just back...too many scooters!

[go cowboys]

We just returned from 8 days at WDW and had a wonderful time...but I think these electric scooters are out of control! I was personally hit by a lady during MVMCP and saw another person get run over after Fantasmic.
I understand that some need a little help getting around but it seems that anyone who is not wanting to walk will pay the money to rent one and some have no idea how to drive them.
They also seem to take alot of extra time on the transportation side as we all have to wait for them to load and unload first. Maybe this thread is callous but I saw a lady on a scooter who couldn't get it parked straight, stand up and lift the end around to straighten it up. Then after taking 3 seats on the bus to park her scooter, sat in a separate seat that could have been used for some other tired tourist.

I may get flamed for this but does anyone else feel the same way? Who has the right of way?

 

[scubamouse]

there are scooters in the parks - oh no i hadn't even thought of that I'll be venting when i get back i'm sure.

and I can't resist .... Woo-hoo Go Giants, Go Giants (I sang this yesterday too as my dallas raised DH and I were watching the game) At least we can agree about Philly and the redskins right?

 

[athenna]

Oh no, not this debate again.
Just be greatful you don't need one and move on.

 

[Amy&Dan]

A few things. Many disabilities are hidden so some perfectly healthy LOOKING people may need those scooters. My fil will be using one in a few weeks, if you don't like waiting for him and others like him to be loaded on the bus, rent a car. Many bus drivers INSIST people in scooters sit in a seat, its safer than being in a scooter that may not be as securely fastened as it looks. We are an aging population folks. People are able to live (with limitations and a lot of assistance) with diseases that used to kill them or keep them home. Get used to it. Posts like this are exactly why my sister who has MS won't rent a scooter, she doesn't want or need the judgement.

P.S. I have never been run over by a scooter or stroller but have been mowed down by folks talking on cell phones. Many people don't know how to drive scooters and WDW should take time to show them after they rent to them you are right. But people should also learn to talk and walk too. JMHO.

 

[boomhauer]

Just be greatful you don't need one and move on.

Yeah - Like the 50% of people at Disney that rent them that don't need them.

Maybe the OP is new or hasn't seen this debate before. If we're to close every thread because it's been brought up before, might as well close down this whole forum.

 

[annej]

Although, i totally understand the need for scooters as I have some leg trouble myself, the use of them is more than a little frustrating. We just returned and I got hit at EPCOT on Wednesday night. My foot was actually caught under the wheel for a second. A child would have been seriously hurt and my foot hurt for the rest of the time. I did not cut this lady off or anything - just walking along and she suddenly sped up and ran right into me. Maybe they should have a traing course for those who rent them that never have before. They do tend to act as though they own the place when walking along. The line thing does not bother me - we will all get to ride eventually

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yeah - Like the 50% of people at Disney that rent them that don't need them.

Maybe the OP is new or hasn't seen this debate before. If we're to close every thread because it's been brought up before, might as well close down this whole forum.

Do you poll all scooter users and get their medical history?

 

[go cowboys]

As I mentioned in the original post, I do not mind people who really need them driving them at the parks. I am grateful I don't need one. My real problem is that alot of these people don't seem to care that my children and I are wakling next to them and they think that they deserve my space. There was no remorse in either instance I mentioned earlier only glares from them as if they owned the sidewalk. These scooters need to be made to go at speeds equal to pedestrians and they need to yield. My 5 year old is not always as aware as the 45 yr driving the scooter.

These people are not all handicapped (visibly or not.) Some are just LAZY!

 

[palmtreegirl]

No, it doesn't bother me.

 

[boomhauer]

Do you poll all scooter users and get their medical history?

Of course not. But as the above user said, when you see someone stand up and move the scooter around to park it then run to an attraction, it's sort of a no brainer.

My MIL is a perfect example. She absolutely does not need one, yet insists on taking one with her. She's just lazy.

I have no problem with someone who needs one using one. I can't imagine that you're suggesting otherwise. I do have a problem with people using them because they're lazy though.

 

[huskies90]

I saw a lady in a scooter run over a 5 year old boy on Saturday at MGM. It was kinda funny because she was going very slow and just couldn't seem to stop like the whole thing happened in slow motion. The kid was fine. I personally ran over a little girl running to catch up with my family at MK earlier in the week. I felt terrible and I shouldn't have been running in a crowded park. Scooter or no scooter we all just need to be considerate of others...

 

[anewvance]

I've had to use a scooter twice on trips and I'm a 28 year old woman who physically besides being 35lbs overweight doesn't look like I need one. But I was so darn nervous using it!!! I'm always afraid i'll accidentaly hurt someone.

That being said, I do have to agree about who uses scooters. I just get over it and it doesn't really bother me at all. But yesterday I just had to laugh. We were at Animal Kingdom and along comes a brigade of a grandma, grandpa, mom, dad & aunt all riding along on scooters and they had one child with them who kept taking turns who he hoped on the back of the scooters for a ride. My sister and I did happen to comment to each other on this kinda funny looking situation. But then I ended it with , wow, that's the way to do Animal Kingdom! LMAO!!! I hate how much walking there is involved to get anywhere in AK, lol.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Maybe the OP is new or hasn't seen this debate before. If we're to close every thread because it's been brought up before, might as well close down this whole forum.

That is one of the most true statments I have heard in a long time.

Remind me to add pro scooter and con scooters to the Dis snob boards.

(BTW, I thought from the title that people were agaisnt the way my baby likes to get around instead of crawl, scoot on the floor. Good to see it wasn't. BTW, she actually is walking a little now, but still perfers to scoot!

 

[Goofy4]

I saw a lady on a scooter who couldn't get it parked straight, stand up and lift the end around to straighten it up.

My FIL rented one for Epcot I can see him doing the same thing... He wanted to back it in, straight (perhaps it's a "truck driver" thing). If we would have done without it, he could have possibly made it through the day at Epcot, but the next day he would have been out of it. No parks with the grand kids, that's for sure.

I often tried to clear a path ahead of him, but as us stroller and wheelchair pushers know, people do the darndest things in front of you.

Now that I've seen it from both sides, I can see that there's no easy answer. Perhaps Disney will figure something out, but for now it looks like we just need to share the road.

Go Colts!

 

[ton80]

in order to rent a scooter there should be a "TEST TRACK"
no pun intended to see if the people that need them can use
them. If not they should use a wheel chair with someone pushing
them along !!!!!!!!!!

Dixie Landings 9/98 Honeymoon
All star sports 9/99
Off site 05/01
BWV 11/04
AKL 03/05
SSR 1st time "Home" 11/05

 

[boomhauer]

in order to rent a scooter there should be a "TEST TRACK"
no pun intended to see if the people that need them can use
them. If not they should use a wheel chair with someone pushing
them along !!!!!!!!!!

Though an interesting idea, I wouldn't count on that happening.

I mean, the bottom line, as annoying as those who don't need them using them are, is that there are many who use them that do need them. It wouldn't be fair to them.

 

[go cowboys]

The bottom line is the bottom line. Disney charges $40.00 a day and are making a bunch of money off those rentals. I don't think it would be unfair to ask those who use them to prove they can drive them. The people that really need them really need to be able to control them. What is wrong with wheelchairs anyway?

 

[MareSINY]

Two years ago I was very sick, I had uterine cancer and had to have a total hysterectomy. My recovery was slow and painful, although I didn't always LOOK like I was hurting. Eventually I became so sick and tired of being home that I would take short trips to stores with my family, just for the break. I always said I'd rent a scooter (at places like Target) but never did, because I always felt people would think I was renting it because I was lazy, or because I'm overweight. If I could have worn a sign that said, "Recovering from major abdominal surgery, otherwise I'd be walking!" maybe I would have rode one.

In all honesty, you have no way of knowing who does or doesn't need a scooter. My dad rents one when we go, and it saves all of us the worry of walking slower or taking breaks. I understand that it's frustrating to be run over by a rude person, but you could just as easily be run over by a rude person who isn't watching where they are walking.

Mary Ellen

 

[In a hurry]

Damn those handicapped people. There ought to be some sort of law against them being out in public.

 

[boomhauer]

What is wrong with wheelchairs anyway?

Try pushing one around for 12 hours a day. Especially when it's your mother-in-law.