How sad is this!

[Ember]

That was a great post, thank you Sue.

More than once I have over heard people talk about abusing the system to avoid wait lines and get up front seating, and I'm glad to know that these people aren't gaining anything from their deception.

I also think it's important to remember that those who are less than able bodied don't have things "easier."

 

[DisneyChristmas]

DH and I really do try to be supportive of persons who need accommodations. However, abusing the system is something else. A couple of years ago DH and I took the backstage tour at World Showcase Two women in our tour group were using ECVs. They each had hot coffee, and the tour had to progress slowly so that they could drive and sip at the same time. These DLadies had no idea how to back up and kept getting caught in tight spots. The most spectacular was the butterfly garden at England when the tour guide had to grab other CMs to help the ladies maneuver back out in the narrow paths. The tour began at Canada, and because of these delays we had only reached Germany when WS opened to the public. (The tour is supposed to be completed by 11:00 am.) Our CM managed to make it through the remaining three nations, but it was difficult to hear and progressively crowded as other guests kept trying to tag along with our group. DH and I had been OK with all of this until we saw these same two women WALKING (no ECVs at all) in Future World later that day!!!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

OMG! Could you get pulled over for DUI with a scooter?

True story:
When I was a kid, I went to the rodeo with my family every year (it was a big thing in town). There was a guy who got arrested for riding his horse drunk at the rodeo one year. It was considered a vehicle for purposes of the DUI. The thing is, it made the papers because the guy had previously been arrested for several DUIs in his car. And it gets even better. Apparently, the guy got pulled over several months later and cited for DUI again...ON A BICYCLE! My dad thought this was the funniest story EVER, and even though the guy was a serious danger to everyone else on the roads, I still can't help but laugh a little bit about this lunatic who obviously had a RAGING alcohol abuse problem! My father joked that next he would be stopped on a skateboard...and perhaps even just walking down the street in an uneven line once all possible vehicle options had been exhausted!

 

[kaytieeldr]

People should not be using an ECV while intoxicated. Just like cars, some people do drink and 'drive'. And, we have seen some pretty intoxicated walkers (especially some who were trying to have a drink at each of the WS countries).

True - but operating an ECV with one hand and holding a drink in the other does not mean the person is DUI. I'm sure it was an alcoholic beverage - a beer looks different than a soda. But DUI?

 

[odd1]

True - but operating an ECV with one hand and holding a drink in the other does not mean the person is DUI. I'm sure it was an alcoholic beverage - a beer looks different than a soda. But DUI?

Plus, the rules on having an open container are a little different at Epcot, aren't they?

This thread is cracking me up!

 

[lustergirl]

Being Handicapped does NOT get you front of line access.

What- it doesn't?? That is the main reason why I am taking my mother next year- she will be using a wheelchair. "Sorry granny no disney for you!!""

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Well, I think it's sad that there is a punctuation error on that sign! Someone took the time to type it, format it, print it, and mount it for all to see with a big ol' error on it.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I will only say that people should save the ECVs for the people who really need them. It is a sad thing to see someone using them just so they don't have to wait in the ride lines. I have seen them abused like this.

This stopped several years ago. To this day, my memory of the most horrific behavior I witnessed in a park is this:

A family (2 adults and 3 pre-teens/teens) were working their way toward a ride. One of the teens was being pushed in a wheelchair. I know enough to know that not all disabilities/conditions are visible, so even though the teen seemed active enough (bouncing up and down in the chair, etc.), I assumed he really needed the chair.

I then saw the family as they were getting off the ride and heading back to where the chair was parked. The MOM (adults encouraging this!!!!) pipes up and says, "Whose turn is it to ride in the wheel chair?" I have never been so livid! This was back in the day when wheel chair access was very often front-of-the-line access as well (before the FP system).

While I am sure that there continues to be some abuse of the system, Disney seems to have worked this out for the most part. Being in an ECV/chair certainly does not allow you to skip the wait in lines.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, I think it's sad that there is a punctuation error on that sign! Someone took the time to type it, format it, print it, and mount it for all to see with a big ol' error on it.

Maybe it's not a punctuation error. Maybe the sign was just too small to indicate what item belonging to the ECV was temporarily not available?

 

[mom2my3kids]

How about a riding lawn mower? My dear old uncle Roy was a alcoholic, so he could not drive (to many DWI's) so he took to his riding lawn mower. The cops pulled him over about 3 miles from home, coming back from the local tavern..

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Maybe it's not a punctuation error. Maybe the sign was just too small to indicate what item belonging to the ECV was temporarily not available?

 

[waltfan1957]

Being Handicapped does NOT get you front of line access.

you will need to make it a lot bigger than that. their are so many people on this forum that would not get it if it was in 20 foot high letters and yet again in a thread like this you have so many "doctors" who will know who is abusing and who is faking just by looking at them

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, let's try

Being Handicapped does NOT get you front of line access.

Nope, sorry, font size only goes to 7

 

[KPeveler]

DH and I had been OK with all of this until we saw these same two women WALKING (no ECVs at all) in Future World later that day!!!

*raises hand* that will be me! I can walk some, but I will need my chair most of the time. It may be that these ladies have something like rheumatoid arthritis, and cannot sit for long periods, and therefore have to alternate walking and riding. just a thought!

I will try to walk as much as I can for as long as I can. For those of us facing declining mobility, and increasing disability (btw, i am 22 yrs old), we will try to do as much as we can while we can still do it!

just something for you to think about...

 

[Madi100]

I understand that for some people there are times when there will be a lot of walking that riding is just easier. Maybe thsoe two ladies didn't know if they could handle all of that walking, so they decided to ride.

Do you have to have any proof that you "NEED" the ECV or will they give one to anyone?

 

[KPeveler]

It is illegal to require "proof" of a disability. what kind of proof would you need to prove a need? who decides what "disabled" is? what is "disabled enough" to need a wheelchair? a scooter? crutches/cane/walker/etc?

question like that are the reason you don't have to show proof of a disability... and why it is against the law to require proof.

 

[cabanafrau]

Certainly a DUI should be issued for someone operating an ECV under the influence, just as is done for golf carts. I would imagine the potential for danger to others (& yourself) is quite large at WDW & I hope that's not something CMs ever look the other way on.

As far as the other complaints about ECVs, I know they don't entitle users to front of line access & I wouldn't begrudge anyone w/ a disability a bump up in the line if they did. I'm very grateful not to need anything to help me get around & God willing I never will.

It's kind of ironic to see all of the tag lines of "a bad day @ Disney is better than a good day @ work", etc. & then read some of the petty things people complain about for their trips & such tremendous unwillingness to recognize the struggle some people face to accomplish even the simplest things in their visits. (Mobility issues, allergy issues, behavioral issues such as those of autism & Asperger's & the like, restroom issues).

Wow, I'm glad my toughest issues @ Disney usually involve selecting where to book an ADR & then pushing myself away from the table before I pop!

 

[Madi100]

It is illegal to require "proof" of a disability. what kind of proof would you need to prove a need? who decides what "disabled" is? what is "disabled enough" to need a wheelchair? a scooter? crutches/cane/walker/etc?

question like that are the reason you don't have to show proof of a disability... and why it is against the law to require proof.

The reason that I asked that question is because if there are guidelines then everyone who uses one has a disability. I have never tried to rent one before, so I didn't know if you had to have a doctor's orders or whatever. There are people stating that they think that people use them just because and don't really need them. If you don't have to show proof, then it is i possible they are being abused. I just asked an innocent question. I have no problem with anyone that wants to use the scooters. If you want to drive drunk on them, if you want to attempt to run my children over with them, etc. It really doesn't bother me. I don't think it's nice or right, but we are usually too busy doing our own thing to be bothered for too long about any one person at WDW.

 

[Passions71203]

Could I join you Mike?

 

[LittleLebowski]

kaytieeldr,

You get your new ride yet? The one with the custom Mickeys all over it?