Update to Left Handed Scooter

[Sleepy425]

I had posted asking for recommendations for a scooter for someone who can't use their right side. Just wanted to give an update -
First, I will start with getting my Father in law to Disney. We booked him a flight on Southwest, and made sure they noted on his file that he needs assistance. I even called to confirm that this was noted, and told them to please make sure it was on there because he would never ask for help.
When we got back to the room I asked how things went. He told me nobody helped him. Which isn't a huge deal for our home airport, since it is so small. But when he got to MCO he had to get himself to Magical Express. He was exhausted by the time he got to the resort.
When he got to the resort, his Pride scooter was waiting for him. He went and ate a relaxing meal at Olivia's (we were in the parks - I wanted him to have time to relax alone after his flight before my 4 crazy kids got to him). Then he discovered the joy of Magic Bands - his wouldn't open the door to our room, so he had to scooter himself back to the front desk to get it fixed (already the scooter was worth the cost - no way would he have been able to do that trip twice without it!)
The Pride worked pretty well for him - as well as can be expected since he has to steer with only his left hand (it was easier for him than I thought it would be, so that's good).
We only went to Magic Kingdom (he got there Thursday and we all left Saturday). I was a bit disappointed by the number of cast members who did not listen to me when I told them that my FIL struggles with moving walkways - how can they see a man with a cane struggling to even get to the moving walkway and NOT slow it down, even when I warned them?? It was like an Olympic Sport for him to get on and off. I didn't even dare try him on PeopleMover since there is the escalator and the moving walkway. (He did Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Little Mermaid,and Buzz).
Getting into PoC, IaSW, and a couple other rides went fine, but getting out was rough since they are so low and his right leg is hard to lift. Once he was too tired to handle any more moving walkways or getting out of ride vehicles, we did some of the shows (Tiki, CoP, Laugh Floor). All in all we got a lot more done than I thought we would. We had a 4:30 ADR for BOG, then left the park by 6:15. He was exhausted, but was really happy he got to see his grandkids enjoying Disney.
So things went well, and I really appreciated all the help this board offered prior to our trip!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Glad to hear that the bulk of things went well.
But regarding the moving walkways, Peter Pan can't be slowed. It is all tied in to the boats. It's an old attraction and it just can't be done. And they can't keep stopping it because of age, they have issues with it restarting if they keep stopping it for loading/unloading purposes.

 

[I Love Pluto]

How wonderful of you to care so much about your Father-in-law!!! It is so true that the one thing treasured most is watching the grandchildren having a great time at Disney. You deserve Saint status for making his dream come true!!!

 

[DisneyOma]

I had posted asking for recommendations for a scooter for someone who can't use their right side. Just wanted to give an update -
First, I will start with getting my Father in law to Disney. We booked him a flight on Southwest, and made sure they noted on his file that he needs assistance. I even called to confirm that this was noted, and told them to please make sure it was on there because he would never ask for help.

How would they know who he was, and his need for help if he wouldn't acknowledge it? How would they know he was the person who needed help if he doesn't ask?

 

[NancyDVC]

On our last trip my DBF and another friend were using ECVs. Both women can walk but not long distances. My DBF has a fear of falling as well. When we got to the Haunted Mansion and were taken to the offloading area to load she froze and couldn't get on the moving walkway. The CM who was a college program cast member slowed the walkway to a standstill and took her by the hands and gently guided her along the walkway to the ride vehicle. It was wonderful. This same cast member met us as we prepared to exit and again stopped the ride and guided her off. As a retired physical therapist I was so impressed by her actions that I took her name and left a comment at City Hall.
I have experienced the same level of assistance quite often at WDW. The ride stoppage or slowing is usually accompanied by a overhead comment on the HM that the ghosts are acting up. I have heard similar overhead announcements on many rides. I know that they are usually assisting a mobility challenged guest when these announcements are made.
I am so sorry that you did not receive this level of service. My friend often won't express her needs because she is embarrassed. As for the airport and airline, when I travel with friends or family who need assistance we ask for a wheelchair to get to the gate and to meet us at the gate when we land. The flight crew usually has a list of how many wheelchairs are needed at the gate when they land. Last year we flew Southwest and had no problem going or coming home. We won't discuss the people who request wheelchairs just to get priority boarding.
When we got home there was a gentleman coming back from Florida alone whose family had asked for assistance for him. It was fine when we were leaving MCO but when we landed at Islip he bolted off the plane. (He had more of a cognitive issue.) Needless to say his daughter was worried as were the flight crew and the porters assisting the wheelchair passengers because they didn't know where he had gone. They finally found him and got him into a wheelchair.
Most airlines and airports will not provide physical assistance to get someone on and off a plane because of lack of training as well as the chance of staff being injured.

 

[BabyFu18]

Glad you had a good time and your FIL was able to do more, especially with the assistance of the scooter.

As far as the moving walkways go, I've never had luck with getting the cast members to stop them, I'm in a wheelchair and I cannot transfer quickly enough if the walkways don't stop (even slowing them down would be difficult for me), my mother is mobility challenged as well (she uses a rollator normally, but a scooter or powerchair at Disney) and she won't do the moving walkways at all because she doesn't trust herself and her balance isn't great. Anyhow, though I've asked before if the moving walkways can be stopped (several different rides) I've continuously been told that they cannot stop the walkways but can slow them down but sometimes that's not helpful enough and people don't get to ride.

However, I'm glad your FIL did okay with things and it sounds like your family had an amazing time, thanks for sharing your experiences!

 

[Sleepy425]

How would they know who he was, and his need for help if he wouldn't acknowledge it? How would they know he was the person who needed help if he doesn't ask?

It was noted on the reservation. The desk at Orlando even said "ok you are marked for pre-boarding for a medical reason and a wheelchair will be at your gate when you land." So clearly there was a way for Hartford to see that, they just didn't do anything about it. Orlando was excellent about it - the desk was very friendly.

 

[Sleepy425]

Glad you had a good time and your FIL was able to do more, especially with the assistance of the scooter.

As far as the moving walkways go, I've never had luck with getting the cast members to stop them, I'm in a wheelchair and I cannot transfer quickly enough if the walkways don't stop (even slowing them down would be difficult for me), my mother is mobility challenged as well (she uses a rollator normally, but a scooter or powerchair at Disney) and she won't do the moving walkways at all because she doesn't trust herself and her balance isn't great. Anyhow, though I've asked before if the moving walkways can be stopped (several different rides) I've continuously been told that they cannot stop the walkways but can slow them down but sometimes that's not helpful enough and people don't get to ride.

However, I'm glad your FIL did okay with things and it sounds like your family had an amazing time, thanks for sharing your experiences!

If they even would have just slowed the walkways down it would have helped, but the cast members just wouldn't do it. It was disappointing to see that - it is a perspective that I've never had at the parks, since I haven't been with a disabled person before. It's sad that this may be a common thing.

 

[Sleepy425]

On our last trip my DBF and another friend were using ECVs. Both women can walk but not long distances. My DBF has a fear of falling as well. When we got to the Haunted Mansion and were taken to the offloading area to load she froze and couldn't get on the moving walkway. The CM who was a college program cast member slowed the walkway to a standstill and took her by the hands and gently guided her along the walkway to the ride vehicle. It was wonderful. This same cast member met us as we prepared to exit and again stopped the ride and guided her off. As a retired physical therapist I was so impressed by her actions that I took her name and left a comment at City Hall.
I have experienced the same level of assistance quite often at WDW. The ride stoppage or slowing is usually accompanied by a overhead comment on the HM that the ghosts are acting up. I have heard similar overhead announcements on many rides. I know that they are usually assisting a mobility challenged guest when these announcements are made.
I am so sorry that you did not receive this level of service. My friend often won't express her needs because she is embarrassed. As for the airport and airline, when I travel with friends or family who need assistance we ask for a wheelchair to get to the gate and to meet us at the gate when we land. The flight crew usually has a list of how many wheelchairs are needed at the gate when they land. Last year we flew Southwest and had no problem going or coming home. We won't discuss the people who request wheelchairs just to get priority boarding.
When we got home there was a gentleman coming back from Florida alone whose family had asked for assistance for him. It was fine when we were leaving MCO but when we landed at Islip he bolted off the plane. (He had more of a cognitive issue.) Needless to say his daughter was worried as were the flight crew and the porters assisting the wheelchair passengers because they didn't know where he had gone. They finally found him and got him into a wheelchair.
Most airlines and airports will not provide physical assistance to get someone on and off a plane because of lack of training as well as the chance of staff being injured.

I'm glad to hear you had better luck with the walkways - it was so frustrating to be ahead of him watching him struggle like that (my husband and I had our hands full with our 2,2, and 4 year olds while boarding - at least the 6 year old was good enough about not getting in the way that he could hop on with grandpa so he wasn't riding everything alone).