Rides and disability, am I doing something wrong?

[Disneyhenry]

we went just for a couple days in December, I feel like scooters were everywhere! I use to go up to the CM working the attraction and they would have me go to the exit of the ride, in December they wanted me to transfer to a manual wheelchair. I can walk short distances, I can’t stand for long periods of times and I cannot use a manual wheelchair, especially on space mountain lol. My joints is my problem.
Am I doing something wrong? I have a medical card, I own my scooter, did all the non medical people using scooters ruin it for us who really need one?
Ideas??? We are going back in August this will be my 3rd trip to WDW while scooter bond - thx!

 

[gap2368]

You did nothing wrong. For the most part, scooter can go in line a few they cannot you will need to transfer to a wheelchair ( and have someone push you, if you are alone then sometimes a CM can push you, They have done this too me a few times sometimes the CM asked even without me asking.)

There are a lot of scooter at Disney but the people using them need them some do not need them in everyday life but can not do the walking that Disney needs.

 

[grnflash]

Yes, you are doing something wrong, or at least viewing things wrong. I know that's blunt, but when one approaches situations as entitled as your post, I don't think sugar coating answers has a chance to get through. In sum, most lines are streamlined, you (not Disney) are responsible for getting yourself through queues that require transfer, you don't get to decide what a valid use of a device is, and lastly....only you are ruining things for yourself.

 

[gap2368]

If you have not seen this thread yet I would look here https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...disabled-1st-trip-next-trip-wish-trip.595713/

You do not have to read it all ( and some will have nothing to do with you but some will) Disney used to send people with ECV thought the exit since the lines were not accessible. only about 5 lines in all of WDW are not accessible. So you will need to wait in line like everyone else does.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Yes, you are doing something wrong, or at least viewing things wrong. I know that's blunt, but when one approaches situations as entitled as your post, I don't think sugar coating answers has a chance to get through. In sum, most lines are streamlined, you (not Disney) are responsible for getting yourself through queues that require transfer, you don't get to decide what a valid use of a device is, and lastly....only you are ruining things for yourself.

This sounds kind of blunt. But it is true.

I've opted out of rides like Space Mountain, if I don't have have someone that can push me.

 

[Disneyhenry]

If you have not seen this thread yet I would look here https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...disabled-1st-trip-next-trip-wish-trip.595713/

You do not have to read it all ( and some will have nothing to do with you but some will) Disney used to send people with ECV thought the exit since the lines were not accessible. only about 5 lines in all of WDW are not accessible. So you will need to wait in line like everyone else does.

Well I can’t take my scooter to a lot of them smh just don’t understand

 

[Disneyhenry]

This sounds kind of blunt. But it is true.

I've opted out of rides like Space Mountain, if I don't have have someone that can push me.

Yeah that’s just sad

 

[gap2368]

Well I can’t take my scooter to a lot of them smh just don’t understand

Why can you not take your scooter in lines with you, I know a few you have to use a wheelchair but there are most that you can take it with you. What lines can you not take it with you. I know MK has the most rides but the other parks you can take your scooter in most lines. And remember that a scooter will not get you in the exit but for about 3 or 4 rides in all of Disney world.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I guess my only idea is to make sure you have someone to push you through the line for those rides you can’t take the scooter through. Or maybe rent and electric wheel chair?

 

[gap2368]

I guess my only idea is to make sure you have someone to push you through the line for those rides you can’t take the scooter through. Or maybe rent and electric wheel chair?

Most places will not let you rent an electric wheelchair if you do not have one at home so this probably will not work for the OP I think you are right she will need to either self-push or have someone push her. I know buz if flat and not that hard to self-push ( I have done it before)


OP there is nothing you can bring or say to anyone at Disney that will let you just enter the back door or exit unless this is how they do all the guess with ECV ( like at BTMRR, JC, IASW, spaceship earth, I think I am missing one maybe)

 

[BigAlsGal]

Most places will not let you rent an electric wheelchair if you do not have one at home so this probably will not work for the OP I think you are right she will need to either self-push or have someone push her. I know buz if flat and not that hard to self-push ( I have done it before)


OP there is nothing you can bring or say to anyone at Disney that will let you just enter the back door or exit unless this is how they do all the guess with ECV ( like at BTMRR, JC, IASW, spaceship earth, I think I am missing one maybe)

This one looks like it has some power wheelchair rentals

 

[gap2368]

Yes I know they rent them just most will not rent to someone that does not use one in everyday life ( even if it say on their website) They look easy to use but for most they are harder to use this is why they will not ( normally) rent to someone that does not use one.

 

[DisneyOma]

If you could list the attractions where you felt you were doing things wrong, we could see what happened and offer help and explanations. Which attractions required you to leave your ECV behind?

 

[Mrsjvb]

Well I can’t take my scooter to a lot of them smh just don’t understand

most lines are mainstreamed.. meaning you can take the ECV straight up to loading. a couple of them have a different path to loading, like IASW where you break off from he main line to take the switch backs to where the HA boat ramp is. the few that require you to transfer to a manual.. well, you are required to provide your own power.. either pushing yourself or making a member of your party do it. IIRC only one or two send you to the exit( and not even Haunted mansion does that all the time.. I have entered that ride about 3 different ways in the past. )

you are making it sound as if the entire parks are inaccessible and that simply is not true whatsoever.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

we went just for a couple days in December, I feel like scooters were everywhere! I use to go up to the CM working the attraction and they would have me go to the exit of the ride, in December they wanted me to transfer to a manual wheelchair. I can walk short distances, I can’t stand for long periods of times and I cannot use a manual wheelchair, especially on space mountain lol. My joints is my problem.
Am I doing something wrong? I have a medical card, I own my scooter, did all the non medical people using scooters ruin it for us who really need one?
Ideas??? We are going back in August this will be my 3rd trip to WDW while scooter bond - thx!

Looking at your sig, you have gone to WDW a number of times in the past. Things have changed a LOT in the past two years. The Parks are soooooo much busier than they used to be, and as @gap2368 said, a mobility device is the Official Answer from Disney for any stamina or mobility issues. Since there are SO MANY MORE guests, and so many of them need mobility assistance due to their health conditions, they HAD to change the way that mobility-challenged guests can get in line, and ride the ride.

Read the FAQ's, get educated, arm yourself with knowledge so you can be your best advocate. Unfortunately Disney is just so popular now that they cannot offer mobility-challenged guests ANY kind of premium service, otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to the non-mobility-challenged guests. I forget where I saw the blog post, but there was an article on how ECV/wheelchair access has changed, and they were showing how at IASW, the "wheelchair line" (where, ONCE UPON A TIME, mobility-challenged guests were allowed to cut in, and go first in line) had swelled to like 50 seated people in line, and it only took a few minutes to happen. At this point, the non-mobility-challenged guests were now looking at 60 minute waits and this was clearly unfair, especially once certain people would book trips *with* mobility-challenged guests for the front-of-the-line element!

If you're travelling solo, it sounds like you need to start practicing stamina, because CM's are not allowed to help due to liability... I hope your next trip is better...

 

[I Love Pluto]

I cannot sit in a sling wheelchair. In order to follow Disney’s rule about ECVs not being in the regular line, I put a rollator on the back of my scooter. The rollator folds for transporting it and also has a flat hard seat - not a sling seat with very little support.

Perhaps a rollator would be your answer.

We were at Haunted Mansion last year. The CM told us that they had an issue with an ECV earlier that day when a woman hit several children in line, hurting them so that they needed medical attention. I know that I did not plow into anyone and neither did you - but - I certainly understand why they do not allow ECVs in lines. Disney does not want young children or adults to be hurt at Disney World!

I hope this helps you. Thanks for reading.

 

[arminnie]

Several years ago I used an ECV a couple of times due to stamina issues because of an illness. I could not have done the parks without an ECV, but I could walk onto a ride and get in and out of cars/boats. I then went for several years where yes I would get tired, but I did not really need an ECV.

But now I cannot walk 3 ft without a rollator and can only walk a few yards with a rollator. An ECV is mandatory for me. I will probably need a full time wheelchair by next year if my degenerative nerve disease continues to progress as fast as it has this year.

Disney is great with providing access, but I've had to accept that there are somethings I just cannot do anymore. Many of the rides were built before ADA standards were implemented and have grandfathered rights to still exist. Disney does not have to provide me with my preferred access to a ride (ECV vs wheelchair) nor do they have to provide a CM to help me.

 

[I Love Pluto]

No ECV in line at Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Pooh last July. All were at MK. There may be more now.

 

[Disneyhenry]

Looking at your sig, you have gone to WDW a number of times in the past. Things have changed a LOT in the past two years. The Parks are soooooo much busier than they used to be, and as @gap2368 said, a mobility device is the Official Answer from Disney for any stamina or mobility issues. Since there are SO MANY MORE guests, and so many of them need mobility assistance due to their health conditions, they HAD to change the way that mobility-challenged guests can get in line, and ride the ride.

Read the FAQ's, get educated, arm yourself with knowledge so you can be your best advocate. Unfortunately Disney is just so popular now that they cannot offer mobility-challenged guests ANY kind of premium service, otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to the non-mobility-challenged guests. I forget where I saw the blog post, but there was an article on how ECV/wheelchair access has changed, and they were showing how at IASW, the "wheelchair line" (where, ONCE UPON A TIME, mobility-challenged guests were allowed to cut in, and go first in line) had swelled to like 50 seated people in line, and it only took a few minutes to happen. At this point, the non-mobility-challenged guests were now looking at 60 minute waits and this was clearly unfair, especially once certain people would book trips *with* mobility-challenged guests for the front-of-the-line element!

If you're travelling solo, it sounds like you need to start practicing stamina, because CM's are not allowed to help due to liability... I hope your next trip is better...

I have only gone twice with a scooter, in 2016 it was much better- thx for the info

 

[happymommy]

I wouldn't assume other folks using scooters don't need them.

My youngest appears healthy. He can walk just fine (but if you watch him walk, you would notice he does so a bit differently). But, he has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and cannot walk the amount that we do at Disney without severe joint pain, so we bring a wheelchair with us for him to use on our Disney trips (and he uses it for museum field trips as well).

People's needs vary.