Trip report: 1st DisneyLAND parks visit in an ECV

[Disney_Villain]

Well, my Disneyland ECV adventure last weekend went very well. Deckert's delivered the ECV to the DLH on time and the vehicle worked out great (except for a burnt-out headlight, which I reported). After doing 3 weeks on crutches at work and using them to get through 3 airports on the way to DL, I was very happy to make use of the ECV for my DL visit! It was a welcome break - and the only way one should enjoy the parks (skip the crutches and wheelchairs).

Aside from the obvious issues people have had with crowds and ECVs, I encountered something I had not anticipated: People using me as a prop during fireworks/parades!

Too many times I found guests leaning on the arm of my ECV, or putting their hands on the back of my ECV's seat as they grew tired of waiting for shows - without asking me! My patience snapped and I was very firm with these people - and in some cases I had to repeat myself as they continued to use me as a prop when I wasn't actively looking at them.

Considering that some of us that use ECVs are in pain, using our ECVs (that we rented at our expense, not theirs) as a prop is really disgusting. Nudge my ECV and you're going to send shooting pains through my broken foot. The only time I got a break from pain was when I was in "park" - until people started using me as a prop!

In the end, this trip was a real eye-opener for how folks with disabilities cope with parks' visits. There is a lot to cope with - and I had it easy, considering I do not have kids and I only had a broken foot!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the report.
I edited your title, so people reading would know right away that you went to DisneyLAND.

Glad to hear that the ECV made your trip better.
We haven't had the 'leaning' experience recently, but DD has experienced
- people using DD's wheelchair headrest as a 'stand' for their toddler when we were parked at a show
- a small child using DD's wheelchair footrest as a seat (sitting on DD's feet) while we were in line
- a woman who propped her foot on the tire of DD's wheelchair during Lights, Motors, Action

I don't know why people do things like that, but my DD considers her wheelchair part of herself, so touching someone's wheelchair/ECV is the same as touching their body.

 

[selina4disney]

They also stand in front of you at parades. Even though we are always there way before the parade starts, as soon as it starts people edge in front of you. Watching Myuki at Epcot I was watching and people STEPPED OVER ME to get in front of me. I just left, as I could no longer see anything. When you are in a chair or on an ECV, you are rendered invisible. It's magic?

 

[KPeveler]

i've actually been hurt by people touching my chair when i was unaware - they pushed me without asking and hurt my thumb.

I have explained to people - my wheelchair is an extension of my body. Touching it is like me going up and grabbing someone's rear end. i promise not to touch your keister if you promise not to touch mine! that usually makes them laugh, but remember it.

 

[toocherie]

They also stand in front of you at parades. Even though we are always there way before the parade starts, as soon as it starts people edge in front of you. Watching Myuki at Epcot I was watching and people STEPPED OVER ME to get in front of me. I just left, as I could no longer see anything. When you are in a chair or on an ECV, you are rendered invisible. It's magic?

I've had this happen too--often times they will tell their kids to stand in front of you and when you say something about them blocking your view, they will say, "well, he's just a kid"--

then maybe you should have gotten there 45 minutes ahead for a good view too!

 

[Disney_Villain]

I don't know why people do things like that, but my DD considers her wheelchair part of herself, so touching someone's wheelchair/ECV is the same as touching their body.

Thanks. I would agree with your DD on this. I've always seen ECV's and chairs that way, even before I wound up in one.

Most people do this without thinking - as cautioned politely once they back off - and apologize fast. There were only 2 times that my polite request failed to deter the bad behaviour - and I didn't let them get away with it.

Selina & Toocherie: I see that happening all the time. You arrive 1 hour early and park yourself for a show . . . and then latecomers arrive to "scootch" in front of you (ahead of the "line" that they aren't supposed to cross) and then stand right as the show starts. Yes, the "my children have a right" speech has been thrust at me . . . and boy, you should see me fire at the parent who dares give me THAT speech!

KPeveler: I love your response to people touching your chair! I almost said the same recently!

 

[KPeveler]

KPeveler: I love your response to people touching your chair! I almost said the same recently!

I really do try not to be rude, and I explain politely to young kids why they shouldnt touch my chair. It is the random adults who think they know everything and that my life is somehow their business that annoy me.

to the OP: I am planning a trip sometime in the next year to DL, so I am very happy to hear things worked out for you with your ECV!

 

[SueM in MN]

I really do try not to be rude, and I explain politely to young kids why they shouldnt touch my chair. It is the random adults who think they know everything and that my life is somehow their business that annoy me.

to the OP: I am planning a trip sometime in the next year to DL, so I am very happy to hear things worked out for you with your ECV!

:yes:
The little kid who sat on my DD's foot in line was cute and funny (and about 2 and 1/2 yrs old - she saw what was the right height for a chair for her little butt and she sat on it).
The adult who told their child he could sit in DD's wheelchair when she had gotten out and was sitting on the curb with her wheelchair next to her was not funny. (that was a long, long time ago).
The adult who used my DD's wheel as a footrest and also picked her fingernails and flicked the stuff she got off onto my DD was not. I was not seated next to her; this was at Lights, Motors, Action and I was told I had to sit in the row above DD and DH (one person to accompany the person with the wheelchair). So, I was too far away to reach or say anything and DH was sitting on the other side. I half expected DD to haul out and hit the woman, but she didn't.

 

[KPeveler]

:yes:
The little kid who sat on my DD's foot in line was cute and funny (and about 2 and 1/2 yrs old - she saw what was the right height for a chair for her little butt and she sat on it).
The adult who told their child he could sit in DD's wheelchair when she had gotten out and was sitting on the curb with her wheelchair next to her was not funny. (that was a long, long time ago).
The adult who used my DD's wheel as a footrest and also picked her fingernails and flicked the stuff she got off onto my DD was not. I was not seated next to her; this was at Lights, Motors, Action and I was told I had to sit in the row above DD and DH (one person to accompany the person with the wheelchair). So, I was too far away to reach or say anything and DH was sitting on the other side. I half expected DD to haul out and hit the woman, but she didn't.

a lot of times people just don't think. They havent encountered people with disabilities in close-quarters before, and don't quite know what is proper behavior. This is why at the aquarium when 3 little kids put their hands on my wheels and brakes, i asked them to stop, so i didnt accidentally catch their fingers in the wheels... they got it. Their mom, however, was upset that i corrected her kids. since i was not rude, i didn't really care.

Usually kids just don't understand things because they have not encountered them before. Adults who do not respect personal space and belongings, such as telling kids they can sit in a wc as if it were a park bench, are just ignorant, rude, or both...

 

[SueM in MN]

a lot of times people just don't think. They havent encountered people with disabilities in close-quarters before, and don't quite know what is proper behavior. This is why at the aquarium when 3 little kids put their hands on my wheels and brakes, i asked them to stop, so i didnt accidentally catch their fingers in the wheels... they got it. Their mom, however, was upset that i corrected her kids. since i was not rude, i didn't really care.

Usually kids just don't understand things because they have not encountered them before. Adults who do not respect personal space and belongings, such as telling kids they can sit in a wc as if it were a park bench, are just ignorant, rude, or both...

Exactly!
We've had the same experience with wheel spokes. They are fascinating to little kids when they are in line. I just explained to the kids that their fingers could get caught and get hurt when the wheelchair moved. They got it, but we ended up with some of those parents too.
I don't know, would they rather their children get told their fingers might get hurt or just wait until they get caught (and probably complain that we should have warned them).
Luckily, DD now has different type of wheels with no spokes on her wheelchair and we have much less problem.