ECVs on the bus... redux

[cupcake]

Hello all-- have not posted for ages but hello! I have been rather disturbed about the recent posts about people having problems on buses. Do you think these are isolated but bad incidents, or should I be as worried as I am? We go every year in the fall. My dh has a conference and I bop around by myself. I have never had a problem, aside from packed buses or buses where people didn't care to move from the accessible seating so my ECV could be accommodated. I know what needs to be done, but fighting to deal with transportation doesn't say fun to me. I am very much a worrier, and this is making me worry. At an Epcot resort (Swan), I can get to every place except the AK w/o a bus. I feel like I do not want to plan to avoid the buses, but on the other hand, I will be by myself and I do not want to have to deal with any issues. Am I worrying too much here??? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Bus problems are as individual as the drivers. If you encounter any problems, get the name of the driver and report him/her.

MOST of the drivers are very kind. Don't worry. You'll be fine.

Have a great trip!

 

[mechurchlady]

I have seen an increase in documented cases of complaints about busses on this board. The main problems are rogue drivers who are lazy or too tired to walk to the lift as well as very poor Disney planning. Busses take a maximum of 2 wheelchairs yet a hotel bus stop or park bus stop might have more than that number. That means that a disabled person who is 10th in the disabled line would have to wait for 5 busses and if any bus was partially or totally full then the wait can be a lot longer.

I would not give up any part of Disney over what might happen. Some people report no problems at all. You should not have problems if you are in the right loading area, prepared to board and firm with the driver. If they do not board you or if they open the front door first then you need to ask that driver to have a manager come by NOW. If there is room on the bus they are to load disabled guests firsts then open the front door. If the lift is out of service then there is a rule for that. Recording encounters help document the problem and show that it is not some beligerent person blowing things out of proportion but that the complaintant was very nice and civil, waited too long and the problems encountered.

Definitely ride the busses and see everything you can see and do as much as possible.

 

[agnes!]

Have the DIRECT phone number for WDW Transportation on speed-dial in your cell-phone.
If any driver isn't up to par, take a picture of the driver and bus# with your cell-phone.
There are some great suggestions on how to be pro-active on this board. Just prepare yourself for the worst, but expect the best. If you have a plan in place to take care of any possible issues, you'll be empowered and won't give in to needless worry.

Have ECV, hear cupcake ROAR.

And have a great trip.
agnes!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We don't have an ECV but we do have SN child. When the parks close I see so many scooter and EVC waiting for buses while the able bodied people get upset because they have to wait.

I can't wait for them to get older and need an EVC to see that it is not a joy. I try to make room for the EVC in the parks, help stop people so they can cross people traffic, etc.

Someday we may find ourselves in EVC's and need to remember to be considerate.

 

[SueM in MN]

Have the DIRECT phone number for WDW Transportation on speed-dial in your cell-phone.
If any driver isn't up to par, take a picture of the driver and bus# with your cell-phone.
There are some great suggestions on how to be pro-active on this board. Just prepare yourself for the worst, but expect the best. If you have a plan in place to take care of any possible issues, you'll be empowered and won't give in to needless worry.

Have ECV, hear cupcake ROAR.

And have a great trip.
agnes!

If you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is one post with Q&A about buses. There is a section of suggestions for reporting problems, including a phone number to use.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I understand your concern, I too am worried. I find loading on the buses stressful even under the best of conditions and this time I will be solo and will need the bus on every outing. My biggest fear would be that this issue is getting worse because maybe the transportation manager is not addressing the problem seriously enough. I had one bad experience last year, but also had some wonderful drivers who were very helpful. I always try to "report" the excellent service I receive as well as the bad. This year I will be extra sure to notify Disney of those drvers who treat me well. (As well as those drivers who do not.)

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We don't have an ECV but we do have SN child. When the parks close I see so many scooter and EVC waiting for buses while the able bodied people get upset because they have to wait.

I can't wait for them to get older and need an EVC to see that it is not a joy. I try to make room for the EVC in the parks, help stop people so they can cross people traffic, etc.

Someday we may find ourselves in EVC's and need to remember to be considerate.

I said those exact words to DH when we were down almost 2 weeks ago. One of these days those people, heaven forbid, are going to be using an ECV or WC someday and they will remember me then.

To the OP, I believe it is probably more isolated incidents or incidents during heavy crowd times that cause issues on the bus. We were at WDW Sept 25-28 and didn't have any problems, except with those who wanted to jump on the bus first, but the bus driver ALWAYS stopped that. We were at CBR and I worried with all the different bus stops, but never had an issue. We did have a grumpy driver one day, but he never let other passengers get in the way and he didnt turn us away, but he was kinda frustrated with a family that was holiding things up, so I forgave him for being grumpy, it kinda made me grumpy, too.

Suzanne

 

[cupcake]

Thank you for the encouragement. I guess I am just not feeling as brave as I should as I never really love dealing with the buses. I know what I need to do, but I am a natural worrier. Thanks for the support, as always. I will have the number programmed into my phone and try not to pre-worry. We leave this Friday!! I guess it's just disheartening to think that WDW, which I associate with accessibility friendliness, can have these unfortunate glitches on any sort of regular basis. Take care, and thanks again for the vote of confidence.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, really, the Transportation Managers DO care!!!! I know, I had a nice long phone conversation with one last week, an in-person chat with a supervisor, and there's another Manager I need to call back (different issue).

We do not need to take pictures - but DO get as much information as possible: The driver's name (or a good description - so, yeah, if the driver refuses to provide a name take a picture), the bus number, the location, the time, the incident - and call Transportation. Somebody WILL get back to you. Also, if the problem is at your resort - and this came from a bus driver who I promised not to name - go inside and talk to a Manager/Supervisor. The resorts 'pay' for transportation.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Cupcake, don't panic! Yes there have been some bad reviews here, but these are isolated cases. I know it can be daunting to see the number of complaints people have about accessibility on the buses, but you have to remember that most people won't post about all the times they had a really good driver; they just need to let off some steam and warn people about the few rotten apples.

I've never been refused access to a bus with space in it for my chair and, though not everyone keeps to the rule of forbidding entrance to able-bodied people if a disabled passenger can't board (I don't think I could cope with that many evil looks!! ), the drivers have always been great about radioing for another bus for me when things are too full. I've also not really noticed a change in quality of service since I started using a chair at the parks, about ten years ago (goodness me, has it really been that long?! ). If I have noticed things more lately, it is only because I've become much more aware of my rights now that I use a chair regularly, and because I now use the lift and tie-down points, rather than hobbling up the steps with someone carrying my chair, as I did at first (I wouldn't recommend this!).

Hopefully you'll only get the wonderful drivers, who go out of their way to make your day a bit more magical, and will avoid the few rotten apples. As everyone has already said, if you do get one of the 'bad guys', report them and Mickey will retrain them with a bit of fairy dust.

Go to Disney; play wherever you like, for as long as you like; and have a great trip!

 

[Friendly Frog]

No, really, the Transportation Managers DO care!!!! I know, I had a nice long phone conversation with one last week, an in-person chat with a supervisor, and there's another Manager I need to call back (different issue).

We do not need to take pictures - but DO get as much information as possible: The driver's name (or a good description - so, yeah, if the driver refuses to provide a name take a picture), the bus number, the location, the time, the incident - and call Transportation. Somebody WILL get back to you. Also, if the problem is at your resort - and this came from a bus driver who I promised not to name - go inside and talk to a Manager/Supervisor. The resorts 'pay' for transportation.

You have no idea how relieved I am to hear this, I hope you are too cupcake. Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

I think you have to remember that the majority of the bus drivers are good.
One bad driver can potentially impact a lot of people though.

We have been riding the buses at WDW with DD's wheelchair since about 1989. We normally go once or twice a year and stay for 7 to 10 days each time.
We have noticed more problems with the buses in the last few years. The majority of the drivers have been good, but we have noticed an increase in the 'bad eggs' who are not doing a good job. Still, the majority of our experiences have been good.
When we have talked with managers about problems, they have been helpful and supportive of us. But, the only way they will be able to do something about the 'bad eggs' is if we tell them when we run into one.
That is why I added 'instructions' in the disABILITIES FAQs thread for how to report a problem.

 

[ThistleMae]

Thank you for the encouragement. I guess I am just not feeling as brave as I should as I never really love dealing with the buses. I know what I need to do, but I am a natural worrier. Thanks for the support, as always. I will have the number programmed into my phone and try not to pre-worry. We leave this Friday!! I guess it's just disheartening to think that WDW, which I associate with accessibility friendliness, can have these unfortunate glitches on any sort of regular basis. Take care, and thanks again for the vote of confidence.

You know...each ride is a different as people are different. Everyone has a different personality. I found that most drivers were very helpful, some more jovial than others, but no one was disrespectful or rude. It's sort of like some people in the lines. There are some complainers but most people are there to have fun and enjoy themselves. Go with a happy spirit and may it rub off on the less personable drivers!

 

[lanejudy]

Just a note that this thread is quite old -- 2008. While the info and advice still stands, the trips asked about are long done.