Scooter, bus, line......I gotta get to the park!!

[FIVEFANS]

I have just one lingering question from my last trip. And let me say first I totally understand that some people need scooters but.......

Two things kept happening.

1. We would wait forever for a bus and then two scooters and their big familys show up and go right to the front taking all the seats etc from all the people who waited 30min.......

2. We would just walk up to a bus and four scooters are in line and I had to go in front of these people because there was no more "scooter" room.

So in the end I guess it was a "wash" and all worked out,

but what is tough for me is that I feel like people on scooters sometimes act like everyone should cater to them first. (and I dont mean all of them).

Its just tough because lets face it you can't just let everyone go ahead all the time or you will never get where you are going. In the end maybe with all the scooters disney needs to make a quicker way to load and unload more of them........ or I guess I should be thankful I am not in a scooter.....(and I am).

 

[si-am]

I can see this thread taking a turn for the worse.

I have also missed bus seats (and buses altogether) because of LARGE extended families accompanying scooters on the bus even when they hadn't been waiting as long as I have.

I agree that something ought to be done about the scooter/bus situation, but I don't know what.

 

[Robo]

I feel like people on scooters sometimes act like everyone should cater to them first. (and I dont mean all of them).

Doesn't really matter how the person on the scooter "acts."
Scooters and other wheelchairs "board first, exit last" according to Disney Bus rules.

Disney (and the Americans with Disabilities Act) makes the rules.

 

[fan1080]

At the risk of sounding somewhat "cold"; to be honest, I've never understood why scooters get priority.

It can be frustrating to wait bus after bus while scooters simply ride up and get access to the very next bus with no wait.

 

[crazyoldmaurice]

I agree that this thread will likely turn ugly and then eventially get closed. But I think the OP does have somewhat of a point. We have been going to WDW often for the past 7 years, and without a doubt the number of scooters (& wheelchairs somewhat) have increased dramatically.

All I am going to say is that you can not judge a person's situation/disability based on their appearance because there are plenty of disabilities out there that have no outward signs. That said, I don't think the number of disabled people that visit WDW have increased at the same rate that the scooters have. I will refrain from any other comments regarding this.

So given this increase, the time will come when things begin to get out of hand with the busses and even in the parks. As to how Disney will handle this, I have no idea. Perhaps the use Guest Assistance Card will become a factor? Who knows?

 

[my3sons77]

Same thing happened to us when we were there in October. We had been waiting for a bus for quite a bit. Already had to skip one bus because it got full so we were waiting for the next one to arrive. Right before the bus gets there, here comes a scooter (2 of them) and their extended families.

I absolutely understand why people need them and I am not saying that they bother me. But what I am saying is that they should get in the back of the line just like I would have to if I came up at the last minute. Once they get towards the front, then they are loaded if the bus is not already full. If it is full, then they wait for the next bus just like any of us would have to.

Hope that makes sense and doesn't make anybody mad. The scooters don't bother me a bit when in the parks or on the buses. It's just when the situation above happens that it makes me frusterated.

I too can see this thread turning towards the worse. I hope we can all be mature adults and understand that this is just a conversation and not a flame against people in scooters in general.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I am sure that the people in scooter/wheelchairs would switch with you if given the chance...consider yourself fortunate that you do not need one.

I would gladly give my space up to someone that needs it. Thank goodness I have the ability to walk...waiting for another bus is worth it!

 

[si-am]

If you want to use a scooter, fine. I totally get that there are hidden disabilities as well as obvious ones. I've even traveled with a family member using a scooter due to chemo, though we waited in the regular line while her immediate family boarded first with her.

For safety reasons, scooters need to board first. My only beef is with the extended family members getting front-of-the-line access, well ahead of everyone who has been waiting to board the bus.

Something needs to be done about THAT.

 

[my3sons77]

If you want to use a scooter, fine. I totally get that there are hidden disabilities as well as obvious ones. I've even traveled with a family member using a scooter due to chemo, though we waited in the regular line while her immediate family boarded first with her.

For safety reasons, scooters need to board first. My only beef is with the extended family members getting front-of-the-line access, well ahead of everyone who has been waiting to board the bus.

Something needs to be done about THAT.

I agree.

 

[Robo]

For safety reasons, scooters need to board first. My only beef is with the extended family members getting front-of-the-line access, well ahead of everyone who has been waiting to board the bus.

Something needs to be done about THAT.

What would that be?

 

[FIVEFANS]

Doesn't really matter how the person on the scooter "acts."
Scooters and other wheelchairs "board first, exit last" according to Disney Bus rules.

Disney (and the Americans with Disabilities Act) makes the rules.

This is my dumb question.....Dp we all assusme that if someone is in a scooter they have a Disability?

 

[Robo]

This is my dumb question.....Dp we all assusme that if someone is in a scooter they have a Disability?

The ADA (in effect) says that 3rd parties (sometimes, even the 2nd parties) are not permitted to ask that.

If someone says they need a scooter, and one is available, they get a scooter.

Is there a possibility of abuse? Yes.
There is just no way to determine this without violating individual privacy rights.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The reasons that ECVs and wheelchairs load first is it is much easier to get them into the bus and tied down while there are no other people around. Also they load from the back door. Can you imagine 30 people getting into a bus from the front and then the driver having to load two ECVs?

And note they do unload last.

And for anyone who wants it, I will give you my ECV (which cost over $2,000) as long as you also take my physical limitations which make me need it. I will be more than happy to stand in line and wait for a bus to load people with disabilities if I don't have any.

Karma!

 

[si-am]

What would that be?

Well that's the million dollar question, isn't it?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

This is my dumb question.....Dp we all assusme that if someone is in a scooter they have a Disability?

Probably over 99% of the people who rent ECVs do so because there is physical need. And many of the disabilities people have are not outwardly visible.

One interesting problem we have in the disABILITIES Forum is sometimes trying to convince people that if they really need a wheelchair or ECV they should rent one and not try to "tough it out". The severe pain that develops if someone needs one and does not use it (because it will make them feel guilty or embarrassed) can not only ruin a day's park experience but also be so bad to prevent them from going to a park the next day.

 

[si-am]

The reasons that ECVs and wheelchairs load first is it is much easier to get them into the bus and tied down while there are no other people around. Also they load from the back door. Can you imagine 30 people getting into a bus from the front and then the driver having to load two ECVs?

And note they do unload last.

And for anyone who wants it, I will give you my ECV (which cost over $2,000) as long as you also take my physical limitations which make me need it. I will be more than happy to stand in line and wait for a bus to load people with disabilities if I don't have any.

Karma!

I think almost all the posters in this thread have acknowledged that scooters are necessary for some.

The dilemma is the people accompanying the scooters. If a scooter and a couple of family members board the bus first, I don't really see anyone complaining about that.

When a scooter and so many extended family members that there are practically no seats left board the bus ahead of everyone else, it does create some hard feelings.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For safety reasons, scooters need to board first. My only beef is with the extended family members getting front-of-the-line access, well ahead of everyone who has been waiting to board the bus.

Something needs to be done about THAT.

What would that be?

Well that's the million dollar question, isn't it?

si-am

You have raised an interesting point. Rather than complaining about it, do you have any workable suggestions on how this can be handled?

 

[FIVEFANS]

Probably over 99% of the people who rent ECVs do so because there is physical need. And many of the disabilities people have are not outwardly visible.

One interesting problem we have in the disABILITIES Forum is sometimes trying to convince people that if they really need a wheelchair or ECV they should rent one and not try to "tough it out". The severe pain that develops if someone needs one and does not use it (because it will make them feel guilty or embarrassed) can not only ruin a day's park experience but also be so bad to prevent them from going to a park the next day.

Your point is TOTALLY understood.

 

[fan1080]

The reasons that ECVs and wheelchairs load first is it is much easier to get them into the bus and tied down while there are no other people around. Also they load from the back door. Can you imagine 30 people getting into a bus from the front and then the driver having to load two ECVs?

And note they do unload last.

And for anyone who wants it, I will give you my ECV (which cost over $2,000) as long as you also take my physical limitations which make me need it. I will be more than happy to stand in line and wait for a bus to load people with disabilities if I don't have any.

Karma!

I don't think anyone has a problem with them loading first, that makes sense.

Seems many thoughts are that scooters should wait in line like everyone else.

The question, for me, is why do they get priority with no wait?

 

[GovieMom]

Maybe the number of family members accompanying the scooter-bound guest could be limited to 2 or 3 at the most.