does anyone feel guilty?

[Kazzy1548]

We are a family that have a special needs child , we could get a handicap pass but choose not to(My DD has ADHD) She has difficulty waiting in line but now that she is older it gets easier . I agree that having 17 other people with that person with the handicap pass is a little excessive...

 

[Reddy]

That is what irks me at the parks - people who use someone else's GAC while that person sits out the ride. Sad that it comes to that.

As an aside, DH and I saw a group of 7 preteens run through BTMR queue with grandma's GAC while Granny sat by where we parked our stroller

when I got my boys GAC - I was told that the boys had to be with me - the CM's usually asked who is ______ when we entered the line (unless they were acting up or we had on an austism T-shirt -- I love the ones we got from the creative people here, the Stitch one got lots of comments)

 

[stargazertechie]

I thought lines that were handicapped accessible could no longer go to the front of the line. I would think Small World is one of them, they can roll down the ramp.

People in wheelchairs do not go to the front of the line. They're loaded from an alternate waiting area. In the case of IASW, they are boarded through the exit because there is no way to get the wheelchair or ECV across the water channel from the entrance to the exit.

In other lines, the line is mainstreamed to a point, and then WC/ECV are loaded from an alternate loading point. This may be due to the design of the queue (TSM & Splash have stairs, for example) or navigation difficulties (such as HM, where they can slow the moving sidewalk from the exit).

Some rides (such as soarin') have fully mainstreamed lines.

And just because a line is wheelchair accessible does not mean that the line meets the needs of every single person with a disability. I know there is a poster here (and I don't want to mention the wrong name) who has vision issues that make it difficult to transition from bright light to darkness and back. In this case, the line at Haunted Mansion doesn't work because you go inside, then outside, then back in.

In my dad's case, he can't be in the sun for a prolonged period of time, and he needs to remain seated for as long as possible or he passes out. When we want to ride the speedway, we are directed to an alternate waiting area where he can sit in the shade until it is our turn to ride.

In my experience, my wait times were similar to, if not longer than the posted wait times.

 

[LaurenT]

My daughter has Aspergers and ADHD....I guess if I wanted to, I could ask the doctor for a note on her condition and get a GAC...but the fact is, she has no problem waiting in a line. Her form of the condition does not cause her to flip out in crowds or get anxious from loud noises or lights. So, we don't need it.
My DH however, very much needs his ECV and we've been getting him one for two years now. But he hates using it and I go with my daughter and a friend more than half the time now because my DH doesn't want us to stop going, but doesn't really enjoy it himself much any ore....because if the ECV.

 

[neffernie]

I went to MK with a friend a few years back who had recently had knee surgery due to an accident. I can tell you that those passes for the most part don't make the lines and faster. We usually had to wait for special ride vehicles that could accomodate her wheelchair. Because she had to keep her leg extended, if it came to a point where we would have had to heft her into the buggy/boat/whatever, we just skipped it.

 

[stargazertechie]

I went to MK with a friend a few years back who had recently had knee surgery due to an accident. I can tell you that those passes for the most part don't make the lines and faster. We usually had to wait for special ride vehicles that could accomodate her wheelchair. Because she had to keep her leg extended, if it came to a point where we would have had to heft her into the buggy/boat/whatever, we just skipped it.

Similar situation here! I tore my feet up during the marathon last year to the point that I ended up in the emergency room. I couldn't walk/transfer for 3 of my 10 day trip.

We enjoyed the shows those days

 

[mmay60046]

I like popcorn.

 

[chartle]

My daughter has Aspergers and ADHD....I guess if I wanted to, I could ask the doctor for a note on her condition and get a GAC...but the fact is, she has no problem waiting in a line.

You don't need a note and the CM can't ask for one so its up to the CM at GS to determine what the guest needs but can't ask for any proof that they need the accommodation.

 

[alex9179]

Funny...
When I started reading the post and saw the 12/26 reference, I thought it was going to be "do you ever feel guilty living a life of relative plenty while there is such suffering in the world" (12/26 being the anniversary of the tsunami that killed such an unfathomable number of people).
But, no, it's just another ECV/wheelchair/GAC thread.
If you need one of the above, use it. If it will mean the difference between enjoying your trip and being in pain or suffering, use it. If someone else abuses it, that's between them and their conscience and any God they may have.....

Yeah, I had the "Life of relative plenty" thought too. I feel a bit guilty about spending so much money on a vacation. I have to keep telling myself that it's a gift to our kids and ourselves after a really tough 2 years. I'd probably be fine with it if I wasn't benefitting

People take advantage with big and little things...I try to let the little things go.

 

[ForAandA]

Dh uses an ECV and does transfer to the rides that he is able to ride. I can tell you that he is allowed to take five additional people with him, not seventeen. That is a total abuse. Sorry about that.

We travel in groups of fifteen or more (large family). When we are all together and we board a bus, usually I hop on with Dh and my youngest (DD10). Everyone else waits on line, including my 13 year old. If they miss the bus because it is too full, they get another one. Then again, I don't know how many times we have waited 2 or three busses because of a broken wheelchair ramp or other chairs ahead of us.

Getting ahead of the line? Hardly. Special entrances at times. At test track their is an elevator which goes over the track. It is to your right as you are waiting to board. CM's use it to get to the other side of the ride, and to transfer wheelchairs. The elevator broke with DH's EVC in it. Took about a half hour to fix. We did get to ride test track four times in a row though .

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

First let me start by saying that I would never judge someone for having/not having a hidden disability with regards to using a wheelchair or EVC.

Having said that, I think it's absurd that an entire party of 12 or 15 (seen this multiple times, so NO, this is no exaggeration) people are permitted to board a bus when they JUST arrived at the stop while the rest of the people in the regular queue have been waiting for 30+ minutes. The only situation where I can see this being acceptable is if there are only two adults (one in an EVC) with a group of small children. Perhaps it is Disney's fault for not making the queues wider, but it is my belief that if you are not in an EVC and do not directly need to be responsible for assisting the person in the EVC that you should wait in line like the rest of the able-bodied guests(and obviously children would need to accompany the assistant). I don't think my logic is unreasonable, but if anyone feels the need to slam me then so be it.

Just to be clear, I am only referring to adults with capable mental facilities, not EVC/wheelchair users who are children or any adults that have mental impairities that might not understand why they are separated. No child should be separated from their parents or siblings, but if Aunt, Uncle, their 4 cousins and Grandma and Grandpa tag along, I feel that is excessive.

My sentiments EXACTLY! Believe it or not I don't care or notice while waiting in ride/show lines. My issue is precisely what has happened on every trip: Waiting for the resort bus at the end of the day. There's something not right about waiting for 3-4 buses to go by and only being able to load a few people from the queue because of folks in wheelchairs and ECVs. I have no issue with people with disabilities that absolutely require assistance boarding/disembarking the bus. But I do have MAJOR issue with their 15 companions that feel the need to take up all extra space on the bus before those that have been waiting 30-45 minutes to get on the same bus. Yes, disabled folks and their assistants and dependants should have front of line priveledge, not the entire village. They should have to wait in line just like everyone else. Whatever happened to "We'll see ya back at the resort"? Thank you for the rant. I'll get off my soapbox now and continue to wait for the bus quietly as I always have.

 

[POOHsie]

The HC entrance to Small World is in a different place from the regular entrance. How does OP know what happened there? At HM, the HC entrance breaks off from the regular entrance. How does OP know what happened there? 8 members of a group will not take up 1/2 of any bus that holds over 50. 6 is the allowed amount, so 2 over is not earth-shaking. This is another pot-stirring thread negatively aimed at the handicapped. OP, please think kind-heartedly of HC people and be thankful there isn't a mobility device in your group.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Why, for the love of Mike, did you wait 75 minutes for it's a small world?

 

[JDUCKY]

Why, for the love of Mike, did you wait 75 minutes for it's a small world?

/thread

 

[bumbershoot]

just wondering....on 12/26....we were at the MK in a long line for small world (75 minutes...yes....crazy)....a family came in with a disabilty pass....there was one 40 something year old lady in a wheel chair and 17 of her closest relatives....at the end of the que she popped out of the wheel chair and got on with essentially no wait....


She really gambled there. On my first time on WDW's small world, we had something like an hour-long wait (wouldn't have done it but I love the ride at DL, and the kids were over in an equally long line at peter pan with cousins, so nothing much else to do), and the line for scooters and wheelchairs was almost as long. They were lined up the ramp, waiting for their turn. The woman you saw was LUCKY that she wasn't behind a long line of other people in that line, and LUCKY that the CM went against protocol and allowed the big group with her. It could easily have gone the other way.

As for getting out of the chair, big deal. She can get up and into a boat. She might not have been able to do that easily (or at all) after *standing* for 75 minutes. Aren't you glad she's figured out her body's needs and is meeting them, instead of hurting herself?

18 months ago...after completing chemo....i took my kids to disney world (had been planned so far in advance and didnt want to cancel it for kids sake)....we went with a lady friend and her 7yr old daughter (so, 2 women, a 13 yr old and 2 7 yr olds)...she suggested i get a disability pass....i guess in my mind, and i could be wrong...what is that saying to my kids...i could stand and wait in line (yes i was exhausted, and we didnt see/do all the things we would have like to do. sometimes i sat down on the pavement in line just to rest....).

That was your decision to make. It's NOT a decision I would have made. I would have taken advantage of the things they have in place, so that I can have a better day despite any personal limitations I might have. In your shoes, I would have gotten a wheelchair or scooter, and I would have saved my strength so I could do the fun things my family and I wanted to do. And I wouldn't have felt guilty, not one little bit.

What's it saying to your kid? That you've been through something very difficult, but still want to take them and make it a great day. That you have personal limitations, and are using devices that can make it a more even playing field. That you're taking care of yourself, not hurting yourself even more.

we watched....and the GM was not happy....one pass....total (including the one with the pass)...18 people.....GM grumbled after they got on the ride....and then said to me something to the effect of they need to fix this....

This was HER issue. SHE was the one who could have limited the group. That was HER job. If she's grumbling about it, she's grumbling at herself. The rules are in place; SHE broke the rules, SHE is the one who broke what is already fixed.

 

[lizzi6692]

You don't need a note and the CM can't ask for one so its up to the CM at GS to determine what the guest needs but can't ask for any proof that they need the accommodation.

They can't ask for proof? That's insane. If you don't have to prove you need a GAC then no wonder people are able to abuse the system.

 

[Poppin]

Deja Vu

 

[Stacy_C]

Disney provided that guest with a disability pass based upon that guest's supplied medical documentation.

That's the interesting part. Disney does not require medical documentation. I think that's something they should consider changing.

 

[Reddy]

That's the interesting part. Disney does not require medical documentation. I think that's something they should consider changing.

I agree but I think it is a law that places can't ask for proof but I would be happy to bring it (kinda funny when I get to person at guest relations they have the card pulled for me - my boys are a handful to say the least)

 

[AshleeH]

My sister is 40 years old, has muscular dystrophy, uses a walker or cane but can manage short distances without one. She would need a wheelchair if she went to Disney but would be able to get up out of the chair with no difficulty and walk a short distance, but she is legally handicapped. My mother has MD as well and can walk for short distances, but anything longer than a city block would make her exhausted and hunched over - so she would need a wheelchair but would be able to get up and move to a ride on her own with my dad or my husband's minimal assistance. Both of them look healthy, but neither can walk up the two steps at my front door to get into my house without me going out and holding their arms and making it a two minute trip to make it up those two steps.

Moral of the story: You never have any idea what a person's life is like, so don't judge. Someone can look healthy for the couple of minutes you see them, but that does not mean they don't have a legitimate reason for a disability pass. My family would love nothing more than to be healthy, but there is no cure and that's not possible. I love that places like Disney make it a little more bearable and easier for them to have a good time.