Magical Express' Service Dog Loading Order Policy?

[Ms_Butterfly]

My TA told me that Magical Express told her that their policy is to pull service dog handlers out of the line for ME and load them and their dogs last on the bus. They told her this to tell me so I wouldn't think they were treating me different/unfairly. Uhm, but they ARE and telling somebody in advance doesn't change that!

Has anybody heard of this before/experienced it? I would think, if anything other than let ppl wait in line like normal, they would load the service dog ppl FIRST to let them choose what seat will work best for their dog and to have time to get settled in the bus. So, why do they load us LAST? I don't see how it could be a safety issue, which would be the only right type of reason to have such a policy. And has anybody here had a problem when refusing to load last?

I've never used ME before (I always drive up to Disney), but this trip I'm flying in and so am using ME.

 

[LauraVV]

They didn't do this for us. When we had the ECV I boarded first but when I wasn't there my then 19 year old boarded the way he would have if he didn't have a service dog.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Strange. I guess I'll see how it turns out. Maybe the phone person was misinformed.

 

[SueM in MN]

That seems very strange. If you don't have a wheelchair, I would think they should give you a choice of whether to wait in the line with everyone else, be pulled out and loaded first or load last.
One thing I've noticed is that people tend to 'spill out' into the aisle a little bit. That may cause a problem for some service dog teams. Also, the steps to get into the bus are very steep - some dogs may need more coaxing to go up them because they may feel uncomfortable. I think it would be better for the SD team to decide for themselves whether they would prefer to do the steps before the other guests are loaded.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Yeah, I agree that it seems strange. If all the seats have the same space between them (i.e. no "bulkhead" type seats), then the team can wait in line with everybody else unless it is hard for the person to walk down the aisle of the bus very far so they need to be in the front. If there's a seat that has more space for the dog, the team can load first to get that seat.

My SD has been on buses many times before, so she's used to the steep steps to get in and out of them. It is me who needs more time to get off them (getting on them isn't as big as a problem).

 

[sorul82?]

The only reasons I can think of is that 1. you may be sitting on the bus for awhile (45 minutes or so) waiting for other passengers to board before leaving or 2. if you are at the front, will your SD be bothered by so many people passing by?

Other than that, I can't think of anything.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

An SD isn't bothered even in the most crowded situations. My SD is used to shoulder-to-shoulder crowds (and she loves to steer through them - I think she likes the challenge like I like the challenge of mazes). Ppl walking by won't be a bother - actually, she'd rather enjoy it, as she likes to people watch when we're just sitting around doing nothing (no need for tasks at the moment).

Waiting on a bus isn't an issue, as flights and car trips (vacations) are longer than 45 min. I need to sit down instead of stand for 45 min. anyway.

 

[sorul82?]

I don't see any reason for you to wait; sounds like a weird policy to me. But, if they do insist, there are benches at the bus loading area.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Yeah, sounds very strange to me, too. I'll have to try to remember to report back after how it went!

 

[mechurchlady]

Dos the policy even exist or was it someone who was making up things as they go along?

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

It makes me wonder if they had a passenger load first or early in the bus boarding then another passenger stepped on the dog in some way. Not intentionally I am sure, but a bigger dog in a small bus seat space lends itself to issues with not quite fitting in the space.
If it is any other reason than the safety of the animal then I would be upset too...equality should be equal.

 

[dclfun]

The first time I used DME for my SD and I we were leaving WL to go to the airport. A DME bus came and went without a lift and I was told that a minivan with lift was coming for us. We went on the minivan. On the arrival back to WDW we were offered a minivan again so that we could be taken to the resort more quickly. I opted for the regular DME bus with lift. I didn't like the minivan ( couldn't see out the window as my w/c was too high) nor the feeling that I needed to leave an extra gratuity for a private ride or even that I needed to have a conversation with the driver. Since then we've not been offered the minivan but have boarded the bus first as I'm in a w/c and that's the law to board us first. Of course we get to sit in the rear by the toilet...sometimes not too pleasant, lol. I can't imagine a policy where anyone is asked to board last whether they have a SD or not. You can always call the DME service center as it sounds like something a t/a made up or was told in error.---Kathy

 

[videogal1]

If I'm not boarding at the back on my scooter I prefer to board early in the loading process as the other passengers just can't seem to keep their hands to themselves and off my dog, which really slows us down. Perhaps they're tired of negotiating the "rights" to the bulkhead seats.

 

[Nalla]

Oddly enough I was told that the policy is pulling SD people out of line and making them get on first. They pulled us from the line and told us to sit and chill on a bench (that was facing the fronts of the lines) And they wouldn't take no for an answer. It was embarassing, people glared and bothered me and stuff. We take public transportation all the time, we can handle getting on a bus, I don't think they should force an order on someone if they're wanting to just wait in line like everyone else.

 

[dclfun]

When we took the DCL motorcoach to the port last October from CBR there were two of us in w/c's- I offered to let the other guest and his family board first. He asked that his scooter be placed under the bus and he did board first, sitting in one of the front seats. Then I boarded with my w/c in the rear. I don't really have a choice since I can't go up the stairs. I think the policy to pull someone out of line is odd- probably they think they're doing us a favor based on someone's "complaint". I figured that's why they kept trying to put me in the mini-van initially.---Kathy

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Dos the policy even exist or was it someone who was making up things as they go along?

I'm not sure, that's why I asked on here.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

It makes me wonder if they had a passenger load first or early in the bus boarding then another passenger stepped on the dog in some way. Not intentionally I am sure, but a bigger dog in a small bus seat space lends itself to issues with not quite fitting in the space.
If it is any other reason than the safety of the animal then I would be upset too...equality should be equal.

I guess that could be, but as the SD handler, it is my job to keep my dog out of aisles/walking areas. If my dog was out where somebody could step on her, it would be my fault, not theirs.

Yeah, unless it is a valid safety issue, it needs to be equal access. If they try pulling me out of the line, I will ask the reason and if it isn't a valid one, I will tell them I will load with everybody else, thanks!

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Oddly enough I was told that the policy is pulling SD people out of line and making them get on first. They pulled us from the line and told us to sit and chill on a bench (that was facing the fronts of the lines) And they wouldn't take no for an answer. It was embarassing, people glared and bothered me and stuff. We take public transportation all the time, we can handle getting on a bus, I don't think they should force an order on someone if they're wanting to just wait in line like everyone else.

Weird. Maybe somebody makes it up different every time!

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I think the policy to pull someone out of line is odd- probably they think they're doing us a favor based on someone's "complaint". I figured that's why they kept trying to put me in the mini-van initially.---Kathy

Could be. One SD person complains that they prefer it one way, so then the company thinks every person with an SD wants it that way. I guess we all like the color green, too, LOL.

 

[sorul82?]

Could be. One SD person complains that they prefer it one way, so then the company thinks every person with an SD wants it that way. I guess we all like the color green, too, LOL.

lime green, that is.