Yesterday was my first experience with an ecv and the Disney buses. DGS has always wanted to ride a "Disney bus" so when we had to go from EPCOT to the Animal Kingdom we decided to take the bus. (It also saved Grandma from having to disassemble and reassemble the ecv again). The ride over to AK was great--driver was relaxed and encouraging. I backed the ecv up to the ramp and then DGS stood beside me as I was lifted. I then was able to drive the ecv into position to have it tied down. Going back from the AK to EPCOT--we had just missed an EPCOT bus so we caught the one to T&TC and then the monorail to EPCOT. The second driver made me a nervous wreck--he was so "hurry up" and he actually had me & DGS stand next to the ecv after he put it on the lift. Then he put it into position for the tie down while we sat down. 9He didn't actually get on it he just turned the key and pushed it) Behind me was a couple who had two children sleeping in a stroller and had a GAC (for what I assume was stroller as wheelchair) and the man had to explain it TWICE to the driver---the driver really wasn't listening--he was in a rush. Then another man with a sleeping child tried to use the back door and the driver very loudly kept explaining "those are special needs kids" and asking the other man if his child was a 'special needs kid". The bus was standing room only and the guys standing at the ecv were actually leaning on it. I didn't like the feel of the lift and not being able to "see" behind me as I was lifted. Also--by backing in you are looking at all the people in line and feeling like they are thinking "line cutter" and "hurry it up". Overall--it was pretty painless--however I don't think I will be using the buses as a main mode of transport, they made me nervous--also if too many more people would have been hovering over me I think would have lost it!!!
Safari procedure: Normally we ride the fastpass lane all the way up to the loading area (dock). This trip we were pulled off and sent to a waiting area outside the exit. There were TONS of ecv, wheelchairs and people in casts waiting. DGS had a major meltdown as he is not accustomd to this procedure and kept insisting we did it wrong!!!! I even took him back to the CM at the Fastpass entrance who told him the wait was only five minutes--DGS YELLED at him that there were too many people for it to only be five minutes and that we were waiting in the "wrong area". Even with the GAC (with the appropriate stamp) we were still sent back to that area. I gave DGS my watch and told him when the hand was on the "8" that five minutes would be past and we would be on the ride. That kept him happy and he quietly passed the time waiting for the '8". (Ok--when he really learns to tell time this won't work but it worked yesterday so I went for it--it was really closer to ten minutes but I wanted to hedge my bets and avoid another breakdown.)
Fantasmic: I noticed a couple (two people) who were "able loooking" take the far end bench in our section at Fantasmic. This would be the bench that the ecv/wheelchair would sit to the right of and a pole was to the left. When a CM questioned them, they said they had a wheelchair user coming to take the wheelchair spot and they were holding it for her. I assume these people have just figured out a way around the one person on the bench rule. I assume this would work for any of the benches where one end of the bench is against a pole/wall. Not sure how long they waited for the wheelchair user to join them but I did eventually see a wheelchair user next to them. I thought you had to be escorted by one of the light holding CM's but I guess not. I hope this doesn't become a practice where the able bodied parts of a party go running in to 'save" wheelchair spots for their companions in a wheelchair.
Test Track: Went to ride TT at EPCOT and the FP line was out the door. Put our FP away and showed the GAC (with the appropriate stamp) and explained we normally take the back entrance when the line was that long. CM said no, we had to use the FP line. Another small outburst from DGS but not too much as we had ridden earlier in the day when we picked up our FP--at that time the standby line was only 10 minutes long. (Note: we normally don't have that problem when DS is with us as he works for GM and we can backdoor the ride anytime on his ID).
I had the normal people cutting me off--one kid actually cut me off and his dad yanked on him and pulled him over and then said "be careful--those people will run you over". I guess I am part of the "those people" group--oh well I guess it's better than being one of "the OTHERS".
I also had the people--including TEENS--who would see me coming and hold open gates and doors.
Important note: the kids meal at McDonald's in AK comes with a water gun as the toy prize. What a joy!!!!
Tiring but fun trip.
Safari procedure: Normally we ride the fastpass lane all the way up to the loading area (dock). This trip we were pulled off and sent to a waiting area outside the exit. There were TONS of ecv, wheelchairs and people in casts waiting. DGS had a major meltdown as he is not accustomd to this procedure and kept insisting we did it wrong!!!! I even took him back to the CM at the Fastpass entrance who told him the wait was only five minutes--DGS YELLED at him that there were too many people for it to only be five minutes and that we were waiting in the "wrong area". Even with the GAC (with the appropriate stamp) we were still sent back to that area. I gave DGS my watch and told him when the hand was on the "8" that five minutes would be past and we would be on the ride. That kept him happy and he quietly passed the time waiting for the '8". (Ok--when he really learns to tell time this won't work but it worked yesterday so I went for it--it was really closer to ten minutes but I wanted to hedge my bets and avoid another breakdown.)
Fantasmic: I noticed a couple (two people) who were "able loooking" take the far end bench in our section at Fantasmic. This would be the bench that the ecv/wheelchair would sit to the right of and a pole was to the left. When a CM questioned them, they said they had a wheelchair user coming to take the wheelchair spot and they were holding it for her. I assume these people have just figured out a way around the one person on the bench rule. I assume this would work for any of the benches where one end of the bench is against a pole/wall. Not sure how long they waited for the wheelchair user to join them but I did eventually see a wheelchair user next to them. I thought you had to be escorted by one of the light holding CM's but I guess not. I hope this doesn't become a practice where the able bodied parts of a party go running in to 'save" wheelchair spots for their companions in a wheelchair.
Test Track: Went to ride TT at EPCOT and the FP line was out the door. Put our FP away and showed the GAC (with the appropriate stamp) and explained we normally take the back entrance when the line was that long. CM said no, we had to use the FP line. Another small outburst from DGS but not too much as we had ridden earlier in the day when we picked up our FP--at that time the standby line was only 10 minutes long. (Note: we normally don't have that problem when DS is with us as he works for GM and we can backdoor the ride anytime on his ID).
I had the normal people cutting me off--one kid actually cut me off and his dad yanked on him and pulled him over and then said "be careful--those people will run you over". I guess I am part of the "those people" group--oh well I guess it's better than being one of "the OTHERS".
I also had the people--including TEENS--who would see me coming and hold open gates and doors.
Important note: the kids meal at McDonald's in AK comes with a water gun as the toy prize. What a joy!!!!
Tiring but fun trip.
