Chairlifts at pools are not toys!

[Goddesstree]

Ugh! Here now, and the ignorance of some people continues to amaze me. Disney has installed those nice, expensive chairlifts at the pools, and some idiot father was encouraging his children to jump off the chair as it hung out over the pool. It was in the raised position, but WDW does not have them secured or properly labeled, it seems?

Anyways, my husband (usually very mild mannered, I'm the hothead!) spoke to the father and told him that the chair was a lift for disabled people and not to break it. The father's response - "huh?", but he did stop spinning the kids out over the pool...

But the main purpose of this post is to ask who I should contact about this issue. We are at CBR and security is invisible, guest services is over the other side of the resort, and calling doesn't guarantee a paper trail. Do you think just sending an email to guest services will be enough?

While my husband used the 'don't break it' angle, I was concerned a kid would slip out of the chair and break his neck and be paralyzed. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, even this particular idiot's kids.

 

[BillSears]

I thought they only brought them out when they were in use. So someone in the pool needed it deployed.

I would notify the lifeguard. They're responsible for unsafe behavior at the pools.

 

[Barbj38]

Thank you and your husband for speaking up. For years my daughter couldn't go swimming because I couldn't get her in or out. These pool lifts are a godsend. They mean so much for disabled people. It would be heart breaking if someone broke it. Shame on that father.

 

[letsgoreds]

error

 

[SueM in MN]

I thought they only brought them out when they were in use. So someone in the pool needed it deployed.

I would notify the lifeguard. They're responsible for unsafe behavior at the pools.

If it's a guarded pool, the lifeguard would be the person to notify.

Otherwise, contact the front desk and ask to be connected to Security ( I think there may be a button on the phone for Security).

They WERE only brought out when needed, but the changes to the ADA for pool access that took effect recently said they have to be available for use without asking. Good in theory, but bad in practice when people don't control their children.

 

[SueM in MN]

From ADA FAQs:

Can I store my lift and bring it out only when it is requested by a person with a disability?
No. A pool lift must remain in place and be operational during all times that the pool is open to guests. The ADA and its implementing regulations require equal and independent access for people with disabilities for all covered facilities (not just pools). Allowing covered entities to store lifts and only take them out on request places unnecessary additional burdens on people with disabilities. People with disabilities have long faced the challenges of dealing with portable accessibility features – e.g., staff are unavailable or too busy to help locate and set up the equipment, the equipment is missing, the equipment isn’t maintained, or staff do not know how to safely set up the equipment. In addition, the ADA Standards specify that a lift must be located at the proper water depth and with the necessary space around it to maneuver a wheelchair. Moving a portable lift around raises the likelihood that the lift will be improperly located, making it difficult or dangerous to use.

I think a lift poses a safety risk at an unattended pool. I also have heard that my insurance rates will increase if I have a lift in my unattended pool. Can I consider safety risks?
The ADA allows businesses to consider “legitimate safety requirements” in determining whether an action is readily achievable, as long as the requirements are based on actual risks and are necessary for the safe operation of the business. However, a “legitimate safety requirement” cannot be based on speculation or unsubstantiated generalizations about safety concerns or risks. We note that businesses cannot rely on limitations on coverage or insurance rates as a reason not to comply with the ADA.

http://www.ada.gov/qa_existingpools_titleIII.htm

 

[KPeveler]

I would either let a lifeguard know if one is present, or call Security. If you cannot see security, find the nearest CM, even if it is Mousekeeping or grounds maintenance, and ask them to call security. If they say they cannot or do not do so (they may be confused about the issue or something) ask for the nearest lead/supervisor.

If a lifeguard is present and did nothing before you said something, I would make note of his/her name and report that person when you do eventually get in touch with security or management. A lifeguard should not let people use it for anything other than getting into or out of a pool. Anything else is unsafe.

Good for you for being willing to say something. Even if the dad remained clueless, at least you were willing to step up for the rights of people with disabilities.

 

[Goddesstree]

It was the quiet pool. There was no staff anywhere nearby, but there was a phone in the laundry room. Thanks for the info Sue in MN

 

[disney david]

It was the quiet pool. There was no staff anywhere nearby, but there was a phone in the laundry room. Thanks for the info Sue in MN

If that happens again go in use the phone press 0 that get you a Disney operator ask to be transferred to either security or security for your resort. Then report it they can either send their cm or get a life guard their to address the problem. Or go to any cm and ask for security to be sent to the quiet pool but just in case their more then one pool try and let them know which one. They have to have security come if a guest ask for it they don't have a choice they can get in trouble if they don't.

 

[BillSears]

Thanks for the clarification. The last time I used the lift they didn't have them at the quiet pools and you had to ask a life guard to get it installed.

I miss the days of bump steps. Good solid concrete that was always there.

 

[ttintagel]

Gah. There's a certain breed of parent out there whose philosophy is, "Everything my child can possibly reach was put there for the express purpose of being his toy - until he hurts himself on it, and then its express purpose changes into evidence in my multimillion dollar lawsuit against you."

 

[Piper]

That is why I refuse to leave my personal and very personalized ECV (has a Texas license plate with my first and last name on it) outside a restaurant. I did once and came out to a parent letting his two children play on it. When I told him to get them off because it belonged to me, he replied, "Oh, I didn't know it belonged to anyone." Uh, yeah, Disney just leaves ECVs around for your child to play on. BTW--They had disconnected some wires and I had to pay for repair.

 

[buffettgirl]

There is a ramp at the pool at Shades of Green with a chained off sign saying "do not play on the ramp" . And every time I am at that pool, kids are playing on the ramp.

I'm not even sure what security can do if people are too dumb to keep their kids off it.

 

[Goddesstree]

I walked around the resort today and noticed that the chair at the main pool has a cover on the seat, but the quiet pool ones do not. I think the cover makes it harder for someone to use it as a jumping platform and they should have them on all of the seats. I didn't notice how the cover was fastened on, or how hard it would be to take off to use the chair, but it just makes the whole apparatus look off-limits to kids.

I'm going to email my concerns when I get home. Thanks for the info and support.

 

[disney david]

I walked around the resort today and noticed that the chair at the main pool has a cover on the seat, but the quiet pool ones do not. I think the cover makes it harder for someone to use it as a jumping platform and they should have them on all of the seats. I didn't notice how the cover was fastened on, or how hard it would be to take off to use the chair, but it just makes the whole apparatus look off-limits to kids.

I'm going to email my concerns when I get home. Thanks for the info and support.

Someone could of taken off the cove for it got lost and Disney waiting for a new one. Their not required to be covered but as you said of they are they are harder to play with. Or at the quiet pools they don't because their no cm to help so maybe they feel it be easier for the user to not have a cover.

 

[Goddesstree]

Someone could of taken off the cove for it got lost and Disney waiting for a new one. Their not required to be covered but as you said of they are they are harder to play with. Or at the quiet pools they don't because their no cm to help so maybe they feel it be easier for the user to not have a cover.

If only one chair didn't have a cover, then I'd say it was lost, but none of the quiet pools had a chair cover. I guess if it was hard to remove, then it could be an issue, but I don't think the chairs can be used solo? Don't they have to be raised and lowered by someone else?

 

[disney david]

If only one chair didn't have a cover, then I'd say it was lost, but none of the quiet pools had a chair cover. I guess if it was hard to remove, then it could be an issue, but I don't think the chairs can be used solo? Don't they have to be raised and lowered by someone else?

Okay forgot cbr has more then one quiet pool yes they do need to be lowered by someone else. So maybe Disney feels if they have a cover and another guest helps they my not put the cover back on.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's an article from CNN earlier this year - looking at the idea of needed access vs. attractive nuisance.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/31/health/ada-swimming-pool-access