Wheelchair Rental

[WannaBeInWDW]

I was in Disney World last week and something really bothered me. People in wheelchairs. Now before you go on attacking me please let me explain. I think people really abuse the whole wheelchair rental system. For example, in Epcot a group of boys who could not be more than 18 rented a wheelchair. I was looking for a broken foot or something on one of them and nothing. To confirm my suspicions, they stopped in front of me and one of them said, "Get up, it's my turn!" They switched places right then and there. Now how can Disney rent a wheelchair to these kids that obviously are using it to their advantage to cut the line or whatever? Come on.
While standing in line for Great Movie Ride, another lady in front of me (with her daughters and mother I presume) said "This is too much walking, it's time for a wheelchair." My feet were killing me and I had about 200 blisters on my feet, but why do I need a wheelchair? I just think it's ridiculous. Maybe there was something wrong with her but her mother rolled her eyes at her, so i am guessing no!
They really should amend these rules. Something like 55 years of age and older, people with broken limbs, or a note from your doctor will allow you to rent a wheelchair, otherwise a little walking never killed anybody. I feel bad for the people that actually do need wheelchairs and cannot get one cause teenagers and people that really do not need them have rented them all.
Another thing ... crowded busses. Women with sleeping children in their arms standing a men sitting. What is wrong with that picture. I got up for this one lady so she could sit with her baby and my pregnant sister got up for a father (who was refusing to take her seat) with his sleeping toddler. The man sitting across from us did not make eye contact with any of us. I stared him down the whole way back to the hotel. How dare he not offer his seat to those people then to my sister. Ugh the audacity of some people.
Thanks for allowing me to vent. I apologize if I offended anyone. It was not meant to be perceived that way.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Do you really think that some poor CM at disney should be the wheelchair police? Should we not have rented one for my son when he hurt his back at the pool? There was no need for a doctor's visit.

There are not benefits for using the wheelchairs other than comfort. What do you care if someone needs or wants a WC or ECV? Surely that is their business. Not yours.

 

[WannaBeInWDW]

Do you really think that some poor CM at disney should be the wheelchair police? Should we not have rented one for my son when he hurt his back at the pool? There was no need for a doctor's visit.

There are not benefits for using the wheelchairs other than comfort. What do you care if someone needs or wants a WC or ECV? Surely that is their business. Not yours.

I am talking about the ones who abuse the wheelchair rental system, not people who are actually ill and suffering and need one. I think we all can agree that the teenage boys were abusing this policy.

 

[isyt]

You did not offend me at all. We have rented wheel chairs a few times for my mother and sister. They both had doctor notes but never needed them. My sister has a problem with her muscles and to look at her you would think why does she have a wheel chair but it is extremely painful for her to stand, walking is not so bad but its the lines that kill her. It is a shame when people take advantage of a service, so I agree that doctors note should be required.

I do have to say I have been holding a sleeping baby many times and I don't remember a time when someone did not give up their seat for me. I usaully find people to be very courteous but yours is not the only complaint of late. I am hoping that non disers are not spoiling my happy place.

 

[meandtheguys2]

So what? Why would you worry about some foolish boys? Why is that such an issue? It doesn't hurt anyone. If they want to waste their money, it is their business. JMHO.

 

[WannaBeInWDW]

You did not offend me at all. We have rented wheel chairs a few times for my mother and sister. They both had doctor notes but never needed them. My sister has a problem with her muscles and to look at her you would think why does she have a wheel chair but it is extremely painful for her to stand, walking is not so bad but its the lines that kill her. It is a shame when people take advantage of a service, so I agree that doctors note should be required.

I do have to say I have been holding a sleeping baby many times and I don't remember a time when someone did not give up their seat for me. I usaully find people to be very courteous but yours is not the only complaint of late. I am hoping that non disers are not spoiling my happy place.

I have to say 99% of guests at Disney are extremely polite and accomodating. This one man though should have been the first one up to offer his seat up. I could not believe that he did not offer his seat to my pregnant sister after she got up for the father and his sleeping child. I was just shocked and appalled.

 

[WannaBeInWDW]

So what? Why would you worry about some foolish boys? Why is that such an issue? It doesn't hurt anyone. If they want to waste their money, it is their business. JMHO.

Because there was a good chance that there was someone else that could have used the wheelchair they were using. It's okay though. I believe in karma and what goes around comes around.

 

[EMeg01]

So what? Why would you worry about some foolish boys? Why is that such an issue? It doesn't hurt anyone. If they want to waste their money, it is their business. JMHO.

No, it doesn't necessarily “hurt” anyone however, it does inconvenience people in the parks. Those who use wheelchairs in the parks, often are led to the beginning of attraction lines because most of the wait lines are not accessible to wheelchairs, surpassing MANY folks that have been waiting patiently in the hot sun, in a long line. I believe the OP just meant that it was unfair that those who clearly are abusing the use of the wheelchairs are benefiting by skipping long lines and therefore pushing the wait time back for them.

 

[rowmac2000]

I was in Disney World last week and something really bothered me. People in wheelchairs. Now before you go on attacking me please let me explain. I think people really abuse the whole wheelchair rental system. For example, in Epcot a group of boys who could not be more than 18 rented a wheelchair. I was looking for a broken foot or something on one of them and nothing. To confirm my suspicions, they stopped in front of me and one of them said, "Get up, it's my turn!" They switched places right then and there. Now how can Disney rent a wheelchair to these kids that obviously are using it to their advantage to cut the line or whatever? Come on.
While standing in line for Great Movie Ride, another lady in front of me (with her daughters and mother I presume) said "This is too much walking, it's time for a wheelchair." My feet were killing me and I had about 200 blisters on my feet, but why do I need a wheelchair? I just think it's ridiculous. Maybe there was something wrong with her but her mother rolled her eyes at her, so i am guessing no!
They really should amend these rules. Something like 55 years of age and older, people with broken limbs, or a note from your doctor will allow you to rent a wheelchair, otherwise a little walking never killed anybody. I feel bad for the people that actually do need wheelchairs and cannot get one cause teenagers and people that really do not need them have rented them all.
Another thing ... crowded busses. Women with sleeping children in their arms standing a men sitting. What is wrong with that picture. I got up for this one lady so she could sit with her baby and my pregnant sister got up for a father (who was refusing to take her seat) with his sleeping toddler. The man sitting across from us did not make eye contact with any of us. I stared him down the whole way back to the hotel. How dare he not offer his seat to those people then to my sister. Ugh the audacity of some people.
Thanks for allowing me to vent. I apologize if I offended anyone. It was not meant to be perceived that way.

I understand your thoughts...I would be angry too. I totally agree with the abuse of a wheelchair when it really isn't necessary. I am renting an electric wheelchair for my 77yr. old Mother-In-Law who cannot walk more than 50 ft. w/o starting to hurt - besides she walks with a crane.

Also, I feel that chivalry has completely died in our society - with the exceptions of some men out there, I'm sure. But you are right, I have witnessed MEN who should be offering assistance and be chivalrous but are not.

 

[rowmac2000]

So what? Why would you worry about some foolish boys? Why is that such an issue? It doesn't hurt anyone. If they want to waste their money, it is their business. JMHO.

I understand your thoguhts on why concerning youself with other people when we all have problems of our own, but WannaBeInWDW has a very valid point. Other people who come into the park a little later who needs a wheelchair may not be able to get one because it's a first-come-first-serve basis. So, when the ones who really don't need one rent it solely for their own benefits of cutting in line, it is totally unfair for the rest of us.

COUNTDOWN TO.....................
JUNE 3-7 2005

 

[WDSearcher]

I am talking about the ones who abuse the wheelchair rental system, not people who are actually ill and suffering and need one. I think we all can agree that the teenage boys were abusing this policy.

No, we can't. Maybe they were picking it up for their grandfather or for an injured friend who couldn't make it all the way back to Town Square to rent one, and is waiting for them elsewhere. And, while they're taking it back to meet them, they're trading places and pushing each other.

Bottom line is that there are no advantages whatsoever to being in a wheelchair except that maybe you get to wait in the shade instead of on line in a sunnier area. But otherwise ... you wait in line the same amount of time, you get no "front of line" benefits, you aren't treated any differently. Plus, you have to deal with parking the darn thing all the time, and you can't necessarily take your whole party with you every time you enter a wheelchair area. If the boys WERE scamming the system, they likely didn't hang onto the chair for long, since there is no benefit to having one.

 

[meandtheguys2]

You don't save time in line folks. Every time we have had a wheelchair or ECV with us we have always taken more time. We have had 20 min waits for KS while others were walking right on. Same with Jungle Cruise. The only possible shorter line was SE, and that is debatable, by the time we walked back to the rear entrance, etc.

I have also never seen a park run out of wheelchairs. Yes, ECV's, but never WC. If an ECV or WC is totally necessary and you would be deprived of one if they were gone, I would think you should order one from off-site anyway. Frankly, it seems much more appropriate if you are in that much need. If you are so convinced by the "unfairness", then you are in trouble in general in life, because it isn't fair. Why concern yourself with how terrible it is? What do you get out of those negative feelings. Interesting karma issue...

Again I ask, do you really want WDW to become the WC police. What if they were sued for not renting a WC and a person was in need, but had no doctor's excuse? And what if someone becomes injured in the park? How is that person behind the counter to know those boys weren't renting for a person who needed one.

 

[WannaBeInWDW]

No, we can't. Maybe they were picking it up for their grandfather or for an injured friend who couldn't make it all the way back to Town Square to rent one, and is waiting for them elsewhere. And, while they're taking it back to meet them, they're trading places and pushing each other.

Bottom line is that there are no advantages whatsoever to being in a wheelchair except that maybe you get to wait in the shade instead of on line in a sunnier area. But otherwise ... you wait in line the same amount of time, you get no "front of line" benefits, you aren't treated any differently. Plus, you have to deal with parking the darn thing all the time, and you can't necessarily take your whole party with you every time you enter a wheelchair area. If the boys WERE scamming the system, they likely didn't hang onto the chair for long, since there is no benefit to having one.

Yeah, I doubt eight teenaged boys were going to pick up their grandfather who was waiting for them at the Mission: Space/Test Track area, but to each his own.
And there are some lines where there you do not have to wait on line and/or you go in a seperate entrance: Great Movie Ride, Maelstrom, Peter Pan, Rock'n Roller Coaster, to name a few.

 

[WannaBeInWDW]

Once again, I am talking about people who ABUSE the Wheelchair Rental system. PEOPLE THAT ABUSE THE WHEELCHAIR RENTAL SYSTEM.

 

[lllovell]

You are only SUPPOSED to get front of the line priviledges if you have the "special needs" card to go along with the wheelchair. However, in many of the rides, they don't ask for that card. So the assumption that people are renting wheelchairs for front of the line stuff COULD be accurate, but they would quickly find that it wasn't doing them much good.

Who knows why those boys rented that wheelchair. Who knows why other tired people don't give up seats on the bus. I do know that I can only do what I know is right and that I hope many others do the same. I am also teaching my children to do what is right.

I wonder what you will think if you saw me at WDW the first weekend in June. We promised this trip to my 5 year old a while back (before my current pregnancy and before I was having sciatica pains so badly that I cannot even walk around the grocery store without going home and applying heat and staying off my feet for the rest of the night), but many times, when I am stretching a little bit, my two sons will probably be in MY wheelchair because we can't take a stroller for them since hubby is going to have to push me this time. I can't walk all day - I can't even walk for an hour and I look healthy enough (overweight and pregnant I will give you - but have in the past walked MILES at WDW) but there will be times when I also have to get out and stretch some. I will also stand in whatever lines I can. You can't always judge what you see and be correct.

 

[lllovell]

Once again, I am talking about people who ABUSE the Wheelchair Rental system. PEOPLE THAT ABUSE THE WHEELCHAIR RENTAL SYSTEM.

I think the point people are trying to make is you can't tell when someone is abusing the system. You are making judgements without being privy to personal details. You can spend your time getting frustrated about it (when you might be wrong) or you can simply not let it worry you.

 

[WDSearcher]

Yeah, I doubt eight teenaged boys were going to pick up their grandfather who was waiting for them at the Mission: Space/Test Track area, but to each his own. And there are some lines where there you do not have to wait on line and/or you go in a seperate entrance: Great Movie Ride, Maelstrom, Peter Pan, Rock'n Roller Coaster, to name a few.

I've seen many a guest on crutches come through the turnstiles at the front of the park. I've directed them straight to wheelchairs, and many times, they just look at me and say, "Nah ... I'm OK ... I'm going to tough it out." I have no doubt that a few hours later, they've sent their friends back to the front of the park because they discovered that 'toughing it out' isn't quite as easy as they expected. I'm not saying that this was the case with the kids you encountered. All I'm saying is that unless you followed them and saw for yourself that the wheelchair wasn't for a friend or family member, you can't be certain that they abused the system. Some people do ...yes. But again, even if you go in a different entrance or get to go to the front of the line, there are very, very few attractions at WDW that will give you front-of-line access simply because of the wheelchair. If you don't believe me, then you might want to get yourself one once and check that out. You'll find that it's not really worth it for the half-dozen "quick entry" advantages you get across property. Generally, you'll find yourself waiting inside, while your party continues through the line outside, and then getting on the ride with them when they arrive at the loading point. Nearly all of the front-of-line priviledges were done away with years ago due to wheelchair abuse. Those people still trying to scam their way on rides this way will find themselves quite disappointed.

Also, just to ease your mind, WDW has never -- even on the busiest days -- run out of wheelchairs. ECVs, perhaps, but wheelchairs ... never. There are always enough, regardless of how many tired mothers or silly teenagers try to take advantage of the system.

One other thing, as it relates to your bus story. You said that the man sitting across from you did not make eye contact with any of you and that you "stared him down the whole way back to the hotel." Wouldn't it have been a whole lot more helpful to simply say to the man, "Excuse me, but would mind letting this parent sit down with their child?" I'll bet that if you'd have done that, you AND the guy with the sleeping toddler would have both been a whole lot happier. Of course, it's possible that the man who was sitting was very tired and had a knee or ankle or back injury you could not see, which made him value his seat just as much as a parent with a sleeping child. Or it could have been that he did not make eye contact with you because he was thinking about something other than making note of everyone who got on the bus and who needed a seat more. Or, he could have simply wondered why that one guy was staring him down and didn't want to make eye contact because he thought you were creepy. Either way, what was stopping you -- or the guy with the sleeping child -- from asking? If it was so important to you that this man have a seat, why not simply ask politely? Why are people so reticent to do that, yet they'll happily glare and scowl for 20 minutes at a total stranger.

 

[ToriLammy]

Once again, I am talking about people who ABUSE the Wheelchair Rental system. PEOPLE THAT ABUSE THE WHEELCHAIR RENTAL SYSTEM.

There are always going to be people who abuse any system set up to assist a minority - short of doing away with the wheelchair rentals all together there is nothing WDW can legally do to prevent abuse. WDW has taken many steps to make lines accessible and to take away any perceived "advantage" to abusing the wheelchair rentals. There are very few rides where wheelchair users go right to the front - most require the use of Fast Pass now and that has helped dramatically. As the mother of a teenage daughter who has CP and has used a wheelchair all her life I have learned not to sweat the small things.

 

[3lilprincesses]

so well put WDSearcher! we have talked my 84 yr. old grandmother into coming w/ us to DW in jan. it will be her first trip. while we consider her to be in really good shape for her age, she does have arthritis, and her knees are affected, and she is 84. i know there is NO WAY she can walk all over DW without a wheel chair. she doesn't like the idea, but she knows she won't make it without. i'm sure there will be times when she will want to get up and walk a bit. and i'm sure one of my daughters will want to jump in for a ride. and guess what? I'M GONNA LET THEM! i know it will bring a smile to my grandmothers face to see her great granddaughters having fun. some people may see this and think that my girls are being "lazy" or that we are trying to "abuse the system".

there are so many medical conditions that would prevent a person from being able to walk around DW all day without a wheelchair. that doesn't necessarily mean that they need to spend every minute in it either. what about people with such illnesses as lupus? they look "normal", but suffer from joint pain and extreme exhaustion. or how about others with arthritis? they don't look any different than anyone else. i think it's important to remember, you can't judge a book by it's cover!

 

[meandtheguys2]

and i'm sure one of my daughters will want to jump in for a ride. and guess what? I'M GONNA LET THEM! i know it will bring a smile to my grandmothers face to see her great granddaughters having fun. some people may see this and think that my girls are being "lazy" or that we are trying to "abuse the system".

You wicked women, you... Letting those kids ride! For shame! And I hope you know that someone will be giving you the "evil eye" when you do. Some people just have issues with minding their own business!

TL, You have hit the nail on the head. It never helps, nor is it beneficial in any way to worry about the small stuff! Those people who want to find fault will continue, because they just don't get it that the WC doesn't give FOTL privileges anymore, they are weighty, ECV's have to be charged and controlled, and it is just plain difficult to manuever in the parks with these. They want to be sour about "fair" and whine about something.