Clearing bus seats for wheelchair/ecv?

[utterrandomness]

We just returned from WDW and the handicap rider situations needs to be looked at.......many many people are taking advantage of the system. If you rent a wheelchair you get bumped ahead on rides and the bus.We saw a family of 15 and a wheelchair arrive right before the bus and they all got right on even tho many of us had been waiting awhile,only to see the wheelchair bound person living it up at the pool walking,swimming and having a good time. When asked by someone wheres the wheelchair,she laughed and said she doesn't need it but it was the best money spent to avoid lines !!!!

Did you even bother to read this thread? It's about how people with wheelchairs and ECVs wait longer for the buses. I understand why it would be frustrating to see the situation you witnessed, but please do not take it out on people who you do not think deserve accommodations. When I go to Disney next, I will need an ECV, because I am unable to walk the 8-12 miles per day due to arthritis in my knees, among other knee issues. I'm 23. I will occasionally get off of the ECV and walk, people will see me doing it and judge me, but if I don't get off and walk for a bit, the pain will be worse. I cannot stand, sit or walk for any length of time, I have to mix it up. I am tired of being judged for it. It is comments like this that make people hesitant to make use of mobility aids like ECVs and wheelchairs if they need them. I could probably manage WDW without the ECV, but it wouldn't be fun, and it would be painful. Shouldn't I be able to enjoy WDW to the fullest without being judged?

The truth is that you do not know what someone's circumstances are, and honestly, I might give an answer like that (sarcastically) to the umpteenth person to berate me for it on that day. It isn't the best answer, but really, my medical problems are none of your business and I get tired of having to explain myself. This is not meant to be an attack, it is meant as a personal annecdote to think about the next time you're thinking about calling someone out for what you perceive to be faking. Chances are, they aren't.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelztreazurez

We just returned from WDW and the handicap rider situations needs to be looked at.......many many people are taking advantage of the system. If you rent a wheelchair you get bumped ahead on rides and the bus.We saw a family of 15 and a wheelchair arrive right before the bus and they all got right on even tho many of us had been waiting awhile,only to see the wheelchair bound person living it up at the pool walking,swimming and having a good time. When asked by someone wheres the wheelchair,she laughed and said she doesn't need it but it was the best money spent to avoid lines !!!!

Did you even bother to read this thread? It's about how people with wheelchairs and ECVs wait longer for the buses. I understand why it would be frustrating to see the situation you witnessed, but please do not take it out on people who you do not think deserve accommodations. When I go to Disney next, I will need an ECV, because I am unable to walk the 8-12 miles per day due to arthritis in my knees, among other knee issues. I'm 23. I will occasionally get off of the ECV and walk, people will see me doing it and judge me, but if I don't get off and walk for a bit, the pain will be worse. I cannot stand, sit or walk for any length of time, I have to mix it up. I am tired of being judged for it. It is comments like this that make people hesitant to make use of mobility aids like ECVs and wheelchairs if they need them. I could probably manage WDW without the ECV, but it wouldn't be fun, and it would be painful. Shouldn't I be able to enjoy WDW to the fullest without being judged?

The truth is that you do not know what someone's circumstances are, and honestly, I might give an answer like that (sarcastically) to the umpteenth person to berate me for it on that day. It isn't the best answer, but really, my medical problems are none of your business and I get tired of having to explain myself. This is not meant to be an attack, it is meant as a personal annecdote to think about the next time you're thinking about calling someone out for what you perceive to be faking. Chances are, they aren't.

First I want to respond to angelztreasurez...
I do agree that there is a problem with a disabled person bringing that large of a group with them on the bus! The problem is Disney needs to address this and set some hard and fast rules for the drivers to follow. What is unusual about that situation is that "MOST" of the time wheel chair occupants usually don't stay in their chairs. They usually chose to walk up the back ramp have a seat and another member of their party folds the chair and holds onto it during travel. Some do stay in their chair but in all my trips (which are quite a few) this is not the rule but the exception... Anyway, there just isn't a valid reason why they need to allow a disabled guest to bring so many companions with them! Those others need to go to the regular queue and this is where Disney is at fault. They need to set direct limits on companions unless it is only two adults and all the rest are minor aged children.
I also think that while the person you witnessed 'probably' was cheating the system, please don't be so quick to judge many others as cheats.

Now to address Utterrandomness
I am so sorry for your situation! and at your age when you are so young! that must be terribly frustrating. I totally understand about needing to get up and move around and changing positions. With my own situation, sitting for any length of time is the worse thing I can do but standing for very long is incredibly painful too...it's kind of a lose lose but if I mix it up and stand and walk a little....but I can't just sit there all day long! oh my goodness NO!!! I totally get what you are saying! One thing I know is I could NEVER manage WDW again without some sort of mobility assistance! Many days I can barely manage a grocery store trip or a target trip. I would never make it in WDW!! I hope you are able to go and enjoy your trip and ingore the stares of those around you who choose to judge! Blessings to you!


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[disney david]

First I want to respond to angelztreasurez...
I do agree that there is a problem with a disabled person bringing that large of a group with them on the bus! The problem is Disney needs to address this and set some hard and fast rules for the drivers to follow. What is unusual about that situation is that "MOST" of the time wheel chair occupants usually don't stay in their chairs. They usually chose to walk up the back ramp have a seat and another member of their party folds the chair and holds onto it during travel. Some do stay in their chair but in all my trips (which are quite a few) this is not the rule but the exception... Anyway, there just isn't a valid reason why they need to allow a disabled guest to bring so many companions with them! Those others need to go to the regular queue and this is where Disney is at fault. They need to set direct limits on companions unless it is only two adults and all the rest are minor aged children.
I also think that while the person you witnessed 'probably' was cheating the system, please don't be so quick to judge many others as cheats.

Now to address Utterrandomness
I am so sorry for your situation! and at your age when you are so young! that must be terribly frustrating. I totally understand about needing to get up and move around and changing positions. With my own situation, sitting for any length of time is the worse thing I can do but standing for very long is incredibly painful too...it's kind of a lose lose but if I mix it up and stand and walk a little....but I can't just sit there all day long! oh my goodness NO!!! I totally get what you are saying! One thing I know is I could NEVER manage WDW again without some sort of mobility assistance! Many days I can barely manage a grocery store trip or a target trip. I would never make it in WDW!! I hope you are able to go and enjoy your trip and ingore the stares of those around you who choose to judge! Blessings to you!

Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

They did they came out with no more the six guest through the back door the one in wheelchair and five other guest. The rest have to wait in regular line. The problem is not every driver will enforce it because if a guest gives them a hard time they supposed to have a supervisor or manager come and talk to them holding the bus their at the stop. Some will enforce it and deal with the angry guest and other don't want to be yelled at or giving a hard time.

 

[Buckimion]

The truth is that you do not know what someone's circumstances are, and honestly, I might give an answer like that (sarcastically) to the umpteenth person to berate me for it on that day.

Mental note: Keep the sarcasm to myself or end up someone's ecv abuse story.

 

[ctl]

I think that if there is not a big line for transportation, it shouldn't be a problem. However, if the disabled guest is going to get to the front of the bus/transportation line, then they should be permitted to have 1 helper/travelling companion with them and the rest of their party should get in the regular line. This would allow those who really need the ECV/wheelchair to be accomodated without an excessive number of family members.
My DH had a great idea for rides. The guest in the ECV/wheelchair gets one of the tags that they give you to time how long you are in line and one of their party stands in line while the rest of the party doesn't have to, including the person in the wheelchair. Then when the family member with the tag gets to the front of line, their party all get on to the ride through the disabled line. that way, no-one feels taken advantage of, but the guest with the disablility does not have to wait in the heat.

 

[utterrandomness]

Mental note: Keep the sarcasm to myself or end up someone's ecv abuse story.

Yeah... The sarcasm just sneaks out sometimes... I really need to work on that...

 

[stitchlovestink]

I think that if there is not a big line for transportation, it shouldn't be a problem. However, if the disabled guest is going to get to the front of the bus/transportation line, then they should be permitted to have 1 helper/travelling companion with them and the rest of their party should get in the regular line. This would allow those who really need the ECV/wheelchair to be accomodated without an excessive number of family members.
My DH had a great idea for rides. The guest in the ECV/wheelchair gets one of the tags that they give you to time how long you are in line and one of their party stands in line while the rest of the party doesn't have to, including the person in the wheelchair. Then when the family member with the tag gets to the front of line, their party all get on to the ride through the disabled line. that way, no-one feels taken advantage of, but the guest with the disablility does not have to wait in the heat.

The only problem with his system is what if it's a traveling party of two? You get to split up and wait seperately? That's not fair and "equal" acess... So every time we want to go on an attraction we have to seperate for the time it takes to wait for our turn? If your are an able bodied husband & wife, YOU DON'T have to separate to wait. So why should a couple who has one partner that is disabled be forced to separate and wait that way?
I know in theory it seemed good, but from a practical standpoint, it really isn't fair and equal access.


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[buffettgirl]

The only problem with his system is what if it's a traveling party of two? You get to split up and wait seperately? That's not fair and "equal" acess... So every time we want to go on an attraction we have to seperate for the time it takes to wait for our turn? If your are an able bodied husband & wife, YOU DON'T have to separate to wait. So why should a couple who has one partner that is disabled be forced to separate and wait that way?
I know in theory it seemed good, but from a practical standpoint, it really isn't fair and equal access.

Without venturing too far off the topic of bus access, I think that mainstreaming of lines as Disney is trying to do, is probably the best thing all around.

 

[utterrandomness]

Without venturing too far off the topic of bus access, I think that mainstreaming of lines as Disney is trying to do, is probably the best thing all around.

Wouldn't this lead to problems with the policy where ECVs and wheelchairs have to be loaded first though?

 

[I Love Pluto]

As I saw the situation, the entire mob of bus waiting individuals at MK were angrily yelling at anyone on an ECV to go to the back of the line. I did this so I wouldn't get anyone mad.

BUT - BUT - BUT - You have no idea what I did to myself in pleasing the crowds. I cannot turn my neck (serious surgeries recently) which made the end of each turn line painful as well as difficult for me. Each turn only added more agony for me. No one in that line knew that. They were satisfied that I followed the rules of going in the regular line. OK - they won.

Then - when I got to the front of the line halfway through the first bus load, I was told to wait for the next bus in the old area where HC vehicles used to wait. I had to wait for the THIRD bus, not the first which I actually was in line for, nor the second. I waited for the THIRD bus! I lost again!

The transportation person - who was approached by my adult daughter - just seemed to conveniently disappear when she neared him politely (several times). The two bus drivers who would not take us told her to "wait for the next bus". They weren't rude - just short in their answer & emotionless.

The real kick is that we had our car there. I am unable to fly, so we drive. We usually drive to the TTC, then take the monorail to MK. We didn't use the monorail because I was fearful of backing up, causing unnecessary neck pain for me. I was also afraid that since I couldn't see behind me, I might hurt myself or someone else.

So - to solve my problem - we used the buses. If we only knew how things were going to be, we might have chanced the monorail instead. (Ferry is out due to epilepsy. Been there, done that!)

So - yes - I still say transportation was wrong in this case.

Thanks for listening!

 

[disney david]

Wouldn't this lead to problems with the policy where ECVs and wheelchairs have to be loaded first though?

The current Disney policy is you have to go through the main que like everyone else. They load you first because it safer to do. But don't have to but it leads to some guest having to wait for another bus because the time they get to the front it full. But regular guest have to wait for another bus when it full to not everyone can get on the bus pulls up.

 

[utterrandomness]

The current Disney policy is you have to go through the main que like everyone else. They load you first because it safer to do. But don't have to but it leads to some guest having to wait for another bus because the time they get to the front it full. But regular guest have to wait for another bus when it full to not everyone can get on the bus pulls up.

But what if, say, they're in the middle of the pack of people who would get on the bus, but they can't get on because they're not at the front of the line.

 

[disney david]

As I saw the situation, the entire mob of bus waiting individuals at MK were angrily yelling at anyone on an ECV to go to the back of the line. I did this so I wouldn't get anyone mad.

BUT - BUT - BUT - You have no idea what I did to myself in pleasing the crowds. I cannot turn my neck (serious surgeries recently) which made the end of each turn line painful as well as difficult for me. Each turn only added more agony for me. No one in that line knew that. They were satisfied that I followed the rules of going in the regular line. OK - they won.

Then - when I got to the front of the line halfway through the first bus load, I was told to wait for the next bus in the old area where HC vehicles used to wait. I had to wait for the THIRD bus, not the first which I actually was in line for, nor the second. I waited for the THIRD bus! I lost again!

The transportation person - who was approached by my adult daughter - just seemed to conveniently disappear when she neared him politely (several times). The two bus drivers who would not take us told her to "wait for the next bus". They weren't rude - just short in their answer & emotionless.

The real kick is that we had our car there. I am unable to fly, so we drive. We usually drive to the TTC, then take the monorail to MK. We didn't use the monorail because I was fearful of backing up, causing unnecessary neck pain for me. I was also afraid that since I couldn't see behind me, I might hurt myself or someone else.

So - to solve my problem - we used the buses. If we only knew how things were going to be, we might have chanced the monorail instead. (Ferry is out due to epilepsy. Been there, done that!)

So - yes - I still say transportation was wrong in this case.

Thanks for listening!

Yes you should of fit on the second bus the first bus was full and when it was your turn they couldn't get you on. The second bus should of load you with no problem but since it was a driver who needs more training you had to wait.

 

[disney david]

But what if, say, they're in the middle of the pack of people who would get on the bus, but they can't get on because they're not at the front of the line.

If the driver can't safely get you on their bus supposed to call for another bus. So you have to wait for te second bus to get you on. But if your in the middle and the driver can get you on safely then they will.

 

[buffettgirl]

The only problem with his system is what if it's a traveling party of two? You get to split up and wait seperately? That's not fair and "equal" acess... So every time we want to go on an attraction we have to seperate for the time it takes to wait for our turn? If your are an able bodied husband & wife, YOU DON'T have to separate to wait. So why should a couple who has one partner that is disabled be forced to separate and wait that way?
I know in theory it seemed good, but from a practical standpoint, it really isn't fair and equal access.


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

Without venturing too far off the topic of bus access, I think that mainstreaming of lines as Disney is trying to do, is probably the best thing all around.

Wouldn't this lead to problems with the policy where ECVs and wheelchairs have to be loaded first though?

Oh sorry I wasn't talking about the bus lines (which is why I said I didn't want to venture too off topic with my reply). My reply was only directed to the statement that I had quoted about attraction lines which was also made in response to another post about attraction lines. (clear as mud, right? LOL)

 

[Talking Hands]

I think that if there is not a big line for transportation, it shouldn't be a problem. However, if the disabled guest is going to get to the front of the bus/transportation line, then they should be permitted to have 1 helper/travelling companion with them and the rest of their party should get in the regular line. This would allow those who really need the ECV/wheelchair to be accomodated without an excessive number of family members.
My DH had a great idea for rides. The guest in the ECV/wheelchair gets one of the tags that they give you to time how long you are in line and one of their party stands in line while the rest of the party doesn't have to, including the person in the wheelchair. Then when the family member with the tag gets to the front of line, their party all get on to the ride through the disabled line. that way, no-one feels taken advantage of, but the guest with the disablility does not have to wait in the heat.

I can see this if the party has multiple adults but if it is 2 adults with young children I don't think it would.
An example: If my entire family were to go together we would be 8 (6 adults, 2 children under 5) I would see no problem in us separating and the grands going with the rest of the adults and just my husband with me. On the other hand if it were my husband and I with the grands (under 5) no way we could split up our group. As long there is a second adult who is not in an ECV or WC then the party can be split (WC person + 1 adult, all others can split if needed)

 

[Talking Hands]

The current Disney policy is you have to go through the main que like everyone else. They load you first because it safer to do. But don't have to but it leads to some guest having to wait for another bus because the time they get to the front it full. But regular guest have to wait for another bus when it full to not everyone can get on the bus pulls up.

Not true at all. Once you are in the mainstream line unless you are actually the first in line you get shoved of to wait for a second bus because they have already started loading other people. You could be 3rd or 10th or X, it will not matter. On the other hand if a person is not in an ECV or WC is behind you they will be allowed to board the bus and go to the resort straight away. If the bus is full I have no problem waiting but if they can load others behind and they can be seated then I should be on that first bus. That is equal access.

 

[Talking Hands]

If the driver can't safely get you on their bus supposed to call for another bus. So you have to wait for te second bus to get you on. But if your in the middle and the driver can get you on safely then they will.

No they won't and that is the problem.

 

[disney david]

No they won't and that is the problem.

Yes it is I not going to argue if you has bad experiences not my fault. If you had a bad driver then sorry but to bash them all is not right. You have lots of drivers that care about their job and will load you when they can. But to judge them all by some bad apples is just wrong.

 

[Talking Hands]

will believe it when I see it. In all my trips since they started this I have not experienced this. Am an AP holder and go about everu 2 months.