I have appreciated the advice in my thread about travel to WDW with two prosthetics - I think it made for a more successful trip for my father. We just returned, and halfway through the trip, I had to join him in renting an ECV after breaking a bone in my foot at the Poly and being advised at the ER not to walk for the rest of the vacation. At least I was in an area where wheelchairs are readily available, as the dr at Celebration hospital pointed out.
I rented from Buena Vista based mostly on availability. They were also very nice on the phone. I was there during a rainy period, including the Erika effects, and with the big warning tag on the ECV I tried to keep as much of the electronics on the ECV covered as possible and also parked it inside where available. It was generally not parked outside in the rain that I can think of.
I had an issue though on our last evening when I tried to ride HM with my son. I was diverted down a hallway with him because of the ECV. We waited for a bit, and then I was asked to park in a hallway. I did so, and then two more folks with ECVs came up behind me and the ride CM appeared. He asked if I could walk a short distance. I could hobble briefly at this point, but it had only been a few days since the fracture and I could not walk any significant distance. I said a short distance was okay. He then asked me and the others to follow him (I assume but don't know if he asked them the same question). He proceeded to lead us outside the exit of HM and asked us to park outside against the wall, entirely exposed to the elements. Now this was a night of such torrential rain that both the electrical parade and Wishes were cancelled. Many rides were closed. I was concerned about the ECV getting soaked, and it was very far from the entrance to the ride. I asked why we were being asked to park outside, especially in light of the weather. There were several ECVs parked inside in the hall. I was told that parking inside was a hazard, which was confusing since I was first asked to park inside and there were other ECVs lined up inside. I mentioned the weather (the tag on the ECV warned about it getting wet, and the weather was no little drizzle - again, the parade and fireworks were cancelled and many attractions were closed; these were serious downpours). I expressed a concern about being stranded if something shorted since the electronics could not get wet and I only had a plastic bag for protection; there was absolutely no way I could make it out of the park on my own two feet. Two people behind me also piped up (a husband and wife, I believe) about not wanting to park outside. They were highly resistant. I am not sure if they had personal ECVs - not sure if different models may be more sensitive. In any event, a second CM seemed to be challenging why I even was trying to ride the attraction if it was so difficult (I suppose because of the mobility issue) - which I found very off putting. I had been able to ride many rides with my children since the accident, just riding through queues or parking close by and waking very short distances. I explained that my son wanted to ride and it was our last night, and that I understood there was an accommodation for people with mobility issues and I didn't seem to be getting any accommodation here to meet my need. She said something to the effect of parking outside and walking 300 feet would meet that need. 300 feet! That was the first I heard of that, and I said so. I thought it seem far, but for all I knew there was a door I hadn't noticed and you got right on. I explained that I could not walk anything near that distance and if I had been asked if I could walk that far I would have said absolutely not. Apparently by "short distance" they meant "200-300 feet." I was told then that the ECVs parked inside were for people who could not walk more than 15 feet. (What happens then to the people who can walk 16 feet but not 200? This was odd to me.) I felt the whole situation was aggressive and did not like being challenged for wanting to ride HM, which is perhaps my favorite ride at Disney. The other couple and I shared some observations about the situation. The CMs just seemed angry and more interested in trying to keep our ECVs outside than meeting needs. I was actually saddened by this.
At San Angel Inn, I was able to park my ECV by the restaurant entrance and transfer to a chair at our table. My father cannot do this, however, and when I made the reservation months out I asked if a wheelchair could be accommodated since he can't transfer. I was told yes. The receipt we received at check in noted the wheelchair accommodation request. Yet the restaurant wasn't prepared with a table that could fit the ECV. So fine, we waited a bit; they had already led us to the table so we tried to stay out of the way while the manager made jokes about musical chairs and more than once mentioned that "this was the first he was hearing of this" (the ECV accommodation). We are then presented with the table again with two chairs hanging off the end, without table space, and expected to be grateful. I said that wouldn't work, could they find a table that would fit all of the diners? He again repeats that this is the first he is hearing about the wheelchair and he is going to need me to be more patient. At this point it has been quite awhile since we got to the table, and I would have been plenty patient if it weren't constantly insinuated that we were an imposition on his evening. We provided advance notice to try to avoid this and I thought the response was unprofessional. We have been eating at this restaurant since the 80s - including with an ECV - and have never experienced anything like this. I did respond that I was trying to remain patient but losing that patience. Perhaps I should not have, but my demeanor remained calm at all times. Eventually they tacked on another table to lengthen ours and we were able to sit and order. The rest of the meal was fine and once the manager asked if everything was okay. Still, this left a bad taste for me. I don't know what else we could have done to prepare the restaurant - beside mentioning the accommodation when making the original reservation, it was reconfirmed upon check in.
Both of these were uncomfortable situations. I know Disney isn't utopia but I have considered its efforts to accommodate various needs without making people feel uncomfortable a strength. I just did not feel like that was accomplished in these situations. In both we felt decidedly uncomfortable. I didn't complain to Disney or anything, just wondering how to avoid issues like this again. We will be at HM again with my dad, and will possibly return to San Angel. It is a family tradition to dine there, even though this last visit wasn't so successful in a sense. We did still like our food! Maybe the manager was just a bit green.
I rented from Buena Vista based mostly on availability. They were also very nice on the phone. I was there during a rainy period, including the Erika effects, and with the big warning tag on the ECV I tried to keep as much of the electronics on the ECV covered as possible and also parked it inside where available. It was generally not parked outside in the rain that I can think of.
I had an issue though on our last evening when I tried to ride HM with my son. I was diverted down a hallway with him because of the ECV. We waited for a bit, and then I was asked to park in a hallway. I did so, and then two more folks with ECVs came up behind me and the ride CM appeared. He asked if I could walk a short distance. I could hobble briefly at this point, but it had only been a few days since the fracture and I could not walk any significant distance. I said a short distance was okay. He then asked me and the others to follow him (I assume but don't know if he asked them the same question). He proceeded to lead us outside the exit of HM and asked us to park outside against the wall, entirely exposed to the elements. Now this was a night of such torrential rain that both the electrical parade and Wishes were cancelled. Many rides were closed. I was concerned about the ECV getting soaked, and it was very far from the entrance to the ride. I asked why we were being asked to park outside, especially in light of the weather. There were several ECVs parked inside in the hall. I was told that parking inside was a hazard, which was confusing since I was first asked to park inside and there were other ECVs lined up inside. I mentioned the weather (the tag on the ECV warned about it getting wet, and the weather was no little drizzle - again, the parade and fireworks were cancelled and many attractions were closed; these were serious downpours). I expressed a concern about being stranded if something shorted since the electronics could not get wet and I only had a plastic bag for protection; there was absolutely no way I could make it out of the park on my own two feet. Two people behind me also piped up (a husband and wife, I believe) about not wanting to park outside. They were highly resistant. I am not sure if they had personal ECVs - not sure if different models may be more sensitive. In any event, a second CM seemed to be challenging why I even was trying to ride the attraction if it was so difficult (I suppose because of the mobility issue) - which I found very off putting. I had been able to ride many rides with my children since the accident, just riding through queues or parking close by and waking very short distances. I explained that my son wanted to ride and it was our last night, and that I understood there was an accommodation for people with mobility issues and I didn't seem to be getting any accommodation here to meet my need. She said something to the effect of parking outside and walking 300 feet would meet that need. 300 feet! That was the first I heard of that, and I said so. I thought it seem far, but for all I knew there was a door I hadn't noticed and you got right on. I explained that I could not walk anything near that distance and if I had been asked if I could walk that far I would have said absolutely not. Apparently by "short distance" they meant "200-300 feet." I was told then that the ECVs parked inside were for people who could not walk more than 15 feet. (What happens then to the people who can walk 16 feet but not 200? This was odd to me.) I felt the whole situation was aggressive and did not like being challenged for wanting to ride HM, which is perhaps my favorite ride at Disney. The other couple and I shared some observations about the situation. The CMs just seemed angry and more interested in trying to keep our ECVs outside than meeting needs. I was actually saddened by this.
At San Angel Inn, I was able to park my ECV by the restaurant entrance and transfer to a chair at our table. My father cannot do this, however, and when I made the reservation months out I asked if a wheelchair could be accommodated since he can't transfer. I was told yes. The receipt we received at check in noted the wheelchair accommodation request. Yet the restaurant wasn't prepared with a table that could fit the ECV. So fine, we waited a bit; they had already led us to the table so we tried to stay out of the way while the manager made jokes about musical chairs and more than once mentioned that "this was the first he was hearing of this" (the ECV accommodation). We are then presented with the table again with two chairs hanging off the end, without table space, and expected to be grateful. I said that wouldn't work, could they find a table that would fit all of the diners? He again repeats that this is the first he is hearing about the wheelchair and he is going to need me to be more patient. At this point it has been quite awhile since we got to the table, and I would have been plenty patient if it weren't constantly insinuated that we were an imposition on his evening. We provided advance notice to try to avoid this and I thought the response was unprofessional. We have been eating at this restaurant since the 80s - including with an ECV - and have never experienced anything like this. I did respond that I was trying to remain patient but losing that patience. Perhaps I should not have, but my demeanor remained calm at all times. Eventually they tacked on another table to lengthen ours and we were able to sit and order. The rest of the meal was fine and once the manager asked if everything was okay. Still, this left a bad taste for me. I don't know what else we could have done to prepare the restaurant - beside mentioning the accommodation when making the original reservation, it was reconfirmed upon check in.
Both of these were uncomfortable situations. I know Disney isn't utopia but I have considered its efforts to accommodate various needs without making people feel uncomfortable a strength. I just did not feel like that was accomplished in these situations. In both we felt decidedly uncomfortable. I didn't complain to Disney or anything, just wondering how to avoid issues like this again. We will be at HM again with my dad, and will possibly return to San Angel. It is a family tradition to dine there, even though this last visit wasn't so successful in a sense. We did still like our food! Maybe the manager was just a bit green.
