New Appreciation for Kevin's Wheelchair Rant

[MikeTaylor]

For this vacation, we're taking my in-laws. While the DW and I have had experience with a person in our party in a wheelchair that could transfer (which definitely helped us gain some experience for this current trip), mobility and soreness are definitely an issue now, so taking things slow has been a priority to keep everything copacetic. It's a good thing our trip is in January, because I couldn't even imagine maneuvering our way in the parks through peak season.

So far, we've been pretty lucky (I think) with the attractions we've been able to see at the pace we've been at, especially with a 2nd party meeting up with us in a stroller and rider switching occasionally. We've all had fast passes for the majority of attractions we experienced and what stands out about Kevin's rant is that we're not out to rip off the system, we can't. There's no moving from attraction-to-attraction real fast. It's like the opposite... we're trying to make it to our attraction in the allotted time frame (even when I planned and spaced them out fairly far apart when they're geographically close to one another).

I assume the stares are there from the standby lines (we can't look at the other lines-we're busy transferring), so I can see how upsetting it would be if someone (had the audacity and) were to verbally say anything to us about our situation in a negative connotation. Honestly, I'm still slightly negotiating this pace that I'm not used to going at, but I understood going in that this was not a vacation for us, it's an experience for my in-laws. It's their first time here and on day four, they're starting to get "it." Every cast member has been on their game (except some the quick service staff at La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico). Staying at Ft. Wilderness has also helped slow things down for me; I actually look forward to off days now moreso than ever. It is definitely a different experience than any other resort.


*The Brazilians haven't been too wild either. Someone must have sent them a memo.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Glad your experience has been mostly positive, though slower, thus far. And you are to be thanked for taking such time and care with your in-laws, they are blessed to have someone as kind and patient as you. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Sounds like a nice trip and glad you are appreciating the slower pace and your time together

I am sure there are some that try to take advantage of the system - and obviously that story in the NY Times about rich people who "rent a handicapped person" to get to the front of the lines rubbed people the wrong way. But I am sure that 99.99% of the people are like you and not taking advantage of the system and wishing they didn't have to have a wheelchair involved

While it can be frustrating when you are in a long line I just think that you don't know what is going on in that person's life and should be thankful that either a) you don't need a wheel chair and are healthy enough to wait in a line and b) you don't have your values so out of whack that you think "renting a handicap person" is ok ....

... at the end of the day we all need to look ourselves in the mirror and be happy with what we see

 

[MikeTaylor]

Yeah, even if someone did "rent" a "handy line jumper", I don't think it would be worth it (both morally and for "effectiveness"). If you're an able-bodied person who uses your fast passes efficiently, correctly, and target less-crowded attractions by utilizing the standby queues or watching parades/shows or eating while waiting on your 5th, 6th, etc., times to activate, you can experience far more in a day than being slowed down by a wheelchair.

I would assume that if they were doing that, they'd be returning to the bigger attractions a few times in a row. It'd be easy to spot and call me an oddball, but I think that'd get stale after awhile anyway. The cast members working and the collection of different types of attractions (and restaurants) is what makes WDW special.