Monorail problems, July 5 & 6

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by jarestel
Are there any busses from the TTC to the Poly?.

Actually you're right, I have no idea.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by pirateofthecarolinas
I hope none of your children are ever put in a precarious situation.

Lori

My child wouldn't be put in that situation, especially if he was only 14.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Bojangles
I would have refused to get off the bus and insisted that the driver bring me to the Polynesian. Or I would have insisted that he call the hotel van.

If you are going to leave a child at MK until 2AM, they need to be able to deal with potential situations like this in an assertive, adult manner.

I allowed my son to go to a theme park which WDW offered "door to door" service between that park and the resort we were staying at.

Disney had a breakdown in communications and service and did not provide the "service" they advertised.

So because they decided to change the plan, I'm a bad parent? I think not.

Again I ask, change the scenario--a mom takes her three kids to E-night. They are staying at the All Star Music. The bus driver is having a problem with the bus, and lets them off at Sports, telling them to walk from there. No offer of another bus. What do you think about that scenario? It's the same thing in concept.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by sweet maxine
Okay, I'm stepping in here, and if you want to bash me, go ahead.
If she had been in the same situation as the child of the OP, she would have done the exact same thing. She wouldn't have asked any questions, but would have followed the directions of the bus driver, for she would have been told that the he would have been a "trusted" resource for information. She would have also gotten off the bus as she was instructed to do, and wandered around looking for her room. I would have felt safe about letting her visit the parks at night. Isn't WDW supposed to be a pretty safe place? I know she would not have left the parks with anyone. She knows better than that. But she would have looked for the transportation home, just as she had been taught to do.

It is hard to understand this situation until you have some sort of experience with it. It was hard for us to let her drive herself to her sheltered workshop job, but we had to let her try. It is not always easy, but sometimes it is good for the person to have a little independence. When they accomplish each small task, they really grow.

I would never expected the monorail to break down, either. The boy probably knew to call if he needed help, but probably thought he could literally walk from the bus right to the resort without trouble. After all, the bus driver told him to do just that. What is inexcusable is for Disney to bring anyone to the TTC from the parks who is one of their paying resort guests. It makes no sense to me why the bus would stop short of the resort, and drop anyone off at the TTC.

My $.02..............................................

Thank you for your understanding. Becuase some of the other posters have no experience in this situation, or think they are better parents or so much smarter than other, or just have perfect kids, they have no idea.

Someday I hope they walk in the shoes of the parents of a disabled child for just an hour. It would be a great eye opener.

Glad to hear your family member was able to progress to driving. My son is far from that point. It's amazing how people have no idea how many disabled people walk among them at any time--there are so many "hidden" disabilities.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Luv2Roam
The walk from TTC to the main center of the Poly is not a straight shot or extremely short -- but very do-able -- and not that hard to figure out.
On one trip, we had NEVER been to the Poly and walked that path from the TTC (in the dark). We were surprised at how much the Poly grounds are spread out and how twisted the paths are. But the signs are numerous and very visible.

Not at night when you've never taken that route before.

I feel very safe at WDW. But we all know anything can happen anywhere. If I felt uncomfortable, I would voice my concerns to a CM, or call DH on my cell phone. I don't know that your son was as concerned over this as you are.
The hour of night must not have alarmed you, as you did not call him to ask where he was.


Actually I did as he had finally found his way to the CGH and was coming towards our building.

My thought is the heart of this matter was the bad transportation you experienced those two days. I feel your pain and can understand that. We all have been there at some time. Luckily, that is not the norm.

Seeing the number of posts you have, and you are building a home right outside of WDW, I can only imagine this was not your first trip. I would be more apt to be much more sypathetic to a WDW newbie.

I would just take this as a live and learn situation. Now you know Disney's Plan B may not reach your expectations and you need to a Plan B for yourself. This is a great lesson for us all.

I am very glad your son made it to your room safe and sound, as I know we all are.

We have made many trips to WDW. But have never walked from the TTC to the PR, especially at night. We've only stayed at the Polynesian twice, a total of five nights. So he wasn't super aware of teh area--had he been dropped off at the BW and told to walk to the BC it would have been much less confusing to him--although I still wouldn't be particularly happy.

Anne

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by justhat
If Disney had run the boats in place of the monorail, could your son have made it back to the room?

Yes, he could have gotten back from the boat, the monorail or the bus. But he wasn't taken to the Polynesian. That's the problem. He was not transported to his resort, he was dumped at the TTC.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
Why, people walk from TTC to the Poly all the time. It is one of the benefits of staying there. You can take the ferry and then walk to the resort if you want, take the monorail or the boat. What;s the big deal?

It was night time. He didn't even know that the path existed! he had never been on it before. My point is that he should have been taken to his resort. The bus driver was completely wrong to tell him to get off and walk.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
Making snide remarks about the bus driver is uncalled for. He did his route. That is what Disney required of him. He doesn't have to go beyond that. Actually he did go beyond his route just by dropping the kid at TTC. The bus driver did not do the wrong thing. He took him to TTC where it is a easy walk to the Poly. The Poly wasn't even his route. He may have had passengers on the bus going to another resort no where near the Poly. You don't know. That drivere was responsible for his route not to drop people at the Poly. He could of just left the kid at MK and left it at that.

He asked a driver which bus to take to the Polynesian. He was directed to that bus, and told the driver when he got on where he was going. If that driver had no intention of taking him to the POlynesian, he shoulodn't have even accepted him onto the bus.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by jarestel
Are there any busses from the TTC to the Poly?.

No.

Anne

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by ducklite
The bus driver is having a problem with the bus, and lets them off at Sports, telling them to walk from there. No offer of another bus. What do you think about that scenario? It's the same thing in concept.

Well, for one thing, the two situations are totally different. There is an adult in your made up All Star scenario. The adult would hopefully handle the situation in an assertive manner. The bus driver would be given the options of either calling another bus, a security officer, or the hotel shuttle.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by ducklite
It was night time. He didn't even know that the path existed! he had never been on it before. My point is that he should have been taken to his resort. The bus driver was completely wrong to tell him to get off and walk.

Anne

The bus driver may have been wrong not to take him to the Poly. But don't you think you may have been wrong not to have a back up plan or to have allowed him to be out that late?

The driver had no way of knowing about his disability, but you do.

It sounds like there's plenty of "blame" to go around. I think everyone involved could have done things differently.


It seems as if you want all the blame placed squarely on the drivers shoulders.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by Bojangles
Well, for one thing, the two situations are totally different. There is an adult in your made up All Star scenario. The adult would hopefully handle the situation in an assertive manner. The bus driver would be given the options of either calling another bus, a security officer, or the hotel shuttle.

So bus drivers only respond to adults??????

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by jarestel
So bus drivers only respond to adults??????

I would think the bus drivers would respond the same to anyone who made a request. Anne's son didn't ask the driver to take him from TTC to the Poly.

Maybe he felt that he couldn't question/demand something from a person in authority. My son will be 13 in October. I know if he was in that situation he would have done the same thing Anne's son did.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
The bus driver may have been wrong not to take him to the Poly. But don't you think you may have been wrong not to have a back up plan or to have allowed him to be out that late?

The driver had no way of knowing about his disability, but you do.

It sounds like there's plenty of "blame" to go around. I think everyone involved could have done things differently.


It seems as if you want all the blame placed squarely on the drivers shoulders.

I fell that it's reasonable to think that WDW transportation would have taken him from the MK to the Polynesian, and that I shouldn't have had to plan on this not happening. He did have a cell phone with him, and had he been completely not been able to get back, he would have called. He did manage to find his way, after a couple false starts.

He has some issues, but that doesn't mean I should lock him in an institution and throw away the key. He is 18, and I need to give him some freedoms that 18 year olds have--not all, but some. Allowing him to attend e-night in what should have been a controlled situation where I didn't need to worry about him being "stranded" was something I reasonably was able to assume would be fine.

Until you've walked in the shoes of a parent with a child who has a lower mental capacity but is in many ways still their physical age, you have no right to criticize me.

I expected that WDW would transport him back to the POLYNESIAN after e-night. It's unreasonable to think that he would be dumped at the TTC in the middle of the night and told to walk back, regardless of his age or ability.

Anne

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by jarestel
So bus drivers only respond to adults??????

well at 2AM I don't think you will find many children wandering about unattended and in need of transportation.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by Bojangles
well at 2AM I don't think you will find many children wandering about unattended and in need of transportation.

Evidently you're incorrect in this situation.

 

[Traveliz]

Wow what a thread.

I have to say that I can totally understand allowing an 18 year old (who has some challenges) out at Disney World for an enight - just across the lagoon; keeping in mind he isn't a first time visitor. He absolutely needs to be given some freedom as his parents are doing.

I am sure he was not the only one coming from enight to the Poly and there surely should have been buses from them. As an adult I would not at all be happy to be dropped at the TTC and told to find my way back....true its an ok walk and I have even done it several times but I have a hard time navigating my way through and realizing just where I am. There are no straight paths; rather lush exotic winding pathways that are lit but not brightly lit in areas.

I would not at all be happy if this happened to me alone, me with children, or my daughter on vacation.

I would also not be happy if this happened to me when I was doing a value resort trip. It is not acceptable. Disney resorts provide direct transportation from parks to resorts.

I may have missed it but I hope you do follow up on this and let Disney know your feelings.

As for the next morning....I am totally confused there (probably cause most posters are focusing on your son) but I know you are a frequent Disney visitor and like me I would trust the people running the transportation to have the answers...no need to be calling resort desks; that would be of no help. It had to have been very frustrating.

Liz

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by jarestel
Evidently you're incorrect in this situation.

How so? The OP's son was over 18. Apparently he didn't inform the driver that he needed further assistance.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by Bojangles
How so? The OP's son was over 18. Apparently he didn't inform the driver that he needed further assistance.

If you work in the carnival, then this is an unfair advantage. Most of us can't tell a person's age simply by looking at them. Is some one 18, 16, 21, etc... I don't know and probably bus drivers don't know either. Of course to me, anyone under 30 is a child anyway.
I don't know that the OP's son didn't inform the bus driver he needed help. How do you know this?

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by jarestel

I don't know that the OP's son didn't inform the bus driver he needed help. How do you know this?

I did say "apparently". I have never seen a bus driver at WDW turn down anyone that needed (and asked for) assistance.