I just have to vent...

[Kennywife]

I just came back from my first solo trip to WDW for 6 days. I really enjoyed it. I stayed at POP, ate good food, saw the parks, and all the bus drivers were wonderful to me. I walk with a cane due to a crushed tibia femur bone.

My one vent is that a certain type of guest was incredibly rude to me and it didn't happen just once, but over and over; families with strollers. They would have this oblivious look on their faces and just almost run right into me at the parks, every bus stop, etc.I continuously had to dodge their kids since they obviously couldn't be bothered to parent them! These were, I took note, the same people who allowed their children to screech endlessly.

I saw a family who let their I would say three or four year or son run wild around Epcot and then were surprised when he got hit by someone in a wheelchair.

When I was getting ready ready to get on the bus at downtown disney the last night I was there, two little kids ran up behind me and almost knocked me over trying to get on the bus. If I had done that as a child, my mother would have pulled me aside, spanked me publicly and made me apologize.

Has anyone else experienced this? I've been to D-Land and never dealt with this before.

Anna

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I think everyone, handicapped or not, has experienced something like this at WDW. Certainly having an issue can make things worse. I think people forget themselves, and don't remember that they're still in public with other people who are also trying to enjoy themselves. They think "I paid for my vacation so I should be able to do whatever I want" or "They're just kids having fun, they're on vacation so we shouldn't have to discipline or control them."

It doesn't matter if you have a visible handicap or issue either. The blame also gets passed from both sides. There's a lot of "Those people in ECV's can't control them and ran over my kid" vs "People let their kids run amuck (amuck amuck amuck!! sorry had to throw in the Hocus Pocus reference!) and they get in my way when I'm trying to drive my ECV". Not as often there's the "Please don't touch my service dog as it's working" vs "But he's so cute I can't resist" or "My kid has a dog at home and doesn't know the difference"

I think it all just stems from the fact that common courtesy is anything but common anymore.

 

[Ashton7]

I don't think it's just Disney and I don't even think it's just "kids" doing it nowadays. I walk with a cane and experience it on a regular basis. Maybe it's just Orlando that's the problem (since I live here)!

But even in friendly Vancouver and other places I've encountered the same oblivious attitude with people ignoring the fact that I am using a cane and walking into me, practically knocking me down, etc. I actually had a lady cut in front of me in line and when I pointed out she had done so, she told me I needed to *move faster then*. No joke. I had another time when I was on a cruise and an older gentleman (and I use the term loosely) almost knocked me over trying to get to a buffet (I doubt they were going to run out of food, y'know!) and when I protested, he told me I should move my "fat butt". Ironically, I think that overall, the kids who have run into me or had near collisions with me are much more likely to apologize than many of the adults.

 

[peemagg]

It's become a "ME ME ME" world. If it doesn't apply to Me and My wants or desires, then the rest of the world doesn't matter. We all need to take a look at how we act and our family and start there. If each person starts going back to the values of our grandparents, then the world will soon turn into a better place, one person at a time.

 

[bgohre]

First off, on behalf of all stroller pushers out there, let me just say, sorry about that. You're always bound to run into a few bad apples, but, truth be told, I think most parent do make their children behave while they are there. With the amount of children in the parks on any given day, you're bound to run into a few that don't behave. It's always the one's that don't behave that we remember.

Also you never know, maybe the parents had a little "talking to" with the kids once they got to a less public spot. Many parents don't want to discipline their children in public.

Imagine a child running around by the bus stop, burning some energy, accidently runs into somebody walking with a cane, or a wheelchair, or and elderly person. Immediately you think "rotten kid, where are your parents".

The parent pulls the child aside puts them on a park bench and gives them a good "talking to". Now, a total stranger walks by sees the kids upset, maybe crying because now he can't go swimming when they get back to the hotel, not knowing what just happened and why the kid is in trouble and thinks, "man, what a jerk, why is that guy being just a jerk to his kid at Disneyworld, poor kid".

I'm sorry you had those unfortunate incidents, hopefully those parents talked to those kids about it.

 

[Simba's Girl]

First off, on behalf of all stroller pushers out there, let me just say, sorry about that. You're always bound to run into a few bad apples, but, truth be told, I think most parent do make their children behave while they are there. With the amount of children in the parks on any given day, you're bound to run into a few that don't behave. It's always the one's that don't behave that we remember.

Also you never know, maybe the parents had a little "talking to" with the kids once they got to a less public spot. Many parents don't want to discipline their children in public.

Imagine a child running around by the bus stop, burning some energy, accidently runs into somebody walking with a cane, or a wheelchair, or and elderly person. Immediately you think "rotten kid, where are your parents".

The parent pulls the child aside puts them on a park bench and gives them a good "talking to". Now, a total stranger walks by sees the kids upset, maybe crying because now he can't go swimming when they get back to the hotel, not knowing what just happened and why the kid is in trouble and thinks, "man, what a jerk, why is that guy being just a jerk to his kid at Disneyworld, poor kid".

I'm sorry you had those unfortunate incidents, hopefully those parents talked to those kids about it.

As a mom who experienced someone butting into a "disciplining" of a child this past summer involving having the cops called because she was holding her child by the arm (gasp!), threatening to punish said child to room for summer (again gasp!) whist said child tried to get away with her very bad behavior. I will never again discipline my child in public, despite the fact that the cops thought that the person who called was out of line (they have to follow up on these reports) and "sided" with me.

I agree with this response 100%. Just because you don't witness a "correction" of behavior does not mean it did not happen.

Lets also face the fact that at Disney parents have *a lot* to watch for-especially if there are multiple children in their party. They may not know that their child cut you off. And frankly-you're vacationing at Disney- it is an amusement park and while Disney does cater to the adults traveling with the kiddos, its still a kid's place. Things like this happen when there are kids around...sorry for that!

 

[peemagg]

I can guarantee one thing that if my child or a child that I was responsible for did that to anyone and I witnessed it, the child would have to apologize at that moment and I would say in front of the other person "We will discuss this further when we get to the room". This way it would accomplish 2 things 1. the child didn't get away with it and 2. the person offended knew that I was going to disclipline the child, not that the child got away with it. By saying in this way it doesn't tell the person how you will handle it, but that it will be taken care of, by means that I see fit.

This is what my parents did with us and that is how I handle it now. Seems to satisfy both the offenders actions and the offended.

 

[thop529]

I was riding along in my power chair at EPCOT one day and seen a lady paying no attention to where she was going so I stopped so I wouldn't run over her. she took a quick turn fell over my chair and landed in my lap. She was very embarrassed, but I was laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair.

 

[Kennywife]

As a mom who experienced someone butting into a "disciplining" of a child this past summer involving having the cops called because she was holding her child by the arm (gasp!), threatening to punish said child to room for summer (again gasp!) whist said child tried to get away with her very bad behavior. I will never again discipline my child in public, despite the fact that the cops thought that the person who called was out of line (they have to follow up on these reports) and "sided" with me.

I agree with this response 100%. Just because you don't witness a "correction" of behavior does not mean it did not happen.

Lets also face the fact that at Disney parents have *a lot* to watch for-especially if there are multiple children in their party. They may not know that their child cut you off. And frankly-you're vacationing at Disney- it is an amusement park and while Disney does cater to the adults traveling with the kiddos, its still a kid's place. Things like this happen when there are kids around...sorry for that!

Maam, with all due respect, at three years old, I knew better than to run out in front of someone with a cane or a wheelchair, lest I would be in HUGE trouble. I understand it's Disney and kids are there, but that doesn't mean that adults should not be allowed to enjoy it too. It also doesn't mean that I should fear I may have to be rushed back to the hospital because of another injury to my leg.

 

[Zeebs]

I am sorry you had such a hard time being bumped about in Disney.

Just because parents don't do things as you would or your mother would however, does not mean they bad parents or they don't disapline their children.

For example, my children 2 and 3 are constantly being reminded that they are not the only people in the world and they need to be aware of their surrounding, but that said they are 2 and 3 and they get excited they lose focus and they sometimes bump into people.

I also don't have them attached to me every minute we go out some people may think that they should be but then again some people also still think that children should be seen and not heard. They are little people and they have a right to wander around, run about also. If I see they are about to bump into someone I will call out to them and remind them to be aware, they will learn this way to respect other people and their space. But just because they are not attached to my hip does not mean I cannot be bothered to parent them.

Everyone has the right to enjoy Disney, adults and children included but some adults need to rememember that they have 20 years or so experience on children most children will eventually learn correct behaviours but they also don't have the greatest control over their emotions again something that will be learned.

I understand your concern about ending up back in hospital given you are more vunerable than most of the visitors at Disney I just wanted to explain that on the whole I think most parents are doing what they can to teach their children to respect others even if you don't agree with the methods.

Kirsten

 

[Kennywife]

I apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intention.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Hey there! Have you considered using two canes, or crutches in the parks, to give yourself a little more 'protection'? Now, of course I am not advocating hitting or harming anyone with them (I'm nice really!), it just provides a bit of an extra barrier between you and the rest of the world. An ECV would give you even better protection, though it would be a bit of a change from what you're used to. Another thing that I find helps is to have friends and family members act as 'bodyguards' so that people run into them, rather than you.

Stay safe, and try not to remember the morons too much

 

[Simba's Girl]

Maam, with all due respect, at three years old, I knew better than to run out in front of someone with a cane or a wheelchair, lest I would be in HUGE trouble. I understand it's Disney and kids are there, but that doesn't mean that adults should not be allowed to enjoy it too. It also doesn't mean that I should fear I may have to be rushed back to the hospital because of another injury to my leg.

No offense "dude" however, if you are in that fragile of a condition you should be protecting your leg in a different manner. That way you'll be able to enjoy your vacations without worry and fear of ending up rushed back to the hospital.

My child is learning how the world works to begin with. Couple that with the tunnel vision created by being little in a place like Disney and well, I'm sorry but perfect manners are going to not be so perfect. Still no excuse for saying I'm sorry, but give kids and their parents a break!

The thing is too, you need to be willing to wait for that apology. If you scare the child (and their caregiver) before they have the chance to say they're sorry well-you lost your chance.

 

[bgohre]

Hey there! Have you considered using two canes, or crutches in the parks, to give yourself a little more 'protection'?

I love this idea, one cane to steady yourself and the other to whack the little bugger away from you.

Hey, I'm just kidding.

 

[jamstew]

I'm leaving for Disney Sunday after spraining an ankle Wednesday, and this really scares me! I was planning to do the best I could and only rent a scooter if and when it became necessary, but now I'm wondering if I wouldn't be safer with a scooter from the get-go. I was only thinking about whether or not I could walk and hadn't considered what would happen if someone ran into me.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I love this idea, one cane to steady yourself and the other to whack the little bugger away from you.

Hey, I'm just kidding.

Not quite what I had in mind!

I'm leaving for Disney Sunday after spraining an ankle Wednesday, and this really scares me! I was planning to do the best I could and only rent a scooter if and when it became necessary, but now I'm wondering if I wouldn't be safer with a scooter from the get-go. I was only thinking about whether or not I could walk and hadn't considered what would happen if someone ran into me.

Hi Jamie! I think an ECV would do you a lot of good, and not just to stop people running into you. most people in Disney walk between 8-12 miles a day, which is a lot even for people with no injuries to worry about. Do you honestly think you'll be able to walk this far every day of your trip, and still not be in too much pain to enjoy yourself? I think that using a mobility device would really make your trip easier, more fun and safer for you and your family.

Trust me, I've tried 'toughing it out' and it's really not worth it - I just ended up sitting on the floor in the Norway pavilion, fighting back tears because I was in so much pain. Thankfully, the CMs at Disney are truly wonderful people, and arranged for a wheelchair to be brought to me. With the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, it really wasn't worth all that pain just to prove how tough and macho I am (yes, I'm a woman, but I can be macho if I want ).

I would also suggest you rent an ECV from an off-site vendor (see the FAQ thread for details). That way, you have the ECV for the whole trip; you can use it around your resort, as well as the parks; you won't need to worry about the parks running out (a very common problem, especially if you're park hopping or arriving later in the day); it usually works out cheaper than daily rentals; and the ECVs from off-site companies are usually easier to drive.

You can take an ECV on almost all of the Disney transportation (there are a few small boats that go between MK and resorts which aren't accessible) with very little fuss at all. The parks themselves are easy to navigate on wheels (I'm now a long-term wheelchair user, an I've never been anywhere else as accessible as Disney), and almost all of the lines now have mainstream queuing, so you would go the same way as everyone else. Your party will stay with you in line, however the queue is arranged, unless your group is larger than 6 (including you), in which case you might have to divide into two groups.

If you get an ECV, that doesn't mean you have to use it all the time. You can park your ECV in the stroller parking, take the key, and explore the area on foot. Just make sure you cover the seat and handlebars in case it rains! A lot of people at Disney use the ECV to get between lands or areas, then walk what they can when they get there. Just be aware that some of the ride lines (e.g. Soarin' and the Safari) have a long way to walk, however many people are waiting (I think for those two it's about 1/4 miles ). Some of the stores can be a little tight for people new to travelling on wheels, so if you feel up to it, you could maybe plan to do your walking then.

However you choose to play it, please don't be afraid to use whatever help you need to enjoy your trip as much as possible. You don't want to miss half the fun because you're in too much pain, and your family don't want to see you hurting .

Have a great trip!

 

[Kennywife]

If I had it to do over again, I would have rented an ECV, so I would go with one. Try Walker Mobility. I saw a lot of people with those and they're really reputable.

 

[aubriee]

I'm leaving for Disney Sunday after spraining an ankle Wednesday, and this really scares me! I was planning to do the best I could and only rent a scooter if and when it became necessary, but now I'm wondering if I wouldn't be safer with a scooter from the get-go. I was only thinking about whether or not I could walk and hadn't considered what would happen if someone ran into me.

Hi Jamie! You've met my mom, so know she uses an ECV down there regularly because of her knees and weak ankles. Her legs have a tendency to give away with her and she falls. Anyway, a few years ago she was getting out of the car just a few days before we left to go to WDW and fell, scraping both knees up pretty bad. While we were at WDW I bandaged her knees every morning to keep the abrasions covered. As we were waiting at the boat dock one night at the BC, she was wearing shorts, so her bandaged knees were showing. There was a little girl about 8 or 9 y/o who was wearing heelies, skating back and forth across the dock. She just kept getting closer and closer to my mom, who reached her hand down to her left knee to provide some protection, in case the girl ran into her. I finally moved over to stand between her and the girl. The very next time the girl came gliding by us, she veered and ran straight into the back of my mom's ECV, grabbing the back of it to keep her balance. She then proceeded to skate off again, laughing. The parents just laughed. I glared at them and finally asked them to please keep her away from my mom, because we were afraid she would reinjure my mom's knees. The parents got really huffy and said that she was just a kid and was bored. If my mom had not been in the ECV she would have been knocked into the cables there at the dock (if not flipped over into the water). The parents saw absolutely nothing wrong with their little darling using the back of an elderly lady's ECV to stop herself or with her skating so close to someone with obviously damaged knees. That ECV saved my mom from an injury.

FYI: We always use Walker Mobility for my mom's ECV.

OT: See ya at Bomas' Dec 13! Can't wait!

 

[jamstew]

Hi Jamie! I think an ECV would do you a lot of good, and not just to stop people running into you. most people in Disney walk between 8-12 miles a day, which is a lot even for people with no injuries to worry about. Do you honestly think you'll be able to walk this far every day of your trip, and still not be in too much pain to enjoy yourself? I think that using a mobility device would really make your trip easier, more fun and safer for you and your family.

Trust me, I've tried 'toughing it out' and it's really not worth it - I just ended up sitting on the floor in the Norway pavilion, fighting back tears because I was in so much pain. Thankfully, the CMs at Disney are truly wonderful people, and arranged for a wheelchair to be brought to me. With the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, it really wasn't worth all that pain just to prove how tough and macho I am (yes, I'm a woman, but I can be macho if I want ).

I would also suggest you rent an ECV from an off-site vendor (see the FAQ thread for details). That way, you have the ECV for the whole trip; you can use it around your resort, as well as the parks; you won't need to worry about the parks running out (a very common problem, especially if you're park hopping or arriving later in the day); it usually works out cheaper than daily rentals; and the ECVs from off-site companies are usually easier to drive.

You can take an ECV on almost all of the Disney transportation (there are a few small boats that go between MK and resorts which aren't accessible) with very little fuss at all. The parks themselves are easy to navigate on wheels (I'm now a long-term wheelchair user, an I've never been anywhere else as accessible as Disney), and almost all of the lines now have mainstream queuing, so you would go the same way as everyone else. Your party will stay with you in line, however the queue is arranged, unless your group is larger than 6 (including you), in which case you might have to divide into two groups.

If you get an ECV, that doesn't mean you have to use it all the time. You can park your ECV in the stroller parking, take the key, and explore the area on foot. Just make sure you cover the seat and handlebars in case it rains! A lot of people at Disney use the ECV to get between lands or areas, then walk what they can when they get there. Just be aware that some of the ride lines (e.g. Soarin' and the Safari) have a long way to walk, however many people are waiting (I think for those two it's about 1/4 miles ). Some of the stores can be a little tight for people new to travelling on wheels, so if you feel up to it, you could maybe plan to do your walking then.

However you choose to play it, please don't be afraid to use whatever help you need to enjoy your trip as much as possible. You don't want to miss half the fun because you're in too much pain, and your family don't want to see you hurting .

Have a great trip!

I know I'm not going to be able to walk as much as I'm used to, but it's my third trip this year and I'll be there for ten days, so it's isn't a "hurry up and do everything" kind of trip. I had hoped to rehab the ankle by using it as much as possible, but I'm beginning to thing it's probably not wise. I've never even ridden an ECV, and, quite frankly, the idea of trying to load one on a bus scares the crap out of me, but I think I'll go ahead and get one for at least the first half of the trip. Is there somewhere to recharge them if you leave them in the hallway?

I'm traveling solo, so there's no concern with splitting the party up

 

[jamstew]

Hi Jamie! You've met my mom, so know she uses an ECV down there regularly because of her knees and weak ankles. Her legs have a tendency to give away with her and she falls. Anyway, a few years ago she was getting out of the car just a few days before we left to go to WDW and fell, scraping both knees up pretty bad. While we were at WDW I bandaged her knees every morning to keep the abrasions covered. As we were waiting at the boat dock one night at the BC, she was wearing shorts, so her bandaged knees were showing. There was a little girl about 8 or 9 y/o who was wearing heelies, skating back and forth across the dock. She just kept getting closer and closer to my mom, who reached her hand down to her left knee to provide some protection, in case the girl ran into her. I finally moved over to stand between her and the girl. The very next time the girl came gliding by us, she veered and ran straight into the back of my mom's ECV, grabbing the back of it to keep her balance.
She then proceeded to skate off again, laughing. The parents just laughed. I glared at them and finally asked them to please keep her away from my mom, because we were afraid she would reinjure my mom's knees. The parents got really huffy and said that she was just a kid and was bored. If my mom had not been in the ECV she would have been knocked into the cables there at the dock (if not flipped over into the water). The parents saw absolutely nothing wrong with their little darling using the back of an elderly lady's ECV to stop herself or with her skating so close to someone with obviously damaged knees. That ECV saved my mom from an injury.

FYI: We always use Walker Mobility for my mom's ECV.

OT: See ya at Bomas' Dec 13! Can't wait!

Hi Vanessa! I was so excited about this trip, and now I'm totally freaked out and seriously considered canceling I think I'll go with the ECV for the first five days. Then I'll play it by ear and extend if necessary. I'm not in pain unless I try to turn too quickly. We've been aggressive in managing the injury, and I'll be wearing a wrap the whole time. I'll have fun even if I end up hanging out at the resort and eating a lot of great food