scooters

[mbtileguy]

is it me or do you see peoples expressions change (a sort of anger) when you are seated on the bus and ready to leave and the driver stops to load a wheel chair or scooter. it happened to me 3 times this week and i must be honest a get a little bummed out.

 

[deedeetoo]

I've seen it happen. I don't thing its anything personal against the person in the scooter or wheelchair but rather frustration that they will be delayed getting to their destination. Sometimes the scooters/wheelchairs go on easy, but I have been on buses when the ramp wouldn't quite go down right, the person driving the scooter didn't really know how to get it on the bus etc. Sometimes you can get really delayed and I think that expectation is what you see in the faces of the other riders.

 

[cranbiz]

Yes, I see it all the time.

However,

These guests have just as much right to ride as a non mobility impared guest. Another 5 minutes won't hurt anybody.

 

[angwill]

Last year there was a woman who was in an ECV and they loaded her on first and she just kept apologizing to us about the delay. We were the only other ones getting on. Honestly, I never even thought about it or being delayed. Yes, I watched them get her on because it was something to watch while waiting not to make anyone uncomfortable. I think she was just very sensetive to her differences etc. I told her it was no problem she had just as much right to use the bus as I did but I could tell she felt awful for whatever reason and even apologized again before getting off the bus. Before I go to WDW I mentally prepare myself to not get upset with waiting since that is all part of the experience. Don't worry about what others think, if they get upset they are only hurting themselves don't let it hurt you too.

 

[pugdog]

Let's not let this thread turn into a bashing one like all the others ones have.

DW uses a wheelchair 24/7 and would gladly let you use it for the day if she could. For those of you that have a problem just try to live in a wheelchair for just one day, you won't complain anymore.
It's hard enough for people to use their ECV/WC without people staring non stop at home it would be nice if you could spread a little pixie dust at WDW while they are down there.
Instead of complaining about how long it takes to load them on the bus why don't you ask them how their vacation is going.
We are all just trying to enjoy a WDW vacation let's just all take a deep breath and enjoy it together.

 

[CleveRocks]

I don't like to "show" my negative feelings in public, but I know I'd be thinking and feeling negativity when being delayed by the boarding of someone in a wheelchair or ECV.

WAIT! I'm not a bad guy. I'd just be frustrated at my own selfish delay. I have absolutely no resentment for the person. My blood is no redder than that person's, my money is no greener than that person's, so it's not like I'm saying they shouldn't be riding in the same vehicle as me or that that person is personally causing a problem for me or that I resent that person.

It's just a frustration at a delay. An unavoidable delay. No one's fault. Not the fault of the person using the wheelchair or ECV, not the fault of the driver doing his/her job. Just a frustration at the delay itself.

However, I GLADLY put up with the delay. The alternative would be that people with mobility impairments would be denied the same access to transportation that I have access to. And that would be completely unacceptable and discriminatory. I think Disney does the best job it can in providing reasonable accommodations without the stigma of providing "separate but equal" transportation.

I feel exactly the same frustration at a drawbridge opening. I'm not looking down on or resenting the boaters or the bridge operator, I just want to get where I'm going without waiting. Or what if the bus was delayed for 5 minutes because a flock of mommy and baby geese was walking across the road. The driver is doing the right thing to stop, the geese are just doing their own thing, so it's not like anyone is doing anything "wrong," but I'd still feel frustrated by the delay.

So in closing, mbtileguy, I would not glare at you or be angry at you, but sure, I'd feel frustrated ... not at you or anyone else, just at the unavoidable delay.

 

[kaytieeldr]

DW uses a wheelchair 24/7 and would gladly let you use it for the day if she could. For those of you that have a problem just try to live in a wheelchair for just one day, you won't complain anymore.

Absolutely! I know there are at least a couple of posters here who use self-propeled wheelchairs full-time, and at least one of them contends that most of us are capable of maneuvering a wheelchair that we’re using for our own mobility. Yes, it can be done, and yes, it’s difficult. I agree – it’s an eye-opening experience!!!

 

[disneyagain]

I agree with you CleveRocks....It's just the delay, it's not the reason for the delay. We were exhausted one night coming out of Epcot and an elderly couple in their scooters pulled up to our bus stop. Neither one of them could maneuver the scooters onto the bus ramp. They've probably never had to use a scooter before this trip. We waited for what seemed like 20 minutes (it was probably 5-10 minutes) Finally they got off and walked onto the bus and had the younger man with them get the scooters on the bus. I think most of the delays aren't with those that use scooters/wheelchairs on a regular basis, it's those that can't do the walking that a disney vacation requires that need the scooters for enjoyment of the parks. My MIL has never used a scooter, but would definately need one at Disney...I've seen her park her car, I'd hate to see her try and get the scooter on the bus

I think disney does a great job with their transportation for ALL their guests and if we have to wait a few minutes for the disabled/elderly to board with their wheelchairs/scooters...so be it...What's an extra 5-10 minutes we're on vacation!

 

[SueM in MN]

Absolutely! I know there are at least a couple of posters here who use self-propeled wheelchairs full-time, and at least one of them contends that most of us are capable of maneuvering a wheelchair that we’re using for our own mobility. Yes, it can be done, and yes, it’s difficult. I agree – it’s an eye-opening experience!!!

A few years ago, my DH injured his foot and had to use crutches and a wheelchair for a few weeks while things healed.
He thought he was very 'enlightened' already because we have a DD who has used a wheelchair since she was not quite 3 years old.
His eyes were opened quite a bit from the experience of being the wheelchair 'user' instead of walking with the wheelchair user. There were a lot of things (aggrevations and frustrations) he had never noticed before and his eyes are open a lot wider now than they were before.