Rant – feel free to ignore

[Adi12982]

A tiny bit of background. . . My younger brother is in a wheelchair – he was actually born VERY premature (my mom was only 26 week pregnant). We are close in age and grew up going to Disney (mostly weekend trips). . .

On to the rant. . . On lots of the other boards I read a lot of snide remarks about getting your legs hit by wheelchairs. Well, 100% of the time that my brother or anyone pushing him has bumped into ANYONE it is because they were not watching where they were going or were in some way trying to save time by running in front of us. I am sorry that anyone gets bumped into – but people can be rude, especially in crowds OR are simply taken in by everything and are not paying attention where they are going. We are careful, but I am so tired of hearing the remarks of people upset that they got bumped into. Just put yourself in the place of someone who does not have a choice but sit and can’t see through the crowds and such. I guess my hope is that instead of complaining people would try to see how they could remedy the issue themselves by paying attention or trying not to rush ahead of people in wheelchairs (they are rolling and cannot stop as fast as feet can). Ok, rant over, thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

 

[LBelle]

Message received!! Thank you!! I myself will be more considerate in the future.

 

[LindaDVC]

THis is a pet peeve of my husband

People always think it is the w/c's fault when typically as you say the person stopped short or stepped in front of him!

It happens everywhere -- but more so at Disney as people try to keep groups together or aren't sure what to see next!!!

Linda

 

[waltfan1957]

A tiny bit of background. . . My younger brother is in a wheelchair – he was actually born VERY premature (my mom was only 26 week pregnant). We are close in age and grew up going to Disney (mostly weekend trips). . .

On to the rant. . . On lots of the other boards I read a lot of snide remarks about getting your legs hit by wheelchairs. Well, 100% of the time that my brother or anyone pushing him has bumped into ANYONE it is because they were not watching where they were going or were in some way trying to save time by running in front of us. I am sorry that anyone gets bumped into – but people can be rude, especially in crowds OR are simply taken in by everything and are not paying attention where they are going. We are careful, but I am so tired of hearing the remarks of people upset that they got bumped into. Just put yourself in the place of someone who does not have a choice but sit and can’t see through the crowds and such. I guess my hope is that instead of complaining people would try to see how they could remedy the issue themselves by paying attention or trying not to rush ahead of people in wheelchairs (they are rolling and cannot stop as fast as feet can). Ok, rant over, thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

totally agree

 

[ducklite]

I think that the OP is usually correct...but...

While I'm sure accidents do happen, I've also seen people in wheelchairs and scooters looking everywhere but where they were going and hit people.

Back in 1997 My leg was sliced open by a wheelchair. DS and I were walking in a straight line following the crowd out of Epcot, and the woman pushing the wheelchair behind me shoved the chair into me because we weren't walking fast enough. They were trying to get us to move out of their way (what, so they could bang into the people in front of us, then in front of them?) because they wanted to get to the MK in time for the fireworks there. She was literally using that chair as a battering ram.

When she hit me I yelped in pain and she had the nerve to yell "Then move out of my way!"

I grabbed DS and we literally jumped up onto the curbed area into the shubbery to get out of this womans way, and then she hit the woman who had been in front of us. Her husband got pissed and grabbed a nearby security guard. I should have pressed charges against the kook for assault!

I have seen wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers all used as battering rams at WDW, and frankly each time I see it happen, I have less and less empathy for those who use those devices. It's unfortunate, but quite true.

Anne

 

[LBelle]

I think that the OP is usually correct...but...

While I'm sure accidents do happen, I've also seen people in wheelchairs and scooters looking everywhere but where they were going and hit people.

Back in 1997 My leg was sliced open by a wheelchair. DS and I were walking in a straight line following the crowd out of Epcot, and the woman pushing the wheelchair behind me shoved the chair into me because we weren't walking fast enough. They were trying to get us to move out of their way (what, so they could bang into the people in front of us, then in front of them?) because they wanted to get to the MK in time for the fireworks there. She was literally using that chair as a battering ram.

When she hit me I yelped in pain and she had the nerve to yell "Then move out of my way!"

I grabbed DS and we literally jumped up onto the curbed area into the shubbery to get out of this womans way, and then she hit the woman who had been in front of us. Her husband got pissed and grabbed a nearby security guard. I should have pressed charges against the kook for assault!

I have seen wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers all used as battering rams at WDW, and frankly each time I see it happen, I have less and less empathy for those who use those devices. It's unfortunate, but quite true.

Anne

Wow!!!! What a psycho she was!!!! You know, before we went this Sept. I was reading all about WDW pet peeves and the like and I kept seeing mention of the stroller issue, over and over. I remember thinking that I don't seem to recall the strollers being an issue the last 3 years we had gone, but this was my 1st year going since joining any Disney forum. Anyhoo....I must say that I was AMAZED at the number of times we witnessed stroller 'abuse'!!! They literally think that they can just go straight through ANYBODY!!!! The looks you would get if you actually held 'your ground' and didn't move FOR THEM was incredible!!!!

Leaving MK, practically EMPTY Main Street, I'm talking maybe 30 people TOPS I stopped and was taking pics of DH walking toward the train station and a minute of so later.....WHAM!!!! This lady had literally RAMMED her stroller into the back of me!!! I had these huge welts on the back of both of my lower shins/upper ankles, whatever you'd call that!!! Granted, she was all over herself apologizing and admitting that she was pushing the stroller and looking backwards (at the castle shutting down the lights for the night) the whole way!!!! I did everything I could to make her feel better as she was genuinely upset that it had caused such an injury (the bruises left were HORRIBLE ) but I'm still thinking What kind of a moron does that?????

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A few comments Adi; you are "preaching to the choir" here. We all have that problem one way or the other. To get your ideas across to people who don't know you need other boards.

I tell people I have never accidentally run into anyone with my ECV. I have had times I came to a stop and people have walked into the front of the scooter.

And last week I was trying to get down Main Street and there were people who were just stopped. I asked them to move and they did, but one person managed to keep one of her feet under the ECV and I ran over her with the edge of a rear tire. It is a lot of weight for 1/3 of me plus the ECV.

 

[Schmeck]

And last week I was trying to get down Main Street and there were people who were just stopped. I asked them to move and they did, but one person managed to keep one of her feet under the ECV and I ran over her with the edge of a rear tire. It is a lot of weight for 1/3 of me plus the ECV.

How did she 'manage to keep one of her feet under the ECV' - you got so close that her feet were underneath when you asked them to move?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I don't know. I came to a complete stop as I was blocked. I asked them to let me through and after they moved I started forward. The one person may have only moved her body, but part of her foot stayed under the edge of the scooter and I did not see it as it was to my side.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the 'preaching to the choir' part.

Most people on this board are pretty aware of the situation.

One of the problems that everyone needs to remember (those walking and those driving/pushing wheelchairs or riding in wheelchairs) is that most everyone at WDW is not necessarily aware of what is going on around them. It's crowded, it's busy, it's stimulating and people are worried about things like not getting separated from their families/friends.

A lot of the people pushing wheelchairs or driving ECVs are not experienced users and their view is blocked by the wheelchair or ECV. Also, if you are usually walking, your view of yourself and the space you take up is much different than it is while sitting in a wheelchair or ECV. When you are walking, you don't usually take up a space wider than your shoulder or bigger in front of you than your feet. When in a wheelchair, you are wider and longer; instead of just taking up the 'standing space' you take up the larger space of a sitting person. People are just not used to that and if they are rolling around with a smaller 'body image' they may not hit into things that are closer than they realize.

They talk about this 'body image' situation in the Segway classes at Epcot. People don't think about how much higher they are or how much wider they are - which sometimes makes them hit their heads or hit into curbs. This is a known situation that they prepare people taking Segway classes for. It would be helpful if the rental places for ECVs and wheelchairs also brought this up for people renting those.
My DD has been in a wheelchair ever since she can remember. When she gets a new wheelchair, she has to a few days of 're-adjusting' to know where her 'new body' ends. But, because she has used a wheelchair for so long, her body image includes the wheelchair. She rarely bumps into anyone or anything. But, she has had people walk right into her. On one occasion, someone was taking a picture as DD was driving by (in a store aisle where we were already as far to the right as possible). The person backed up, looking into the camera viewfinder. DD came to a stop with the person inches above DD's lap. I was saying "don't back up. There is a wheelchair behind you." We just sat there until the person moved forward. I don't think she ever noticed what she had done. Even the people she was taking a picture of (who were in front of us and looking in our direction) didn't really 'see'; they were focused on the person with the camera.

 

[msnight]

I frequently read these forums but I have never posted. I use an ECV because I have RA. I pride myself on never having run into anyone even though people have run into me. Two years ago I was with my sister and niece going to the
princess breakfast in Norway. I parked my ECV and was walking toward the restaurant I was paying no attention looking up at where the boat peeks out
on the maelstrom ride. I tripped over a stroller parked against the curb broke the shade canopy fell and broke two of my fingers, fortunately there was no child in the stroller or I would certainly have hurt it. I did find the owners of the stroller but they would not take any money to buy a new shade. It did make me more aware that there are so many distractions at WDW that a lot of people dont pay attention myself included.
Mary

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi Mary. and join in the fun

 

[Nanajo1]

Back in 1997 My leg was sliced open by a wheelchair. DS and I were walking in a straight line following the crowd out of Epcot, and the woman pushing the wheelchair behind me shoved the chair into me because we weren't walking fast enough. They were trying to get us to move out of their way (what, so they could bang into the people in front of us, then in front of them?) because they wanted to get to the MK in time for the fireworks there. She was literally using that chair as a battering ram.

When she hit me I yelped in pain and she had the nerve to yell "Then move out of my way!"

I grabbed DS and we literally jumped up onto the curbed area into the shubbery to get out of this womans way, and then she hit the woman who had been in front of us. Her husband got pissed and grabbed a nearby security guard. I should have pressed charges against the kook for assault.

I have seen wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers all used as battering rams at WDW, and frankly each time I see it happen, I have less and less empathy for those who use those devices. It's unfortunate, but quite true.

Anne

There are crazies everywhere includung pedestrians who stop in the middle of a walkway without a thought of those behind them. Or groups that must walk side by side blocking entire walkways. I don't mean families with small children but older clueless groups that are so taken in by their magic that no one else exists. My biggest peeve is about the young (usually) boys who play "chicken" jumping in the small space I try to leave to give my ECV a safe stopping distance when in a slow moving mainstream line. Almost daring me to hit them! This is particularly daunting going up the steep monorail ramp. I 'll now wait for the masses to clear before doing that ramp.

 

[twinmum]

This is another demonstration of how many aspects to the issues there are. We recently visited WDW with our family, which includes our twin DS8, one of whom has cerebral palsy and was in his wheelchair.

I had seen plenty of posts in various threads here about the ECV's and wheelchairs and was determined to be careful. If you haven't ever pushed a wheelchair, I'll point out that even when walking slowly, you still have the force of momentum working in your favour and it is harder to "stop on a dime."

I cannot tell you how many times I had to jerk that wheelchair to a stop as guests of all ages either dashed in front of us or simply stopped in their tracks. I don't think it was on purpose, but it was a constant concern. Believe me, we weren't walking quickly (OK, there was that mad dash from the GF to the Poly for Ohana breakfast but the road was clear!).

I know there's a lot to distract at WDW. I'm trying to be light hearted here, so please don't flame me when I say there was much my DH and I didn't see...'cuz we were too busy focussing on the area 2-5 feet right in front of the wheelchair!!!

We certainly did see a lot of ECV's moving more quickly than I'd expect, though...

 

[allie_to_you]

It's definitely unfortunate that people have to become so embittered toward those with strollers or those in wheelchairs because of some bad experiences. There are rude, inconsiderate people wherever you go, whether they are in a wheelchair, pushing a stroller or just walking around.

My husband is in a wheelchair and while he is very good about not hitting people and running over toes, I know that at times when I've been pushing him, I'm not as familiar with the length/width of his chair and I've had to make my apologies to people whenever I've come up too close to someone and bumped their legs, or whatnot. It is hard when your in a crowd of people who are trying to get to a ride to use their fastpass, or trying to keep up with their group, or who are simply not paying attention to guests around them to always be aware of everyone around you so that you don't hit or run over someone.
I think anyone who has ever complained about being bumped or hit by someone in a wheelchair should get in a wheelchair and ride in it for a day or go to the nearest theme park or mall and see a perspective from the other side. I'm not saying you shouldn't be irritated at morons like that one lady who just used her wheelchair as a battering ram (that is completely uncalled for and rude) but just remember that things aren't always the same for those in wheelchairs when your trying to maneuver in a crowd.

 

[ducklite]

I think anyone who has ever complained about being bumped or hit by someone in a wheelchair should get in a wheelchair and ride in it for a day or go to the nearest theme park or mall and see a perspective from the other side. I'm not saying you shouldn't be irritated at morons like that one lady who just used her wheelchair as a battering ram (that is completely uncalled for and rude) but just remember that things aren't always the same for those in wheelchairs when your trying to maneuver in a crowd.

I HAVE been in a wheelchair--after surgery to remove a tumor from my spine. I've got a nice scar and divet across my back between my shoulder blades to prove it.

I always left DOUBLE the amount of space I thought I would need, and if DH was pushing me he paid attention to the chair, not the scenary.

I'm not saying accidents don't happen, and when someone jumps in front of you then comes to a dead stop, accidents can happen.

I agree with the poster who said that soo many accidents seem to happen due to people driving ECV's that have never used one before. I'd love to see WDW require a fifteen minute training session that happens at the beginning of every hour for those renting ECV's, and no ECV's leaving the ECV corral until that training is complete. Those who use personal ECV's are generally not the problem, as they are used to driving them.

Anne

 

[shovan]

Talk about "Preaching to the Choir"! We hear ya! My DH has used a scooter for about 25 years & just recently changed to a power WC. People tend to not notice the ECV or WC's at all! They tend to step right if front of my DH & never even notice! Usually, because he's very good at driving it, he is able to not hit people.
I think the biggest problem with walkers being hurt though, is the rental of ECV's at WDW! There is no training (or very little) for the occasional renter & they just don't know how to drive them! I know for myself, moving my DH's scooter or now the new WC, that I'm awful at it! & I have to move it every day!
Now, I have a rant of my own! One of my biggest pet peeve's is that they address me (the wife) when it's a question for my husband! My DH is an engineer & of perfectly sound mind! He also sits upright in his chair & does not have any speech difficulty at all. Why is it everywhere we go: WDW, restaurants at home, when were out shopping, etc., do they turn from him & ask me?!!!! At WDW, a lot of young CM's are particularly bad about this! But, we've also encountered it in many other situations also. We've been shopping for computer equipment where my DH is asking these really technical questions (that I'm totally clueless about!) and the salesperson will turn from him & talk to me!! What is up with that!

 

[Michigan]

I've told this story before but once a man I'd say late 30's early 40's fell in my daughters lap trying to get where he was going in a hurry. Never said anything just got up and started walking fast when a woman maybe in her mid 60's grabbed his arm and said you better stop and apologize NOW! He did! I don’t know who was more shocked the man that got stopped or us that someone was nice enough to do that.

 

[LBelle]

I've told this story before but once a man I'd say late 30's early 40's fell in my daughters lap trying to get where he was going in a hurry. Never said anything just got up and started walking fast when a woman maybe in her mid 60's grabbed his arm and said you better stop and apologize NOW! He did! I don’t know who was more shocked the man that got stopped or us that someone was nice enough to do that.

What a jerk!!!! Thank god there are still people who will call the bad apples out!!! What a class-act that lady was!! So nice when it comes from somebody else!!!

 

[Lachesis00]

I know both my husband and son who may move a ECV (my husband has severe asthma and did use one at Sea World last year) are not comfortable using them. My son seems to be better at controlling an EVC then my husband but both really would not do it.

I seem to be in pretty good control but have been using them off and on (more on as I get older) since my first trip to Disney back in 1990 if not before (I just remember using one, family members piling their junk on top of the basket).

When my husband pushes me in a wheelchair (which he is really good at-- asthma makes him move slow -he tries to stay out of the path of mass people if possible.), at times he feels like he needs to use a bullhorn or a big orange flag... something to get peoples attention.
Sadly it's gotten to where he is ready to ram into people (after a day of near misses). He never has! But believe me, he has mentioned it more then once. I know it makes him not to want to go out, he gets so frustrated.