No more 'cuts in line' for many disabled Knott's guests

[BellePrincessBelle]

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/line-new-disabled-2076183-knott-wait

It's a very good plan and I wish Disney would follow suit however I know they won't.

 

[Ichabadi]

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/line-new-disabled-2076183-knott-wait

It's a very good plan and I wish Disney would follow suit however I know they won't.

I haven't noticed much of a problem at WDW with the handicapped/disabled/differently abled people getting to cut the lines. I don't think it is too much of an issue.

I almost burst a blood vessel last week, however, when at Pop I waited through 2 full bus loads of people to Epcot. The 3rd bus came and I was maybe 10 people back. Yay, I'll get a seat, I thought. Ha! Grandma and Grandpa came scooting up and got on the bus with their party of....22. Yes, I counted. I was so ticked off. That's where there need to be limits. Let Grandma and Grandpa and maybe one person for each of them get on the bus. Everyone else needs to get in line like the rest of us.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I haven't noticed much of a problem at WDW with the handicapped/disabled/differently abled people getting to cut the lines. I don't think it is too much of an issue.
I almost burst a blood vessel last week, however, when at Pop I waited through 2 full bus loads of people to Epcot. The 3rd bus came and I was maybe 10 people back. Yay, I'll get a seat, I thought. Ha! Grandma and Grandpa came scooting up and got on the bus with their party of....22. Yes, I counted. I was so ticked off. That's where there need to be limits. Let Grandma and Grandpa and maybe one person for each of them get on the bus. Everyone else needs to get in line like the rest of us.

You obviously weren't there with me last month when we waited in line and just before our turn one Grandma in a wheel chair came up through the handicap line with her 17 yes 17 able body adult companions on a childs ride in Fantasy land and they were ALL loaded before us yes I was ticked beyond all hell. It happened more than once on this trip and on many others we've seen kids fighting over whos turn it was to drive the EVC. All very able bodied.

 

[breezy1077]

I don't think you really want to "go there" with the assumption that handicapped individuals get a "cut in line" do you OP?

Oh and if it's to stop abuses, that's like cutting off the nose to spite the face.

I know, there are abuses in the welfare system too - so let's just shut the whole program down. I think that analogy works.

I'll trade you - you take my son's disability and I'll take your wait in line.

 

[breezy1077]

You obviously weren't there with me last month when we waited in line and just before our turn one Grandma in a wheel chair came up through the handicap line with her 17 yes 17 able body adult companions on a childs ride in Fantasy land and they were ALL loaded before us yes I was ticked beyond all hell. It happened more than once on this trip and on many others we've seen kids fighting over whos turn it was to drive the EVC. All very able bodied.

I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I know for a fact that the disability services don't work that way.

 

[Mom2Nick]

This should get interesting.

 

[juligrl]

I haven't noticed much of a problem at WDW with the handicapped/disabled/differently abled people getting to cut the lines. I don't think it is too much of an issue.

I almost burst a blood vessel last week, however, when at Pop I waited through 2 full bus loads of people to Epcot. The 3rd bus came and I was maybe 10 people back. Yay, I'll get a seat, I thought. Ha! Grandma and Grandpa came scooting up and got on the bus with their party of....22. Yes, I counted. I was so ticked off. That's where there need to be limits. Let Grandma and Grandpa and maybe one person for each of them get on the bus. Everyone else needs to get in line like the rest of us.

I believe that Disney does have a policy on how many may accompany physically challenged guests, however I have never seen it enforced. I will agree that it is frustrating when it happens. When it happens again just try to be grateful that nobody in your party has a disability.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

You obviously weren't there with me last month when we waited in line and just before our turn one Grandma in a wheel chair came up through the handicap line with her 17 yes 17 able body adult companions on a childs ride in Fantasy land and they were ALL loaded before us yes I was ticked beyond all hell. It happened more than once on this trip and on many others we've seen kids fighting over whos turn it was to drive the EVC. All very able bodied.

Wow! At Disneyland, unless there are only maybe 2 people with the wheelchair bound person, they send 1 or 2 people with the wheelchair to the disembark area. The rest of the party waits in line as usual. When the people in line get to boarding, the ones waiting with the wheelchair board too. Same wait, different accessibility.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think it's a good policy, especially being given a time to come back. My dad is out of shape, and overweight. He rented a scooter when we went to WDW in November, but I made sure he parked it before we entered an attraction - there is no reason why we should go to the front of the line. I'm sure many rent them for the same reason (no need for them to have heart attacks keeping up with their families), but take advantage of the system.

 

[LolaCola]

Yeah, this'll show those darned disabled people, taking advantage of everyone, what with the good parking spaces and the "cuts in line"...



Op, I hope you weren't serious with this. It sounds more like you should be upset with people who never were disabled and tried to exploit the system, than those who are actually disabled.

 

[moon]

Yeah, this'll show those darned disabled people, taking advantage of everyone, what with the good parking spaces and the "cuts in line"...

Not only that, but they always bring 17 or 20 relatives with them! How dare they! /sarcasm

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I wish there was a way to determine if a person is capable of waiting in line like others who are "non-disabled" but is just in a wheelchair. For instance, Sue (12) sprains her ankle 2 days before she leaves for vacation and mom & dad rent her a wheelchair so she can still enjoy her vacation at the parks as much as possible. Can Sue wait an hour to board space mountain? Sure, she would have if she didn't just sprain her ankle. Should she wait the hour? IMHO yes she should.

I am fully aware there are many visable and invisable disabilities were the person can not wait like others can and I think those people should be able be accomidated. How do we tell who should get "front of the line" priviledges and who should not? Got me.

All that being said I do commend Knott's for trying to do something about those persons who were taking advantage of the situation and it sounds like they covered their bases by saying that guests with special needs could talk to guests services and get special passes.


As far as wheelchair guests being immediately loaded onto the busses, I just don't get it. Why don't they have to wait on line? Can't the bus drivers see that there are X number of people that are going to fit on this bus (say 50 for example), if the wheelchair bound person(s) are in the first 50 guests in line they are boarded, if not they wait for the next bus

 

[KPeveler]

I think it's a good policy, especially being given a time to come back.

if you can do this, that great. sadly, i cannot just schedule my day, as i dont know if two hours in the future I will be able to move, let alone ride...

For the record:

there is NO cutting in line at Disney.

In general I wait longer than the average "walker" with my wheelchair.

There IS a limit to how many people can accompany a wheelchair onto a bus or ride - it is 5, plus the person in the wheelchair.

MJKAC - it was not necessary for you to "make" your father park the ECV outside a ride. perhaps you were unaware, but an ECV does NOT mean you skip the line. in fact, you father may wait longer. please next time dont "make" him leave it outside - let him take it in line. you will wait in the normal line and then be directed to the side to park the scooter

 

[KPeveler]

by the way, about knotts berry farm:

people with disabilities must wait outside alone while the rest of their party goes through the line. I will now never go to knotts berry farm. I refuse to wait by myself... that sounds like a miserable day. if i ever was planning on going there, that is done now

 

[Ichabadi]

if you can do this, that great. sadly, i cannot just schedule my day, as i dont know if two hours in the future I will be able to move, let alone ride...

For the record:

There IS a limit to how many people can accompany a wheelchair onto a bus or ride - it is 5, plus the person in the wheelchair.

Have you ever seen it enforced? I haven't. There have been many, many (many!) times I've seen much larger parties than 5 enter with the scooter at the back doors of the bus.

Honestly, I think this is one of those things bus drivers don't want to deal with. They get enough abuse and don't want to listen to someone argue as to why the entire party can't load, they will be separated, I'm going to report you...blah blah blah.

Still, I haven't noticed as much of an issue with this at the parks themselves. Just on the buses.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I will stand by my statemnet that we have been "cut" by people using the handicap line. I have no problem with the people who really need it but MANY do not need it and they do not need to take 15-20 people with them. If you don't like my opinion tough I didn't ask you to. I think Knotts has a good accomadating plan and hopefully other parks will follow suit. FWIW I can not walk long distances and standing in line is painful for me but I take lots of breaks and deal with the excrutiating pain and yes it is excrutiating.

 

[yeartolate]

Disneyland and Knotts are older parks.

WDW was essentally built more handcap friendly, so abuse of their system is not real easy.

I can't speak for KNotts, but the DL cheaters were totally out of control to the point it was truly affecting the non-cheating guests. They instituted a new policy and folks were pissed.

Now reading through Knotts new policy, I will sadly say that Disneyland cheaters would loooooooovvvvvvee it. They would rent a wheelchair, call themselves handicapped and use the "blue pass" like an unlimited fastpass.
I hate to be that cynical, but the problem at DL a few years back was really THAT bad.

I think the idea of any handicap assistance pass should be to allow them to get up the "normal" park experience.

 

[MushyMushy]

To be fair to the OP, she's not the one who coined the phrase "cuts in line." It's right there in the article.

Personally, I think it's a good idea. Isn't it similar to what Disney does, though?

 

[KPeveler]

Have you ever seen it enforced? I haven't. There have been many, many (many!) times I've seen much larger parties than 5 enter with the scooter at the back doors of the bus.

Honestly, I think this is one of those things bus drivers don't want to deal with. They get enough abuse and don't want to listen to someone argue as to why the entire party can't load, they will be separated, I'm going to report you...blah blah blah.

Still, I haven't noticed as much of an issue with this at the parks themselves. Just on the buses.

we dont ride buses (my sister and mother cant ride them), so i cant tell you about buses. i am just saying disney has the rule and if you see people not following it, get the number of the bus or name of the bus driver and call transportation when you get back to the hotel room (there is a button on your room phone). if people complain enough, maybe the bus drivers will start enforcing rules!

 

[breezy1077]

You did say OP that you want Disney to get rid of their handicap accomadation policies - easy for you to say, I say. If you don't like my opinion - tough.

Mine comes from the experience of living with my son who faces more challanges than just being inconvenienced for one ride. Count yourself lucky.