Disney eliminates outside vendor drop off/pickup services. Must meet vendor for drop off/pickup (mobility devices only so far it seems)

[SaintsManiac]

How does this violate ADA??? They aren’t banning ECVs from the property. They want the vendor and renter to take responsibility for the equipment. Why are people failing to understand this?

 

[Searc]

I’ll be curious to read Disney’s official word on this.

In the meantime, my reaction is one of confusion and dismay. I have a family member who occasionally is unable to walk long distances due to a medical condition. My car is not large enough to make our luggage and the wheelchair fit. When we travel and my family member is unwell, we request wheelchair assistance at the airport and rent a wheelchair or ECV to be delivered to our resort. If our flight is delayed, which happens somewhat frequently, unfortunately, it creates a major problem for us at the larger resorts if we aren’t able to have mobility equipment waiting. For example, we recently had a weather delay; by the time it was safe for the Denver airport to reopen, we loaded back onto the plane and then sat on the tarmac waiting for our turn for take off. By the time we were at the front of the line, our flight crew would have timed out if they had made the 4+ hour flight. We had to return to the gate and wait for the airline to see if they could locate a reserve crew to take the flight. The whole ordeal took many, many hours. We didn’t arrive at Disney until nearly 4AM. If something like this happened when my family member who needs a wheelchair/ECV was with us, we would not have been able to make it to our room, especially at a larger resort. As I see it, our choice here would be to stay overnight at the Orlando airport, reschedule our wheelchair/ECV drop-off for the following day, and then try to get Disney to refund the first night of our stay. Of course I could buy a larger car to fit luggage and a wheelchair or look into a car service that could accommodate a wheelchair and luggage, but I’d prefer not to do these things. I also know that while we own a wheelchair and thankfully have options (not ones I like; this throws a monkey wrench into our usual plans), there are other families with situations like ours who don’t own a wheelchair; this decision of Disney’s becomes a game changer for them.

I will be curious to see what happens here...

Or you could look at this logically and ask for assistance to your room on a golf cart.

 

[JoJoGirl]

Or you could look at this logically and ask for assistance to your room on a golf cart.

You mean one of those golf carts that goes to the far end of the fifth floor hallway of the Boardwalk Inn? Disney is great at bringing fantasy to life, but I don’t think they’ve accomplished that yet.

 

[cruisin5]

Seriously. What did people do 10 or 20 years ago?

I'm not trying to be snarky or insensitive. I now travel primarily with my 78-year-old mom, 15 years ago it was with a stroller for a toddler. DH is 63. I CLEARLY SEE THE FUTURE.

I expect US to change our expectations as our limitations increase, not for Disney to accommodate. (or Universal, or the airline, or the cruise line, or the campground, or anywhere else we choose to go.)

 

[SaintsManiac]

Why do people think the resorts don’t have wheelchairs for guests to get to their rooms? Why would anyone think that wouldn’t be an option?

 

[cruisin5]

You mean one of those golf carts that goes to the far end of the fifth floor hallway of the Boardwalk Inn? Disney is great at bringing fantasy to life, but I don’t think they’ve accomplished that yet.

If getting to your hotel room without assistance is difficult, I can only image the test of patience it took to get to the Disney lobby. It takes a lot of patience to wait for airport staff, a lot, and then some.

 

[Searc]

I think it's regrettable that anyone might feel the need to white-knight for a multinational conglomerate that is inconveniencing disabled guests in order pad their bottom line. I love Disney, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have gone to WDW 3 times already or gone on a DCL cruise. But I'm not going to sugarcoat what I feel is a bad decision, either, under the guise of making suggestions to help "alleviate their complaints." Sure, you can wait in the lobby for your ECV, but you shouldn't have to, and you shouldn't have to worry that if your flight is delayed you won't be able to meet your ECV delivery in time, or have to wait until the next day, etc. Obviously, your suggestions aren't alleviating anyone's complaints, so maybe you should consider quitting while you're behind.

There sure are a lot of "I shouldn't have to's" in your post instead of "let's do this instead" to solve what is obviously a large issue for you. If you aren't willing to bend to accommodate the change, don't blame Disney.

 

[Searc]

This also brings up an ADA issue as well. Especially if someone needs a wheelchair or ECV.

It isn't an ADA issue.

 

[Searc]

You mean one of those golf carts that goes to the far end of the fifth floor hallway of the Boardwalk Inn? Disney is great at bringing fantasy to life, but I don’t think they’ve accomplished that yet.

Gosh, funny. Wheelchairs fit just fine.

 

[Spridell]

Or you could look at this logically and ask for assistance to your room on a golf cart.

Have u ever traveled to Disney with someone disabled that needs some kind of assistance?

Reading your remarks on this board you seem like someone who has ZERO clue at all whats it like traveling with someone who has disability.

 

[JoJoGirl]

Seriously. What did people do 10 or 20 years ago?

Honestly? A lot of people simply couldn’t and didn’t go to Disney. And if they could go, they didn’t get to enjoy it as much. The advent of ECVs has enabled many, many people to enjoy Disney with more comfort and independence than if they had to rely on being pushed in a wheelchair.

My mom loves Disney, but she stopped going when her arthritis pain got too bad to walk the distances, and she did not want to use a wheelchair. A few years ago I talked her into renting a scooter so she could go with me, and she had the time of her life! We’ve gone once a year ever since, and even though she has slowed down considerably and also requires wheelchair assistance at the airport, we still have a great time.

The fact that scooters allow people with limited mobility to enjoy Disney in ways they couldn’t otherwise, and that so many people now take advantage of this, is a VERY VERY GOOD thing. I would never want to go back in time to the way things were 20 years ago.

 

[Bjkandma]

Why do people think the resorts don’t have wheelchairs for guests to get to their rooms? Why would anyone think that wouldn’t be an option?

At one time the hotels did offer complimentary wheelchairs to get to your room. Unfortunately, guests never returned them. Thus using the complimentary wheelchairs in the parks, etc without renting one.

 

[cruisin5]

Honestly? A lot of people simply couldn’t and didn’t go to Disney. And if they could go, they didn’t get to enjoy it as much. The advent of ECVs has enabled many, many people to enjoy Disney with more comfort and independence than if they had to rely on being pushed in a wheelchair.

My mom loves Disney, but she stopped going when her arthritis pain got too bad to walk the distances, and she did not want to use a wheelchair. A few years ago I talked her into renting a scooter so she could go with me, and she had the time of her life! We’ve gone once a year ever since, and even though she has slowed down considerably and also requires wheelchair assistance at the airport, we still have a great time.

The fact that scooters allow people with limited mobility to enjoy Disney in ways they couldn’t orherwise, and that so many people now take advantage of this, is a VERY VERY GOOD thing. I would never want to go back in time to the way things were 20 years ago.

Thank you, JoJoGirl for your thoughtful reply! I don't always come across as being open to listening to others, but I am! THANK YOU!

 

[Searc]

Honestly? A lot of people simply couldn’t and didn’t go to Disney. And if they could go, they didn’t get to enjoy it as much. The advent of ECVs has enabled many, many people to enjoy Disney with more comfort and independence than if they had to rely on being pushed in a wheelchair.

My mom loves Disney, but she stopped going when her arthritis pain got too bad to walk the distances, and she did not want to use a wheelchair. A few years ago I talked her into renting a scooter so she could go with me, and she had the time of her life! We’ve gone once a year ever since, and even though she has slowed down considerably and also requires wheelchair assistance at the airport, we still have a great time.

The fact that scooters allow people with limited mobility to enjoy Disney in ways they couldn’t otherwise, and that so many people now take advantage of this, is a VERY VERY GOOD thing. I would never want to go back in time to the way things were 20 years ago.

There are lots of places EVC's can't go at Disney. What do people do in those situations?

 

[SaintsManiac]

At one time the hotels did offer complimentary wheelchairs to get to your room. Unfortunately, guests never returned them. Thus using the complimentary wheelchairs in the parks, etc without renting one.

I’ve seen them. No reason why Disney can’t keep track of who used one to get to the room, but never returned it.

 

[JoJoGirl]

Why do people think the resorts don’t have wheelchairs for guests to get to their rooms? Why would anyone think that wouldn’t be an option?

Because the resorts don’t always have wheelchairs available for people to take to their rooms. They have always had a few, but often those courtesy chairs are all already loaned our or in use. It’s not something to be relied upon.

 

[Lynne M]

Guys, the rule still applies. Yell at Disney all you want, but don’t attack each other.

I would suggest waiting for the official word from Disney. This is all just speculation at this point.

 

[cruisin5]

There are lots of places EVC's can't go at Disney. What do people do in those situations?

Exactly. While I can appreciate the need for an ECV, do I expect Disney to accommodate the limitations of such. NOPE.

 

[JoJoGirl]

There are lots of places EVC's can't go at Disney. What do people do in those situations?

People go where they can go and enjoy what they can enjoy. ECVs simply increase the number of things many people can enjoy. Some people can walk the short distances required to enjoy certain attractions, other people skip them. Without a doubt, there are still limitations.

 

[JoJoGirl]

If getting to your hotel room without assistance is difficult, I can only image the test of patience it took to get to the Disney lobby. It takes a lot of patience to wait for airport staff, a lot, and then some.

What you say is very true, the journey to the Disney lobby takes a TON of patience and is so exhausting! The airport staff do the best they can, but it is still a hassle to be sure, especially the extra scrutiny they give going through TSA security. My son is in a wheelchair too and we’ve done it more times than I care to remember. By the time you get there you just want to get to your room and rest. But it’s worth it for the fun you have once you get rested up!