Just back

[daisey mae muggles]

Thinks have changed at Disney. When I checked into the Polynesian with my disabled husband and four adult children, I was actually yelled at by the check-in person, apparently I requested a room my husband could get into- not use the bathroom! He yelled "accessible only means you can get a wheelchair into the room, it doesn't mean it can get into the bathroom." When I asked him why I would want a room like that, he got all snippy and stormed off. We got some room in the outback of the Poly. Not nice at all. In my fourteen years of regular attendence, I have never had a problem with booking disabled quarters. I asked him if he was sure the rest of the disabled community was aware that accessible only means you can get in, but you can't use the bathroom. Am I confused?
Bus driver gave my daughter a most rude attitude when she reached down to to place the tie downs into the channels where we tie down at home. Then he flipped out when my husband tried to refuse the seatbelt, said he would be fired, so my daughter says, well alot of the other drivers better be fired then, he stops, yells what did you just say, tries to stare her down, Rest of the bus was very uncomfortable. Met a lady later, that was on the bus when this occured and said she was ready to go to bat for us if he had tried to kick our daughter off. He was one of the most arrogant people I have ever encountered at Disney, standing with his hands on his hips, staring down a young women.
I'm home but really needed to vent. People waiting in line behind us at AK safari ride " see why we get the wheelchair, right up to the front, when you don't want to ride anymore , you have a place for your stuff and you push it"
I guess I just find it hard enough in this world without hearing stuff like that.
It really gets to me, why would you want to fake a disablity. Why don't they ever fake being blind and not watch the show.
Fifty years of being disabled and my husband wants to hear how great he can drive his wheelchair?

 

[spotdog]

Sorry to hear you had such a difficult time. Wheelchair accessible at a hotel should mean both the bedroom AND bathroom. I hope Sue in MN replies to your post, she seems to know alot about accessiblity for people who use wheelchairs.

 

[dclfun]

Unfortunately this issue has been brought up several times in the recent past about the accessible rooms at the Poly. The ONLY building that provides fully accessible rooms with roll in showers is in the back of the Poly in the Rapa Nui building. If you are disabled you can ONLY have a garden view. You are not allowed to see the MK from your room, see the lagoon, or have a stay in the concierge building. Yes, this is discrimination against the disabled. I have also had difficulty with bus drivers wanting to tell me they'll get fired if I don't have the seat belt. At that point I feel compelled to tell them personal medical information, such as the fact that I'll be injured if they strap a seat belt over my implanted feeding tube. Hrmmph---Kathy

 

[Ambassador]

Sorry to hear of your experience. Someone once told us to never take a no from someone who can say yes. This means speaking with the proper authority, and not wasting time with the wrong person. Politely get the name of the CM, and ask to speak with their supervisor, or later write to the person who can make an effective change.

 

[shovan]

Sorry to hear of your experience. Someone once told us to never take a no from someone who can say yes. This means speaking with the proper authority, and not wasting time with the wrong person. Politely get the name of the CM, and ask to speak with their supervisor, or later write to the person who can make an effective change.

I agree! I would have immediately asked for CM's supervisor at the Poly! I would also have found out who to speak with about the bus driver. It's not to late to inform Guest Relations.

No one should be treated that way. It was totally out of line! So sorry you had such poor treatment.

 

[Kay1]

I really would have reported the bus driver to more than one department. They should not speak to guests in such a fashion.

 

[Haley Whippet]

Do make some calls and write letters. It is not too late to speak up and be heard.
I have had some rude comments when I am on my scooter.. Some people are just nuts! Like we choose our illness just to have wheels..............
Deb

 

[MommytoMJM]

Unfortunately this issue has been brought up several times in the recent past about the accessible rooms at the Poly. The ONLY building that provides fully accessible rooms with roll in showers is in the back of the Poly in the Rapa Nui building. If you are disabled you can ONLY have a garden view. You are not allowed to see the MK from your room, see the lagoon, or have a stay in the concierge building. Yes, this is discrimination against the disabled. I have also had difficulty with bus drivers wanting to tell me they'll get fired if I don't have the seat belt. At that point I feel compelled to tell them personal medical information, such as the fact that I'll be injured if they strap a seat belt over my implanted feeding tube. Hrmmph---Kathy

Count us among this group with MJ too.....

 

[dclfun]

Bonny- I had the world's worst WDW bus driver last month when we were staying on property. He put his hands on his hips and yelled about how I was inconveniencing him with not allowing him to use the seat belt and that he could be fired, etc. I'd tried to explain that due to a medical condition the seat belt could hurt me and told him I didn't want to elaborate on a crowded bus full of people. He continued to harrass me and said again that he would be fired. I'd had enough and said, "gee that would be a shame". I've had drivers behind my chair and me warning them to be careful around my vent hoses- they are more concerned about being fired than my safety on life support equipment. It makes me dread the busses, but I don't like the hassle of driving, esp. to MK or Downtown Disney where you can never find an accessible parking spot. I don't want someone to be fired either, but that shouldn't be a guest's concern and shouldn't be mentioned by a driver. If they are unsure as to how to handle a guest's chair or equipment, then they need to call a supervisor to get an exception made before they leave the area vs. intimidating disabled people on their bus or asking us to reveal personal medical information. ---Kathy

 

[daisey mae muggles]

That probably is the exact same arrogant driver we had. Hands on his hips, yelling at my daughter, trying to intimidate her. Very full of himself. Pulled into MK and wouldn't open the doors until he was through with his long winded spiel that no one was listenening to. Held the bus hostage,so to say.I have taken everyones advice and have started my letters to the appropriate parties, to report our treatment. I would not be able to stand it, if I let several people ruin Disney for me.

 

[Schmeck]

Unfortunately this issue has been brought up several times in the recent past about the accessible rooms at the Poly. The ONLY building that provides fully accessible rooms with roll in showers is in the back of the Poly in the Rapa Nui building. If you are disabled you can ONLY have a garden view. You are not allowed to see the MK from your room, see the lagoon, or have a stay in the concierge building. Yes, this is discrimination against the disabled.

This is because the Poly was built before the ADA came into effect, and has not had a major reconstruction since.

There are two levels of accessible rooms at WDW, aren't there? The ones with regular bathrooms, but a king size bed to allow more space to manuever a wheelchair, and the rooms with a roll-in shower. A guest needs to specific which type of room is needed.

Rudeness is not excused, though, even if the guest made a mistake in booking the type of room needed!

 

[SueM in MN]

This is because the Poly was built before the ADA came into effect, and has not had a major reconstruction since.

There are two levels of accessible rooms at WDW, aren't there? The ones with regular bathrooms, but a king size bed to allow more space to manuever a wheelchair, and the rooms with a roll-in shower. A guest needs to specific which type of room is needed.

Rudeness is not excused, though, even if the guest made a mistake in booking the type of room needed!

There are people who are much more experienced at the Poly, since we've never stayed there. But needing the roll in shower rooms at that resort if you need to get a wheelchair into the bathroom is what I've understood from what the people like Kathy have mentioned.
In general, the answer is that it was built before the ADA came into effect. There were some architectural guidelines before the ADA, but there was nothing standard. I know that some of the door widths that some of the guidelines considered accessible are much smaller than what is the smallest allowable now.

For the bus question, here's an answer from the disABILITIES FAQs thread. The questions were submitted to several bus driver CMs on the DIS Boards who answered them for us:
Q: The driver wants me to wear a seatbelt. May I refuse?
A: Yes, you may refuse. But be aware that your refusal may result in the driver advising you that you are far safer with a seatbelt on, and practically insisting that you wear it. Disney company policy is not to force a guest to wear the seatbelt.

Here's a link to the ADA rule about transportation for people with disabilities.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If you can't wear a seatbelt for medical reasons, would you be able to get some sort of official letter from Disney Transportation HQ, telling the driver not to insist? I know it would be a bit of bother getting hold of such a letter, but if it were possible, it might save the risk of an argument. I don't really know how these things work, but it might help.

 

[Adi12982]

You should write Disney. We had HUGE issues in August when we went on a weekend trip with my brother (ASSports and just a water park, no "real" parks). Anyhow, they are really going out of their way to make sure this trip is magical and hassle free.

I hope you got the bus drivers name OR know the day and time and from/to where you were going. I am sorry, but that person should not be a bus driver if he cannot handle all of the guests in AT LEAST a polite way.