The Disney FATPass

[madfordonald]

Ah-ha! I wondered when the weekly troll-fest would start. Once a week there is always some loser that posts a topic that they had to know would be considered offensive and just shows poor taste on their part.
Where's the smiley of the crap hitting the fan?

 

[blondeheroine]

You know, I don't think - in all my years of going to DW - that I've been THAT inconvenienced by those who are in the HC line. Seriously - how much longer can it take? With the exception of, say, the buses, most shows have ample seating and most rides, with the exception of a few, are on a continual loading system.

I think if you spent more time having fun with your family and friends who are with you and less time judging others, you might find yourself less annoyed and more joyful.

 

[digskat]

Ed maybe you could get in line for the fastpASS! You truly are an ignorant human being!

 

[Monkeyfeet]

Ed maybe you could get in line for the fastpASS! You truly are an ignorant human being!

OMG, that is hilarious!

 

[momrek06]

Ed maybe you could get in line for the fastpASS! You truly are an ignorant human being!

Okay now that is

 

[EdB]

In re-reading my post, perhaps it was insensitive..but that wasn't my intent - perhaps just frustration at a clearly UNFAIR system (to which no one has bothered to respond).

I don't care if you weigh 100 or 700lbs personally...I could stand to lose 25 myself...my point was, if an overweight person is already sitting in a wheelchair or ECV...why should they be scooted to the front of every line? It is MUCH harder for a parent of small children to stand in line, than an overweight person to sit in line for an equal amount of time...what is the logic in giving preferred access to all rides and most events to overweight folks? its a legitimate question which no one has bothered to answer.

 

[Terry's Angels]

How sad that OP could not show respect and tolerance to all types of people. This is not really about having to wait in line a bit longer but an opportunity to say a real insensitive remark about people who are different.

It's a shame that a community created and maintained to discuss a place where people go to enjoy themselves and have a little of bit of magic in their lives has people who say would say something so negative. I too hope that this thread is locked soon, but I am glad to read all of the posters who disagreed with the OP and showed that there are some people with kindness and grace in this community.

 

[Nuchi15697]

Just got back from 7 days at wdw...had fun as usual, but I was wondering if this bothered anyone else:

Scenario: you stand in line for 20-30 minutes for a ride and group of people accompanying an obese individual show up at a line and get put on with no waiting at all? I find it infuriating personally...people whose only "handicap" is they don't know when to put down the fork, get ushered to the front of lines, front of performances etc. ahead of others that have been standing in line waiting their turn...Anyone know what the official WDW policy on this is? Why can't the rest of the group get into line, and when they make it to the front of the line then they can load the obese riders with them? Why should a group of 5-10 people essentially get prefered access to everything because they eat too much?

Same thing at the shows...we waited 45 minutes to get good seats at the Lion king show (which is awesome BTW)...get seated close to the front, wait another 20 minutes in the seats for the show to start, and 3 minutes before the show starts a group of rather LARGE individuals roll in and essentially ruin our great seats...and they are granted the best seats in the house...why is this done? why do people put up with this? How can this be fair?

If anyone should be allowed to jump to the head of the line it should be the beleaugured parent trying to keep 4 small children happy while waiting in lines all day!

I heard more than one person snickering/grumbling in lines as certain groups of people got to take advantage of their Disney FATPass.

Are you a troll? If so go away!

 

[Adi12982]

First of all, not everyone that is overweight is because "they don't put the fork down".

That is really insensitive. I understand being upset because you waited in line, however, people with disabilities would rather not have the disability and wait in line with you than have the disability.

 

[Vickie46]

Ed.. I am glad you re-read... it was very hurtful! I just can't believe someone would post such harsh comments!

Anyways.. it would be too hard to get the scotters thru those thin lines...

You know.. I never see that many.. I don't see it being a huge deal.

Anyways..

Lets lock this thread and forget about it...

 

[BillSears]

my point was, if an overweight person is already sitting in a wheelchair or ECV...why should they be scooted to the front of every line? It is MUCH harder for a parent of small children to stand in line, than an overweight person to sit in line for an equal amount of time...what is the logic in giving preferred access to all rides and most events to overweight folks? its a legitimate question which no one has bothered to answer.

I haven't seen you give an example of when they were "scooted to the front" of any line let alone every line. Almost all of the lines at WDW have been mainstreamed and wheelchair/scooter users wait in line like everyone else. If you could list some examples I could probably give a reason for that specific ride.

As for the FOTLK seating. I'm sorry but the only seating for wheelchair/ECV users is on the floor. So yes they are seated in the spots designed for them and they go there as long as there are still spaces available. I suppose you could consider it 2 seating areas and they are each filled based on arrival time.

 

[blondeheroine]

In re-reading my post, perhaps it was insensitive..but that wasn't my intent - perhaps just frustration at a clearly UNFAIR system (to which no one has bothered to respond).

I don't care if you weigh 100 or 700lbs personally...I could stand to lose 25 myself...my point was, if an overweight person is already sitting in a wheelchair or ECV...why should they be scooted to the front of every line? It is MUCH harder for a parent of small children to stand in line, than an overweight person to sit in line for an equal amount of time...what is the logic in giving preferred access to all rides and most events to overweight folks? its a legitimate question which no one has bothered to answer.

The problem with this, however, is that you don't know whether or not that person has other medical issues or handicaps. It is true that some people take advantage of scooter issues and I've actually overheard people in the parks talking about how they had scammed the system. However, it's unfair to those that are truly handicapped and we really can't just look at someone and know their complete medical history. And laughing at someone because of their physical condition isn't really the way to go about dealing with such a situation. I believe as long as you do right and try to treat others with respect, you'll be rewarded with the same respect. Not always, but most of the time.

 

[Lucky82061]

What's the big deal anyway... it's not like that extra 5 minutes you have to wait causes you that big of a problem... everyone is just trying to enjoy their vacation... just imagine being one of those overweight individuals and not being able to go on some of those rides that a majority of us love? Like space mountain, splash mountain, RnR and etc...? Why not let them enjoy a little bit of the magic without having to wait in line's... not to mention how would you even drive one of those ecv's in the lines anyway... I guess if that happened you would complain about that too

 

[BamaFan121s]

Yeah...those obese people are just one step down from the people who think they are perfect and are never short a subject to gripe and complain about--normall the people who--gasp, God forbid--might be enjoying themselves...what a concept.

 

[Msblowfish]

In re-reading my post, perhaps it was insensitive..but that wasn't my intent - perhaps just frustration at a clearly UNFAIR system (to which no one has bothered to respond).

I don't care if you weigh 100 or 700lbs personally...I could stand to lose 25 myself...my point was, if an overweight person is already sitting in a wheelchair or ECV...why should they be scooted to the front of every line? It is MUCH harder for a parent of small children to stand in line, than an overweight person to sit in line for an equal amount of time...what is the logic in giving preferred access to all rides and most events to overweight folks? its a legitimate question which no one has bothered to answer.

As much as I hate to say it, I do agree that some people are given an unfair advantage with regards to the ECV's. I am by no means judging anyone but EDB does have a point. I most certainly think his post could have been a bit more PC. . I just returned from my trip to the World with my DD 4, Dsister, and Dmother. Several months ago my mother had a total knee replacement. Unfortunately after spending months in physical therapy, she still has problems walking. She rented an ECV from an independant company during our trip. I told her that we would not get any special treatment. I told her that we would wait in the regular line and when we got to the front then she could ride with us. I also don't think that people should be given priority seating because of the ECV's. I know that Disney is revamping their lines to accomodate the ECV's and I think that's great. But of course, that's JMHO.

ETA: I do agree that it's impossible to tell the truly disabled from the rest of the masses and that we can't judge everyone. I do think that there are a few bad apples who abuse the system, but I certainly wouldn't let that ruin my vacation.

Sharon

 

[EdB]

The problem with this, however, is that you don't know whether or not that person has other medical issues or handicaps. It is true that some people take advantage of scooter issues and I've actually overheard people in the parks talking about how they had scammed the system. However, it's unfair to those that are truly handicapped and we really can't just look at someone and know their complete medical history. And laughing at someone because of their physical condition isn't really the way to go about dealing with such a situation. I believe as long as you do right and try to treat others with respect, you'll be rewarded with the same respect. Not always, but most of the time.

But your missing the point...legitamitely handicapped or not...if you are capable of visiting the park, and driving an ECV around for 8 hours, you are capable of waiting in line *while seated* like everyone else...I'd be just as upset if they automatically scooted any class of people in front of others for no other reason than they had some common characteristic...How about all beautiful people get on first? would that bother anyone?

If there was a legitamite reason why the rest of the party couldn't queue up, and all get on together, that would be different, but watching groups of 10 people, with one person in ECV jump to the front of the lines while I am standing in line carrying around an extra 70-80lbs (two children who can't be in the stroller any longer because it stays outside plus a camera bag) just plain isn't fair. All people should get EQUAL access...not better access.

 

[BillSears]

But your missing the point...legitamitely handicapped or not...if you are capable of visiting the park, and driving an ECV around for 8 hours, you are capable of waiting in line *while seated* like everyone else...I'd be just as upset if they automatically scooted any class of people in front of others for no other reason than they had some common characteristic...How about all beautiful people get on first? would that bother anyone?

If there was a legitamite reason why the rest of the party couldn't queue up, and all get on together, that would be different, but watching groups of 10 people, with one person in ECV jump to the front of the lines while I am standing in line carrying around an extra 70-80lbs (two children who can't be in the stroller any longer because it stays outside plus a camera bag) just plain isn't fair. All people should get EQUAL access...not better access.

What rides were there where the ECV user was given better access? Almost all rides have equal or worse access for whelchair/scooter users. If you can give some specific examples I can probably explain why a wheelchair/scooter user might have gone ahead of others in a ride but overall this does not happen.

 

[suffolkprincess]

In re-reading my post, perhaps it was insensitive..but that wasn't my intent - perhaps just frustration at a clearly UNFAIR system (to which no one has bothered to respond).

I don't care if you weigh 100 or 700lbs personally...I could stand to lose 25 myself...my point was, if an overweight person is already sitting in a wheelchair or ECV...why should they be scooted to the front of every line? It is MUCH harder for a parent of small children to stand in line, than an overweight person to sit in line for an equal amount of time...what is the logic in giving preferred access to all rides and most events to overweight folks? its a legitimate question which no one has bothered to answer.

Actually-- I think its a little unfair, too. It has nothing whatsoever with the fact that I don't like heavy people or being insensitive, but what bothers me, I guess, is that so many times entire large groups of folks get to go to the head of the line in this manner. I do think that in some cases (Pirates, or Small World are good examples that come quickly to mind) I think that its great for a whole family to get to still ride together, so I don't think CMs should split the party up (I would certainly want to ride with my wheelchair-bound grandmother, for instance) but in other cases I think it would be more fair to partially divide the family. I mean-- really, if its a clamshell or doombuggy holding two, then let two of the folks in the group go thru but the others should just wait. If they don't want to be separated by a long wait, then the wheelchair rider and companion could wait awhile til the rest of the party "caught up." OR-- the wheelchair rider and their companion could spend some together time waiting for everyone else and enjoying a shop or the flowers, whatever.

I know that some conditions necessitate no waiting, and I pray that I never have to cope with those incredible challenges-- so what is tricky here is for the CMs to separate those folks from the ones who *could* wait. And I would not advocate doing something that would visibly denote those disabilities. So, maybe something with the keys to the world?

I don't think there is a solution, but I do myself find it incredibly frustrating to see groups of 10 plus healthy adults sail to the front of a long wait with one wheelchair rider. On the other hand, I am so glad that I don't need a chair and that none of us in our group do, that I make the effort to squish that feeling.

ETA: I read the rest of the thread and saw the request for specific exmaples, and, actually-- I could remember just two from last year-- Small World and Peter Pan. It was only really an issue with Small World because, and I do remember this pretty specifically, we got to the boarding area and waited an extra 10 minutes while several ECV groups that "walked up" got boarded. At the time I thought that the CM should have alternated it or something. We'd be ready to board: nope, wait. Ready again, nope... But that could have been a CM problem...

 

[EdB]

What rides were there where the ECV user was given better access? Almost all rides have equal or worse access for whelchair/scooter users. If you can give some specific examples I can probably explain why a wheelchair/scooter user might have gone ahead of others in a ride but overall this does not happen.

Jungle crusie was the most notable example...perhaps because I waited there longer than most places...and I saw group after group after group of people, show up, go to the front of the line and then get seated, do the ride and get off while I winded my way thru those turns in the lines. And I saw it happen many, many places - this was just one.

 

[fabshelly]

If someone simply CAN'T go through the line, they shouldn't. But if the posted wait time is 20 minutes, they should wait the 15 minutes it takes to get through the queue before being boarded/seated etc. That's fair.

I have the same opinion of other able-bodied people renting a chair to cut lines, whether they are obese or not. I just left obese-land, and though I would have rather had a chair so I wouldn't be panting and straining, I knew the exercise was good for me. Unlike many of the people you're seeing, I didn't have severe health conditions. You can't tell by looking.