HORRIBLE Wheelchair Experience at SSR

[seashoreCM]

I would say it is worth asking for use of the fastpass line a few times (I don't know what the technical term is given that fastpass plus per se is not in effect today).

I don't mean DAS. You would not be sitting somewhere else for the length of the wait time posted on the sign prior to proceeding to the fastpass entrance.

 

[robinb]

Wow. I am so sorry to hear this. I used a scooter the last time I went to WDW for my arthritic right knee and I was thinking about renting one for next month's trip too. Now, I'm not so sure I want to if I have to wait 1-2 hours for a bus and also take a wheelchair spot from someone who needs it more. I might be able to be OK with just my cane again. Or, I guess I could rent a scooter that breaks down easily and I can drive instead, but I hate driving to the MK. Decisions, decisions.

I have a question. It seems to me that the driver did not ask the family in the wheelchair zone to move because they cannot pass through space being used by other guests. Wouldn't the OP have been able to ride on the bus if the driver loaded the rest of the bus leaving the wheelchair seats for last? It seems to me that the OP would be able to enter the bus through the back door and not cross anyone else's space. Also, does the prohibition on passing through someone else's space mean that all buses returning to the parks are dedicated to a single resort?

 

[DisneyOma]

If there wasn't a mobility device tied down in the space, there was no one needing that space. There is nothing different between those seats, other than they fold up for access to the mobility tie down.

But since you didn't get on the bus, how did you know there were no devices in those seats, I mean? Could you see the spots from outside?

 

[DisneyOma]

no device tied down there and no one holding onto a folded device. the seats are not different from other seats

But could she see all of that from outside of the bus? That's what I find confusing - can you see from outside of the bus who is in those seats?

 

[robinb]

But could she see all of that from outside of the bus? That's what I find confusing - can you see from outside of the bus who is in those seats?

The OP clearly said:

Now, there was NOT another WC or ECV on the bus. There were some non-mobility users sitting in the WC slot.

And yes, you can see into the bus where the wheelchair users ride when the back door opens.

 

[DisneyOma]

The OP clearly said:


And yes, you can see into the bus where the wheelchair users ride when the back door opens.

But if the bus driver was not planning on taking in any mobility devices, he would not be opening the back door, would he? This is what I find so confusing, sorry. Also if there was only room for 6 people, and then those people had to move to another area, and the seat folded up (which sits 3 I think?) then there might not have been enough space for the OP, the family, and the device, as that might take up more than the remaining spots. A seating area for 6 in the back is not the same as a seating area in the front with the seats up for a device, is it?

But I do agree that the bus driver did not handle the situation very professionally. He could have explained why he was not able to take the group with the mobility device. People can refuse to move from the seats, especially if they are also disabled. I think it would make more sense to have a spot on the bus dedicated to one mobility device, no seat there at all. Then these issues wouldn't happen.

 

[DL1WDW2]

To be fair....maybe we should be not so interested in this.Maybe the bus driver thought the family was exiting and opened the back door.
Maybe the family seated on the bus had a disability Perhaps an autistic child or an elderly adult that needed assistance. I understand the frustration .
Hope your next visit is more magical.

 

[robinb]

But if the bus driver was not planning on taking in any mobility devices, he would not be opening the back door, would he? This is what I find so confusing, sorry. Also if there was only room for 6 people, and then those people had to move to another area, and the seat folded up (which sits 3 I think?) then there might not have been enough space for the OP, the family, and the device, as that might take up more than the remaining spots. A seating area for 6 in the back is not the same as a seating area in the front with the seats up for a device, is it?

But I do agree that the bus driver did not handle the situation very professionally. He could have explained why he was not able to take the group with the mobility device. People can refuse to move from the seats, especially if they are also disabled. I think it would make more sense to have a spot on the bus dedicated to one mobility device, no seat there at all. Then these issues wouldn't happen.

I think you're thinking of the seats at the very front of the bus which have the sign that says "please offer these seats to the elderly and those with disabilities". There is a spot dedicated to mobility devices. The seating area for wheel chairs and scooters is in the middle of the bus. It's directly across from the rear door. I found this photo which might help:



Area #2 and the one next to it (maybe #3?) are both places where a wheelchair or scooter can go and be locked down.

Depending on the "wrap" around the bus you can easily see in the bus when it arrives. People with disabilities that do not require a wheelchair or scooter can sit anywhere so the wheelchair area is not set aside for them and the OP was not asking another person with a disability to move for her. The wheelchair can ONLY go in one of those 2 spots (and only 1 spot on some busses).

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I totally get your frustration. But don’t let that sour you on SSR. Bad (and good) boss drivers are everywhere, and they aren’t assigned to just one hotel day after day. Biff (as I have now named him) could be running the route you need to use next time from the Poly or GF or POR.

 

[DisneyOma]

I think you're thinking of the seats at the very front of the bus which have the sign that says "please offer these seats to the elderly and those with disabilities". There is a spot dedicated to mobility devices. The seating area for wheel chairs and scooters is in the middle of the bus. It's directly across from the rear door. I found this photo which might help:

View attachment 567294

Area #2 and the one next to it (maybe #3?) are both places where a wheelchair or scooter can go and be locked down.

Depending on the "wrap" around the bus you can easily see in the bus when it arrives. People with disabilities that do not require a wheelchair or scooter can sit anywhere so the wheelchair area is not set aside for them and the OP was not asking another person with a disability to move for her. The wheelchair can ONLY go in one of those 2 spots (and only 1 spot on some busses).

Thanks for including the photo of the bus - if it was indeed this type of bus I can see how you could see the first bay for an ECV from the outside. Perhaps someone in the groups in the front seats couldn't navigate the steps in the back though, and since the groups have to stay together, they couldn't move to other seats. If the bus only had room for a group of up to six, moving two people (the fold up seats hold only 2) to a spot that would fit six would not give the OP's group any place to sit. They could not go into the 6 seat zone. The buses are sectioned off for specific sized groups - see the zone numbers on the seats?

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Referring to transporting a guest in such a manner as, "I can't take the wheelchair", is such a discriminatory way to put it! Awful, please let Disney know how unacceptable that is.

There were so many better, kinder ways to explain that he could only take a party of 6 with minimal social distancing. since clearly he was unwilling to ask the other riders to unload and reload so that you could get on , while everyone maintained social distancing.

 

[Evita_W]

But could she see all of that from outside of the bus? That's what I find confusing - can you see from outside of the bus who is in those seats?

Yes, you absolutely can

 

[Betty Rohrer]

But could she see all of that from outside of the bus? That's what I find confusing - can you see from outside of the bus who is in those seats?

yes you can tell if chair is belted in or if they were holding a folded chair in front of them as she would have been at back door where ramp is

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks for including the photo of the bus - if it was indeed this type of bus I can see how you could see the first bay for an ECV from the outside. Perhaps someone in the groups in the front seats couldn't navigate the steps in the back though, and since the groups have to stay together, they couldn't move to other seats. If the bus only had room for a group of up to six, moving two people (the fold up seats hold only 2) to a spot that would fit six would not give the OP's group any place to sit. They could not go into the 6 seat zone. The buses are sectioned off for specific sized groups - see the zone numbers on the seats?

they would have had to come had to come up steps to get on bus

 

[Carol_]

This comes down to a generalized decrease in what had been industry-leading hospitality. Disney’s response to COVID has destroyed what they had been so famous for... caring about the guest experience. It’s just like any other place in so many respects now. Understaffed with undertrained and disinterested people content to just clock in and out.
There are still many great well-trained CMs, but their numbers have noticeably dwindled.
As an aside, I’d read before booking at SSR and OKW this year that not being at the first bus stop could be a game changer when using the buses because of too many people loading before the later stops. Sorry you guys got served so poorly I hope you were able to make some lemonade out of those lemons.

 

[robinb]

This comes down to a generalized decrease in what had been industry-leading hospitality. Disney’s response to COVID has destroyed what they had been so famous for... caring about the guest experience. It’s just like any other place in so many respects now. Understaffed with undertrained and disinterested people content to just clock in and out.

I totally agree. One can grasp at straws for why they think the driver didn't load the OP but Occom's Razor says that the simplest answer is usually the right one. The driver simply did not want to be bothered by taking a wheelchair.

 

[SueM in MN]

I’m going to close this thread. The OP got some good suggestions.

I will add that it is possible and actually pretty easy to see from outside if the wheelchair spots on the bus are full, even without the back door open. The only exception would be some of the buses with picture overlays that cover the entire bus, including the windows.
If the OP has an update, they can contact lanejudy or me