Run Over by a Rascal

[waltfan1957]

There are other alternatives Waltfan 1957 like a NON Powered chair! Something that is pushed, not driven.

why should my wife have to use one of them just to suit you and hers is a power chair not an ecv but I dont have to explain myself to you when you are the CO of disney you can make the rules till then you dont

 

[LittleLebowski]

I think a backpack/handbag is a little different than a MOTORIZED POWER CHAIR.

 

[northie]

Here we go again. *sigh*

 

[waltfan1957]

I think a backpack/handbag is a little different than a MOTORIZED POWER CHAIR.

I was'nt saying it was like getting fags dropped on you is'nt but it still happens and when you are sitting there not moving and some nice person swings round with a backpack as big as a suitcase hits you in the face it does hurt. not the CO yet are you?

 

[shellybaxter]

I've not been hit by a scooter before, but I almost hit a man in Las Vegas this weekend. He literally steped sideways into my path at the very last second. I was able to avoid him, but just barely. He didn't even notice.

Walkers and scooter users both need to pay more attention and be more considerate. Once a man hurdled to front of my scooter because he was trying to cross a path and go the opposite direction. He couldn't be bothered to wait the 3 seconds it would have taken me to pass so he jumped over the front of me. Not cool.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

They should bad the damn things. If you need help get a NON POWERED wheel chair. At least that way the damage to others my not be as bad. During a Keys to the Kingdom tour last June our group watched in horror as an old lady who could not drive one crashed into a group of about 15 people.

I'm sorry - but I totally disagree with you. My father HAD to use one of those to get around the last 3 years of his life & that wasn't by his choice!! He had 3x bypass surgery, kidney dialysis and had to have partial amputation of his feet, but none of that held him down. He still managed to serve on several Florida county posts and lead a full life. Just because his legs didn't work right didn't mean he had to be held down to a wheelchair and couldn't live a full and productive life. And YES - he did take one of those scooters/chairs (rascal specifically) to WDW so that he could see his granddaughter perform with her dance troop from Illinois. But I will tell you that he was one of the safest scooter/chair drivers I've seen. Also, I've had more damage incurred by wheelchairs and strollers than I ever have by a motorized scooter/chair. Face it - Disney is packed & sometimes you have to be the cautious one just like you have to be on a highway. Be proactive - get out of the way when necessary....... OK-off my soapbox..............................

 

[northie]

Thanks Tissa for the lovely advice about getting out of the way. It is hard, most of these scooters are equipped with stronger faster motors than the Indy speed cars at MK so you jump out of the way of a moving car. I got a nasty flesh wound and serious bruise. I can't sleep at night because of the nightmares! Similar to Lightning mcQueen being chased by the combine in cars.

For Pete's sake. I am sure whoever hit you didn't do it on purpose. Stronger faster motors than the Indy cars at MK? Nightmares!?!?!? Well, at least that's a NEW complaint against the ECV drivers. Haven't heard that one before.

You sure picked a hornet's nest subject to start posting on.

 

[LittleLebowski]

I was'nt saying it was like getting fags dropped on you is'nt but it still happens and when you are sitting there not moving and some nice person swings round with a backpack as big as a suitcase hits you in the face it does hurt. not the CO yet are you?

I am not trying to be the CO, I am trying to be helpful on a Disney forum to other people. i am not trying to rewrite the DISNEY CODE OF ECV/MOTOR CHAIRS either. I am just posting something that happened to me to see if this happened to anyone else, that is all. I see other forum posts warning about strollers, are they to be banned to, NO. I know not everyone always pays attention due to the million things going on at Disney parks, but you should be extra careful on one of those things and some people are not even more so the walkers not the riders, Fair Enough?

 

[waltfan1957]

I am not trying to be the CO, I am trying to be helpful on a Disney forum to other people. i am not trying to rewrite the DISNEY CODE OF ECV/MOTOR CHAIRS either. I am just posting something that happened to me to see if this happened to anyone else, that is all. I see other forum posts warning about strollers, are they to be banned to, NO. I know not everyone always pays attention due to the million things going on at Disney parks, but you should be extra careful on one of those things and some people are not, Fair Enough?

What is a ***, are you referring to a cigarette?

yes thats what I meant and I can tell you what disney would do two years ago someone on a disney rented ecv ran into my wifes p/c causing £225 worth of damage we got the number of the ecv and reported it and they did nothing. I did ask at the time why they rented them out to people who have obviously never used one before and they said they have to if someone wants to rent one while I know where your coming from many people need an electric one and people saying get a push one is nothing short of ignorance

 

[GoofyKeith]

I know I'm going to start a major riot on this one but I have no problem with folks who are either temporarily or permanently disabled and need a chair. Good for them, I'm glad they step out and share in the same experiences as the rest of us. I also have no problem whatsoever with grandma in her ECV who can walk a bit but runs out of puff after an hour of walking. None of us are as spry and have the stamina we used to have as we move on in years.

What I do have a problem with is the new phenomenon of lazy people (not always over-weight people either) who rent an ECV to use it as a) a shopping cart, b) a baby stroller, c) a toy to give their kids a ride on or d) a way to make it to the front of the line in the busy times under the guise of being disabled. JMHO but, if you don't have a doctor's note or aren't obviously in need of the ECV, then you don't get one to use for any or all of the above purposes. I've known of seniors being denied chairs in the middle of the day "because they're all out" and seen able-bodied folks clowning around in chairs and sometimes letting the kids take turns to drive them.

 

[CPer'sMom]

I witnessed a lot of bad scooter behavior on our last trip. There's been a big increase in the scooter use over the past few years.

Not only has there been a big increase in the number of scooters in the parks, but there has also been a huge increase in scooter use by people who do not need them. Now I realize that doesn't apply to anyone on these boards, but it is true.

Just as one example ~~ When friends (CMs) of my daughter were park clearing in Epcot's WS one night 10 people emerged from Chefs after finishing their dinner. They all ran to their 10 parked scooters. One of them yelled to the others "Why didn't we start getting these sooner? Too bad it took us so long to figure out these are a great way to get around!!"

Years ago there were no scooters in the parks ~ if someone in your party needed assistance you got a wheelchair. I know scooters have opened up park touring to some who couldn't visit WDW before because a wheelchair wasn't a feasible option and I think it's great that you can now get around by using one. But it just seems now that those parties who could do with a wheelchair just automatically get a scooter instead.

Please don't think I'm against all scooters in the parks ~ I'm not. If that is the only way you can enjoy Disney, of course please use one. I would bet that you use your scooter respectfully of others in the parks.

Whenever we see a scooter coming we try to give them as much room as possible knowing that you need some extra space. What I do hate though is those who just back up without even looking or plow through the crowds without a thought to how much it hurts to get run into by a scooter!! There are far too many like that!

 

[Allison]

There are other alternatives Waltfan 1957 like a NON Powered chair! Something that is pushed, not driven.

And that is not an appropriate alternative for many situations.

 

[MareSINY]

Every time this topic comes up I just shake my head. We rented a scooter for my dad on every trip we took to Disney in the past 4 or 5 years. He always had trouble steering the thing in large crowds, you talk about people getting run over, how about the people who walk along in a daze and step right in front of a moving scooter? Or the people who stop dead in their tracks with someone behind them riding a scooter? Or for that matter, pushing a stroller OR a wheelchair! It's not always the drivers fault, and yes they can be intimidating to drive when you first start out.

We took our last family trip with my dad in December, he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in January. As sad as I am to have lost him, I'm so happy that we had that last trip to Disney with him. I'm glad that I rented him a scooter for the entire trip and I'm glad I never had to worry about him over doing it.

As for why people don't use wheelchairs instead of scooters, I think it's a big load off a family member's shoulders not to have to feel like a burden who has to be pushed around in a wheelchair. And no, my dad would not have been capable of pushing himself around.

 

[Allison]

Every time this topic comes up I just shake my head. We rented a scooter for my dad on every trip we took to Disney in the past 4 or 5 years. He always had trouble steering the thing in large crowds, you talk about people getting run over, how about the people who walk along in a daze and step right in front of a moving scooter? Or the people who stop dead in their tracks with someone behind them riding a scooter? Or for that matter, pushing a stroller OR a wheelchair! It's not always the drivers fault, and yes they can be intimidating to drive when you first start out.

We took our last family trip with my dad in December, he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in January. As sad as I am to have lost him, I'm so happy that we had that last trip to Disney with him. I'm glad that I rented him a scooter for the entire trip and I'm glad I never had to worry about him over doing it.

As for why people don't use wheelchairs instead of scooters, I think it's a big load off a family member's shoulders not to have to feel like a burden who has to be pushed around in a wheelchair. And no, my dad would not have been capable of pushing himself around.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[LittleLebowski]

I am not trying to start a huge debate or soil someones Cheerios here abotu someone who medically or physically needs the chair. I am simply saying something that happened to me. I tried to put a cute humorous face on it but some people do not get other peoples humor.

For Pete's sake. I am sure whoever hit you didn't do it on purpose. Stronger faster motors than the Indy cars at MK? Nightmares!?!?!? Well, at least that's a NEW complaint against the ECV drivers. Haven't heard that one before.

You sure picked a hornet's nest subject to start posting on.

Just be careful when you operate one of these and if you never have before, take it out to the parking lot where it is wide open and familiarize yourself with the controls before you get into a high traffic area of walkers.

Walkers pay more attention too!

 

[LittleLebowski]

MareSINY I am sorry to hear about your father and I am glad he got to enjoy Disney as well!

 

[CPer'sMom]

We rented a scooter for my dad on every trip we took to Disney in the past 4 or 5 years.

We took our last family trip with my dad in December, he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in January. As sad as I am to have lost him, I'm so happy that we had that last trip to Disney with him. I'm glad that I rented him a scooter for the entire trip and I'm glad I never had to worry about him over doing it.

I'm glad that scooters are available for people like your Dad who truly need them. I'm sure you have many wonderful memories of visiting Disney and sharing those times with your Dad, especially now that he's no long with you. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

d) a way to make it to the front of the line in the busy times under the guise of being disabled.

I have no idea where this fantasy of front of the line access got started, it doesn't exist. The vast majority of the attractions at WDW are all main queue accessible.

 

[waltfan1957]

d) a way to make it to the front of the line in the busy times under the guise of being disabled.

ever tried safari in AK if you had you would'nt post comments like this

 

[Kae]

I think the point is some people even if then need them should learn how to use them before they go to a place like WDW. One of my co-workers has MS& has a scooter for big places like WDW, Zoos, Mall & outlets but, she practiced with it before she used it in a crowded area. And it does stink that some people use them out of laziness.

Kae