Want to get fired up??? Unreal story!!

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Rachel,

I know this doesn't seem "fair" but it is Disney policy - for safety. There are other times when a bus is already "full" for chair guests when they half to wait, even if the bus isn't full. Occationally (maybe not that occationally sometimes) the lift on the bus is broken and the chair guests can't ride - even though all of the others in line are allowed to. Its really impossible to be "fair" in every situation, but Disney does a pretty good job with the give and take.

BTW - we rent a car now with my scooter, not because the Disney transportation system is bad, but because the other guests can be so mean.

Thank you for the explanation. It is good to know what Disney policy is and see the other side of the situation. I think it is sad that you have to rent a car because of mean guests when you are using an ECV.

 

[dalt01]

I don't know. he was pretty adament about it. It was only about a month ago. I don't think he was lying.

if he is enough of an idiot to pull a stunt like that what makes you think he would not make at least part of it up.

 

[famsen]

This story really doesn't have me fired up because I have long suspected people were doing this.
I see many people on every trip who get up from their scooters and walk with no problems and unassisted when they want to.
I don't see why people on scooters would have to be allowed to the front of the line anyway. If they are on a scooter, they are not exerting themselves by scooting through a long long and waiting their turn.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I have a friend who's son is slghtly developmentally delayed (He is 4 and cannot talk yet, but physically ok). She said the last time they went to Disney (a few years ago), her son got a wristband becuse he is considered disabled. They got FOTL privelages at all the rides.

If this is true, its Disney policy and should not be frowned upon. However, those who abuse the system should be!

 

[Disneyadore]

But due to the flames on this subject, never got into it. This is fact, we've talked to guests at the resorts, overheard them in parks, mostly college age people. For the price of a wheel chairor scooter, they can cruise any park, never tire, drink till their hearts content and gain access to handicapped entrances of attractions. Seems these people have an excess of money, but what 50 bucks to most teenagers any more. That's my problem with any and every body getting to rent a wheel chair or scooter for this purpose. We've seen groups of them racing around EPCOT, park them and go off and then return to ride around some more. Don't tell me that doesn't happen.

Our son, pregnant wife, 8 months and 2 children went to WDW in March. Due to her having problems with the pregnancy, she used a regular wheel chair and they were escorted to all the exits and by passed the long lines I've read other threads saying no front of the line passes with wheelchairs but from my son and what we've seen on our trips, it can go either way, mostly in favor of the handicapped guest. It's nothing to be startled about, everyone knows it goes on but getting ostracized on these forums we keep mum, same as for mugs, room occupancy and pool hopping. It's done every single day, day in and day out but here on these boards we stick our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn't occur.

And that is why I'm so glad that Disneyland Paris makes all this nonsense impossible.
No letter from your doctor ore hospital no GAC.

There very strict and it works perfect. You hardly see more than ten ore twelve wheelchairs a day in Mk.
Those who sit in a wheelchair do need it and get all the comfort they need.
I really was amazed a few weeks ago. Considering the amount of wheelchairs and scooters we saw in the parks more than half of the American population must be handicapped.

 

[suevee]

I think there are two separate issues here involving wheelchairs/scooters.

1. Renting them in the park.

2. Using them on on boarding the bus.

These are two totally different situations. While it is true any one can rent a wheelchair/scooter while in the park. These items cannot be removed from the park. People who misuse this privilege are limited to the confines of the park.

People who need to use wheelchairs/scooters outside of the parks making it necessary to board buses are obviously not trying to cheat the system. I do not believe anyone would choose that inconvenience.

I feel they should be treated with kindness and respect by those of us healthy enough to wait our turn. They should also not be separated from their families. JMHO

 

[Kay1]

Also why does it always seem like there are fifteen family members that are cutting the line with the person in the wheel chair. Its like families bring family members in wheel chairs down with them just so then can cut the line.

So, really? Persuade disabled family members to fly to Disney World so they can cut in line? Wouldn't it be simpler and more cost effective for these cheats to pick up a wheelchair on Craig's List or rent one?

I mean, really.

 

[P&L@WDW]

This story really doesn't have me fired up because I have long suspected people were doing this.
I see many people on every trip who get up from their scooters and walk with no problems and unassisted when they want to.

As mentioned earlier, not everyone who is in a scooter or wheelchair is incapable of walking. No, not everyone who has one may need one, but I believe the grand majority do.

When I was in a scooter last year, yes, I could get up and walk, and yes I did get up and walk (often through the lines, rather than taking my scooter through the lines). I used a cane, and my progress was slow. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a no win situation. People either glared at me because I was taking my scooter through the lines, or people glared at me because I was slowing the lines down by walking through them.

Don't assume that, just because someone is capable of getting up and walking, they do not need the scooter/wheelchair. Short distances are one thing, walking through a disney park is another.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We were just there last week and they were not allowing scooter people to cut the lines, they had to park the scooters and get in line just like the rest of us.

We did see wheelchair/crutches, etc that were allowed to the front though.

 

[locolala]

.

Don't assume that, just because someone is capable of getting up and walking, they do not need the scooter/wheelchair. Short distances are one thing, walking through a disney park is another.

This. I have severe chronic pain and I have days where walking long distances is excruciating. At the same time, if I'm in a chair too long my back will lock up. If I get up out of my chair at Disney, I get rude looks. I don't care honestly, as other people's opinions don't matter to me, but still.. what are you teaching your kids if you treat people with disabilities badly? I'm a healthy, fit looking 23 year old.. most people wouldn't expect that I have the problems I do. You can't always judge a book by its cover.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

My mother, an otherwise healthy looking 66yo woman, suffers from severe and chronic numbness in her feet and pain in her legs due to complications from chemo last fall (ovarian cancer). I've convinced her to rent an ECV from an off-site company when dh and I take my parents to a 4day Food & Wine trip this October. This trip is a do-over trip as they were unable to attend our long-planned extended family WDW vacation last August.

I hope and pray that she will not encounter the huffs, sighs, and nasty comments by other WDW visitors when she parks the ECV and walks (slowly) onto a ride, to a food booth, or drives onto a Disney bus. I would give anything in the world to know that my mother will be here with us for many years-----------------but for now, I just want her to have one more trip with us.

Please try not to judge. You don't know the person's situation.

 

[tchrrx]

DH ended up in a wheelchair during the second half of our trip b/c he broke his foot at EPCOT. We ended up staying in the room most of the time & only going out for dinner. We even had CMs say to us, "Well, at least you got to go to the front of the lines, right?" We told them that we didn't do that b/c DH didn't feel like doing much of anything. Plus, I had always been under the impression that handicap access didn't really put you at any advantage. Sad that some people do this though.

 

[PebblesMom]

We were in WDW in May with my DM who needed a scooter to get around due to chronic pain brought on by so many surgeries I have lost count of them. She was really in a no win situation using it. We heard comments getting onto the bus at the resort, and in lines at the parks. She was aware of what people where saying and decided to park it and try to walk. We parked the scooter in the stroller parking outside of the Living Seas with Nemo, and we had to stop about 5 times in the que to let groups of people by because she could not walk fast enough to keep up with the crowd. We used fast passes on everything we could, if there was a long line for the bus we would wait at the benches until another one came, we did not take advantage, but were still looked at like we were because she is fit looking and could walk, but no one could know that she truly needed the scooter because of her medical history. After months in the hospital and a very long month in the ICU I think she deserved a stress free vacation.

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

My friend's father had heart bypass surgery about 10 years ago. He goes about his everyday life just fine and holds down a job in which he performs manual labor. When he goes to WDW he gets a pass which allows him and his family front of the line access to rides. The strange thing is that he rides Expedition Everest, RnRC, TOT, etc. that have health warnings about people with heart problems. To me if he claims to not be able to stand in line because of his heart then he shouldn't be riding these types of rides at all.

 

[Don Disney]

That person appears to be quite the jerk!!!! I definately have no problem with someone who was needing to use the scooter for legitimate reasons going to the front of the line,none at all; But CLOWNS like this really make me a bit angry!! If I saw someone doing that,it would be extremely hard for me not to give them some choice words(no cursing,but VERY snide and sarcastic)!! That's really a shame,because people like that have ruined it for the ones who in my opinion should be allowed to go up front.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Ugh, it really tweaks me to hear of people who will gladly cheat the system in front of their children. The parents setting a really bad example and, little do they know, are setting themselves up as 1st class hypocrites when their kids are caught cheating. Not so easy to punish when you're as much of a rule-breaker as your kids.

 

[a1tinkfans]

There will always be people that abuse the system as the OP stated.
There are those that use the system offered.
There are those that are THANKFUL that Disney offers assistance, when it is needed.
There are also many people with "hidden" disabilities.... and then there are those that feel it necessary to make ignorant comments to them.

While it does not surprise me, it also does not "inflame" me as I figure if that is what that family needs to do and to "show" their kids to do.... it is a reflection of THEM as parents.

As far as a NOTE as someone mentioned that they require in Disney Paris, it is important to remember that here in America we have the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) which makes it possible to NOT get discriminated against and clearly states it is an invasion of privacy to force someone to "prove" their disability.
That being said, it is no biggie to have a note from a doctor outlining issues/concerns if a true disability exists for a child/adult.

I think Disney is one of the most accommodating for "vacations" for the disabled/impaired and am THRILLED That they treat people with the dignity and respect they deserve. NO disability/impairment is EASY and making it an easier transition to Disney is so welcoming!

So, for me, the GOOD people so far outweigh the "UGH" people, I just tend to filter them/ideas out!
To all that NEED the GAC or any other assistance like scooters or wheelchairs...and possibly get to the front of a Bus line or ride line, I say, so be it......I'm just so thankful I am HERE to be able to spend time with my family! Remember, Life can change in a moment..............

 

[DaisyD]

I am a firm beleiver in EVERYONE having to wait thier turn for the rides. No one should have FOTL privliages. I do know on HM they make the ECS guests wait at the front of the line for the rest of thier party to catch up to them. They do not allow them to just stroll on. If they do allow FOTL to anyone for any reason, I feel it should be for the guest with the dissabilities and one other, not the entire party of 10. And they should have a legit reason, not just because they are in a scooter or wheel chair. This would cut down on those who abuse the system such as the guy in the OP.

Are you referring to Haunted Mansion when you say HM? I ask because my mom has been using an ECV for a few years at WDW. We have never had to have the rest of the party wait in line and have my mom join us when we get there. There is a special entrance we use to the right of HM that is for ECVs and WCs. The person using those along with their families are taking in as soon or within minutes of getting to that special roped off section.

We have probably done this over a hundred times without any problems. We do this at a few other attractions also including Peter Pan, Snow White, and Small World. While it isn't called FOTL access I have to admit we go pretty much to the front of the line each time. We may have to wait a few minutes once in a while but it is nowhere near how long we would have waited in the standby line. And she does have a legit reason to use an ECV. It would be nice that you have to prove medical necessity but since that isn't allowed, abuse will happen.

 

[rndmr2]

I was there a couple times with my late mother in 1998 and 2000 (many times before that but these were the ones she had a wheelchair-1998 and scooter-2000). (she was also on Oxygen full time, she could physically walk but would be severely out of breath after just a few feet and have to sit down. On previous trips she had to sit down on almost every chair and bench, wall, etc she saw) Having the w/c and scooter was great for her, especially as she didn't have to feel she was slowing us down. She never went on the rides like SM and BTM, etc while she was this bad (rarely went on them when she was doing better) We did get special access most of the time but usually it was to wait in a separate area and then we waited for a special car. She could get up and sometimes she did but she couldn't do the moving walkways that are on most rides too well so if the ride would take a regular wheelchair she would transfer into one.

The rules in the guidebook for disabilities that Disney gives out said (at that time- I don't know if it changed or not) that the person in the wheelchair was allowed to bring up to 5 people with them, if the party had more, they had to wait in the stand by line. I can understand people being upset about supposedly "cutting" the line for the bus by wheelchair riders if there is a long line but why would people expect them to go back to their hotel or to the park by themselves and then have to get back off alone and wait for another bus where the rest of their family is, why shouldn't they be able to keep their family together ? BTW, as far as I remember she sat in her scooter on the bus, and if it looked like we would be able to get on the same bus, my neices and I would wait in the regular line and just my dad got on the bus with her on the lift (we went with her if it looked like the end of the line would be on another bus so we wouldn't be separated)

I know she was thankful (as all of us were) that she was able to use the scooters, it allowed her to go to her favorite place a few more times before she died when whe never could have managed without having it.

 

[irunnoft]

I hate having to own a scooter. What this guy and other fakers do is just awful. Those of us who are stuck with them have no choice. I'd go to Disney in the heat of July and stand an hour for a ride if it meant I didn't have to go with my scooter ever again.

We always go to WDW during the slow season and this is partly why. Scooters and crowds mix like oil and water. When we were there in November there were short lines everywhere. My family did get to ride ToT right away (short stand by line) and BTMRR. BTMRR we probably did beat some stand by people on, but at Jungle Cruise, we waited far longer than stand byers. It evened out I'd say over the course of the trip. Mostly you wait in the regular line with everyone else.

Did I feel guilty when offered to get on right away at either ride - no. I suffer in pain almost daily so if I get to ride 2 rides at WDW right away - I'm thankful. I've said it every time a thread like this comes up - you wanna gripe about the 2 rides I get? Take my chair. Live in it for your Disney week. Truly. Never have the pleasure of walking through World Showcase holding hands with your husband. Forget about running into the wave pool with your teenager at Typhoon Lagoon. Have people shoot you dirty looks when you and your child just want to ride the Disney bus.

You'll gladly stand. I would.

I applaud you. Your post brought me to tears. You said it so poignantly, so eloquently - with such passion, honesty and raw pain. YOU ARE A HERO! Don't you ever be ashamed to take that scooter into the park. Live your life despite that thing you're stuck with. Decent people - good people - don't get upset at things like this. The people that should be racked with guilt and shame are the people who roll their eyes and make rude comments when accommodations are being made to get a wheelchair rider on the Disney Bus. The people who should feel horrible are the ones who dart in front of you and your scooter trying to beat you in line. And perhaps the biggest pond scum yet are those who rent scooters hoping to get a FOTL treatment.