Scooter issues again

First of all thanks to the moderator for leaving the thread open, without that I would have never come up with eye-opening conclusions

1.) Disney has no other option than to load EVCs, Their riders and family first. After seeing the trials the driver had while loading the ECV with a loaded bus my suggestion of having an able bodied family member wait in line also is most inefficent unless the said ECV riders family is first in line....and how many times does that happen to anyone? Disney Drivers must load Diabled persons first to allow for maneverabilites. If family members waitied in line, there would NEVER be an empty bus for the disabled ECV rider. They would wait forever. ECV riders get enough grief already, both from folks like me that "HAD" less than compassionate ideas about ECVs and their riders and folks who may still share the ideas I "HAD". I cannot imagine how upset I would have become prior to my revelation had a ECV rider ran over my foot after trying to load their ECV with a full bus. Thus Disney's best option is to load an empty bus.......Before I get on.

2.) Several have mentioned that my experience with our trip back to a resort and a driver loading a ECV with a fully loaded bus is unusual. leading me to believe the family might have had an unusual situation I was unaware of. ie..losing insulin, needing to get back for a breathing treatment, etc.

3.) the bus system works best for families who have older children, and not children who fall asleep in mothers arms. there is an inevitabilitiy that one might have to stand on a Disney bus. It appears as though in our families timeline we are not prepared to stand. So we have decided to rent a car until our girls get older. not because of intolerance of ECVs and disabled persons. because "I" and my family was unprepared to stand. With all the support equipment we must take I'm not certain we were prepared to even sit on Disney transportation

4.) There has to be far more folks who need ECVs than folks misusing the system. There may or may not be folks scamming the system, in fact I would believe that there might only be 1-2 folks per park even considering this as adventagious. And its pretty ridiculous an idea that an abled body person would want to rent a ECV/wheelchair and use it throughout their stay with the sole intent of getting on a ride or bus before me.

These are but a few of the realizations I have made for myself. I know that I do not have history on my side when it comes to message boards. There are most certainly folks who post just to stir things up, however there are folks who post who have genuine problems, who want to understand and vent. After hearing alot of the resoponses, Some kind, and some not so kind, I have concluded that I was most certainly the person with the wrong mind set. Not everyone who post controversial threads are into it to ruffle feathers and some have acknowleged that.....and I thank them all for that.

Lastly and most importantly, no one wants to ride in an ECV, no one ever makes that choice.....somehow even as a grouchy ER nurse, and maybe thats part of the problem, I have lost sight of this. I will leave you with this....The night my family was asked to stand on the bus, the initial moment I was horrified, "I" had felt wronged. Somehow I felt like we had been treated unfairly and when I posted all the threads I did, the memories were freshly still embedded in my mind. Since then I have unpacked all the pictures, pulled out all our Daughters princess dolls and pins and have played back some of the video and have come to the astonishing realization that I take what I have for granted and have lost site that i'm blessed.

For those that ride the ECVs I bid you all peace, relish in the fact that you have a believer and now an advocate. As a Nurse that was what was intended anyways, to be a nursing hand for those that need it. I have lost sight of that as well.....To those that feel ill of me, hopefully you can forgive me, to those that have felt I was a troll or attention ho, I hope you can realize now that was not my intent. Peace to you all, my prayers to everyone who have disability in their lives..........Eric

Eric, thank you for posting this. I appreciate it. I think this is going to make you an even better nurse than you were before. I think it's easy for all of us to lose sight of what we do have. If you see an ECV with purple, lime green and hot pink all over it, come on over and introduce yourself, I'd like to shake your hand. It takes a lot to swallow your pride and do what you just did here. :hug:
 
Eric first off; :thumbsup2 for admiting you learned a lot from the thread. Enough folks would rather die than do that.



Lastly and most importantly, no one wants to ride in an ECV, no one ever makes that choice.....

I'm going to confuse you even more, sorry for that upfront. But ehm..... *raises hand* I made that choice. I wanted to. I want to. These types of aids are great for getting around and being independent. OK, I kinda feel pretty mwah about the way my powerchair looks and practically it's a bit of a pita, but besides that? I'm known for saying I don't need nor want the "magic healing", I'm very comfortable in my state-of-the-art great looking manual chair. And not joking when I say that.

I once made a decision to sit my bum down in a chair and let it stay put there. Best decision I've ever made and one I should've made a lot earlier. So yeah, some make the choice. :laughing: ;)


Don't kick me too hard guys. ;)
 
Eric first off; :thumbsup2 for admiting you learned a lot from the thread. Enough folks would rather die than do that.





I'm going to confuse you even more, sorry for that upfront. But ehm..... *raises hand* I made that choice. I wanted to. I want to. These types of aids are great for getting around and being independent. OK, I kinda feel pretty mwah about the way my powerchair looks and practically it's a bit of a pita, but besides that? I'm known for saying I don't need nor want the "magic healing", I'm very comfortable in my state-of-the-art great looking manual chair. And not joking when I say that.

I once made a decision to sit my bum down in a chair and let it stay put there. Best decision I've ever made and one I should've made a lot earlier. So yeah, some make the choice. :laughing: ;)


Don't kick me too hard guys. ;)

Oh no, I hear ya on using the chair! I had to make the decision to either enjoy my vacation and get a scooter or not get one and be tired and grumpy.

So I guess I'm on both sides, did I really want my ECV? No. But does it make my vacation so much better? YES! So I use it.
 
Eric first off; :thumbsup2 for admiting you learned a lot from the thread. Enough folks would rather die than do that.





I'm going to confuse you even more, sorry for that upfront. But ehm..... *raises hand* I made that choice. I wanted to. I want to. These types of aids are great for getting around and being independent. OK, I kinda feel pretty mwah about the way my powerchair looks and practically it's a bit of a pita, but besides that? I'm known for saying I don't need nor want the "magic healing", I'm very comfortable in my state-of-the-art great looking manual chair. And not joking when I say that.

I once made a decision to sit my bum down in a chair and let it stay put there. Best decision I've ever made and one I should've made a lot earlier. So yeah, some make the choice. :laughing: ;)


Don't kick me too hard guys. ;)

Stepping lightly....very lightly at this point.......I should have said, no one chooses to have a disability that forces them to use a ECV??? respectfully.....hopefully.........still stepping cautiously.........I think that is what I meant..........I don't have gift of expressing myself well online...obviously:worship:
 

Stepping lightly....very lightly at this point.......I should have said, no one chooses to have a disability that forces them to use a ECV??? respectfully.....hopefully.........still stepping cautiously.........I think that is what I meant..........I don't have gift of expressing myself well online...obviously:worship:

Scuba, I think it takes great character to come back and post what you did. Props to you!!!!
 
Stepping lightly....very lightly at this point.......I should have said, no one chooses to have a disability that forces them to use a ECV??? respectfully.....hopefully.........still stepping cautiously.........I think that is what I meant..........I don't have gift of expressing myself well online...obviously:worship:

Grin, don't sweat it. :) You expressed yourself perfectly well, totally understood what you meant. Wasn't upset by it or anything by it. Just my way of "playing" with people -and myself!- when it comes to these types of subjects. I've got a bit of a nutty outlook on these types of things.

.
 
/
I will leave you with this....The night my family was asked to stand on the bus, the initial moment I was horrified, "I" had felt wronged. Somehow I felt like we had been treated unfairly and when I posted all the threads I did, the memories were freshly still embedded in my mind. Since then I have unpacked all the pictures, pulled out all our Daughters princess dolls and pins and have played back some of the video and have come to the astonishing realization that I take what I have for granted and have lost site that i'm blessed.

Wow Eric - you found the magic after all. I knew you must have had some! I'm glad for you.
 
Oh no, I hear ya on using the chair! I had to make the decision to either enjoy my vacation and get a scooter or not get one and be tired and grumpy.

So I guess I'm on both sides, did I really want my ECV? No. But does it make my vacation so much better? YES! So I use it.

YES! I've been lurking on this thread since it began since I use an ECV too. I too chose to use one since I have severe arthritis in my hips, knees and ankles, and is now developing in my shoulders. It's amazing how much your shoulders hurt when your arms hang at your side!!

Anyway, I could either walk 30-50 feet with a cane, then need to stop OR I can use an ECV and my family can have a more "normal" vacation where they can actually go from one point to another in regular time and have me go with them. That ECV is a miracle for us and Disney World vacations. Without one, we couldn't go.

I have been conscious of what other people think of me, then I blow it off, knowing that it's been the best thing for me and my family.

And, we drive and I refuse to use a bus with the ECV, so hopefully I'm not that much of an inconvenience to my fellow Disney guests :thumbsup2
 
I plan this to be the last post to the thread on this subject however I just got back from an area department store with my DD4. we were trying to put a cap on todays festivities, Valentines day. We decided to take a stroll through the toy department where my DD4 ran around and I lost sight of here in the next row where I heard someone make a sound that like they had just been startled....kinda like an uuugh sound.

I walked around into the next row to see a ECV and it's rider in front of my Daughter. There was nearly a collision. I apologized, bowed and did really everything I could to take responsiblity for the near collison with my unsupervised running rampant DD4 in the toy department.

Her reply to me......"Don't worry honey, it was my fault, after all we are in a Toy department. I should have expected kids running around in wonder".....my jaw dropped. For all of the Seinfeld fans out there it was like the times that Kramer would hear somthing wild and twitch his head seizure like. really the ECV rider was trying to take responsibility for a near collision with my unsupervised running out of control DD4. All this just several days after my initial post on the subject where in no uncertain terms I would have thrown an ECV under a bus.......someone was tolerant of me despite me being less than tolerant just days ago. Needless to say we didn't go into detail about my views of ECVs last week..........maybe this WAS a warning to me from someone.....I continue to feel like an arrongant, ignorant @#$%#

Since my change of heart, I havve found my days at the ER better, seem to be in a better mood. Someone here made a comment that I feel to be valid. In the ER it seems like we have very little time to be compassionate, we harden ourselves because the next tragedy is usually moments away. It's a defense response. I have to get that back what I lost........I'm not thinking it's going to be easy, but it's a start.
 
I plan this to be the last post to the thread on this subject however i just got back from an area department store with my DD4. we were trying to put a cap on todays festivities, Valentines day. We decided to take a stroll through the toy department where my DD4 ran around and I lost sight of here in the next row where I heard a someone that souned like they had just been startled....kinda like an uuugh sound.

I walk arount into the next row to see a ECV and it's rider in front of my daughter. There was nearly a collision. I apologized, bowed and did really everything I could to take responsiblity for the near collison with my unsupervised running rampant DD4 in the toy department.

Her reply to me......"Don't worry honey, it was my fault, after all we are in a Toy department. I should have expected kids running around in wonder".....my jaw dropped. For all of the Seinfeld fans out there it was like the times that Kramer would hear somthing wild and twitch his head seizure like. really the ECV rider was trying to take responsibility of a near collision with my unsupervised running out of control DD4. All this just several days after my initial post on the subject where in no uncertain terms I would have thrown an ECV under a bus.......someone was tolerant of me despite me being less than tolerant just days ago. Needless to say we didn't go into detail about my views of ECVs last week..........maybe this was a warning to me from someone.....I continue to feel like an arrongant, ignorant @#$%#

First off; glad it was only a near collision and no injuries. But....

Grin. If you were to believe in it, it sure sounds like karma at work! :rotfl2:

Another thing to keep in mind; ECV's and powerchairs don't stop on a dime. They roll on for a small distance after releasing the joystick or handle. It's something all of those familiar with using an ECV and powerchair will keep in mind and act accordingly (read; keep distance), but it's also something to remember yourself and educate the kids about. Not only can it be annoying to 'quickly dash' past these aids (like it is when folks do with a stroller), but it can also be risking a collision. Keep a bit more distance than you would with a walking person.

Having said that, I practice driving the same way as the lady you've encountered. Sure, kids need to be educated, raised and an eye kept on, but they will still be kids. We all know it only takes 'this' for them to make a move in another direction. It's a major reason I keep my distance when around young ones, approaching corners etc.
 
OMG!!!! I love this board, I love my 'peeps', I love what has transpired here. I am so incredibly proud of you all.
Thanks Eric for that wonderful post. I had hoped you would do something like that after the PM you sent me.....it's so good for everyone to see that sometimes we can affect how others think. But...we need to be sensitive and try to listen to each other, with open minds. And that's what you all did. You are truly the greatest. Thanks to all of you. You make me proud!!!
 
oh,,,the greed and shame.....sleeping kids aren't a disability. Now that we've traveled to WDW with my mom ,and a Guest assistance card for the past couple of years,let me chime in and explain something to you....
she walks pretty well,using her cane,and some tight footwraps. To just see her using the card,*sometimes* getting on a ride faster than the standard line(only sometimes,usually it's just less standing up,which is a necessity for her)
you might be inclined to assume she's abusing the system,and YOU'D BE WRONG. You may start to think,"oh my,I'm carrying my overtired kid,and look at that lady who's *just fine* and her party of 4 getting on (fill in blank) ahead of me!!!"
YOU'D BE MISTAKEN. She's NOT fine. She's extremely unwell,and has more broken and badly healing parts on her body than I'd ever care to deal with.
SO OP,get over it.
:sad2:the bottom line is,WDW is a big place, with lots of people. the lines aren't always fast,or convenient,and sometimes a bus driver or CM allows some things that aren't quite fair.and some people do take undue advantage. but in most cases,it's just...well...polite to allow others the time and accomadations they need to enjoy the same things we all enjoy at WDW.:sad2:
 
Stepping lightly....very lightly at this point.......I should have said, no one chooses to have a disability that forces them to use a ECV??? respectfully.....hopefully.........still stepping cautiously.........I think that is what I meant..........I don't have gift of expressing myself well online...obviously:worship:

wow,Op....thanks for your last posts..... you got me going at first,but ,like many of us,you learned to change your outlook......:cool1:
 
And, I have to say, to scuba

Thank you for coming back and being brave enough to post about your change of heart. Most of the situations I have seen on the boards where people had a change of heart included them suddenly needing to use a wheelchair or ECV and finally finding out first hand what it's like to be need to use one.
MANY of those people have PM'd me to apologize for their "past sins of intolerance" (what some actually called it) and said they would no longer bash ECV or wheelchair users.
But, most have not been brave enough to publicly say what you have said - so Thank YOU.

Then, something for others to think about.
I will admit that it is not as easy traveling with children, especially small children. There are more things you have to take into account, more equipment, more things to pack.
But, as the kids grow up, it will get better. You will need less things, less to take into account and the kids will become more independent.
After a few years, the things that seem so difficult now will only be memories.

My personal situation is that those 'little kid times' were our easy times and now is as good as it is going to get.....
I have an adult DD with multiple disabilities. As she has gotten older, bigger and heavier, our trips to WDW have gotten harder, not easier. If she wants to get on a ride that involves a transfer, we need to lift her out of her wheelchair and into the ride seat.
There are things we can't go on anymore because it has become too difficult to lift her on (or even worse) to lift her out. Peter Pan is no longer a possibility for her because there is a very short window of time to get on or off and last time DH tried to get her off, he almost ran out of space and walked into a wall. Pirates is VERY hard, but we will do it at least once each trip, until it becomes too hard.
There will come a time when she can't come with us and we are beginning to think of how we will have her cared for when we can no longer do it, because she will still need care, whether we can do it or not.

The most exciting things to happen in our life this year was getting a roll in shower and a reclining bath chair at home. It improved our lives so much that we can hardly imagine not having had those things.
THIS is the world my family lives in and we go to WDW to escape into a magic place for a little while.

Most of it is magical, but at least once a trip, we run into someone who 'kills' the magic for a little while for us - often, involving someone's comments when we are getting on the bus. It's only DD, DH and me usually, so it's not like we have a large party. And, we do things to avoid busy buses, like not rushing out of the park at closing or after parades and waiting away from the bus area if we see the line for our bus contains more people than can sit. There have been times when we were the first people at the stop and still got complaints when the bus ended up standing room only (usually loud enough for us to hear, but not directed at us "Why does she get to use 3 seats? They should not let people like her ride the bus." - this despite DH and I standing - if we had all been ambulatory, we would have still taken those 3 seats because we were first in line.)

So, posting on Valentines Day - think about the people you love.
In an instant, they could change from able bodied to disabled.
All it takes is a car crash, a fall, a tumor or illness gone really bad; something that they may not have been able to prevent and was not their fault. How people with disabilities are treated now is how they will be treated if/when the time comes.
Karma can bite and I'm glad to hear it won't be biting the OP.
 
Okay...have deleted my original post here. Seems I can't read correctly...and posted incorrectly. I apologize to anyone who read it and wondered what the heck I was babbling on about. Seems I need to slow down, and read correctly,and thoroughly before posting in irritation.
Back to your regular discussion.
 
I plan this to be the last post to the thread on this subject however I just got back from an area department store with my DD4. we were trying to put a cap on todays festivities, Valentines day. We decided to take a stroll through the toy department where my DD4 ran around and I lost sight of here in the next row where I heard someone make a sound that like they had just been startled....kinda like an uuugh sound.

I walked around into the next row to see a ECV and it's rider in front of my Daughter. There was nearly a collision. I apologized, bowed and did really everything I could to take responsiblity for the near collison with my unsupervised running rampant DD4 in the toy department.

Her reply to me......"Don't worry honey, it was my fault, after all we are in a Toy department. I should have expected kids running around in wonder".....my jaw dropped. For all of the Seinfeld fans out there it was like the times that Kramer would hear somthing wild and twitch his head seizure like. really the ECV rider was trying to take responsibility for a near collision with my unsupervised running out of control DD4. All this just several days after my initial post on the subject where in no uncertain terms I would have thrown an ECV under a bus.......someone was tolerant of me despite me being less than tolerant just days ago. Needless to say we didn't go into detail about my views of ECVs last week..........maybe this WAS a warning to me from someone.....I continue to feel like an arrongant, ignorant @#$%#

Since my change of heart, I havve found my days at the ER better, seem to be in a better mood. Someone here made a comment that I feel to be valid. In the ER it seems like we have very little time to be compassionate, we harden ourselves because the next tragedy is usually moments away. It's a defense response. I have to get that back what I lost........I'm not thinking it's going to be easy, but it's a start.

I'm glad your little one is okay!

It takes a very big person to come back and post and admit that their viewpoint had changed.

I hope your next trip is great.
 
scuba said:
1.) Disney has no other option than to load EVCs, Their riders and family first. After seeing the trials the driver had while loading the ECV with a loaded bus my suggestion of having an able bodied family member wait in line also is most inefficent unless the said ECV riders family is first in line....and how many times does that happen to anyone?
Well, since you asked... this IS a reasonable suggestion - the problem comes primarily in our natural, "You first, right after me" (general) attitude.

Ready? Okay. The person in the wheelchair or ECV waits near the correct boarding point with one other member of their party.
The rest of the party gets in line.
When they're approaching their turn to board a bus (oh, I forgot - this works best where there ARE controls, i.e. Value resorts and theme parks; other resorts and water parks, not so much) - usually when they're in the front row of any roped/snaking waiting line - the ECV Guest and their companion indicate to the bus driver that they'll be boarding. She or he opens whatever loading system that bus uses; the two Guests board; the driver closes the back door; and the on-foot Guests board.

Heck, the ECV user - and many wheelchair users - can wait alone if necessary. I know I had to - on the patio outside Adventurers' Club the night before it closed, while my friends got to wait in line together and converse :sad2: ;)

So, you see, you're not wrong - it's just a matter of completely changing behavior :teeth:
 
Eric, I have to give you a thumbs up for your change of view.

I too used to work in the medical field for 16 years until 2 years ago a surgery gone wrong has left me unable to stand or walk for any length of time. I know what those in the medical field say behind their patients backs and their acronymns for people. Even though they are very nice to their patients faces, they can be some of the nastiest behind their backs. I do think though that now your opinion has changed, your heart has melted, and you will be a better nurse than most of those you work with. You now see both sides, not just the pita laying there asking for help and inconviencing the nurses day. I hope that maybe you can take you new found sight and teach that to others.

You definetly deserve to be commended.
 
Interesting thread.
Ive worked in health care for 22 years now.
NICU, PICU, CICU, and ER.
Children.;)
9 years ago I was hit by a car and was out of work for nine months because my knee was crushed. I still work 3 twelves a week and am in agony 24/7/365.
When not at work I use a cane.

Some of the best times we have had at WDW was waiting in line for a bus. DH and I have met so many nice people. Since DH and I are DINKS we have never had a problem giving up our seats on a bus to a family with children. Why? Because we are at WDW, we are alive, we are happy!:):)
And to get upset over someone in a wheelchair? Not me, ever. That could be me in a few years.;)
I have the greatest respect for ANYBODY that can be in public with head held high and with a disability.:lovestruc
My father had polio and was crippled but that never stopped him from entering dance contests.:hug::rotfl:

OP where is your compassion Sir? And you are an RN?
Remember the glass is always half full.:cloud9:
 














Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top