Disney Being Sued by Visually Impaired Guests

[brunette8706]

Be sure to click on the other one, it's a young boy with his guide dog and Pluto and he has his autograph book with him, so obviously he was having no problem gathering signatures.

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Hi! Oh my gosh! That little boy with the seeing eye dog is heart breaking. Just seeing a little child blind and getting the authograph of the character made me tear up. The child seems to be having a great time.
thanks for sharing this Sammie!

 

[goofyernmost]

I heard it was only Cruela Devil who was not allowed to interact with Service Dogs.

Well at least if it's a Dalmatian!

They don't offer companion discount? That's kind of weird to me, because I used to work in a park in Norway that offered that. Obviously you would need proof that you need a companion, as in that you need assistance to get around and on the rides and such. I guess maybe blindness isn't considered a disability where you need a companion?

The big difference there is that Norway isn't part of the US and that is where ADA applies. No proof can be required or even asked for.

They're not allowed to see proof when giving out those cards at all? I mean, I know CM's in the park isn't allowed to ask when people with GAC's enters rides why they have them, but I thought they would be required to show some statement or something from their doctor that they have a disability that makes them unable to queue the normal way.

So in theory that means that me that is perfectly healthy can go get a GAC and get it?

That is correct...it is a law with the best of intentions but contains so many flaws that they refuse to address that it reflects badly on those with legitimate problems. It is a system ripe for abuse.

 

[nytimez]

As the parent of a visually impaired child I find it offensive that people would question why my daughter would want to come to WDW and that the only reason she would be there is because I made her come. Using your point of view, why would she want to go to a movie, watch TV, do anything other than sit in her room.

My daughter is 21 and is legally blind. She walks with a white cane and can reaad braille. However, many visually impaired people do not read braille. Many older people suffer vision loss due to Macular degeneration. At that point in their lives, they don't want to learn braille or their sense of touch isn't sensitive enough to feel the raised dots.

We have been to Disney many times, some when she was very little and still had decent eyesight and more recently where she would be unable to get around by herself. However, Disney is one of her favorite places to visit and she requests to go there.

I realize that to many of us, it is a visual place. However, there is much to enjoy without being able to see the details. One of her favorite rides is Splash Mountain. Maybe she can't see the Briar patch but she can hear the music and there is the excitement of waiting for the drop and wondering how wet she will get. Space mountain is mostly in the dark (I think, it has been many years since I have been on it, though she goes on it). Disney gives her the chance to go on roller coasters, boats, trains, etc. Most of the rides have music. She even likes Mickey's Philharmagic. While she might not be able to see what is happening she can still hear and smell the attraction.

Until our last trip, we had never requested a GOC card. The only reason we did the last time was because a couple of CMs told us we should.

We have had mostly good experiences. It takes a bit longer to board a ride and my daughter prefers to enter Splash Mountain from the exit. The reason is that it is difficult for her to go up the stairs in the dark with all the people. As far as parades, yes we would prefer to sit in a handicapped area. She needs to be as close as possible to see the floats go by, can she see all the details, no, but she can still enjoy herself.

One other place where the GOC is helpful is at HS for Beauty and the Beast. By sitting up front in the middle she can see some of what is happening.

As far as character experiences, she isn't interested in them anymore, though her little sister (8) still is. I have a Disney Visa so we went to that meet and greet at EPCOT. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, each family meets the characters by themselves. No other guests are inside with you. My younger daughter had her picture taken with Mickey and Pluto. She wanted her big sister in some of the photos so I started to help her over. However, Mickey Mouse came over to where she was standing, took her arm in his and guided her to where they needed to be.

BTW, my daughter is graduating college in the spring with a Fine Arts degree in acting. Not only does she want to "see" the show", she plans on starring int it.

I'm visually impaired, although not completely blind. I can see enough to enjoy many of the visuals the park has to offer, but man, large-print guides and maps certainly would make things go a lot more smoothly. Being able to stand off to the side in load areas until my eyes adjust to the dark would be great, and slow the rides down less (because I wouldn't stumble getting into vehicles anymore). Heck, a little glow tape on the floor would make a dramatic difference in some places.

Disney does a better job than a lot of companies when it comes to accommodations for the disabled, but there's some room for improvement. And the situation isn't helped when the able-bodied forget the advantages they have, and act jealous when the disabled get a helping hand.

The sad truth is, in a capitalist society like ours, the prospect of losing money sometimes is the only way to get a point across.

Posts like these -- and the one earlier -- are among the most useful in the thread.

There are a lot of people arguing very passionately about this, many based on assumptions rather than the real-world everyday experiences of people who are visually impaired.

 

[ttintagel]

Being able to stand off to the side in load areas until my eyes adjust to the dark would be great,

You can do this, just move to the side and allow others to pass until you are ready.

You can do that in the queues, but not in the actual load areas. If you try it, the CM will come over to you and tell you to get in the vehicle.

and slow the rides down less (because I wouldn't stumble getting into vehicles anymore).

Do you mean slow them down more? Because they do that for those who need extra help loading/unloading.

No, I mean I would slow the ride down less, because if I don't have trouble getting to/into the vehicle, then it won;t have to be slowed down at all.

In this case it would be best to get a GAC first, but then all you have to do is show that and they will accomodate you. If you've ever been on Haunted Mansion and the ride slowed or stopped, this was most likely the reason.

You don;t know what you;re talking about, because you haven;t actually been in that situation. I always get a GAC. It doesn't always help. Haunted Mansion is the worst about it, actually. Besides it being extra dark, the CM's hustle you through loading like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory. If you do want the belt slowed down, you have to ask several times. And you have to go after them in the dark to do it, because they walk away from you while you're talking. And I'd rather not HAVE to slow it down in the first place. I wouldn't have to if they'd let me wait like I asked.

And the situation isn't helped when the able-bodied forget the advantages they have, and act jealous when the disabled get a helping hand.

You're right, we can all be insensitive at times. There are always exceptions of course, but I think the problem for most is not those that truly need help getting it. It's the abuse of the system by those that do not need it. This puts the whole system in a bad light.

I'd like to know how you know who's abusing the system and who isn't. You can't tell by looking. How are you even sure anybody IS? And even if you had some way of knowing, do you honestly think it's a significant number? Anyone who'll go to the trouble of faking a disability to get some meager accommodation isn't going to be deterred from gaming the system SOMEHOW. Selfish jerks will be selfish jerks. Isn't it better to just let it go, in the knowledge that the people who need help are getting it?

 

[Eeyore98]

No no no no no. You shoot yourself in the foot by mentioning the McDonald's case....

(lots of facts)

Thank You! I can't tell you how happy I am to see that someone else responded with the FACTS of the case, on the very same page those bogus assertions were made. It still floors me, that 15 years after the case now, it is still incorrectly being cited as an example of a "frivolous" lawsuit.

I had the multi-quote button hit on MickeysBFF's post, and was on my way to make a post very much like yours, when I scrolled down just a bit and saw that I didn't have to!

*And* later pages of the thread show that you weren't the only one! Woo-hoo! Hooray for the truth!

 

[minniebride]

You can do that in the queues, but not in the actual load areas. If you try it, the CM will come over to you and tell you to get in the vehicle.


No, I mean I would slow the ride down less, because if I don't have trouble getting to/into the vehicle, then it won;t have to be slowed down at all.



You don;t know what you;re talking about, because you haven;t actually been in that situation. I always get a GAC. It doesn't always help. Haunted Mansion is the worst about it, actually. Besides it being extra dark, the CM's hustle you through loading like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory. If you do want the belt slowed down, you have to ask several times. And you have to go after them in the dark to do it, because they walk away from you while you're talking. And I'd rather not HAVE to slow it down in the first place. I wouldn't have to if they'd let me wait like I asked.


I'd like to know how you know who's abusing the system and who isn't. You can't tell by looking. How are you even sure anybody IS? And even if you had some way of knowing, do you honestly think it's a significant number? Anyone who'll go to the trouble of faking a disability to get some meager accommodation isn't going to be deterred from gaming the system SOMEHOW. Selfish jerks will be selfish jerks. Isn't it better to just let it go, in the knowledge that the people who need help are getting it?

Just wanted to jump in and say that you are right- it is very difficult to tell who is abusing the GAC crd and who is not. Not everyone who has a disability "looks like" they have a disability. That all said though, we were in WDW a few years back where I overheard a dad bragging to another guy in his party that he "scored" a GAC card and now they will not have to wait in line etc... When the guy in his party asked how he got the card, he laughed and said " oh I just told him ----- was handicapped" and then looked at a 15 year old in his party and said "if you see a worker, act like you are ********" and they all proceeded to laugh......it was all pretty disgusting. We were in a restaurant at the time and we ended up letting our waiter know on our way out of the restaurant. Not sure how common this is, but it was pretty darn disgusting.

 

[ttintagel]

Just wanted to jump in and say that you are right- it is very difficult to tell who is abusing the GAC crd and who is not. Not everyone who has a disability "looks like" they have a disability. That all said though, we were in WDW a few years back where I overheard a dad bragging to another guy in his party that he "scored" a GAC card and now they will not have to wait in line etc... When the guy in his party asked how he got the card, he laughed and said " oh I just told him ----- was handicapped" and then looked at a 15 year old in his party and said "if you see a worker, act like you are ********" and they all proceeded to laugh......it was all pretty disgusting. We were in a restaurant at the time and we ended up letting our waiter know on our way out of the restaurant. Not sure how common this is, but it was pretty darn disgusting.

So... one person?

Compare that to the number of obviously disabled people you saw that day. One person out of all those wouldn't be enough to make me angry.

 

[chartle]

The dog was allowed on almost every ride, including RNR.

If RNR is Rock n Roller Coaster how did that work with the restraints?

So exactly how did it work, because there is no way they just let the dog sit at her feet.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I have not read the most recent version of the lawsuit, but part of the original complaint stated that Disney should allow companions for VI folk in at a deeply discounted rate. It also alleged that Disney did not do enough to accomodate guide animals and have enough places for the animals to deficate. They also alleged that Disney didn't have kennels or rooms to hold guide animals while a person was on an attraction.

A big part of this complaint is that Disney parks are not accessible enough for a VI person to navigate the parks 100% solo. The Braille maps stationed at ONE location in each park are crap. I made better maps for my former students out of paper and puffy paint and a bit of tape.

HOWEVER, I know Disney has been making a conscious effort to upgrade mobility devices that bounce off the Pal Mickey sensors, including locations to the nearest restroom or close attractions. Part of the original suit also alleged that this technology was ineffective and broke down a lot. When a sighted person tested this allegation, (and actually sat through the CM instructional), the device did lock up, but the person knew how to reset the device and was back up and running within 5 minutes.

I believe it is a frivilous lawsuit, so do my former students. While we all agree there are parts that Disney parks could do to improve VI accomodations, there are petty pieces of lowball crap in the suit that are laughable at best.

 

[minniebride]

So... one person?

Compare that to the number of obviously disabled people you saw that day. One person out of all those wouldn't be enough to make me angry.

One person who I overheard......and I am one person out of millions. Obviously you will never find accurate data on who takes advantage of these things, because aside from people overhearing morons who admit to it in public, no one else is going to admit it. The point is, people shouldn't be naive to think it doesn't happen.

And yes, I was angry. Angry that this lowlife would behave this way and try to get his son involved as well. I cannot imagine anyone NOT being angry at overhearing that type of behavior.

 

[nytimez]

If RNR is Rock n Roller Coaster how did that work with the restraints?

So exactly how did it work, because there is no way they just let the dog sit at her feet.

I'm going to guess that's a typo or something. I doubt a dog was allowed on Rock n Roller Coaster... but it is kinda fun to picture.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm going to guess that's a typo or something. I doubt a dog was allowed on Rock n Roller Coaster... but it is kinda fun to picture.

I guess if the dog meets the height requirement....


But honestly, there's no way a canine would be safe on a rollercoaster, especially one that inverts.

 

[nytimez]

there's no way a canine would be safe on a rollercoaster, especially one that inverts.

But they let a monkey ride a roller coaster:

...and a squirrel do the waterskis:

So really, why CAN'T a dog ride a roller coaster? That's discrimination, plain and simple. I smell a lawsuit!

 

[chartle]

But they let a monkey ride a roller coaster:

...and a squirrel do the waterskis:

So really, why CAN'T a dog ride a roller coaster? That's discrimination, plain and simple. I smell a lawsuit!

Since you went there

 

[nytimez]

Since you went there

That's an obvious fake. There's no way the old woman was on that coaster.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

But they let a monkey ride a roller coaster:

...and a squirrel do the waterskis:

So really, why CAN'T a dog ride a roller coaster? That's discrimination, plain and simple. I smell a lawsuit!

Since you went there

 

[chartle]

That's an obvious fake. There's no way the old woman was on that coaster.

Guilty as charged how about this.

I guess now you are going to bring up the fact the cats and dogs would never ride together.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Guilty as charged how about this.

I guess now you are going to bring up the fact the cats and dogs would never ride together.

Yup.

 

[nytimez]

No self-respecting cat would take backseat to a dog.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

No self-respecting cat would take backseat to a dog.

Boy... I've missed you guys.