re: Pet Peeves

[maxiesmom]

In my opinion simple words like "excuse me" or "I'm sorry" or Are you okay?" in the event that I get hit by a stroller or wheelchair make a whole lot of a difference to me. Its really annoying when someone bumps into you and doesn't even say anything. So, I agree with you.

I'm with you. If you hit me and apologize, no problem. It happens. But if you hit me and can't even toss an I'm sorry over your shoulder as you view the wreckege, that is different.

 

[Karnak]

The complaints about someone who stops dead right in the pathway during a crowded time in the park prompts me to add this little comment.

As a solo traveler in the parks, who knows the parks well, I seldom have reason to stop dead when others are walking behind me. However, there is one rare exception ...

Occasionally I will see someone coming straight towards me who shows no intention to move to keep from running into me. My action in those cases is to stop dead in my tracks, forcing the oncomming person to (1) swerve around me, (2) run into me, or (3) stop dead in this tracks himself. So far, it has been my experience that he/she changes direction and goes around me without contact. If there were to be contact however, it would not be my fault since I was stopped and motionless.

If the people behind me can't see why I stopped, they probably aren't paying attention to what's going on themselves.

Enjoy.

 

[minniebeth]

On occasion, when I have bumped into someone with my stroller, it is because there people behind me PUSHING! Usually occurs after Wishes, or Illuminations (especially). I'm all for trying even harder to be considerate and careful, but let's bring the pushy people into that category! Repeat after me: I will not push! It will not save me any time! It will help the stroller pushers not to ruin $100 stockings!

 

[waltfan1957]

I think most people are upset at the strollers/wheelchairs that HIT them. I'm sorry, but if you can't navigate your stroller or wheelchair through heavy crowds, then "take lessons" by practicing in the supermarket of your hometown. But I just do not need to be attacked by vehicles when I'm trying to enjoy myself.

In terms of strollers that stop...it happens. If there's a large crowd, strollers are going to get stuck..people should learn to deal with that. It annoys me more when people just halt themsleves without any warning in the middle of the road. (stroller or not)

Instead of wheelchair users taking lessons you push one round Disney for a day then come back and give us your views

 

[waltfan1957]

You know, I never thought of that. It's the same thing with cars. I learned how to drive with an SUV, and am pretty darn good...but when I try to drive a sports car, I'm all over the place! That definitely makes sense and I think I'll be a little more understanding towards SOME of the stroller attackers... however there ARE some who are just rude and use their strollers for evil.

I will never forgive the ECVs though. I've gotten hit more than once, my foot was run over, and once i was on a bench and a a lady in an ECV came flying in my direction...if I didn't hop off the bench at the last second I could've been crushed!! Then she didn't apologize. My friend got really angry, but I just let it go...this is when I was a calmer person

lets see if I got this right you admit to being all over the place in a sportscar but critisize people in ECV's ?

 

[BamaFan121s]

lets see if I got this right you admit to being all over the place in a sportscar but critisize people in ECV's ?

I think you missed the point of the statement.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

Hear, Hear!!!
Quick stroller story: My DW,DD,DS (in a stroller - me pushing) once snaked our way through the crowd watching the parade in the WS at Epcot (Tapestry of Nations). Anyway ... it was SOOOOOO crowded and we were trying to make our way to Germany to make our ressies for dinner (part of the Candlelight Processional pkg.). I was being spectacularly careful BUT I was also being jostled by the crowd. I GENTLY bumped the heal of the shoe (in the hole in the bottom of the sea ) of the elderly woman in front of me for which I said, "I'm sorry!". Well, unfortunately, it happened once more ... she turned and I again said, "I'm soooo sorry". Mind you, it was very gentle tap on her shoe heal BUT she lit into me!!! She yelled like I knocked her over and said I'd have to pay for her "hundred dollar stockings"! I reiterated how sorry I was (with the crowds - it was chaos) and I left a good distance between us. We made it to Germany for dinner and the host starts to take us to our table ... RIGHT NEXT TO THE STOCKING LADY WHO NOW HATES ME!!!! Anyway ... I explained our predicament to the cast member and he sat us several tables away where she'd have to have a good arm to reach me!
For what it's worth, she met friends and as far as I noticed never smiled once throughout her stay.
Thanks for letting me share ... it's good therapy!




Dave

Well, I have to say, if you are paying $100 for stockings, you deserve to be taught a lesson for it! (I'm cracking a joke here, no seriousness intended so don't flame me). You bring up a very good point that the crowd level does impact it and it's not always because the 'driver' isn't paying attention, although we can all admit that a lot of times it is . I totally agree with a PP that a simple 'I'm really sorry' makes it all fine and I don't think about it once more. It's the people who do it and can't say a word, regardless of why it happened, that bug me. Even if the person came to a screeching halt infront of me, I would still appologize, even if I knew that it wasn't my fault, it just makes that person feel better and what is saying 'I'm sorry' possibly going to hurt you?

 

[kimbac3]

My view from a wheelchair rider perspective... I've had people practically fall into my lap because they were looking another way a didn't see me down there. You spend a day in a wheelchair and you will realize how invisible you become. I'm not talking about an ECV as I use a manual/push chair. Also when DH is pushing he sometimes doesn't realize where the leg rests end. Usually he's too busy trying to get me through the crowd without injury while keeping an eye on our 3 kids. Sometimes people don't even speak to you..DH is my "handler" now, don't ya know. And consider my "view" while I'm being pushed behind you! Also, you will see me on occasion park my chair and walk into an attraction. It really depends on my pain level at the moment. I "look" healthy enough but that is very deceiving.
How about when healthy "commando" walkers nearly mow one of my kids down. They often don't apologize and just look at my kid as a speed bump. Or they walk right in front of my chair because I'm not in their direct line of sight.
I guess my point is yes, strollers can accidentally bang into people, wheelchairs can accidentally bang into people, AND people can accidentally bang into people. . It's a crowded theme park for goodness sake!
Kimba
I'm not at all condoning intentionally acts of aggression, but I believe that is a rare thing.

 

[disneysnowflake]

My elderly mom needs her knees replaced. She can't walk in WDW. She is refusing to go with us because she refuses to use an ECV. She also refuses to let my dad get a placecard for handicapped parking even though she needs it. She's to the point she's so proud she doesn't go shopping very often.

My mom says she doesn't want people pointing fingers because she's in an ECV. She can walk to a show from an ECV (she doesn't do rides), but just can't make it walking very far on her own. You can't tell by looking at her that her knees are so bad and sometimes give out on her where she falls.

I'm sure if she read the comments on this site about ECV it would only solidify in her mind her refusal to go on vacation with her family to WDW.

 

[Charlotte&Carolina]

First, no one should feel any resentment when a person in an ECV or wheelchair is put on the bus first. Do you realize they are also the last to offload at a stop? And that there is only room for 2 ECVs on the bus therefore if 2 folks are in line ahead of you then it is necessary to wait at your stop until the next bus arrives? And we go in a low season....!

Disneysnowflake please try to get your mom to reconsider. I had the same issue with my mom over the ECV. In 2000 she was fine to go around the parks. In 2005 her health had declined. She was recovering from a broken back (osteo) and having seizures and blackouts. She was easily fatigued. Lots of tests and doc appointments to say the least.

She did not want the ECV. I rented from Walker and had it waiting at the resort despite her 2 months of protest. She wanted me to drive it back to the room. Nope, I knew if I did she wouldn't use it. She could still walk on rides and shows and we parked in front of countries in Epcot to walk around - she found navigating stores frustrating so we'd just leave it near the strollers.

Sometimes she would want to walk a little further and got tired. I'd go back, retrieve the ECV, and bring it to her.
So if you saw a perfectly healthy girl last September riding around in Epcot now you know the truth - I am healthy, I didn't need one, but I did need to get it to my Mom to use and I was not pulling it!

She still talks about that. She realized after the third day, even though she had been to WDW before, that she never would have enjoyed the trip. This allowed her the freedom to travel with us without becoming exhausted.

I hope you can talk with your Mom and get her to reconsider and go on your trip with you!

 

[maddiemouse]

I think you missed the point of the statement.

Which is?

 

[pugcrazy]

I also appear to be completely health 30 something, but I have a condition which causes me a great deal of pain at times & extreme fatigue much of the time. I was able to go to Disney last year for 4 days & not have to use a ECV, but on our next 8 day trip I may have to use one to keep up with my family. I am able to walk, but the fatigue factor could very well keep me from enjoying our trip. You can NOT tell what a person's condition is by a quick observation. Many people who only know me casually have no idea of my health condition. I may be the "healthy" person you see leave their ECV to get in line for a ride. However, I would not try to use my condition as a way to bypass a line. But,I will refrain from JUDGING those who do. I have no way of knowing their full story.