Little vent, aka rude encounter of the "Disney" kind

[kaytieeldr]

I have a great deal of trouble with my legs - arthritis, I broke my hip a couple of years ago, one leg is shorter than the other and now some circulation stuff (and now you all know more about me than my siblings do )

Anyway, I was able to ride Space Mountain this trip, after some confusion over whether the ECV could go in or not (it couldn't, but the Greeter specifically let me, but then the CM at the top of the line said "not allowed", well, where was I going to go but that's an entirely different issue) but it took me a LONG time and some straining to get out of the car. Fine, great, no problem - even though it delayed that track. The Attraction Lead was aware of my situation.

That was the good. The bad? I had almost as much trouble getting out of Splash Mountain - more room to maneuver, but still trouble. To the point that everyone else was settled. one of the Guests waiting to get IN to the seat I was leaving said to the other, "Just kick her".

Now the sorta funny. I wanted to talk to a manager about log design (in this case, and remember I'm thinking of only myself, a completely flat edge instead of the well-themed curved "carved" edging - just that couple of extra inches of level surface - might make a difference). Anyway, while we were waiting for a Manager, I told the CM about the "kick" comment. He looked horrified!!!!! I had to rush and explain I was referring to a Guest, not another CM!!!

 

[Selket]

That is really rude! Perhaps you should have called a CM over and told them you were afraid to get out of the log because the incoming guest said (s)he was going to kick you because you weren't moving fast enough! Maybe the CM would have at least delayed THEIR trip and teach them to have a bit more patience next time.

I don't have mobility issues but I agree those logs are not so easy to get in and out of. They are slippery on top of everything else - I'm always the slowest in and out because I think I'm going to fall (and I'm trying to lift my son in and out and making sure he doesn't fall either!).

 

[Schmeck]

After hauling my mom out of the Splash logs, and the Pirate boats, and the Small World boats, and... I do wish WDW would design a more 'senior' friendly ride vehicle for the water attractions! I mean, it seems to me that the water rides are the more gentle, leisure rides that a lot of people like to go on. Why do they have to make them so hard to get in and out of?

About the 'kick her' comment - I wouldn't have been able to hold my tongue, and would have said something nasty back I would have felt bad about stooping to their level, and having other people hear me, but I know I wouldn't have been able to hold it in... Wouldn't it have been nice if they had actually offered to assist you instead?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, it would have Schmeck - but we know not everyone in the world is nice, or considerate, or helpful. I did encounter PLENTY of Guests who were really nice and helpful (or men who were travelling with women who 'suggested' they see if I needed help ). Naturally, I'm stubborn. I won't ride Space Mountain again at WDW but it was fun to try once - the cars are designed so I can't even crawl out - but if I ever make it back to DisneyLand, I know the design is entirely different, starting with the ability to take a car offline entirely to allow Guests as much time as needed to get in and out!

I did make some brief, sarcastic comment about that being really helpful - but now that I think of it, I should have told the CM I couldn't get out and asked to ride again

 

[elwise1966]

If it makes you feel any better, I (being fully mobile...just a regular guy here) have trouble getting in and out of those dang Space Mountain cars. For me, the cars sit too low in relation to the platform. Getting in is no problem...I just kind of fall in. Getting out is the worst though.
Here at DL, with the new version of Space Mountain, the accessible car is not on the track so you can take as long as you need to getting in and out. When everybody is ready, they stop an empty care and then slide your car over onto the track removing the empty one from the circuit. After the ride, its reversed.
Makes it easier for those of us who are not as flexible or mobile to get in and out.
But I have to say that as much as I like our version of SM, I like the old version at WDW better.