I hate mobility scooters

[piccolopat]

Oh No, this is why I am hesitant to use an ECV for our next trip to Disney! So much hate and negativity. I used to be bothered by the ECV's myself several years ago and felt like a lot of them were working the system. NOW I have an invisible disease that causes severe pain without movement, and with walking such as like Disney, I am miserable and can hardly walk. I have always sat down a lot, walked slowly, gone on attractions to rest, gone back to the resort for a midday rest, and early to bed and rise. All of this to enable me to enjoy the parks for an hour or two.
I had convinced myself that I should really rent one at the park when I am doing a lot of walking that day. Only on a need to use basis. But now after reading all this, I just don't know. I am so afraid I will accidently hit someone, or someone will walk into me and get hit now. I don't know what to do. Please understand that there are people out there who need them and are resisting because of a lot of these comments, or because they are pushing themselves to their limits with their disease. As far as wheelchairs, I have severe arthritis in the hands so this is not an option. Please, people, have some compassion for those of us in a difficult situation, and I hope that you never do find yourselves in a situation where you have to rent one due to disability. No One with a real disability Wants to use one.

If you need an ECV, use one. Try to move slowly and be as careful as possible. Leave more room than you think you need going around and behind people. If you have a horn and see someone wandering mindlessly, use it. If you still have an accident with someone and it was your fault, apologize and make sure they are OK. Don't feel bad if someone runs into you and they hurt themselves. It would be no different than if they ran into a brick wall and yelled at the wall for their injury. Enjoy your visit!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Oh No, this is why I am hesitant to use an ECV for our next trip to Disney! So much hate and negativity. I used to be bothered by the ECV's myself several years ago and felt like a lot of them were working the system. NOW I have an invisible disease that causes severe pain without movement, and with walking such as like Disney, I am miserable and can hardly walk. I have always sat down a lot, walked slowly, gone on attractions to rest, gone back to the resort for a midday rest, and early to bed and rise. All of this to enable me to enjoy the parks for an hour or two.
I had convinced myself that I should really rent one at the park when I am doing a lot of walking that day. Only on a need to use basis. But now after reading all this, I just don't know. I am so afraid I will accidently hit someone, or someone will walk into me and get hit now. I don't know what to do. Please understand that there are people out there who need them and are resisting because of a lot of these comments, or because they are pushing themselves to their limits with their disease. As far as wheelchairs, I have severe arthritis in the hands so this is not an option. Please, people, have some compassion for those of us in a difficult situation, and I hope that you never do find yourselves in a situation where you have to rent one due to disability. No One with a real disability Wants to use one.

Don't think on it a bit. You'll find a heck of a lot more compassion at Disney than you will here on the community board. This board is not even remotely representative. So go, rent one and have fun. You may, or may not run into one or two ignorant individuals that will make some negative comment about the perks of scooters while you are there. But pay them no mind. You're just as welcome at WDW as they are. There is a disabilities board on this site here to help you.

http://www.disboards.com/forums/disabilities.20/

 

[SMD]

NM. Not worth the points. Thank God I've never been on a tour with someone like you.

Ok, remove the ECV and the tour. Let's say I'm sitting in a movie theater near the accessible seat. Someone with a respirator comes in and needs the accessible seat. They know they their respirator is going to beep every 45 seconds. Shouldn't they give me a heads up and warn me that I will hear their beeps and suggest that if I will be disturbed I move. That isn't saying they don't have a right to watch the movie or be in the theater. But if they know that they have equipment that is going to beep that often it is inconsiderate not to warn the others who will be disturbed by it. If they choose to not give me a heads up, do they get to control my reaction to the disturbance? If I want to demand a refund from theater management, how does that impact that person or indicate that I don't recognize the ADA?

 

[JenniBugInPink]

Oh No, this is why I am hesitant to use an ECV for our next trip to Disney! So much hate and negativity. I used to be bothered by the ECV's myself several years ago and felt like a lot of them were working the system. NOW I have an invisible disease that causes severe pain without movement, and with walking such as like Disney, I am miserable and can hardly walk. I have always sat down a lot, walked slowly, gone on attractions to rest, gone back to the resort for a midday rest, and early to bed and rise. All of this to enable me to enjoy the parks for an hour or two.
I had convinced myself that I should really rent one at the park when I am doing a lot of walking that day. Only on a need to use basis. But now after reading all this, I just don't know. I am so afraid I will accidently hit someone, or someone will walk into me and get hit now. I don't know what to do. Please understand that there are people out there who need them and are resisting because of a lot of these comments, or because they are pushing themselves to their limits with their disease. As far as wheelchairs, I have severe arthritis in the hands so this is not an option. Please, people, have some compassion for those of us in a difficult situation, and I hope that you never do find yourselves in a situation where you have to rent one due to disability. No One with a real disability Wants to use one.

You clearly need the scooter, and you have as much right to be at WDW AS ANYONE ELSE!! Use the scooter, and ignore all these self righteous, self-appointed experts on who should and shouldn't use scooters and where and how they should use them. My most fervent wish is that they be afflicted with conditions that require the use of one sooner rather than later. At 38, I would never have seen any of this happening. A year or two later, things started to come apart at the seams. My poor husband married someone he thought was healthy, then I proceeded to almost immediately fall apart. Now, almost twenty years later, I almost feel like I tricked him or something. He didn't bargain for any of this. It's been especially unfair to him.

Most of the time, using a scooter at WDW is uneventful. Periodically, to be perfectly honest, someone like the people on the board will make a crude, stupid remark. Just ignore it and know that it is your right as a human being to be there. You have a LEGAL right to use a mobility device if you need one, and it's not any of their business or any of their concern why you need it or even IF you need it. It's just not their issue. YOU know you do, and you know why. LOTS of other guests will completely understand, some will go out of their way to be nice, and most will pay no attention at all. Don't let a few idiots ruin an otherwise magical vacation. Develop a thick skin. In your mind, carry a wand and just cast spells on the idiots - turn them into whatever you like. I prefer ants; likely to be stepped on. Here's your wand, a gift from me to you: Practice using a scooter at grocery stores, etc. if you haven't. Those are much harder to use than the ones you'd rent for WDW, so if you're good with them, you'll be golden at Disney.

 

[piccolopat]

Ok, remove the ECV and the tour. Let's say I'm sitting in a movie theater near the accessible seat. Someone with a respirator comes in and needs the accessible seat. They know they their respirator is going to beep every 45 seconds. Shouldn't they give me a heads up and warn me that I will hear their beeps and suggest that if I will be disturbed I move. That isn't saying they don't have a right to watch the movie or be in the theater. But if they know that they have equipment that is going to beep that often it is inconsiderate not to warn the others who will be disturbed by it. If they choose to not give me a heads up, do they get to control my reaction to the disturbance? If I want to demand a refund from theater management, how does that impact that person or indicate that I don't recognize the ADA?

You're really not making sense here. If someone as a respirator that beeps every 45 seconds, you will hear it coming and can decide for yourself whether you want to move your seat before they even get settled in. There is no need for the person to tell you what is clearly evident.

You did have a valid point earlier in that if you pay for a 2 hour tour that covers a specific itinerary, you have a right to expect that to be what you get for your money. If someone on the tour is slow for whatever reason, it is up to Disney to keep the tour on track with the time and content of the itinerary. Most itineraries have a disclaimer of sorts but you can always seek compensation if you feel you didn't get your money's worth. IMO, you went wrong demanding notice in advance. That's simply not realistic given the logistics of these things. Perhaps Disney should allow for a little extra wiggle room in their scheduling of the tours to account for this but I wouldn't blame someone for slowing things down if they are doing their best to keep up. If someone is simply dillydallying, that's another story. In that case, tell your tour guide. You can plan ahead for delays by making sure you don't schedule FP+ or ADR too close to the tour ending time, just in case.

 

[disneyseniors]

You clearly need the scooter, and you have as much right to be at WDW AS ANYONE ELSE!! Use the scooter, and ignore all these self righteous, self-appointed experts on who should and shouldn't use scooters and where and how they should use them. My most fervent wish is that they be afflicted with conditions that require the use of one sooner rather than later. At 38, I would never have seen any of this happening. A year or two later, things started to come apart at the seams. My poor husband married someone he thought was healthy, then I proceeded to almost immediately fall apart. Now, almost twenty years later, I almost feel like I tricked him or something. He didn't bargain for any of this. It's been especially unfair to him.

Most of the time, using a scooter at WDW is uneventful. Periodically, to be perfectly honest, someone like the people on the board will make a crude, stupid remark. Just ignore it and know that it is your right as a human being to be there. You have a LEGAL right to use a mobility device if you need one, and it's not any of their business or any of their concern why you need it or even IF you need it. It's just not their issue. YOU know you do, and you know why. LOTS of other guests will completely understand, some will go out of their way to be nice, and most will pay no attention at all. Don't let a few idiots ruin an otherwise magical vacation. Develop a thick skin. In your mind, carry a wand and just cast spells on the idiots - turn them into whatever you like. I prefer ants; likely to be stepped on. Here's your wand, a gift from me to you: Practice using a scooter at grocery stores, etc. if you haven't. Those are much harder to use than the ones you'd rent for WDW, so if you're good with them, you'll be golden at Disney.

Jennibug, I actually have tears from reading your wonderful post! Thanks so much! My husband, too, married a healthy lady many years ago, and now lives with this disease daily. He has wanted me to use a scooter for years at WDW. I will definitely take your magic wand with me in November I love the disboards and other Disney sites, but when posts like these occur, they really affect me. I KNOW they shouldn't, but they do. I don't care for the attitude of : all you have to do is exercise more and you will be healthy" or something like that. That does not help someone like me. It has been proven to make things worse. It is also a daily fight to keep the weight off. Another point that I find offensive is that "fat" people on scooters are all lazy and don't eat right$! GRRR, that gets to me.
You see, my dad (who is now passed) had multiple problems later in life (copd, cancer, heart problems, to name a few) and he WAS not able to move much, let alone walk! We got him a scooter so he could go to the store,lake, etc, and feel like everyone else for a while. However, he gained weight because of his situation. I know others looker at him and thought he was fat and lazy; that is the farthest from the truth!!! I wish others would walk a mile in someone else's shoes for a while.
Sorry for the rant, and thanks for the encouraging words

 

[sam_gordon]

My most fervent wish is that they be afflicted with conditions that require the use of one sooner rather than later.

I'm sorry, but when I read posts like this, it doesn't endear sympathy toward ECV users. People get chastised for saying "mean" things "against" ECV users, but the above is OK? It's also not the first poster who has wished ill toward others.

 

[mondragon]

A few years ago a little girl was run over by someone in an ECV in Disney. I saw it happen right in front of us. The little girl was just walking alongside her mom when it happened. It pissed me off because I can picture the little girl being my daughter. The lady who was extremely rude was allowing her kid to steer. The kid had no way to control the scooter and ran over the girl, pinning her underneath the scooter. I ran over to help the dad lift the scooter off the girl. It took 3 of us to do it because the lady weighed at least 500lbs. Security was called over immediately and the paramedics came. The girl was scraped up from head to toe but they were suspecting she hurt her back. They took her away on a stretcher. The father started screaming at the lady who told him she should have been in a stroller (the girl was about 5). No apologies. I told security she was allowing the little boy on her lap to drive. They took a statement but the lady took off. No idea if they found her or not. This is why I hate those things. What these rental places should do is make sure the people renting these things have a valid drivers license. Obviously a lot don't since they run into people all the time.

 

[POOHsie]

There was one in the Keys To The Kingdom tour group that started before ours last year. We kept catching up to that group because of the slowdown it caused. I think we missed a ride we were supposed to go on because of this. It's a walking tour and the description states you must be able to be on your feet for hours. It was very inconsiderate.

Oh please. DH and I both drove ECV's on the KTTK tour. Before signing up we made sure that ECV's were allowed. Our guide was very pleasant and called them our "royal carriages." And no, we didn't slow down anyone else. There were a couple of places we needed to use an elevator while the rest of the group used stairs, but that's life.

Maybe 'you' didn't but the person ahead of us most certainly did. If you're holding things up it is inconsiderate. Life isn't always fair.

Squirlz tour kept catching up to a tour group just ahead which contained a scooter user. Somehow that means the scooter user was to blame for the slower tour? Maybe that tour leader was slow. Maybe that group had the photographer who took pics every 10 minutes. Maybe the group had a slow walker who should have been on a scooter to speed up her travel rate. Squirlz is making a lot of assumptions here, and dumping them on a scooter user. I did KTTK tour in my scooter and didn't slow anyone down, either.

The real problem is they are stuffing too many people into the parks, and they do not have the infrastructure to accommodate people in EVCs and the 10,000s of people walking around.

This could be true. But I think you believe the scooter users should be the ones denied access if WDW becomes overcrowded. How about keeping out some regular walking folks and admitting the scooter folks into WDW? Yeah, that doesn't sit too well, does it.

NM. Not worth the points. Thank God I've never been on a tour with someone like you.

The poster, if he/she sometime in the future had a scooter user in his/her immediate group, would quote the same chapter and verse to argue why the mobility impaired are being treated with less consideration than they should receive. A million dollar education and a nickel's worth of common sense or humanity.

 

[cornflkgrl]

Let's say I'm sitting in a movie theater near the accessible seat. Someone with a respirator comes in and needs the accessible seat. They know they their respirator is going to beep every 45 seconds. Shouldn't they give me a heads up and warn me that I will hear their beeps and suggest that if I will be disturbed I move. That isn't saying they don't have a right to watch the movie or be in the theater. But if they know that they have equipment that is going to beep that often it is inconsiderate not to warn the others who will be disturbed by it. If they choose to not give me a heads up, do they get to control my reaction to the disturbance?

No. You are free to act insensitive.

 

[SMD]

You're really not making sense here. If someone as a respirator that beeps every 45 seconds, you will hear it coming and can decide for yourself whether you want to move your seat before they even get settled in. There is no need for the person to tell you what is clearly evident.

This actually happened many, many years ago at a studio where I worked while we were filming a talk show which thankfully wasn't live. I don't remember if we knew that this person needed a wheelchair accessible seat, but we also sometimes had the issue where people didn't tell us in advance and we had pre-booked the available seats. Well, in this case, the lights went down and we hear a beep. No big deal, it was probably someone's watch. A short time later, another beep. Hmm, now it might keep happening, so we should figure out who it's coming from and ask them to turn off their watch alarm, phone or whatever. Then when we figured it out we had to have the mic relocated. If they had just mentioned it in advance the seat could have been relocated or the mic removed in advance. Now, maybe that person didn't know how tapings work and that there would be a mic. But I used it as an example because maybe it is something that you know will kick in at a certain time during the movie. As far as the tour, I personally would leave a time buffer, but the original person who experienced the slow tour wasn't wrong or hateful for calling that person "inconsiderate."

If you need an ECV, use one. Try to move slowly and be as careful as possible. Leave more room than you think you need going around and behind people. If you have a horn and see someone wandering mindlessly, use it. If you still have an accident with someone and it was your fault, apologize and make sure they are OK. Don't feel bad if someone runs into you and they hurt themselves. It would be no different than if they ran into a brick wall and yelled at the wall for their injury. Enjoy your visit!

Wait, why wouldn't you apologize even if you think they stepped in front of you? When I feel someone bump me I say excuse me or sorry before I'm even sure if I bumped them or they bumped me. I'm still sorry for the contact, even if it's in a crowd, incidental and to be expected. This thread is full of people saying that the attitude adjustment is needed by those who have been injured by ECVs. But hitting people and not being sorry because you don't think an accident is your fault is exactly the attitude that ECV users are saying is unfairly attributed to them.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

A few years ago a little girl was run over by someone in an ECV in Disney. I saw it happen right in front of us. The little girl was just walking alongside her mom when it happened. It pissed me off because I can picture the little girl being my daughter. The lady who was extremely rude was allowing her kid to steer. The kid had no way to control the scooter and ran over the girl, pinning her underneath the scooter. I ran over to help the dad lift the scooter off the girl. It took 3 of us to do it because the lady weighed at least 500lbs. Security was called over immediately and the paramedics came. The girl was scraped up from head to toe but they were suspecting she hurt her back. They took her away on a stretcher. The father started screaming at the lady who told him she should have been in a stroller (the girl was about 5). No apologies. I told security she was allowing the little boy on her lap to drive. They took a statement but the lady took off. No idea if they found her or not. This is why I hate those things. What these rental places should do is make sure the people renting these things have a valid drivers license. Obviously a lot don't since they run into people all the time.

I read a story once about a drunk driver killing someone. What those cops ought to do is require that if you drink you can't drive a car. And they should require that all those drivers of cars "have a valid drivers license. Obviously a lot don't since they run into" people and other cars "all the time."

 

[cornflkgrl]

I question someone who would intentionally sit next to the "accessible" seat and then complain about a disabled person's vent equipment beeping.

 

[SMD]

No. You are free to act insensitive.

Didn't you say that your son needs a public tree on which to urinate due to his fear of toilets? Is that in spite of the negative impact that that may have on other's use of the same public space, or are they insensitive to expect otherwise?

But tell me how recognizing someone's right to go to a movie theater while still expecting a certain level of non-disturbance is solely me being insensitive to them.

I question someone who would intentionally sit next to the "accessible" seat and then complain about a disabled person's vent equipment beeping.

Maybe it's a small theater, maybe I'm in the row behind it. I didn't say next to, I said near.

 

[joannamet]

What this thread needs is a little more objectivity. It seems to me that most of the hate and strong language are coming from the posters who use these vehicles and are taking the comments personally. If you're someone who uses a scooter or other vehicle due to medical necessity and does so responsibly, I don't think anyone including the OP has an issue with you personally. In the words of the immortal Dr. Phil, "Here's a newsflash. It ain't about you!" There is a big picture here.

 

[cornflkgrl]

Didn't you say that your son needs a public tree on which to urinate due to his fear of toilets? Is that in spite of the negative impact that that may have on other's use of the same public space, or are they insensitive to expect otherwise?

But tell me how recognizing someone's right to go to a movie theater while still expecting a certain level of non-disturbance is solely me being insensitive to them.
.

Actually my son has both mental health disorders (OCD, tics, ADHD, and developmental issue) AND urology issues due to surgeries and a birth defect. And no, I don't feel he "needs a public tree." He requires a companion bathroom accommodation or the use of an external catheter device and/or portable urinal that can be utilized at first aid.
What in god's earth does that have to do with ADA, ECVs or movie theaters? I think you are reaching a little here.

 

[Lisaloo]

What this thread needs is a little more objectivity. It seems to me that most of the hate and strong language are coming from the posters who use these vehicles and are taking the comments personally. If you're someone who uses a scooter or other vehicle due to medical necessity and does so responsibly, I don't think anyone including the OP has an issue with you personally. In the words of the immortal Dr. Phil, "Here's a newsflash. It ain't about you!" There is a big picture here.

Of course they are taking it personally! It is about them. If OP wrote I hate gay pride shirts or I hate baby strollers or I hate Disney guests with southern accents, then that targeted group would be defensive. Like it or not, the tone was set with the first hateful (literally) post.

 

[SMD]

Actually my son has both mental health disorders (OCD, tics, ADHD, and developmental issue) AND urology issues due to surgeries and a birth defect. And no, I don't feel he "needs a public tree." He requires a companion bathroom accommodation or the use of an external catheter device and/or portable urinal that can be utilized at first aid.
What in god's earth does that have to do with ADA, ECVs or movie theaters? I think you are reaching a little here.

I wasn't talking about the ADA at all. Other people brought that up. I was defending the right of the person who complained about the slow tour to complain about the slow tour. I am allowed to complain about noise in a movie theater or being hit by an ECV being driven by a child in a lap and it has nothing to do with the ADA.

 

[mjkacmom]

I am perfectly healthy, and actually in great shape. However, sometimes I get tired, even cranky. I guess I could stop and take a break, rest on a bench or ride, maybe grab a beverage at a CS restaurant. However I've spent a lot of money on this trip, and it's might right to take up a large footprint, and risk injuring others, because it's my vacation!



(Said no scooter rider ever - just the usual justification of parents of kids 6 - 8 in strollers...)

 

[joannamet]

Of course they are taking it personally! It is about them. If OP wrote I hate gay pride shirts or I hate baby strollers or I hate Disney guests with southern accents, then that targeted group would be defensive. Like it or not, the tone was set with the first hateful (literally) post.

Respectfully disagree. I went back and reread that first post and I don't think its hateful at all. She specifically mentions the, perhaps, 1 in 20 people using scooters who probably don't need them and her sense of humor is evident in the final comment of her post. I still think intelligent adults should be able to discuss an issue with a degree of objectivity.