What are the Current bus scooter loading ‘rules’?

[sndral]

IME scooters/wheelchairs & their parties go to the special loading area & are loaded first & I observed this several times during my weeklong visit to AKL last week. It’s never bothered me, except when they have a dozen ‘friends’ who jump the line & board w/ them & take all the seats.
However on Sat. I observed a situation that differed.
It was near closing & we’d been waiting for the AKL bus at MK a while (long enough to watch 2 YC/BC buses pull up, load & leave) when a wheelchair + 7 party strolled up to the empty wheelchair/scooter line - they seemed angry & were arguing w/ a CM. The bus pulled up & the driver loaded the regular line. The bus driver kept telling us to move to empty seats in the back, so we passed the empty seats in the front & sat in the flip up seats. Then the bus driver came & told us to get out of those seats so he could load the wheelchair, so we did - being a bit sad that we’d not sat in the empty seats nearer the front when we had the chance. But, it’s only a 25 minute ride…
Then the bus driver loaded the wheelchair into the space where the seats we’d given up were + her 7 companions stood in that area of the bus.
Then the CM the wheelchair group had been arguing w/ told the bus driver to hold the bus, that the ‘lead’(?) was coming. So the whole bus sat there about 10 minutes until a new CM showed up. That CM took the brunt of the wheelchair parties rage - & they were very angry, I was afraid one guy was going to punch some one.
Anyway, that CM kept telling the group that during heavy bus use times like park close wheelchairs/scooters are supposed to get in the regular line & load when they get to the front of the line. Angry guy said that doesn’t work because folks won’t give up their seats - which I found to be ironic since we had given up our seats for the wheelchair user in his party & I’m an elderly woman who was stuck standing the extra half hour it took while the bus was ‘held’ & then for angry guy & his wife to throw their temper tantrum. The wheelchair user slept through the whole ordeal.
So my question is - are the rules different for scooter/wheelchair loading @ park close? Could I have declined to move when the bus driver told us to in order to accommodate the wheelchair party? Also, I seem to remember that WDW at one point was supposed to limit preboarders to 2 folks w/ the wheelchair/scooter person - but I’ve never seen that enforced & the group I watched had 7 folks who boarded w/ the wheelchair & the CM said nothing about that to wheelchair group .
If this is the procedure - I’m ok w/ it, but think they should just keep the flip up seats flipped up so folks don’t have to be asked to give them up - that way the wheelchair/scooter is accommodated but their companions get seats/stand according to where they were in the normal line.

 

[lanejudy]

So my question is - are the rules different for scooter/wheelchair loading @ park close? Could I have declined to move when the bus driver told us to in order to accommodate the wheelchair party?

Especially at the parks, the bus queues are designed with a pull-out at the start of the final switchback. Yes, wheelchair/ECV parties should enter the queue and then use that opening (which should align fairly near the wheelchair "box" on the pavement) once they reach it. That said -- sometimes CMs will direct wheelchair/ECV users directly to the box to wait instead of entering the queue. However it sounds like that was not the case in the situation you mention.

Yes, technically anyone already seated cannot be forced to disclose a disability if asked to move. How well that works out for you may vary.

WDW buses typically load mobility devices first at the parks to avoid needing to ask other guests to move. It seems as though there was a bit of a confrontation and party demanding to be loaded. The driver could have said "sorry, I've already loaded. No room." I don't really understand the point of loading that party after everyone else boarded and then waiting for a "lead" to tell the party they were in the wrong.

 

[Mle8308]

It's crazy. I wish they could figure something out so it's fair for everyone. I've been in the same situation, we've waited for 45 minutes for a bus and should have made it on, but at the last moment, an ECV and their party of 10 pulls up and they are loaded ahead of everyone who had been waiting 45 plus minutes. Then, we weren't allowed on the bus because it was now full where as we would have at least made it on the bus (standing) if the entire ECV group weren't allowed to board ahead of everyone. And I never sit in the pull down seats because 99% of the time I know I'll be asked to move. I regularly offer my seat if there is someone who needs it as I am fully capable of standing and am grateful I can! But it does bother me when people are not allowed to board because a large party in an ECV rolls up (especially when it's an outside rental company ECV) at the last minute. I don't understand why they can't wait with the rest of us. Now GKTW or a situation like that, well it's different, but that is not the majority of people using ECV's.

 

[sndral]

Especially at the parks, the bus queues are designed with a pull-out at the start of the final switchback. Yes, wheelchair/ECV parties should enter the queue and then use that opening (which should align fairly near the wheelchair "box" on the pavement) once they reach it. That said -- sometimes CMs will direct wheelchair/ECV users directly to the box to wait instead of entering the queue. However it sounds like that was not the case in the situation you mention.

Yes, technically anyone already seated cannot be forced to disclose a disability if asked to move. How well that works out for you may vary.

WDW buses typically load mobility devices first at the parks to avoid needing to ask other guests to move. It seems as though there was a bit of a confrontation and party demanding to be loaded. The driver could have said "sorry, I've already loaded. No room." I don't really understand the point of loading that party after everyone else boarded and then waiting for a "lead" to tell the party they were in the wrong.

Ok, given this information it makes some sense - wheelchair group didn’t enter the existing lengthy 3+ switchback queue & pull out at the final switchback - they went straight to the wheelchair box jumping a lot of folks already in line - they may have unlatched a rope to do so too.
That’s when I saw them arguing w/ CM #1 & angry guy counting the number of people in line. Then when the bus pulled up CM #1 had a quick conversation w/ the driver & the driver loaded the line first.
So it sounds like they knew they were jumping the line, got caught & were angry about that.
They ended up fitting onto the bus - because we moved, although they had to stand (as did we,) so not sure why they had to delay 2 bus loads of folks (us & the ones waiting for the next bus) half an hour to complain - it was incredibly rude & angry guy seemed like he was looking to punch some one. But the rest of us sat or stood patiently on the bus & survived the drama .

It's crazy. I wish they could figure something out so it's fair for everyone. I've been in the same situation, we've waited for 45 minutes for a bus and should have made it on, but at the last moment, an ECV and their party of 10 pulls up and they are loaded ahead of everyone who has been waiting 45 plus minutes. Then, we weren't allowed on the bus because it was now full where as we would have at least made it on (standing) if the entire ECV group weren't allowed to board ahead of everyone. And I never sit in the pull down seats because 99% of the time I know I'll be asked to move. I regularly offer my seat if there is someone who needs it as I am fully capable of standing and am grateful I can! But it does bother me when people are not allowed to board because a large party in an ECV rolls up (especially when it's an outside rental company ECV) at the last minute. I don't understand why they can't wait with the rest of us. Now GKTW or a situation like that, well it's different, but that is not the majority of people using ECV's.

I avoid the pull downs if there’s a second stop, but when the driver loaded the line first I figured the wheelchair group had showed up too late for our bus , so the loading then asking folks to move at park closing that I heard the ‘lead’ (or maybe ‘direct’?) CM explaining was new to me.

 

[Genie+]

WDW has signs everywhere and plenty of experience putting signs up and taking them down.

At a certain point they should put out signs directing everybody to enter queue and explain that wheelchairs and ECVs will enter that loading area from within queue.

I remember a few lines operating like that back in March 2019 (the last time we had an ECV and did not rent a car).

 

[TCRAIG]

It's crazy. I wish they could figure something out so it's fair for everyone. I've been in the same situation, we've waited for 45 minutes for a bus and should have made it on, but at the last moment, an ECV and their party of 10 pulls up and they are loaded ahead of everyone who has been waiting 45 plus minutes. Then, we weren't allowed on the bus because it was now full where as we would have at least made it on (standing) if the entire ECV group weren't allowed to board ahead of everyone. And I never sit in the pull down seats because 99% of the time I know I'll be asked to move. I regularly offer my seat if there is someone who needs it as I am fully capable of standing and am grateful I can! But it does bother me when people are not allowed to board because a large party in an ECV rolls up (especially when it's an outside rental company ECV) at the last minute. I don't understand why they can't wait with the rest of us. Now GKTW or a situation like that, well it's different, but that is not the majority of people using ECV's.

Just remember - for each time an ECV user gets to load without waiting in line - there’s a time where they need to wait for the next bus or 2 because the spaces were already taken. This last trip I took, I had to wait for 2 more buses to come because the ECV spaces were full of families with big strollers…no ECVs at all.

 

[Mle8308]

Just remember - for each time an ECV user gets to load without waiting in line - there’s a time where they need to wait for the next bus or 2 because the spaces were already taken. This last trip I took, I had to wait for 2 more buses to come because the ECV spaces were full of families with big strollers…no ECVs at all.

Then that's on the bus driver for not asking the people with the strollers to move, though there may not be anywhere for them to go... They have no problem moving people in the pull down seats! It's an all over crazy situation. I almost wish they could make transportation for ECV's only! Disney needs to find a better solution because ECV's are not going away.

 

[maxiesmom]

Then that's on the bus driver for not asking the people with the strollers to move, though there may not be anywhere for them to go... They have no problem moving people in the pull down seats! It's an all over crazy situation. I almost wish they could make transportation for ECV's only! Disney needs to find a better solution because ECV's are not going away.

The solution is for everyone to be patient and offer grace to others. Most ecv families are not 7 or more people, though that always seems to be mentioned when people want to complain about ecvs.

As for ecv only buses, does that mean that people like me who use them shouldn't be allowed to ride with their families to and from the parks? I should sit alone, simply because I have to use an ecv? My family should then have to wait on me to show up at the park, or vice versa? I can also imagine the outcry when an ecv only bus shows up and doesn't allow anyone else to board who is waiting to go to the parks. Sounds like an even worse problem.

 

[Mle8308]

The solution is for everyone to be patient and offer grace to others. Most ecv families are not 7 or more people, though that always seems to be mentioned when people want to complain about ecvs.

As for ecv only buses, does that mean that people like me who use them shouldn't be allowed to ride with their families to and from the parks? I should sit alone, simply because I have to use an ecv? My family should then have to wait on me to show up at the park, or vice versa? I can also imagine the outcry when an ecv only bus shows up and doesn't allow anyone else to board who is waiting to go to the parks. Sounds like an even worse problem.

No, not for ECV's only. Perhaps an ECV and 2 guests, can't be a hard rule if there are small children involved. And I am not saying that is the solution, but someone has to start thinking of something. I think the biggest complaint with the ECV's is the lack of a consistent policy from Disney and unfortunately, that is taken out on parties who use ECV's. However, I have experienced many instances where a party with a member using an ECV arrive late to the bus stop and they board first, with their entire party and it is often a generational family with a lot of people. It should be limited to the ECV user and one person (again unless there are small children - there will always be exceptions) and the rest board in line with the other guests. If they don't fit on the same bus, they wait. There will be at least one member of the group on the bus with the person using the ECV. They have trouble walking, however they can still figure out to navigate to their hotel room (and if they can't figure out how to get back to their room, they probably shouldn't be operating an ECV). It's very frustrating for people who are not using ECV's to wait and then have party roll up and roll on before the people who have been patiently waiting, in some cases, 45 minutes - and then are told they cannot board. I agree that the the people with the person that said that the ECV should wait in the line, if they are hesitant about navigating the queue for the bus, the ECV user can wait in the designated ECV spot. If the bus driver sees the ECV, then they know they need to assist and to ask people not to sit in the fold down seats. When the people with the ECV are ready to board the bus (who are waiting in the bus queue with everyone else), then the driver assists the ECV guest. Yes, others will have boarded, but this happens when an ECV arrives and the bus is already loading. Again, this is something Disney really needs to address. I have seen ECV's not being able to board because the spots were already taken because 2 resorts are sharing busses. This is not fair, either. It's not on me to figure out a solution! But I think if Disney were more consistent presently, it would be a better experience for all.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm an ECV user, and I don't know what the answer is. All I know is that I just came from a week at WDW, and went directly to the ECV pre-load area directly every time. For one thing, the bus driver loads the ECV first (well, except one time when everyone was on the bus, then the ECV user showed up. Also, since I wasn't sure, I asked as I came up-there was another bus driver there waiting for "change of shift", so I asked him. He told me to go directly to the ECV spot. I never took a bus at park closing time, however, and I was usually solo, not accompanied by a party of 7!

 

[TCRAIG]

Then that's on the bus driver for not asking the people with the strollers to move, though there may not be anywhere for them to go... They have no problem moving people in the pull down seats! It's an all over crazy situation. I almost wish they could make transportation for ECV's only! Disney needs to find a better solution because ECV's are not going away.

Right - there was nowhere for them to move. It didn’t upset me at all - never does. What did bother me was the driver said they’d send another bus and when that one showed up - still full…and they said they’d send another bus and that one still had their ECV sections open - but people were in the seats and had to move - so I felt bad for them. In the meantime 5 completely empty AK buses showed up (going to HS)…