electric scooters and disney buses

[eelore]

I have an electric scooter that I bring with me when I visit Disney World. It's bigger than standard scooters and is weighted in the front. I had a hard time with some of the bus drivers who told me I had to back my scooter on to prevent it from flipping over. But my scooter is longer and easier to pull on forward. It would get stuck backing it on. I had a time convincing them of this and one driver actually got very rude with me. I ended up calling the transportation center for help. This year I called them before my trip (I'm going in September) and they assured me that the policy had changed and that I shouldn't have any problems. Anyone else encounter this during their trip? Also, has anyone gone on a disney cruise with a scooter? I'm wondering how accessible the ships are, especially the cabins???

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, and look at the post about wheelchairs/ECVs on buses, there ae several links to past threads. Some of them are discussing just what you are asking about.
Because a guest's ECV had tipped over backwards while driving up a ramp, Disney changed their policy to require ALL wheelchair and ECV users to board by backing onto the buses (from what I had heard anyway), without an understanding of different types of ECVs/wheelchairs and why that was not appropriate for all.
Most ECVs are heavy on the back and very light on the front and are prone to tipping over backwards. This is a known problem - a similar situation has caused many farm accidents to occur when tractors go up ramps to get into barns, etc.
Some ECVs (like yours) and most power wheelchairs are not like that and their weight is more distributed. Backing up with those types can be dangerous or impossible. A number of people on the DIS Boards (plus, I don't know how many people outside the DIS) worked with Disney to get the policy changed. Some of the "work" was writing letters/emails to Disney. Some was providing information to sympathetic bus drivers.

The policy was changed (I think about a year ago) to reflect the guest being able to detemine if backing up is safe for them.
Some of the people who had problems in the past and are still active on this board will hopefully come along with information for you.
My DD doesn't take her power wheelchair to WDW (yet), so we have lots of experience with manual wheelchairs and buses, but none with power. I was one of the "experts" who provided information about mechanics/physics/how wheelchairs/ECVs work for the drivers.

Hopefully, you will get some replies to both of your questions. You may want to make a separate thread with the cruise questions. I know people have posted about using an ECV on cruises before, but some of them might not look in this thread.
Let us know how things worked when you get back.

 

[Talking Hands]

I have an electric scooter that I bring with me when I visit Disney World. It's bigger than standard scooters and is weighted in the front. I had a hard time with some of the bus drivers who told me I had to back my scooter on to prevent it from flipping over. But my scooter is longer and easier to pull on forward. It would get stuck backing it on. I had a time convincing them of this and one driver actually got very rude with me. I ended up calling the transportation center for help. This year I called them before my trip (I'm going in September) and they assured me that the policy had changed and that I shouldn't have any problems. Anyone else encounter this during their trip? Also, has anyone gone on a disney cruise with a scooter? I'm wondering how accessible the ships are, especially the cabins???

I was one of the people who had a problem with this as my electric wheelchair is one the should not be backed up a ramp. You still need to back onto the lift buses but the ramp buses now allow you to decide which way to drive up the ramp. Originally I was given a letter informing the driver that I should be allowed to come up the ramp forward. Then they changed the policy for everyone so it now conforms with the federal transportation policies. It took a good 2 years to get this policy changed btw.

 

[Belle1962]

OMG!!!! I am thrilled!!!!! I avoid Disney buses because I literally can not back up--can't turn my head to 'see" behind me and can not back up onto the buses. My DGS has wanted to ride a 'Mickey bus" forever!!! But because I panic easily with unknown situations and not knowing who or what is behind me I have avoided them!!!!! Now I don't need to!!!

Just purchased a new car on Thursday--it was sooo funny at the dealership. I drove about 7 cars--and each one ended up parked in front of the dealership. It was like the row of rejects (until I found one I liked) When the salesman told me to just put the car back in the row I had to explain "backing up" is not an action, verb, or direction that applies to me. Some days I can't get out of parking spots I know I pulled into! I panic or the cars beside me are too close, etc.