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

[Beauty & the Best]

what angers me the most is the disrespect for the individuals with disabilities!!! To me, he did the same thing as parking in a handicap parking space when not needing one. Not only was he rude, but very disrespectful.

This is what bothers me too.

My father had MD and was in a wheelchair for most of my childhood so I'm a little sensitive about using scooters and handicapped parking when its unnecessary.

Those who use scooters/wheelchairs willingly are crazy to me. You could never force me into one while I'm healthy...you never know when you'll be completely dependent on one in the future, so use your legs while you've got them!

 

[mickey0624]

I'm not really sure why there are people who get through to the front and those who do not. Maybe the man i talked to meant that he was on a seperate line, but he did say "I got to the front of the line". Either way, he was VERY happy with the result and insisted if there was a line, it was a very short line. The man really would have no reason to lie. We were casually talking and it was a topic that just came up.

 

[ChuckGA]

Well, every ride is different. Some rides, especially older ones, can't accomodate wheelchairs, so people need to use a different entrance. Sometimes the wait for a ride is longer with a wheelchair - like Spaceship Earth or Safari - and sometimes it's shorter. I think it all evens out.

Fair enough but that still doesn't seem to explain it. It seems like we are talking about guests needing wheelchairs/scooters to move around the park but are capable of the short walks to and from device onto the ride, like the "cheats". The ones that must remain in a wheelchair the entire time have to wait for the special ride vehicle and I cannot imagine that saves time on average.

For a specific example we were going on BTMRR. I saw someone sitting in a wheelchair on the side where people get off the ride. We got in the train, did the ride and when we got back the person was still sitting there. Now before we disembarked I saw the person get up and join their family on the train who had been in the regular line when they finally were next to board. Obviously in that case there was no FOTL.

So do the "cheats" get FOTL because they force the CMs to give it to them since they obviously have no shame about cheating the system while people with real needs would never dream about doing such a thing and therefore do not get FOTL? Too many people with real needs are claiming there is never a FOTL situation on any ride except when timing is unintentionally perfect and obviously to the cheats there are enough FOTL situations to make it worth the hassle so there seems to be a conflict. How could both be true?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We found it trully annoying last year when taking the buses around the resort. We stayed at POR and the wait for buses to and from the resort were horrendous!! It really started to bug us when the people with the scooters got on the bus first and the scooters took up 2 seats and then they would get off their scooters and seat in one of the other available seats.

I'm surprised I'm responding to this, but you are not allowed to sit in the scooter while the bus is in motion unless you are not able to get up. Add to that the glares you get from folks, dare I say, who are annoyed that they had to wait for the scooter to load, and the experience is pretty miserable.

My sister experienced a weird kind of discrimination at WDW recently. She's very athletic, but had the misfortune to break her hip before a recent trip to WDW. She was able to do a very limited amount of walking, and the trip was actually good therapy (over lying around in bed all day). She walked with a VERY obvious limp when she did do any walking.

She had a very hard time dealing with the glares she got from other guests. Boarding the buses was particularly bad. She's been to WDW many times.

More than that, I was with her when she incurred what I can only describe as a kind of body-type discrimination from some CM's. More than once, she was treated with contempt. At HM, for example, we saw a group of guests enter just in front of us. They were not asked any questions at all. When it came time for us to enter, the cm very snarkily asked my sister if she was able to transfer. When my sister said yes - he said, "Then you can park the scooter and get in the regular standby line with everyone else!" My sister almost was in tears at this treatment, since she could not stand for that long. We were about to leave. Luckily a third disabled group came up behind us. They saw her try to get out of her seat and overheard us. They quickly let us know they had a GAC and we could join them- since their group was not together, and there was only two of us.

She was also rudely told by the CM to park her scooter (some distance from the ride entrance) and get up and stand inthe regular line when we tried to go on Snow White. Again, how shall I say, another guest entered just behind us who was less fit looking, and the CM asked that person if they could transfer in a very differnet tone. That person also answered yes, but was not directed to park the scooter where ours was parked. I didn't pay attention to how that guest entered the ride, but it was really awful how rudely my sister was treated, and how obviously she was sometimes treated differently from other guests.

Other CM's were much nicer. If you ride the monorail with a scooter, you have to have a CM give you a ramp to get off. More than once the CM at her destination failed to come over. Usually, one of us was able to climb over her and flag the CM down before the monorail departed. One day my sister went back to our room for a break by herself. The CM never came over, and she had to go around the monorail loop a second time! It was a nightmare!

 

[glasslipper]

Needless to say I was dumbfounded. Couldn't do anything but shake my head.

Boy, I would have found it difficult not to reply to his boastful abusive behavior.

 

[MickeyJoy]

I can't believe this topic is on here when I was JUST discussing this at lunch! When traveling in 2007 with my family to celebrate Make a Wish Foundation sponsoring a Disney trip in my sister's name - my mother ended up getting an infected blister on her foot. On top of that -she has very severe respiratory disease. The struggling on her foot caused her asthma to flair - and we were soon at the infirmary. She was issue a wheelchair by the nurse with strict instructions NOT to be on her foot. Not only did it make our trip more pleasurable (because my poor mother didn't feel like she was slowing everybody down) but we did experience FOTL access. I don't recall one ride where we didn't - and I can assure you - we NEVER expected it. Yes, they did always ask if she was able to transfer - but then directed us accordingly. Perhaps I am mistaken when saying FOTL - but we did use what I recall was the FastPass lane - or something similar and they did put the rope up to stop normal lines while we were "cut" in. We were very honest with the CM's and explained that my mother wouldn't even be riding most rides - but when we arrived at the line they let our entire party through and wheeled my mother to a waiting area. It was wonderful - she finally got to see the inside of these rides that she had never seen before and wasn't waiting in the hot Florida weather all alone for hours at a time. At shows and The Great Movie Ride - we got to be right in the front and at Lights Motors Action we used an elevator to get to a reserved section where we actually had fans. So I can attest to the fact that we did receive "perks" and "so called" FOTL access - but I would NEVER fake it. The biggest sin in my house has always been referred to as "Lieing to Mickey Mouse". It sickens me to think that someone would take advantage like that... but it would be very difficult to patrol. I was thinking about how wonderful Disney was to my mother and to her family (me) when we went last. It was so great that she never had to feel "left out" because of her injury/illness. They really seemed to get that and were so gracious - even when we tried to object/explain.

So here is the point of my rambling - get a wheelchair for elderly/sick people in your party. They can actually ENJOY the vacation with you like never before. But do not take advantage - it is wrong and dishonest and of all the places to do it......

 

[shellybaxter]

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

Maybe not lying - but not truly understanding what was going on. I use a scooter for a number of reasons, include hip and knee problems, and reactive airway disorder. I've used it for many trips to Disney. For alot of rides/shows/attractions - I wait in the regular line:

Test Track, Soarin, Malstorm, Nemo, Figment, Star Tours, Backstage tour, ITTBAB, CofP, Dumbo, and I'm sure more I can't remember.

Some rides I go in an alternate entrance - sometimes this entrance is a shorter wait and sometimes its a longer wait - even for the same ride:

Splash Mountain: I start in the main line and am taken out of that line just prior to the stair. I then go to a gate where a CM will let me through the exit. Only 2 or 3 (can't remember) wheelchairs/scooter can be in this area at a time. I've waited a long time at this gate before and other times I've gone right through. The wait time for me usually cooresponds to the wait time for the stand by line pretty well - BTW- I have to do this even if I have a Fastpass.

BTM - You are dirrected to go through the exit. Once I arrive at the exit area I am placed in a holding area where I have to wait for a while before they place me on a train.

Buzz Lightyear: Scooter have to go through the Fastpass. Its easier just to get a fast pass, but if you approach the entrance a CM will give you a return slip for the approximate time of the stand by line. For example, if I come to the CM at 3:00PM and the wait time is 45 mins - I get a return slip for 3:45

Safari: I go the entire way in the regular line until the very end where I am peeled of to a special docking area. I then usually wait far longer than those ahead of me in the regular line.

TSM - I wait in the regular line until the stairs. I am then sent to a ramp that leads to a special boarding area. This area is not continuous boarding. I've definately been seated before the people in front of me in the regular line AND far after - just depends on who is waiting.

The GMR - I enter the regular line and stay there until the room with the movies. Scooters/wheelchairs can't make the turns, so I am sent to the front. Usually I am let into the loading area prior to those in line infront of me - however, I am ALWAYS relegated to the back of the second car. The narration is always off and I never get to see Tarzan swing.

I'm sure there are others - but you get the picture. I am often treated differently - but not better (or necessarily worse) because I am in a scooter.

unfortunately I know this to be true as well. As recently as my last trip (which was a little over a year ago) people in scooters were getting front of the line treatment and I noticed people on more than one occasion getting up out of a chair and letting a friend/family member switch with them - no disability, just laziness and abuse of the system.

Don't be so quick to judge. I have legitimate medical issues and I can and do get up out of my scooter from time to time. Occationally my Dh drives it while I walk to stretch out the muscles and test my breathing capacity.

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.

So just because a mom has a disability they shouldn't be able to ride with their children? their husband? I would be crushed if I finally convinced my parents to go to Disney and then couldn't experience anything with them because I had to use a mobility device.

I have rented a motorized wheelchair on occasion because of foot, ankle, and knee problems. I have only used it at Animal Kingdom and Epcot, because of terrain and distances. I have never got front of the line passes nor expect too. When offered at the Safari, I declined, parked my scooter with the strollers, and waited like everyone else. .
.

Actually you probably waited a shorter amount of time than those in wheelchairs/scooters. I'm happy for you that you are able to stand in line. Standing is far harder for me than walking.

What I don't understand is the conflicting information in these stories. The "cheat" group claims that handicapped gets FOTL access and the "real" handicapped claim they do not with very few crossover stories. I don't see how both can be true. I haven't ever had to use GAC or a scooter or a wheelchair but the few times I observed them being used it did appear that while they may have gone in the exit they still had to wait for the remainder of their party to go through the standby or FP line before getting on.

I dont' really understand it either - except that the "cheaters" maybe don't understand what is really happending. I've tried to detail some rides above.

We found it trully annoying last year when taking the buses around the resort. We stayed at POR and the wait for buses to and from the resort were horrendous!! It really started to bug us when the people with the scooters got on the bus first and the scooters took up 2 seats and then they would get off their scooters and seat in one of the other available seats.

Law (and Disney policy) say that for safety wheelchairs/scooters must be loaded first. Riding on the scooter is dangerous; therefore the riders move to regular seats - again for safety.

The one thing people renting scooters for the (non-existant) front of the line perks are apparently not seeing is how long it takes to get from ride to ride. When a family arrives at Epcot prior to rope drop they are usually at the front of the rope and onto their chosen ride (lets say Soarin) before most other people. I arrived at Epcot with my scooter 20 mins before they opened the turnstyles. I patiently made my way to the turnstyles, being overlooked by many "walkers" and loosing ground. By the time Dh and I got to the rope we could see the people in front of us at the turnstyles (just in front) in the front row just behind the rope. We were about 4 rows back. Then the ropes droped and the pushing and running began. We headed to Soarin. I had to stop and wait for a "hole" in the traffic a couple of times. While I was "waiting" several people went around me, closing up any holes that were available. When we finally made it to the land building we had to wait for one small elevator to take us down to the ride. By the time we got their the wait was posted at 45 mins and it took us about 35. Definatly not a "front of the line" experience.

 

[Racemom17]

Unreal...I am thankful that I and all 3 of my kids are healthy enough to stand in line and WAIT our TURN...

 

[cbbrown93]

The past two times Ive gone to WDW I have noticed that there have been so many wheel chairs.
The part that makes me very mad is that Disney doesn't even ask for paper work or proof that you actually need a wheel chair.
Cutting lines makes me very mad, but not so much the cutting of ride lines as it is the cutting of bus lines. When my family leaves as the park is closing the buses can get a little hectic. We first wait for a bus and then when one arrives people in the wheel chairs and there family get to go on first. Then the wheel chairs have to be strapped down inside the bus and that takes up at least three seats.
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.

 

[Jestocost]

The part that makes me very mad is that Disney doesn't even ask for paper work or proof that you actually need a wheel chair.

Mostly because asking for such proof is against the law. Sorry.

 

[shellybaxter]

The past two times Ive gone to WDW I have noticed that there have been so many wheel chairs.
The part that makes me very mad is that Disney doesn't even ask for paper work or proof that you actually need a wheel chair.
Cutting lines makes me very mad, but not so much the cutting of ride lines as it is the cutting of bus lines. When my family leaves as the park is closing the buses can get a little hectic. We first wait for a bus and then when one arrives people in the wheel chairs and there family get to go on first. Then the wheel chairs have to be strapped down inside the bus and that takes up at least three seats.
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.

Don't be mad at Disney - the law prohits them from asking for any kind of "proof". The law requires equil access or reasonable accomidation.

Maybe the large families are the ones you notice. While I disagree with your perception that they are "cutting the line", I can tell you that wheelchairs/scooter do get redirrected on some rides (see my post above). When I am redirected it is usually just Dh and me. Occationally we will have our 9 year old neice with us.

 

[livie1205]

...I went with my bbf and she uses GAC for her son (yes he needs it) and we went through the fast pass line or exit at every ride.We did not ask for this...it is where the CM told us to go.This is what she is told every time she goes.I hate that some people get FLAMED for telling the truth on what really happens... I will not type what is on her card in case there are cheaters but if the card is needed .This may make a family not go because they think it would be to hard on them.

I am NOT confused about what was going on,I have been to wdw many many times I know how the lines work...I am glad she can use this,she would never be able to do a park without it thats why she goes to wdw...she also goes to universal where she pays for their pricey rooms for their FOTL pass so she does have to use their GAC.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

This is so terrible I really wish I hadn't even read this post. I like to think the best of people but stories like this make me distrusting when probably 99% of the people in scooters truly need to be.

It makes me sad that we are becoming a world of cheaters. I have friends who lie about their kids age so they can get a better price on meals, tickets and their kids are aware Mom and Dad are doing this to save a few dollars.

I have to agree with the PP on our last trip I did see FOTL given to people in scooters at the bus stop and their party. I saw this on several occassions and the person I blame is the bus driver. At park closing when there is a long wait this can be frustrating to the people waiting in line when someone in an ECV and about 9 other people are immediately allowed to get on the bus.

I really don't think this happens at rides that often or at all. I've never seen it thankfully.

As far as this guy who pretended to be disabled to get FOTL, I would be scared that some bad karma would come back to me.

 

[Disneyadore]

Boy, I would have found it difficult not to reply to his boastful abusive behavior.

I would have said to him "well you know some times you will get what you wish fore and one of your children will end up sitting in a wheelchair for life".

 

[shellybaxter]

I have to agree with the PP on our last trip I did see FOTL given to people in scooters at the bus stop and their party. I saw this on several occassions and the person I blame is the bus driver. At park closing when there is a long wait this can be frustrating to the people waiting in line when someone in an ECV and about 9 other people are immediately allowed to get on the bus.

.

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.

 

[disney4metoo]

Unbelievable!

 

[SPOERLX3]

unfortunately I know this to be true as well. As recently as my last trip (which was a little over a year ago) people in scooters were getting front of the line treatment and I noticed people on more than one occasion getting up out of a chair and letting a friend/family member switch with them - no disability, just laziness and abuse of the system.

I agree, this is when someone from Disney should stand firm and stop this. We will be going this year with my husband in a wheel chair due to unexpected accident that resulted in knee surgery. He will have to tote around one of those horrible heavy braces and I can assure you that he would rather be walking and the capability of being able to ride all the rides instead of being limited. We do not expect front of the line access and most of the rides, he won't even be able to ride. All I can say is these people that rent these for front of the line access, better watch out, one day, instead of having a wheelchair when they don't need it they may have to have a wheelchair and not want it! Carma can be a bad thing!

 

[WDSearcher]

Maybe not lying - but not truly understanding what was going on.

I dont' really understand it either - except that the "cheaters" maybe don't understand what is really happending. I've tried to detail some rides above.

Thank you, shellybaxter, for detailing so many rides and attractions! I think that what you said above is exactly it -- the "cheaters" didn't stand in the real line, so they don't know what's happening there. They only know that they were ushered to a seperate entrance and waited and then were put on the ride. They have no idea if the line would have been longer or shorter than their experience. They only know that they got "special treatment" and assumed that it was FOTL.

The fact that they were ushered to a "special area" and were likely under cover in A/C without too many other people probably made them think they were getting a very special FOTL experience. When, in truth, they probably only saved five or ten minutes of what they'd have done had they just gotten a FP. PLUS, they missed any of queue line entertainment / exhibits. All for the low, low price of $200.

 

[SPOERLX3]

I don't believe anyone has (or should have) a problem with anyone that legitimately needs a wheelchair. It is those that use a wheelchair with no reason but for FOTL that is disgusting.

 

[MarieS]

Cutting lines makes me very mad, but not so much the cutting of ride lines as it is the cutting of bus lines. When my family leaves as the park is closing the buses can get a little hectic. We first wait for a bus and then when one arrives people in the wheel chairs and there family get to go on first. Then the wheel chairs have to be strapped down inside the bus and that takes up at least three seats.
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.

Each bus can only take 2 wheelchairs. For safety reasons and ease of loading they must be loaded first. Many times we had to wait for the next bus while everyone else in line got on the first bus.

I really take exception to your remark about taking a wheelchair to cut the line!

My son cannot walk and uses a wheelchair fulltime. Yes, it does take a couple minutes to tie the chair down. I don't take a seat but stand next to him. I would give anything to have my son healthy and able to walk.

In our experience, people in wheelchairs do not receive front of the line access. Yes, sometimes we are brought around through a different line, but we still must wait. Ds cannot transfer and usually waits longer for a wheelchair car on rides. Even using fastpass can take longer since we atill have to wait for the right ride vehicle. We have been turned away from shows because the wheechair seatiing is full.