Mobility Scooter Overload?

[Club Cooloholic]

I have a question for those that have been to the Kingdom recently. Is there an overload of people using mobility scooters?
When I was in Busch Gardens Tampa last year, these scooters were everywhere, with people clogging walking paths, I felt like I was in Italy, only instead of Vespas it was Rascals everywhere.
I understand if your injured or have real mobility because of age or some other physical issues and a scooter is really needed to get around, but a great many people I saw looked to be able bodied, if just obese. The most blanant example of what I mean is I saw an eldery woman using a walker to get around(she probably should have had a scooter) and she walked on by some fat guy whos scooter was broken down, and he was using his legs to inch it aloung.
I even saw some college aged guys riding in them just because they could.


Is this abuse of these machines prevelant in Disney, and if not, is it because they have more restrictions on who can rent them?

 

[jamie666]

I have a question for those that have been to the Kingdom recently. Is there an overload of people using mobility scooters?
When I was in Busch Gardens Tampa last year, these scooters were everywhere, with people clogging walking paths, I felt like I was in Italy, only instead of Vespas it was Rascals everywhere.
I understand if your injured or have real mobility because of age or some other physical issues and a scooter is really needed to get around, but a great many people I saw looked to be able bodied, if just obese. The most blanant example of what I mean is I saw an eldery woman using a walker to get around(she probably should have had a scooter) and she walked on by some fat guy whos scooter was broken down, and he was using his legs to inch it aloung.
I even saw some college aged guys riding in them just because they could.


Is this abuse of these machines prevelant in Disney, and if not, is it because they have more restrictions on who can rent them?

Being fat is not a disability,it is pure laziness. Maybe a little walk through out the park and you wont be fat!!!!

 

[BrennaRN]

I understand PKJDog..........I have congential hip dysplasia and in May when I went I was advised per my doctor to rent a wheelchair/scooter to save my hips until my surgery in July. I decided that while I shouldn't really be walking that I didn't use/abuse the scooters. In May as well, I saw an elderly couple (too cute) holding hands on their scooters - which is reasonable.......but the majority were 400lb people on the scooters blocking the way while eating their turkey legs or mickey mouse ice cream bars! I know it's a hard system to monitor, but I think in order to get a scooter you should have to have a doctors note!

 

[awalkinthepark]

Being fat is not a disability,it is pure laziness. Maybe a little walk through out the park and you wont be fat!!!!

Perhaps the person is heavy because they have some sort of physical limitation that restricts their movement causing them to gain weight.

 

[BrennaRN]

Perhaps the person is heavy because they have some sort of physical limitation that restricts their movement causing them to gain weight.

Figures............that's why I suggested the doctors note thing!

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Perhaps the person is heavy because they have some sort of physical limitation that restricts their movement causing them to gain weight.

That could be the case, and then a scooter is fine, but I am talking about the people who waddle off the scooter, the only limitation they have is their inner thighs getting in the way of each other.

Also, unrelated a bit, but just because you have a physical limitation, you should not allow yourself to get grossly obese, that only furthers your limitiations.

 

[WildLodgeFan]

That could be the case, and then a scooter is fine, but I am talking about the people who waddle off the scooter, the only limitation they have is their inner thighs getting in the way of each other.

Also, unrelated a bit, but just because you have a physical limitation, you should not allow yourself to get grossly obese, that only furthers your limitiations.

Judge not least you be judged?

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Judge not least you be judged?

What are you even talking about? The issue here is scooters.

And I bring up the topic, because I really don't care if someone is large, just when their being large and lazy (example using a scooter when they are able bodied). I think is is pretty sad that some people can't ever rent them out, becaue they have all been taken, by a fair percent that really could use the walk.

 

[Brwneyedgirl72]

I think that people need to show a little kindness instead of bashing people because they are overweight. I am sure the person that is overweight feels bad enough about their weight problems and don't need people discriminating against them because of their size. If they have the money to rent a scooter - then let them. Why should anyone else care??? We had to rent a scooter at WDW once for my sister-in-law who was 8 months pregnant and just too tired and "pregnant" to walk all day. Should her enjoyment of the parks be hampered because she was too "big" to walk all day? Have some tolerance people...

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I think that people need to show a little kindness instead of bashing people because they are overweight. I am sure the person that is overweight feels bad enough about their weight problems and don't need people discriminating against them because of their size. If they have the money to rent a scooter - then let them. Why should anyone else care??? We had to rent a scooter at WDW once for my sister-in-law who was 8 months pregnant and just too tired and "pregnant" to walk all day. Should her enjoyment of the parks be hampered because she was too "big" to walk all day? Have some tolerance people...

Relating a pregnant woman to an overweight person is pretty dangerous stuff, I hope you didn't call your sister in law fat!

Hey, I am no skinnie minne either....I am sorry if I am being hurtful, and that is really not my intention, but there is being overwieght and there is laziness and rude and that is what I am focusing on.
getting to my point at Busch Gardens there were sooooo many scooters it did effect everyone else at the park. Just because you can afford to do something doesnt mean you should. This is exaclty why we americans do get a bad rap sometimes.

 

[Kelsybelle]

Being fat is not a disability,it is pure laziness. Maybe a little walk through out the park and you wont be fat!!!!

!!! I wasn't going to comment on this but I think you are totally out of line!

Perhaps the person is heavy because they have some sort of physical limitation that restricts their movement causing them to gain weight.

Asolutely!!! Not only physical limitations but there are medications that some people have to take that can pack on weight as well.

Relating a pregnant woman to an overweight person is pretty dangerous stuff, I hope you didn't call your sister in law fat!
I don't think they did...read the post again!

Hey, I am no skinnie minne either....I am sorry if I am being hurtful, and that is really not my intention, but there is being overwieght and there is laziness and rude and that is what I am focusing on.
getting to my point at Busch Gardens there were sooooo many scooters it did effect everyone else at the park. Just because you can afford to do something doesnt mean you should. This is exaclty why we americans do get a bad rap sometimes.

Just Americans? I think some of your comments are hurtful and I don't think a grossly obese person enjoys being that way!
Perhaps scooters are being abused but who are we to judge. There are illnesses that you can't see from the outside and there are medications that some people have to take that make them gain weight.

 

[jamie666]

what are you even talking about? The issue here is scooters.

And i bring up the topic, because i really don't care if someone is large, just when their being large and lazy (example using a scooter when they are able bodied). I think is is pretty sad that some people can't ever rent them out, becaue they have all been taken, by a fair percent that really could use the walk.

i agree!!!!!!!

 

[Club Cooloholic]

"Just Americans?"
Take a look at who is rolling around in them next time.

 

[AEfx]

Why should anyone else care???

People care because some people who drive these devices do not know what they are doing, crash into people/things, plow people out of the way on a walkway, and on top of it get to use alternate entrances/etc.

As someone who travels to WDW with someone who is truly disabled, I too get pretty irritated when those aforementioned people just jump up off of a cart and then run around. It's those people who are obviously not disabled - yes, we can talk all day about invisible-this and invisible-that, but when someone jumps right off the chair and onto a roller coaster, MOST of the time, yes it is just a lazy person. I've seen it so many times - and many of them brag about it as well. It's pretty disgusting.

I too wish WDW required doctors notes to operate these vehicles in parks. These are motorized vehicles that should require more than just paying the $40 rental fee. TBH, I don't think Disney should rent them period - if you truly need a motorized one, then you can rent from off-site (it's actually cheaper anyway and they deliver to your resort). It's just such a cash cow for them to support the large amount of large people who like to be carted around the parks that they don't want to get rid of them.

Again, I know all about disabilities - invisible or not - but it's not hard to spot the people who are abusing these devices or are simply using them because they are lazy. You can't tell when someone is whizzing by, but it is pretty obvious when I have a relative in a real wheelchair (who simply cannot walk and has to be loaded onto a ride by two grown adults) and have to spend 10-15 minutes in a special disabled loading area with some of these people because they have their little scooter, and to listen to the stuff they say is just disgusting. Planning on how to trade off the scooter to other family members so they can get on rides more quickly, talking about how they wish they could take this to someplace they go at home so they could get "special" treatment, etc.

These things are a menace, and the truth is - VERY VERY few disabled people NEED a motorized vehicle. From the amount of experiences I've had with them, again, in close quarters often because I am traveling with a truly disabled person in a wheelchair and we get lumped in with them quite often in waiting areas and such, the amount of "invisible" disability people who just need a little extra help at Disney is far outweighed by the sickning people who have $40 to throw away so they can cart themselves around the park on a platform like they are Jabba the Hutt on a royal barge.

AEfx

 

[Club Cooloholic]

These things are a menace, and the truth is - VERY VERY few disabled people NEED a motorized vehicle. From the amount of experiences I've had with them, again, in close quarters often because I am traveling with a truly disabled person in a wheelchair and we get lumped in with them quite often in waiting areas and such, the amount of "invisible" disability people who just need a little extra help at Disney is far outweighed by the sickning people who have $40 to throw away so they can cart themselves around the park on a platform like they are Jabba the Hutt on a royal barge.

AEfx[/quote]

I think you hit this right on the head, we have all seen these people roll on up to the line and pop off that scooter right onto the ride, it is abusive to the rest of the guests and insulting to the people that really do have a disablity.

I think that when you sign up for these the CM should ask you, why you need it, and the person should have to make a statement and sign something. Then the CM should tell them that if they are seen trading off the scooter with someone else, or are found to be behaving in a way that contradicts their supposed disability they may be lose their park priviledges for the day.

 

[BrennaRN]

I agree with the last two statements........again, I was told to use one in May, but didn't want to because although I wasn't well on the inside I didn't want to take away from others that truly needed the scooters or to get to the first place in line. I was in Mickey's Philharmagic and noticed a person of another nationality ON A SCOOTER with about 15 family members go into the handicapped line. It's ridiculous. Now when I go in Dec. I don't think I'll have a choice but to get a wheelchair. I won't use a scooter. I refuse. I'll have a doctors note just to prove my point as well when I rent! I just disagree with the whole scooter thing. If you are disabled use a wheelchair and Disney should enforce this. Wheelchairs ONLY!!!!! I bet more people would really walk then!!!

 

[westie]

My personal favorite/pet peeve. The people who rent them at Epcot only to get drunk and stop at every pavillion for another cocktail then run right into the back of me over and over. Oh, I love you guys. NOT!

 

[Brwneyedgirl72]

I think that when you sign up for these the CM should ask you, why you need it, and the person should have to make a statement and sign something. quote]

While I don't disagree that some people abuse the scooters - I have seen kids riding around on them like they were go carts - I believe that Disney simply cannot ask you what your disability is, believe it or not, it can be seen as discrimination. The ADA is very clear about non-discriminatory practices and I think that this would be a violation. Bottom line, it's nobody's business what their condition is.

On a separate note - I have seen people abuse wheelchairs just as much, if not more, than scooters.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

!!! I wasn't going to comment on this but I think you are totally out of line!



Asolutely!!! Not only physical limitations but there are medications that some people have to take that can pack on weight as well.



Just Americans? I think some of your comments are hurtful and I don't think a grossly obese person enjoys being that way!
Perhaps scooters are being abused but who are we to judge. There are illnesses that you can't see from the outside and there are medications that some people have to take that make them gain weight.

The point made earlier stands. If there's a MEDICAL REASON they need to use the scooter, then great. If they take meds that make them gain weight, that would be medical. If they can excercise because of a medical condition, then great. A doc's note would take care of all those situations.

I think you're missing the point. These aren't the people that anyone has issues with. And I think you understand what group people DO have issues with. And I couldn't agree more. That many scooters running around isn't safe, it's not healthy, and it's only a matter of time before there's a MAJOR accident that will cause a revision of their policies on this. I'd put money on it.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

This is a link to something Six Flags has tried to curb this abuse.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200709/474/