Just back, some observations...

[Eeyore5]

Oh good grief these threads just kill me.

No one thinks someone that has a scooter on a daily basis at home needs to give it up while on vacation.

But seriously if a person can manage their daily life, without a scooter, do they truly "have" to have it on vacation or is it a convenience.

I need to lose some weight. I get tired at the parks, so what do I do. I sit my fat butt down and rest. I don't run out and rent a scooter so I can keep going nonstop.

There is a huge difference between disablity and convenience.

I am obese. If I didn't have an underlying disability that makes walking the distances at Disney extremely painful, I would gladly walk. I tried last time. I walked 1/2 a day. It took 5 days before I could strengthen my legs because of the pain. I walk with a fairly normal gait and people assume I am using a scooter becuase I am fat. It frustrates me that the assumption is made that because I am fat, I am lazy. It would be so much easier to walk at Disney and rest as needed then use a scooter. It just isn't workable for me. I would only be able to handle a couple hours a day at the parks. It is worth the annoyances of a scooter (there are many) so I can have a full day like everyone else.

 

[Eeyore5]

I totally agree. That wasn't my point at all. What I was commenting on is that the rising obesity rate is probably at least partly responsible for the rising number of scooters in use. If that trend continues, what will things look like in 5 or 10 or 15 years. How many scooters in the park are too many from a logistical and safety standpoint? Is there a practical limit? If so, how would Disney possibly enforce that? They control how many rental scooters they offer but they can't control how many people bring their own. And they can't turn away disabled guests at the gate.

And people I know who are obese and don't use a scooter at Disney. I would doubt many people who are just obese and not disabled would use an ECV. It wouldn't be worth the headaches. Sure, there are a few but I get tired of these threads because the assumption that comes across (whether is its intended or not) is that most obese people using an ECV aren't disabled. I think it is likely the other way around. Try driving an ECV in a crowd sometime. It is a pain and wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't needed.

 

[luckyprincess]

And people I know who are obese and don't use a scooter at Disney. I would doubt many people who are just obese and not disabled would use an ECV. It wouldn't be worth the headaches. Sure, there are a few but I get tired of these threads because the assumption that comes across (whether is its intended or not) is that most obese people using an ECV aren't disabled. I think it is likely the other way around. Try driving an ECV in a crowd sometime. It is a pain and wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't needed.

I think that obesity is declared as a medical disability.... at least I'm pretty sure that I've heard that.

 

[POOHsie]

I totally agree. That wasn't my point at all. What I was commenting on is that the rising obesity rate is probably at least partly responsible for the rising number of scooters in use. If that trend continues, what will things look like in 5 or 10 or 15 years. How many scooters in the park are too many from a logistical and safety standpoint? Is there a practical limit? If so, how would Disney possibly enforce that? They control how many rental scooters they offer but they can't control how many people bring their own. And they can't turn away disabled guests at the gate.

These are all good questions. I guess we'll all find out the answers as time goes by. For as much as I don't know the answers, I bet Disney has paid for studies of these topics to be prepared for providing a comfortable future for its guests. The percentage of people on scooters is very small compared to the total daily visitors to Disney parks.

 

[Eeyore5]

I think that obesity is declared as a medical disability.... at least I'm pretty sure that I've heard that.

I think it depends on how obese you are and how it impacts you. If you are about 100 pounds overweight, you are considered medically obese. Most people with that amount of weight to lose wouldn't view themselves as disabled.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Naaaaa ..... just come along and scoot with me - don't listen to people who don't understand.

We ALWAYS seem to make people smile. I'll even bring an extra bike bell for YOUR scooter-ok, decorations too....yes, yes, I'll bring along an extra strand of battery operated Christmas lights...ok, ok, I'll sew a cute little pouch for the back of your seat. By the time we get all of this attached to your scooter....it will be time to GO HOME!! hahahahaha

I think, we should have a meet for scooters. Lord, I bet that would make a thread or two on the DIS.

 

[luckyprincess]

I think it depends on how obese you are and how it impacts you. If you are about 100 pounds overweight, you are considered medically obese. Most people with that amount of weight to lose wouldn't view themselves as disabled.

Yeah, good point. My sis is about 285 at 5'1" and was so pissed when the doc told her she was morbidly obese, lol She looooves looking in the mirror but honestly, as beautiful as she is, I worry about her health. She's only 37 and I want her to live a very long life

 

[disneysteve]

And people I know who are obese and don't use a scooter at Disney. I would doubt many people who are just obese and not disabled would use an ECV. It wouldn't be worth the headaches. Sure, there are a few but I get tired of these threads because the assumption that comes across (whether is its intended or not) is that most obese people using an ECV aren't disabled. I think it is likely the other way around. Try driving an ECV in a crowd sometime. It is a pain and wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't needed.

I'm not saying that an obese person using an ECV doesn't need it. Walking all around Disney is hard. I know many obese people who have difficulty walking and could never get around Disney without an ECV. That's really what I was getting at. As the number of people like that climbs, the number of scooters in use will likely climb as well.

 

[Eeyore5]

I think, we should have a meet for scooters. Lord, I bet that would make a thread or two on the DIS.

Sounds like fun to me. I will never forget the jaw dropping stares my wheelchair sports team got when we traveled. A herd of teens in wheelchairs got lots of attention.

 

[disneysteve]

I think that obesity is declared as a medical disability.... at least I'm pretty sure that I've heard that.

I am 99.9% sure that obesity is not a valid reason to obtain a scooter under insurance company guidelines.

If you are about 100 pounds overweight, you are considered medically obese.

Actually, the medical definition of obese is a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater. There is not one standard definition of morbid obesity. Some use a BMI of 40. Some use 45. Some use a weight of 100 pounds or more above ideal body weight (BMI of 25).

 

[Donut23]

I am obese. If I didn't have an underlying disability that makes walking the distances at Disney extremely painful, I would gladly walk. I tried last time. I walked 1/2 a day. It took 5 days before I could strengthen my legs because of the pain. I walk with a fairly normal gait and people assume I am using a scooter becuase I am fat. It frustrates me that the assumption is made that because I am fat, I am lazy. It would be so much easier to walk at Disney and rest as needed then use a scooter. It just isn't workable for me. I would only be able to handle a couple hours a day at the parks. It is worth the annoyances of a scooter (there are many) so I can have a full day like everyone else.

I'm so sorry.

Before my accident I had the complete joy of taking a friend to WDW after thanksgiving. She was in remission and part of her medication cocktail included week on and off of steroid use. She had worked SOOOOO hard to loose weight before she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. When we were at WDW, her weight was controlled by the steroids......not a good thing.

We didn't care what ANYONE thought, we played at the Christmas Party and cried because Illuminations was so beautiful at the holidays. Her last night there she asked to watch Illuminations...one more time. It was an easy request...but I would have done anything she wanted...it was HER trip.

Now she STILL watches Illuminations with me....but has a better seat....and I still cry, as I did years ago watching Illuminations with my friend.


I didn't care a FLIP about weight and what others thought on that trip with my friend.....and don't you think about it either! Just hold onto YOUR Disney Magic.

 

[TLinden16]

I think this thread has run it's course, so I'm going to close it now.

 

[Suellen]

I am 99.9% sure that obesity is not a valid reason to obtain a scooter under insurance company guidelines.

Actually, the medical definition of obese is a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater. There is not one standard definition of morbid obesity. Some use a BMI of 40. Some use 45. Some use a weight of 100 pounds or more above ideal body weight (BMI of 25).

Actually it is either or. Either 100lbs overweight OR BMI of greater than 40. OR BMI of over 35 that is causing other health problems.