Scooters and Bus Lines

[Sherrkel]

My FIL is considering renting an ECV from an off-site vendor for our upcoming trip. Usually he rents from the parks directly, but his mobility is getting worse and having an ECV for the whole trip would be better (at least that is what we're trying to convince him to do).
We've been to Disney many times, but not in the last two years.

We are staying on-site. If we arrive at a bus stop, will my FIL be able to wait in the queue with the rest of us, and not be made to board ahead of others who may have already been waiting, and they may potentially lose a spot on the bus (if there are long lines)?

My FIL is very proud and stubborn, he does not like special treatment. He doesn't want to be told to board a bus before other's who have been waiting before him.

I know this is a sensitive topic on the boards; I don't want to debate it. I just want to know if the driver will automatically see him in line or off to the side and ready the bus for him to board, of if we can-subtly- ask to wait if there will not be enough room.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[DvcDoc]

The bus driver will see him waiting in the HC area and board him first. This is primarily due to the fact that he will need to board through the back door of the bus. It's really the best way because once the rest of the crowd gets on the bus, you won't have enough room to maneuver the ECV and get it parked where it needs to be. Best of luck and hope you have a great trip.

 

[disney david]

My FIL is considering renting an ECV from an off-site vendor for our upcoming trip. Usually he rents from the parks directly, but his mobility is getting worse and having an ECV for the whole trip would be better (at least that is what we're trying to convince him to do). We've been to Disney many times, but not in the last two years. We are staying on-site. If we arrive at a bus stop, will my FIL be able to wait in the queue with the rest of us, and not be made to board ahead of others who may have already been waiting, and they may potentially lose a spot on the bus (if there are long lines)? My FIL is very proud and stubborn, he does not like special treatment. He doesn't want to be told to board a bus before other's who have been waiting before him. I know this is a sensitive topic on the boards; I don't want to debate it. I just want to know if the driver will automatically see him in line or off to the side and ready the bus for him to board, of if we can-subtly- ask to wait if there will not be enough room. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

The drivers load the guest in the ecv first for safety reasons for safety of the guest and the driver. So the driver will see your fil and of their no one one the bus in an ecv or if the bus isn't full they will board him first. It not that the driver wants to make him feel uncomfortable but it is safer to load him first. Because if they board everyone else the driver might not be able to safely get back to the back door and he have to wait for another bus to come. Let your fil okay to get board first the other guest will then get boarded once it safe. Also remember five other member of your party can join him though the back door the rest will have to wait in the regular que. It more important to the driver for your fil safety then other guests loading a spot. Disney has enough buses and drivers to get every guest to where they want and your fil and every legal right to board the bus safely and that means first. But that also means for safety reason when he gets to his stop he be the last off the driver has to let everyone else off to safely have him exit the bus.


Remember the buses are fun to use and the drivers are in charge of the safety on the bus.

 

[CoP I Love You]

he would have to go on first.
that is how Disney does things.
if Disney let a bunch of people on then they would not be able to get your FIL on very easily.

your FIL needs to realize that nobody in that line cares that he has to go on first due to being in the ECV.
whether they were waiting in line for longer than him or not the ECV must be loaded before everyone else can enter the bus and if its not him its gonna be someone else.

I would just suggest that he makes sure that he knows how to work the ECV cuz you can tell when someone has no clue what they are doing and nearly tips the ECV over when trying to go up the ramp into the bus.
and the CM's really aren't allowed to help direct the ECV in the right direction as that creates a liability issue.
there have been times that I've had to wait nearly 10 minutes just for one person to figure out how to get themselves onto the bus and that's the only time I start to care and its not cuz someone is using the ECV its cuz they don't know how to use it.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

he would have to go on first.
that is how Disney does things.
if Disney let a bunch of people on then they would not be able to get your FIL on very easily.

your FIL needs to realize that nobody in that line cares that he has to go on first due to being in the ECV.
whether they were waiting in line for longer than him or not the ECV must be loaded before everyone else can enter the bus and if its not him its gonna be someone else.

I would just suggest that he makes sure that he knows how to work the ECV cuz you can tell when someone has no clue what they are doing and nearly tips the ECV over when trying to go up the ramp into the bus.
and the CM's really aren't allowed to help direct the ECV in the right direction as that creates a liability issue.
there have been times that I've had to wait nearly 10 minutes just for one person to figure out how to get themselves onto the bus and that's the only time I start to care and its not cuz someone is using the ECV its cuz they don't know how to use it.

I hadn't used an ECV before our trip in February, and after making a hash of trying to park it in the right place on the bus once, the driver told me to get off and he moved it manually before tying it down. In fact, every driver I had told me they'd park it for me once I'd driven it on board.

Your FIL shouldn't feel bad about boarding first. Remember that he'll also be the last to unload when you get to your destination so it all balances out.

 

[lanejudy]

You can usually judge whether a line is long enough for all waiting to get on the next bus or not. If that is your concern, when the line is very long you can have FIL hang back from the wheelchair waiting box while some of your party joins the line -- essentially waiting for another bus. Once your family has moved up far enough in line to board the next bus, he can move into place as well. But he shouldn't feel bad boarding first when the bus arrives, as it is for safety.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Sherrkel]

Thank you all for your replies and reassurances. I hope my FIL decides to rent one for the whole trip so that he can enjoy our time together.

You can usually judge whether a line is long enough for all waiting to get on the next bus or not. If that is your concern, when the line is very long you can have FIL hang back from the wheelchair waiting box while some of your party joins the line -- essentially waiting for another bus. Once your family has moved up far enough in line to board the next bus, he can move into place as well. But he shouldn't feel bad boarding first when the bus arrives, as it is for safety.

Enjoy your vacation!

This sounds like a great idea, I appreciate your input thanks very much!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

they must board the ECV first. they have to put the seats up for the ECV spot, load the ECV onto the bus, maneuver it into the spot and tie it down for safety. They cannot do this after everyone else has boarded. If you see a long line and you are more comfortable waiting to board until the next bus comes, as noted you can hang back and wait.

 

[ammag]

I hope he gets it for the whole trip! I understand feeling like you're jumping the line or getting special treatment, my mom felt the same when we went. We did get some dirty looks but ignored them. If it helps, anyone who is disparaging someone who needs physical assistance is probably a jerk and it's not worth the energy worrying about their opinion I will remind myself of this on our trip this spring when I have one for the week! I hope nobody gets him down!

Ps. I don't remember if there are rules posted, if not they should post at the stops that wheelchairs and EVCs must be boarded first for safety. Not that most people read rules.