People AMAZE me

[Minuet888]

wow, my son who is autistic uses a GAC card and we have never gotten remarks or bad looks.
Before that my mother who uses her own ECV for a heart condition (does't look sick) never got remarks or looks either.
For the person that said ECV people Bowl other people over, that may be true in some cases but getting around in the ECV is hard there are people that walk and dart right in front of you causing you to stop immediately in front of them. Then there are those that just won't move out of your way.

 

[darph nader]

Later Y'all. In the immortal words of Edward R Morrow. "Good night and Good luck"
I am outta here.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

For the person that said ECV people Bowl other people over, that may be true in some cases but getting around in the ECV is hard there are people that walk and dart right in front of you causing you to stop immediately in front of them. Then there are those that just won't move out of your way.

amen and AMEN!!! people look straight ahead and up...then NEVER look down and most of my issues have been that people dart in front of me or they STOP random right in the middle of chaos...Im not a mind reader..I have no idea you're going to do that...sheesh!!

 

[uncle duck]

a close buddy and i went to a movie on fathers day. he's a paraplegic so i sat in one of the handicap seats next to his chair. an older couple came in and stopped and looked at us. the man gave us the stink eye. they sat in the row right in front of us and the man kept looking at us until the show started. what was my friend suppose to do. park his chair some where else and have me carry him to a seat so they could have their usual seats, or better yet, cripples shouldn't go in the first place.

I have a bad leg and use a cane. when i go to DLR i use an ecv for the long streches but walk the short distance. people look at me and see how big and mean looking i am that they don't say anything to my face and i just don't care and i have a great time.

 

[Teki]

I live with the assumption that any one that could walk would choose to. I believe that those of us who are unable to stand in line would much rather have the ability to walk or stand or not have what ever it has to put them in the wheel chair or ECV to begin with then not wait in line. I also live with the philosophy that if I REALLY wanted to go through the exit I to could get a GAC and rent a wheel chair its not as though they ask to many questions. It really bothers me when people get up set at handicapped people going through an exit I dont understand why others need to be so hurtful.

 

[Teki]

I know I'm gonna get flamed for this. If I may play the Devils Advocate. I've seen times where people in ECVs are bowling over/running down other folks.It's on youtube if you don't believe me.
Witnessed this myself some years ago when 3 teen boys took turns riding a wheelchair and running into stuff.
I have 'no' problem with someone in 'true' need but it's getting to a point where 'some' people rub others peoples noses in their problems.
Of course being rude is getting to be a fact of life.

I agree some times people in ECV's are also rude, However its been my experience that strollers are worse every time I go I get at least one bruised heel. This time a mom came barreling at me from the right cutting across the flow of the crowd my DBF pulled me out of the way and shot her a dirty look the mom actually said I have kids I have the right of way. and I dont mean that to imply everyone with a stroller but my experience has been to avoid strollers lol.

 

[kimgg]

I would just like to say that so many of these posts have made me cry at work today. People should be so grateful their children/selves/loved ones are not in the position to need help to get around. I have bad knees but b/c of these issues I am too afraid to even think about a wheelchair (while my son always wants me to get one, he for some reason thinks it would be cool to push me ).

The people making time to criticize others they know NOTHING about makes me sick. For anyone this has happened to, I'm sorry . It's also a good reminder to be more considerate, it is so easy to get in a rush and hurry around ECV's or wheelchairs and make someone else's day harder.

 

[robinjh7]

I just have to tell y'all a story:

WDW several years ago. My mother (age 65 then) had had knee surgery and needed to use a wheelchair for the longer walks but was fine for shorter distances and standing in line etc.

We were watching one of the parades, and my then 10-year-old was sitting in her wheelchair in the back of the crowd because he didn't care about actually seeing the parade. (We'd given him Bonine so he didn't get sick on "Mission: Space", and he was still tired from it.)

I was paying no attention but there was a guy in front of me who was making everyone move so that 'the kid in the wheelchair' could come up front and be able to see. When he started to push my son up there, my son jumped out of the chair and ran off! The guy almost had a heart attack!!!

After he regained his composure, we talked, and I found out that his young brother was in a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy, and he was very protective of other people in wheelchairs (especially children) because of how rude people are to his brother. What a great guy to watch out for others that way!

 

[McQueenofHrts]

Recently, we went to DL during one of its busiest days. I felt bad for the people on an ECV or in a wheelchair who tried to manuever through the crowds. It was impossible to see and move through the hoards of people without a stroller, ECV or wheelchair. (In fact, we didn't rent a stroller for my 4yr old because of this.) Anyway, I was coming through a crowd with my 7 yr old in tow when emerges from another direction comes a wheelchair with what looked to be a nice grandma being pushed by her son who looked to be around 50 years old. I am sure the poor man didn't see me because I didn't see him until the last minute. He apologized for "cutting me off". I apologized too, but told him no apology was necessary as we couldn't see each other until part of the crowd cleared at the last second. Then my son and I created room for him to at least be able to move an additional 10 feet. I could tell the poor man had hit his limit pushing the wheelchair through the crowds. In contrast, a day later, I was walking down main street and a stroller ran over the back of my heel. It really HURT! I turned around to look at the person and the woman just glared back. No apology. No look of "OMG, I just hurt a person!" like I would. So, I kept on looking at her. Finally, she said, "Ok, I am sorry!" Now, I understand stroller accidents happen, but when I have accidentally ran over someone's heel, I ALWAYS apologize. This lady had to get the look of death until she apologized. I don't mean to be pessimistic about society and its manners, but it doesn't seem right when someone apologizes for something clearly not his fault, versus someone who is at fault who doesn't apologize?

Needless to say, I used these experiences as teachable moments for my 7yr old son.

 

[cmwade77]

I just have to tell y'all a story:

WDW several years ago. My mother (age 65 then) had had knee surgery and needed to use a wheelchair for the longer walks but was fine for shorter distances and standing in line etc.

We were watching one of the parades, and my then 10-year-old was sitting in her wheelchair in the back of the crowd because he didn't care about actually seeing the parade. (We'd given him Bonine so he didn't get sick on "Mission: Space", and he was still tired from it.)

I was paying no attention but there was a guy in front of me who was making everyone move so that 'the kid in the wheelchair' could come up front and be able to see. When he started to push my son up there, my son jumped out of the chair and ran off! The guy almost had a heart attack!!!

After he regained his composure, we talked, and I found out that his young brother was in a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy, and he was very protective of other people in wheelchairs (especially children) because of how rude people are to his brother. What a great guy to watch out for others that way!

We need more people like this in this world!

 

[lovebug33]

Recently, we went to DL during one of its busiest days. I felt bad for the people on an ECV or in a wheelchair who tried to manuever through the crowds. It was impossible to see and move through the hoards of people without a stroller, ECV or wheelchair.

I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the trip trying not to run over people. I sometimes had to push my way through just because people don't move. It really was difficult. I'll tell you I am mostly back to normal and will be fine when I go to WDW this summer and am SOOOOO looking forward to walking!

 

[jimsanfilippo]

As someone who has gone to WDW many times, all for long stays, I can tell you that my first trip last year to DL was very eye-opening. The people are simply more rude at DL than at WDW. You can disagree, but I saw many, many examples of this in just three days there.

When we first arrived at DL I needed to turn in my vouchers for tickets. The ticket booth lady mentioned to me that she was from the same city (in WI) as my wife and even went to the same high school. I turned and said to my wife, who was about 15 ft away, that this lady went to her high school and was immediately mocked by a couple passing by her.

While in DL the CA closed and everyone from there rushed over to DL. I was standing next to a street lamp with my wife figuring out what to do next when a lady with a stroller ran a wheel into my foot over and over again until I looked down to see what was hitting me. I looked up at her and she just stared me in the eye and kept ramming her stroller into my foot until I moved.

While standing in a very long line for the Toy Story ride a lady with her 3 kids simply stepped right in front of my family in line. My wife told her this wasn't the end of the line and she replied, "if I walk to the end of the line the line will just keep getting longer while I'm walking there," like this was some kind of justification. After a few akward moments she finally angrily left the line to go to the end.

Worst of all, we were in the roped off handicapped section of the parade route (my mother-in-law was in a wheelchair) and an old man pushing his elderly wife yelled at a couple and their daughter in a stroller (who was bald and obviously had cancer) to get out of the handicapped area. They explained their daughter's condition but the cranky old man literally chased them out of that section.

I can tell you that I have not experienced one thing remotely as bad as these things in all my years of going to WDW. It's just a different, much less friendly, place.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Last year on of my daughters had to get stitches because of a stroller nazi and the family was removed from the park by security.

Jack

 

[disneyrand]

Last year on of my daughters had to get stitches because of a stroller nazi and the family was removed from the park by security.

Jack

One of my friends had his 4 year old daughter's leg run into by a woman he described as "Ursula's fat sister". The lady never apologized and just kept trying to push through. He said he was pretty sure that she had a couple of broken toes by the time they left (yes, he stomped on her foot).

Can't say that I exactly agree with his tactics, but I won't shed a tear for the rude stroller nazi, either.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

It's funny..You'd think that having the ECV would help people realize that there's a handicap involved. My brother is mentally handicapped. Severely enough that he's 24 and is pretty much on the same level (in some ways less than) my 5 year old DD. He couldn't live on his own. He isn't allowed to cook. He does not really look handicapped. I mean, you can tell if you talk to him for like..oh 20 seconds..but just by VIEWING him..you can't tell.

Imagine taking your then 8 year old who can NOT stand in lines... Who is pretty mentally handicapped but looks 'normal'. He was issued a sticker back then so CM's would let him in the handicapped lines. We got yelled at and called horrible things for being 'cheaters' and 'liars'. I was only 12 at the time but I could see the pain in my mom's eyes. Being attacked at disneyland is pretty horrible for a 12 year old..let alone a handicapped 8 year old who doesn't 'get' why everyone hates him. Being a mom, I can't imagine what my mom felt.

This thread proves that there's so much more than anyone can 'see'. I don't know why our society is so quick to be angry at something so stupid as someone getting on a ride faster. The entitlement in MY generation is horrible, I shudder to think of my poor kids' generation.

FTR, it hurt our feelings so bad we stopped going to the handicapped entrances even tho it made my brother throw fits and have meltdowns. It made our trip a whole lot harder. (and really, it made it a LOT less enjoyable for those in line with us LOL)

 

[HappyHaunt]

It's funny..You'd think that having the ECV would help people realize that there's a handicap involved. My brother is mentally handicapped. Severely enough that he's 24 and is pretty much on the same level (in some ways less than) my 5 year old DD. He couldn't live on his own. He isn't allowed to cook. He does not really look handicapped. I mean, you can tell if you talk to him for like..oh 20 seconds..but just by VIEWING him..you can't tell.

Imagine taking your then 8 year old who can NOT stand in lines... Who is pretty mentally handicapped but looks 'normal'. He was issued a sticker back then so CM's would let him in the handicapped lines. We got yelled at and called horrible things for being 'cheaters' and 'liars'. I was only 12 at the time but I could see the pain in my mom's eyes. Being attacked at disneyland is pretty horrible for a 12 year old..let alone a handicapped 8 year old who doesn't 'get' why everyone hates him. Being a mom, I can't imagine what my mom felt.

This thread proves that there's so much more than anyone can 'see'. I don't know why our society is so quick to be angry at something so stupid as someone getting on a ride faster. The entitlement in MY generation is horrible, I shudder to think of my poor kids' generation.

FTR, it hurt our feelings so bad we stopped going to the handicapped entrances even tho it made my brother throw fits and have meltdowns. It made our trip a whole lot harder. (and really, it made it a LOT less enjoyable for those in line with us LOL)

That is my brother too, only now he's also in a wheel chair, but still we always get looks. We get a GAC for him not only for the wheel chair but also because he can't handle the lines. I think people would really rather him use a different entrance then have a melt down in line. It can be really hard and makes the trip less fun when you have people giving you those looks and comments all the time.

We just got back from DL (not with my brother this time), and I'd say the strollers were MUCH worse. People use those things to push their way to the front of crowds. Not caring if they run people over in the process. Even while leaving the park they'd jump the hand stamp line just because they have a stroller, and needed to go through the middle (um how about waiting with the rest of your party first?). It amazed me how people thought just because they had little ones in strollers they should take priority over others. I was never that way when my son was little!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I'm not that way either (or I try hard not to be!) The only people I've plowed over were the ones trying to race in front of me and cut me off LOL. I don't do it on purpose but I'm not gonna give my kid whiplash for them either hahaha!! Common courtesy is a dying art

 

[JennyN]

I have no problem with people who need wheelchairs and will assist if I can but a couple of years ago we were getting on the monorail at DTD, as we were going up the stairs a man and woman got in the elevator, she was in the ECV, as they got out of the lift to get on the monorail it was the man in the EVC. Sometimes I wonder if anyone can just go and hire one.

 

[taylor3297]

This last trip I had debated on whether to use a wheel chair or an ECV since my doctor had put me in a removable cast and told me walking would be hard. In the end I left the removable cast at home and just walked the parks and figured if I really needed something, I would rent something a wheel chair since I knew I didn't know how to operate an ECV.

I never really paid any attention to who were using wheelchairs or EVC. I just don't notice those things. Well on our last evening as we were shopping at World of Disney, I had bent down to look at something on the bottom shelf, well an lady in an EVC came around the corner, at a rather fast pace, and ended up knocking me down. Now yes it is my fault for not having my cast on, but did she say she was sorry? No! She yelled at me that I should have moved out of her way. How was I do that if I didn't really notice her until it was too late.

It is people like that that give ECV users a bad rep.

 

[starshine514]

I have no problem with people who need wheelchairs and will assist if I can but a couple of years ago we were getting on the monorail at DTD, as we were going up the stairs a man and woman got in the elevator, she was in the ECV, as they got out of the lift to get on the monorail it was the man in the EVC. Sometimes I wonder if anyone can just go and hire one.

You can just hire one; however, I wouldn't necessarily say that the people you encountered were 'faking' it. Most ECv users can walk - otherwise, they'd probably be in an electric wheelchair (or manual, depending on their condition). I can't parallel park my car, so I always switch drivers and let DH do that. I'm guessing you witnessed a similar situation in the ECV world - where the person using the ECV is unable to navigate in certain situations.