Should I have reported this CM?

Status
Not open for further replies.
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.

As someone mentioned, faking or using it from someone else is a big issue that gets exploited at DL. I've seen many of the fantasyland rides still let you cut in line through the exit depending on CM, some give you return times, but either is still faster than waiting in long lines, with the added comfort of not having to walk long distances in the park for those who are not actually disabled. Some areas may be hard to maneuver through but there are also plenty of open stretches where a scooter can let loose and save you time and sweat.

I also agree it was likely a badly delivered joke, but none of us know the tone and would probably each interpret it differently anyway. But now that I think about it, I am flip flopping, and depending on how overweight you actually are, I can also see he may have thought you were making a sarcastic joke yourself with the BRKN FT if you are large enough to affect your mobility. Plus many people consider being extremely overweight a choice where the person is not trying hard enough to lose weight, so when they see a large person on a scooter because they wouldn't be able to walk, they do not feel they should be given extra sympathy and help. So it could either be a lighthearted comment thinking you were making your own joke about yourself, or a slightly more personal attack about your weight all depending on tone and what the CM saw. Too many possibilities that you may never know the truth to spend much more time worrying about. But if it was really that he was being mean, I doubt you are the only victim and he would probably not have a job much longer anyway.
 
Wow I can't believe people are defending this as a bad joke. Seriously there was no need to tell OP their foot wasn't broken even if they didn't see the boot.

This thread is making it clear why Disney is starting to get away with not so magical CMs. People just don't think they should do anything about it if a CM is genuinely being rude.
 
Having been in a scooter for a few years now, I have never been questioned on my use. I would just make a mental note that the CM was likely joking....

In July, our trip for the 60th, we had the "grandest time" with my daughter (28) being restricted to an ECV. We did a ride return time for Peter Pan, as it was the only ride she seriously wanted to ride. When we got to the front of the line, I parked my scooter, and my daughter was on hers. The CM looked at her like "Get up." My daughter asked where the transfer wheelchair was, and come to find out, they forgot to drop one there that morning. Then the CM realized my daughter pretty immobile. (She had torn the ligaments in her right leg, and shattered the left leg 4 weeks prior.) My sons did manage to get her up the queue so she could see the one ride she wanted. But the CM called for a WC so she could transfer again. Five days, we did 1 ride. But she did have a blast. Everyone was so nice. We had an ECV to move around the park, she had a wheelchair for the room and we had one stashed in the park for transferring for meals. And we brought her younger cousin who called herself the "Service Cousin" who was in charge of making sure she could get anywhere she wanted to go (doors are a pain on an ECV or WC...)
 
I don't think that sounds like they were particularly being rude or anything so I'd just let it pass.... I was in Paris one time and was in a shop in Disney Village like and a CM was trying to catch my attention to tell me something but rather than walk down a short stairs (three steps) and come over to me she stood at the top of the steps screaming BONJOUR, BONJOUR, BONJOUR... it wasn't until another guest looked at me and then looked int he direction of the screaming that I looked around and realised it was me she was trying to call.. I wouldn't have considered that this was a suitable way for a CM to try call a guest like, when I did look around she babbled something in French at me and I went eh excuse me and she huffed and stormed off... that was rudeness... I don't think them questioning if you had a broken foot was rude.. they might have just been messing because of the licence plate like?!
 

Wow I can't believe people are defending this as a bad joke. Seriously there was no need to tell OP their foot wasn't broken even if they didn't see the boot.

This thread is making it clear why Disney is starting to get away with not so magical CMs. People just don't think they should do anything about it if a CM is genuinely being rude.
I think people are just giving the CM the benefit of the doubt. None of us were there so we don't know the tone of voices, or any misinterpretation of the event. The OP stated they made the broken foot plate which i think is cute, but also an invitation to talk about it. Sorta like a conversation piece; " hey sorry about your foot, you must have a good story of how it broke"....It's the perfect opportunity for a CM to start up conversation and eventually connect with the guest.
Of course if the CM was just being rude an making accusations then of course it is unacceptable, but the point is none of us were there so we don't know. Nontheless, OP sorry your feelings were hurt.
 
I think a lot of people jump to sizeism when someone makes an off comment, perhaps not even to them.

I recall a story of a woman who was shopping at an Old Navy and heard a comment one girl made to another about the size of a shirt one had picked up. She was deeply offended and felt they were shaming her.

Maybe they were and maybe they weren't. But they didn't work there. The CM you mentioned works at DL. He can be funny, or sarcastic on his own time. He can makes jokes to his friends all he wants - but not on Disney's dime.
 
If it would have bothered me that much I would have said someting on the spot, if not I would just let it go.
 
It definitely wasnt a joke...I was waiting for a smile or something. When he saw my boot he just said oh! I don't think it was necessarily because of my size but rather I was "faking". But I was using fast passes like everyone else! ( and I can imagine anyone faking wearing one of those boots when it was over 100° out ! It felt like a python wrapped around my leg!)

I was too stunned to say anything!
 
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!!

Thank you!! And thanks for the advice about Deckerts! Yes it was Apple Scooters! Hopefully I will be all healed by the time we go again in November during Thanksgiving break!
 
I probably wouldn't complain, but I understand where you're coming from. We went with a disabled friend of mine on a recent trip and she got a scooter. Overall she looks fine, but she's been battling cancer for years and had a broken foot on our trip. I caught a couple cast members give her an eyeroll, and it was clear it was about her. I let it go, but I was really disappointed because I've always otherwise been so impressed with the level of customer service CMs show.
 
If it still bugs you please write guest services. Maybe it will help with some peace of mind.

The CM was 100% out of line, I don't personally care the excuse on their end because they made it personal the instant they said that. Even though they realized they were out of line I would have reported it. (But good for you you didn't make a big deal out of it at that moment, I don't know if I would have been shamed or really angry had I been in your shoes, no idea how I would have reacted. Always best to keep your mouth shut in those moments, at least for me!) And it's my opinion Disney would take your report seriously fwiw.
 
It is possible Disney is trying to crack down on scooters. we have experienced a couple of close calls with scooters trying to mow us down in dense crowds over the years. So we don't have warm feelings about scooters. We also saw a guy fall sideways off a scooter and get "crushed" under it. It looked very serious. I would feel very self conscious as you did on a scooter but I would also try to see it from disney's and other park guests' points of view. One thing Disney might want to consider is allowing people to reschedule their vacation if they have a doctors note for something like a broken foot. Their cancellation policies are too strict.
 
One thing Disney might want to consider is allowing people to reschedule their vacation if they have a doctors note for something like a broken foot. Their cancellation policies are too strict.

We have travel insurance on our package that would let us cancel if a medical emergency comes up. I'm fairly sure it cost extra however.

I will say that it's not just Disney. It would be rescheduling the airline, the hotel, and the park tickets (plus time off from work) if people have booked them all separately. And trying to get out of them for anything less than a serious medical condition usually isn't the route people want to go.
 
We have to remember these people are all human. Was it the best comment? No. Was it meant to be rude and nasty? I highly doubt it. I teach school and now and then I say something that comes across as rude or insensitive, even if I don't mean it. I don't mean to but when you talk to people for 6 hours a day, it's bound to happen. Same thing with cast members. You need to say something right then. Like, I don't find your comment funny. Worrying about it days later and possibly getting them in trouble by reporting them is going too far in my opinion. I leave my getting people in trouble card for when somebody does something truly out of line.
 
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 think I would "Let It Go", as they say! Life's too short...
 
It is 100% unacceptable that the CM said that to you. I wouldn't spend precious ride time to report it while at the park, but I'd definitely write Disney now.

I don't care what the excuse is: other people faking, a nonsensical "crackdown" on scooters, a bad day, whatever. One of the best things about our last Disney trip was how pleasant everyone was, even when funneling a large crowd down Main Street after fireworks. It was such a lovely change and it's so classically Disney. One of the things we are paying for when we go to the parks is that magical Disney experience where everyone pretends they're happy whether or not they are. Customer service is clearly a dying art (or complete misnomer) in the rest of the world, but at Disney one of the things I'm definitely paying for is a pleasant experience.

Either Disney remains the happiest place on earth and employees smile and are polite, or it's just like everyplace else.
 
QUIT - quit taking it personal. Probably just having a bad day. Let it slide. Do you really want to possibly jeopardize or a write up for their job over one comment? Be kind. You don't know what someone else is going thru.
 
It is 100% unacceptable that the CM said that to you. I wouldn't spend precious ride time to report it while at the park, but I'd definitely write Disney now.

I don't care what the excuse is: other people faking, a nonsensical "crackdown" on scooters, a bad day, whatever. One of the best things about our last Disney trip was how pleasant everyone was, even when funneling a large crowd down Main Street after fireworks. It was such a lovely change and it's so classically Disney. One of the things we are paying for when we go to the parks is that magical Disney experience where everyone pretends they're happy whether or not they are. Customer service is clearly a dying art (or complete misnomer) in the rest of the world, but at Disney one of the things I'm definitely paying for is a pleasant experience.

Either Disney remains the happiest place on earth and employees smile and are polite, or it's just like everyplace else.

I do not agree with this whatsoever. People have bad days. And some times people have bad days at work. And sometimes people work at Disneyland. It's going to happen.

Would I have been offended if I were the OP? Sure. But being offended and moving on is part of life. Trying to get someone in trouble for an off the cuff remark is over the top.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.


Disney Vacation Planning. Free. Done for You.
Our Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are here to provide personalized, expert advice, answer every question, and uncover the best discounts. Let Dreams Unlimited Travel take care of all the details, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Start Your Disney Vacation
Disney EarMarked Producer






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Add as a preferred source on Google

Back
Top Bottom