back with a couple of interesting observations...

[MickeyMouseClub]

When we were at the check point in DTD on the way to DL we asked the person what they look for when they are checking bags and the response we got was "Glass bottles, alcohol, weapons, and dead people." DH laughed thinking the guy was joking and the guy said "no, seriously... too many people try to bring their loved ones ashes into DL to spread them at the happiest place on Earth." We laughed again and walked away.
Then we had to share that with everyone we know... because the way he said it was hilarious.

On a more serious note... DH had to use a scooter (rented from hoverround) on the trip due to his disability. On the last night DH went to drop it off at the front desk of the hotel. There was a married couple there dropping theirs off as well, as they pulled into the lobby the guy made the comment "renting this was the best think ever, sure beats the hell out of walking all day and the wheel chair lines a much shorter" DH said "well I earned mine" as he grabbed his cane, got up and left. I was so mad when I heard this story... people who do this should be ashamed of themselves!!

 

[emmysmommy]

When we were at the check point in DTD on the way to DL we asked the person what they look for when they are checking bags and the response we got was "Glass bottles, alcohol, weapons, and dead people." DH laughed thinking the guy was joking and the guy said "no, seriously... too many people try to bring their loved ones ashes into DL to spread them at the happiest place on Earth." We laughed again and walked away.
Then we had to share that with everyone we know... because the way he said it was hilarious.

I've heard that as well!

On a more serious note... DH had to use a scooter (rented from hoverround) on the trip due to his disability. On the last night DH went to drop it off at the front desk of the hotel. There was a married couple there dropping theirs off as well, as they pulled into the lobby the guy made the comment "renting this was the best think ever, sure beats the hell out of walking all day and the wheel chair lines a much shorter" DH said "well I earned mine" as he grabbed his cane, got up and left. I was so mad when I heard this story... people who do this should be ashamed of themselves!!

Sorry there are inconsiderate people out there. Good response from your husband though!

 

[scrappinbear78]

That is just wrong about the ECV and the couple. I should use an ECV and may when we go to DL, but if I am feeling OK in the morning then I will be walking. I may regret it later in the day, but I have a hard time using an ECV when I am feeling "OK". It ticks me off that people abuse the system and use things they don't need, but then again there are still a lot of dishonest people in the world. I love your DH's response to them.

 

[Eeee-va]

I'm sorry about the couple too! But (depending on their reaction to your husband) I wonder if it is POSSIBLE they were just making light of a hidden disability. My mom has fibromyalgia and after 2 trips to Disneyland where she spent more time in the hotel, in pain, than in the parks, she finally decided she will get an ECV. Unless she's in terrible pain or the lines are so long that she'll be in pain standing in them, I imagine we will generally use the non-handicapped entrances, but I'm not sure. (And the issue there is that she can't just SIT in the standard lines in Disneyland, not that we'd be trying to get out of waiting.)

Anyway, I seriously doubt she'd EVER make a comment as stupid as that couple, but she WILL be renting it because it is better than trying to walk all day (and being unable to stay in the park more than a few hours!), and we MAY be using the wheelchair lines sometimes (though I understand they are often not shorter).

 

[Peace Mickey Lovers]

Wow leaving ashes, is that legal? Wonder what they do if they find someone bringing them in?

 

[aurorae]

I think I've read that they had to shut down rides before (like Haunted Mansion) to clean up the ashes someone spilled.

I imagine that they would do the same thing they do when they discover glass bottles, deny entry until they get rid of it.

 

[emmysmommy]

I think I've read that they had to shut down rides before (like Haunted Mansion) to clean up the ashes someone spilled.

I imagine that they would do the same thing they do when they discover glass bottles, deny entry until they get rid of it.

The Haunted Mansion graveyard is where I have heard people leaving ashes. So odd since the ashes will only be swept up and disposed of so I'm not sure they actually achieve what they wanted.

 

[RuthieT]

We just got back from our DL trip and we saw too many people using scooters and wheel chairs that didnt need them and then having a bunch of people come with them to skip the lines.. I think DL needs to require some type of DR note or something saying that the item is needed.

 

[tlovesdis]

We just got back from our DL trip and we saw too many people using scooters and wheel chairs that didnt need them and then having a bunch of people come with them to skip the lines.. I think DL needs to require some type of DR note or something saying that the item is needed.

Just curious why you would think they didn't need it? I ask because I don't look like I need one but I do. I have two different conditions and I cannot be on my feet for very long at all. I realize there are a lot of dishonest people out there, but you just never know why someone may be in an ECV or wheelchair..

To the OP, that really stinks that someone may have been taking advantage of the system. It's awfully expensive and not very convienient to have an ECV so I think it's sad that someone would go to all that trouble.

 

[smiles33]

We just got back from our DL trip and we saw too many people using scooters and wheel chairs that didnt need them and then having a bunch of people come with them to skip the lines.. I think DL needs to require some type of DR note or something saying that the item is needed.

Just curious why you would think they didn't need it? I ask because I don't look like I need one but I do. I have two different conditions and I cannot be on my feet for very long at all. I realize there are a lot of dishonest people out there, but you just never know why someone may be in an ECV or wheelchair..

To the OP, that really stinks that someone may have been taking advantage of the system. It's awfully expensive and not very convienient to have an ECV so I think it's sad that someone would go to all that trouble.

My DH had to use an ECV because of his hip injury (getting arthroscopic surgery in 2 weeks). He can walk with pain and has his cane, but anything longer than 10 minutes results in hours of pain later. I think the reality is that there will always be cheaters and I don't know if CM will be comfortable checking doctor's notes (which can obviously be faked). Thus, I'm with the "innocent until proven guilty" crowd. Assume the person needs help, despite not being an obvious injury, until proven guilty.

In our experience, when we saw the woman in 5" heels roll up in a wheelchair to use the WOC special guests with disabilities reserved seating area but then stand for the entire show while 6 kids took turns sitting in her chair and 3 other adults monopolized the benches near us, I figure she didn't have a real injury. That annoyed me but what can I do? Luckily, I didn't see any guests with real disabilities stuck elsewhere so I can only hope her deceit didn't rob another guest the chance to sit down and enjoy WOC.

 

[nana50]

My sister uses a wheelchair so we rented an ECV on her visit. It was wonderful, but we didn't get to go to the front of any lines. We waited to the side and went in after whoever was in front of us went.

 

[juliamollymama]

My mom always uses an ECV when we go due to very bad knee arthritis and people will look at her crazy sometimes. She uses a cane to get to and from the rides but she just can't walk or stand for more than about 10 minutes. She has hard time sitting too long too. Last weekend, she wanted to walk a bit and browse through a store. I drove her ECV very slowly behind her and people gave me the worst looks. Like I stole my mama's ECV!! I was laughing to myself about how people will just judge, judge, judge. She just wanted to walk, and more improtantly, walk with her grandchildren for a few minutes. I was behind them and thinking how nice it was to see her walking and holding hands with my daughter. It was actually a very nice moment for me.

 

[carnival kid]

We just got back from our DL trip and we saw too many people using scooters and wheel chairs that didnt need them and then having a bunch of people come with them to skip the lines.. I think DL needs to require some type of DR note or something saying that the item is needed.

Sorry but i agree. When there are teenagers hooting around and being silly on them it is really frustrating.

 

[LizzyS]

The ashes thing is just too funny. I'm not sure why you'd pick INSIDE a ride to do it, though; generally when you see people spreading ashes, it's into the wind or ocean, etc. Dumping them in the Haunted Mansion just seems... weird!

 

[DisneyloverinWA]

Disney could solve the line problem with people renting scooters that don't need them and line cutting. They should allow the scooter/wheelchair up the exit and the rest of the party should have to go wait in line. Once the rest of the party is ready to be loaded they could get the wheelchair person and their companion and all of them would ride together. The other idea is to give the wheelchair/scooter people a pass at the line. It would have a time to return at that would be based on the length of the line at the time they got the pass (if it's a 60 minute wait and they approach the ride at 1:05, they would get a pass to return at 2:05 and ride). Effectively this would be their "waiting in line" time. Either of these solutions would solve 12 people getting to cut in line early because someone is in a wheelchair.

I think it is fantastic that most of the Disney rides can accomodate special needs guests, but they should wait their turn like everybody else.

 

[smiles33]

Disney could solve the line problem with people renting scooters that don't need them and line cutting. They should allow the scooter/wheelchair up the exit and the rest of the party should have to go wait in line. Once the rest of the party is ready to be loaded they could get the wheelchair person and their companion and all of them would ride together.

This is actually what we did in Dumbo, Casey Jr, Tangled, and a couple other rides. DH waited at the exit and DDs and I waited in line. That is the fairest thing to do. DH doesn't like the e-ticket rides so he only rode Star Tours and just used a FP I got him and hobbled in on his cane.

 

[jemilah]

My grandmother would say " dont use that unless you need to , you will tempt the evil eye , and you will end up in one for the rest of your life" I have had to use a ECV to grocery shop post surgery and hated it.

 

[Eeee-va]

Disney could solve the line problem with people renting scooters that don't need them and line cutting. They should allow the scooter/wheelchair up the exit and the rest of the party should have to go wait in line. Once the rest of the party is ready to be loaded they could get the wheelchair person and their companion and all of them would ride together.

This is similar to what they did during our one-day visit in the late 1980s or early 1990s. I think at the time, you had to split up if you had 4 or more members in your party, though I'm sure it wasn't always enforced. My dad, as a double-amputee, had quite a bit of difficulty leaving his wheelchair, and at the time VERY few attractions allowed you to stay in your chair. I can't even think of any that moved that let you stay in your chair...maybe the train and/or monorail? Dad could have feasibly ridden a few more if he'd really wanted to take the trouble to get out of/get hauled out of his chair and manage to climb into a car, but they just weren't worth the trouble to him.

We went on the train somehow. The only other ride I recall we did wait to go on as a family was the Jungle Cruise (no wheelchair boat at the time, and I'm not sure how he got in, now that I think about it; if I recall correctly, it was rather difficult). He and I had to wait to the side near the loading area while my mom and brother went through the regular line. I wish we could've spent that time waiting as a family, though the trip wasn't really about my dad...I think he spent most of the rest of the trip holding bags and such. Fortunately for him, it was just 1 day, but I can definitely see why he hates Disneyland, since he hates crowds and at the time there was almost nothing for him to do. And try as he might, he couldn't get us selfish kids to go on Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. (Now there's a bit more he could do, even though he wouldn't be able to transfer from his chair at all now....but he still hates crowds. )

I don't think it would be at all fair to expect wheelchair users to wait alone while the rest of their party went through the line, though. Most vacations are supposed involve spending time with people you love, not sending the wheelchair user off to wait alone while the rest of your party spends time together. Which is why I think the rule back then was if you had 4 or more people in your party, you had to split up. It still gave the wheelchair users a lesser experience (they had their party split up while able-bodied people were able to stay together). But at least no one had to be alone.

The best solution is mainstreaming lines like they do at DCA, but I know space doesn't allow that at DL for most rides.

 

[Disney Dreams]

When we were at the check point in DTD on the way to DL we asked the person what they look for when they are checking bags and the response we got was "Glass bottles, alcohol, weapons, and dead people." DH laughed thinking the guy was joking and the guy said "no, seriously... too many people try to bring their loved ones ashes into DL to spread them at the happiest place on Earth." We laughed again and walked away.
Then we had to share that with everyone we know... because the way he said it was hilarious.

On a more serious note....

I hate to tell you this, but the CM was being very serious. There a many known instances of rides being shut down at DL because someone was caught scattering ashes of a loved one. Due to the fact that it is human remains, it has to be cleaned in a specific way. (I don't know the how or what of that part.) People do it all too often from what we have been told by CMs and if they are caught, not only does their loved ones' remains get vacuumed up, but it is also a misdemeanor since DLR is private property.

Sorry about the ECV experience. I have been in an ECV for necessary reasons a few times at DLR and always am amazed at the comments that I have over heard. It can be very frustrating and aggravating. The only thing I can offer is that you don't know their whole story either. Perhaps he needed it due to a sore ankle and "renting it was better than walking." Maybe not, but... who knows. Don't think about it too long.

- Dreams

 

[gmi3804]

My grandmother would say " dont use that unless you need to , you will tempt the evil eye , and you will end up in one for the rest of your life" I have had to use a ECV to grocery shop post surgery and hated it.

Let me guess: your grandmother was Italian!