Am I the only one who thinks there are to many electric carts in the parks

[Talking Hands]

Why are there so many people dependant on ECVs now? What did they do before ECVs were invented? I know, they were not able to go to WDW (and that's horrible, seriously!) but how did they get around? Why does it seem to me that there are just so many more disabled people than 20-30 years ago?

What they did was stay at home hidden away. And they got around only if and when someone would take the time to take them out in a wheelchair. Gone are the days where those with disabilities are hidden from the world and I say Thank God for that.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Another reason there are more people with disabilities now is modern medical advances that allow them to still be alive in the first place. My father in law's (uses annoying scooter at Disney and other places he has to walk more than 1/4 mile, doctor's orders) heart condition was something he was born with. They told his mother he would live to 15. Then a new, revolutionary surgery was performed on him in around 1950 and they said he woud live until his forties. He is now 67 and because of the many medical advances he has mangaged to outlive what anybody thought he would. Thank God they just keep coming up with new medications and treatments. My mother has also used a wheelchair at times (at Disneyland come to think of it, hope nobody got offended), she has stage IV breast cancer. Used to be a death sentence, she's had it four years and is still going. When she is on chemo, she is weak so we do what it takes for her to enjoy life. Due to her wig and makeup she looks normal in or out of a wheelchair. A lot of people used to die from their illnesses/disablities now they can live a somewhat altered but still quality life. And that includes going to Disney! Where is the OP who started this whole thing and what are his thoughts now by the way? Still convinced their are too many electric carts in the parks? Or have you softened up a bit?

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

There are also many more people using scooters because this "baby boom" generation has a lot more people. Statistics also estimate a large need for retirement housing and nursing homes for this substantial generation.

My Mom has never seen WDW. If she did go with me o WDW, she would need a scooter for sure. She looks healthy, and can certaintly walk, but her limit for walking is only about 45 minutes.

It's similar to me using the handicapped bathroom stall. I am not handicapped, but if my lower back is driving me crazy, I need those railings to push off of, to get up and out of there.

I'm glad that WDW is "user friendly".

 

[glass-slipper]

I don't look like I could use a "cart" and I DON"T use one either. I have very bad arthritis in my knees, bone on bone with no cartilege left and very young to have had this happen. When I go to Disney I take my arthritis medications of course, a pain medication and wear pain patches on my knees UNDER long pants. My DH sometimes begs me to use a cart, and it's because of people who give dirty looks or "think" mean things, that I refuse. So I LOVE DisneyWorld and would rather walk around in pain, sitting down frequently to take the edge off, than use a cart and have people thinking I don't need one.

So perhaps, for every person riding in those cars that don't need it, how many are like me, walking around in pain because of what people might think and how they might look at them. I don't know what happened in the incident you described, but I do know that most people that need the carts, probably don't look like they do.

And walking to the gate is one thing, being on your feet for even one hour gets painful and by the time I've been in the parks for 4 or 5, I'm sometimes almost in tears when I get back to the room. I guess in this case it might be literally better to walk in someone's shoes for a while before judging.

So I don't use a cart because of "comments" and things people might think, but still go, because I absolutely LOVE Disney and will not deny myself that, even if it hurts.

Eeyore2003,

Please reconsider using an ECV! You are probably doing more damage to yourself by forcing yourself to walk in pain. It is a shame some people judge and make rude comments or give dirty looks, but your health is more important than someone's negative opinion. I'll bet if the situation was reversed, they wouldn't think twice about what you thought of them.
We took my Mom to WDW last year and she had to use an ECV because she has degenerative spine disease and can't walk long distances. I found it very upsetting that she received so many nasty looks and comments. It is sad that some people think the worst of others and judge them, but we chose to ignore them. You have to do what is best for yourself. If that means adding another ECV into the parks then maybe the people who it bothers will just have to learn to deal with it.

 

[blunoz]

Hi, relatively new, but would like to add my two cents.

We are planning on visting WDW for the first time on Monday. For the past month I have been battling pleurisy and have been taking it easy. After 3 and a half weeks off work I returned this week and find myself dead tired and in pain after a few hours of moving around. The big joke is I have spent months planning an itinerary that will allow us to see as much as possible in the week we are there, which involves alot of walking. Needless to say, I'm panicking because I don't think I'll be able to keep up the pace now.

People like Dennis99ss are the reason I won't rent a WC. I am capable of walking, maybe even completing a complete park with lots of stops, but am I going to enjoy it as much as I would if I was completely healthy? Probably not.

I know I'm not putting this down right.... I do believe people should be able to rent one without critisism from anyone else. I want to believe if I need a WC I can get it, but I also do not want mine or my family's vacation ruined because some mean spirited, short-sighted person cannot understand that all disabilities are not obvious to everyone, and decides to make "lazy" comments.


I am not lazy, I do not want any preferential treatment, I just want to be able to get from one place to another without a great deal of pain and dirty looks. But I know that I am so thin skinned that I would not be able to sit there and have people make rude comments. THAT would absolutely ruin everything. I'd rather put up with the pleurisy.

Sorry for the rant, just needed to put my thoughts down...

 

[Pedler]

I don't think the OP was implying that all people that appeared able bodied on a scooter did not need them, just that maybe some were and were abusing the system.

I don't know about scooters at WDW but I do know first hand about people that "borrow" a relative / friend / whatevers car with a disabled sticker or plate so they can park in the handicap parking spaces when driving WITHOUT the handicaped person. I also see many able bodied students use the handicap spots at stores without even having the plates or stickers. (Personally I think you should be allowed to key these peoples vehicles!)

I assume that most people using the scooters need them but there are some I am sure that do not. It is not disparaging people with legitimate needs to suggest that there are people out there that abuse the situation.

 

[Pooh1219]

Eyeore 2003, your pain comes through in your post, but I think you're carrying it a bit far. You go through an entire day in pain because of what someone you don't even know might think? Please, just get a chair and save your body the unnecessary wear and tear that a day in Disney World can inflict. The happiest place on earth shouldn't send you back to your hotel room in agony.

I don't need an ECV, but I do suffer from arthritis in my knees and I DO use the handicapped bathrooms because I need the handrails to assist me. Sometimes I've gotten the odd looks, but I just give them right back. When these people know what kind of pain I have, then they have the right to comment or roll their eyes. Otherwise, bug off!

 

[Briarmom]

I really don't think the op said any of this because she is a mean person.

Once at DL we were standing by the train (which as a pp said cannot haul the carts) and the elderly lady coming up (or down can't remember) the ramp FELL OVER!!! It was horrible. My dh ran up and picked her up and the party she was with finally noticed. She could have seriously injured herself. Anyway, I know that is off topic, I just will never forget it.

Also, at the salon my mother goes to, there is a hairdresser that (whenever WDW is brought up) says 'Just rent a wheelchair and you can skip the lines.' My mother can't stand this. Neither can I. I hate the thought of people taking advantage of this policy. Many of the people who truly need wheelchairs have spent a lot of their life waiting in a Doctor's office and going through things we can't imagine. Unfortunately, people DO take advantage, and we've all seen them...there always needs to be some people who ruin it for the rest.

 

[Sally]

My DH has CP, and he has missed almost every vacation because he can't walk for long, thankfully he has decided to finally go to WDW this time and use the scooter. We are renting one for a week from Randy's Mobility. We are faced with DH being in a chair soon enough, I only hope we don't have to hear negative comments while we are WDW... I am sure DH will never go on any vacation again if he does.

Heaven help a person that comments about my DH and his scooter while we are WDW. Live a day in his pain then comment about scooters.

 

[RaySharpton]

I know, I will probably get flamed for being so un pc, but, does anybody else see more carts at disney!

Yes, you probably will get flamed, but not by me. And yes, I do see more scooters.

A couple of weeks ago, we were walking past towards the jungle cruise, past the Alladin ride, and I hear this scream. A lady in her cart had begun to run over a little girl, and just kept on going on over her foot/leg. Finally, some man lifted the entire front of her cart, her included, up in the air, and the lady still had the power on. This guy is holding up this cart on its rear wheels, and this lady, who, I would bet, was not well versed in the use of a cart, as she kept on holding down the forward motion lever.

I hope the little girl is alright, and thank goodness the man was able to help and lift the scooter up. I wasn't there. Maybe the lady was not "well versed in the use of a cart". But I would like to think of the lady as if it were a loved one of mine. Maybe a grandmother who got tired, or scared or fainted or something. I certaintly would not think that see ran over a little girl on purpose. But that is just the way that I think.

Is there a medical necessity requirement, or are these things just rented out to anybody.

If you are talking about renting a scooter from WDW at the parks. You can pay WDW $40.00 up front and when you return the key, they return $10.00 as a key refund. So for $30.00 per day, anyone can rent a scooter from the WDW park. That is if one is available. They often run out of scooters early in the day. Sometimes later in the day when someone returns a scooter, they may rent another one that is being charged out again. But you take a chance when you get there whether or not there will be a scooter available. And if you are by yourself, like me, it is very hard to wheel myself in wheelchair up some slopes.

Granted, there are some people who need the transportation assistance, but, just a guess, some of the people using the carts just don't look like they need one.

O.K.. It may just be me, but I try not try judge anyone. I certainly try not to judge someone by the way they may look. Or I try not to judge someone by what color there skin may be. Or I try not to judge someone by what language they may speak. Or I try not to judge someone by the type of clothes they wear.[/QUOTE]

If you rent one at the gate, doesn't that mean you had to walk to get there?

Yes, I guess they do. Unless they were able to borrow a wheelchair from their resort.

Sometimes that distance to walk from the WDW bus stop, to the security center, and then into the Guest Services area is a very long walk for me. So I guess that it could be for others, too. I remember one year, I waited at the park Guest Services over one hour before a scooter became availablle because they were all rented out. Or one year at MVMCP, the WDW scooter was not available, so since I had my MVMCP ticket I decided to go ahead and walk even thought I didn't feel well. I made it all the way to Splash Mountain, but I was in so much pain, and out of breath, I decided that I didn't think that I could make it all the way up the stairs and path to the Splash Mountain ride. So I headed back to my room. My leg was hurting so much. I tried to sit down when ever I found a chair or bench. It took me over three hours to get to my room from the Splash Mountain bridge. I didn't think that I was going to make it. I enjoyed the breif time that I had, but I was more worried that I wouldn't have made it safely back to my room.

I can't imagine what it must be like for you to get up and walk anywhere that you want to walk without thinking about it. Or to run. Or to walk quickly. And without pain.

I can't imagine what it must be like for you to not to spend an extra $30.00 per day to rent a scooter. A scooter doesn't get to go to the front of the line of a ride. A scooter can't easily move to the left or to the right as you might while walking up MK Main Street looking the the castle and lights. A scooter can't easily go into any store at a lark as you can walking.

Would you pay $30.00 per day to be restricted to a scooter instead of walking anywhere that you wanted to walk or run instead. Would you pay $210.00 per week to use a scooter at the parks.

What if you could get into the lines easier, would you pay an extra $210.00 for a scooter to do that.

Well, I am renting a scooter for the first time off site. That means that I won't have to walk to the park gate and wait to rent a scooter. But it does mean that I may slow the bus trip a little bit from the resort to the park as the Castmember helps me load the scooter on to and off of the WDW bus.

Maybe you were one of the people that I saw at WDW one time. Sometimes I see the shaking head, or the frown, or the whispers, or some other discusting and demeaning comment made to me as they left the bus. Maybe we have met and didn't know it. It did hurt my feelings, but I try to think that maybe you are just having a bad day. Or maybe that you are tired or frustrated. I know that there are good and bad people in the world, but maybe the frowning comment to me was just because the person had something else going on that I could not possibly know about. So I try to smile back, apologize for taking up their time and go on.

But with this scooter, I will be able to walk the sidewalks of Old Key West Resort. And I will be able to do things that I have never done before. I'll be alble to walk the trail from Old Key West Resort to DownTown Disney and to Sarasota Springs Resort. I'll be able to walk around the lake at the BoardWalk Resorts, and walk around the lake at the Carrabien Beach Resort, and walk around the lake at the Coronado Springs Resort. And I'll be able to walk around the foliage covered trails at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort and along the river to the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. And to walk the trail from the Wilderness Lodge Resort over to the Wilderness Campground area. And to walk around that sidewalk from the Grand Floridian Resort to the Wedding Chapel to the Polynesian Resort.

So many places to walk.

Maybe you don't have this experience. Maybe you have never helped anyone like this. Hopefully you will never incur a disease or accident that will prevent you from doing everything that you can do now with your healthly two legs. God forbid that anything would happen to your mother or father or brother or sister or wife or children.

Everyone deserves the see and experience the magic without being judged or stared at or being rudely commented to about being in this world.

If you see me anywhere...just ask me and I will be glad to get out of your way and out of your site so that you can see your magic the way you see things. But that is just me. But if you ever try to belittle any child or adult just because they are different from you, then we are going to have a big problem.

I tried hitting the back button several times and I kept rewriting a different post.

Well...I'm off to Walt Disney World. The kindest and friendliest place for everyone that may be different. Magic for everyone. Even you.

Ray Sharpton

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

I really don't think the op said any of this because she is a mean person.

Once at DL we were standing by the train (which as a pp said cannot haul the carts) and the elderly lady coming up (or down can't remember) the ramp FELL OVER!!! It was horrible. My dh ran up and picked her up and the party she was with finally noticed. She could have seriously injured herself. Anyway, I know that is off topic, I just will never forget it.

Also, at the salon my mother goes to, there is a hairdresser that (whenever WDW is brought up) says 'Just rent a wheelchair and you can skip the lines.' My mother can't stand this. Neither can I. I hate the thought of people taking advantage of this policy. Many of the people who truly need wheelchairs have spent a lot of their life waiting in a Doctor's office and going through things we can't imagine. Unfortunately, people DO take advantage, and we've all seen them...there always needs to be some people who ruin it for the rest.

I agree with this post (and the one two above it). I have helped two families with disabled children plan their WDW vacations this year. I told them that WDW is phenominal in providing vacations for people with or without disabilities. And I've told them what they need to do to insure they have the best vacation possible and know about all of the options they will have there. (A big part of that was pointing them to the disabilities board on the DIS.)

However, I've seen the snickering people in line renting an ECV to "get in front of everyone". Makes me sick because it does in turn make those who truly need the assistance looked down upon in some way. I think the "snickerers" are those the OP was talking about. I know it is impossible to recognize the need of every person in an ECV, so I don't judge.

I would have LOVED to see the elderly group in Epcot lined up. Bet they were a hoot!!!!

 

[foxfire]

Let me share why I'm not going to be judgemental of anyone using an ECV. Last week, my adult DS stepped off the tram on the Backlot Tour & badly sprained his knee. It was just a case of making a misstep that could have happened to anyone. Nothing or noone was to blame for it. It was just one of those unfortunate things that can occur.

To make a long story short, we made the decision to rent an ECV. He was in extreme pain when he put his weight down on his foot & tried to walk, but had no pain when sitting. Being able to ride in the parks saved the trip for him. Yes, he looked perfectly healthy but there was an underlying & legitimate reason he was using the ECV. You simply cannot tell by looking at a person whether they should or should not be on one. He did not go to the head of any line at any time & take advantage of the situation. That would not have been right because those that are truly handicapped need that consideration reserved for them.

I'll add this, too. My DH has severe asthma. He looks very healthy but cannot walk long distances because of shortness of breath. He uses an ECV at theme parks also. Nonapparent health issues make it impossible for others to accurately know whether a person should be using an ECV. Just thought I'd share these instances & maybe it will provide a bit of understanding & insight into situations others deal with.

I'm sure there are those that abuse the ECV's & that is regretful. My guess would be those people are the in the minority & I'm willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt on this issue.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Thank-you to the several people that mentioned I should just break down and use the ECV. It's a very hard thing to do. In a few things I HAVE learned to "ignore", but I think allot has to do with what one poster said, and that's when you're younger, you just want to be able to do what most people your age are doing and it takes a while to realize and admit that there's certain things you can't do and may never do. In my case, at least until I'd break down and get new knees.

Also, in some defense of the OP, I'm sure it was very disconcerting to see a little girl literally get "run over" by someone, and more difficult to see the pain of the person in the ECV in the "heat" of the moment.

I guess it's my general feeling that many times you read on the boards about the stroller people complaining about walkers, the walkers complaining about stroller people, the ECV people complaining about walkers, walkers complaining about ECV people, people in general who's pet peeve is people stopping right in front of them, when I'm sure these people don't do this purposely, I know I've done it when I'm looking which way to go or thinking about something, or missed a "door" I was going in. Well, I'm sure you get the idea. I think it would be wise to remember that we're all on vacation, we're all there to enjoy being at DisneyWorld, and it would make our day that much happier if we were less judgemental of everyone. It's really none of our business, especially when we don't know the circumstances. Why waste part of the day getting upset.

I guess the only thing that really bothers me allot is someone abusing their child. Call me judgemental about that, but I can't handle that one.

Anyway, thanks for caring, I really didn't mean to sound as pitiful as it must have seemed. I'm very fortunate in so many ways, and yes, it's my own fault if I don't just fess up and use the ECV. Perhaps one of these days I'll get up the guts to just do it.

 

[Tiger Fan]

I am sitting here literally in tears as I read this thread. I have been to WDW 8 times over the past 5 years since my cancer diagnosis. I am a young (36 year old), over-weight (3XL) woman who can and does walk short distances. Except for my first trip when I was bald headed (due to chemo) I "look" very healthy. You cannot see the tumors that fill the bones in my rib cage, pelvic, shoulder, spinal cord (I actually have 2 fractures), hips, sternum, and liver. You cannot tell by looking at me that I'm exhausted from 5 years of bi-weekly chemo-therapy and many bouts of radiation that have caused permanent damage to my lungs. You might think that I am just an over-weight lazy person looking to get special treatment and front of the line privileges. I've heard people say mean and negative things (some whispered, others didn't care that they were hurting my or my family's feelings) as I boarded the bus and "wasted" their time. I may be the first to board the bus, but you don't wait around to see that my family and I will be the LAST to exit the bus and to actually enter the gates or get to our destination. You don't see that it took my family and I much, much longer to even get to the bus stop, you don't see that we have to leave the park after only a few (3-4 usually) hours because I can't physically be without my medications or that I need rest. I understand that there will always be people who abuse the system, but it upsets me that I know there are SO very many people like the OP that just assume things by looking at people. I would not be able to go to WDW and make memories with my DD if I could not use an ECV. I do not rent one from the park as due to my physical disabilities documented by my various physicians I have my own. I am lucky, many are not. I also understand that there are people who will drive the carts, that unfortunately are not very experienced and that is upsetting. I can also tell you about a time that a little boy about the age of 6 came running toward me VERY fast and even though I stopped straight in my tracks he ran smack into the front of my cart, falling to the ground. His family was no where in sight and my family immediately helped him up and tried to console him and care for him. I can also tell you about the many things I've missed out on, due to not being able to get my cart into a tight space (Ray covered many of those very well). The bottom line here is that you simply cannot tell by looking at someone what their need is. This is not meant as a "flame", but a sincere urging that you rethink your stereotyping. I would gladly trade not having cancer for never even returning to Disney ever again - I don't think that's an option - so for now I'm thankful that I; a) have a cart, and b) EVERYONE is not so cruel.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

edited to add: I thought and rethought about posting to this thread, but it just brought up the feelings I have on each trip when people are so rude that I simply could not let this slide. I mean no harm to anyone, but simply needed to get this out.

 

[krdisneybound]

Everyone has their opinion.

When it comes to "DISABILITIES" you should not voice your opinion in a negative manner out loud ---- unless you KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT...................

Many people have "limited mobility" and if they want to enjoy the Disney enjoyments, and the ECV's are helpful to them, sobeit.

To look at me, I don't need an EVC. I was on life support for 7 months in the year 2004 and cannot walk even around the grocery store w/o catching my breath and having to sit down. My medical health has come a long way and I still want to try and go to Disney and walk around some of the parks, including DTD.

Yes, some people can't handle them and there will be accidents - but don't look at everyone badly just because they are in an EVC, unless you know their medical condition.

One day you just might need one.

 

[Meezers]

My 37 yoa brother who is 6'2" and about 200 pounds.....looks very healthy.

Funny story. He does have a permanent handicapped parking permit due to a severe hip injury. He went to return a movie to BlockBuster....parked in the space...a woman next to him made a very snide remark. My brother very calmy told her that he would trade his parking permit for her left leg. She apologized and left rather quickly!

I hope everyone out there who needs to use the priveledges (not the right word) does use them. I hope the ones taking advantage of the situation someday earns the right to use them

 

[CaipiraBob]

I know, I will probably get flamed for being so un pc, but, does anybody else see more carts at disney than anywhere else, including vegas!

Being Un-PC is way cool. Best to NOT be a brainwashed PC zombie.

OTOH it doesn't surprise me at Disney how many people truly do need this sort of assistance. I'm glad it's readily available. I plan to arrange similar aid for my mother, who can walk but has horrible knees. For our next vacation, I'm going to get her a cart so she can put around Epcot's WS and take her time without getting exhausted. She doesn't do rides anymore, but love to look at all the activity.

Don't worry, she's not a "Cart Warrior"...

 

[bgirldeb]

Last year at Epcot, in WS, there were 6 elderly people in scooters driving along all next to each other in a wide line. They looked like a motorcycle gang. But I wasn't annoyed at all because it was hilarious. They all looked really serious too, like they were concentrating to make sure they didn't hit anyone. It still cracks me up just thinking about it.

Makes me think of Seinfeld

 

[Lucky4me]

Haven't read all the replies, but this is the answer to your question.
Yes there are more people than ever in ECVs at WDW. That's because there are more PEOPLE than ever at WDW. So when the park guests numbers go up, the ECV usage goes up. It has absolutely nothing to do with someone needing it or not. That, quite frankly, is none of my or your business.
The next time you see someone in an ECV and you feel that odd bit of annoyance, look again. Imagine yourself needing one someday and how you'd want people to view you. It changes your perspective. A lot.

 

[NCombs]

Don't judge a book by it's cover-You have no idea by looking at someone what their personal issues may be.