly after surgery was to be with the boys. I just think the judging is bad. Maybe because I have several friends with disabilities, I stopped judging long ago. I also have friends who abuse the system. Well, they will get their comeuppance at some point in life! It isn't my place to get upset about that!
Edited: I did have a magical time, despite how rude people were. And, I got to go on Little Mermaid four times while people rode TSM and California Screamin', so that was one plus!

 

[skiingfast]

I am wondering what you mean by this? Because if a VP running a park is not being friendly to those with special needs, then we need to be aware of it and report it.

Simply she was telling guests in the HCA line into LM, if they had a clearly visible handicap or not, that it wasn't nice to use that line.

I did tell the person that witnessed this to report her to guest services. If this was done or not I don't know.

 

[cmwade77]

Simply she was telling guests in the HCA line into LM, if they had a clearly visible handicap or not, that it wasn't nice to use that line.

I did tell the person that witnessed this to report her to guest services. If this was done or not I don't know.

If she told me that, I would probably have asked her to call her supervisor (since I wouldn't have known who she was) right there on the spot. In that case, it would have had to be the president of the Disneyland resort and I would have wanted him to be waiting for me when I got off the ride. I would also have tried to video record that kind of comment. That is just plain rude and I would hope that ANYONE that witnessed that behavior (if they needed assistance or not) would have reported it.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Simply she was telling guests in the HCA line into LM, if they had a clearly visible handicap or not, that it wasn't nice to use that line.

I did tell the person that witnessed this to report her to guest services. If this was done or not I don't know.

I find it really hard to believe that the VP of DCA would tell guests that it's not nice to use the line designated for those with GACs IF they indeed belonged in that line. That just doesn't make sense.

- Dreams

 

[cmwade77]

I find it really hard to believe that the VP of DCA would tell guests that it's not nice to use the line designated for those with GACs IF they indeed belonged in that line. That just doesn't make sense.

- Dreams

As would I, except that I have seen much stranger things happen around the resort. I would indeed be upset if I witnessed it, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[KPeveler]

I am a full time wheelchair user, and it is amazing the detailed personal questions that perfect strangers will ask me! As if my personal medical information is their business.

I come up with snarky, but disney approved, things to say to people who are intent on minding my business. My personal favorite is that I tell them I was abducted my aliens.

Using a wheelchair is not easy, and almost everyone who is forced to use one for a temporary period due to injury/illness realizes this. I am actually quite glad when people post these stories because it helps shed light on the kinds of battles that I face every day just to be accepted.

I will say though - my wheelchair car on Little Mermaid is so much cooler than the ABs (able-bodied) clamshells!

 

[miss.potatohead]

I can't believe that happened, such a poor thing especially in a place like Disneyland. Disneyland are so accommodating for people of all abilities and illnesses to try and make everyone have the best time possible.

Mind you, a pooh-sized person (who very may well have had other medical conditions, not judging there) who was in a ECV demanded they be let onto TSMM that very moment because they couldn't wait the 50minutes that everyone else had to wait because their back hurt....thankfully the majority of people are not like they were.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...Mind you, a pooh-sized person (who very may well have had other medical conditions, not judging there) who was in a ECV demanded they be let onto TSMM that very moment because they couldn't wait the 50minutes that everyone else had to wait because their back hurt....thankfully the majority of people are not like they were.

If you're not judging, why are you mentioning they are "pooh-sized"? Why not say "a brunette" or "a tall person" or "someone wearing a blue shirt." If you are not judging....

- Dreams

 

[miss.potatohead]

Sorry I didn't mean for it to come across in that sense, I was not judging in any way or form. My main point was the CM would not let them onto the ride until they waiting a specific time period because of the long wait - which is well and truly fair. There was someone in the line in front of us who had a GAC but was sticking it out in the main line, who was saying they were embarrassed for that person, as they were making everyone in ecvs or with a gac look bad.

Apologies for putting anyone out with my original comment...

 

[lovebug33]

This is the part of all of this I don't get. People abuse the system to get to the front of the line. However, most of the rides I went on (granted, none of the biggees, but I did go on TSM once, big mistake!!!), I just entered in the standard queue and then went to a wheelchair loading area, where I waited longer than some people! I only got to the front of the line in Fantasyland, where I couldn't bring the ECV into the line. So, are there other lines where you get to the front faster, like on Space or Splash or something? Just curious!

 

[kamik86]

So from the posts here you would assume no one needed the chair if you saw an overweight woman in a wheelchair who then gets out and walks while the normal looking 8 year old climbs in and is pushed?

This was my mom last year. She needed knee surgery but needed to get out and stretch her leg every so often too. At one point she was only with my eight year old niece. Now when she needed to get out she could have made my niece walk too and tried to keep track of her in the crowd, and push the chair to meet up with us. But instead of pushing the empty chair she let my niece ride, which made her easier to keep track of. Then she met up with us and decided she needed to ride some more and got back in and my niece walked since she really was a fully able bodied 8 year old.

 

[kamik86]

This is the part of all of this I don't get. People abuse the system to get to the front of the line. However, most of the rides I went on (granted, none of the biggees, but I did go on TSM once, big mistake!!!), I just entered in the standard queue and then went to a wheelchair loading area, where I waited longer than some people! I only got to the front of the line in Fantasyland, where I couldn't bring the ECV into the line. So, are there other lines where you get to the front faster, like on Space or Splash or something? Just curious!

We noticed this with my mom too, but only at one place. The safari ride. After that mom found out as she was leaving that if she had told the CM that she can get out and walk to the seat that she wouldn't have had to wait or split from the rest of the group (we were all together so there were too many to be allowed in the wheel chair line).

After that most of the time we were only going in short lines so she just walked the normal line, but they did see the wheelchair first and made us go through the special jungle cruise line so we ended up skipping the line. Mom felt bad but since we told the CMs we could go through the line and they insisted on the special line that is what we did.

 

[Welivefordisney]

Things happen everywhere; people can be rude and inconsiderate of people in wheelchairs (and other people too). My son is 10 and in a wheelchair, when he was 5 we were at DCA playing in the water park at Bug's land. A CM came over to my son and told him that he could not be in the water playing because he was in a wheelchair. He was devastated, I was furious and Grandpa was fit to be tied. I spoke immediately with another CM who got a supervisor. The supervisor reassured us that DL and DCA are for all kids and that my son was more than welcome to continue playing. The supervisor removed the CM from the area and I saw the CM being escorted out of the Bug's land. Although it was a very sad thing to happen to a young child, it was very reassuring to see that DL would not allow the CM to hurt other children.

On another note.... our family has devised a plan for getting through crowds. The fact is people don't always think about people in wheelchairs. We have had people step over my son in his chair, jump over him(and his chair) and people actually push him out of their way. We now walk with a family member on all sides of him through the crowd. One in front, each side and behind... takes care of the thoughtless behavior.
We are leaving for DL with GMA and GPa next week for a Graduation/20 Anniversary and newbie celebration... we plan to have an amazing time, but will be prepared for the possibility of rude people... that is life.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I love how the new rides have lines that can accommodate wheelchairs, like Little Mermaid and Toy Story. When we go to DL I usually have to push my DW around. Because of her RA she is not able to walk very far or fast and can not stand in very long lines (usually more than 10 min). And because she looks fine and healthy people constantly think we are trying to cheat the system. Truthfully I'd rather wait in line like everyone else rather than get "the look" from some people. If they redid all the queues to accommodate wheelchairs and ECV's I wouldn't be sad!

 

[merriwthr]

I have a non-visible disability and I've been lucky not to need a GAC, EVC, etc. But I do stalk the DISability board on this forum and it's amazing to read some of the very rude comments that guests have made to families - especially families of handicapped children.

One reply that sticks in my mind was from a woman whose 8 year old son was in a wheelchair, and though he could walk, he couldn't walk more than 15-20 feet before crumbling to the ground. So he would occasionally get out of his wheelchair and stretch his legs and get back in. One very rude man made the comment to the mom that "your son doesn't look handicapped - are you using the wheelchair to get to the front of the lines"... to which she replied... "Funny, you don't look stupid either, but I guess we both may be wrong".

I'm sorry - but I loved her reply. Left him speechless and since she said it with a smile, made her feel better!

I've never understood the need for others to judge or to even make comments.

 

[Princess/es19]

I take trips with my grandparents and husband all the time to DLR.

My grandma is a stroke survivor who has a fairly uncontrollable bladder. A lot of the time we have to leave the line to take her out to the bathroom. I enjoy going to the parks with my grandparents, they have taken me all my life and it is a lot of fun but the looks people give when I ask nicely if my grandma can get in front of a bathroom line because it is very urgent is astounding. Especially when the handicap stall should be available for the handicapped!

I talked to a cast member about it once and explained that I practically forced her to drink lots of water because of the heat and had to leave the line of TSM (going against a line stinks. in a wheelchair, almost impossible) and asked for a pass so I could take her to the bathroom. They were very accomodating and he remembered me asking about the disabled policy earlier so he gave me a pass to come back in half an hour, which is how much longer we would have waited in the standbye. CM's are always amazing in their hospitality and make up for all the problems we usually face


If people think we are in a wheelchair to cut lines, its not actually possible. It takes nearly double the time to get anywhere in the park, and especially at DCA going up down to from ariel's grotto to TSM is a workout. It takes a long while to manuever my grandmother on rides, and most of my day I am in the bathroom with her because I make her drink a glass of water every hour. I know exactly where the nearest bathroom is at all times and watch parades and show times to be sure I never have to use her spare clothes.

My grandma was there opening day and she says that people were still nicer when almost every ride had broken than the average guest in slow season today!

(no matter how rude people are to us, going with my grandmother to the parks is amazing, I love seeing the child-like wonder in her expression and can see that she still sees the park like she did as a child in 1955.)

 

[Disney Dreams]

...(no matter how rude people are to us, going with my grandmother to the parks is amazing, I love seeing the child-like wonder in her expression and can see that she still sees the park like she did as a child in 1955.)

OT, but...

You are very fortunate to be able to have such wonderful experiences. All four of my grandparents have passed away. I would love to spend just one day with any one of them at DLR.

The sentence above that I bolded put tears in my eyes. I miss seeing that look.

Enjoy every minute,
Dreams

 

[tlovesdis]

I use an ECV when we go to DL. I have medical issues and can;t stand or walk for long periods of time. I am also overweight, so I get the looks from people, but I have never actually heard any rude comments. I am the type that would say something back if I did.

Just so you know, most of the rides with a handicap entrance (usually the exit) usually have a longer wait than the regular line, with a few exceptions. We have waited a very long time to get on Space, Indy and Pirates. And all of DCA was set up to accomodate ECV's and Wheelchairs. We wait in the regular line for all of the rides there!

I am very careful when I am driving the ECV. I pay very close attention to people at all times, because most people don't. I can't tell you how many times I've almost hit someone becausr they just dart out in front of me. It is no fun and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

It's sad how our society is now a days, but I just chose to have fun and not worry about any negativity. It really surprises me that people have the guts to say some of the things they do! I would never ever say anything to anyone in a wheelchair or ECV, but tha'ts just me.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I have been using an ecv for years at DL and I have never ever had anybody give me dirty looks or question me on anything....I cannot stand for long periods of time because my feet will go numb and hurt so bad I wont be able to walk..mainly because I am very overweight...but you know what? I dont care!!! If somebody has a problem with it they can kiss it...people need to worry about their own selves and not anybody else...What lovebug said was true tho...theres many many times where the ecv/wheelchair line is waaaaaaaaaaay longer than standby line...so I say be rude right back to them...may not be the better thing but it sure makes you feel better!!!