Scooter rentals now TARGETING the lazy!! (LONG)

[shellybaxter]

We ran into an elderly gentleman pushing his wife in a wheelchair at Animal Kingdom last week. We were going into the Lion King Show and I saw how exhausted this man looked. I told him it would be easier to get an ECV. He said he thought so too, but they were all out when he came into the park. While waiting for the show to begin we saw two ladies riding in on ECVs. The had a little girl with them. You should have seen the way they both RAN up to talk to a CM to try to get the little girl to participate in the show. There was no hesitation whatsoever. It just broke my heart for the elderly gentleman. I know people look perfectly healthy and have disabilities, but these two ladies sure could sprint when they wanted to.

Unfortunately, if you really need the scooter, you need to rent from an outside source or you risk them being gone.

Just because they could run short distances doesn't mean that they could walk a full day at Disney, in the biggest park. Please try to think about why people might need ECVs instead of always just assuming they don't.

I am overweight by quite a bit due to health issues. I can walk and do so everyday. I can not walk for more than 10 or 15 minutes without having to stop and rest. I usually start my trip trying to walk. I even use a treadmill at home for "training". The amount of walking required for Disney just isn't possible for me. After the first or second day I can't move. I am in pain pretty much everywhere. My legs hurt, my back hurts, my neck hurts, there is pain in all my joints. I can barely get out of bed. I refuse to let this ruin my vacation, so I rent a scooter to get around the parks in less pain.

I still park outside of the attractions so that I am not causing an inconvinience while boarding the ride. Sometimes people look at me like I don't really "need" an ECV - well they are wrong. Sometimes, like in Fantasyland since its so congested, I will park the ECV and walk to all of the attractions. Again people look at me like I don't "need" an ECV. I try very hard not to cause any problems for others and walk whenever I can, but I simply can't walk everywhere. People have different levels of ability and some of those of us who need ECVs have higher levels of ability that don't require us to be fully dependent.

I am not defending the man who was saving his energy for the dancing. However, please remember that just because a person can walk, or even run a short distance, does not mean they are that man.

Shelly

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I guess people don't realize they are only hurting themselves by not walking, when they are perfectly able to. What will be next- moving sidewalks throughout large cities??

 

[maggiann]

well, i rented my mom one for our trip in september. she has a bad foot and it is always swollen and altho she can walk around for a while, i know she will not be able to walk around all day at the parks. she wont be using it to get any special treatment, she will park it and wait in line like everyone else.

 

[BrinxFam]

minnie61650...I completely understand the safety issues and have no problem with that. The major complaint I have is that our group had been waiting to board a bus to A.K. and the ladies on the scooters, along with their families, arrived in line just before the bus arrived. The bus driver immediatley boarded them and we were left waiting for another bus. Now I understand that maybe they had health issues that were not visible but that does not excuse the fact that the scooters gave them the "front of the line pass" so to say. I'm not saying that they should've had to wait until nobody else was in line I'm just saying they should have had to wait their turn, just like we had to wait when the previous bus was full. This has happened on more than one occasion on our few trips to the World, maybe that is why it is so irritating.

Respectfully,
M.B.

 

[declansdad]

The reason WC and ECV's are loaded on the bus first is for safety reasons.
First the EVC has to backed on to the lift then once on the bus the EVC needs to be backed into the tiedown area which is not the easiest thing to do. Next the bus driver needs to tie the EVC down and secure it.

DH assists and the bus driver in helping to tie down the scooter so the other guests can board in a more timely manner. When other family members come to Disney with us they are waiting in the same line as you.

Yes, I may be first on the bus but Smile and take comfort in the fact that I am the last one off the bus!

I commend you for using the busses in this manner but in my two trips I haven't seen anyone else do this. It has always been that people in EVC or wheelchairs wheel up to the front and load on the next bus. They never waited in line.

As to the original topic, it is a shame that people take advantage of this service. Obviously it is not the intended purpose of the rentals and these lazy people should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[declansdad]

Unfortunately, this problem will only get worse. We have 7 yr olds riding around in strollers now.

The guy who was in his 30's and said he was just lazy was probably pushed around DW in a stroller when he was 10. These habits begin early in life.

This is not the same thing at all.

 

[mickman1962]

This is not the same thing at all.

No, but it will be. I was there in April and my 11 y.o. son (who's small for his age) kept pointing out all week all the kids bigger then him that were being pushed around in strollers. My 11 y.o. nephew, who is quite large, has to take breaks while walking a mile to trick or treat. Fatter kids = fatter adults.

 

[kellyc32566]

I have a question about the scooters. My 22yr old son has bone cancer and is going through treatment for it. We are planning a trip to universal for him in a couple of weeks. I am concerned that there will not be any electric scooters avaliable when we get there. He uses crutches to get around usually, if it is only for short distances. We have never been to the theme parks so are unfamiliar with the process. Should we bring bungee cords to attach the crutches to the back of the scooter chair? ( If there is one avaliable.) Help...

 

[declansdad]

No, but it will be. I was there in April and my 11 y.o. son (who's small for his age) kept pointing out all week all the kids bigger then him that were being pushed around in strollers. My 11 y.o. nephew, who is quite large, has to take breaks while walking a mile to trick or treat. Fatter kids = fatter adults.

A lot of what you say is true but pushing your child in a stroller in a place where there is an abnomal amount of walking in a short period of time does not equate to a fat, lazy child. The original topic talked about perfectly healthy adults making this decision on their own simply because they are lazy. The child in the stroller is not making this decision, the parents are. I would say the parents know the child better than anyone else and understands what they need to do to make the vacation enjoyable for everyone.

 

[Talking Hands]

I cannot answer for others because only they truly know how handicapped they are but as a Pooh sized lady I cannot tell you how many times people have told me to hire a scooter. I refuse and this is why. I feel that when you sit down in one of those things, unless you truly need it, it is the beginning of the end of your life and I surely will not get down to a 'normal' weight (which I have been working very hard at) by doing so.

As one who uses a power wheelchair in the parks and the malls getting a scooter and then the wheelchair was a hard thing to do but it brought me independence. Before my husband had to push me through the parks and now I can go on my own if I want. And can go to the mall, grocery store and Walmart by myself. Freedom. But I don't use it all the time. Far from it, I only use it when I know I will not be able to do it without. I far prefer walking.
BTW I don't look like I am mobility challenged. None of my chronic illnesses are visible. But at almost 60, osteoarthtitis, fibromyalgia, neurofibromatosis and diabetes has taken its toll on my body especially the lower half.

 

[minnie61650]

I have a question about the scooters. My 22yr old son has bone cancer and is going through treatment for it. We are planning a trip to universal for him in a couple of weeks. I am concerned that there will not be any electric scooters avaliable when we get there. He uses crutches to get around usually, if it is only for short distances. We have never been to the theme parks so are unfamiliar with the process. Should we bring bungee cords to attach the crutches to the back of the scooter chair? ( If there is one avaliable.) Help...

I have no idea how to attach the crutches to the back of the scooter chair.
My guess is if you post this question on the disABILITIES board someone will be able to help you.
Here is the link:

http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

 

[kkevcamsmom]

After I had foot surgery I had to use one and I was mortified! But it didn't stop me from useing one, if you need one they are great. I was just happy to be out of the house with the kids. I did get some funny looks because I am overweight but when they looked at my foot and saw I really needed the scooter I could see they way they felt change in the way they looked at me.


I could never picture myself using one just because I was too lazy to walk.
Sad that people have become like this


Lori

 

[ChiTownZee]

I don't know about proving they have a disability, but I think they should have ECV drivers licenses to prove they can operate one well before being allowed to rent one. We were left with a $350 stroller that can't close properly because it was attacked, repeatedly, by a women on an ECV who obviously didn't know how to steer.

 

[ReneeA]

Don't start about the kids in strollers. You don't have any idea how old they actually are. My 4 year old DS is 48" and 47 pounds - the size of an 8 year old. He can't walk all day in a park, so I'll let him walk for most of the day, and I'm going to pushing him around in a stroller part of the day. Same goes for my 3 year old DD...tall and skinny.

I think everyone should MYOB.

 

[snusnu]

The long and short of it is that anytime there is a system in place to offer assistance to those who truly need it, the selfish will abuse the system in order to provide themselves with what they believe to be a deserved perk. This is really not a problem of laziness or obesity or any of those things. It's a problem of selfishness and entitlement, which I personally believe is the core problem in our society. Many people, especially in my generation (X), believe that the world owes them a living, that they should relax while others toil, and I despise this mentality.

I agree that fat does not equal lazy. I am pretty chubby but am far from lazy. I work more than most thin people I know, which is why I'm not svelte. If only I had time to work out! I have a day job and am still struggling after ten years to establish a career in opera, which takes all my evening and weekends, as that's when I rehearse and perform. So, I'm chubby for now. However, I am very active and otherwise very healthy. I walk in WDW as that's the best exercise imaginable.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I know someone who rented an ECV on their recent trip to WDW because they had a back injury while at the parks and could barely stand up straight, let alone walk all day. However, this person is going back to the parks very soon, and is fully intending to rent an ECV again, because they "hate walking around when it's hot." I kid you not. This person is quite overweight, but is perfectly capable of walking around all day, they just don't feel like it (in their own words, I am not making assumptions here). That, to me, is just terrible.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I don't know how they handle truely disabled people on scooters as far as lines. Do they go in a special entrance therefore not having to wait in line with others? Maybe this guy is using the scooter not only because he doesn't want to walk but also because he wants to avoid the lines??? It's simply disgusting to me.

Annie

Not ever having rented either an scooter or wheelchair before, I was thought the same thing. Well, in April, we met a bunch of my aunts and uncles for a day. They are in their late 60's and early 70's and one just had knee surgery, so they rented ONE wheelchair to share "as needed".

WELL, I waited more in line in the "handicapped" line than I ever wait for in the regular lines. (I refuse to wait in a line more than 20 minutes 30 max, just not necessary with good planning)

We were sent back for a later showing at Honey I Shrunk the Audience because all the "handicapped" places were taken for the present show, so we came back 1 1/2 hours later!!! Believe me, I found having one very frustrating and absolutely NO advantage.

Anyway, anyone want to join me for the show???

 

[BrianD]

I would love to not have to walk! In fact, I think the next time I go to WDW, maybe I'l park in one of those empty blue spots near the front of the parking lot. That would be so cool!

 

[photonut]

Not ever having rented either an scooter or wheelchair before, I was thought the same thing. Well, in April, we met a bunch of my aunts and uncles for a day. They are in their late 60's and early 70's and one just had knee surgery, so they rented ONE wheelchair to share "as needed".

WELL, I waited more in line in the "handicapped" line than I ever wait for in the regular lines. (I refuse to wait in a line more than 20 minutes 30 max, just not necessary with good planning)

We were sent back for a later showing at Honey I Shrunk the Audience because all the "handicapped" places were taken for the present show, so we came back 1 1/2 hours later!!! Believe me, I found having one very frustrating and absolutely NO advantage.

Anyway, anyone want to join me for the show???

This is just another example of how bad the abuse of the scooters is becoming....even your group that needed to have one had to wait for later shows because they are full from all the other scooters....

My first few trips to Disney you hardly saw these onsight. Now they are everywhere and so are the childrens strollers. It is mostly a convenience to many that dont need them and those that do need them cant access them when needed without going to an outside source.

IMO, it is very sad for all involved.

 

[minnie61650]

The long and short of it is that anytime there is a system in place to offer assistance to those who truly need it, the selfish will abuse the system in order to provide themselves with what they believe to be a deserved perk. This is really not a problem of laziness or obesity or any of those things. It's a problem of selfishness and entitlement, which I personally believe is the core problem in our society. Many people, especially in my generation (X), believe that the world owes them a living, that they should relax while others toil, and I despise this mentality.

I agree that fat does not equal lazy. .

I agree.