Why do so many people at Disney need scooters (EMV)

[fbarker]

I need some help to understand. When I go to Disney its amazing how many people have scooters. I have just returned from a vacation in San Francisco and I have to admit I could count the number of people using EMV's on one hand. There is lots of walking in San Francisco my wife and I walked over 60 miles during the week. So I am just a bit uncertain why there are so many at Disney. I appreciate your responses to help me understand a bit. Thanks

 

[LaurenT]

There are a lot of people who can get through the supermarket, but not day after day of non stop walking in WDW. In WDW, almost everyone will cover 60 miles over a week's time, in SF, I'd be willing to bet that most wouldn't walk as much as you .... And many would not even attempt to go there because they know they can't handle it and renting a scooter is not convenient. My husband needed one for a couple of years while waiting for his knee surgery - he hated every minute of it, especially the looks from some of the other guests. We are very lucky that he doesn't need one at this point.

 

[SeilerBird]

Because getting old is a bummer.

 

[GreatLakes]

I think you will see more ECVs at WDW then other locations or in a major city for a number of reasons:

• As already mentioned people who can handle short trips in their day to day lives need them for the increased walking.
• Disney is known as accommodating to those with disabilities so many more people who might decide not to go someplace because of a mobility issue will gladly go to Disney.
• We have a growing number of baby boomers and they are at the age now where many have grandchildren. They took their kids to Disney 20 or 30 years ago and want to go with their grand kids but age has made them less mobile. These same people might not view San Francisco as a right of passage, so to speak, like they do Disney.
• Heat can cause people issues that they didn't expect so while they might be able to handle more walking at home in Idaho walking around Florida in the summer is a bit hard.

 

[bumbershoot]

There are a lot of people in the world who need them.

People who need them will vacation in places where it is easier to use them and they can have lots of fun.

Therefore, WDW is going to be more attractive than San Francisco. Or in SF they'll be in cars, not trying to get up and down the hills on their ECVs. You might very well have seen just as many people who use ECVs in SF, but they just weren't IN their ECVs at the time.

Should you ever need one, isn't it lovely to know that there are places to vacation that are so disability-friendly?

 

[OKW Lover]

I believe that in addition to the observation by a PP, the fact is that WDW makes it "easy" for guests to use their scooters in the parks. I say "easy" with quotes because things aren't really easy for them, but rather that WDW if fairly accommodating. This makes WDW a more attractive place for them to visit.

 

[BudgieMama]

When we take my mother in law, because the heat makes wearing her prosthetic leg too uncomfortable and she doesn't want us to need to push her in her wheelchair all day: she prefers to be independent and an EVC is the best option for her.

 

[heidijanesmith]

I had to rent a scooter after a knee injury and they are not easy to get around on. People would just run right into me or walk right in front of me. But, my options were to rent a scooter and deal with it or not go...... easy choice.

 

[Magpie]

There's a lot of walking in San Fran, so if you're mobility impaired you either a) stay home, b) hire a car/get a cab/book transport/take a bus, or c) move to some place that isn't San Fran. Odds of you purchasing a scooter and braving the streets is relatively slim, since they're expensive and not terribly convenient.

On the other hand, if you're considering going on vacation, you might look at all your options and think, "Okay, well, Disney's cheaper than a cruise, and I can rent a scooter to get me around the parks!" Other vacation options, such as going to the beach (hard to get around on sand) or hiking the Rockies (eek), or visiting San Francisco (too much walking), might not look as appealing to you, considering your physical limitations.

For what it's worth, I wondered the same thing on my first trip, ten years ago. It's startling to see so many scooters at first, but then you get used to it and stop noticing.

If my mother-in-law (she who has cancer, diabetes and bionic knees) ever decided to visit Disney, we'd make her rent a scooter!

 

[disnut8]

I need some help to understand. When I go to Disney its amazing how many people have scooters. I have just returned from a vacation in San Francisco and I have to admit I could count the number of people using EMV's on one hand. There is lots of walking in San Francisco my wife and I walked over 60 miles during the week. So I am just a bit uncertain why there are so many at Disney. I appreciate your responses to help me understand a bit. Thanks

I've walked all over San Francisco myself with a young child and neither one of us needed a scooter but then, that was about 25 years ago

But, your question was why did you see so many at Disney World? Because you are in a smaller area than San Francisco for one thing. Each park is a smaller area.

Plus, there are many people who think "Disney World is so much walking! I can't do it!" and so they rent a scooter.

Going to San Francisco and going to Disney World, at least mentally, is like trying to decide if you want that apple or that orange and then having a logically discussion with yourself on your choice.

I've been on all sides of a wheelchair at Disney World - in one, pushing one, watching a loved one being pushed in one - so I understand when a person sees someone else who doesn't appear to have a physical ailment in a device and might "question" the need. There are things where a scooter or wheelchair is needed and just not an outward thing others can see (in my case, a vitamin thing and I literally could not walk for two weeks).

 

[Sandy Fisher]

Be prepared for a lot of flashback if you even suggest that some shouldn't need these facilitators. Disney does make it easy compared to other theme parks, national parks, cities, etc. And when we started going to Disney in 1982 there was no such thing. I'm sure there were wheelchairs that were not motorized. Just as there are many more strollers and older children using strollers than ever before. As local residents for years down there, we had the opportunity to see the increases. Many people would not be able to go to a large spread-out area like Disney without some help. It's very large and a lot of people just don't realize how big it is til they get there. I'm not against helping anyone to enjoy Disney. And there are many reasons that aren't readily visible to the person watching. However, it's always a sensitive subject. And people will be upset that it was even mentioned.

 

[disneyjunkie]

The number of people in scooters and school aged kids in strollers at disney is absolutely ridiculous. Tourist manage to walk all around NYC. They manage to make their way up and down subway steps without scooters or strollers. Why in the world is it so different at disney???

 

[disneyygirrl]

The number of people in scooters and school aged kids in strollers at disney is absolutely ridiculous.

...who are you to judge? Plenty of people have medical issues that require a scooter. I'm unable to walk in my own home, let alone Disney World. Do I not deserve to go on vacation with my family?

 

[MataHari22]

I need some help to understand. When I go to Disney its amazing how many people have scooters. I have just returned from a vacation in San Francisco and I have to admit I could count the number of people using EMV's on one hand. There is lots of walking in San Francisco my wife and I walked over 60 miles during the week. So I am just a bit uncertain why there are so many at Disney. I appreciate your responses to help me understand a bit. Thanks

How blessed you are that your wife and you walked 60 miles in one week. WDW has a lot of people who have scooters because they are not able to do that. Some have cancer, some have broken bones, some have heart conditions, others have mobility problems, some have lung issues.....it can be any variation of disabilities that may or may not be able to be seen. How wonderful that WDW makes it a little easier for people who have these challenges.

Also, I'm not sure how this question applied to theme park strategies.

 

[disneyjunkie]

...who are you to judge? Plenty of people have medical issues that require a scooter. I'm unable to walk in my own home, let alone Disney World. Do I not deserve to go on vacation with my family?

I don't believe for one second that EVERY SINGLE PERSON In a scooter (or school aged kid in a stroller) has a medical condition.

As far as judging, DISers judge people in the parks, grocery stores, restaurants, schools.... every day.

 

[fbarker]

How blessed you are that your wife and you walked 60 miles in one week. WDW has a lot of people who have scooters because they are not able to do that. Some have cancer, some have broken bones, some have heart conditions, others have mobility problems, some have lung issues.....it can be any variation of disabilities that may or may not be able to be seen. How wonderful that WDW makes it a little easier for people who have these challenges.

Apparently you have missed the point of the question. I was not looking for your blessing that I can walk 60miles in a week, I know I am blessed to be able to do that. I understand that people have cancer(my brother, my father, my father in law) and broken bones and heart conditions. I was just making an observation that there seems to be a disproportionate number of EMV's in Disney then any other place I have been to. And Disney is not the only place people with "conditions" go on vacations.

 

[kelleybean]

The number of people in scooters and school aged kids in strollers at disney is absolutely ridiculous.

How do you know what's going on with them? My husband had a heart attack earlier this year and it took a while to get his strength back/adjust to meds. We had a vacation scheduled shortly after and we debated about getting a wheelchair for him in the theme parks. From the outside he looked "healthy" - no one would look at him and know there was anything wrong. In the end we didn't rent one, just went at a much much slower pace but it was nice knowing that the wheelchair was an option. Also I have friends with school aged children with autism. One uses a stroller because he elopes but he won't elope from the stroller - it keeps her child safe. Another uses the stroller because it allows her son to cope with the lines. The strollers make Disney possible for them.

So what if someone uses a scooter or a stroller? It doesn't affect me. I don't sit there and try to figure out whether they "really" need one. I don't understand why people care.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I need some help to understand. When I go to Disney its amazing how many people have scooters. I have just returned from a vacation in San Francisco and I have to admit I could count the number of people using EMV's on one hand. There is lots of walking in San Francisco my wife and I walked over 60 miles during the week. So I am just a bit uncertain why there are so many at Disney. I appreciate your responses to help me understand a bit. Thanks

For a multitude of reasons...invisible medical issues, visible medical issues, age, injury, etc. Why someone's using an ECV is entirely personal reason.

 

[BudgieMama]

WDW is the first place we've been on our own holiday where we have come back and invited my MIL along on a future trip. It seems an excellent place for those with mobility issues (despite the distances). We've travelled many places, and WDW is the only one we've felt confident to say "you'll be fine, it doesn't matter that you'll be off your prosthetic there".

It's also worth remember that WDW doesn't give you an assistance pass if you only have mobility or stamina issues. They advise you to hire a wheelchair or EVC if that is your issue, therefore people who might not normally use one may choose an EVC (I know I would rather than asking DH to push me in a chair if that was my situation) as the most practical way of dealing with their time in the parks.

 

[KathyTX]

As this is not really a relevant "Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies" topic, I'm closing this thread now.