BillSears
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2003
The only time I've seen an iBOT was when they used to have one in Inoventions. It was pretty cool seeing it climb stairs and stand up on 2 wheels. But it looks like the Segway rules have turned the Ibot into a problem at WDW.
Personally I'd just keep it on 4 wheels except for when I needed to reach something or maybe see over a crowd. But it looks like this guy routinely travels on 2 wheels.
http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2009/11/high-tech-wheelchair-causes-disney-ruckus/
Myron Rosner, a paraplegic, has a fancy, high-tech wheelchair that allows him to elevate on two wheels. But two wheels are too few for Disney.
On Sunday, security guards at Animal Kingdom told Rosner his wheelchair violates the parks ban against Segways. He heard the same thing the day before at Epcot.
Im sorry, but this is not a Segway, said Rosner, 49, who was injured eight years ago in a construction accident. Its an approved medical device.
Unlike the Segway, where the rider stands up, Rosner sits in his wheelchair but at a higher level so that he is eye-to-eye with other people.
Rosners iBOT Mobility System is like a Transformer wheelchair that can ride on two or four wheels, climb up stairs or plow through sand.
Rosner said he was told to convert it to four wheels or he would be asked to leave the park. He refused.
Im not a dog. I dont want to be on all fours, Rosner said.
Disney officials said Rosner was informed of the park policy against two-wheeled motorized contraptions but was allowed to stay in the parks. Rosner said he was harassed and followed by Disney employees.
The IBOT vehicle is allowed in the park, said spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez. To ensure the safety of our guests, we ask that they be on all four wheels while boarding attractions.
Rosner, who is mayor of North Miami Beach, owns one of the few hundred iBOTs that were manufactured by Johnson and Johnson until production was discontinued earlier this year. The company cited the wheelchairs $30,000 price tag, low sales and the inability to get Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for the chair as the reasons for its demise.
Rosner said he, his wife, and children have been coming to Walt Disney World for years and his two-wheeled iBOT has never been a problem before.
But in 2007, Disney instituted a policy prohibiting the Segways, contending their 10 mph speed and balancing problems created safety hazards for other guests. The ban was protested by activists for people with disabilities and resulted in a lawsuit.
Im not going down on four wheels, no way, Rosner said. Theyre trying to push me down and Ive already been there.
Personally I'd just keep it on 4 wheels except for when I needed to reach something or maybe see over a crowd. But it looks like this guy routinely travels on 2 wheels.
http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2009/11/high-tech-wheelchair-causes-disney-ruckus/
Myron Rosner, a paraplegic, has a fancy, high-tech wheelchair that allows him to elevate on two wheels. But two wheels are too few for Disney.
On Sunday, security guards at Animal Kingdom told Rosner his wheelchair violates the parks ban against Segways. He heard the same thing the day before at Epcot.
Im sorry, but this is not a Segway, said Rosner, 49, who was injured eight years ago in a construction accident. Its an approved medical device.
Unlike the Segway, where the rider stands up, Rosner sits in his wheelchair but at a higher level so that he is eye-to-eye with other people.
Rosners iBOT Mobility System is like a Transformer wheelchair that can ride on two or four wheels, climb up stairs or plow through sand.
Rosner said he was told to convert it to four wheels or he would be asked to leave the park. He refused.
Im not a dog. I dont want to be on all fours, Rosner said.
Disney officials said Rosner was informed of the park policy against two-wheeled motorized contraptions but was allowed to stay in the parks. Rosner said he was harassed and followed by Disney employees.
The IBOT vehicle is allowed in the park, said spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez. To ensure the safety of our guests, we ask that they be on all four wheels while boarding attractions.
Rosner, who is mayor of North Miami Beach, owns one of the few hundred iBOTs that were manufactured by Johnson and Johnson until production was discontinued earlier this year. The company cited the wheelchairs $30,000 price tag, low sales and the inability to get Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for the chair as the reasons for its demise.
Rosner said he, his wife, and children have been coming to Walt Disney World for years and his two-wheeled iBOT has never been a problem before.
But in 2007, Disney instituted a policy prohibiting the Segways, contending their 10 mph speed and balancing problems created safety hazards for other guests. The ban was protested by activists for people with disabilities and resulted in a lawsuit.
Im not going down on four wheels, no way, Rosner said. Theyre trying to push me down and Ive already been there.