Curative Powers of SW Air

[inkkognito]

My husband had an amusing experience on his last SW flight that showed their planes apparently are on a par with the Shrine of Lourdes when it comes to curative powers.

In the pre-board line, there was a young woman with a temporary cast and crutches. She was with her family and made a big show out of laboriously dragging herself around the terminal and then onto the plane during boarding. While in flight, she got up to go to the bathroom, and suddenly she was cured! No need for crutches, and not a hitch in her step as she headed toward the back of the plane. She had made it a bit past my husband's seat when one of her family members whistled to her and pointed to the forgotten crutches. Suddenly she discovered an urgent need for them once again. Too bad the cure wasn't permanent.

Barb

 

[zdad]

How low a human do you have to be to fake a broken leg to get a better seat on a plane??????

 

[keishashadow]

Anyone else notice the groups of folks who share 1 wheelchair at the parks in order to use FOTL. I've seen groups of 4 or more adults taking turns using the chair throughout the parks. Either they're all disabled and can't afford their own chairs and have to share, or they're faking. Please, do not flame me on this, I mean no disrespect toward those who legitimately require use of a chair - only to dishonest people who think they've discovered a way to beat the system.

 

[cbrfan]

I didn't think there was much out there for FOTL anymore?? I know they were working on making all the lines wide enough for wheelchairs to wait in the regular line. Maybe they didn't??

 

[keishashadow]

In February I noticed the Mountains still had the "privledge". Don't get me wrong, I think anyone disabled and their parties should have FOTL. These rides. in particular, have steep entries. I noticed several folks on electric vehicles having a difficult time keeping their scooters from drifting backwards and running over non-handicaped people who were clogging their dedicated lane on the backstage ride in MGM. It just irritated me that during the Pres.'s day crowding, this was still going on . . .

 

[NotUrsula]

Once I overheard a SWA FA muttering under her breath in a "revival tent" accent, "It's a MURICLE!" as she watched a passenger nimbly disembark. The same passenger had boarded with a pronounced limp and a cane, which she folded and stashed in her carryon as soon as she got to a seat.

Federal law says they can't challenge a claim of disability, so SWA's hands are tied.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Now come on, you guys! This people are obviously handicapped one way or another.

MKY

 

[riu girl]

DD8 has a non-visable disability and we are planning on preboarding a SWA flight this December. I hope we don't get a lot of strange looks from people thinking we are trying to fake something. Makes me think maybe I should just book Jetblue and get assigned seats.

 

[atigeg]

riu girl, don't let the "abusers" scare you off from boarding for a legitimate need. Besides, it seems like the ones who are faking it pretend to have a very obvious disability. The ones who don't appear to have one are probably the legitimate ones...if you were faking, you'd put DD in a big ol' fake cast or go into your best temporary-limp act. And if people give you funny looks, just ignore it and realize that it's nothing personal against you. What they're really disapproving are the abusers who have caused suspicion on everyone.
Barb

 

[Figment2]

I just want to make a comment here - not to flame anyone. I am able to pre-board at SW. I have both osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis so need extra leg room and have a note from my Dr. Sometimes I can walk "normally" while other times I limp along. I never know what will happen when I get up. It is very frustrating (it only started around 2 years ago). I would take a lifetime of C boarding passes if it meant I didn't have the pain anymore and could walk normally all the time.

I have used an ECV and/or wheelchair at WDW. This past Oct. a friend who is very sick should have gotten one too. At one point, I convinced her that I needed to stretch my legs a bit (which is true since just sitting is not good either) and she took the ECV for awhile. I'm sure there were people who saw us and thought we were abusing the system. You do what you have to do.

What I am saying is this - yes, there are people who take advantage of the system but there are also people like me, who look like we're taking advantage and yet are not. What is that saying - "don't judge people until you have walked in their shoes." I would gladly give mine up.

Cyn

 

[J/T Gramdma]

I agree with Figment2. My husband and I share a ecv because it is better if one of us walk accasionally. He has a heart condition and looks in great shape till he gets overtired and I had OA in both knees. to get around the parks and last the whole day we share and shift off with each other and the ecv. Are we cheating the system NO just trying to enjoy the park all day. As someone else said don't judge people till you walk in their shoes. we have also gotten a wheelchair for my grandson who usually never needs one but he has JRA and WDW is a big place for little leg. He is 9.

 

[keishashadow]

Sorry to hear of your health problems. I suffer from OA and herniated/degenerative discs, but am able to still be mobile - my doctors have placed restrictions, but recommend walking and exercise, which do seem to help. After walking all day through the parks, I know how sore and tired I am - can't imagine how someone worse off feels...

However, I am referring to groups of individuals who, one time you see running through the park, then again sharing the ECV. Perhaps they are legitimate, or not?

There's no getting around it, people shouldn't fake ailments/infirmities to get FOTL; it's wrong.

 

[pumpkinfish]

I just want to make a comment here - not to flame anyone. I am able to pre-board at SW. I have both osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis so need extra leg room and have a note from my Dr. Sometimes I can walk "normally" while other times I limp along. I never know what will happen when I get up. It is very frustrating (it only started around 2 years ago). I would take a lifetime of C boarding passes if it meant I didn't have the pain anymore and could walk normally all the time.

I have used an ECV and/or wheelchair at WDW. This past Oct. a friend who is very sick should have gotten one too. At one point, I convinced her that I needed to stretch my legs a bit (which is true since just sitting is not good either) and she took the ECV for awhile. I'm sure there were people who saw us and thought we were abusing the system. You do what you have to do.

What I am saying is this - yes, there are people who take advantage of the system but there are also people like me, who look like we're taking advantage and yet are not. What is that saying - "don't judge people until you have walked in their shoes." I would gladly give mine up.

Cyn

I have RA too! DH got me a wheelchair last time because one day at the parks had done me in. Sometimes I can walk just fine, other times my knees look like melons and I limp.

And not to get OT, but I also hate the looks I get when I STAND UP from my wheelchair to get my pic taken with a character. I guess that has taught me a little more about being non-judgemental.

 

[SueM in MN]

I didn't think there was much out there for FOTL anymore?? I know they were working on making all the lines wide enough for wheelchairs to wait in the regular line. Maybe they didn't??

You are right. Most of the lines are Mainstream Access (where people with wheeelchairs wait in the regular line with everyone else).
According to the official WDW Website,
Attractions providing mainstream queue access include:

Magic Kingdom® Park

Ariel's Grotto
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Donald's Boat
Judge's Tent
Mickey's Country House
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Mike Fink Keelboats (seasonal)
Minnie's Country House
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain®
Splash Mountain®
Stitch's Great Escape!™
The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacres Farm
"The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management"
The Hall of Presidents
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Timekeeper (seasonal)
Tomorrowland® Indy Speedway
Toontown Hall of Fame
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (seasonal)
Epcot®

FUTURE WORLD
Imagination!: All Atractions
Innoventions East
Innoventions West
Mission: SPACE
Test Track
The Living Seas: All Atractions
Universe of Energy: "Ellen's Energy Adventure"
Wonders of Life: All Attractions (seasonal)


WORLD SHOWCASE
China: "Wonders of China"
France: "Impressions de France"
FriendShip Boats
Norway: Maelstrom
The American Adventure: "The American Adventure"
Disney-MGM Studios

Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour
Fantasmic!
Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D
Playhouse Disney - Live On Stage!
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Sounds Dangerous - Starring Drew Carey
Star Tours
The Great Movie Ride
The Magic of Disney Animation
"The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™"
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It!
Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

Caravan Stage: "Flights of Wonder"
DINOSAUR
Grandmother Willow's Grove: "Pocahontas and Her forest friends"
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Lion King Theater: "Festival of the Lion King"
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Primeval Whirl
Theater in the Wild: "Tarzan Rocks!"
The Boneyard
TriceraTop Spin

If guests with mobility needs are not using the regular line, it's not a "priviledge", it's the only way the ride is accessible. And sometimes it means an extra wait. So, if you see someone "disappear" while in line, they are often going to another area to wait, NOT boarding right away as you might assume.

As for the person on the plane, it's possible that the others whistled to her because she wasn't supposed to be walking without them. One of my friends had a cast on her leg for a while. She "could" walk pretty "normally" at times and she often got up without her crutches, remembering them after she was already on her way. So, please don't judge someone based on a short glimpse into their life.

 

[keishashadow]

SueM - sorry if you think I'm insentive. My intent is not to judge nor offend, merely to make an observation. Note that my comments as to privledge were in italics, i.e. meaning, of course, ANY disability is not a privledge.

However, at the risk of being judgemental, I still think there are certain groups of people who abuse the system at WDW and elsewhere; making it more difficult for those who face true mobility obstacles.

 

[SueM in MN]

SueM - sorry if you think I'm insentive. My intent is not to judge nor offend, merely to make an observation. Note that my comments as to privledge were in italics, i.e. meaning, of course, ANY disability is not a privledge.

However, at the risk of being judgemental, I still think there are certain groups of people who abuse the system at WDW and elsewhere; making it more difficult for those who face true mobility obstacles.

i don't think you are insensitive. I was just pointing out that things are not always what they appear to be.
I have heard people make comments about my DD when she was sitting on a bench next to her wheelchair. Because she was out of the wheelchair, sitting on a bench, with her legs crossed and swinging her top leg, one man commenting (loudly) to his companions that she was "one of those cheaters". The fact (that he couldn't see) was that she can't walk or even stand by herself and didn't get out of her wheelchair (or even cross her leg) by herself. But that didn't stop him from judging. So, if I'm a little sensitive, forgive me.
One of the bad things about the internet is that all you have are words. Some of the other parts of communication, like a friendly smile or a tone of voice, which can completely change the meaning of the words, are missing.

 

[inkkognito]

It is hard to judge from a short glimpse, but the interesting thing about this case was that she had a pronounced limp while boarding the plane. When she got up without the crutches on board, the limp was suddenly completely gone. As soon as the family member called her back, it returned with a vengence. Coincidence? Perhaps....
Barb