Feralpeg said:
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.
That's a really good observation, Peg. Chances are, the OP ran into the same ratio of rude Guests-on-foot to actual Guests in the park, as she did rude* Guests-on-
ECVs to actual Guests on ECVs. Human nature is just to tend to notice the people on the ECVs more because of the added space we** occupy.
Okay, for starters, I'm genuinely impressed that the OP even paid attention to the
ECV horn, although I suppose the yelling that accompanied it probably helped. You seem too polite, but you wouldn't have been out of line to turn around and say, "No, you're rude." The CM properly handled the Guest in the Character line - and it's great when they can!
Now, I'm not excusing the person in the Soarin' incident at ALL, but I am asking you to consider the difficulty any Guest in a wheelchair or ECV has with this attraction. While most Guests can use either the stairs or the escalator to get from the second floor to the first floor of The Land, 'wheeling' Guests can only get up and down in a small, slow elevator. If everything works right - if each such Guest can maneuver themselves, and travel the elevator alone, you can sometimes fit three or four in one trip. Most of the time, things don't work that way. One person in a wheelchair HAS to be accompanied by their entire party, leaving a long line of wheelchair/ecv guests waiting for the next trip. If you're getting a FastPass, you need to do this four times - second floor to first, back upstairs into the park to do something else until your FP time comes, back into the Land and down the elevator again, back up the elevator when you're done. Maybe she was just trying to catch up with the rest of group, who'd come down the stairs twenty minutes earlier, while she waited her turn for the elevator.
*IMO only, it sounds more like ignorant behavior than rude behavior, but I wasn't there.
** "We" does not include Peg; I'm referring to Guests who use ECVs, including me
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
Nobody who rents an ECV (or wheelchair) from Disney can then 'jump the line for the bus'. Period. Whichever equipment they rented HAS to be left in the park, it cannot be taken to the bus stops.
NOBODY here, or in/at Walt Disney World, has the capability (or, frankly, the right) to determine who is "actually" disabled.
People who use ECVs (and many who use wheelchairs) actually CAN stand, and walk, at least a short while/distance. I'm not exactly sure what "that line" that you're claiming should be restricted to wheelchair-bound(?) people is, but if you mean the waiting area for the bus? Sigh...
- - - Wheelchairs and ECVs are loaded via a ramp or lift at the back entrance of the bus, therefore this is where said Guests are designated to wait.
- - - The bus driver needs to know these Guests are boarding so the bus can stop in the right place.
- - - The wheelchair/ECV needs to be loaded first, and generally backed up the ramp or onto the lift. Some people can't back up the ECV well, or can't parallel park it, so another member of their party might do it. If you feel it's reasonable to begrudge them this option, and instead expect the Guest to spend ten minutes boarding and getiting into position, fine.
- - - There's not enough room to u-turn the ECVs in the regular bus queues
- - - If these Guests DO wait in line for their turn, by the time they get to the front of the line there may be plenty of space still on the bus but not enough to board the ECV safely - delaying this person further.
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)
Nope. If you're going to segregate me onto a "special" bus, I shouldn't have to deal with huge, pushy family groups.
kimluvswdw said:
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".
You just gave me an idea... I travel alone. If I encounter this (i.e. I'm waiting in the correct place as designated by Walt Disney World, and one of these mega-groups shows up behind me, I'm going to grab the family/group standing right next to me behind the chain and make them "the rest of my party"
.
Mickeythepooh said:
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.
Don't be silly. Of course it's the fault of the scooter (or wheelchair) operator.
I wonder who "hurts more"
I wasn't aware this thread is about pain or hurt - I thought it was about rudeness and blame. And, Mickeythepooh is right. An ECV can be parked, relatively out of the way, with the key out - and a Guest with his head in the clouds who trips over it will STILL blame the ECV operator.
. Anyone want to join me?
