Malingering

[IMGONNABE40!]

Has anyone else seen something like this while at a theme park? While we were at Islands of Adventure back in December we observed a woman in a knee brace (the kind that pretty much goes from thigh to ankle with a round hole over the kneecap). She was trying very hard to convince one of the ride attendants to allow her on the express lane for Spiderman even though she did not have an express pass. She was complaining that she was unable to stand in lines etc. etc. etc. Since we had express passes, we went by and I did not see how the drama ended, although they were in the process of calling in another ride attendant to hear the woman's sad story. A little later on in the morning, we saw the same woman, carrying the knee brace without so much as a limp!

I have also seen people with a rental wheel chair where they swapped out passengers later in the day (the one I had seen being pushed in the chair earlier in the day, was later seen pushing someone else from their group). I'm guessing this is done to get HC access on the rides.

What if anything would you do in these situations? Do you think there may have been something I was missing?

 

[FreshTressa]

Theres a post somewhere about Disney making the handicap requirement stricter.

And no, I don't think you were missing something. There will always be crappy people out there trying to manipulate the system.

 

[JenBlaze]

You could tell a CM.

If one person told a CM, I don't think they'd be able to do much about it, but if they got a large number of reports from different people, I bet that lady and her knee brace would be on the curb.

 

[iamsorcerermickey]

I don't think what she did was right at all.

But, I do want to add that I am one of those people that will be seen riding in my own personal wheelchair one minute and then pushing someone the next.

Do I need the wheelchair--Yes.
Can I walk long distances--No.
Can I stand for long periods--No.
Do I like using the chair--No, but I have no choice.

But I also need to hold on to the wheelchair for balance and sometimes feel the need to walk for a while. I have to have someone in the chair or it starts to fold up again.

I will only use HC access if the wheelchair does not fit in the regular line.

Please do not judge everyone because of this one person.

 

[lizdotcom99]

I happen to havea brace very similar to the one that was talked about by the OP.....do I need it all the time....no.....will Iwear it at Disney yes......would I expect to be treated differantly because I have this....no, but I wild like to be treated how I would treat others....and I generally do offer assitance to those that look like they can use a helping hand....that being said....
I think sometimes sure there are people out there who do try to "beat the system". But I also have been on the other side of things when I have needed a little bit of help and understanding. Things may not always appear to be as they seem....sometimes there are things you may not know. I know this first hand as I have a handicapped plate and although when I get out of the car...I may look perfectly fine to walk....but a trip to the grocery store can have me hurting and limping pretty bad on the way out.

If someone is going to go to all the trouble of wearing or carrying a brace around....I am gonna think and believe they need it. I would much rather wait healthily in line than go to the front because of a disability.......just my 2 cents.....

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thank you lizdotcom99 and iamsorcerermickey for your perspectives. This is the info I was looking for when I asked "Am I missing something?"

 

[olena]

I don't know. My Mom has fibromyalgia. Everything is all about cycles. She can't sit for very long or walk for very long. She has to alternate. When we went to WDW, we got her a chair and pushed her around. But she would hit her 'gotta stand' mode and she'd push her own chair. Her hips will catch sometimes and she'll be stuck in whatever position she's in. So she doesn't sit too long or walk too long to prevent that. That being said, she might look fishy to a casual observer.