ECV's On Disney Buses.... mini rant, please no bashing.

[Mike2023]

Ok all, first off, no bashing, I just have a mini rant, and I want to get some feedback. Am I wrong for feeling this way?

ok, first let me start by saying this is not an ECVs are bad, and they should be banned from Disney. I get why people use them, and no one should ever feel bad for using an ECV to get around the parks. Pete, John, Kevin, there all right when it comes to the fact that 99% of people in them if given the choice, would rather be walking around the parks.

I also have no beef with ECVs getting front of the line to get on the bus, they need to have a clear buss to be able to strap that sucker down, so I totally understand that.

The one thing that makes me super upset is when the rider of an ECV gets out of the ECV and uses a normal seat on the bus and leave the ECV empty during the ride.

At least 3 times this last trip I had to stand, with my 4 year old daughter asleep in my arms, while I fought to keep myself upright.

Is it really that big a deal to sit in the ECV when you have a loaded bus to give someone else a chance to get off there feet? If the bus is empty then whatever. Hell, let me sit in your ECV.

Keep in mind this only upsets me when there are kids asleep in parents arms, and the parents are standing while other people sit.

So am I wrong for being upset by this?

Also, come on people, be courteous. I know everyone gets tired, but its a lot easier for a person without a kid in there arms to stand then it is for a mom/dad with son/daughter in there arms to. I had no problems giving up my seat to people who needed it when I really did not.


/rant off

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

As far as I know - it's a safety issue that mandates ECV users to sit in a normal seat. Even though the unit is buckled in, it can still shift around.
It's the same principle (safety-wise) as why children aren't allowed to ride the bus while in a stroller.

- D

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

PS - I'm surprised no one offered their seat to your daughter.

 

[Mike2023]

As far as I know - it's a safety issue that mandates ECV users to sit in a normal seat. Even though the unit is buckled in, it can still shift around.
It's the same principle (safety-wise) as why children aren't allowed to ride the bus while in a stroller.

- D

I would think this as well if I never saw it happen. The buses also have built in seat belts for the ECV passenger, not just the ecv. They are designed to keep the rider in the ECV.

And the strollers are to be folded for evacuation purposes, not for the safety of the child. This is why on the monorail you are able to keep the kids in the strollers for the ride.

 

[FireDancer]

I don't know about the ECV rider and the safety issue but I think it is terrible that no one offered you or your daughter their seat. If I have a seat on the bus and a child, person with a child, or older person is standing I offer my seat. Common courtesy, much like common sense, is far too uncommon.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

I would think this as well if I never saw it happen. The buses also have built in seat belts for the ECV passenger, not just the ecv. They are designed to keep the rider in the ECV.

And the strollers are to be folded for evacuation purposes, not for the safety of the child. This is why on the monorail you are able to keep the kids in the strollers for the ride.

I've never noticed the belt for a rider and have never seen anyone ride on the ECV - so I guess I'll have to defer to someone "in the know."

- D

 

[daneenm]

Don't know about the ECV rider and where they can sit, but I am appalled that no one else got up to give you a seat. We would always do this and have taught our children (12 and 8) to do the same. There is just NO excuse for that.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I have definitely seen ECV riders seated on their ECV's on buses, but maybe it depends on the type of ECV or the type of restraints on the bus? I know not all Disney buses are the same, maybe some allow the rider to stay on the ECV and some don't?

I wouldn't be upset with the person on the ECV though, I would be upset with others on the bus able enough to give you their seat.

 

[aspen37]

I have also seen ECV riders stay on the ECV.
I wish people would get up when they see someone who needs to sit down. I was on a bus last month and it was packed. I saw a mom and two kids get on. The son was Autistic. I could tell he looked a little stressed and I heard the mother tell the daughter to try and hold him while she held the other side of him. I stood up and caught her attention and gave him my seat. It was a very long bus ride and he would have fallen many times if I hadn't given him my seat. They were so thankful that I had given up my seat. I told them it was the right thing to do.

 

[Halbleib1]

I've never noticed the belt for a rider and have never seen anyone ride on the ECV - so I guess I'll have to defer to someone "in the know."

- D

On all three of our previous trips to Disney World we have only ever seen one person use a regular seat rather than sitting in their ecv. As the previous poster said they have seatbelts to put around them while they ride on the ecv.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

My sister had to sit in her ECV on the bus. She had knee surgery and had to use one last trip. They belted her right on it. So no they dont have to get up as far as I can see. But maybe some are different then others.

That is nuts no on offered you a seat with a sleeping child.

 

[stitchlover]

I just want to point out another side of this, don't get mad at me!

My husband does not appear to have any problems if you were just looking at him but he has a very bad back. So when we get on a bus in the evenings and it's crowded he is not able to give up his seat and I honestly don't expect my under 5' 13 year old to give up her seat either. I am more than happy to give up my sit to a mother, father or child. I am the first to hop right up. But I just wanted to point out to you that just because someone isn't in an ECV or appear to have a handicap doesn't mean they are able to give up their seat. We are thankful for everyday that my husband can get through a Disney vacation without needing muscle relaxers and pain medication. Has he gotten some dirty looks on a crowded bus? Yep he sure has but there really isn't anything we can do about it.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I would think that there are some folks in an ECV that are physically unable to switch to a different seat - they must stay in their ECV. I'm not sure how the buses secure the ECV's - but I'll bet it's a bumpy ride if you stay in your ECV. So those that are able to change seats do just that.

Do folks on ECV's have to worry about what "kind" of bus picks them up? I mean - are there some buses that can't secure a person that stays in their ECV and that person has to wait for the right kind of bus?

 

[slapwhitey]

Whenever someone in our party has used an ECV they were always told to use a regular seat if they were able. I agree that it is most likely a safety issue as well.

That's all I can say for sure.

I am surprised that nobody offered up their seat for you though.

 

[DVCsince02]

My only beef is with the giant family that is with the person on the ECV who get to enter the bus before all the people waiting in line. I understand if a few people go on first (spouse, caretaker, etc.), but when there is a line full of people waiting for a bus and just before the bus pulls up, an ECV and their clan stroll up, and expect to get on before the rest of the group who has been waiting. That is not fair. You are perfectly able to wait in line like the rest of the people.

 

[billwald]

I am "one of those people" that travels with, and needs the use of a scooter. When getting on a Disney World bus, the first thing the driver will ask you is whether you are able to transfer to a seat. If yes, then they prefer that you do so as a matter of safety.

I feel bad every time I ride a bus that the driver needs to crawl around on his or her hands and knees, to strap the scooter down.

I feel bad that while this is happening, that everyone else is standing in line, in the heat, waiting to get on the bus.

I feel bad that my scooter is taking up space on the bus, and as a result some people are forced to stand.

Do I wish that I didn't need the scooter? YES.

Do I wish that I didn't have Scleroderma, and could have my old life back? YES.

Do I think that disabled people should know there place, and stay at home? NO!!!

 

[DVCsince02]

Nicely said Bill.

 

[crazydisneyman]

I feel like I am an authority on this subject as we just got back from WDW and we had two ECV's in our party of 11.

First of all, I have to say that many times we got the look of death from many people on our way back to the resort as we were allowed to get on the bus first. This made for some tense moments, but we tried to keep our spirits up. I even commented out loud that people were being very rude to another member of my family so that others could hear, and we got several appologies from people that were on the bus. I hope that helps them understand that for my Mom having MS for 40 years is not worth getting on the bus early.

I found that it was not the busses that were the problem, but the drivers. Some drivers told us that we could sit in the ECV with a seat belt around us, and some told us we had to get off the ECV and sit in a seat. Also, some drivers seemed very helpful while others were unhelpful. The unhelpful ones didn't want to assist us in getting on and off the bus. This was very frustrating. It almost like when they saw us there they would sigh and say, "Oh Wow, I have to do this again..." The other drivers were saints and were very helpful with our whole party. Also there were two types of busses and this made manuvering the ECV difficult as it changed each time.

I actually would drive the ECV on and off the bus because my Mom couldn't take the pressure of placing it on the bus with everyone watching. My FIL didn't care what other people thought of him or the ECV and actually it became a game to see if he could get it on there without difficulty. (We would clap and cheer each time he got on there.)

About the seats on the bus...
I would always stand if the bus was full. One night it was a full bus and a older guy was clearly frustrated about the crowd on the bus. He got on and yelled, "There is no room on here. We'll wait for the next one." I told him there were seats right here next to me and that we would make room for everyone. This helped to calm him down, and diffused the situation.

I understand that at the end of the day especially people are tired and cranky, and all they want to do is get back to the room. Let's all take a deep breath and be patient as everyone's guest experience will be better.

I will be happy to answer any questions about using ECVs during a trip, if anybody has any. Thanks.

BTW, we used Walker Mobility (A DIS recommended company) and I highly recommend them. We have used them several times and they are very professional. We needed a new battery and they were at the park in one hour from the call. It was very seemless and we will continue to use them each time we go back.

 

[NWOhioAngela]

It's a safety issue. It's safer for the rider to be in a regular seat than the ECV, but the rider has the option to do either.

It's easier to load a chair/ECV first before boarding other passengers. Securing a device, particularly if its an unusual one, can be a real physical task for the driver. Do you really want a CMs elbows and backside in your personal space while they are tying down a chair? Personally, I'd rather wait!

As for a group of people getting on together--is it so horrible that their family doesn't want to be split up and risk not being on the same bus?

 

[tmli]

Very well said Bill. I have been several times with a family member either in an ECV or a wheelchair. I have witnessed many people being extremely rude and I wish those people would consider the feelings of the person in the chair.

The problem occurs when we make assumptions. We make assumptions regarding the person in the ECV or chair and whether we think they really need it. We make assumptions the person in the chair is being selfish by taking an additional seat.

I like threads like these....I think it gives a glimpse to the other side of the story.