What Is With All The Wheelchairs and Scooters??

[Amy&Dan]

Oh my, I held my breath when I opened this one up given the nastiness the previous thread took, but I am happy to say this one so much nicer and more civilized! Thanks to all the understanding posters, those of us who travel with loved ones who are disabled appreciate it!

My thoughts on why there are more lately is that the cooler months are nice times for diabled people (and the rest of us too for that matter) to travel. I would never take my elderly parents who are both ill or my disabled father in law to WDW during the summer. Florida attracts many elderly people, both to live and vacation in, which is why I notice a more age diverse and disabled group of people at WDW vs. Disneyland.

I agree with another poster, we are aging population and many people like my mother would have been dead 10 times over years ago. She lives on but with limits and thats why we are always prepared to rent a scooter or a wheelchair when she needs one.

I am hopeful that as this trend continues Disney might find a way to alleviate the problems with the buses and the waits scooters and chairs generate. But then I would rather be at Disney having fun and waiting for another park guest to be loaded on the bus than sitting at home! Be patient and kind and the favor will be returned to you when you need it someday is my motto!

 

[Mickey]

I think it is great that Disney is so accommodating for people with disabilities. I think that everyone should have an opportunity to experience Disney. Although, I do have two complaints and this is my personal experience. We had gotten in line for the Lion King show about 1 hour prior to the next show starting. The reason we did this was my daughter wanted to participate in the show, and I thought the best way for her to do this was by getting a seat up front. It wasn’t to about 15 minutes after we were in line that people started to line up behind us. My daughter asked me if we were going to get a seat up front, and I told her it looks that way as there was no one in front of us. They started to load the show about 15 minutes prior to starting, and they loaded the families in wheelchairs first. When they started to load us, there were NO SEATS up front has they had been taken by the families of the people in wheelchairs. Again, I think it is important that everyone have an opportunity to experience Disney, but that was not right or fair. We had been waiting an hour in line for these seats, and none of these people showed up in line to at least 20 minutes prior to the show. So, why were they given first choice of the front seat! I am sure most of you have seen the Lion King show and are aware there are front seats at each side of the theatre that are not handicap seats. If this is the case, then they should have been left open for the people who had been waiting for them. Needless to say, we saw the show and enjoyed where we ended up sitting. Another experience I encountered was when I had asked the CM how long the wait for an attraction he stated it was 30 minutes, but just I was asking someone in a scooter ask if that was the same wait for him. Again, I think it is important that everyone be given an opportunity to share in the Disney experience, but I think sometimes people take advantage of a situation for those people who really need it.

 

[mbb]

......and again I don't have a problem with any of the wheelchairs or scooters, just was curious as to why there were so many.

I know you don't have an issue with the wheelchairs or scooters

It's just hard to read "never seen it so bad", ie, the number of wc/scooters, and wait times for buses...every day at Disney is "DisABILITIES" day

And yes, Disney does need to address transportation issues, for everyone....the sooner, the better.

 

[Madi100]

I know you don't have an issue with the wheelchairs or scooters

It's just hard to read "never seen it so bad", ie, the number of wc/scooters, and wait times for buses...every day at Disney is "DisABILITIES" day

And yes, Disney does need to address transportation issues, for everyone....the sooner, the better.

Sorry. I guess "bad" was not a good choice of words.

 

[minnie61650]

.....We had gotten in line for the Lion King show about 1 hour prior to the next show starting. The reason we did this was my daughter wanted to participate in the show, and I thought the best way for her to do this was by getting a seat up front. It wasn’t to about 15 minutes after we were in line that people started to line up behind us. My daughter asked me if we were going to get a seat up front, and I told her it looks that way as there was no one in front of us. They started to load the show about 15 minutes prior to starting, and they loaded the families in wheelchairs first. When they started to load us, there were NO SEATS up front has they had been taken by the families of the people in wheelchairs. Again, I think it is important that everyone have an opportunity to experience Disney, but that was not right or fair. We had been waiting an hour in line for these seats, and none of these people showed up in line to at least 20 minutes prior to the show. So, why were they given first choice of the front seat! I am sure most of you have seen the Lion King show and are aware there are front seats at each side of the theatre that are not handicap seats. If this is the case, then they should have been left open for the people who had been waiting for them. Needless to say, we saw the show and enjoyed where we ended up sitting. Again, I think it is important that everyone be given an opportunity to share in the Disney experience, but I think sometimes people take advantage of a situation for those people who really need it.

I am aware that the front rows for the Lion King are for the handicapped and their families. I am truly sorry you and daughter waited in line for an hour and were disappointed when you were unable to be in the front.
On the flip side of the coin the handicapped seating area for the most of the other Disney shows are in the back. At the Lights, Motors Action Stunt show we were taken from the mainstream line to an elevator and ourseats were near the top of the stadium. We also sat at the top of the stadium for Fantasmic.We sat at the back of the theater for Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Indiana Jones, Its Tough To Be A bug, Mickey's Philharmagic, American Adventure, Pocohonas, and Playhouse Disney.
So yes I guess the available seating is not always fair. Even if I am at the front of the line the available seating is often the back for me and others in WC/EVC's.
Actually I am not complaining. I am always just delighted to be at Disney and that I get to enjoy Disney shows without having to transfer out of my EVC.

 

[SueM in MN]

On the flip side of the coin the handicapped seating area for the most of the other Disney shows are in the back.

There are also limited number of wheelchair accessible seats for all the shows. It is fairly common for people with wheelchairs/ECVs to arrive for some shows and find no more places for them. Even if the theater has plenty of room for people who can walk in.

 

[Martha7]

I think that for families who have impatient types in their group, it's better to rent a car for your trip. My Dh is very impatient, and I'd never try to take a trip with him, relying on the WDW transportation alone. His head would explode! (He'd be trying to re-engineer the transportation system the first time he had to wait for a bus!)

 

[mbb]

Sorry. I guess "bad" was not a good choice of words.

Thanks, Nicole I appreciate it

 

[Talking Hands]

i'm not trying to cause problems and have mobility problems myself but i do think it would be helpful if those with groups of chairs/scooters to maybe just meet up in the park( or where ever they are going) instead of trying to ride together on the buses...our last trip it took us over an hr waiting on the bus...maybe the driver was new since some have posted wcs are suppposed to be loaded first. in this case he loaded some on the bus then loaded 2 guests in chairs and thier families which for some reason took forever, much longer than it normally does and then called for another bus and loaded the other 2, holding us in the first bus for the second to load. the group was a few families traveling together ( think it was 3 families, 1 with 2 wcs, 2 with 1 each) and it took us over an hr just to get out of the resort parking lot after we got on the bus. it seems there should be a better way to do this or maybe have a wc bus they could call for groups with numerous wcs? it just seemed kind of unfair to tie up 2 bus loads of guests (espec. in the evening, kids are tired and so are parents)for that long for a few people, wcs or not.

Actually if you have more than 2 wheelchairs in your party you can call transporation and they will send a bus that can carry more than 2 wheelchairs. We have done this when Bonny, MJ and I travel together.

 

[Talking Hands]

I think it is great that Disney is so accommodating for people with disabilities. I think that everyone should have an opportunity to experience Disney. Although, I do have two complaints and this is my personal experience. We had gotten in line for the Lion King show about 1 hour prior to the next show starting. The reason we did this was my daughter wanted to participate in the show, and I thought the best way for her to do this was by getting a seat up front. It wasn’t to about 15 minutes after we were in line that people started to line up behind us. My daughter asked me if we were going to get a seat up front, and I told her it looks that way as there was no one in front of us. They started to load the show about 15 minutes prior to starting, and they loaded the families in wheelchairs first. When they started to load us, there were NO SEATS up front has they had been taken by the families of the people in wheelchairs. Again, I think it is important that everyone have an opportunity to experience Disney, but that was not right or fair. We had been waiting an hour in line for these seats, and none of these people showed up in line to at least 20 minutes prior to the show. So, why were they given first choice of the front seat! I am sure most of you have seen the Lion King show and are aware there are front seats at each side of the theatre that are not handicap seats. If this is the case, then they should have been left open for the people who had been waiting for them. Needless to say, we saw the show and enjoyed where we ended up sitting. Another experience I encountered was when I had asked the CM how long the wait for an attraction he stated it was 30 minutes, but just I was asking someone in a scooter ask if that was the same wait for him. Again, I think it is important that everyone be given an opportunity to share in the Disney experience, but I think sometimes people take advantage of a situation for those people who really need it.

Actually those front short seats are for handicapped guests. They pull children from the front section not just those front benches btw so your child could have been picked. I know my friend was sitting towards the middle and his cousin and daughter were picked and the cousin went but daughter refused. We were sitting back in the handicapped area for the interpreting. I am rarely seated in the front even though I am in a wheelchair since I also need interpreting at LIon King Show. If I didn't I would actuall be in the section opposite the Warthog section since that is where my daughter's friend stays when she isn't performing.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Also, regarding FOTL, if my memory serves, the disabled would have to have those seats because the rest of the seats are up at least one stair, many quite far up. Where else would someone in a chair or scooter sit? I usually see them picking kids from a few rows up, not just the first rows.

 

[NancyIL]

Okay, I don't mind the scooters or the wheelchairs. I'm glad that those who need them have the option of using them, and that they are available for them. HOWEVER, I with that those with the scooters would learn how to drive them, and more importantly, stop them, and that they wouldn't treat it like an attraction and let their six year old sit on their lap and attempt to steer them. End of statement.

A woman who apparently hadn't learned how to stop her ECV ran into me as I stood near the entrance to The Land in October! Had I not been there for her to run into...she probably would've hit the glass.

Btw...nice to meet you at MVMCP last week!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Out of 7 trips-the only time our child was picked for the Lion King show is when we went with our uncle-who was in an ECV. I have never seen a child picked from above the 2nd row.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Not to turn this into a LK debate, but I've seen alot of kids picked from other rows. And the last time we were there the CM wouldn't even look at my DD5 and she was sitting next to her father in an ECV. We were the only ones in the HC seating in our section.
I do not expect special privileges for my family (just make things HC accessible). And I have no problem with other people's kids being picked to participate. We love the show and make it a priority to go every time we are there.

 

[SueM in MN]

Not to turn this into a LK debate, but I've seen alot of kids picked from other rows.

We have never had anyone picked from the front rows in the area we have been in. Sometimes kids with special needs like autism are in the front rows - they are not using wheelchairs, but do better if there is no one right in front of them. So, my experience is that the CMs often don't choose from the front row because they don't know if it would be disruptive to the guests/families sitting there.
I have seen kids picked from several rows up who were near the end of the row. I think they are looking first for kids who look outgoing enough to be out on the floor without getting scared. Then they look for some who can get from where they are sitting out to the floor fairly easily. So, being on an end near an aisle and not too high up probably gives more of a chance of being picked than being on the floor.

 

[Laz]

NOTHING gets me upset when I am at WDW!

Scooters, strollers, line cutters, people complaining about lines, crying kids that need a nap, crying parents needing a drink then a nap- whatever!

My family and I are at WDW!!!

 

[MommytoMJM]

Actually if you have more than 2 wheelchairs in your party you can call transporation and they will send a bus that can carry more than 2 wheelchairs. We have done this when Bonny, MJ and I travel together.

You ourght to see the three of us together, it is a kick and I am so thankful for WDW being accessible for us, other places aren't....We often comment that we feel like we are in other pwople's way, it sucks to always feel like a burden just because you exist

 

[cruise-o-matic]

For those who don't want to read through the full 15 pages of this, here was 88key's Summary:

Ahh -- the scooter debate

Step 1 --- some one posts that scooters are a nusiance
Step 2 --- folks indignantly state that poster should be grateful they are not handicapped
Step 3--- other folks defend poster by saying that many using the scooters don't seem to need it
Step 4--- anecdotes abound of folks who don't seem to need it but do
Step 5--- misquotes and overly-broad statements are made in which those against the scooters are heartless and don't want people with handicaps to be in the park and those for the scooters support people running rampant around the park and running over little boys and girls.
Step 6 --- Snacky Stack closes the thread

Repeat every 3 months

OK, time to fan the flames and lock this thread....We were at WDW 2 weeks ago and saw a few cases of scooter abuse:

While waiting to load the BCV bus, the driver was helping an older lady in a wheelchair onto the bus. Then comes a lady with 2 children hanging on whizzing past everyone (and almost hit a few of us too) to be next on the bus. The driver loaded her scooter and then she took two seats on the bus with her children. Meanwhile, people who had been waiting (and holding 2 sleeping kids) missed the opportunity for a seat and let others go by so they could wait for the next bus....Does having a scooter also give one a FOTL pass at the bus stops?

And then there was this poor lady who had to practically run to keep up with her husband on his scooter.....

I'm not saying that these above didn't need a scooter, but they definitely need a lesson in etiquette.....

Of course then there were the two 20ish males "cruising" next to each other in Epcot. I say "cruising" b/c it was like they were in their cars....leaning back, one legged stretched out and driving with one hand on their scooters...you get the picture?

 

[goodeats]

I had this and the other threads on scooters so I was curious about how it would affect our trip. Now that I'm back I'm here to say that the answer is - not much.

Sure there were lots of wheelchairs and scooters around, but not anymore then one should expect. We were never run over and only once or twice did we have to 'sidestep' with one (why don't they all have blinkers on them?). Personally, I was more annoyed by the dirth of older children in strollers.

As far as buses go, we only once had to wait for the bus to load some wheelchair/scooter passengers (this was over an 8 day trip at the WL where we took the bus A LOT). Some of the people around us complained a lot when it happened, but it was not very long at all. It was not a good lesson to teach their children! But I am glad they only limit it to two per bus since while we were waiting (and while the second passenger was being loaded), a middle-aged man sped up to the back door in his ECV to be loaded and was told he had to wait. It wouldn't have been fair to load him since we had all been standing there already.

So I guess my answer to this thread is to just get over it!

 

[Bunch24]

I just would like to chime in here. I know that there are people who rent ECV's and wheelchairs when they don't need them, but I betcha they don't do it twice. It's a PIA to get around in one of them, and if the able bodied have problems, imagine what it's like to not be able to get around without one at all.

Let's think of it like those health classes, where they make the teens carry around a sack of flour or a doll, pretending that they are a baby. Aversion therapy. Riding around, trying to pretend to be handicapped to get 'ahead' might make those people a little more compassionate, when they realize how hard everyday life would be in a chair.

Turning lemons into lemonade,

KC

As someone who has never had to use an ECV or wheelchair in my life, I can completely agree with the quoted post. On our recent trip to WDW, I injured my knee pretty bad and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of the trip (two days).

I opted for the ECV because my wife had enough to worry about pushing our little one around in his stroller and I didn't want to wear my little brother out having him push me around Epcot and MK.

I can tell you firsthand, I hope to NEVER EVER have to use an ECV or wheelchair ever again. People cut right in front of you at the last minute, people often don't even see you and just walk right into you and probably my biggest gripe, people STAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU at the parade, completely ignoring the fact that you've been sitting at that one spot for 25 minutes.

Maybe I just had a bad two days, but I was miserable in my ECV. So much so that I parked the ECV and hobbled around on one leg for the last couple of hours at Epcot (and I paid for it the next morning painfully). The ECVs aren't fun to drive, they're hard to stop and even harder to maneuver in crowded places like Main Street or the World Showcase.

To those of you that are permanent wheelchair/ECV drivers, my heart goes out to you. It's a completely different world you live in and I salute you.

OK, carry on with the thread.