Power wheelchair not allow on hotel sidewalk?

[Justin Jett]

On December 30, 2013, I parked my wheelchair on the edge of the sidewalk on the beach at the Polynesian, in order to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. There was a manual wheelchair parked nearby on the same edge of the sidewalk. Plenty of sidewalk behind both chairs. About 10 minutes before the fireworks, a cast member in a suit tells me that my chair is "blocking the sidewalk" and I could not stay on the sidewalk. I agree to move. Since the noise from fireworks bothers me, I decided to go back in the hotel. My friends who were with me say that the cast member did not ask the girl in the manual chair to move. It all worked out for the best, because the fireworks were extremely loud and very close to the beach. That said, I am wondering why I was singled out. Especially since my chair was intentionally designed to be within Disney's approved dimensions, and there was plenty of room behind me.

I do not consider this a bad experience. The cast member did ask nicely and did offer me the grass. It was my choice to go inside. In light of the changes in Disney's disability policies and procedures, I am just wondering about why this was done. Disney has always been very special because of how disabilities have been managed. I am very protective of those standards. This just has me wondering what I need to be aware of going forward. Not angry. More confused.

 

[disney david]

On December 30, 2013, I parked my wheelchair on the edge of the sidewalk on the beach at the Polynesian, in order to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. There was a manual wheelchair parked nearby on the same edge of the sidewalk. Plenty of sidewalk behind both chairs. About 10 minutes before the fireworks, a cast member in a suit tells me that my chair is "blocking the sidewalk" and I could not stay on the sidewalk. I agree to move. Since the noise from fireworks bothers me, I decided to go back in the hotel. My friends who were with me say that the cast member did not ask the girl in the manual chair to move. It all worked out for the best, because the fireworks were extremely loud and very close to the beach. That said, I am wondering why I was singled out. Especially since my chair was intentionally designed to be within Disney's approved dimensions, and there was plenty of room behind me.

I do not consider this a bad experience. The cast member did ask nicely and did offer me the grass. It was my choice to go inside. In light of the changes in Disney's disability policies and procedures, I am just wondering about why this was done. Disney has always been very special because of how disabilities have been managed. I am very protective of those standards. This just has me wondering what I need to be aware of going forward. Not angry. More confused.

You mess with Duffy things happen the cm should of said something about the manual wheelchair not just you. It safety reason they like to keep the side walks clear just incase something happens. But don't see why they start enforcing it a the beach at poly when I see plenty of fire code violations from people with strollers and never saw a cm do their job and make ten move. Sorry skip this happens it could also be what the cm dose he could work in security or maybe he has a thing about keeping side walks clear.

 

[kirstenb1]

On December 30, 2013, I parked my wheelchair on the edge of the sidewalk on the beach at the Polynesian, in order to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. There was a manual wheelchair parked nearby on the same edge of the sidewalk. Plenty of sidewalk behind both chairs. About 10 minutes before the fireworks, a cast member in a suit tells me that my chair is "blocking the sidewalk" and I could not stay on the sidewalk. I agree to move. Since the noise from fireworks bothers me, I decided to go back in the hotel. My friends who were with me say that the cast member did not ask the girl in the manual chair to move. It all worked out for the best, because the fireworks were extremely loud and very close to the beach. That said, I am wondering why I was singled out. Especially since my chair was intentionally designed to be within Disney's approved dimensions, and there was plenty of room behind me.

I do not consider this a bad experience. The cast member did ask nicely and did offer me the grass. It was my choice to go inside. In light of the changes in Disney's disability policies and procedures, I am just wondering about why this was done. Disney has always been very special because of how disabilities have been managed. I am very protective of those standards. This just has me wondering what I need to be aware of going forward. Not angry. More confused.

I agree with you; that would be confusing to me too. I'm not really understanding the thought process of the employee. From a practical standpoint, as someone who has never used a wheelchair.....if there is someone or something blocking my way, I have the option to walk on the grass. I feel the person in the wheelchair has fewer options, especially if the grass is in sandy or wet soil.

 

[Talking Hands]

On December 30, 2013, I parked my wheelchair on the edge of the sidewalk on the beach at the Polynesian, in order to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. There was a manual wheelchair parked nearby on the same edge of the sidewalk. Plenty of sidewalk behind both chairs. About 10 minutes before the fireworks, a cast member in a suit tells me that my chair is "blocking the sidewalk" and I could not stay on the sidewalk. I agree to move. Since the noise from fireworks bothers me, I decided to go back in the hotel. My friends who were with me say that the cast member did not ask the girl in the manual chair to move. It all worked out for the best, because the fireworks were extremely loud and very close to the beach. That said, I am wondering why I was singled out. Especially since my chair was intentionally designed to be within Disney's approved dimensions, and there was plenty of room behind me.

I do not consider this a bad experience. The cast member did ask nicely and did offer me the grass. It was my choice to go inside. In light of the changes in Disney's disability policies and procedures, I am just wondering about why this was done. Disney has always been very special because of how disabilities have been managed. I am very protective of those standards. This just has me wondering what I need to be aware of going forward. Not angry. More confused.

Unless all wheelchairs and strollers were requested to be removed I would have had a problem with that. Was the grass even an option. Unless I know that the ground is solid under that grass I am not going to risk getting my wheelchair stuck in it.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Just because your friends didn't see the CM talk to the other woman, doesn't mean he didn't. He may have already spoken to her. I doubt they watched her the whole time when they were there for fireworks.

 

[Justin Jett]

Unless all wheelchairs and strollers were requested to be removed I would have had a problem with that. Was the grass even an option. Unless I know that the ground is solid under that grass I am not going to risk getting my wheelchair stuck in it.

The grass would have been fine. I go through grass, dirt, and sand all of the time. Plus, if I had gotten stuck, I was with a group of friends who could have helped me. I went back in the hotel to avoid the noise and shockwaves.

According to the group that I was with, nothing was ever said to the family with the other wheelchair. From what I have been told, I was the only person asked to move.

 

[Justin Jett]

Just because your friends didn't see the CM talk to the other woman, doesn't mean he didn't. He may have already spoken to her. I doubt they watched her the whole time when they were there for fireworks.

The manual wheelchair was within 5 feet of where we were very visible. The family was there the entire time. My friends were confused by the situation and did pay attention.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Yep I was there right next to Skip during the whole thing. I even tried to talk him into using the grass but he chose to go inside because of the reasons he listed above. The family with the wheelchair took up roughly the same amount of space of the sidewalk as our group did. And the footprint of Skips chair and the manual chair were very close. There was ample clear space for people walking by. His wheelchair prob didn't even use a 1/4 of the sidewalk the way he was parked. As fireworks time came closer other people started coming onto the sidewalk and the beach. People stood on both edges of the sidewalk and some in the middle. Shortly after this happened this cast member disappeared. The lady was not security....she seemed to be one of the cast members similar to those on main st who try to keep people out of the path of the parade, off trash cans or such. Now I can't speak for the area down by the pool to the boat dock. But in our area Skip was the only person asked to leave the area. The cast member never walked past us to the other family. After speaking with Skip she turned and went back from direction she came from. She or any other cast member was not seen in out area again. Fireworks came and went but the only person required to move was Skip.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Just because your friends didn't see the CM talk to the other woman, doesn't mean he didn't. He may have already spoken to her. I doubt they watched her the whole time when they were there for fireworks.

I am very observant when it comes to this kind of issue. While yes I was there to see the fireworks the primary reason for me being there was time with my friends. I am fortunate to live close enough I have seem my share of fireworks. So when an issue such as this arises with myself or a friend it will take priority over fireworks or whatever else was going on. Now I wasn't looking at the woman and her family upset they were there. They did nothing wrong. I was just trying to figure out the situation so Skip, myself and our friends could better understand. And to be honest I'm still baffled.

 

[lanejudy]

... The cast member never walked past us to the other family. After speaking with Skip she turned and went back from direction she came from. ...

Possibly she thought you were all one big group, and didn't realize the other wheelchair was with a different family altogether?

As a PP mentioned, I wouldn't think twice about stepping onto the grass/sand to walk around a wheelchair -- allowing the chair to remain parked on solid ground. And that's if the chair was even blocking my path, which it sounds like it wasn't in this case. Odd.

 

[DarthVader92]

Possibly she thought you were all one big group, and didn't realize the other wheelchair was with a different family altogether?

As a PP mentioned, I wouldn't think twice about stepping onto the grass/sand to walk around a wheelchair -- allowing the chair to remain parked on solid ground. And that's if the chair was even blocking my path, which it sounds like it wasn't in this case. Odd.

The other wheelchair was about 30 feet away from us. Anyone with a brain could tell that the other wheelchair was not with us. My main complaint when I was with Skip that night was that, she did not return to kick out the other wheelchair and the other people lining up (THIS TIME) definitely blocking the sidewalk. Mainly, she told Skip he had to move and she disappeared after that. Maybe she was ashamed of her stupidity.

 

[disney david]

The other wheelchair was about 30 feet away from us. Anyone with a brain could tell that the other wheelchair was not with us. My main complaint when I was with Skip that night was that, she did not return to kick out the other wheelchair and the other people lining up (THIS TIME) definitely blocking the sidewalk. Mainly, she told Skip he had to move and she disappeared after that. Maybe she was ashamed of her stupidity.

I wondering if any of skips friend that are being defense and complaining now on here did they do anything that night to ask the cm why she told him to move and not the other wheelchair or make any effort to learn why she came down the path just to tell skip to move then leave.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Possibly she thought you were all one big group, and didn't realize the other wheelchair was with a different family altogether?

I could see that if our group and the other group were closer together. But there was more than enough space in between to know both groups were not together. Also they didn't ask the rest of us to leave...only Skip. They didn't say your group needs to move. And we were standing next to him. The lady went directly to him and told only him to move. Away from our group. That said if they did think we were with the other group then why did they not tell us both chairs need to be moved? Only Skip.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Possibly she thought you were all one big group, and didn't realize the other wheelchair was with a different family altogether?

I could see that if our group and the other group were closer together. But there was more than enough space in between to know both groups were not together. Also they didn't ask the rest of us to leave...only Skip. They didn't say your group needs to move. And we were standing next to him. The lady went directly to him and told only him to move. Away from our group. That said if they did think we were with the other group then why did they not tell us both chairs need to be moved? Only Skip.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Possibly she thought you were all one big group, and didn't realize the other wheelchair was with a different family altogether?

I could see that if our group and the other group were closer together. But there was more than enough space in between to know both groups were not together. Also they didn't ask the rest of us to leave...only Skip. They didn't say your group needs to move. And we were standing next to him. The lady went directly to him and told only him to move. Away from our group. That said if they did think we were with the other group then why did they not tell us both chairs need to be moved? Only Skip.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

I apologize for the multiple posts. For some reason the app keeps timing out and I hit send to much lol

 

[DarthVader92]

I wondering if any of skips friend that are being defense and complaining now on here did they do anything that night to ask the cm why she told him to move and not the other wheelchair or make any effort to learn why she came down the path just to tell skip to move then leave.

I was ready to ask her after the fireworks concluded but she was nowhere to be seen

 

[disney david]

I was ready to ask her after the fireworks concluded but she was nowhere to be seen

Sorry if I came of rude by asking that but was just wondering why she choose poor skip to move. At the path way to the beach not the on. Where the cms are she came out to tell him to move then disappeared. Was this the path that leads to the wedding pavilion maybe she worked their and their was a wedding about to get out and walk to the poly. But why not say something to the guest with the manual wheelchair. I know you said that their no way they could think hat party are you guys was together but can you say if the cm even saw the wheelchair or do you junk she was just focused on poor skip and then turned around to go back. Did you remember if you saw her at any other time that night before the incident or do you see anyone leave the area before maybe someone complained. We have to track her down and ask why what was her thought process of asking skip to move and not the other guest.

 

[siegal]

My parents have a restaurant with outdoor tables. The fire dept comes and measures bc we have like a cm between the tables and the required 36?? ( or whatever inches). The restaurant next door has a problem as even though it's the same sidewalk for whatever reason it narrows a bit and is not noticeable if you weren't measuring.

maybe that's the reason they asked you too move. The sidewalk was narrower where u were or your chair was larger/longer.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Sorry if I came of rude by asking that but was just wondering why she choose poor skip to move. At the path way to the beach not the on. Where the cms are she came out to tell him to move then disappeared. Was this the path that leads to the wedding pavilion maybe she worked their and their was a wedding about to get out and walk to the poly. But why not say something to the guest with the manual wheelchair. I know you said that their no way they could think hat party are you guys was together but can you say if the cm even saw the wheelchair or do you junk she was just focused on poor skip and then turned around to go back. Did you remember if you saw her at any other time that night before the incident or do you see anyone leave the area before maybe someone complained. We have to track her down and ask why what was her thought process of asking skip to move and not the other guest.

Also to clear up we were at the poly. I can't speak for the rest of the group but I never saw her until she stopped at Skip