People AMAZE me

[lovebug33]

I was in an ecv due to surgery. Some people were so rude. I had people outright ask me why I was in an ecv, I was accused of using it to get to the front of the line, and several people gave me dirty looks for being in it. Then, there was the family who thought sitting in it and playing on it while I was on a ride was acceptable. I have a whole new appreciation for anybody with a permanent disability. However, there were a lot of people who were kind and helpful, so it made up for the rudeness!

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

Due to renal failure I do not make red blood cells and must have a special shot given when my RBC get to a critical low. Last trip to DL after 2 days it was decided I would need an ECV to stay up with family. On the way back to DL hotel one afternoon a "Boy" with his GF made a comment. I spoke at the GF and stated how proud her parents must be of her choice in picking this loser for a BF. You could tell she was taken back by his remark. Not sure why I said anything as I could care less what others think. I do not look sick so unless I explain why I have to rest walk rest walk slow rest others have no idea.

Don't let others ruin your time-- no way would I give an unknown power over how my days goes. If anything near that I am going to be the one making sure idiots like that have a ruined day.

Do not people realize EVC users get a totally different view of being at Disneyland. We see the bottom half of everyone. Now who would pick that if they didn't have to? enough said.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We had people making rude comments when we entered the exit of Small World with our twins (they use their strollers as wheelchairs). I was asking the CM at the entrance where we were to go with the girls & their GAC. People were yelling get in line like the rest of us & other things. I couldn't believe that people were that rude!! (they still were grumbling as our boat started on it's way).

That trip the twins only used their GAC for 2 rides.....the rest of the time, we took turns watching the twins so we could go on some rides & used the regular lines.

 

[kissesbykim]

We're leaving Wednesday and we are getting a GAC for my DS7. Just by looking at him you wouldn't know there was any problem BUT he has cancer and sensory integration dysfunction. We will be using the stroller as a wheel chair, needs shady areas and he melts down in line. I'm sure we are going to get lots of those looks...even while at WDW for his Make a Wish (his hair had started to grow back so he just looked like he had a shaved head) we got attitude from other guests. I hate the confrontations but if anyone says anything rude to me or my kids, they will get a mouthful. He really will only last a half day in the park each day anyways and I want to make sure he enjoys himself!

 

[DizNee Luver]

We're leaving Wednesday and we are getting a GAC for my DS7. Just by looking at him you wouldn't know there was any problem BUT he has cancer and sensory integration dysfunction. We will be using the stroller as a wheel chair, needs shady areas and he melts down in line. I'm sure we are going to get lots of those looks...even while at WDW for his Make a Wish (his hair had started to grow back so he just looked like he had a shaved head) we got attitude from other guests. I hate the confrontations but if anyone says anything rude to me or my kids, they will get a mouthful. He really will only last a half day in the park each day anyways and I want to make sure he enjoys himself!

As he should!!! Hope you have a *+*+*Magical*+*+* trip!!

 

[lovebug33]

And I wanted to tell them at least they get to go on rides. I felt bad that I could cut to the front of some things but I couldn't stand that long and I could ride very few things, so it cut down on the feeling bad.

 

[stubby]

People have been rude for years and will continue to be I suppose.

When I was pregnant with my middle daughter I was put on bed rest near the end of my pregnancy. I listened to doctors orders until about a month prior. She was due in January and it was Christmas time. We don't have any family and do everything for ourselves...everything. So, about a week before Christmas I went shopping for my oldest dd. I had dh take me and I stayed in a wheel chair the whole time. People would just stare and speak in low voices. It is one thing if a kid does it...but these were grown adults. I had one guy even say I was using it because I was fat...hello I was PREGNANT.


Some people just can't be taught to fit into the human race so I didn't even bother trying to explain.

 

[HappyHaunt]

I know exactly what you mean. We've gone with a family member in a wheelchair, that really needed it. But we got all kinds of dirty looks and rude comments. Some people suggested that we wait in line while our family member went through the exit only. Oh how fun and together that would be. Not to mention because of their disability being alone isn't going to work (physical as well as mental disabilities). Besides A LOT of the time it wasn't like we just get right on the ride. Sometimes the standby was shorter!

It just amazes me how people think that is their business. I'm glad my hamstring is healing up so I won't have to use one. While I don't care what other people think, it can make for an uncomfortable experience. I mean really, do they not get that maybe you'd RATHER be able to stand in line like everyone else!

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

It is really such a sad commentary on our society, to hear these experiences and how people were treated. We went to DL with my parents, who both needed to use an ECV, mom for double hip replacements, and dad from being on chemo, and we received similar treatment. The same thing occurs when people with handicap parking passes are questioned. Just because you don't have a visible disability, doesn't mean you don't have one. In fact, most people don't have a cast, or oxygen tank, etc. that they carry around.

And as a few of you mentioned, being in an EVC is not the most enjoyable way to experience DL. My parents had a difficult time navigating through the park and having people continually walking right in front of them. They would have much rathered been able to walk like everyone else, and not deal with that and staring at everyone elses backsides!

I feel especially sorry for the children who are being judged! Any child would rather be up and running around freely than in a wheelchair. These people will be judged themselves one day, and it will be at a much more important time, if you know what I mean!

Traci

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

One of my sisters did WDW in an ECV because of a brain tumor removal. She said it was a very humbling experience and she is now aware of what folks in wheelchairs, ECV's and walkers go through.

She will have to be in an ECV when she takes her son again at the end of October because her balance is still off and she is worried about how it will go because she won't look like anything is wrong unlike when her head was all wrapped up the last time.

I've told her not to worry about what others think and say and just enjoy her time with her son.

 

[lovebug33]

The nice thing is the cms are great. They always offered a hand to get me out or stopped people so I could go somewhere. The best one and most embarassing was the storybook boats. I thought I shouldn't get in there because I didn't think I could get back out. But my godbaby wanted me to go and everybody else was on a ride dad and I couldn't go on. Yes, I got stuck on the boats and dad doesn't have enough strength to lift me. So, my godbaby announces to eveybody that I'm stuck in the boat. It took two cms to get me out of that stupid ride I truly wanted to die, but listening to a 2 year old rendition of auntie stuck in the boat is worth it. He has now told everybody, including the flght attendant last night. However, I sure was grateful to those cms!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

As long as there are lines, the rudeness won't stop. We took my grandma on her last WDW at age 83. She could not walk long distances or stand for long periods of time. She went on very few rides, but we still got the evil eye from some folks in line.

 

[darph nader]

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.

 

[HappyHaunt]

darph, we've actually seen a group of teens playing and taking turns with a wheelchair. I think that is the only time I've rolled by eyes about such a thing. Those types of people give everyone else in need a bad name.

 

[cmwade77]

For reasons that I will not get into here, I need a GAC and I have to say that I have never heard these comments. I also have friends that need wheel chairs, walkers, ECVs, etc. and again, I do not hear them getting these comments. That being said, those in wheelchairs, ECVs, etc. can be stopped off to the side of the walkway, looking at a map, etc. and people will run into them and cuss them out, when the person walking was the one not paying attention.

Now if you do have someone complaining about it to you, ask them to rent a wheelchair for a day, push themselves the entire day, do not get out of the wheelchair, except to transfer to ride vehicles, transfer to the toilet (they must take the wheelchair in with them, pushing themselves until they get into the stall) and see how many attractions they can get on in a day, they will quickly find out that it is not as easy as they think. Explain that those with GAC cards generally have just a little bit lower difficulty moving out of people's way, but since their disability is not visible, no one will move out of their way. This will give them a general idea of what you go through. In addition those with GACs will wait longer on some attractions than those in the regular lines. Overall, it balances out in the long run.

Another thing to remember is that it ALWAYS easier for someone that is walking to move out of the way (even with a stroller) than it is for a person in an ECV, wheelchair or that is suing a walker or cane to move out of the way.

As for those in wheelchairs switching places and such, please note that things may not always be what they seem. ECV and wheelchair rentals are expensive and sometimes there are multiple people in a party that can walk for a while, so they will rent one ECV/wheelchair and switch off as needed throughout the day. That being said there are indeed those that abuse the system, we all see it, but in general, those of us that do need it are pretty good at catching those that are abusing the system and reporting it. Why? Because the abuse makes it harder on all of us that have real needs.

One thing that I do wish Disney would do is either print people's pictures on their GAC cards or require ID when they go to use them. I often have seen people hand their friends their GAC card and said here use my card, but I don't want to (or can't) ride.

 

[skiingfast]

OP: Just curious if you ran into Mary Niven, the VP who runs DCA. I heard a little tale of being the worst CM ever, that relates to this thread in a slight way. Was it Niven?

 

[cmwade77]

OP: Just curious if you ran into Mary Niven, the VP who runs DCA. I heard a little tale of being the worst CM ever, that relates to this thread in a slight way. Was it Niven?

I am wondering what you mean by this? Because if a VP running a park is not being friendly to those with special needs, then we need to be aware of it and report it.

 

[robinjh7]

I had major foot surgery in December--pins and plates and screws, oh my! I had a handicapped parking pass for three months, and the looks I got from some people! Heeeeelloooooo! Could they not see the huge cast, followed by the huge black boot, followed by the ugly orthotic shoe on my foot during those three months??? (But I digress.)

Over Spring Break, we went to Disneyland. I still have swelling and pain (even today), but I walked the first day. The second day I had to rent an ECV. It really is an eye opening thing! I am a young-looking almost 50-year-old. I would often decide I could stand in the line, so I would park the ECV and just get in line. I did hear comments, but the CMs were unfailingly polite if I decided I could not stand in the line and used the handicapped entrance.

I walked again the third day, but rented the ECV again the 4th. I am soooooooooooooooo thankful I don't have to use one on a daily basis! I think everyone should have to use one for a day just to experience it.

(As an aside, I flew in late January in my boot. OH. MY. GOSH. TSA is...interesting...in a boot. And the Atlanta airport required me to have a 'wheelchair' thingy and their pusher. That was an E-Ticket ride! The girl who was pushing me didn't seem to care a whit about running over people. A white-knuckle ride, indeed.)

 

[Disney Dreams]

I was in an ecv due to surgery. Some people were so rude. I had people outright ask me why I was in an ecv, I was accused od using it to get to the front of the line, and several people gave me dirty looks for being in it. Then, there was the family who thought sitting in it and playing on it while I was on a ride was acceptable. I have a whloe new appreciation forr anybody with a permanent disability. However, there were a lot of people who were kind and helpful, so it made up for the rudeness!

I am so very sorry you experienced negativity from others. Sadly, many people judge others. There has often been discussion on this very board about people in ECVs and many DIS posters have stated they've seen people using EVCs that they believe are not truly needing them for medical reasons or posting accusations that ECVs were simply being used due to being overweight when in reality the real reasons were not known. In other words: People are really good at judging the reason one might be using an ECV.

The truth is no one knows why someone is using any "aid" or what their situation may be. Try to focus on those you mentioned who were kind and helpful.

OP: Just curious if you ran into Mary Niven, the VP who runs DCA. I heard a little tale of being the worst CM ever, that relates to this thread in a slight way. Was it Niven?

Wow! That's quite a strong statement based on hearsay.

- Dreams

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

Darph, No flame here just would like to state when older people ( and those with temp ECV needs) need an EVC because they can not walk long distance, their balance is tippy, or they have issues with movement it carries over to the EVC. So operating a EVC will be hard for them. Most people do not have one before hand to "learn" the fine art of getting around without running into walls, door frames, and resort guests. My husband has ALS- Lou Gherigs so we have 3 EVC at home. Big outdoor, what I call 4 wheel cart and 2 electric wheel chairs so I know how to operate an EVC. I know they take a bit to get used to so I feel for new users.

CMmike -- glad you have not encountered some of the rudest people walking around Disneyland. I know one day they will get old--maybe and if they do that young, in good shape body is more then likely going to give out on them. What is that saying about pay backs-----.

Diznee, Oh, how I wish I would have been there. To speak like that to you and family is unexcused. You do so many wonderful things for the twins I wish others knew what a giving family you have.

AT the end of the day people being rude like that are one day gonna spout off to the wrong person.

I am glad I do not have an illness that shows. I am in awe of the disabled guests that get out and enjoy trips. I am happy to wait for next boat, next coaster seat, or take a back seat in a program so they can better see the show. I am thrilled if I can do anything to make their day better then the day before.