Scooter rentals now TARGETING the lazy!! (LONG)

[kittythepoohbear]

About 2 weeks before our trip, my 18 y.o. sister sprained her ankle so badly she required a walking cast and physical therapy. The trip was almost called off, but the doctor said she was doing well so off to WDW we went. For the first two days my little sis walked her buns off, stopping to rest frequently. By our third day she was in such pain I rented a wheelchair for her. I can't tell you how bad we both felt about this decision for a couple of reasons. First, my sis is overweight largely due to medication she needs to take. This of course compounds the ankle injury, but we both did not want others to see this young girl in a WC and think "Oh, there is another lazy fat person using a wheelchair." She is very sensitive about her weight issue and almost broke down in tears at EPCOT over the whole situation. She saw a lot of overweight people is EVCs and asked me "I am not like that, am I? I don't want to be a fat kid in a wheelchair, it just really hurts to walk." Secondly, by this time she didn't have to wear a walking cast although she did use an ace bandage under her clothing. Her injury was not apparent making the whole thing that much worse. She was able to transfer out of the wheelchair fairly easily and could walk, but those who stared could not feel the pain in her ankle or in her heart as she felt ashamed. I felt ashamed as well, not just for her, but when I realized others may judge me and think I am enabling this "fat kid" to sit on her butt instead of walking. I hate myself for even letting that thought cross my mind, but it did. I am not really even sure of my point in sharing this. I just want others to know that if you see a "fat kid" in a WC or ECV, there may be something else going on that you can't see. My sister is a beautiful, fun-loving girl who works hard and is looking forward to college in the fall. She just happens to wear a size 18 and had a bad injury at WDW. I hope she never needs to use a WC again, but my understanding of those that do need one has increased. My prayers to those of you on this board who need to use one on a regular basis and to those who, heaven forbid, may need to use one in the future.

 

[wdwobsessed]

So you think it's fair for fat lazy people to pretend to be disabled and get all the priveleges?

Frankly I find it pathetic. Clearly your fat friends are more in need than people like my MIL who has a brain tumour, was partially paralysed and is recovering from it but STILL manages to walk around the parks and wouldn't dream of hiring a scooter because guess what - SHE ISN'T DISABLED and wouldn't pretend to be so. Your fat friends can go on a diet or do some exercise - my MIL cannot force her body to reject a tumour...

And since when did I say anything about means testing for wheelchair folk?! If they have a genuine disability then that's what the facilities are there for. However I refuse to condone the facilities being abused by the lazy, obese folk.

HEY YOU!!! PUT A SOCK IN IT!!!

I don't care who I offend with this post because your posts are highly offensive to me as a BIG OLE' FAT person. By the way ... I teach dance so I'm not LAZY and I am mobile on a day to day basis. I am BIG though and the amount of walking WDW requires is not doable for me ... especially for days upon days in a row.

I would rather be THREE times my size and be the person I am than be you with your judgemental attitude.

I find YOU pathetic ....

WDWO

Oh how I wish I could have said what I really wanted to. Too much respect for the DIS or I would have let you have a few very choice words.

 

[shellybaxter]

So you think it's fair for fat lazy people to pretend to be disabled and get all the priveleges?

Frankly I find it pathetic. Clearly your fat friends are more in need than people like my MIL who has a brain tumour, was partially paralysed and is recovering from it but STILL manages to walk around the parks and wouldn't dream of hiring a scooter because guess what - SHE ISN'T DISABLED and wouldn't pretend to be so. Your fat friends can go on a diet or do some exercise - my MIL cannot force her body to reject a tumour...

And since when did I say anything about means testing for wheelchair folk?! If they have a genuine disability then that's what the facilities are there for. However I refuse to condone the facilities being abused by the lazy, obese folk.

I believe this may be the most offensive post I've ever seen. No one said that obese people were "more" disabled or deserving of others with disabilities. Different people have different tolerances and abilities.

The issue here really isn't "fat" people riding ECVs, it is that some people feel inconvinienced by the "fat" people. Its all about entitlement, but not on the ECV riders part, on the onlookers part. They feel they are entitled to walk freely without obsticles (ECVs), get on busses without waiting for the ECVs to be loaded, ride a ride without it being stopped to load the ECV people.

This is a sad thread; not because some business is trying to make more money by finding another market, but because the attitudes expressed by the "normal" people will make some feel so bad they will not enjoy Disney to the fullest extent possible.

For all of those who have posted that you feel badly about renting ECVs - don't - if you need them - for whatever reason - only you know why - then rent them - hang the opinions of selfish entitled people on the DIS.

Shelly

 

[mickeysaver]

My pride kept me from renting a scooter during our last trip, until the last day....then I realized how stupid my pride was. I had such bad blisters on my feet that I could barely walk without shoes on and with shoes, it was nearly impossible. So, I rented the scooter for our last day because we were being joined by friends and family for a day at Epcot. I was really much better off in being on that scooter. I was able to be a part of the group! I would not have made it from the car to the ticketbooth in 3 hours on foot.

I have issues with blistering feet/toes during every WDW trip. I hate it! I have decided to rent a scooter for our upcoming trip. It's only a 3 day trip, but I want to enjoy all 3 days instead of just one, like usual. I am fat, morbidly obese, or super pooh sized.....basically just huge. There is no candy coating it for this thread. I work in a doctor's office and can run after patients and chase orders all day, but there is something about walking at WDW that just kills my poor feet.

So, to all of those who see me riding around WDW in September and then get up and walk to a que, shop or restaurant, it's all in an effort to enjoy my trip. I am not lazy, just tired of being miserable with blisters during every WDW trip that I have ever taken. There is no amount of moleskin, deodorant spray, gel insoles, New Balance, new socks, or whatevers to keep my feet happy at WDW, so sign my big butt up, I am rentin' a scooter and enjoying WDW. I make no apologies. Maggie

 

[kaytieeldr]

So you think it's fair for fat lazy people to pretend to be disabled and get all the priveleges?

= Not all fat people are lazy
= Not all lazy people are fat
= Not all ECV users are fat
= Not all fat people are ECV users
= Not all lazy people are ECV users
= MOST ECV users - of any size - are not pretending to be disabled
= As offensive as it may be - especially to fat people - obesity IS a disability
= There are dictionaries available both online and in stores that define "use" and "abuse"
= Only the ECV user has the right to determine her or his NEED
= ECV users don't sit in judgment of opinionated people

And yes, I can walk, and yes I plan to as much as I possibly can.

Um, you may want to rethink that. People may judge you based on your ability to walk at times while using the ECV at other times.

First, my sis is overweight largely due to medication she needs to take.

It's genuinely not anybody's business but hers and her doctor's why she's above weight for her height.

HEY YOU!!! PUT A SOCK IN IT!!!

​

I believe this may be the most offensive post I've ever seen. No one said that obese people were "more" disabled or deserving of others with disabilities. Different people have different tolerances and abilities.
The issue here really isn't "fat" people riding ECVs, it is that some people feel inconvinienced by the "fat" people. Its all about entitlement, but not on the ECV riders part, on the onlookers part. They feel they are entitled to walk freely without obsticles (ECVs), get on busses without waiting for the ECVs to be loaded, ride a ride without it being stopped to load the ECV people.

​

 

[sherreis]

After reading all of this thread, I feel like saying "all I can say is wow." We're going to be there in November. DH and I are having a daily battle that he needs to rent an ECV because he has chronic back/leg pain. He has been treated with narcotics that were at doses that would have killed me. He has struggled to get off of them and then the vioxx was taken away. Now, he suffers. I'm hoping he'll give into the ECV so he can go with me and our young boys to the parks and that he can be a happy person. His first comment was "great, I get to look at everybody's behind." If he rents one, yes, he will be one of those who can easily transfer. If he doesn't rent one, he'll be the one who will constantly be bending over in pain. He doesn't like the extra looks either when he has used the scooters at some of the bigger stores. He's tried to not use them when he is able to walk. But, I remember how big the parks are. As others have mentioned, just because someone doesn't have a cast or brace on, doesn't mean they are disabled. Heart/lung conditions make it so that walking puts such a demand on their bodies.

As for the issue of fat people, it's amazing how rude people (some of the posters here) can be about that. Gets me thinking, do I want to go spend thousands of dollars to be around people like that?

 

[kaytieeldr]

As for the issue of fat people, it's amazing how rude people (some of the posters here) can be about that. Gets me thinking, do I want to go spend thousands of dollars to be around people like that?

Yes you do - because there will be many MORE of us there with you who AREN'T "like that"

 

[Friendly Frog]

Then, we aren't talking about them, are we?

It's getting pretty difficult to tell at times.

 

[goofie4goofy]

This thread is not about denying people that need to use an ECV. It is about abuse and people that do not need one. Clearly there are many people that do not need to, but for whatever sick reason or for $hit$ and giggles. I am not judging anyone, but I highly doubt the 2 teens I saw this past spring tearing up the Portofino Bay needed an ECV. There is no reason to be defensive about this subject, but I would think most people would find ECV abuse more offensive than us complaining about it. If I was a person in an ECV that needed to be and saw 2 teens riding and racing around, scuffing up the hallways of a beautiful hotel and seeing how far in to the water they can drive it...then jumping off the thing and pulling it out of the water...well lets say I would be much more offfended. I find that behavior to be much more upsetting and I am surprised most of you do not. So you can say, maybe these boys needed ot be in an ECV and they had a hidden medical condition.....highly doubtful. This kind of thing goes on more than most realize and that is what we are talking about.

 

[lisadam]

Wow

As the average age of the country increases - and the baby boomer generation gets older - there are going to be more and more people renting the ECVs for convenience more than for "real" need - and supply will start to catch up with demand.

Frankly if someone wants to call ahead and reserve themselves an ECV just because they'll enjoy their vacation more - then that's great - that's what we do on vacation - we enjoy it - and we all do that different ways

Walking disney isn't a competition - I do it - I love to walk - I have friends who hate walking - they're in shape - they do their workouts - and then they drive everywhere else - places I walk - but that's ok - whether they're at home -or in the Keys or Martha's Vineyard or Disney. THIS is how they chose to live their lives.

There are golfers who walk - and others who rent the carts - whichever helps them enjoy their free time more

I just don't get why anyone would care how people enjoy their down-time. YES - if they're driving in a dangerous manner - sure - but that's a different issue. WHO and WHY someone rents an ECV shouldn't concern anyone else. HOW they behave on those vehicles is a different matter. But frankly - I've had skin taken off the back of my ankle - and the person apologized profusely - we're human - we make mistakes..

And one day when I am not doing well in my fight with metastatic cancer - I will have to rent an ECV - I'll probably still look fine - and people will probably still talk....

 

[orljustin]

I just don't get why anyone would care how people enjoy their down-time. YES - if they're driving in a dangerous manner - sure - but that's a different issue. WHO and WHY someone rents an ECV shouldn't concern anyone else. HOW they behave on those vehicles is a different matter. But frankly - I've had skin taken off the back of my ankle - and the person apologized profusely - we're human - we make mistakes..

This is the most sensible post in the thread. Anyone who wants to rent one should and is able to. If someone has a need for one, they should take measures to guarantee they will have one.

 

[minnie61650]

This thread is not about denying people that need to use an ECV. It is about abuse and people that do not need one. Clearly there are many people that do not need to, but for whatever sick reason or for $hit$ and giggles. I am not judging anyone, but I highly doubt the 2 teens I saw this past spring tearing up the Portofino Bay needed an ECV. There is no reason to be defensive about this subject, but I would think most people would find ECV abuse more offensive than us complaining about it. If I was a person in an ECV that needed to be and saw 2 teens riding and racing around, scuffing up the hallways of a beautiful hotel and seeing how far in to the water they can drive it...then jumping off the thing and pulling it out of the water...well lets say I would be much more offfended. I find that behavior to be much more upsetting and I am surprised most of you do not. So you can say, maybe these boys needed ot be in an ECV and they had a hidden medical condition.....highly doubtful. This kind of thing goes on more than most realize and that is what we are talking about.

Yes, some people will abuse ECV usage. Just as some will try to pool hop, use an old refillable mug that was sold as a LOS mug, lie about a child's age to save money on a ticket,or sneak extra guests into the resort room.

But when my fellow DIS members are stating that people who abuse the use of an EVC are using it to go to the front of line it is very upsetting to me.
I use an EVC and I often wait longer in lines than the able-bodied guests.

I feel the need to correct some of these misconceptions.

It is Disney's rule that WC/EVC users need to board the bus first for safety reasons.
Many people posted they get very because WC/EVC's do not wait in the bus line like everyone else.

I just want to let these people who are so know the reason why
we are loaded on the bus first is for the safety of all. Also to understand why Disney and the bus driver wants us to transfer to a bus seat if at all possible.

Do you think that just because we are in a WC/EVC we are unaware of the stares many of you give us?
Do you think for 1 minute that I would rather be in the EVC than to be able to walk hand in hand down Main Street with my DH?

Last year we took our grandson (age 3 at the time) to see Mickey for the first time. When he was born I was still able bodied and I told my DD we would take Alex to see Mickey in a few years. My dream was to stand in line holding his hand while we waited to see to Mickey.
Well, I did not get to hold his hand in line but I did get to see him meet Mickey.
If I did not use the EVC I never would have been able to see that!
So for me the EVC is the reason why I can still go and enjoy Disney.

It really hurts me when people would stare at me just because I am able to get out of the EVC and walk a few feet to enjoy a ride with my DH or my DGS.

Yes, I feel those looks so much so that last year I took my handicap placard
and copied it onto magnetic paper on my copy machine. I then tied it on the basket of my EVC with lime green ribbons so that when people saw me on the EVC they would also see my handicap permit.


I only wish people would be a little more tolerant of the disabled.

I can see you staring at me when I load my EVC onto the bus and yes I am very aware that loading does take a little time. When I am loading I am so aware of your stares. I apologize for making you wait a few extra minutes.
But what you may not understand is without the EVC and Disney's wonderful bus Drivers and buses I would never have been able to see my grandson meet Mickey.

It was truly one of the highlights in my life.

I have tears in my eyes now.

In closing I would just like to remind my fellow DIS members that some of things you said in said in these posts hurt me deeply and I fear you have hurt many others with your unkind remarks.

 

[Bunch24]

I just don't understand why everybody gets worked up over this subject (everytime it comes up every three months). Who cares who uses the ECVs? If they can afford it and want to spend the $40 a day (I guess it's that much) for it, so be it. It's not something I'd do, but I also don't rent a golf cart at Fort Wilderness, I don't get an $7 refillable 8-ounce mug, I don't do a lot of things that people consider "luxuries".

And that's all it boils down to is a luxury. If you truly NEED an ECV, you won't wait until you get to the MK gates to get one. I mean, seriously, if it's a necessity, you'll either secure one for the entire week via a rental agency, or you'll already have one. You won't take a chance of WDW being sold out of ECVs. BTW, this is coming from someone with a relative who's lived her entire life in a wheelchair.

Frankly, I don't understand why everybody has to worry about what everybody else is doing. Do you all walk to work every day instead of being lazy and driving your car? Do you mow the lawn with a push mower instead of being lazy and using a riding mower? Do you all manually turn the TV channel instead of being lazy and using the remote?

Those are all things that make our everyday lives a little easier, but some people might consider them means of being lazy. Why do people have to be so judgemental?

 

[minnie61650]

Frankly, I don't understand why everybody has to worry about what everybody else is doing. Do you all walk to work every day instead of being lazy and driving your car? Do you mow the lawn with a push mower instead of being lazy and using a riding mower? Do you all manually turn the TV channel instead of being lazy and using the remote?

Why do people have to be so judgemental?

I guess a lot of people just equate ECV usage with laziness but would never accuse a fellow golfer who drives a golf cart as being lazy.

 

[ChrisFL]

I just don't understand why everybody gets worked up over this subject (everytime it comes up every three months). Who cares who uses the ECVs? If they can afford it and want to spend the $40 a day (I guess it's that much) for it, so be it. It's not something I'd do, but I also don't rent a golf cart at Fort Wilderness, I don't get an $7 refillable 8-ounce mug, I don't do a lot of things that people consider "luxuries".

And that's all it boils down to is a luxury. If you truly NEED an ECV, you won't wait until you get to the MK gates to get one. I mean, seriously, if it's a necessity, you'll either secure one for the entire week via a rental agency, or you'll already have one. You won't take a chance of WDW being sold out of ECVs. BTW, this is coming from someone with a relative who's lived her entire life in a wheelchair.

Frankly, I don't understand why everybody has to worry about what everybody else is doing. Do you all walk to work every day instead of being lazy and driving your car? Do you mow the lawn with a push mower instead of being lazy and using a riding mower? Do you all manually turn the TV channel instead of being lazy and using the remote?

Those are all things that make our everyday lives a little easier, but some people might consider them means of being lazy. Why do people have to be so judgemental?

I can imagine if this trend takes off that there'd be more than just stroller traffic jams at WDW (which are bad enough) then there'd be those traffic jams too.

I agree that people are way too lazy in the US...taking pride in doing that just makes it seem worse

 

[SueM in MN]

I am not judging anyone, but I highly doubt the 2 teens I saw this past spring tearing up the Portofino Bay needed an ECV. There is no reason to be defensive about this subject, but I would think most people would find ECV abuse more offensive than us complaining about it. If I was a person in an ECV that needed to be and saw 2 teens riding and racing around, scuffing up the hallways of a beautiful hotel and seeing how far in to the water they can drive it...then jumping off the thing and pulling it out of the water...well lets say I would be much more offfended. I find that behavior to be much more upsetting and I am surprised most of you do not. So you can say, maybe these boys needed ot be in an ECV and they had a hidden medical condition.....highly doubtful. This kind of thing goes on more than most realize and that is what we are talking about.

The abuse that I see when I look at that situation would be abuse whether the people needed those ECVs for physical reasons or not.
They were behaving in a manner that damaged equipment and damaged property. Even if they owned those ECV, the way you are describing the use of them is abuse.
My DD uses a power wheelchair, but if she was purposely driving her power wheelchair in a way that tore up the hallways, that would be abusive use. It doesn't matter that she can't walk; purposefully damaging things is wrong.
I am offended by people who purposely damage property, but damaging property does NOT positively mean they don't need it. It just means they are reckless.

If they rented those ECVs from the Universal parks, here's what Universal says about ECVs on their Guest Services page:

Guests can rent strollers, wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECV) upon entrance to either theme park, to the left side of each park's entrance. Manual wheelchairs are also available at the Rotunda area of the parking structure. Due to limited numbers, please note that ECV Rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis and must be operated by a single person 18 years of age or older..............................

Wheelchairs: $12.00 per day + a $50.00 deposit & a signed rental contract
Electronic Convenience Vehicles: $40.00 per day + a $50.00 deposit & a signed rental contract

So, the 2 of them rented from the parks would have cost $80 per day to rent, plus I don't imagine they would be getting their deposit back. I believe the rental contracts at Universal also allow for them to charge for repairs in excess of the deposit (I don't know for sure about Universal because we've not rented one there.
If they rented from one of the off-site companies, the same things apply. The cost is a little less per day, but the rental agreement (at least the ones I've seen) also have provisions for paying for damage.
So, if things worked the way they should, they would have paid a premium for their escapades.

In closing I would just like to remind my fellow DIS members that some of things you said in said in these posts hurt me deeply and I fear you have hurt many others with your unkind remarks.

I have to agree sad to say,

 

[flortlebap]

HEY YOU!!! PUT A SOCK IN IT!!!

I don't care who I offend with this post because your posts are highly offensive to me as a BIG OLE' FAT person. By the way ... I teach dance so I'm not LAZY and I am mobile on a day to day basis. I am BIG though and the amount of walking WDW requires is not doable for me ... especially for days upon days in a row.

I would rather be THREE times my size and be the person I am than be you with your judgemental attitude.

I find YOU pathetic ....

WDWO

Oh how I wish I could have said what I really wanted to. Too much respect for the DIS or I would have let you have a few very choice words.

Evidently you, and a couple of other people on here, haven't read my other posts. Particularly I think you should go back and read the one where I say it's possible to be fat but fit, and it's the lazy types who self inflict it I object to...

Frankly, if you're fit, you can deal with a few days in the parks. 90% of the time, anyone who sits and whines about being fat and needing a scooter can do something about it. If my weight goes up I eat healthily and exercise more, I'd never get into the state where I'm even slightly above normal weight... but then again, I like my independence and wouldn't ever want to have to get into a lazy state of mind. I have no sympathy for anyone who over eats and expects rewards for it, which I have seen happen time and time again, and is the general topic of this post!!

Oh... and to paraphrase you, I'd much rather be THREE of me than someone who is apparently fat but fit and yet still takes up a scooter that a needy person could use...

 

[mickman1962]

I guess a lot of people just equate ECV usage with laziness but would never accuse a fellow golfer who drives a golf cart as being lazy.

FYI many golf course require you to take a cart to speed up play. Walking is not an option.

 

[mickman1962]

I only wish people would be a little more tolerant of the disabled.

I don't think there is a person here who is not tolerant of the truly disabled. But I, for one, am becoming less and less tolerant of the non-disabled who pretend to be.

 

[minnie61650]

I don't think there is a person here who is not tolerant of the truly disabled. But I, for one, am becoming less and less tolerant of the non-disabled who pretend to be.

How can you tell someone is non-disabled?

There are may hidden disabilities but just because someone has a hidden disability does not mean they are not truly disabled.

Do all people who use the handicapped stalls in the restroom really need that stall? Many times when I enter the rest room there are many able stalls empty but the Handicapped
one (which is the only one I can use) is being used by a mom and 1 or 2 children. I could say she is abusing the use of the HA stall or I could think perhaps she has an invisible disability or a special needs child. I always chose the benefit of the doubt.
Because it is a HA stall and it is for people with special needs correct?

So with the line of thinking of a lot of people who have posted I guess guests using the HA stall when they don't need it must be abusing the system just like those using a scooter who do not truly need them are abusing the system,