RANT re ECV's and comments form other "civilised" people

[15isto2]

I am just back from MK to my hotel AKV (Kidani), in the line in fromt of me were an older lady and her middle aged daughter with two children in a stroller, one looked arround 6 and the other was so big she could hardly fit in the seat... anyhow.... an ECV user and 2 companions arrive in line... comments start between the mother/daughter about how that will take up at leist 4 seats and how people should not be allowed to bring ECV's on the buses (I am annoyed by this but remaining calm and say nothing even though I feel I should). A bus arrives and nether me, the "other" group or the ECV user party get on. In the meantime another two ECV parties arrive.
Our bus arrives, bus driver puts up two sets of seats to accomodate the 2 ECV users, comments from the "other" party about thats seven seats... First ECV user gets on allong with two companions, second ECV user gets on allong with a party of six (three of whome are in strollers and sound asleep) now starts the comments from the "other" party about how this should not be allowed and people accompanying ECV users should wait in line like any one else.... now move from calm to loud and indignant....
"do you really think its accepatble to split up a party in that way?"....
Conversation became somewhat heated as the "other" party were surprised that someone would actually challenge them and when I pointed out that perhaps those with strollers should be in a seperate line from their party.
Neeless to say I was quite shocked at just how inconsiderate and ignorant people can be.
I just needed to get that off my chest or I would have had no chance of sleeping.
PS to any podcast listners in the area the loud indignant morally superior Scottish b*****d in bus line for AKV was me

 

[mrzrich]

Thats nothing. I was in line for Pirate once. (Pirates, where the wait is rarely more than a few minutes.) We are getting ready to get into the numbered corral, when a large group of "Make a Wish" kids arrive. Rightfully so, they are back doored to the FOTL.

Jerk man in front of me starts loudly complaining to his son (around 10 yo).

"Why should they get to go right up to the front?"

My DH told him to have a little respect and to be grateful for his healthy child. The guy shut up fast.

 

[Cherinva]

Some people are just plain rude.

 

[Gigi22]

And, unfortunately, no cure for stupid.

 

[mdvlprof]

Yup. Stupidity and rudeness. But rudeness can go both ways. DH can very vocal about getting Wheels access, and sometimes borders on rudeness. Me, I'm more of a live-and-let-live person.

 

[ukwildcat]

Thats nothing. I was in line for Pirate once. (Pirates, where the wait is rarely more than a few minutes.) We are getting ready to get into the numbered corral, when a large group of "Make a Wish" kids arrive. Rightfully so, they are back doored to the FOTL.

Jerk man in front of me starts loudly complaining to his son (around 10 yo).

"Why should they get to go right up to the front?"

My DH told him to have a little respect and to be grateful for his healthy child. The guy shut up fast.

Good for your husband!

 

[darrengs]

I have never had an issue with ECV's, but what has happened to me several times and I find annoying is while we are waiting for an ECV to be loaded another bus will pull up behind the bus we are waiting to enter. Then everyone that just showed up at the back of the line fills up the new bus while the people that were already there continue to wait.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Some people are just plain rude.

Maybe... I also think many times, these people are tired and cranky, have been outside all day and just want to get back to the resort. Although I've never said anything, I've certainly felt that way before about ECVs, especially the ones holding people who aren't infirm. Personally though, I don't feel like getting into an argument so I just stay quiet. Others are passive agressive. Others are full on agressive.

Ultimately though, I'm willing to bet that you catch 99% of these people in other moments and this wouldn't be an issue... its a bad reaction to the current circumstances.

That doesn't excuse the rudeness, but perhaps makes it easier for one to understand the devolved situation.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I have never had an issue with ECV's, but what has happened to me several times and I find annoying is while we are waiting for an ECV to be loaded another bus will pull up behind the bus we are waiting to enter. Then everyone that just showed up at the back of the line fills up the new bus while the people that were already there continue to wait.

That is annoying, but unfortunately, without a CM working the line I doubt anything will ever happen.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Good for your husband!

Agreed... The think I wonder is if the guy knew it was GKTW or if he knew WHAT GKTW was. I wish I could follow some of these people and see if they are having a bad moment or if they are genuine tools.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Although I've never said anything, I've certainly felt that way before about ECVs, especially the ones holding people who aren't infirm. Personally though, I don't feel like getting into an argument so I just stay quiet. Others are passive agressive. Others are full on agressive.

And exactly how do you know who is or is not "infirm?" The reason someone is using assistance is no one's business but theirs.

 

[Renysmom]

Thats nothing. I was in line for Pirate once. (Pirates, where the wait is rarely more than a few minutes.) We are getting ready to get into the numbered corral, when a large group of "Make a Wish" kids arrive. Rightfully so, they are back doored to the FOTL.

Jerk man in front of me starts loudly complaining to his son (around 10 yo).

"Why should they get to go right up to the front?"

My DH told him to have a little respect and to be grateful for his healthy child. The guy shut up fast.

If I ever get the chance to meet your husband I want to shake his hand and buy him a drink!

 

[Tinkerkell123]

I can understand being tired & cranky, but adding rudeness to the mix is certainly not helping anyone. Lest of all the tired & cranky people! I would hope a little common decency isn't that much to ask even if you are tired. I am sure the ECV users would prefer to NOT have to use them...

And as for the jerk who made the comment about the GKTW kids... glad Mrzrich's husband said something...

 

[dizneedoll]

Agreed... The think I wonder is if the guy knew it was GKTW or if he knew WHAT GKTW was. I wish I could follow some of these people and see if they are having a bad moment or if they are genuine tools.

That's what I was thinking, maybe he just wasn't aware at first.

And exactly how do you know who is or is not "infirm?" The reason someone is using assistance is no one's business but theirs.

Exactly. I have some health issues that are not visible. The way I see it, if a CM is allowing someone to go ahead of me in line or board a bus first, then there is probably a reason for it. But even if someone is just being plain rude then I just try to let those things go when I'm at Disney because saying something or getting into an arguement with someone just ends up upsetting me in the end. I think sometimes it's better to just let some things go for the sake of my own vacation enjoyment.

 

[cathie1327]

And exactly how do you know who is or is not "infirm?" The reason someone is using assistance is no one's business but theirs.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE

I generally stay away from these discussions, but I guess today it's just struck a chord.

I am so tired of the attitude that anyone thinks that they should be able to say whether or not anyone else "deserves" or "has a right" to use any kind of assistance. It is this kind of judgemental attitude that creates these problems in the first place.

People around here, including Kevin, have brought up this point before, but just to further the point, I'll say it again. There are people who have a disability, or a reason to need assistance that may not be visible to someone else.

I'm 24 years old. I'm a little overweight but aside from that, I LOOK completely healthy. Unfortunately, I have a very, very bad knee. I have advanced arthritis and the crappy part is that it gets worse every year. I've yet to need an ECV but the doctor warns me that in places like WDW, within the next few years, it's likely I'll need to use one, just to minimize damage on all the things already wrong with my knee. You can't SEE my arthritis from the outside. Just like you can't see if someone has diabetes and is very weak that day, has a immune deficiency, etc.

Sorry if this sounds argumentative to anyone, and I certainly apologize if I offended anyone, but I am tired of the attitude that many (not all) people seem to have that any person can tell whether another person "needs" assistance.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I totally agree that the comments were rude, but perhaps no more rude than the OP for mentioning the size of the commenter.

I'm a little confused by the story itself.. did the ECV user cut the line? I think everyone should have to wait in line.

 

[disney david]

I find it funny those idiots was complaing that they have to stand for 30 min so another passanger can ride the bus safely. I rather stand so someone in a wheel chair/ ecv can ride it safly it not that big a deal to stand you be on the bus max 30-40 min. The bus driver should of called in securty and had them removed from the bus to calm them down. It's the law that you have to give up your seat to someone in a need not only to a wheel chair/ecv but if someone using a walker or someone else in need. Most of the time people do offer seat but you get some idiots that like to show how stupid they are. No one has a right to comment on any one else problems if you mad keep it to your self your at disney you want to show your kids that it all right to commnet on other people problems. I am suprised they could count that high well i guess as long as it dosen't go higher then the amount of fingers they have.

 

[15isto2]

I totally agree that the comments were rude, but perhaps no more rude than the OP for mentioning the size of the commenter.

I'm a little confused by the story itself.. did the ECV user cut the line? I think everyone should have to wait in line.

The ecv people were in the appropriate line

I don't recall commenting on the size of those who I was speaking to and iirc I commented on the size Of one of the children only to express that due to her age/develoent (I guess she was arround 8 or 9) that she was hardly able to fit in the stroler
I apologise for any offence or confusion I caused

 

[GAN]

The whole issue of ECV's on buses has been really uncomfortably hot lately -it's been a year and a half since we've been down to WDW, but prior to that I never recall an issue while waiting for a bus. Maybe we waited an extra few minutes to get the person on, but beyond that nothing. Now I will say that I had noticed a major increase in the volume of them in the parks -but hey, if it helps someone who may not have been able to visit without one before that's great. My only concern would be when it is especially crowded, they might become more difficult to maneuver(especially with people cutting in front of them) creating an injury risk.

 

[mrzrich]

Agreed... The think I wonder is if the guy knew it was GKTW or if he knew WHAT GKTW was. I wish I could follow some of these people and see if they are having a bad moment or if they are genuine tools.

That's what I was thinking, maybe he just wasn't aware at first.

A few of the kids were bald, and another looked like he had Progeria. Most were in wheelchairs. They had matching shirts. It was pretty obvious they were a group of sick and or handicapped kids.