Just got back from WDW & was very disappointed in cast members' reaction to my friend's disability. She has cerebral palsy & is very mobile, but her right hand is obviously turned in & of little use & her legs are quite bowed & climbing onto & off of rides can be awkward.
She was never once offered assistance or even advice by any cast members working at rides & attractions & I wondered what happened when I wasn't with her. (She wouldn't complain EVER.) I can understand if they are not allowed to touch her because of insurance issues, but they never even SUGGESTED how best to approach a ride & never offered to stop walkalator for her. She was terrified at the walkalator at Haunted Mansion. At Kali River Rapids, we were told to hurry into the raft. I said, "My friend has trouble walking & climbing, so this raft is not exactly positioned well for her." (It was turned at an angle to the deck & I had to hop in.) The cast member huffed & said, "Well, try the other side!" & he walked away. I certainly didn't mind helping her & always did, but he could have offered her another raft, better positioned.) And so it went.
I will say that the staff at POR was outstanding in that respect, though. She got lost the 1st night & since our travel to Orlando was so fraught w/ difficulty anyway she was extremely frustrated. One cast member not only drove her to our door, but wouldn't leave until he was sure she was safely inside -- then he saw her 2 days later at MK & checked on her trip!
Anyway, I found the disregard for her abilities & limitations very unDisneylike.
She was never once offered assistance or even advice by any cast members working at rides & attractions & I wondered what happened when I wasn't with her. (She wouldn't complain EVER.) I can understand if they are not allowed to touch her because of insurance issues, but they never even SUGGESTED how best to approach a ride & never offered to stop walkalator for her. She was terrified at the walkalator at Haunted Mansion. At Kali River Rapids, we were told to hurry into the raft. I said, "My friend has trouble walking & climbing, so this raft is not exactly positioned well for her." (It was turned at an angle to the deck & I had to hop in.) The cast member huffed & said, "Well, try the other side!" & he walked away. I certainly didn't mind helping her & always did, but he could have offered her another raft, better positioned.) And so it went.
I will say that the staff at POR was outstanding in that respect, though. She got lost the 1st night & since our travel to Orlando was so fraught w/ difficulty anyway she was extremely frustrated. One cast member not only drove her to our door, but wouldn't leave until he was sure she was safely inside -- then he saw her 2 days later at MK & checked on her trip!
Anyway, I found the disregard for her abilities & limitations very unDisneylike.