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

[Tiziminchac]

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.

Well there you go. I always try to be kind and considerate to others, that's how I was raised. I can't imagine why people would be rude to those who are less fortunate (in any way, including health) than them. Do onto others...

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

My dad had to use a scooter for the first time at Sea World a few weeks ago with my sister and her family. He had to get over his own embarrassment at using one, but before, he just couldn't go with us on any activities that required a lot of walking. Every time one of our families goes to the zoo, he stays home. So I for one am glad he used one so he could go along.
Scooters definitely don't always get privileges! At the shows he had to sit up at the top while the rest of the gang was down at the front in the wet zone. It was a windy day, so he sat in the wind and froze his rear off while the rest of them were warmer out of the wind. I felt very badly for him when I heard that.
My dad is 61 and looks healthy, but has severe neuropathy in his legs to the point where he has very limited feeling from the knees down. He requires two canes to keep his balance and still has trouble sometimes. So something like a scooter is a necessity! He should probably be in a wheelchair to prevent himself from falling, but he just isn't ready to take that step yet.
I would hate it if anyone at WDW or anyone else would judge him for using a scooter and making him feel worse than he already does for having to use one.
I just wish he could physically be able to come to the World with us next month!

 

[winniedapooh]

Eyore2003 I am in the same boat you are in.....I am 41 and doc told me last week he is going to replace my right knee next year! I did not think this was possible but he said he cannot get me into my 50's for that one but will able to for me left one. I choose not to use one for many of the same reasons you stated, I could not have said it better.

 

[krdisneybound]

Responses are great.

People should not judge just because a person is in an ECV at Disney or any other recreational park.

There is no signs anywhere at Disney that states "visible scars must be seen to rent an EVC".

 

[krdisneybound]

P.S.

I also think that the "majority" and I say "majority" of individuals who rent an ECV - take great care in maneuvering them.

I personally have had people actually WALK INTO me while I was sitting and not moving in an EVC - and not even say "sorry" or "I didn't mean to walk into you".

They just look and turn the other way.

That is just very rude

 

[krdisneybound]

If the OP ever has to rent an ECV to walk around the resorts/parks at WDW - hope this individual has the courtesy of coming back to this post and letting us know what prompted them to rent an EVC and if it was a necessity

 

[Barbday62]

My husband looks normal, He looks strong and yes he has to use a ECV (Or now an electric wheel chair) You will see him do just about anything I do short term. Does this mean he doesnt need one?

He has Muscular Dystrophy and in the early stages the deterioration is 100% invisible to others. Others dont see what happen after he does anything I do. Sometimes hes stuck in bed 2 days with spasms that make our bed shake like an earthquake. Or he has to take so many more pain pills to make him totally in capable of being coherant. So he chooses to use the EVC cart or electric wheelchair to prevent what is inevitable. I dont take turns with him but if he wanted to do a short walk you bet I would trade off just so he can have a small resemblance of feeling normal.

I really think until you walk in the shoes you probably are clueless about life that is not physically normal.

You know my husband has suffered so much abuse by people who judge. We have had our car scraped by someone with keys who decided he didnt look disbled enough to use the handicap parking. HE has people yelling at him all the time for parking in handicap parking. Our standard response to someone who doesnt leave us alone is to with they could trade just one day with him then they would have a change of heart on how they treat him.

 

[Chuck S]

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.

How sad for you. Perhaps your husband is begging you to use an ecv or wheelchair for a reason, and your pride/vanity/worry about strangers comments is being detrimental to his enjoyment of WDW. I know the few times that my Mom tried to walk the parks after her hip surgeries, we had to leave early because of her pain. She would take ahold of my arm for support, throwing me off-balance and hurting my lower back to the point where I told her she would either have to have a wheelchair or ecv or we would have to sell off our DVC, as I was no longer finding our trips relaxing and enjoyable. Mom is a relatively small woman, and we now travel with our own manual wheelchair, which I push through the parks with no problems...an added benefit is the bag we have that goes on the back of the chair so we don't have to carry anything (of course, always carry valuables with you on rides). I am now able to truly enjoy our trips and and neither of us is exhausted at the end of the day. She is fully ambulatory enough to transfer to and from rides.

Please reconsider your decision not to use some sort of chair or ecv, you'll find it will make your trip much more comfortable and enjoyable. Besides, you'll never see those strangers again...who gives a flip what they think?

 

[bicker]

I prefer to grant the benefit of doubt, and assume that the level of "abuse" is relatively low. Based on that, what's more intriguing, and disturbing, to me is what the number of ECVs says about the general state of fitness in America.

A comment, though, in response to the statements about degenerative spinal disease, because this is something that hits very close to home for me. I have DDD, myself, and you definitely could NOT tell by looking at me, because I walk everywhere at Walt Disney World, deliberately finding opportunities to walk FURTHER than necessary whenever possible. I encourage folks who suffer from degenerative conditions like mine to consider whatever opportunities they have to beat-back at their disease, as I have. It was a tough fight back from the worst I experienced, but vigilence helped me achieve what I've achieved, and I cannot overstate how much every bit of effort was worth.

 

[Chuck S]

Based on that, what's more intriguing, and disturbing, to me is what the number of ECVs says about the general state of fitness in America.

It also indicates that people are living longer, and generally healthier lives. When I was young 65 was OLD, folks rarely lived (or at least weren't able to get around) beyond 70.

And the population overall is getting older, since the baby boomers are reaching retirement age.

 

[mickeyluv]

I really think until you walk in the shoes you probably are clueless about life that is not physically normal.

You go girl! My husband used an ECV last year at Epcot and will use one again this year. He doesn't look like anything is wrong with him except for when he has been on his feet and walking alot, he will have a limp. He has fibromyalgia and just about three months ago was diagnosed with a cerebral syrinx, which means he has a hole in the lower part of his spinal cord. He does fine for a little while with walking, but go have to walk all day at one of the parks at WDW, would put him in bed for at least a week. Therefore, we do rent one as soon as we get into the parks due to the fact that we don't want them to be all taken by the time we will actually have to have one.

I'm sure that there are people out there that are using them that don't need them, but unless you are one of the people that actually needs one and can't get one due to them all being rented out already, what difference does it make to anyone. I mean does it make some people mad because people are riding around on these things or what? What is the big deal. The EVC are there for people that have problems whether it be long-term or short-term, to actually make there visit more pleasurable and managable and I think it is wonderful.

I'm with the OP, don't be so quick to judge! Until you are in that person's shoes and dealing with a handicap situation, long-term or short-term, you don't have a clue!

 

[SheDaisy0088]

About a yer ago I did have to use and ECV. We rented it off site. I have a problem with my ankle. It swells if I walk for more than 20 minutes at a time. I use an ECV to get around the parks. I do not use it for front of the line. I am otherwise able bodied. I just ignore the people that make comments about why I am in an ECV. It does annoy me that some parents don't say anything to their kids. They need to understand that they don't stop on a dime and they can be seriously hurt. I am respectful of people who are walking but their have been times when I came close to hitting someone because they try to cut people off who are in ECV's. A little common courtesy from all goes a long way!!

 

[babar41]

Coming from a family whose sister lost both legs from diabities, an elderly aunt who broke her hips and could only walk with a walker, a father who had heart problems and blood clots limiting his walking ability to no more than 1/2 block without sitting and resting, I know quite a bit first hand on the difficulties many disabled people have. Wheelchairs and ECV's provide a very vital service in our lives. Having said that...

I think the original post wasn't questioning the right or need of most who rent the EVC's. But just as in anything in this world, there are people who will and do take advantage of everything. At one time those who were wheelchair bound were given front of the line. Some people who perhaps did not need the EVC's rented them just for this.

I agree, you can not know another's health just by looking at them. But I am sure many of you have seen people park in handicap spaces, without a handicap sticker, that for all appearances were healthy. When I see someone parking in one of those stalls without the sticker I do approach them and say "Did you know you were parking in a handicap area?" 99.9% of the time I am told that they didn't notice the handicap sign they had parked in front of nor the big yellow wheelchair painted on the ground. They move their cars. Once I was told that the person was using someone elses car and that they did have mobility problems, but thanked me for trying to save the spaces for those who had a need for it.

As far as the whole wheelchair and stroller issue of running over others is concerned, unfortunately there are rude people in all walks or wheels of life. For the most part I find most people at Disney to be polite. I have been run over and bumped by various strollers and even a wheelchair or two, but I also have been bumped into by those on their feet! Most apologize.

My wish? It would be nice if people would just pay attention to their surroundings. If you are pushing a stroller or wheelchair or walking around on your own two feet, please realize there are others around you, and pay attention to where you are moving.

 

[Mykelogan]

I have been the person who used to say "No thanks, I'd rather not go" or "I'm having to much fun here to want to leave" in order to avoid having to use an ECV to make different things possible so I could avoid the comments of others. The first time I used one it was because the people most affected by my use or not use of an ECV were not the people making comments, or "inconvenienced" because they had an extra 90 secs to wait at the bus stop, it was myself and my friends I was holding back. Using the ECV leveled the playing field and helped us truly enjoy our trip. As a larger man I know that many onlookers make assumptions about why I am using the ECV but I have found that it is not my responsibility to correct their ignorance. Hearing my detailed medical history will only stem a person's negative energy flow from being directed at me, they will surely find another target. And I like to think I have pretty thick skin. The only time I did experience negatives feelings strongly was during my last trip as the driver was operating the lift to get my ECV onto the older bus and the lift jammed. The driver said to me, "This lift does this alot, if we reset it, it should be ok." One of the patrons in line said very loudly, "For crissake's, why don't they just get a separate bus for those people so we don't have to deal with this crap!" The woman in front of him turned around and said, "It's not like the parks are gonna leave without you, calm down!" and most of the line then laughed. The woman then loudly enough for him to hear said, "Don't worry about jerk's like him!" I was very appreciative of what she said and enjoyed the rest of my day without a thought given to the man's negativity.

This discussion thread reminds me of a recent talk I had with one of my student staff (I work at a university in the residence halls.) She was expressing to me her frustration at how our disciplinary process allowed people who were clearly responsible for a policy violation to appeal decisions and go through the usual "due process." I reminded her that these procedures were in place so that people who do find themselves in the position of making a justified appeal can do so, and if the by product of protecting their rights is guarding the rights of those who might seem to be abusing the system, it was still worth it. She agreed with me and said she had not seen it that way. I feel the same thoughts apply to those who may actually "abuse" the ECVs and that is I am greatful they are there to help those who truly need them and will gladly accept a few abusers if it means someone who might not have been able to before can experience the magic of Disneyworld!

Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

My wish? It would be nice if people would just pay attention to their surroundings. If you are pushing a stroller or wheelchair or walking around on your own two feet, please realize there are others around you, and pay attention to where you are moving.

I like that wish a lot!

Mike

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

I am a 35 year old male that uses a ECV at WDW. I received Multiple wounds to legs and bones while defending a women that was being abused by her BF. when I wear long pants you would never know that I had 7 holes in my legs going down to the bones. If my riding an evc offends the original poster, then perhaps instead of losing his cool , he should stop and think that maybe just maybe I need it so i can enjot WDW like he does........ Ok i am stepping down off my soap box now

 

[krdisneybound]

IMHO - the single and double strollers cause more problems that the ECV's.

I have seen more wreckless strollers than any EVC around any park or resort. With the strollers you see the children jump in and out and that in itself is more abusive than someone sitting stationary in a moving EVC. You never know when a child will jump out and jump on or over you. The parents DO NOT CONTROL their children


Just my 2 cents again

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I only have on real peeve about people and ECVs. Why do so many people with lower body problems (legs, hip, etc.) automatically get an ECV?? What the heck is wrong with a wheelchair? If nothing is wrong with your upper body, why not take advantage and work your arm muscles??

I am paraplegic. I am a deadweight from the waist down. I have my own wheelchair. Do I go trade it in for an ECV when I get in the parks? No. Why? I am perfectly capable of pushing myself.

A lot of people are, in fact, lazy and don't want to push themselves. That's what annoys me. And no, I can't recognize those folks by looking at them, but I am meaning in theory.

For example, for the poster who said her son sprained his ankle, why the heck did he get an ECV? Why not a regular wheelchair?!

Rant off.

 

[phorsenuf]

My guess is if you do not use a wheelchair on a regular basis you are going to get some very sore arms. I cannot imagine trying to wheel myself around Disney for 8 hours!
I also don't expect to make my Dh or kids push me around either. Thats hard work for them. I did it one time when my DH needed a wheelchair there. Its not easy work! While it doesn't seem it, I know in parts Disny can be hilly.
I'll pass thanks!

 

[foxfire]

For example, for the poster who said her son sprained his ankle, why the heck did he get an ECV? Why not a regular wheelchair?!

Rant off.

I am that poster. Not that I feel I "owe" you an explanation for our choice but I will give it anyway. It was his knee that was twisted/sprained, not the ankle. As such, he could extend his leg to a certain degree/angle at the bottom of the ECV which made it feel better.This could not be done with a wheelchair. Keeping the leg bent at the knee for any length of time caused pain. You're one of those being judgemental of someone when you don't know the full story. Your choice to use a wheelchair is fine for you & I commend you; however, I don't think it authorizes you to make the decision for others.