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

[breezy1077]

Thanks

I've been sick since I was 15, so my mind remembers life before these problems, but my body doesn't, so that makes it a little easier. Since neither of my disabilties shorten my lifespan *g-d willing*, (my EDS is the hypermobiltiy type, not the vascular one, so no danger of dying), I have decided that I have an awful long time to live with these, and I might as well make something useful out of them. I am lucky that I have the ability to argue, and the *oomph* to do it (place term of choice in there). I am living my life the way I want (like going to grad school), and just dealing with it one day at a time (unless of course i am counting to my next disney trip)

None of the rest of my family is disabled, although we all have "challenges" (like my sister's facial paralysis), so I understand the viewpoint of the able bodied person.

I dont think I deserve anything special, like going to the front of hte line, but if I get put on a ride 5 minutes sooner than i would have in hte stand-by line, that is just the way it is. just like i wait an extra hour for some rides. it's just the way it is.

I really do enjoy educational debate, and I dont mind people asking me embarrassing or even somewhat rude questions about disability online (though it annoys me in person), so that I can educate others...

Two things:

The parties ARE limited to 6, including the person with the disability.

Second, you cannot see where the people are waiting. you THINK you see them come right in from the exit. What you DONT see is that there is a special line outside that we are made to wait in. BTMRR is one of the rides that we almost always end up waiting longer than the normal standby time. Next time you go out the exit, look to your right as you come down the hill and look at the line of people with wheelchairs adn scooters...

There is usually a line you do not see for rides like this...

We're asked every time, every time "how many people in your party". Every time by the CM's.

Personally, I'd rather err on the side of those who truly need assistance. I would rather let some scam artists have their way than deny anyone in need.

So many people are way too selfish nowadays! I hope that karma is truly a...well you know.

 

[Talking Hands]

uote=Talking Hands;25893264]No federal law doesn't dictate that,but it does say that if the wheelchair person cannot be loaded onto the bus then the bus is full to all at that stop.

As a disabled person myself, I find this aspect of the law incredibly stupid. With global warming, the high cost of fuel, air pollution, etc, to allow a half empty bus to go off and leave people standing is idiotic and I have recently contacted my congressman and two senators and urged them in the strongest possible terms to have this changed. Afterall, if I go to Wal-Mart and all the handicapped parking spaces are full, I do not expect Wal-Mart to close the rest of the parking lot. It is things like this that make the enabled community dislike us.[/quote]
But you will note it says "AT THAT STOP", not at all future stops so they can load people at the next stop. But it is really a moot point as it is not followed.

 

[alizesmom]

Just a short comment on the bus issue. The person in the wheelchair/ECV gets loaded first. Did anyone ever stop to notice who gets unloaded last? You are probably already at the turnstile before we even get off the bus.

 

[muffyn]

Since you use an evc one can assume that you probably need it. When I see various family members, teens, children, etc. switching in and out of Disney owned, pushed wheel chairs and bopping around without a care in the world, my "suspicious nature" kicks in.

most often.......
but.
I rent an ECV,, can't walk all day in the parks, for various reason.
BUT there are a few times I have to walk or there will be big trouble in my joints (from sitting all day). so someone has to drive the vehicle during those times.
I think you have to clue into those periods that can happen , like that, without the dirty looks.

 

[Belle1962]

For those who won't bother to click on the link to the full thread muffyn is misquoting here it is:

How did I know? Because I would see the same family at different areas of the parks, switching the wheel chair rider.QUOTE]

Wow--hope you never see me at a park. As part of my therapy routine I have to walk/hobble--however you want to describe it---for very small parts of the day (although I am trying to work up to larger parts of the day . Since I use an ecv and I can't just walk off and leave it I will often ask someone else in my party to move it (ride in it) while I exercise/walk.

(The bold is what was actually posted by me.) Click on the little arrow next to my name in the misquote to see it.

And then DawnCt1 replied with:

Quote:
Originally Posted by DawnCt1
How did I know? Because I would see the same family at different areas of the parks, switching the wheel chair rider.QUOTE]

Wow--hope you never see me at a park. As part of my therapy routine I have to walk/hobble--however you want to describe it---for very small parts of the day (although I am trying to work up to larger parts of the day . Since I use an ecv and I can't just walk off and leave it I will often ask someone else in my party to move it (ride in it) while I exercise/walk.

Since you use an evc one can assume that you probably need it. When I see various family members, teens, children, etc. switching in and out of Disney owned, pushed wheel chairs and bopping around without a care in the world, my "suspicious nature" kicks in.

 

[Michelle67]

PSA:

To all fake-disability detectives:

Please note that in about 2 1/2 weeks I will be in Disneyland for the day with my sister and my two children. We will have a wheelchair with us. If you happen to be there scrutinizing people in chairs or lines, you may note that at times my sister is sitting in the chair, at times one of my kids is getting a ride in the chair, and at times our bags and the kids' souveniers are riding in the chair. For a special treat, if you look hard enough for us, you might just find us sitting in the shade somewhere while my sister sucks oxygen and looks decidedly off-color. Just so's ya know, my sister's legs work reasonably well. Unfortunately, her lungs don't, and never have. She needs to walk as much as possible, but will not possibly be able to walk all day. We're hoping it's a good day, but there are no guarantees, and dadnabbit we're going anyhow!

I just really hope that nobody in the park that day figures that they know what disability "should" look like and decides that she doesn't qualify, and that nobody decides to give us any dirty looks or rude comments. I guarantee you that my sister would quite gladly switch positions with any of us able-bodied people. I know what it feels like to stand in a long line feeling hot and irritable, and so does she. Do you know what it feels like to really want to have fun but not be able to breathe?

 

[muffyn]

For those who won't bother to click on the link to the full thread muffyn is misquoting here it is:

\

wait a second... misquoted??
huh?

I was trying to make a point,,,,,,, that just because someone SEES healthy happy family members off bopping around on a ECV that didn't mean the whole family was trying to scoot around against the rules......... there may be a need to look closer at the situation.

I am at a loss as to why that was lost in my response.. I replied to the thread with a quick quote that LOOKED like someone who was 'seeing' others using the scooter ,, something may be 'up' "suspicious nature".

it was NOT a comment to any particular person.. it was to the general masses out there...

 

[Belle1962]

\wait a second... misquoted??
huh?

Sorry but it made it look like I was the one who posted "Since you use an evc one can assume that you probably need it. When I see various family members, teens, children, etc. switching in and out of Disney owned, pushed wheel chairs and bopping around without a care in the world, my "suspicious nature" kicks in."

I wanted to be sure everyone was clear that I am not responsible for those words.

 

[debster812]

im sorry but can someone please show me where she wished
(no you cant) stop baiting her its bordering on bullying although she can clearly take care of herself

You asked, and here it is. Bolding mine. I remember I was completely gobsmacked to read this yesterday, so I just backed away from this thread.

Stop telling me what I am feeling, it is not a nerve it is exasperation that healthy bodied people can be so thoughtless and selfish. I have been to Disney MANY TIMES and I have never encountered this phenomena of dozens of people tagging along. I am sure it happens in extreme cases, anything is possible and it angers me when people take advantage like that, however, you do not punish a whole class of people for what a select few do. I read the article and it stated an issue with people renting wheelchairs and taking advantage NOT TRULY DISABLED people.

Clearly selfish thoughtless able bodied people complained and maybe they should be hit by a bus and made quads and then think about what a privilege it is for people to get an alternate line. Disney also has made many rides to where one can wait in line with a wheelchair and several of the alternate wait lines where just as long if not longer than the original, we waited in them, we know.