Just back, some observations...

[npcougar]

I'll admit to being a grumbler in line because of this. I have absolutely no problem with anyone getting loaded first. Most of those people would gladly change spots with me if they could. My problem is the huge gang of people that follow them on. We stayed at the Movies resort last June during a period of record heat. It was terribly frustrating to wait line in extreme heat and sometimes downpours at the last value resort, which have no cover, in the bus line. Then the bus comes, mostly full because we were the last resort, and then from the building rolls a huge family group that gets on with the ECV rider and fills up the bus sometimes making us wait for another bus. So all those family members, 8 usually, got to stay in the cool dry shade while my family burned up in the sun or got drenched in the rain. When we did make the bus with an ECV rider, we all get off at the park, those same family members left the ECV rider in the dust and started getting fast passes etc. Would it be too much to ask just to have a 3 person maximum to get on with the ECV rider? In this age of cell phones or simply having a map, can't people arrange to meet up someplace at the park?

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

See, this is what I'm trying to say--if the number of these vehicles continues to increase, Disney may have to design a bus that fits more scooters. Or use something besides a bus.

What would you suggest they use? Maybe it's me not understanding, but not getting it. Any form of transportation will require relatively a large amount of space to be used up by a mobility aid. Using a different transportation form for those requiring a mobility aid is called segregation.

I don't know what it would take because I'm no engineer, but all these scooters seem to have a cumulative effect.

Apparently Disney does not think so?

Maybe ten years ago someone might say that they can't go to WDW because it's too physically taxing, but now a lot of people seem to be deciding to come to WDW because they know they can rent scooters.

And that's a bad thing, how? Folks are being able to enjoy life again, being part of society. Because WDW is so focused on an all-inclusive world, WDW is one of the most accessible places on earth. Not too difficult to conclude folks will go there, esp. on a first venture.

I wouldn't call it the power of suggestion, but it is along the lines of monkey-see, monkey-do.

You just proven yourself unfamiliar with the usage. If you were familiar with it at WDW, you wouldn't use the above. Monkey-see-monkey do in those cases would've dumped the mobility aid in no time. Touring WDW with a mobility aid is great as they make it so accessible. Having said that; it still will consume more time as it would touring WDW walking around.

an honest observation:

i think anyone in line would feel very uncomfortable confronting a guest in an ecv about having too many extra people with them and the bus drivers should be assertive about the policy so that everyone gets "fair" treatment.

Agree, including being on the look out for 'taggers'. Too many folks seem to think they are so important, they'll tag along with a wheelchair/ecv party just to get onto the bus. One of the reasons I'm VERY focal when a busdriver walks up to let the lift or ramp down. Have one of those 'good day' small talks and inform there are 2 or 3 of us in the party, period.

That being said and I apologize for the caps, IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE A SCOOTER TO WDW LEARN HOW TO FREAKIN DRIVE IT AND BE MINDFUL OF THE HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WALKING ALL AROUND YOU! YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON THERE AND YOUR SCOOTER DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE COMPLETE RIGHT OF WAY IN ANY SITUATION OTHER THAN MAYBE BOARDING AN ATTRACTION OR SOME FORM OF TRANSPORTATION!!!!!

Agreed, navigating a crowd takes a basic set of skills including being in controle of your mobility aid.

I'ld also like to have those folks walking take the same lesson. Would result in a lot less close-accidents and full blown accidents. All of those "I can easily scoot in front of you and be gone before you notice it" get old real soon. I know walkers are oblivious in that department and take precautions. I know my powerchair does not stop on a dime but will need some space before it does and calculate that into my way of navigating around. Sometimes it does get old though, when keeping enough distance between me and the person in front of me to avoid accidents and have other keep dashing in front of me.

And if we're at it; let's also give the CM's a good lesson how to navigate! Once got hit into full force by a CM on a segway. Haven't got a clue how he was able to hit me in an almost empty World Showcase, me standing still and all of that walkway to avoid me, but it was a total bullseye.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I'll admit to being a grumbler in line because of this. I have absolutely no problem with anyone getting loaded first. Most of those people would gladly change spots with me if they could. My problem is the huge gang of people that follow them on. We stayed at the Movies resort last June during a period of record heat. It was terribly frustrating to wait line in extreme heat and sometimes downpours at the last value resort, which have no cover, in the bus line. Then the bus comes, mostly full because we were the last resort, and then from the building rolls a huge family group that gets on with the ECV rider and fills up the bus sometimes making us wait for another bus. So all those family members, 8 usually, got to stay in the cool dry shade while my family burned up in the sun or got drenched in the rain. When we did make the bus with an ECV rider, we all get off at the park, those same family members left the ECV rider in the dust and started getting fast passes etc. Would it be too much to ask just to have a 3 person maximum to get on with the ECV rider? In this age of cell phones or simply having a map, can't people arrange to meet up someplace at the park?

As said before; the rule is no more than 5 folks tagging along. Sometimes there is some leeway if a family consists of 7 and the kids are small, but that's it.

Would it be too much to ask? For me the answer would be yes. I stick to the rules, but have no desire to seperate below that just because others in the line are grumpy. We're travelling together and I'ld love to have some together time. Just like any other family does.

While I can understand it can be disappointing not getting onto a bus after a long day, your experience isn't one that only effects 'you' in a negative way and/or only happens at busses. I wait at rides and shows all of the time before I can enjoy, all the while watching folks walking on, riding and going to the next ride or show. On a whole experience (bus, park, you name it) it's not even when looking at the way I do WDW, but let's just call it even.

 

[Suellen]

I'm just curious.... no ill will intended here.... how does the argument that "I waited longer at such and such a place" come into play and indicate that a family with the motorized scooter person should get on the bus in front of people who have been waiting for the bus?

I keep thinking of someone walking up in front of me in line at the bank and saying "Well i waited a really long time at the grocery store so I'm getting in line in front of you, oh and also my 5 family members too"

I don't get how that somehow makes if 'fair' in some peoples minds.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I'm just curious.... no ill will intended here.... how does the argument that "I waited longer at such and such a place" come into play and indicate that a family with the motorized scooter person should get on the bus in front of people who have been waiting for the bus?

It doesn't. Just like "but I was there earlier" by those walking doesn't but keeps getting used here. WDW has a loading protocol and sticks by it. Like it or not; it is what it is. I was just using it to explain I do understand feelings that could come into play after a long day in the park, being tired and waiting, but experience that exact sentiment at other moments.

Do find it a bit of a shame that's one of the only things that get zoomed into and not all of those postings that do explain why things are the way they are and WDW actually is trying to make things go as smoothly as possible and be as considerate for "both sides". Nothing personal at all, but these discussions always do.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

It's unfortunate to read such ugliness on the DIS. As a mother of an adult disabled son, I am sorry to read of your inconvenience of having to wait to be loaded onto a bus, or heaven forbid you had to wait for another bus. Perhaps you'd like to be in my son's chair. We've had to wait for a third bus, to get on,because of wheelchairs and scooters, while those who were able to use there two feet walked right on. It never occurred to me to gripe about it.

Or perhaps you'd like the 24 hour a day convenience of being in a wheelchair or needing a scooter. Where you have to wait for someone to help you to the toilet, then wait for someone to wipe you. Or you have to wait for someone to put a DVD in the player so you can watch it. Or perhaps you would like the convenience of watching able bodied people get into taxi after taxi, while you wait for an accessible one to come for you. Or perhaps you like to wait 3 times longer to get on a ride, because there is only one accessible car. Or perhaps you would like the convenience of not being able to get out of bed until someone came to help you.

So again, I apologize for your inconvenience of having to wait for a bus.

 

[Suellen]

So you are using it as an "I understand your frustration" statement then.

Got it.

 

[suzannekelder]

wow. it really sounds like no one is happy with the bus situation, whether you have an ECV or not. i do think there must be a better way.


i don't think people are being "ugly" on this thread, unlike the other one recently started, but are expressing their honest feelings about something that affects their vacation.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Funny how OP summarized her trip with paragraphs an paraghraphs of information and this thread goes on to page 11 and beyond of comments about the one and only (matter of opinion) negative thing that was said.



What happened to my beloved Disboards that gave great info and everyone loved Disney. Its turned into what can I complain about today?

 

[going/again]

an honest observation:

i think anyone in line would feel very uncomfortable confronting a guest in an ecv about having too many extra people with them and the bus drivers should be assertive about the policy so that everyone gets "fair" treatment.

Totally agree.

 

[maxiesmom]

Lately? Yes. There are so many posts about how bad Disney is, it makes yo wonder why people even bother joining the boards. If they dislike Disney and the way they handle things so much.

 

[Planogirl]

I criticize WDW and will continue to do so if I think it's warranted. I like going which is why I comment on those things that I find disturbing. I also comment on what I like.

I never understand the criticism of people who discuss the less positive aspects of WDW. WDW isn't perfect and personally I think it's fun to discuss both the good and bad things. In a reasonable way of course.

 

[crostorfer]

I'm sorry, I just had to jump in here because I am LMAO in my chair.

I have no opinion either way, because I work in healthcare and am equal parts sympathetic and annoyed by scooter usage in my everyday life. (Especially in Walmart, but that is another story, I digress.....)

I was reading through the pages here and noticed that the advertisement at the bottom of my page was for.......wait for it.......THE SCOOTER STORE.

 

[going/again]

I agree with the previous poster. It's about time to close this thread. I am on disability because I have lupus, and now after reading everyone's comments, I'm going to pray a little harder that I don't have a flare up during our Disney trip. I do not want people looking at me, judging me, because I'm overweight from steroids, thinking that I am just fat and lazy and not "deserving" of a wheelchair. It will be easier to walk through the pain than to have other people judge me for what I cannot help. It really makes me sad and I have a knot in the pit of my stomach just thinking about it. Can't we just all love each other and be patient and be thankful for what health we do have and that we can manage to make it to Disney World? So many people would love to be where we are and we don't need to make the world a harder place for anyone to live in. Hope everyone here has a great day!!

Dont let what others think put you off, if you need one get one, those that judge should be ashamed, one day they may need one, no one knows what the future holds.

 

[bringmethathorizon]

cant we all just get along.
its disney.

 

[wtccheermom]

It is possible that the 100% of the scooter users are handicapped (however unlikely that is), but it's far more disturbing seeing large children being pushed in carriages when they can clearly walk. If your kids feet drag on the pavement while being pushed and have to squeeze themselves in the carriage, they are too big to ride in it.

I cannot imagine why people would want to use a stroller for a kid who is cable of walking and keeping up. I hate having to use a stroller for my 2 year old it is a complete inconvenience and I am really looking forward to our next trip to WDW stroller free. I would like to add that I do understand their or children with disabilities who may need this and I am no way saying that it should not be allowed I just cannot imagine using one for an average child who just may be to plan lazy to walk.

 

[crostorfer]

By saying she's fat??

I'm fat! I happen to think I'm fabulous though, and my weight has nothing to do with that. The fat is just something I carry around with me - like one of those big gawd-awful gaudy Coach bags - it's not who I am.

Hey, I live in the Seattle area, and I carry a large Coach bag. I take offense to this comment. Flame, flame, flame to you madam.

 

[brunette8706]

I criticize WDW and will continue to do so if I think it's warranted. I like going which is why I comment on those things that I find disturbing. I also comment on what I like.

I never understand the criticism of people who discuss the less positive aspects of WDW. WDW isn't perfect and personally I think it's fun to discuss both the good and bad things. In a reasonable way of course.

*
Well said Planogirl! I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[going/again]

I'm just curious.... no ill will intended here.... how does the argument that "I waited longer at such and such a place" come into play and indicate that a family with the motorized scooter person should get on the bus in front of people who have been waiting for the bus?

I keep thinking of someone walking up in front of me in line at the bank and saying "Well i waited a really long time at the grocery store so I'm getting in line in front of you, oh and also my 5 family members too"

I don't get how that somehow makes if 'fair' in some peoples minds.

look at it the other way ecv rider is first at bus stop, bus pulls up no space for ecv, so they have to wait for next bus, should everyone behind them have to wait to, by the rules of the ADA YES, do you ever hear of this happening no.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Funny how OP summarized her trip with paragraphs an paraghraphs of information and this thread goes on to page 11 and beyond of comments about the one and only (matter of opinion) negative thing that was said.



What happened to my beloved Disboards that gave great info and everyone loved Disney. Its turned into what can I complain about today?

ITA!

I thought of something else to share, but it will probably get lost in the scooter debate. Still, I'll post it.

The Rainforest Cafe at the entrance of the Animal Kingdom is a great place to shop for souvenirs if you don't mind buying them for just Orlando. They had nice quality T-shirts and hats at 2 for $25 in a huge selection of colors and designs. Shot glasses there were buy-one-get-one-half. That's a good deal compared to Disney's shot glasses which are something we like to collect. The store itself is beautiful and worth seeing on its own. I love the waterfalls out front too.