Well, I booked it... scooter

[handicap18]

I reluctantly booked a scooter for myself for our upcoming trip in June. I say reluctantly because I'm 44 and for the most part have been very active my whole life. Not that I was always in great shape, but I had a very physical/active job as a route sales rep/driver for Frito Lay for 14 years.

That is up until 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Rectal cancer. Even with that the first year I was getting chemotherapy I stayed active. I walked just about every day (exercise is a big help for cancer patients) and built a deck in our yard (fairly decent size one I must say).

Unfortunately one of the side effects of one of the chemo drugs I was getting that first year is that it can cause neuropathy. After 10 treatments (had 15 total that first year) we had to stop because neuropathy had set in in my fingers and my feet. It got bad enough in my fingers that I had trouble writing and typing. For the longest time with my feet I only had one little bit of it in my big toe. It felt like the seam of the sock was in the wrong place. Then all of a sudden it got worse. Both feet, from the balls of my feet to my toes got a deep numbing feeling. Not so much that I couldn't feel anything. At first it was like having sand between my toes all the time. Now its just numb, though not completely. The balls of my feet feel like I have a small ball stuck there.

It doesn't really effect my walking unless I walk to much in one day. Like if I go grocery shopping in the morning then head to the mall or Home Depot or some other big store that you have to walk a lot, then my feet get very achy and walking is harder. Running is out of the question. I can jog for about 10 feet to get out of the way of something, but thats it. I do have a handicap place card for my car now, but I only use when I really need it. If I can find a spot close to the handicap spots I'd rather use the regular spot.

Soooooo, with this now there is NO way I would be able to walk around a Disney hotel and a Disney park all day without my feet feeling the effects. I think I'd barely get in 1/3rd of a day. A scooter is the only way I can do it and enjoy everything. Especially now with a new drug I'm getting. One of the side effects is that it causes cut on your hands and feet very much like getting cuts from having very dry fingers in winter time. The cuts appear on the tips of my fingers and on the bottom of my feet, usually on the heel. I'm just finally getting the latest one on my left heel under control. This actually causes more walking problems than the neuropathy.

I've scheduled in a break from chemo the week we go to Disney. We're going on a Tuesday after school and coming back Sunday. I normally I have treatment every Monday. Hopefully having that week off will give me a higher chance of not having the cut issues or at least give me a little extra time to get them under control. (I use special lotion 3-4 times a day on both my hands and feet, yet that doesn't always prevent the cuts from coming anyway).

I most certainly would prefer not to have to use a scooter, but it is what it is. I've been going through different scenarios in my head about how best to do things. I plan on doing a lot of character meet & greets around the parks. Standing in line isn't much of an issue, but I don't want the scooter to be in other peoples way. I'd hate make it problem for others. I'm sure it won't be but I've read stories about how people in scooters think they own the "roads" and can be rude and all that stuff. Thats no me. I don't want to be that person. Then there's the whole getting on the bus thing. Thats probably my biggest "concern". If there's already a long line for the bus I don't want the driver taking me my family and it ends up that someone already waiting misses the bus because of us. Though I think I have a pretty good understanding of spacing and figuring out if we can all make it without cutting anyone else off.

One on of our trips back in '05 we went with my in-laws and my MIL had real bad feet issues and used a scooter for the week. So I do have some experience on what to expect. Back then the GAS or DAS card or what ever they're called were different. We were all able to get to the front of the line with her, but for her it was needed. She had trouble walking from the living room to the kitchen at home, let alone walk through one of the que's for a ride or anything at Disney. I'm not that bad. In fact my DW asked the other day about getting the card for lines. I told her it a different policy now and thats not going to happen, plus I can stand a walk through a line, but I won't be doing any rope drop sprints to anything LOL.

Anyway, if you read this far, thank you. I kind of got long winded there. The one good positive thing I'm looking forward to is having the little basket on the front of the scooter. I'll be bringing my big boy camera and a few lenses (I'm big into photography). While I'll have my backpack, it will be nice to put it in the basket so I don't have to walk around with it on.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

the problem with ECV and buses is that the ECV and the people boarding have to use the same space. there is not a lot of room, so for safety they board ECV first. the one time I was not first on bus people refused to move forward as driver asked them to do. they then complained when I slightly bumped them when I was following directions of bus driver. they were the only 2 beside driver on the bus. main complaint I had from other guests was that I did not stay on ECV but bus drivers will not let you stay because you can not be secured on ECV. so you end up taking 4 seats, 3 for ECV and 1 for you. you are first on but you are last off

 

[stitchlovestink]

the problem with ECV and buses is that the ECV and the people boarding have to use the same space. there is not a lot of room, so for safety they board ECV first. the one time I was not first on bus people refused to move forward as driver asked them to do. they then complained when I slightly bumped them when I was following directions of bus driver. they were the only 2 beside driver on the bus. main complaint I had from other guests was that I did not stay on ECV but bus drivers will not let you stay because you can not be secured on ECV. so you end up taking 4 seats, 3 for ECV and 1 for you. you are first on but you are last off

Actually that is not true. You can be secured on the ECV BUT it is CLEARLY RECOMMENDED that you not stay on the ECV but Transfer off of it and into a traditional seat on the bus. That is the Safer option. ECVs will tip very easily when you are on them! Want to ask me how I know?? It really is up to the guest.
I once had a bus driver who on a full bus returning from DTD would NOT allow me to transfer off of my ECV and into a traditional seat. He said there was no reason for me to use so many spots on such a full bus! So I insisted that he unload my ECV (which annoyed guests even more!!) and contacted the transportation dept and had a manager sent out immediately to file a report. The manager was very upset with the situation and I had witnesses who were there to verify my story since the next bus had not come yet!

 

[Bete]

For the bus situation try to avoid the busy times. Those times to me would be at park opening and closing. Many like to leave after a parade or fireworks; avoid those times, too.

If you have trouble getting the scooter on the bus, there is a manual overdrive; so, you can manually place the scooter in position. Sometimes, this can help.

Finally, if you are having a lot of trouble boarding with the scooter on and off then let someone else in your party do it for you.


Using scooters ourselves I've always had the attitude to yield to everyone. I'm not in a hurry anywhere. You can still have people especially kids darting in front of you; so, just be very careful and cautious.

You can use others in your party to shield you from other guests. Let someone be in front of you and have others on the side of you as you go along your route.

 

[handicap18]

My problem isn't navigating the scooter. I have no problem with that. In fact back on our '05 trip I had to put the scooter on a bus or take it off a bus a few times for my MIL.

I guess my issues is not wanting to cut people off who were already in line because I know that if there is a scooter in line they get loaded first and it takes more than a few minutes to load one. And I also know how much space they take up. On the '05 trip my MIL never sat on the scooter on the bus, but if it was crowded I would either sit on it or stand next to it so we weren't taking up more seats than needed.

Navigating a scooter around Disney World is kinda like navigating a shopping cart around a busy grocery store. But the other "shopping carts" at Disney are all the other people walking. They stop on a dime for no apparent reason and change direction without looking.

 

[ttintagel]

I just tell myself that I can't worry about the other people on the bus. The reason they load the ECV's first is for safety. It's the same reason they unload last, so there's plenty of waiting that the people using them have to do that the able-bodied don't. In fact, there's plenty of waiting that the mobility-impaired have to do in general that the able-bodied don't, so I'm pretty sure it all evens out in the end.

I know that a lot of the able-bodied don't see it that way; they take their privilege for granted and don't stop to think about how getting onto the darn bus a few minutes sooner a couple of times during the course of a vacation doesn't begin to make up for all the disadvantages the mobility-impaired have the rest of the time. But since they've already made up their minds and there's nothing I can do to change them; a thick skin, a big smile, making friends with the driver, and ignoring anyone who complains are the tools we've used to make things go smoothly.

 

[Nola Girl]

We have been to WDW over 30 times. Our DD now is a CM. We went to visit her for Easter. A week before the trip DH herniated 3 discs in his back. I asked on these boards and everyone said he needed a scooter. Boy oh boy where they correct! DH was most afraid of the bus situation because over the years he has admitted to be annoyed by waiting on scooters to be loaded on buses etc. I told him to think of it this way--all those times we waited on others now it was his turn, we would have no guilt. We did not try to plan to travel during off times, we just did our normal routine. We were extra polite and courteous to everyone around us. I was especially careful to thank the CMs who helped load the Scooter on the bus and the monorails. Only once on a monorail when a CM put the ramp down did a young couple race up the ramp and run into the monorail as DH was trying to drive up it and the CM just shook his head at me. For the most part guests were respectful and polite.
We return in May to pick our DD up and bring her home from her CP. Hopefully DH will be able to walk. If not we will not hesitate to use as scooter again.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

The biggest problem I found being in a scooter is that you suddenly become invisible. The number of people who decide that they absolutely HAVE to cross to the other side of this scooter which is literally a foot from their heels you would not believe. They just don't understand that I can't just stop on a dime - the scooter I had would literally run on a foot when I released the tiller before coming to a halt.

Also, people just pushed in front of us when we were actually parallel with the barriers.

I didn't feel as if I was in anyone's way, incidentally. As long as the scooter you hire isn't a giant one, you're not that much wider than a standard person although you are obviously longer. I found I was able to manoeuvre most queues - the 3-wheelers are best for that. I did hit someone once as the scooter I hired was faulty (no, it was, honest!), and several metal bins and at least one elevator had dents in them after I'd gone through than before ...

 

[I Love Pluto]

Please don't be offended, & please don't misunderstand my answer. I am not a rude individual.

I do not understand WHY people come to a Disabilities board - apologizing for using a scooter. I will not apologize for breathing the same air that other people need. I will NOT apologize for my use of a scooter. Why the guilt???

You will be happier when you erase the guilt. You have a NEED, not guilt! Thanks for understanding!

 

[ttintagel]

I didn't feel as if I was in anyone's way, incidentally. As long as the scooter you hire isn't a giant one, you're not that much wider than a standard person although you are obviously longer.

That's a another good point - the models generally used in the parks tend to be smaller than the ones generally supplied in grocery stores, so people can sometimes get an inaccurate impression of what they'll be dealing with.

The first time I went with someone else who was using one, I was worried we wouldn't be able to walk close enough together to talk to each other (because I had only seen the big, grocery-store models). I turned out to be completely wrong; I was able to walk close enough to keep my forearm draped over the back of her seat. Another time there were two of us (one of them me) in the group, and we would have been close enough to hold hands if we hadn't needed them both for driving.

 

[handicap18]

Please don't be offended, & please don't misunderstand my answer. I am not a rude individual.

I do not understand WHY people come to a Disabilities board - apologizing for using a scooter. I will not apologize for breathing the same air that other people need. I will NOT apologize for my use of a scooter. Why the guilt???

You will be happier when you erase the guilt. You have a NEED, not guilt! Thanks for understanding!

Your absolutely right.

It's probably that its new to me. While I've been to Disney with someone who has used a scooter and pretty much know what to expect its still new to me. I'm generally not someone who gets anxious or have anxiety.

Same thing with using the Handicap place card I have for driving. I'd rather look for a spot that is fairly close first before using a handicap spot.

I'm still new to this neuropathy limiting what I can do thing. While I've had the neuropathy since Sept '12, I spent the majority of '13 recovering from surgeries and didn't get out much till near the end of the summer.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Your absolutely right.

It's probably that its new to me. While I've been to Disney with someone who has used a scooter and pretty much know what to expect its still new to me. I'm generally not someone who gets anxious or have anxiety.

Same thing with using the Handicap place card I have for driving. I'd rather look for a spot that is fairly close first before using a handicap spot.

I'm still new to this neuropathy limiting what I can do thing. While I've had the neuropathy since Sept '12, I spent the majority of '13 recovering from surgeries and didn't get out much till near the end of the summer.

If you've got a disabilities badge - use the correct space! There's nothing worse than having to park miles away because people who shouldn't park as near to the disabled bays as they can but not actually in them. I applied for a blue badge (UK) but they considered I wasn't severe enough. So, if I can't park close to where I need to be, often we'll just go somewhere else because in winter when it's really cold I can barely move my legs and stand up let alone walk - even with a stick!

For a good couple of years a Range Rover parked in our small station car park, which is for season ticket holders only and is already over-subscribedl Now, this Range Rover was driven by a young man who often came up with his girlfriend. He didn't have a season ticket, but parked in a normal space displaying a blue badge - and was also seen to run for the train!! First of all, we weren't convinced that he was genuinely disabled (ie that it was his own badge and not another member of his family's); secondly, if he really was disabled, why not park in one of the disabled bays if he's going to display a blue badge anyway? As said, the car park was already over-subscribed without him 'illegally' taking one of those spaces. That car park fills up very quickly, and it's only because I now take an earlier train in the morning that I can park close to the exit and therefore nearer the station entrance. One day I got a parking ticket because HE was sitting in a normal space on a blue badge so I parked in a disabled space because that was all that was left.

Someone reported him eventually and he had to pay for a season ticket. Again - if he genuinely was a blue badge holder, why was he not just parking in the disabled bay? There are 3 designated spaces, and they don't charge blue badge holders to park there. That's the main reason why I wanted a blue badge - anything to save upwards of £800 a year on parking ...

So, you've got a disabled badge - use it and don't feel guilty or embarrassed about it. You wouldn't have it if you didn't have a genuine need.

 

[The Hunchback]

I suggest you bring some type of lighted head wear. I have lighted mouse ears and blinkers on key chains for the front and back of the scooter at night. I makes a big difference. During the day just plan to be stopping and starting a lot. People just dart in front of you. I have not used the buses but the monorail staff have always been good. Stay out of the trolley tracks on Main street. They can really bang you around if you fall in. Walker is a good company to rent from.

 

[I Love Pluto]

You will be fine. Don't worry about what others may think of you. You have needs which are important. Just do what is BEST FOR YOU!

 

[handicap18]

]I suggest you bring some type of lighted head wear.[/B] I have lighted mouse ears and blinkers on key chains for the front and back of the scooter at night. I makes a big difference. During the day just plan to be stopping and starting a lot. People just dart in front of you. I have not used the buses but the monorail staff have always been good. Stay out of the trolley tracks on Main street. They can really bang you around if you fall in. Walker is a good company to rent from.

Excellent idea. I know we'll be out late at both Magic Kingdom and DHS. I think I'll bring along a few packs of the glow sticks. Those are pretty cheep. I'll also look around and see what kind of cheep bike blinking lights are available.


Toffeewoffy, my handicap placed card is one that hangs from my rear view mirror. I can take it out of the car and bring it with me to another car or I don't have to hang it at all. Most people around here always leave it hanging from their mirror, though it says right on it not to hang it while your driving as it can block your field of view. I keep mine hooked into my visor so its out of the way while I drive.

If I'm feeling good I'll just find a parking spot thats close to the door (depending on where I'm going). If its a large store or mall then I'll find a handicap space and hang my card.


In some ways I'm looking forward to using the scooter and especially having that basket on the front. My camera with accessories can weight up to 5lbs. Also I'm bringing a frame and mat to have characters sign at our character meals. Hopefully it will fit, otherwise I'll just rent a locker.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Toffeewoffy, my handicap placed card is one that hangs from my rear view mirror. I can take it out of the car and bring it with me to another car or I don't have to hang it at all. Most people around here always leave it hanging from their mirror, though it says right on it not to hang it while your driving as it can block your field of view. I keep mine hooked into my visor so its out of the way while I drive.

IN our state it is illegal to drive with your HC placard hanging from your mirror. They can ticket you if they see it. Just sharing this for those reading as I cannot imagine we are the only state with this law.