MCO wheelchair assistance

[dancin Disney style]

I'm hoping someone can please give me some help with info. My DD has been injured and is being flown home from MCO. She's on crutches but can't walk with them, she's really struggling. She has 3 large suitcases and will be dropped off at MCO. She is going to need help from where the shuttle will drop her off at the curb to getting her luggage to the check in counter. She will need a wheelchair right from the drop off. What is available and how do I arrange it now?

I know I can call the airline and get her a wheelchair from the check in counter and that they will take her all the way to the gate.

She is a crew member on DCL and we are hoping that they are going to make arrangements to get her to the counter but we can't count on that. I hope that at the very least another crew member on the shuttle will be decent enough to help her.

Thank you!!!

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I'm hoping someone can please give me some help with info. My DD has been injured and is being flown home from MCO. She's on crutches but can't walk with them, she's really struggling. She has 3 large suitcases and will be dropped off at MCO. She is going to need help from where the shuttle will drop her off at the curb to getting her luggage to the check in counter. She will need a wheelchair right from the drop off. What is available and how do I arrange it now?

I know I can call the airline and get her a wheelchair from the check in counter and that they will take her all the way to the gate.

She is a crew member on DCL and we are hoping that they are going to make arrangements to get her to the counter but we can't count on that. I hope that at the very least another crew member on the shuttle will be decent enough to help her.

Thank you!!!

When my DW injured her knee during a recent WDW stay, we used a porter to assist with luggage and provide a wheelchair (which I pushed) from the rental car return to the (Southwest) luggage checkin point, at which time my DW switched from the porter-supplied wheelchair to a SW wheelchair. We used that to get to the gate. I don’t know if porters will be available at the shuttle drop off point as well, but if so, that’s one option.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm hoping someone can please give me some help with info. My DD has been injured and is being flown home from MCO. She's on crutches but can't walk with them, she's really struggling. She has 3 large suitcases and will be dropped off at MCO. She is going to need help from where the shuttle will drop her off at the curb to getting her luggage to the check in counter. She will need a wheelchair right from the drop off. What is available and how do I arrange it now?

I know I can call the airline and get her a wheelchair from the check in counter and that they will take her all the way to the gate.

She is a crew member on DCL and we are hoping that they are going to make arrangements to get her to the counter but we can't count on that. I hope that at the very least another crew member on the shuttle will be decent enough to help her.

Thank you!!!

Which airline is she flying? My experience is with Southwest. Outside. they have disability check in. I take an Uber, which pulls up and waves to one of the attendants. He hustles over with a wheelchair, I get out of the back of the Uber, try my best to walk the one step to the wheelchair, then let them take me from there. He brings me to curbside check-in, checks me in, then brings me inside, where he hands me off (I often have to change wheelchairs from the MCO one to a Southwest one) to a Southwest wheelchair pusher, who takes me from there to the gate. Best wishes to her-being a crew member on a cruise ship is an experience-my son was in Entertainment (music, ending as music manager) on Princess and had some interesting experiences traveling the world.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Which airline is she flying? My experience is with Southwest. Outside. they have disability check in. I take an Uber, which pulls up and waves to one of the attendants. He hustles over with a wheelchair, I get out of the back of the Uber, try my best to walk the one step to the wheelchair, then let them take me from there. He brings me to curbside check-in, checks me in, then brings me inside, where he hands me off (I often have to change wheelchairs from the MCO one to a Southwest one) to a Southwest wheelchair pusher, who takes me from there to the gate. Best wishes to her-being a crew member on a cruise ship is an experience-my son was in Entertainment (music, ending as music manager) on Princess and had some interesting experiences traveling the world.

Thanks. She’s a performer and this injury could be career ending. She is currently booked with Westjet but now they are talking about canceling that and moving her to another flight where they can put her in business class for the extra room. That would likely end up being Air Canada. We will know shortly.

I don’t even remember where the airport drop off is. It’s been years since we used any type of service to get back to the airport…probably Magical Express. We usually rent a car, so I know my way from the return area.

 

[David Gardner]

If you arrange for a wheelchair and a porter through the airline, you can also arrange for them at the destination end.

 

[dancin Disney style]

If you arrange for a wheelchair and a porter through the airline, you can also arrange for them at the destination end.

At the destination end we have friends with high level positions and full security access. It’s already been arranged for her to be picked up directly from the door of the plane. I’ve never before asked my friends for any favours at the airport but I was immediately texting everyone this morning.

 

[Lewisc]

Can she pay and check her luggage on the ship?

MCO has a shortage of wheelchair pushers. Her best option is to get assistance from someone on the bus.

Buses drop off at level 1. Curbside check in is on level 3.

The bus driver may be able to request assistance. She may need to wait on a bench outside

Good luck

 

[dancin Disney style]

Can she pay and check her luggage on the ship?

MCO has a shortage of wheelchair pushers. Her best option is to get assistance from someone on the bus.

Buses drop off at level 1. Curbside check in is on level 3.

The bus driver may be able to request assistance. She may need to wait on a bench outside

Good luck

Thanks. Unfortunately, checking luggage onboard the ship is not an option...not for guests or crew.

Do you know if curbside check in is for all airlines? It's giving me an idea that maybe she can ask to be driven to level 3 after everyone else gets off the shuttle. Where does Uber drop off?

 

[Lewisc]

Do you know if curbside check in is for all airlines? It's giving me an idea that maybe she can ask to be driven to level 3 after everyone else gets off the shuttle. Where does Uber drop off?

Ride share and car services drop off on level 3. I don't think buses are allowed on level 3, weight or size issues.

You might spend a few extra dollars and book.a car service. The driver will be waiting for her at the port.

I don't know if Canadian airlines use curbside. The curbside people could get her a wheelchair or porter.

Business class should offer a more generous checked bag allowance

 

[dancin Disney style]

Ride share and car services drop off on level 3. I don't think buses are allowed on level 3, weight or size issues.

You might spend a few extra dollars and book.a car service. The driver will be waiting for her at the port.

I don't know if Canadian airlines use curbside. The curbside people could get her a wheelchair or porter.

Business class should offer a more generous checked bag allowance

It’s not really a bus. The crew shuttle is about the size of rental company shuttle van. I did consider a private car for her. The problem might be that the pick time could be around 5;30-6am

 

[Lewisc]

It’s not really a bus. The crew shuttle is about the size of a tenant company shuttle van. I did consider a private car for her. The problem might be that the pick time could be around 5;30-6am

I don't know if the van is allowed on level 3.
Consider holding a $20 bill while asking for a level 3 drop off.
A car service should be able to accomodate a 5:30 pickup. Make sure they know it's for crew with an early departure. That's the best option, JMO. Consider Tiffany, FL Tours and Gear something.

She might have issues finding an Uber or Lyft that early

 

[dancin Disney style]

Thanks for all the info. I still have no idea how it's all going to play out. Of course I'm very worried for her. I could have flown down to bring her back but I'm in the space of needing to back off and let her figure things out for herself. I've tried to give her as much info as I can find, what to look for and where to find it.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I thought I would come back and post a little bit of DD's experience for anyone in the future that may need this kind of info. I will only comment on what happened from her arrival at MCO. Basically is was a really horrible experience.

She was driven to level 3 and the driver was supposed to take her all the way to the counter but he did not. He did go and speak to someone working outside to ask them to take her. The men working outside immediately gave DD a hard time saying that it was not their job but they were going to be nice and help anyway. There was nothing nice about the attitude and way he 'helped' her. The man took her bags and walked them inside but he dumped them off across and slightly down the hall from where she needed to go. She was left just far enough from the counter she needed to be at that she couldn't get the attention of the staff there. Finally some random worker came along and asked if she needed help. He grabbed her bags and just walked away with them which got DD upset. Anyway, when she finally got to the check in counter she was given a wheelchair by a somewhat unpleasant woman. The woman asked DD if she spoke Spanish, DD said no and then the woman became angry. She started yelling in Spanish at DD. Two older ladies standing in the line turned around and told the woman to stop yelling at her. DD felt that she was being judged for using the wheelchair yet her leg is in a brace and she has crutches, it's pretty obvious that she has a legitimate need. The person behind the counter came out (without be asked) to get DD's bags to check them in. Then he assigns angry yelling woman to wheel DD through to the gate. At security she rammed the wheelchair into a wall TWICE. The first time she did it the TSA agent told her to be careful and the second time she did it he yelled at her to stop it. All the TSA people were great...this was the only good thing that happened. They were very accommodating and worked with DD to screen her based on the way she was able to stand/move. They all assisted her with getting her bags on and off the scanner and even helped her put away her laptop. After that angry lady grabbed the chair and swung it around really hard....the TSA guy shot DD a 'I wish you luck with that one' look. Once over in the gate area the woman just stopped on the far outside of the seating area and left DD there, then walked away without a word. So now she's left so far from the podium that she can't even get the staff's attention for help. DD then had to spend the next 20 minutes inching herself closer to the podium...remember she's seated in the wheelchair but holding her crutches and a carry on bag.

We will be writing a letter to the airline to express how disgusting the treatment was. Not that it will really do anything but it needs to be noted. This was a young woman traveling alone and clearly disabled. It has very much been eye opening. Through the whole process she was texting me with what was happening which was very worrying and stressful. I greatly regretted my decision to not fly down and help her get home. I honestly though she would be would taken care of in at the very least a respectful way. Then the issue of DD not speaking Spanish....like *** is that.

AND...nothing to do with airport/airline staff. It found it really sad that not one single person walking along noticed this young woman struggling and offered any assistance. There were even police officers walking around. Could they not have stopped and just asked if they could go get someone for her?

 

[bluecruiser]

I'm sorry to hear of the horrible way your DD was treated at MCO. I had a negative experience needing WC assistance on my return trip at MCO a few years back, and it was bad (although not nearly as bad as your DD). Maybe if the airline gets enough complaints something will finally change.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm sorry I didn't speak up more. I thought fellow crew members on the van would have stepped up.
I'm not that surprised. MCO has a shortage of pushers.

I don't think the driver is allowed to leave the van unattended for the length of time necessary to get the pax and luggage to the counter.

For the benefit of others a reverse meet n greet with a car service would have helped.

At some airports a pax either needs to have a fellow pax as a pusher or be prepared to wait a.long time ( an hour or more)

 

[dancin Disney style]

I'm sorry I didn't speak up more. I thought fellow crew members on the van would have stepped up.
I'm not that surprised. MCO has a shortage of pushers.

I don't think the driver is allowed to leave the van unattended for the length of time necessary to get the pax and luggage to the counter.

For the benefit of others a reverse meet n greet with a car service would have helped.

At some airports a pax either needs to have a fellow pax as a pusher or be prepared to wait a.long time ( an hour or more)

She thought that there were 3 other crew members debarking at the same time. They have two time slots for debark based on what time your flight is. As it turned out she was the only one going on the early slot. That is another whole long story but to be brief....the driver was told to take her to the counter, he had some reason why he couldn't, a different van was called and driver told take her to the counter. They drove to the airport and he did not do what he had been told, once there he said he didn't have time. This guy had an attitude from the minute they left the port. He dropped her off in front of the wrong airline, had he bothered to read the signs and driven just a little further down all he would have had to do was take the bags through the door. The counter is directly in front of that door. At the very least this would have left her in a spot to wave to the airline staff for help.

None of what happened to her at MCO has anything to do with a shortage of porters. It had everything to do with unkind, uncaring people. There is a terrible lack of compassion just in general.

 

[Simba's Mom]

None of what happened to her at MCO has anything to do with a shortage of porters. It had everything to do with unkind, uncaring people. There is a terrible lack of compassion just in general.

ITA! And a possibly career-ending injury. My heart goes out to your daughter.

 

[SteveMouse]

Many people are self-centered and uncaring about others. The words "kind" and "kindness" do not seem to be in their vocabularies.

I have as a personal goal to be kind every day, regardless of how much I hurt due to my own disabling condition (and it's a doozy).

Peter Capaldi, as The Doctor in Doctor Who sums it up nicely as he regenerates out of the role;


DOCTOR: Oh, there it is. Silly old universe. The more I save it the more it needs saving. It’s a treadmill....

Well, I suppose….one more lifetime won’t kill anyone. Well, except me.

<Stirring music/Tardis noises>

You wait a moment, Doctor. Let’s get it right. I’ve got a few things to say to you. Basic stuff first.

Never be cruel, never be cowardly. And never ever eat pears! Remember – hate is always foolish…and love, is always wise.

Always try to be nice and NEVER fail to be kind. Oh, and….and you mustn’t tell anyone your name. No-one would understand it anyway. Except….

<He gasps, falls to the floor>

Except….children. Children can hear it. Sometimes – if their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too. Children can hear your name.

<Gasps, grunts more>

But nobody else. Nobody else. Ever.

<Pulls himself off the floor>

Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.

 

[Lewisc]

Your complaint should start with DCL. One of the departing crew wasn't wiling to take the earlier van? DCL should have sent someone with your daughter. Maybe her immediate supervisor, head of entertainment or the cruise director. That person should have gotten her a chair, assisted in checking luggage then leave and let her wait for a porter. That's the minimum DCL should have done.

Everyone was passing the buck to escape responsibility. The driver can't leave the van. DCL washed their hands; relying on a driver request that DCL had no right to request and the driver couldn't comply with


The driver did what he could, and washed his hands.


Other airports...a porter would have been dispatched to the curb. Staffing at MCO

Other airports a person, maybe security, would have gotten on the phone and find out how much longer she should expect to wait.

I hope your daughters recovery is going better then her experience at MCO.

Monday morning quarterback....I'm not leaving the van until the wheelchair and pusher shows up.