Wheelchairs at bus stops

[Dashzap]

Saw this on FB this morning from a WDW bus driver. I've traveled around with son in wheelchair different places, not WDW, and didn't know about the thumbs up thing. Of course, it assumes the wheelchair person CAN move their thumbs....

"Please please please if you are in a scooter, wheelchair or special make sure the bus drivers can see you as they approach the load zone. Don't let other guests get between you and the yellow safety line. As the buses approach give the driver a thumbs up if you are going to that park of a thumbs down if not. When the CP's are helping out in the mornings they alert us but when they are not there we need a clear view of you and signal as to whether you are going with us or not"

 

[POOHsie]

Saw this on FB this morning from a WDW bus driver. I've traveled around with son in wheelchair different places, not WDW, and didn't know about the thumbs up thing. Of course, it assumes the wheelchair person CAN move their thumbs....

"Please please please if you are in a scooter, wheelchair or special make sure the bus drivers can see you as they approach the load zone. Don't let other guests get between you and the yellow safety line. As the buses approach give the driver a thumbs up if you are going to that park of a thumbs down if not. When the CP's are helping out in the mornings they alert us but when they are not there we need a clear view of you and signal as to whether you are going with us or not"

Agreed. The message above mostly pertains to bus stops that handle more than one bus destination, such as at the moderate resorts. I use a scooter, and I always wave enthusiastically and shake my head "yes" to the bus driver when the arriving bus is for my destination. The bus driver always seems to notice me. If I'm not taking the arriving bus, I shake my head "no" and give the bus driver a wave-off with my arms.

It matters to the bus driver because if he has to pick up a mobility device, he has to carefully line up his bus's rear for the handicap ramp. If he notices a mobility device after stopping the bus, lots of times he has to reverse the bus and try to line up again so the ramp can work.

 

[minnie mum]

I agree with everything POOHsie said. This is only regarding the resort stops like at the mods. I always park my chair on the H/C spot and either signal yes or no as they approach. I'm sure it must annoy them if they park, and go to the back, open the door, and then have the guest tell them they're waiting for a different bus!

 

[DvcDoc]

We typically stay at the OKW, and I always give a signal to the bus driver if I do, or don't, want their bus. Just makes it easier on us all.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I always put my hand up if I wanted that particular bus or shook my head at the driver if I didn't. They'd still get up, open the door and stick their head out and ask, though. Several times they would be told by me that we'd been waiting for the bus to X and had been waiting 20 minutes and they'd promise to ring and get one to come for us.

Part of the problem with CBR is that there is a curve in the road just before the bus stop for Martinique, and I'd have to sit forward so that I could see which bus was coming (the hedge prevented me seeing the destination board on the front of the bus).

There was only one time there were a significant number of people already at the stop when we got there, and that was for MK. As I eased the ECV up towards the white box, a mum pulled her son out of the way as he'd been hanging onto the pillars there, telling him to stand somewhere else and 'make room for the lady'.

Luckily on that day 3 buses to MK turned up at once, and while the driver was fiddling around with the ramp and doors to load me, I actually recommended to the queue that they take one of the buses behind as it would probably be quicker. They all did so (interestingly, not one of them even said "thanks" to me for recommending that) and just DD and myself had the whole bus to ourselves all the way to MK!