POP = Walmart?

[kapoof]

I get what you are saying, but I still love the place. However, I wouldn't like to go to Disney with small kids no matter where I stay.

My daughter is 13 and she loves Pop. Yes, the food court can get crowded, but I always got a seat and if you go on the off hours, it is fine. The bus on the way back is usually standing room only, but I can handle it.

I just think Pop has so many positives that they out weigh the negatives. I will be going for my 4th visit this August. I stay 10 days when I go and really love this place. I agree, it is not for everyone, but to me it is colorful and the atmosphere puts me in a vacation mood. I reccomended this place to a co-worker because I loved it so much and when she got back, she could not believe how I could like it. She hated everything about it. So you really have to check it out for yourself.

I already booked my August trip to my favoriate resort in the world.

well put stemikger..

 

[dimimi]

I found it bothersome that a
person on a scooter would drive to the front of the line and take about ten people travel with them all the way to the front. First of all, why cant they wait in line and get the special treatment when it is their turn? Why do all of their party go to the front with them? And them see over half of them get off the scooter and walk on the bus pretty normally.


***I have to agree.
The scooter should have to wait in the line with everyone else. I also think Disney needs LINES defined for people to wait in. I have to say, many people use scooters for many reasons besides an inability to walk. Many people have other physical issues which prevent them from standing or walking long distances, not just getting up.

Does anyone know, why don't the scooters and their party, wait in line?

 

[minnie61650]

.....I have heard several people, even acquaintances of mine mention that they were going to be using a wheelchair while at Disney and would be sure to get their group to the front of all the lines. .......

I really am not trying to be rude, I just wish that we could all show a little more restraint sometimes and not automatically assume the worst of some posters.

First of all I would to thank you for kind words and understanding.

I agree there are still a lot of people who think that renting a WC or ECV will make the wait times a lot shorted.

They are Misinformed.



Back in the 70's and 80's if someone in a WC they basically got front of the line and they were able to get on the rides at the exit and not have to wait in the standby line at all.

Since the 90's there are just a few rides and attractions with shorter waits. Peter Pan, Snow White and IASW (unless the WC/EVC needs the accessible boat) are the few I can think of offhand.

Most likely those that thought renting a WC/EVC would cut their wait times will find out in a couple of days that there are more disadvantages to being in a WC/EVC when at WDW than are advantages.

Next let me say that yes, the buses do have front of the line because WDW has net yet found a way to mainstream the bus queues yet.

So the wait is often shorter during less busy times.

During busy times it averages about the same as the standby line or perhaps a little longer since there are only 2 tie down spaces on each bus. Often when the bus arrives the spaces are already filled or there are others ahead of me in WC/EVC's and they will take the available spots so I may have to wait for a 2 ed or 3rd bus. Sometimes there are spaces but the lift is broken so I wait the next bus. Also remember the WC/EVC's are the last off the bus so most of the time that was saved getting on the bus first is spent waiting to off the bus.

ADVANTAGE:
So maybe renting a WC/EVC for front of the bus during the slow season might be small advantage.

As I said before if someone thinks that renting a WC/EVC thing that wait times for rides and attractions will be shorter they will be sadly disappointed since there are very few rides where the wait is shorter. Most rides are mainstreamed and the wait for WC/EVC's is about the same and some of the rides and attractions the wait is actually longer.

Since the Studios and AK were built after ADA most of those rides are mainstreamed and the WC/EVC's wait in the same line as the able bodied guests.
Some of the rides at the MK and Epcot have HA entrances at the exit. Some of those shorter waits so like SSE the wait can be much longer for the WC/EVC than the standby line.
Sometimes most of way the WC/ EVC and up to 5 members of their party are pulled out of the line because the able bodied loading area is not accessible them.

They are Not going to the front of the line, but rather to another area to wait.


Because of fire codes a limited amount of WC/EVC guests are allowed on the ride at any time so even when the ride is a walk on for able bodied guests DH and I have 30 minutes or more for our turn.

The same with Safari Line.
WE wait in the same line with the able bodied guests then right at the end we are pulled aside to board the HA "jeep". While other "jeeps" are pulling out one after the other we are still are still waiting on the "jeep" up to 40 minutes for more guests to fill the jeep.

Shows:

There are limited amount of spaces for WC/EVC's in the shows -- Little Mermaid only has 8 spaces for WC/EVC's so even though I my be near the front of the line and the theater is not full to able bodied guests when they close the doors I may need to wait for the next show.

Also most of the HA seating for most of the shows .is in the back of the theater.
I am not complaining as I am grateful they are accessible to me. I am just pointing out that using WC/ EVC is not a real advantage for the shows.

EVC users have to leave the EVC outside and transfer to a WC for several rides.
Some of those rides are TOT, PoTC,Stitch,Universe of Energy.

The RR and TTA are not accessible to me.

In conclusion the only real advantage I have when I use my EVC at WDW is that I have a place to sit while touring the parks.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[minnie61650]

See, I don't really think that's fair. If the rule is 5 people, than the drivers should enforce it and it should be posted somewhere. I think it would create a lot less hard feelings. I can understand why people that had just waited in line for 35 minutes with tired children and didn't get to board a bus because 10 people with an ESV just showed up and got to board ahead of them would be upset. That's really not fair.

If the 5 person rule was posted for all to see and enforced, I think people waiting in lines would be much more understanding and patient.

I agree.

I think the posting of the policy would help.

I think it would help if able guests knew that when WC's and ECV's are pulled from a mainstream they are NOt being taken to the front of the line but rather to another area ( often the exit) where they can wait in another line o board the ride in accessible area.

What a lot of guests do not understand is the regular boarding area for most rides have a enterance and an exit.

For those of us who transfer to the ride we need to have the WC/EVC waiting at the exit when we disenbark from the ride and that is why we are often pulled from the main line to board at the exit.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[minnie61650]

.....
***I have to agree.
The scooter should have to wait in the line with everyone else. I also think Disney needs LINES defined for people to wait in. I have to say, many people use scooters for many reasons besides an inability to walk. Many people have other physical issues which prevent them from standing or walking long distances, not just getting up.

Does anyone know, why don't the scooters and their party, wait in line?

The simle reason is the bus lines at WDW are NOT Handicapped accessible.

Please see post # 170 of this thread a couple of pages back.

I posted a quote from SueM in MN (who is the moderator of disABILITIES board) where she wrote why WC's and ECV's cannot remain in the standby bus line.

One of the reasons is an EVC needs 5 feet of space to make the turns and the bus queues are not wide enough.

Post #170 of this thread should give you better understanding of why WC's and EVC's wait in a seperate line where the back door of the bus will be when the bus stops.

 

[Suzibrat]

I also feel like there are more and more wheelchairs around also, like others have said. I understand injury or illness, but seriously people, if you're using a wheelchair due to obesity, get walking- and start with WDW. No wonder America is becoming fatter and fatter.

This has got to be one of the meanest things I have ever seen on these boards. What right have you to judge?????? So what if there are people in wheelchairs, who cares if they are obese, disabled, or look like they don't need one. They shouldn't have to worry about what other people are thinking of them. No one knows what goes on inside another person and those using wheelchairs and EVCs shouldn't have to fill out a survey to hand to every guest who looks at them thru scrutinizing eyes. We all go to Disney to have a great time and everyone is entitled to that magic.

 

[elmom]

Why dont all you people making judgements about disabilities, scooters and w/cs just be happy it wasnt your son run down by a car on his way to school, or be glad you dont have severe arthritis or be happy you dont have lung disease?

The 5 person rule is grand...what if the disabled person has 5 kids and their wife/husband. Who gets to stay behind. We have 4 kids and want more...

Just quit being so self centered. We dont *get* to skip the line, we are not allowed to get on and off as we see fit. They do it to make their lives easier. We gladly wait in line but are often pulled out of it for the reasons stated above.

 

[elmom]

This has got to be one of the meanest things I have ever seen on these boards. What right have you to judge?????? So what if there are people in wheelchairs, who cares if they are obese, disabled, or look like they don't need one. They shouldn't have to worry about what other people are thinking of them. No one knows what goes on inside another person and those using wheelchairs and EVCs shouldn't have to fill out a survey to hand to every guest who looks at them thru scrutinizing eyes. We all go to Disney to have a great time and everyone is entitled to that magic.

agreed...I havent been here long but that sure is awfully heartless.

 

[Lilysmom]

Why dont all you people making judgements about disabilities, scooters and w/cs just be happy it wasnt your son run down by a car on his way to school, or be glad you dont have severe arthritis or be happy you dont have lung disease?

The 5 person rule is grand...what if the disabled person has 5 kids and their wife/husband. Who gets to stay behind. We have 4 kids and want more...

Just quit being so self centered. We dont *get* to skip the line, we are not allowed to get on and off as we see fit. They do it to make their lives easier. We gladly wait in line but are often pulled out of it for the reasons stated above.

You know... you are a pretty angry sounding person. Maybe you need to talk to someone about that. Every post you have made in this thread is just nasty. Nobody on this thead said (or even insinuated for that matter) that being disabled is fun. I didn't see one person crying in their cheerios over the fact that they couldn't have rheumitoid arthritis or be a parapalegic or have a lung disease so they could get a wheelchair or ECV and "get to the front of the line." Maybe YOU (or I believe it is your husband that is disabled) are not abusing the system but there ARE people who do and that makes it an inconvenience to both the ABLE bodied person as well as the person/people TRULY requiring assistance (such as yourself.)

Also, let's be honest about the party of 5 rule. It's not enforced (just like a host of other Disney rules) so you can do what you please. Go ahead and have 100 children. But when you, your DH and your children who are over the age of 18 get dirty looks for not wanting to split up then don't start griping about dirty looks. My SIL has MS and uses a WC. My mother has a spinal condition and also uses one. When we went to WDW last year we were a group of 16 and you know what???? WE SPLIT UP. My DH and FIL went with my SIL. My father went with my mother. I stayed with our three children (along with my sisters, brother and their significant others) and rode another bus. You know why? BECAUSE I COULD. I certainly wasn't going to be any help to those who are wheelchair bound in my party with three kids wrapped around my legs. If you CAN split up a larger party you SHOULD. That is the polite thing to do. If all of your children are minors and you CAN'T split up THEN DON'T.

Just like some able bodied people are RUDE and judgemental some disabled people are RUDE and SOME able bodied people FAKE being disabled. That's the way it is.

 

[minnie61650]

....
The 5 person rule is grand...what if the disabled person has 5 kids and their wife/husband. Who gets to stay behind. We have 4 kids and want more...

There are a few exceptions to the rule in cases where there are a # of minor children or a make a wish child ; otherwise the CM's monitoring the ride will ask how many in the party and if there are more than 5 plus the WC/ ECV guest they will ask the party to please split up.

 

[Lilysmom]

This has got to be one of the meanest things I have ever seen on these boards. What right have you to judge?????? So what if there are people in wheelchairs, who cares if they are obese, disabled, or look like they don't need one. They shouldn't have to worry about what other people are thinking of them. No one knows what goes on inside another person and those using wheelchairs and EVCs shouldn't have to fill out a survey to hand to every guest who looks at them thru scrutinizing eyes. We all go to Disney to have a great time and everyone is entitled to that magic.

I'll tell you what the difference is. Someone who is disabled due to a genetic issue or an accident has no choice in the matter. A parapelgic isn't going to be able to turn around and say hmmmmm today I'll just stop sitting in this wheelchair and get up and walk. Someone who is disabled due to obesity IS in control of the situation. There are many things available (medical procedures, diet and exercise changes) that can alleviate their condition. If you (not you specifically general "you") CHOOSE to be disabled by not exercising or eating correctly and having your weight reach the point where you are unable to walk then that is YOUR choice but you can't very well expect sympathy when it is a controllable situation.

Like I said every single one of you can go to Disney and rent wheelchairs and ECV's and it wouldn't bother me one bit because I'm going to enjoy my vacation and spending time with my family no matter what. If you need them you need them and if you don't you don't and nobody will no except for you. But the same way it is important for able bodied people to understand the life of a disabled person in WDW it is just as important for some common courtesy to be shown the other way.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

THink this thread is almost closed.....

 

[eliza61]

Not going to get into a "them vs us" arguement or even comment on some other post.

Op,
One of the great things about Disney is that there is such a range of resorts. If the values are not your style, that's cool. I hope you have magically vacations at the other resorts.

 

[jerinknox]

If you weigh 400lb are you considered handicapped?

60% of the people I saw last week in ECVs where extrmely over weight.

Before you know it, Disney will just hand everyone keys as they walk in the door.....

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

Hmmm.. how easy is it to exercise when you are disabled? I bet doing pilates is out of the question. Maybe some yoga? Or maybe strength training and jogging. Gee I wonder why a lot of disabled people are overweight? hmmmm... I can't figure it out.

 

[akastitch@comcast.ne]

Why can't people voice thier OPINION w/out everyone getting up in arms?! An opinion is someone's viewpoint not actual fact! Why can't we just respect other opinions regardless of whether or not we agree w/them?!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hmmm.. how easy is it to exercise when you are disabled? I bet doing pilates is out of the question. Maybe some yoga? Or maybe strength training and jogging. Gee I wonder why a lot of disabled people are overweight? hmmmm... I can't figure it out.

I'm a paraplegic and I work out. It's not out of the question for everyone who is disabled.

 

[tzolkin]

i love how people think that they can tell what's wrong with someone. if i were overweight and disabled i would be extremely sensitive to comments like this because i would have to spend my entire life thinking that every passerby was assuming that i was in a wheelchair just because i'm fat and too lazy to walk.

my grandmother had this same issue. she was overweight and began to have problems walking. over a period of time she used a walker and then spent more and more time in a wheelchair. (of course, she also gained weight as she became less active.) even her doctor told her that her problems with walking were just because she was "fat and lazy" (this was honestly a quote). well, it turned out that she had a tumor on her spine that had grown over this period of time. she was eventually completely paralyzed from the waist down and died from kidney/bladder complications of her catheter.

i know this is OT, but the whole thread has gone there and this issue of using wheelchairs because you're overweight is just really irritating to me.
my MIL is over 350lbs and she walks everywhere. she is very active and does exercise and eats healthy foods. i guess when she's recovering from knee surgery everyone will just assume that she's "fat and lazy" too.

 

[Disneylvr]

I'll tell you what the difference is. Someone who is disabled due to a genetic issue or an accident has no choice in the matter. A parapelgic isn't going to be able to turn around and say hmmmmm today I'll just stop sitting in this wheelchair and get up and walk. Someone who is disabled due to obesity IS in control of the situation. There are many things available (medical procedures, diet and exercise changes) that can alleviate their condition. If you (not you specifically general "you") CHOOSE to be disabled by not exercising or eating correctly and having your weight reach the point where you are unable to walk then that is YOUR choice but you can't very well expect sympathy when it is a controllable situation.

Like I said every single one of you can go to Disney and rent wheelchairs and ECV's and it wouldn't bother me one bit because I'm going to enjoy my vacation and spending time with my family no matter what. If you need them you need them and if you don't you don't and nobody will no except for you. But the same way it is important for able bodied people to understand the life of a disabled person in WDW it is just as important for some common courtesy to be shown the other way.

However it shouldn't be up to a stranger to make judgement on who is CHOOSING to be disabled and who is not. Disney makes those decisions and we have to respect them, period.

 

[minnie61650]

....
Before you know it, Disney will just hand everyone keys as they walk in the door.....

Sorry, I do not see Disney ever handing those keys over as guests walk in the door.

Those keys are quite pricey. $35 a day plus a $5 deposit at the present time.

Also ECV guests have very few perks and a lot of disadvanges.

The biggest perk an EVC rider is a place to sit while touring the parks.


I hate using an EVC at WDW. I cannot look around and enjoy the sceanery and the views while driving my WVC.

My view is mostly of other guests backsides.

I have to watch those those giests very cafefully because most of them don't see me (I am usually below their line of vision) and they often walk right in front me so I have I have to concentrate on the guests surrounding me instead of enjoying the park views.

I hate not being able to walk down Main Street holding my DH's or Grandson's hand.


Believe me it is not easy or fun to drive an EVC at WDW.

Why do I drive one ?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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Because without the EVC WDW would not be accessible to me.

Just my 2 cents.