Unbelieveable!

[Star54]

Just got back today from 5 days @ POP, rented a Walker ECV for my SIL. Thanks to all of you for your advice on ECV's and my other questions. Well I have to say she loved the ECV and ease of use, she only had a problem with her parallell parking on the bus. Here goes the unbelieveable part, I have been to Disney at least 15x in my life but never with someone who needed an ECV. My SIL (42)had a HA and a quad bypass a little more than a year ago. I decided to treat her and my 7yr old neice. I cannot believe how mean some people can be. I actually had a fight with a woman ( a very heavy woman) who was standing in the wheelchair lane of the bus stop and wanted to get on first). She made a remark about my SIL not being or looking sicker than her! Well, needless to say I went off on her, and asked her why she did not get a scooter. Her remark was that she was able to get by on her own, implying that my SIL should also. I had to hold do all I could to bite my tongue. Her husband did apologize for her. I did not want my SIL to feel bad, after all this was her once in a lifetime trip, so I shut up. So, here we go scooting around the park and lo and behold guess who is stading on a long Mama Melrose line, and holding a 2 liter coke bottle!....hmmm. Anyway, sorry, just needed to vent. .....PS....Had a wonderful incredible time!!!!

 

[MulanMom]

Glad you had a good time and that the ECV helped your SIL. It's unfortunate, but through using the ECV your own eyes are opened to some people's prejudice and ignorance.

 

[Michigan]

Well did she stay in the wheelchair line at the bus stop and if she did what did the driver do?

 

[dwarven1]

Star,

Unfortunately, I can well believe it. I was at Islands of Adventure in Universal (capping off a WDW/DCL vacation) and when the ride attendant at the Ice Dragon coaster put me, my wife and two others in the front row of the car, some idiot who was in the line started abusing me about how I wasn't handicapped and what was I doing there - I mean, he was really angry! I hobbled up on crutches and I've got a cast on my right leg - how much more injured does he want someone to be??

I was very tempted to give it back to him - in spades - but instead I merely told him that he needed to lighten up, that it was a ride and not worth arguing about, and anyway, the ride attendant put me up there so why was he yelling at me? Didn't get him to stop ranting and raving, though.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Full body cast, IV drips in both arms, and a medical team accompanying you, maybe, dwarven? Good for you for not stooping to his level!

And, OP - I have the same question as Michigan. What did the bus driver do about her? I have a GREAT deal of trouble with steps, and even I, when not using a wheeled mobility assistance device, am able to get myself on and off similar transportation the regular way - although I do need to use whatever railings, hinges, etc, are within reach. I would have never expected a bus driver to accommodate me on foot by letting me use a ramp or lift (even though they offer, when possible).

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Glad you had a great trip despite the idiots! Unfortunately, when you're on wheels you do get to see some of the worst bits of society and human nature. However, on the plus side, you also get to see some of the best bits too. For every one person that I've been tempted to run over ("Whoops! I just lost control of my wheelchair and ran right into your legs! How on earth did that happen?" ), there are usually ten who go out of their way to give me a hand, by offering to hold a heavy door for me, chasing after my hat when it gets blown away in a gust of wind, picking up things that I've yet again managed to drop off my lap (yes, I'm a bit clumsy), or any number of other nice things. Hopefully the good things that happened on the trip will stick in your mind, and the bad things will fade away, or at the very least, serve as a good lesson in 'what not to do' .

Don't let the morons get you down!

 

[aPiratesLife4Me]

Glad your trip was great other than the things you mentioned. I commend you for holding your tongue, it's SO hard, yet far better to just not have an outburst like that. You have to get a thick skin to deal with the looks some people give and the outright stupid things they SAY! How many times I have wanted to say back, I will give you my disability and gladly stand in line for hours if it meant I COULD!!

Glad you had a great trip despite the idiots! Unfortunately, when you're on wheels you do get to see some of the worst bits of society and human nature. However, on the plus side, you also get to see some of the best bits too. For every one person that I've been tempted to run over ("Whoops! I just lost control of my wheelchair and ran right into your legs! How on earth did that happen?" ), there are usually ten who go out of their way to give me a hand, by offering to hold a heavy door for me, chasing after my hat when it gets blown away in a gust of wind, picking up things that I've yet again managed to drop off my lap (yes, I'm a bit clumsy), or any number of other nice things. Hopefully the good things that happened on the trip will stick in your mind, and the bad things will fade away, or at the very least, serve as a good lesson in 'what not to do' .

Don't let the morons get you down!

Well said, and I have to agree!!

Of course the rudeness sticks out in your day more than all the niceness does...but I had to learn to let that go and not let it ruin my day. I can say this, in MY experience in my trips to WDW, all of which have been in a wheelchair, I have found CHILDREN to be bright spot in my day nine times out of ten. Sure, once in a while they will unknowingly dart in front of my chair, but it seems to be adults do that far more often and right after looking right at you and then still doing it anyway, as if you are not there. Same with taking photos, how many times adults walked right in front of me (even when I put myself in an out of the way spot, I'm not talking right out in everyone's way) and how many times children would stop and not walk in front of me or even say right out to their parents "stop, she's taking a picture!"

 

[Star54]

Well did she stay in the wheelchair line at the bus stop and if she did what did the driver do?

Sorry, I neglected to say, she was not in a wheelchair, just standing in the wheelchair line. the bus driver told us to get on first. I told him to let her on first, that obviously she would not stop until she was let on first...he ley her walk up the ramp.

 

[Star54]

And...I did not sit in a bus seat if there was a line if people. I am not disabled and it would not be fair to take a seat up in front of those that are waiting just beacuse I boarded with a person in an ECV. My SIL kept telling me to sit, but she does not know the rules and how people can be. I told her that my back was better if I stand...I guess she bought it.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Glad your trip was great other than the things you mentioned. I commend you for holding your tongue, it's SO hard, yet far better to just not have an outburst like that. You have to get a thick skin to deal with the looks some people give and the outright stupid things they SAY! How many times I have wanted to say back, I will give you my disability and gladly stand in line for hours if it meant I COULD!!

I do tell them that. Of course I say it very sweetly. Possibly the fact that I am 6'2" and weight about 280# also works toward shutting them up!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I do tell them that. Of course I say it very sweetly. Possibly the fact that I am 6'2" and weight about 280# also works toward shutting them up!

I've also found that being completely the opposite (a small, blonde woman in her early 20s) can have quite a similar impact. Maybe they think I'll break if they upset me