I am grateful that there have been very few negative remarks in the various threads about people in mobility scooters. Obviously there will always be a few inconsiderate people who do not need a scooter but will find it much easier to sit and roll along than walk the long distances required in a Disney Park. They probably think they are much smarter than and superior to the average park guest.
That said, I would like to tell you what it is like to be at a level half that of everyone else. They cannot or do not see me! It is DISNEY World, for gosh sake, and they are busy gawking and looking around. If not that, they are looking at a map, or stop suddenly to take a picture. Probably on our next trip this coming October they will also be walking around with their noses buried in their phones.
I understand all this and am not upset by it, but it means that when I am moving I can't look around and enjoy the surroundings. If they are close ahead of me I have to spend my time looking at feet and legs trying to guess where they are going so I will not run into them. If they are ahead of me, spread out and moving slowly I have to figure out how I can pass them without running over them. I equate it to broken field running in football. If they are coming towards me, I have to stop, hope they see me and let them swirl around me like a rock in the rapids. Then there are those who suddenly decide to run in front of me going from one side of the walk to the other. I am constantly starting and stopping which is very hard on the scooter's transmission. If it is at all crowded, it is extrmely difficult to back up or turn around without my husband "directing" traffic.
The worst time is when there is a tight packed moving crowd. If someone is walking parallel near the front of my scooter and suddenly cuts in front of me, it is impossible for me to stop quickly enough to avoid running over their foot. Fortunately this has happened only twice in the past twelve years.
One thread complaned about a scooter rider beeping at them. I, personally, have never been in a scooter that had a horn any louder than the chirp of a microwave. I have recently mounted a bicycle bell on my scooter and will see if that helps.
This post is becomming much too long. One final thought. Just because I am in my early eighties, cannot walk very far and am using a scooter, does not mean that I am mentally deficient as well!
That said, I would like to tell you what it is like to be at a level half that of everyone else. They cannot or do not see me! It is DISNEY World, for gosh sake, and they are busy gawking and looking around. If not that, they are looking at a map, or stop suddenly to take a picture. Probably on our next trip this coming October they will also be walking around with their noses buried in their phones.
I understand all this and am not upset by it, but it means that when I am moving I can't look around and enjoy the surroundings. If they are close ahead of me I have to spend my time looking at feet and legs trying to guess where they are going so I will not run into them. If they are ahead of me, spread out and moving slowly I have to figure out how I can pass them without running over them. I equate it to broken field running in football. If they are coming towards me, I have to stop, hope they see me and let them swirl around me like a rock in the rapids. Then there are those who suddenly decide to run in front of me going from one side of the walk to the other. I am constantly starting and stopping which is very hard on the scooter's transmission. If it is at all crowded, it is extrmely difficult to back up or turn around without my husband "directing" traffic.
The worst time is when there is a tight packed moving crowd. If someone is walking parallel near the front of my scooter and suddenly cuts in front of me, it is impossible for me to stop quickly enough to avoid running over their foot. Fortunately this has happened only twice in the past twelve years.
One thread complaned about a scooter rider beeping at them. I, personally, have never been in a scooter that had a horn any louder than the chirp of a microwave. I have recently mounted a bicycle bell on my scooter and will see if that helps.
This post is becomming much too long. One final thought. Just because I am in my early eighties, cannot walk very far and am using a scooter, does not mean that I am mentally deficient as well!
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People just seem to ignore scooters, and especially if there's seemingly "nothing wrong with them". My Mom & Dad in their 70's had a very hard time boarding the buses. The CM's were so patient and kind, but man did people stare at my parents! I wanted to knock some blocks off!
At AK, getting to the Safari was horrible! People literally ran in front of my parents to get to the queue first! ( Opening- we had breakfast at Tusker House). The CM's had to warn my parents of the "stampede" of people coming in to get to the ride!
