Got called an ******* for getting off bus before the ramp was down for scooters

[Lewisc]

Were you the guy?

No.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

No.

Fooled me!

 

[chrisney]

Why’s their party being together more important than mine? Why should we stand when we waited a long time and were first in line, for a group to just roll up at the last minute and get priority? Just my opinion.

You clearly are not/do not have a handicap that requires accommodations. I'm absolutely sure that the person in the chair/scooter would gladly trade places with you or anyone in your party. It is a sobering realization that you might need help--whether accessing transportation or attractions. Little things...like dropping something and not being able to reach it, or opening a door or reaching something in a shop. Getting food at a counter service restaurant..or at least getting it to a table. So yes, your average striving to enjoy the parks person with handicapping issues might need the assistance of a party member on the bus. Out of curiosity, how would you react if you were told your entire party could not go at once just because of the size of the party? What about cheer groups--I personally find them more disruptive than a group accompanying a handicapped person.

Disney does a good job of making the experience mostly accessible. What they can't do is make people behave in an accepting manner. I am extremely careful while driving my scooter--I wish that more able bodied people were the same. I've been walked into, bumped and yelled at often...last time by a tall man who literally walked into the front of my scooter. I simply asked him if I was invisible or he was blind. He at least had the manners to apologize.

Instead of complaining because someone got annoyed with your getting off the bus after having been asked to wait,, I'd like you to consider counting your blessings...

I want to add that for the most part I find people to be overwhelmingly kind and helpful. When I have been by myself total strangers have been quick to offer help with doors, or with food and drinks in restaurants, etc. Maybe that's why it always really surprises me when people are so completely unaware of other people's limitations.

 

[chrisney]

Why’s their party being together more important than mine? Why should we stand when we waited a long time and were first in line, for a group to just roll up at the last minute and get priority? Just my opinion.

You clearly are not/do not have a handicap that requires accommodations. I'm absolutely sure that the person in the chair/scooter would gladly trade places with you or anyone in your party. It is a sobering realization that you might need help--whether accessing transportation or attractions. Little things...like dropping something and not being able to reach it, or opening a door or reaching something in a shop. Getting food at a counter service restaurant..or at least getting it to a table. So yes, your average striving to enjoy the parks person with handicapping issues might need the assistance of a party member on the bus. Out of curiosity, how would you react if you were told your entire party could not go at once just because of the size of the party? What about cheer groups--I personally find them more disruptive than a group accompanying a handicapped person.

Disney does a good job of making the experience mostly accessible. What they can't do is make people behave in an accepting manner. I am extremely careful while driving my scooter--I wish that more able bodied people were the same. I've been walked into, bumped and yelled at often...last time by a tall man who literally walked into the front of my scooter. I simply asked him if I was invisible or he was blind. He at least had the manners to apologize.

Instead of complaining because someone got annoyed with your getting off the bus after having been asked to wait,, I'd like you to consider counting your blessings...

They were all wearing some sort of matching tee shirts and were part of sone sort of a group. When they got on the bus they spread out instead of sitting together and many/most of them were quite large and took up more than one seat. Yes it’s the only time it’s ever happened to me too after a lifetime of visiting but it was annoying. Luckily they got off at FW where our bus stopped at first, so after that a bunch of seats opened up. This is the only negative instance I’ve ever had with the scooters on the bus, but it bothered me.

So...not only were there handicapped people, but also larger people who were clearly behaving in a manner that you deemed to be annoying. What a terrible ordeal. So sorry they chose to travel on YOUR bus (sorry but that's how you're acting). I'm starting to see some PITA attitude here despite what you might say.

 

[pens4821]

You clearly are not/do not have a handicap that requires accommodations. I'm absolutely sure that the person in the chair/scooter would gladly trade places with you or anyone in your party.

I have to disagree with this. Yes I get it sometimes, but does the entire family really have to be with said person? A child with other children and their parents I get. But have you ever seen how many people get on with the wheelchairs sometimes?

As for the OP, I think going to security was too much. However I could see asking what the policy’s just so they knew in the future.

My dad (in a scooter) got on first (with just my mom, the rest of us stood in line), and off last just for reference.

 

[ShaneDJ]

...I met with Disney security. I then followed up later but they didn't really do much or seem to care all that much.

What did you expect security to do?

 

[TCRAIG]

OP, you aren't an AH. The other party needed to mind their own business and were incorrect with the loading/unloading procedures. Please don't let this ruin your trip.

I’ll say it again - maybe the other party wasn’t incorrect that the OP is not supposed to hop out the ramp door unless the ramp is lowered - not for ECVs to unload first (which is absolutely not the policy and the bus drivers know this) - but because the bus needs to be lower to the ground (which is part of the ramp process) for non-scooter guests to depart as part of a safety concern. So - while the OP is still not an AH - they may have been ‘in the wrong’ for not following std bus procedure.

 

[chrisney]

I have to disagree with this. Yes I get it sometimes, but does the entire family really have to be with said person? A child with other children and their parents I get. But have you ever seen how many people get on with the wheelchairs sometimes?

As for the OP, I think going to security was too much. However I could see asking what the policy’s just so they knew in the future.

My dad (in a scooter) got on first (with just my mom, the rest of us stood in line), and off last just for reference.

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are now local, so avoid the busses, though we do use monorail and skyliner transportation. I didn't realize that groups accompanying handicapped patrons were so often super-sized. Is it that, or are the people using mobility devices part of a large group...there is a difference in emphasis there. Either way, I could see that it would be "fair" to put a size limit on the group...maybe 8-10 people to allow for multigenerational family trips. This, however, does not address the disparity that happens when the limited spaces on a bus force the party to wait for multiple busses.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

It wouldn't take that many people really. There is a maximum of 31 seats on a typical Disney bus and you lose 3 seats for each ECV.

I've also seen recently where they used up the seats for 2 ECVs... and then didn't elect to sit on the ECVs during the bus ride thereby taking up more seats! This is after park closing at DAK with a super long line and the bus didn't show for a good 20+ minutes.

Of course none of this would matter if Disney ran more buses but they don't so you're going to notice these things as you wait.

 

[eandt]

Hello all. Yesterday around 4pm my family and I were on a bus going from Hollywood studios to Polynesian. As we were waiting to get on the bus and there was apparently this group of 14 who just finished a VIP tour who thought they were better than everyone else, they told us that there wasn’t enough space for us (there was enough space all the kids had seats and only a few guys stood me being one of them)

On the bus was fine, but after we got to the poly apparently this group decided that the scooters are suppose to get off first, and the cast member apparently thought so too, but don't they normally get off last? Basically one of the members in the party of 14 told me to wait until the ramp is out before leaving after their party, I told them I didn’t need the ramp and got off. After I left he apparently called me an a**hole which i didn’t hear, but my wife did. I wear a kippa too so I'm at a heighten state of alert. Is this normal Disney behavior now?

I reported this to a cast member and I met with Disney security. I then followed up later but they didn't really do much or seem to care all that much. It was extremely off putting and ruined the magic and still is ruining the magic. I’m not really used to having strangers call me such vile names and Disneys response hasn’t really been great at all.

I’ve been riding Disney buses (unfortunately) for more than 30 years including as recently as last week .. have never seen wheel chairs and scooters get OFF first as it is not feasible with passengers clogging the aisle with feet ..just as putting them ON last is not feasible for the same reason … ‘VIPs’ were just acting like ‘SOB’s’ it seems …

 

[eandt]

What gets on my nerves is how when the scooters board first their entire groups get on first too. We were first in line for the bus home from Epcot to WL this past January, but when the bus pulled up it loaded 2 scooters that had just pulled up to the line as the bus was pulling up, and they each had huge groups with them, and by the time we got on the bus we had to split up to sit. I get the scooters getting on first but why do their entire groups get on too, in front of people who’ve been patiently waiting? I know it’s petty, but it irritates me.

Oh boy now you have gone and stirred the pot … since it’s stirred might as well bring up all the alleged ‘service’ dogs that get to roam the parks like they are visiting the local public green …. Shhh but I agree the entourage should not be boarding along with the disabled guest …

 

[eandt]

I get the frustration but how would you feel if you were part of the scooter group and half the party had to wait for the next bus?
You having to "split up" to sit doesn't seem like that big of a deal.
You could have chosen to stand next to each other if it was impotant to not split up within the bus.

Same way I’d feel if half my posse had to ride the next bus because it was full … it sucks but I’d deal with it or wait until we all could get on a bus together …

 

[TCRAIG]

I’ve been riding Disney buses (unfortunately) for more than 30 years including as decent as last week .. have never seen wheel chairs and scooters get OFF first as it is not feasible with passengers clogging the aisle with feet ..just as putting them ON last is not feasible for the same reason … ‘VIPs’ were just acting like ‘SOB’s’ it seems …

Just an FYI - some ECV manufacturers recommend that the users not sit on them while in transport as a safety issue….I’ve had some WDW bus drivers tell me that I should sit in one of the seats rather than stay on my scooter…
I don’t - cause my ECV captain’s chair is much more comfortable than those hard bus seats…and also cause I prefer not to use up a seat…but that’s just me.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

I’ll say it again - maybe the other party wasn’t incorrect that the OP is not supposed to hop out the ramp door unless the ramp is lowered - not for ECVs to unload first (which is absolutely not the policy and the bus drivers know this) - but because the bus needs to be lower to the ground (which is part of the ramp process) for non-scooter guests to depart as part of a safety concern. So - while the OP is still not an AH - they may have been ‘in the wrong’ for not following std bus procedure.

I said what I said to OP and that is it. I am not here to argue.

 

[TCRAIG]

I said what I said to OP and that is it. I am not here to argue.

I’m not arguing with you - I agree, there was no reason for the OP to be called an AH and I hope that the event didn’t ruined their stay…just that MAYBE hopping out the ramp door without the ramp being lowered is not the procedure…especially when the OP said the CM (bus driver?) seemed to support the VIP party’s thoughts that the ramp door was not ready for people to depart from.
Where’s a bus driver on the DIS when you need ‘em to clarify.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

I’m not arguing with you - I agree, there was no reason for the OP to be called an AH and I hope that the event didn’t ruined their stay…just that MAYBE hopping out the ramp door without the ramp being lowered is not the procedure…especially when the OP said the CM (bus driver?) seemed to support the VIP party’s thoughts that the ramp door was not ready for people to depart from.
Where’s a bus driver on the DIS when you need ‘em to clarify.

Then please kindly agree and move on. I'm not here to discuss this with others. I assured the OP that he was not an expletive and told him to move on and to enjoy his trip. Why can't that be left alone?! If you want to have a discussion with the countless others who wish to in this thread, then so be it. But I wasn't asking for that myself.

 

[focusondisney]

I’ll say it again - maybe the other party wasn’t incorrect that the OP is not supposed to hop out the ramp door unless the ramp is lowered - not for ECVs to unload first (which is absolutely not the policy and the bus drivers know this) - but because the bus needs to be lower to the ground (which is part of the ramp process) for non-scooter guests to depart as part of a safety concern. So - while the OP is still not an AH - they may have been ‘in the wrong’ for not following std bus procedure.

No, that isn’t how it works. When the bus stops & the driver opens the doors, people get off from both doors. The driver doesn’t even get to the back door to lower the ramp until everyone is off. We’ve had more than 100 trips over 32 years & never once has a driver had non ecv/ wheelchair passengers wait to disembark until the ramp was down. Once the driver opens the back door, folks start getting off. In fact, with people standing in that area, the ramp wouldn’t even be able to be lowered. In addition, that would significantly increase the time required for the bus to unload. Which in many cases would increase the time for that bus to reload & continue its route.

If the bus itself needs to lower (a kneeling bus) that happens before the driver even opens the doors.

@Isthisnormalatdisney Just FYI, the driver will decide how many people get to load on the bus. So the people who said there wouldn’t be room for your party were just blowing smoke. Same for unloading, unless the driver asked everyone to stay in place, you were fine. The other party has no say in loading/ unloading procedures.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[Mle8308]

I'm not a scooter/wheelchair user so again I can totally get the frustration. Been there and felt that way.
But when you consider only a couple of them can fit on each bus there are some people that have to wait for several buses in order to get on and to me THAT doesn't seem fair.
Also they HAVE to go on first or there's not enough room to maneuver them. It only makes sense that if you are going to the take the person in the scooter first that then their entire party gets on the bus before others so that they do not have to then wait for another bus and leave the scooter person...
With age I have started to recognize there are situations I can't be the main character in my life so as much as I feel like maybe its "not fair" I just suck it up and remember that its not all about me.

Not necessarily. There are plenty of times when resorts share busses and the ECV's at the second resort board with guests on the bus. If people are sitting where the ECV needs to be parked, those guests will be asked to move, but the bus doesn't empty out to let on additional ECV's. Honestly, I wish Disney could figure out some better transportation options for guests using WC's or ECV's. I have no idea what that could be, but there are plenty of smarter people than me out there!

 

[Nabas]

Scooters get on first and off last as you need enough room to maneuver it without running over people's feet.
So NTAH for getting off the bus before the wheelchair since that's how its supposed to work.
Although this being your first post makes me feel like this is more for drama/attention...

Ditto.

Scooters and wheelchairs on first, off last.

The space needs to be cleared out to maneuver this.

 

[titojackson84]

Based only on one party’s side of the story, NTA

I have only ever seen ECVs board first and leave last. I try to stay near the rear door. Either sit across from it or stand near it if the bus is more full so as soon as the door opens, I can just step out and go. I rope drop so I want to get going as soon as possible. I do get mildly annoyed when people step off and then don’t move, making it harder to get around them, but nothing I think about after I get around them.