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

[DVCsince02]

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?

I think it is wonderful that people who need an ECV can go to the happiest place on Earth. Bill or anyone for that matter should not be made to feel bad that they need a bit of assistance.

As far as splitting up a family, I'm sure they could wait in line and get on with the rest. People will make room if you ask. That is my opinion and I stand behind it. Some may disagree and that is fine.

Many times I have held a sleeping child (and visibly pregnant) while standing on a bus. It happens.

 

[tinkbutt]

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.

I second this!!!!

 

[jcb]

Mike,

Sounds to me that your rant isn't so much about the ECV users taking up other seats on a crowded bus as it is with everyone else on the bus who could but didn't offer a seat to you while you were holding your sleeping daughter.

I've carried my then 5 year old son down from a 2.5 mile hike when he slept the whole time. It wasn't fun - at the time - so I can sympathize with your frustration.

Still, let me politely suggest that you not focus so much on the ECV users as everyone else on the bus. The ECV users may have exacerbated the issue (notice I do not say "problem") by taking a seat instead of staying on their ECV (and they probably had good reason for doing so) but I suspect that the ECV user(s) were a small fraction of the total number of people on the crowded bus. The ECV user probably had a better reason to be sitting than most of the other folks who didn't offer you a seat on the bus.

Billwald and crazydisneyman, thank you so much for your posts. I'm not disabled and have never been to WDW with someone who had to use an ECV and getting the perspective from someone who has had this experience helps a lot.

 

[crazydisneyman]

Billwald and crazydisneyman, thank you so much for your posts. I'm not disabled and have never been to WDW with someone who had to use an ECV and getting the perspective from someone who has had this experience helps a lot.

Thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciate them.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Mike,

Sounds to me that your rant isn't so much about the ECV users taking up other seats on a crowded bus as it is with everyone else on the bus who could but didn't offer a seat to you while you were holding your sleeping daughter.

I've carried my then 5 year old son down from a 2.5 mile hike when he slept the whole time. It wasn't fun - at the time - so I can sympathize with your frustration.

Still, let me politely suggest that you not focus so much on the ECV users as everyone else on the bus. The ECV users may have exacerbated the issue (notice I do not say "problem") by taking a seat instead of staying on their ECV (and they probably had good reason for doing so) but I suspect that the ECV user(s) were a small fraction of the total number of people on the crowded bus. The ECV user probably had a better reason to be sitting that most of the other folks who didn't offer you a seat on the bus.

Billwald and crazydisneyman, thank you so much for your posts. I'm not disabled and have never been to WDW with someone who had to use an ECV and getting the perspective from someone who has had this experience helps a lot.

Very well put Jack. This is what I was thinking, but couldn't word it as well you did.

 

[slapwhitey]

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.

I kinda felt bad about this as well when our group had an ECV. I always stood in the regular line. I had no issues even waiting for the next bus if I had to. I just figured if others were waiting longer than me then they should get on first...as long as someone in the party was with the ECV rider.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Thanks Bill! I'm behind you 100%

I have said this before and it bears repeating.....unless you have all of the details regarding the need for an ECV, no one has the right to question the necessity of the device. No one.

Common courtesy would go along way in alleviating these situations, but there are many times when common courtesy is in short supply.

To the OP....I'm sure if you look around, you will find a thread where someone is annoyed that a 4 year old had a bus seat when they could have easily sat in an adults lap and let another adult sit down.

I'm absolutely certain that you all can see the reason why an ECV is loaded before the bus fills. I am also certain that you can understand the reason for letting the entire party board.

Is this really that big a deal? If this is that big a deal....please try it.

Please spend an entire day in the Magic Kingdom in an ECV or wheelchair. Please use the bus system. Please spend the day not being able to enjoy the beauty of the park because you have to keep you eyes open for every idiot that rushes in front of you because the rest of their party crossed already and they feel the incredible need to be within 2 feet of them lest they get away. Please try going to a restroom which is almost 40 years old and finding that there is ONE barely handicapped accessible stall (out of 20) and that there is a mother (or father) with a child in there and when they come out, they feel bad for using the restroom and you feel bad for making them feel bad but you only have ONE option. Try spending the day feeling like you are inconveniencing people and still enjoying the park. Try going to a restaurant and sitting at a table with the rest of your party and having others in the restaurant judge you because you have gotten up and walked the 5 feet from your ECV to a regular chair. Try not going carnival ape crazy when idiots use their stage whisper voice and question whether you REALLY need an ECV or if you are just a lazy slob. Try getting on that bus first at the end of the night when you know that everyone in line is annoyed that you and your family got on first.

Now....try imagining that you have no other options and that you have to do this every single day....or worse yet....try imagining that you are a parent of a child that needs to do this every day for the rest of their lives.

Now try imagining that you wouldnt want to beat the snot out of the first person that questioned whether you (or your child) truly needed the device or if you were just putting up with this absolute torture in order to get on the FREAKIN bus first.

Again.....is this really that big a deal....or should you thank whoever you usually thank that you and yours have the ability to wait in line and not have to know how any of that feels?

And please....please spare me the story of the three or four frat boys taking turns riding in the ECV. I've herard this before and it changes nothing.

I'd like to say "rant over" but this subject will come up again, so it probably isnt.

 

[Tissa]

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.

I'm sure it is frustrating when that happens. Would you be ok though if someone told you to split up your family and they might have to wait for another bus? Why should I have to explain to my sons that they one of them will have to get on later with Nana because one is in a wheelchair? Now I understand you mean the big extended families but, your senairo of just a caretaker or spouse going on would fit here.
Those families may be the first ones on but they are the last ones off too. Also we wait longer for most rides than you will, believe it or not.

I've really gotten tired of the looks and I just plan on driving to all the parks now. That way no one has to get mad at us for making them wait. It's frustrating for us too.


ETA: kevin thank you! You said it better than I could have.

 

[crazydisneyman]

Thanks Kevin for your thoughts.

I found that on this last trip the CMs were very accomodating.

I would highly recommend that everyone with a disability whether you use an ECV or not should stop at Guest Services and get an Accessibility Card. This really saved for having to explain the situation with my Mom and FIL to ever CM at every ride entrance.

 

[mainegal]

Yay, Kevin!
That was a great rant.

In my trip to WDW I saw many more ECVs per capita that I see in my "real life". I say, fantastic that they can enjoy such a fun place.

I was impressed at how well Disney cast members handled my mother's wheel chair as she got on a ride and that it magically appeared when we got off.

 

[FireDancer]

As an able bodied adult I don't see any issue with letting the people who need assistance get on the bus first and I don't get upset when a child on a WISH trip gets to go to the front of the line (not the same but related). I don't know if it is because Disney World is like Zoloft to me and I just don't get upset or if I am grateful that I have the ability to wait in line. I'm quite sure that if given the choice those people in the ECV would stand and wait instead and that WISH family would gladly stand in line with a healthy child.

 

[dpuck1998]

Thanks Bill! I'm behind you 100%

I have said this before and it bears repeating.....unless you have all of the details regarding the need for an ECV, no one has the right to question the necessity of the device. No one.

Common courtesy would go along way in alleviating these situations, but there are many times when common courtesy is in short supply.

To the OP....I'm sure if you look around, you will find a thread where someone is annoyed that a 4 year old had a bus seat when they could have easily sat in an adults lap and let another adult sit down.

I'm absolutely certain that you all can see the reason why an ECV is loaded before the bus fills. I am also certain that you can understand the reason for letting the entire party board.

Is this really that big a deal? If this is that big a deal....please try it.

Please spend an entire day in the Magic Kingdom in an ECV or wheelchair. Please use the bus system. Please spend the day not being able to enjoy the beauty of the park because you have to keep you eyes open for every idiot that rushes in front of you because the rest of their party crossed already and they feel the incredible need to be within 2 feet of them lest they get away. Please try going to a restroom which is almost 40 years old and finding that there is ONE barely handicapped accessible stall (out of 20) and that there is a mother (or father) with a child in there and when they come out, they feel bad for using the restroom and you feel bad for making them feel bad but you only have ONE option. Try spending the day feeling like you are inconveniencing people and still enjoying the park. Try going to a restaurant and sitting at a table with the rest of your party and having others in the restaurant judge you because you have gotten up and walked the 5 feet from your ECV to a regular chair. Try not going carnival ape crazy when idiots use their stage whisper voice and question whether you REALLY need an ECV or if you are just a lazy slob. Try getting on that bus first at the end of the night when you know that everyone in line is annoyed that you and your family got on first.

Now....try imagining that you have no other options and that you have to do this every single day....or worse yet....try imagining that you are a parent of a child that needs to do this every day for the rest of their lives.

Now try imagining that you wouldnt want to beat the snot out of the first person that questioned whether you (or your child) truly needed the device or if you were just putting up with this absolute torture in order to get on the FREAKIN bus first.

Again.....is this really that big a deal....or should you thank whoever you usually thank that you and yours have the ability to wait in line and not have to know how any of that feels?

And please....please spare me the story of the three or four frat boys taking turns riding in the ECV. I've herard this before and it changes nothing.

I'd like to say "rant over" but this subject will come up again, so it probably isnt.

Kevin,

Great explanation. I'm sure you have it down to a science, but this actually hit me like a ton of bricks. I've been working long hours, so maybe that is it, but it made me "verclempt" (is that a word?).

Thanks!

 

[dpuck1998]

As an able bodied adult I don't see any issue with letting the people who need assistance get on the bus first and I don't get upset when a child on a WISH trip gets to go to the front of the line (not the same but related). I don't know if it is because Disney World is like Zoloft to me and I just don't get upset or if I am grateful that I have the ability to wait in line. I'm quite sure that if given the choice those people in the ECV would stand and wait instead and that WISH family would gladly stand in line with a healthy child.

I'm with you Frank. I seem to be at ease at Disney and don't seem to care what happens. However, push your way in front of me at a parade and all the meds in the world won't save you.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Thanks Kevin.

My Mom uses an ECV. She can walk about 5 feet and then she sounds like she's run a marathon. She can't go to WDW without an ECV and it bothers her that she has to use it. It's been a tough year for her to realize that she can't do what she used to do without using the ECV. It's taken her a while to get to acceptance so for my Mom she would much rather not be using the ECV.

We travelled with her this past December and stayed at All Star Sports -- it was the first trip that we took with her using the ECV. It was me, my DH, my mother and my niece (8) and two nephews (6 and 4). We also had a stroller for the 4 year old.

I can say that each and every bus driver wouldn't allow my Mom to sit in her ECV since she could move to a seat. One bus driver said it was a safety issue that if the person could move into a seat they were supposed to.

We did get lots of looks as the rest of us got onto the bus after the ECV was loaded but I'm not sure how we could have divided up the party. Either my DH or I would have had to go with my Mom and then the other person would have had 3 kids 8 and under and a stroller possibly on a second bus. It just wouldn't have worked.

And I will say that although we did have great service our first experience with the buses wasn't great. We had two buses stop and pick up the people in line but didn't pick up my Mom because the driver "didn't see" the ECV. The third bus driver couldn't pick us up either but he did say that he would be back to get us after he emptied his bus and he did. So if we were all capable of 'walking' we would have been to the park much sooner as we had to wait for basically 4 buses before there was one that could take my Mom in her ECV.

It was an eye opener travelling with someone in an ECV but I have to say that Disney is great in its accomodations.

Mom also travelled with us on the podcast cruise and she had no problems using her ECV on the ship either. I actually think our server had a great time delivering her ECV to her at the end of dinner!

Fiona

 

[DVCsince02]

I'm with you Frank. I seem to be at ease at Disney and don't seem to care what happens. However, push your way in front of me at a parade and all the meds in the world won't save you.

 

[crazydisneyman]

I'm with you Frank. I seem to be at ease at Disney and don't seem to care what happens. However, push your way in front of me at a parade and all the meds in the world won't save you.

LOL!

 

[FireDancer]

I'm with you Frank. I seem to be at ease at Disney and don't seem to care what happens. However, push your way in front of me at a parade and all the meds in the world won't save you.

Don, you've met me. I can stand square in front of you and you would probably see over me just fine. I am not known for my ability to reach things high off the ground.

 

[crazydisneyman]

Thanks Kevin.

My Mom uses an ECV. She can walk about 5 feet and then she sounds like she's run a marathon. She can't go to WDW without an ECV and it bothers her that she has to use it. It's been a tough year for her to realize that she can't do what she used to do without using the ECV. It's taken her a while to get to acceptance so for my Mom she would much rather not be using the ECV.

We travelled with her this past December and stayed at All Star Sports -- it was the first trip that we took with her using the ECV. It was me, my DH, my mother and my niece (8) and two nephews (6 and 4). We also had a stroller for the 4 year old.

I can say that each and every bus driver wouldn't allow my Mom to sit in her ECV since she could move to a seat. One bus driver said it was a safety issue that if the person could move into a seat they were supposed to.

We did get lots of looks as the rest of us got onto the bus after the ECV was loaded but I'm not sure how we could have divided up the party. Either my DH or I would have had to go with my Mom and then the other person would have had 3 kids 8 and under and a stroller possibly on a second bus. It just wouldn't have worked.

And I will say that although we did have great service our first experience with the buses wasn't great. We had two buses stop and pick up the people in line but didn't pick up my Mom because the driver "didn't see" the ECV. The third bus driver couldn't pick us up either but he did say that he would be back to get us after he emptied his bus and he did. So if we were all capable of 'walking' we would have been to the park much sooner as we had to wait for basically 4 buses before there was one that could take my Mom in her ECV.

It was an eye opener travelling with someone in an ECV but I have to say that Disney is great in its accomodations.

Mom also travelled with us on the podcast cruise and she had no problems using her ECV on the ship either. I actually think our server had a great time delivering her ECV to her at the end of dinner!

Fiona

Fiona, I understand. I takes much more time to do the simple htings that others take for granted. I can say that getting all 11 of us to the parks with 2 ECVs and 2 strollers was quite an undertaking. But we did have a wonderful time, and without the ECV we could not have done this last trip. Thanks for your post!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Kevin,

Great explanation. I'm sure you have it down to a science, but this actually hit me like a ton of bricks. I've been working long hours, so maybe that is it, but it made me "verclempt" (is that a word?).

Thanks!

Me too

Maybe Kevin could find the BIG FONT again, print that out and post it on every Disney bus on property.

 

[dpuck1998]

Don, you've met me. I can stand square in front of you and you would probably see over me just fine. I am not known for my ability to reach things high off the ground.

You can stand in front of me anytime! Or I'll put you on my shoulders!