Should I have reported this CM?

[BryANDJessMom]

i was at the park with my family this past weekend. Unfortunately, I had broken my foot so the doctor said if I wanted to go I had to rent a scooter. I wasn't thrilled about this but didn't want to disappoint the kids. I was a little self conscious because I am overweight and so I got a cute license plate created with Mickey that said " BRKN FT"

Anyway we got fast passes to RSR and I pulled up to the CM and was asking about how it works with a scooter. He looked at the little sign, narrowed his eyes and smirked "You don't have a broken foot!" I pointed to my left foot in a HUGE black walking boot. He just said "oh" and turned away. No apology or anything.

Am I being overly sensitive? It really bugged me I didn't say anything to him or anyone else but I felt like it wasn't his place to second guess me. I have been at the park before with a friend that was nearing the end of her battle with cancer and had to use a scooter. You really couldn't tell by looking at her how frail she really was. i just feel like CMs shouldn't question disabilities.

What do you think?

 

[wilkeliza]

i was at the park with my family this past weekend. Unfortunately, I had broken my foot so the doctor said if I wanted to go I had to rent a scooter. I wasn't thrilled about this but didn't want to disappoint the kids. I was a little self conscious because I am overweight and so I got a cute license plate created with Mickey that said " BRKN FT"

Anyway we got fast passes to RSR and I pulled up to the CM and was asking about how it works with a scooter. He looked at the little sign, narrowed his eyes and smirked "You don't have a broken foot!" I pointed to my left foot in a HUGE black walking boot. He just said "oh" and turned away. No apology or anything.

Am I being overly sensitive? It really bugged me I didn't say anything to him or anyone else but I felt like it wasn't his place to second guess me. I have been at the park before with a friend that was nearing the end of her battle with cancer and had to use a scooter. You really couldn't tell by looking at her how frail she really was. i just feel like CMs shouldn't question disabilities.

What do you think?

I would have stopped by GR and mentioned it. If you have the CMs name then you can still send an email or if you are there stop by and report it. Just mention that you didn't appreciate being called out about your broken foot. Doesn't matter why you are using the ECV they shouldn't question it beyond can you transfer or do you need special accommodations.

 

[grnflash]

I would never take 10 minutes. 20 minutes. (or even 2 minutes out of my Disney day) to complain about someone's curt comment.

 

[pindecisive]

It shouldn't matter if you have a broken foot or not. Personally if anyone chooses to use a scooter - that's their business. I would say that it's probably more ableism or a suspected abuse of disability rights than sizeism though.

I know DL has been cracking down on people who abuse disability aid to line jump, or receive preferential treatment - things like hiring someone who is disabled to get them through lines faster, or receive better parking. It's not that hard to believe someone might even put on a fake boot just to get through lines. It sounds nuts, but someone out there has probably tried it.

Honestly I think they should question disabilities - when they give out the qualifying tag or the wrist band, etc - and at no point after. I have several 'invisible' diseases that were they less managed I would probably need a scooter, or be unable to stand in line for long periods.

I don't yet need the available assistance. But when and if I do? I personally wouldn't want to be questioned more than the initial meeting to qualify me for the aid.

 

[mabird1980]

My Cousin was an Intern at DL and worked in fantasyland as a ride operator. She said that they are never allowed to question someones disability status.
I had brought up how i saw a group with a person in a wheelchair on BTMRR and how the person got up and walked to and from their wheelchair with no problem.
She brought up a pretty good example. Her dad had leukemia and while he looked completely normal and healthy, he would tire easily and needed the assistance of a wheelchair throughout the day.
I can see how it would be easy to judge him if the person didn't know the whole story.

To the OP, If i was in your situation i would have been hurt by the comment, but i also wouldn't have reported the person either. We all make mistakes and i hope that after the CM saw your foot they realized that they had screwed up and hopefully would have learned from the situation.

 

[bumbershoot]

i hope that after the CM saw your foot they realized that they had screwed up and hopefully would have learned from the situation.

Me too.

 

[DWillowBay]

In the words of Elsa....Let it go!

 

[BryANDJessMom]

I think since Disneyland changed there policy you don't see as much abuse. I felt like it took me twice as long to go anywhere on the scooter. People didn't see me and would walk right in front of me. It was hard to talk to your family. Not a fun experience at all. I was super tense trying to maneuver in the huge crowds. I was so afraid I would bump into someone! (And the battery kept dying so I had to switch out scooters two times as well as keep finding places to plug it into)

BTW, I don't think there was a time advantage at the lines. At Disneyland there are a few places where you can get a return time equal to the wait time if the queue isn't accessible. At California Adventure the queues are all accessible so there is no time advantage. And, I found on some rides like Mr Toad and Small world it was longer because they limit how many disabled patrons go in at once.

Most CMs were kind though and I did appreciate the access to the rides.

 

[mgd]

I don't think it was a comment about your weight, but just a doubt that you faked a broken foot in order to get the disabled treatment, since they probably see that kind of thing all the time and the plate might be a little overboard and almost warrants commenting on. If you had not had the plate, he probably would not have made any comment. If he was questioning cancer or something like that, I would think it was more out of line.

 

[tlovesdis]

OP I am so sorry this happened to you! I have been using a scooter for years due to several issues I have and fortunatley, even though I am overweight, have never had a CM say anything to me. I don't think I would have reported it, but it still should never happen. A CM cannot ask you anything specific!!

And I totally feel you on the points you made about taking longer to get places, not talking to your family, people jumping in front of you etc... I think people think those of us in scooters have it made, but that is so not true. However, if I didn't have a scooter there is no way I could enjoy my favorite place!!

If you ever have to rent one again, don't rent from Apple (I think I saw somewhere that's where you rented from), their scooters are horrible! I tried them in June, trying to save myself a few bucks and it was horrible! never have I ever had to charge a scooter (Deckert's or DL) only a few hours into a day of use, and multiple times during the day! I used Deckert's two weeks ago for 4 days and only had to charge the scooter each night and we were in the parks and back and forth to our hotel from 730am to 11pm every night!!

 

[superlarz]

I am not typically one to formally complain because sometimes people are just having a bad day and arent good at hiding it... Questioning a disability is an ADA issue. The CM should be reported. Its none of their business what your issue is. I occasionally go to the parks with a friend who cant stand for long periods. We dont abuse DAS, and often times dont use the FP system concurrently to try to get more rides in, but we get some nasty looks and snarky comments from others in line sometimes even though she has a huge knee brace.

 

[lorijohnhill]

I don't think it was a comment about your weight, but just a doubt that you faked a broken foot in order to get the disabled treatment, since they probably see that kind of thing all the time and the plate might be a little overboard and almost warrants commenting on. If you had not had the plate, he probably would not have made any comment. If he was questioning cancer or something like that, I would think it was more out of line.

I respectfully disagree with this. Making this kind of comment on ANY disability is disrespectful, whether it's temporary or fatal. It is especially disrespectful and inappropriate to accuse the person of lying.

I really don't think the license plate had anything to do with it. Some CMs are just "anti-disabled" or are just tired of dealing with those of us who have to use scooters to get around. I had a CM at the bag check tell me that Disneyland wasn't designed for disabled people, but since there are ADA laws she would have to let me in anyway. I should have reported her, but I was so shocked I didn't get her name. I'm usually pretty good about giving the benefit of the doubt and figuring the CM just had a bad day, but purposely making a guest feel that they don't have the right to be there is always inappropriate.

I use cute license plates also, and have always had very positive comments about the plates. Since I have been using the plates, I don't get nearly as many snarky comments. It almost seems as if some people just have to say something, so the plate gives them something positive they can talk about.

You will always meet snarky people wherever you go (especially if you are overweight (and I am overweight)) but that doesn't make it ok.

 

[Xenorye]

Maybe... just maybe... the CM was teasing in a playful way? Obviously I don't know what the tone of his/her voice was. But maybe I'm also just wanting so badly for that to be the case and not that a CM would out-and-out try to call someone out for faking a disability.

 

[wilkeliza]

I respectfully disagree with this. Making this kind of comment on ANY disability is disrespectful, whether it's temporary or fatal. It is especially disrespectful and inappropriate to accuse the person of lying.

I really don't think the license plate had anything to do with it. Some CMs are just "anti-disabled" or are just tired of dealing with those of us who have to use scooters to get around. I had a CM at the bag check tell me that Disneyland wasn't designed for disabled people, but since there are ADA laws she would have to let me in anyway. I should have reported her, but I was so shocked I didn't get her name. I'm usually pretty good about giving the benefit of the doubt and figuring the CM just had a bad day, but purposely making a guest feel that they don't have the right to be there is always inappropriate.

I use cute license plates also, and have always had very positive comments about the plates. Since I have been using the plates, I don't get nearly as many snarky comments. It almost seems as if some people just have to say something, so the plate gives them something positive they can talk about.

You will always meet snarky people wherever you go (especially if you are overweight (and I am overweight)) but that doesn't make it ok.

WOW I can't believe anyone said that too you! Yes Disneyland was not originally designed to accommodate disabilities but we don't live in the 50s anymore where you send disabled family members to homes and keep them locked away. It isn't like you are paying any less that anyone else or expecting any more. I hope that CM didn't have their job much longer.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Maybe... just maybe... the CM was teasing in a playful way? Obviously I don't know what the tone of his/her voice was. But maybe I'm also just wanting so badly for that to be the case and not that a CM would out-and-out try to call someone out for faking a disability.

I don't understand why anyone would fake a disability. There are no extra benefits to being disabled. You don't get any shortcuts. You don't go to the head of the line. It takes longer to get anywhere. In fact, it's a lot harder to enjoy the parks in many ways.

 

[SMD]

I don't understand why anyone would fake a disability. There are no extra benefits to being disabled. You don't get any shortcuts. You don't go to the head of the line. It takes longer to get anywhere. In fact, it's a lot harder to enjoy the parks in many ways.

If you can get a return time on a DAS and then wait in a line and then skip right to the front after waiting people will fake it. There are also people with disabilities who could go through queues with no problems or with very little extra planning or supplies that they could manage themselves that would also overstate their needs just because they feel entitled or because they feel Disney owes them something or many other reasons. So the issue is not just people completely faking disabilities. They've already had to further tighten the system by attaching tickets to a single DAS so groups couldn't put their whole party on 2 different paper DAS at the same time. And now they've stopped double dipping with DAS and WC returns. Enough people thought that there was enough of a benefit to make both of those practices become an issue.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Hmm... I guess my brain just isn't that devious. I'd never make it as a criminal. I hate being disabled, so I guess it just seems very strange to me to try to fake it.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Maybe... just maybe... the CM was teasing in a playful way? Obviously I don't know what the tone of his/her voice was. But maybe I'm also just wanting so badly for that to be the case and not that a CM would out-and-out try to call someone out for faking a disability.

This is exactly what I thought too when i read the OP's post. The CM obviously saw the sign and then maybe only saw the healthy foot and not your hurt foot and was just joking. I definatly wouldn't complain about it.

 

[BritBrit]

I suspect it was a badly delivered joke, however it was nonetheless in poor taste. I wouldn't report him. I probably would have said in a dramatic/silly voice (with a smile) "Ouch - that hurts almost as much as the broken foot" to let him know that the comment wasn't appreciated without taking it too seriously. People are people and sometimes screw up and put their foot in their mouth.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I'm sure he's frustrated with all the fakers he see's.
For something that small, I would let it go rather than try to damage him somehow.