Elevator up to Bistro de Paris?

[pixie08]

I asked a CM but she was not sure. It would be impossible for my brother to climb those stairs. I can not imagine that they would not have an elevator but my brother wants me to check with you guys lol! TIA!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They do have an elevator. Normally it is limited to people in wheelchairs or with ECVs. I will park my ECV downstairs and use the elevator.

It may be the slowest elevator anywhere in the world, I think it is powered by hamsters running on a wheel. But it does work.

 

[BillSears]

I've used the elevator before and it's closer to a lift then an elevator. It's very cramped and if you're claustiphobic you might have problems. Here's a picture while riding the elevator.

 

[pixie08]

They do have an elevator. Normally it is limited to people in wheelchairs or with ECVs. I will park my ECV downstairs and use the elevator.

It may be the slowest elevator anywhere in the world, I think it is powered by hamsters running on a wheel. But it does work.

hahahah ok well as long as there is one. He is in a power chair so climbing the stairs is impossible.

Thank you Bill...I will show my brother that pic and see if he is ok with it!

 

[arminnie]

It may be the slowest elevator anywhere in the world, I think it is powered by hamsters running on a wheel. But it does work.

That really made me laugh. I am going to steal that line.

I am doing laundry at my condo in New Orleans. I have a w/d in my unit - but they are SO slow and pitiful. The drier runs on 110 - but I'm going to start telling people that it is powered by hamsters running on a wheel.

Although I think the hamsters might manage to get sheets dry in less than 2 hours.

 

[Figaro]

The elevator at Le Bistro is like riding in a tin cracker can. It is very narrow and very, very slow. They also don't let anyone but the individual who needs it ride in it. My spouse took the steps and then was seated while one of the managers waited for the elevator to arrive at the second floor and then he pushed me over to where my spouse was seated. I didn't care for the experience and I am not in the least claustrophobic.

 

[pixie08]

The elevator at Le Bistro is like riding in a tin cracker can. It is very narrow and very, very slow. They also don't let anyone but the individual who needs it ride in it. My spouse took the steps and then was seated while one of the managers waited for the elevator to arrive at the second floor and then he pushed me over to where my spouse was seated. I didn't care for the experience and I am not in the least claustrophobic.

Hmm I know...you would they would fit it with a better lift. I never want my brother to feel uncomfortable and I know I would not like going in there!

 

[Momelie]

Actually, I think it is EXACTLY like the elevators I used in France and Italy last year!

 

[SueM in MN]

They also don't let anyone but the individual who needs it ride in it.

I can see why! It looks like some wheelchairs would barely fit.

 

[Figaro]

I did understand why they only wanted one person in the lift. But it was very slow and what was uncomfortable for me, was the manager not allowing my spouse to wait for the lift to arrive at the second floor and then push me to my seat. I am not comfortable having someone I don't know push me in my wheelchair, and the manager was adamant that my spouse must go and be seated and would not be allowed to wait and then push me to my table.

I know that not everyone is bothered by strangers pushing them but I have had too many people who try to be helpful and don't really know how to "push" and so have had my toes banged up pretty badly by inexperienced "pushers."

 

[mechurchlady]

Lol at hamster powered. I am a smidge claustrophobic and elevators do not bother me but I would rather crawl up the stairs, ooh, was that a prop from Tower of Terror. Sounds more like a dumb waiter than a real elevator. I wonder if when you get to your table that the rest of the party have already finished the the first three courses, lol.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I've used the elevator before and it's closer to a lift then an elevator.

Ever since using these message boards, I have had to learn that what we call a 'lift' in England, is an 'elevator' in USA. Now I find out that you use 'lift' as well!!

What, in american english, is the difference between a lift and elevator?

I have, by the way, used this lift/elevator at Bistro. It works OK, if slow, as you have said. The only problem I have ever had, was when a CM put me in at the lower level, told me to do nothing as he had to go upstairs to open the door for me. He shut the door and sent me up. Evenually, I got to the top and waited. ...and waited ...and waited. After fifteen minutes, I started shouting 'let me out'. ... The CM had been called away for something else and had forgotten me!!

Andrew

 

[Cheshire Figment]

An (passenger) elevator would normally have four walls, a floor and ceiling and would be fully enclosed. From the inside you would not see the shaft or mechanism.

A (freight) lift usually is not a cabin, it definitely does not have a ceiling and the walls may only be a few feet high.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I did understand why they only wanted one person in the lift. But it was very slow and what was uncomfortable for me, was the manager not allowing my spouse to wait for the lift to arrive at the second floor and then push me to my seat. I am not comfortable having someone I don't know push me in my wheelchair, and the manager was adamant that my spouse must go and be seated and would not be allowed to wait and then push me to my table.

I know that not everyone is bothered by strangers pushing them but I have had too many people who try to be helpful and don't really know how to "push" and so have had my toes banged up pretty badly by inexperienced "pushers."

If you asked the manager to stop pushing you and he continued to push you, then what he did could be considered assault (your wheelchair is part of your body so it's the equivalent of his picking you up and carrying you without your permission). I've started to get very loud and vocal about people pushing me without my consent, especially as a security guy who grabbed my chair about a month ago ended up pushing me into some chairs and hurting my back with the jar of the impact. These days if it happens I first ask politely and loud enough for the person to hear, but no louder. If they continue to push me, I put my hands down and hold my wheels and get loud. I also make complaints both verbal and written. It's extra work for me, but it's better than more pain in the future and hopefully it'll make it better for someone else.

 

[Figaro]

I didn't know until I got to the top of the elevator that my spouse was not allowed to wait for me to arrive. When the manager grabbed my wheelchair, I asked him to please get my spouse and he told me no, he would push me over to where he was seated.

At that point I made the choice not to create a further scene, but it was very, very uncomfortable for me, and in fact, he did almost hit a table with my wheelchair because (which is very, very common in inexperienced pushers) he misjudged how far out my feet were in the chair.

People genuinely do not understand that a wheelchair (or ECV) is not the same thing as say an automobile. To me (and many mobility aid users), they are an extension of my body and touching my wheelchair is the same thing as touching my body. Pushing my wheelchair is the same thing as coming up to a stranger, putting your hands on their shoulders and gently "guiding" them to move the way that you want. I feel it is a bit demeaning, because the only people that you ever see physically moved by other people are children.

So, I try to remember that most people don't understand this and ask them not to do it. Fortunately, this incident at Le Bistro is the only time that something like this has happened. Probably because in any other situation my spouse would be right there with me and he is basically immovable if someone else tries to take over pushing my wheelchair. Now he knows not to move (if something like this happens again), but this was new to both of us.

And since I appear to be in a complaining mood I really hate, hate, hate it on the buses when people stick (or try to stick) their strollers and/or children right between the legs of my wheelchair. They don't understand that when the bus goes around corners or stops and starts, the stroller or children are going to smack up against the insides of my legs, causing me large amounts of pain.

My spouse has taken to sitting in the seat next to me and only getting up when someone with a disability or little one gets on the bus and then he gives up his seat to them and stands between my legs himself, as he knows to brace himself so he doesn't hit my legs. But people get really upset when he prevents people from putting their stroller or child there and there is really no way for them to understand in a crowded bus how much of an issue that is for me.

Oh, and my spouse waits until the last minute to let someone take his seat because he has found that if he gets up too soon, someone without a little one or apparent disability will grab the seat (usually teenagers) and he prefers to have the seat go to someone who needs it if at all possible.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I didn't know until I got to the top of the elevator that my spouse was not allowed to wait for me to arrive.

To me (and many mobility aid users), they are an extension of my body and touching my wheelchair is the same thing as touching my body.

And since I appear to be in a complaining mood I really hate, hate, hate it on the buses when people stick (or try to stick) their strollers and/or children right between the legs of my wheelchair. They don't understand that when the bus goes around corners or stops and starts, the stroller or children are going to smack up against the insides of my legs, causing me large amounts of pain.

First up, refusing to let your wife wait for you must be new policy. They used to have a sofa, right opposite the lift door at the upper level.

Second: What gets to me, is when I am seated at a table, such that my wheelchair is sticking out into an aisle. I have had waiters stumble over my wheels. I always tell the restaurant that I am in a wheelchair when booking, remind them at the podium, and again when I am taken to my table. Then I carry out the wheelchair users' 'tablecloth ceremony' lifting it up to see where the table legs are.

Thirdly: Don't you hate it when somone stands on your seatbelt? I rode all the way back to my hotel one night with someone doing exactly that from time to time. The belt was across my chest and over my shoulder.

Andrew

 

[Figaro]

Second: What gets to me, is when I am seated at a table, such that my wheelchair is sticking out into an aisle. I have had waiters stumble over my wheels. I always tell the restaurant that I am in a wheelchair when booking, remind them at the podium, and again when I am taken to my table. Then I carry out the wheelchair users' 'tablecloth ceremony' lifting it up to see where the table legs are.

Thirdly: Don't you hate it when someone stands on your seatbelt? I rode all the way back to my hotel one night with someone doing exactly that from time to time. The belt was across my chest and over my shoulder.

Andrew

No matter how often I try to explain that you don't want the wheelchair sitting where the back wheels stick out into a busy aisle, they don't seem to "get" what I am talking about. I have finally had to be somewhat firm with them, as I have had food that I am eating knocked out of my hand into my lap and once had a salad dumped in my hair when the waitress tripped over the wheels. I know that the hostess thinks I am being a control freak but I have learned over the years that this is the way it has to be.

And yes on the standing on the seatbelt. I have had parents place kids all around me and stand them on the back of my wheelchair and one even put her small child in my lap. Now, I love kids , but I would like to be the one to ASK them if the would like me to hold their child, not have it assumed.

Oh well...our next trip is the 16th of October until the 25th and we are staying at the Dolphin so that the only time we have to take the bus is when we go to the Magic Kingdom. And after hearing some of the stories here about the bus drivers, I think I am going to have my spouse push me over to the Boardwalk since that way the bus will be empty (it is the first stop) and they won't have an excuse not to load me.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Oh well...our next trip is the 16th of October until the 25th and we are staying at the Dolphin so that the only time we have to take the bus is when we go to the Magic Kingdom. And after hearing some of the stories here about the bus drivers, I think I am going to have my spouse push me over to the Boardwalk since that way the bus will be empty (it is the first stop) and they won't have an excuse not to load me.

I always thought the Swan was the first pick-up. ... unless they've changed the pick up order again.

Andrew

 

[Figaro]

I always thought the Swan was the first pick-up. ... unless they've changed the pick up order again.

According the the experts over on the Swan Dolphin thread on the Resorts board, the current pick up order is: Boardwalk, Swan, Dolphin. At least that is the one in the a.m., as I gather it varies and even includes the Yacht and Beach Club during the mid-day hours.

 

[SueM in MN]

And since I appear to be in a complaining mood I really hate, hate, hate it on the buses when people stick (or try to stick) their strollers and/or children right between the legs of my wheelchair. They don't understand that when the bus goes around corners or stops and starts, the stroller or children are going to smack up against the insides of my legs, causing me large amounts of pain.

My spouse has taken to sitting in the seat next to me and only getting up when someone with a disability or little one gets on the bus and then he gives up his seat to them and stands between my legs himself, as he knows to brace himself so he doesn't hit my legs. But people get really upset when he prevents people from putting their stroller or child there and there is really no way for them to understand in a crowded bus how much of an issue that is for me.

Oh, and my spouse waits until the last minute to let someone take his seat because he has found that if he gets up too soon, someone without a little one or apparent disability will grab the seat (usually teenagers) and he prefers to have the seat go to someone who needs it if at all possible.

My DD hates it when anyone touches her wheelchair without her permission. Because she can't speak, she will do whatever she needs to do to get their attention - which may include hitting and/or pinching if they persist.

We've had some of the same experiences on the bus as you describe, so we do the same thing as you on the bus.