The Outcome Could Have Been Very Different!

[Toffeewoffy]

We were at Animal Kingdom last Saturday (14th November) waiting in the unmoving queue for Yak & Yeti when we heard a commotion and screaming behind us. We turned to see a boy (about 7) on the ground practically under a 3-wheel ECV!! The whole thing was a bit confused, but it seemed to me as if the woman was actually doing a wheelie. I saw her struggling to handle the ECV but then turned the key and pulled it out. The boy, in the meantime, was on his feet being supported by a parent, perhaps, and both his knees were bloodied but he seemed otherwise unharmed.

The ECV driver HAD A YOUNG GIRL SITTING NEXT TO HER ON THE SEAT.

Now, I don't know what caused the accident or who was at fault (although even if the boy had tripped and she'd run him over, she was still technically to blame), but the fact is that she DID mow him down, and she DID have a passenger on board with her.

I'm not slamming ECV drivers - I hire one myself when we're out there, and so far have only run my own daughter's (and even my own) foot over. But this just undelines the fact that you are NOT supposed to carry passengers - even next to you which is better than on your lap, which we also saw a couple of times last week.

I wonder whether any Dissers also witnessed this incident and know how it actually happened and know what the final outcome was? This was around 1.25pm. We actually left the queue and went back the way we'd come as our FP was coming up and we knew we wouldn't have time to eat there.

If I had been security, I'd have ejected that woman from the park.

I just hope the boy had nothing more than the scraped knees and a few bruises for his trouble.

 

[mom2rtk]

I really wish Disney would do something about kids on scooters. I really hope the little boy in your story is fine and hope someone else saw it and can confirm this.

In DL last month I was sitting quietly on a ledge out of the way and an ECV parked in front of me. There was a small child on the lap of the driver. Next thing I know the ECV lunges forward ONTO MY FOOT. I screamed (in reflex) and the child cried. The woman explained that the little girl had moved the control. When I got up to leave a moment later, the woman was still holdilng the crying girl and made a point of telling me I made her cry. Apparently she wanted me to apologize for screaming when the child ran over my foot.

If I had it to do over again I would have unloaded on her for letting that child anywhere near the controls. I'm lucky she didn't break my foot.

 

[metzgardesign]

When I got up to leave a moment later, the woman was still holding the crying girl and made a point of telling me I made her cry. Apparently she wanted me to apologize for screaming when the child ran over my foot.

The poor girl was crying because she came to the painful realization she comes from idiot stock.

 

[DekrRini]

Maybe you should have asked her for her name and address and told her you'd be sending her your medical bills for the injury SHE did to your foot. She is definitely a person who doesn't take responsibility for her own mistakes. I am sorry it happened to you and glad you weren't injured.

 

[GPC0321]

Yikes. This is the second pretty major incident involving an ECV I've read about since joining the Dis, with others chiming in about less severe accidents that they've witnessed.
I understand people that really need these helpful vehicles to enjoy WDW, but with that opportunity comes the responsibility of operating it safely and in compliance with the rules at Disney. One person to an ECV. Period. And if they're seen doing otherwise, cast members need to address it promptly. And I agree that any ECV operator with an "illegal" passenger who injures another guest should be ejected from the park immediately. She wasn't following the rules, someone got hurt, she has to go. The end.

 

[mom2rtk]

The poor girl was crying because she came to the painful realization she comes from idiot stock.

Maybe you should have asked her for her name and address and told her you'd be sending her your medical bills for the injury SHE did to your foot. She is definitely a person who doesn't take responsibility for her own mistakes. I am sorry it happened to you and glad you weren't injured.

My jaw is still on the floor over the whole thing.

If I wasn't so caught off guard, I would have told the little girl I was sorry ...... sorry she was being raised by someone so thoughtless. The kid doesn't stand a chance.

 

[Aurora0427]

I would've lost my head on that lady. If you drive one of those scooters, you have an increased responsibility to make sure you don't injure anyone. If you can't handle the scooter, then walk or don't go to Disney World.

 

[missthatgator]

Yikes. This is the second pretty major incident involving an ECV I've read about since joining the Dis, with others chiming in about less severe accidents that they've witnessed.

Same here!

I will say that in the 8ish years I've had away from the parks there's been a pretty marked increase in the number of people on scooters. I certainly get that they are necessary for a lot of people but it really presents a safety risk. Especially since many people don't use one at home and only have to rent one on vacation because there's so much more walking. A park full of distracted people (adults and kids) wandering in every direction is a challenging spot to try to get familiar with driving an ECV.

We were almost run over twice at AK on our last trip, both times by people unexpectedly reversing their scooters. I usually try to give ECVs extra space to maneuver but you just can't prepare for someone who suddenly throws their scooter in reverse (and I'm not talking someone parked and is reversing out, I mean someone travelling forward in the wave of people leaving the park near close and then stoping in the middle of the pathway and going backwards).

I definitely noticed it more in AK, probably because of the more narrow pathways.

Maybe they need scooter lanes? You know, like bike lanes. It would help everyone out, pedestrians AND scooters - I certainly wouldn't want to have to drive one of those things through any of the parks on a crowded day

 

[GPC0321]

Much like the "Escape from Peter Pan's Flight" thrill addition (have you heard bout that long ladder?), and the new exciting "Pirates of the Caribbean Underwater Adventure", the "Mad Dash from the Runaway ECVs" is just another extra experience meant to enhance a day in the parks! LOL!

But seriously, I will raise a fuss if someone with a child on their ECV runs over me or a family member. I will have some of those fancy "use anywhere anytime" fastpasses, I swear it. I'm a patient person, and I can tolerate a lot, but people who blatantly do stupid things and take no responsibility for HURTING someone else? Oh no. Nope. Won't be good.

 

[lovethattink]

I was run into in the w/c holding area of It's Tough to be a Bug. It would have been harder if dh didn't see it coming and tried to pull me out of the way. The person driving didn't know how to control the ECV.

As for kids on laps or sharing seat, I've seen cm many times informing guests it's against Disney policy. Not sure if they have any control over ECV not rented by Disney.

It's also a double edged sword. Pedestrians ignore w/c and ECV. The drivers often have to be aggressive just to be able to move. We've had people literally jump over ds' chair in a hurry to get through a congested area.

Kindness and consideration go a long way.

I'm moving this thread over to the community subforum.

 

[ArwenMarie]

At some point they are going to have to lower the amount of people they can let in to account for the ECVs and giant strollers. I know some of it is inexperienced drivers and/or people not watching and jumping in their path. But it's just so crowded now as well something has to give.

 

[lovethattink]

At some point they are going to have to lower the amount of people they can let in to account for the ECVs and giant strollers. I know some of it is inexperienced drivers and/or people not watching and jumping in their path. But it's just so crowded now as well something has to give.

Especially at MK. There doesn't seem to be any slow season anymore. But I can't see them lowering attendance numbers though. I have noticed more crowd control cm trying to direct traffic through bottlenecked areas.

 

[johnsgrl]

I agree that she should have been shown the gate for not following the rules, however since I use an ECV (own not rented) at the parks and other places, I wish those unfamiliar would understand they do NOT have brakes, you release the lever to stop moving but it will still roll forward a bit. I can't tell you how often I have to make evasive maneuvers because someone walks directly in front of me and stops! There is no way possible to stop without bumping them at that point. I don't want to hit you anymore than I don't want to look at your butts all day, and I also don't want to be a shut in, unable to enjoy life because I can't walk a long distance!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I would've lost my head on that lady. If you drive one of those scooters, you have an increased responsibility to make sure you don't injure anyone. If you can't handle the scooter, then walk or don't go to Disney World.

Or use a wheelchair!! People like the independence of the ECVs but the wheelchairs are much safer in comparison. Still crazy like the strollers, but far less exciting to toddlers who have their own strollers and without the ability to go what is in my opinion too fast!

I would have been irate if someone ran over my child and pretty much all of Animal Kingdom would know about it.

 

[siskaren]

Or use a wheelchair!! People like the independence of the ECVs but the wheelchairs are much safer in comparison. Still crazy like the strollers, but far less exciting to toddlers who have their own strollers and without the ability to go what is in my opinion too fast!

I would have been irate if someone ran over my child and pretty much all of Animal Kingdom would know about it.

Except wheelchairs would be very difficult to self-propel for an entire day (or I would imagine even just a few hours) of touring if the person is traveling solo, and even if they're with someone, the parks aren't entirely on level ground.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Except wheelchairs would be very difficult to self-propel for an entire day (or I would imagine even just a few hours) of touring if the person is traveling solo, and even if they're with someone, the parks aren't entirely on level ground.

Right, ECVs are sometimes necessary, but in most cases wheelchairs are a viable option that are simply less preferred. I believe wheelchairs should be promoted as the first option to stamina/mobility issues instead of being the after thought they are now.

 

[johnsgrl]

wheelchairs are great, IF you have the ability to move it on your own or are traveling with someone fit enough to push an adult through the parks and crowds for hours on ends. My DH used to take care of that when he was able to, but he also was constantly angry about people stepping in front of me in the chair and giving him a dirty look when one of my foot plates grazed their ankles because he couldn't pull the chair back fast enough when they stepped in front of me. Its really no different than the ECV, most drivers of both try to be considerate as do drivers of strollers, but sometimes the crowds make it nearly impossible for all of them!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

wheelchairs are great, IF you have the ability to move it on your own or are traveling with someone fit enough to push an adult through the parks and crowds for hours on ends. My DH used to take care of that when he was able to, but he also was constantly angry about people stepping in front of me in the chair and giving him a dirty look when one of my foot plates grazed their ankles because he couldn't pull the chair back fast enough when they stepped in front of me. Its really no different than the ECV, most drivers of both try to be considerate as do drivers of strollers, but sometimes the crowds make it nearly impossible for all of them!

Nothing with wheels can stop easily, however I have never heard of kids getting their legs stuck under a wheelchair or stroller and the operator not being able to get off of the kid. Wheelchairs are also hundreds of pounds lighter than ECVs and can only move as fast as they are pushed, therefore they are less dangerous.

I acknowledge that people need an ECV over a wheelchair from time to time, but I don't think wheelchairs are being promoted enough as the first choice when confronted with stamina/mobility issues.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I had a wheelchair for half a day back in February 2005. The only thing wrong with me at that point was that I'd pulled a muscle in my calf and couldn't walk. OH wouldn't push me, DD (who was only 10 at the time) had a go but couldn't, and self-propelling proved very tiring and locked both my hands up with the effort. Now I have arthritis and couldn't even begin to self-propel as I'm beginning to have problems with my middle knuckles on both hands. I can barely open a soda bottle any more! So for me it's an ECV or Disney in 10-minute bursts!

 

[Aurora0427]

Or use a wheelchair!! People like the independence of the ECVs but the wheelchairs are much safer in comparison. Still crazy like the strollers, but far less exciting to toddlers who have their own strollers and without the ability to go what is in my opinion too fast!

I would have been irate if someone ran over my child and pretty much all of Animal Kingdom would know about it.

Yes! This!

And yeah, if that had been my 4 year old bleeding at the knees, it would have been ugly. You could seriously injure someone with one of those things. There are way too many ECV's in the parks right now.