I just need to vent...

[WannaBeInWDW]

Please don't attack me for thie thread, but maybe help me understand better.

I was in WDW from 8/28-9/4 and had a great time! I even won a Dream FastPass for ANimal Kingdom!! It was so exciting.

One of the downfalls of the trip were the people in the electric scooters. Why are they so rude? I was walking in Epcot and I guess I wasn't walking fast enough for one lady (she had to be in her mid-30s) cause she started honking her horn and started shouting MOVE I AM DISABLED. I was in SHOCK. There was another lady with her two twin daughters who thought she didn't have to wait on the character line because she was in a scooter. She had a temper tantrum when the cast memeber told her she had to wait in line claiming it was too hot. I suppose it wasn't hot for everyone else standing there with their little children.

Then I had the 18/19 year old who what wearing white stiletto heels who almost ran me over in her scooter rushing to Soarin'. I get that some people need a wheelchair or electric scooters and sometimes their ailments are invisible to the naked eye, but there are a large percentage of people who ABUSE this service. Namely, the people I mentioned in this post.

After illuminations we were lining up for the bus back to Caribbean Beach. There was an elderly lady who waited in line in her wheelcahir, she actually went through the ENTIRE queue. As she was helped onto the bus, a family of 15 or so cuts the entire line because their parents or aunt/uncles were all in electric scooters. The kicker was the wife didn't want to drive her scooter on so she gets off her scooter and let's her husband drive it on. How is it that an 80 year old woman can wait on line, but other people can't and it's not like the bus lines are hard to navigate, parents can get their strollers and double strollers through with NO PROBLEM. As a matter of fact, if people who rent the scooters get priority seating what about the parents with three sleeping children, shouldn't they get some priority seating as well?

Once again, let me state, I understand people have disabilities. But there are people out there that take SEVERE advantage of the wheelchair and scooter rentals. They know who they are!!

 

[icarus]

Wow, that is pretty rude. I'm not going to get into this too much as I never know who is reading, what agenda's they have, etc. etc., but my thoughts regarding your situation are that many of these folks are just plain lazy, and see the possible advantage to being able to speed past folks who are walking only to easiy jump off the vehicle to get in a ride/ attraction que with really no obvious handicap.

It's too bad that there are folks like this, but unfortunately those are the one who help give the u.s. a bad name with regard to terms like "lazy Americans".

On a side note the blue parking handicap stickers are something that I've witnessed being abused first hand. The term "handicap" is quite vaque, and there are folks who may not have any apparant physical handicap that use these things to their advantage. Again, I'm not going to get into debates about it, but I've seen it first hand and know it happens.

You just have to think that in the end, they may get what's coming to them.
- take that for what it's worth.

 

[familyS]

Sorry to hear you had so many frustrating encounters. I am glad to hear that other than that you still had a great time at DW .
I think the heat can bring out the worst in some people (both disabled and not disabled).

 

[Feralpeg]

It really doesn't have anything to do with the scooters. It has to do with rude people. You just happened to run into rude people with scooters. There are just as many nice people on scooters and rude people walking. It is sad, but that is the way it is. Just let it go and concentrate on the positives of your trip.

 

[WannaBeInWDW]

This is true. There are many rude people. I forgot to tell you about the woman who nearly lost it when the bus driver wouldn't let her load onto the bus from the back door. She started SCREAMING at him saying her husband had a disability and he needed a special seat. I still want to know where these special seats were on the bus!! Funny thing is though, she and her husband walked right in front of us from the entrance to Epcot to the bus stop. He looked okay to me.


How can you be RUDE in Disney! I mean you are in Disney!! Be HAPPY!!!

 

[DramaQueen]

I've had some of the very same expiriences.
I HATE it when I see someone in an ECV (ECV?) that they have rented from Disney jump the line for the bus, while someone who is ACTUALLY disabled, stands in line and waits.
And what I hate more than anything, is when they stand in that line, and then stand up out of their scooter and walk onto the bus. I think that line should be for wheelchair-bound people, who don't have the priviledge to get out of their wheelchair whenever they feel like it.

Also, one time and lady, probably in her mid-30's-40's in a scooter, who had her child sitting on her lap, nearly ran over my 10 year old cousin from behind. Now my cousin couldn't see the lady because she was BEHIND her, and I guess she was walking slower than the lady would've liked and she came speeding past her and just missed running over her foot.
My aunt proceeds to yell at the woman for not watching where she was going, and the woman tells her that she needs to control her daughter and gives us the most horrible looks ever.
Later that day we saw them in line for the bus, and she was in the wheelchair line, and then got up and walked into the bus.


I can't even tell you how much that irritates me.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I was in the gift shop @ Expedition Everest and witnessed a woman on a scooter go backward instead forward and literally run over the person standing behind her. She didn't say a word, just went her merry way. I try to keep an open mind, but I'm another that feels too many people abuse the system. I know there are a lot of people that need ECVs because of mobility issues, but why not just use the regular wheelchairs? If someone is traveling alone, it might be too tiring. But most of the people we saw were with large parties and it seemed they would have the assistance they needed.

I honestly feel this is becoming a big enough issue that Disney needs to purchase some buses that are strictly for transporting people in ECVs/Wheelchairs (but also include some regular seating for family members) and have separate bus stops at the parks with scheduled route times.

 

[jdd]

It really doesn't have anything to do with the scooters. It has to do with rude people. You just happened to run into rude people with scooters. There are just as many nice people on scooters and rude people walking. It is sad, but that is the way it is. Just let it go and concentrate on the positives of your trip.

Exactly. My husband had his foot run over by a "gentleman" in a scooter 2 years ago. It was just as MK opened, everyone was heading for the entrance, and this guy comes pushing through the crowd, and runs over DH's foot. Didn't bother to apologize, just kept going and hitting others along the way. RUDE!

I have to say, though, for the most part people in Disney are very courteous. For as many people as we've encountered over 4 trips, this was one of the rare occasions. Most of the time, people wait patiently in lines and are just happy!!

 

[jahow7]

Can only agree with the sentiments expressed here.
Some believe that people who are in an ecv can do no wrong, and that their rights supercede all others.
Unfortunately it is only a matter of time before someone in an ecv does run into somebody and cause a major injury. In fact I am surprized that we haven't heard of any lawsuits yet, but I am sure that in the future we will.
If Disney can have a rule banning kids wearing heelies in the parks because I assume that they are afraid of them running into people, then they need to establish some rules regarding a motorized vehicle tooting around in what many instances are confined spaces crowded with people.

 

[Mr. Stitch]

I honestly feel this is becoming a big enough issue that Disney needs to purchase some buses that are strictly for transporting people in ECVs/Wheelchairs (but also include some regular seating for family members) and have separate bus stops at the parks with scheduled route times.[/QUOTE]

Disney would be wise to invest in more buses overall, then they can specialize for these situations.

I agree with the overal sentiments in this thread and it is too bad, but again, you are in DISNEY, Be happy how can anything be wrong.

 

[Hannathy]

Can only agree with the sentiments expressed here.
Some believe that people who are in an ecv can do no wrong, and that their rights supercede all others.
Unfortunately it is only a matter of time before someone in an ecv does run into somebody and cause a major injury. In fact I am surprized that we haven't heard of any lawsuits yet, but I am sure that in the future we will.
If Disney can have a rule banning kids wearing heelies in the parks because I assume that they are afraid of them running into people, then they need to establish some rules regarding a motorized vehicle tooting around in what many instances are confined spaces crowded with people.

BUT Disney isn't making money renting heelies...........

I also agree with the sentiments here. I had a very rude woman behind be in a non-moving line on the ramp to the monorail and she kept inching and reversing her ECV and blowing the horn. I finally turned around and asked her just where she wanted me to go when she blew her horn, believe me I would have loved to move just to get her off my heels but short of jumping the rail I couldn't.

 

[kimluvswdw]

Please don't attack me for thie thread, but maybe help me understand better.

I was in WDW from 8/28-9/4 and had a great time! I even won a Dream FastPass for ANimal Kingdom!! It was so exciting.

One of the downfalls of the trip were the people in the electric scooters. Why are they so rude? I was walking in Epcot and I guess I wasn't walking fast enough for one lady (she had to be in her mid-30s) cause she started honking her horn and started shouting MOVE I AM DISABLED. I was in SHOCK. There was another lady with her two twin daughters who thought she didn't have to wait on the character line because she was in a scooter. She had a temper tantrum when the cast memeber told her she had to wait in line claiming it was too hot. I suppose it wasn't hot for everyone else standing there with their little children.

Then I had the 18/19 year old who what wearing white stiletto heels who almost ran me over in her scooter rushing to Soarin'. I get that some people need a wheelchair or electric scooters and sometimes their ailments are invisible to the naked eye, but there are a large percentage of people who ABUSE this service. Namely, the people I mentioned in this post.

After illuminations we were lining up for the bus back to Caribbean Beach. There was an elderly lady who waited in line in her wheelcahir, she actually went through the ENTIRE queue. As she was helped onto the bus, a family of 15 or so cuts the entire line because their parents or aunt/uncles were all in electric scooters. The kicker was the wife didn't want to drive her scooter on so she gets off her scooter and let's her husband drive it on. How is it that an 80 year old woman can wait on line, but other people can't and it's not like the bus lines are hard to navigate, parents can get their strollers and double strollers through with NO PROBLEM. As a matter of fact, if people who rent the scooters get priority seating what about the parents with three sleeping children, shouldn't they get some priority seating as well?

Once again, let me state, I understand people have disabilities. But there are people out there that take SEVERE advantage of the wheelchair and scooter rentals. They know who they are!!

I agree with you on all points.

I don't care if you are in a scooter, stroller, or walking, I think you should have to wait in the same line as everyone else. If Disney did this then the need for people renting the scooters to avoid the lines would probably stop.

The bus issue really irks me. I can understand that some people need the scooter and have to get on the bus first to get secured in. I think only ONE person is to be allowed on the bus with the person in the scooter. (This goes with the lines for attractions too). I can't stand standing in a line of 100 people at the end of the night and seeing 15 people walk right up to the front and get on with the person in the scooter. I want to say "Hey go to the back of the line, why are you anymore important than my family. We are tired also and want to get on the bus".

As far as people on scooters running into people, they are just jerks. They are no better than the people running others over with a stroller. Everyone is trying to get somewhere and some people think they need to get to where they want to go faster.

Ok, I am done now.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

You know some of these comments make me sick. people in scooters or wheelchairs are required by Disney to wait in the wheelchair area for busses, many people on them can walk a few steps. Drivers are required to load those people first, but if the two spaces are taking those same people wait for another and sometimes yet another bus.
the people you saw on Disney rented ECVs that then hopped on the bus, did you watch them all the way from where they turned in the ECV to the bus? because you cannot leave the park with one.
As for the person not moving fast enough who got beeped and yelled at.
I use my horn as an absolute last resort, but often people are just going really slow looking at something or talking on the phone etc., or suddenly stop in front of someone or stand in a group in the middle of a walk or aisle paying no attention to the WC or scooter or even standing person trying to get by them.
Those who stop or suddenly turn around or step back into a scooter or wheelchair and get bumped or run over? guess who's fault that is, not the scooter driver. first they do not have a brake you step on, they roll to a stop as soon as you take your hands off the controls, but it does take several inches for the stop to take place. So no matter how careful and alert you are if someone does something like I mention and they do constantly they will get hit.
I have on several, meaning more than three occasions had someone turn around not even noticing because they were looking Up or at a paper and end up sprawled across my LAP!!!
I have also been burned on the face by someone swinging a cigerette in his hand as he walked along in a crowed area of the park.

Not one person on here has the right to determine who is or is not handicapped enough to need their scooter, including those that stand to get on a ride or on a bus etc. and as for abuse of the system there is little reason for that now since it does NOT NOT NOT get you head of line etc. it actually takes longer on many rides than if you just were a normal person waiting.
Unfortunately there are people not familiar with driving them because in day to day life they can function but somewhere like Disney is not day to day life, walking ten miles a day is not what most people do day to day.
and Yes there are rude disabled people just like there are rude able bodied people.
I don't believe that the rights of WC and ECV bound people exceed that of all others, I believe the EQUAL THEM and so does the LAW.
So when you are making these rules, you can include walking people who cannot stop short in the way, or suddenly turn around or cut across in front of any other people, no running, no stepping on feet, etc. etc.

 

[DemonLlama]

We encountered a lot of the same attitudes with people using the ECVs.

Now, there were lots of other folks in the parks using them who were perfectly cordial, put up with people stepping front of them constantly, and making it generally difficult to get through any crowds at all. They were doing the best they could and trying to have a good day like the rest of us.

But we don't remember them nearly so well as the couple who cut the line to the bus right as it pulled up (after lots of us had waited since the last full one left). The husband got lifted up and in and secured. Then the wife drove her ECV on to the platform and couldn't get it set right so it wouldn't drive off into the place where the driver was waiting to secure it.

I'm not sure what the malfunction was, but she refused to let the driver do anything. She just kept hitting buttons for at least 10 minutes. During that time, she's gotten off the thing and is literally shoving on it (hard to see this disability, obviously) but not accepting any help from the driver.

She's very angry, while, again, 40 other people are standing waiting to load just watching her. But we aren't allowed to get on the bus and sit down until this thing is secure and, because it's her own and she doesn't trust the driver, we can do nothing but sit there and watch. It was maddening. Finally the driver has had enough, reaches past her and pulls it off the platform into the seat area. She's screaming now.

Meanwhile, a perfectly able bodied woman who has NOT been standing there since the last bus decides the rest of us are just idiots who don't know how to get on a bus and pushes her way past us to the front doors.

The driver must now stop this woman, who refuses to get back off the bus and, when he holds his hands up so she can't push by him, begins to shout "Get your hands off me! That's assault!"

Now our group of 40 tired, irritated, standing-patiently comrades are not sure whether to be more mad or more entertained by the insanity that has visited this particular bus stop at MGM.

It has taken so long ANOTHER bus has completed its route and is waiting to pull in behind the bus from hell.

ANOTHER ECV has come up during the melee with the "assaulted woman" and, when it becomes clear that we are going to load onto the new bus from farther out from the loading area, she is going to have to wait because they can't load it from where the second bus now sits. So SHE starts yelling about unfair treatment!

The 40 of us who have now practically become family tear ourselves away from the drama with a fond and full of pity look for the beleaguered driver of Bus #1 who is stuck there until someone from central transportation can sort all of it out.

So the rudeness abounds, able-bodied or not, but the entitlement we saw from just a few ECV users left a bad taste in our mouth.

The worst part is, all the other people who really need them and try to wait with the rest of us get tarred with the same brush.

 

[jahow7]

"Those who stop or suddenly turn around or step back into a scooter or wheelchair and get bumped or run over? guess who's fault that is, not the scooter driver. first they do not have a brake you step on, they roll to a stop as soon as you take your hands off the controls, but it does take several inches for the stop to take place. So no matter how careful and alert you are if someone does something like I mention and they do constantly they will get hit." (Quote)
I wonder who "hurts more" - the person getting run into by an ecv, or the 500 lb. motorized vehicle that is bumped by a human. I mean I guess if an ecv could talk it would probably say " oh, you really hurt my handlebar ", which to the person driving the ecv would be of more concern than the foot or ankle that they almost broke of the person they just ran into.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

As for the person not moving fast enough who got beeped and yelled at.
I use my horn as an absolute last resort, but often people are just going really slow looking at something or talking on the phone etc., or suddenly stop in front of someone or stand in a group in the middle of a walk or aisle paying no attention to the WC or scooter or even standing person trying to get by them.
Those who stop or suddenly turn around or step back into a scooter or wheelchair and get bumped or run over? guess who's fault that is, not the scooter driver.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. Pedestrians have the right of way, not people driving motorized vehicles.

When you drive a car, you need to leave ample space between you and the car in front of you in case they decide to suddenly stop. Same with an ECV.

If someone in front of you is walking really slow, then you need to either manuever around them, ask them politely to step to one side to allow you to pass, or slow down yourself.

 

[eliza61]

I understand your frustration. I simply chalk it up to any time you have a large gathering of people your going to get a few duds in the bunch. I seen behaviour that could peel paint off of the wall from perfectly mobile folks. You just seemed to get hit (pardon the pun) by the ecv's on this trip. I've had trips with the "moms from H$%^$ and double wide strollers" I love the ones who are pushing kids that look old enough to earn a pension and I've also chaperone senior trips where some of the kids made me understand perfectly why some animals eat their young. Don't sweat it, your next trip you can end up crying with a perfect stranger over the beauty of the fireworks.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

I seen behaviour that could peel paint off of the wall from perfectly mobile folks.

Oh, absolutely. I'd even go so far as to say that the worst-behaved guests are usually perfectly abled.

I can count the number of bad experiences I've had from guests on ECVs on one hand and have fingers left over. Conversely, one of the best guest experiences I've ever had was with a woman who was in an ECV - in fact, that encounter ended with some very public praise in one of our newsletters.

("They call 'em fingers... but have you ever seen 'em fing?")

 

[WannaBeInWDW]

I can't be 100% sure but I didn't see a seperate line for wheelchair passengers for the bus line back to Caribbean Beach from Epcot. It was bus stop #10 and there was ONE entrance for the bus stop. I could be wrong though.

Also all the scooters that were loaded onto the bus were not rented on Disney property. I know the gray ones are rented in the parks for the day and they have to be handed in. My frustration lies with the people who cut the line at the bus stop when 100 people have been waiting 15 minutes in 90 degree heat, some with screaming children or sleeping children. Why do they get to cut the line?

There was also the elderly women walking in Future World in Epcot on Saturday. Two of them had a walker!! MORE POWER TO THEM! I bet they waited in line!!!

 

[briar_rose_59]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. Pedestrians have the right of way, not people driving motorized vehicles.

When you drive a car, you need to leave ample space between you and the car in front of you in case they decide to suddenly stop. Same with an ECV.

bolding mine.

I kind of agree but after having pushed my mum around in a wheelchair for a week at WDW recently, I've got to say it's darn near impossible to do. People saw 2" of free space between the front of my mum's wheelchair and the person in front of her, they moved in. If we just kept leaving room each time someone decided that was free space we'd have been moving backwards.