Ah.....a blind kitten for someone who is hearing impaired maybe. :lol:
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Accessibility Issue
- Thread starter ZambeziZelda
- Start date
Ah.....a blind kitten for someone who is hearing impaired maybe. :lol:
luvorlando
New Member
:sohappy: Way to work some magic, Taryn!
Is it just me, or is anyone else scratching there head over this? He's blind, she's feeble. Surely, he wasn't the one driving the ecv in the park. That leaves her driving it. How did HE get around if he's totally blind and she's on a scooter?
Never the less, kudos to you KK for helping them!
Is it just me, or is anyone else scratching there head over this? He's blind, she's feeble. Surely, he wasn't the one driving the ecv in the park. That leaves her driving it. How did HE get around if he's totally blind and she's on a scooter?
Never the less, kudos to you KK for helping them!
metscool
Active Member
Yea but I bet you would throw your broom in. :lol: If you know what I mean.
Shut up. I didn't throw it. And I got it back, thanks to some friendly pyrotechnic workers....:lookaroun
:lol:
metscool
Active Member
Ok. But it is still funny. :lol:
coastermaster83
Member
Hey Wedoada, Thanks I was using the "grandfather clause" part out of context. But my point was understood, I was thinking of something else with building codes. But like you said yes the ADA does have rules on Existing Facilities and they dont have to live up the same standards. I just checked with a friend who actually works with a Lic. Architect to confirm what I was saying and get some more information because its all rather confusing sometimes and hard to understand. But again thanks for backing me up and making that correction for me.:sohappy:
minnie61650
Member
That is the problem.
The MK and Epcot were built before ADA. So they are not as handicapped
accessible.
The Studios and AK were built after ADA and are more accessible.
Taryn thanks so mush for posting your concerns and encouraging others to write in.
I do not want to hijack your thread but I want to make others aware of a couple other concerns. There is no elevator at the TTC for the MK monorail.
The ramp to the monorail is very steep, (the ADA requirements of today would not allow for a ramp that steep).
Also, the Land at Epcot only has 1 very small elevator in it to handle all the WC/EVC customers.
For everyone witting in please add those to your list also.
Thanks so much!
Not hijacking at all! As the title says, this thread is for bringing up Accessibility Issues, which you did. The issues you brought up were ones I had never even considered, so thank you :sohappy:
mousermerf
Account Suspended
I agree about the TTC - I think it needs an overhaul and rebuild completely. The layout and design has simply reached a point where it's not really even functioning how its supposed to anymore either. It wouldn't hurt the aesthetics either.
As for the Land, I personally think the number of rental ECV's should be dramaticly cut or eliminated completely (people who really need them can use outside companies - people who abuse them are just far too apt to just get from Disney though), but otherwise it's just a convienence thing.
I mean, everyone else doesn't particularly like going up and down those stairs or riding the escalators either, but it's a design thing - the buildings "charm" i guess you could say. Theorhetically, you could just enter from the bottom floor as there are plenty of doors and entries down there as it is, its just not designed that way. So, it's not a matter of safety, just a matter of how it's designed to look and be experienced, just not neccessarily convienent for anyone involved.
minnie61650
Member
I have limited mobility due to an inoperable spinal condition that is worsening.
I always rent my EVC from an offsite company since I need it to get around the resort as well as the parks. I encourage others who need an EVC for mobility reasons to rent from an offsite company as well.
But what about the guest who is staying offsite and does not have accessible transportation to and from the parks or the guest who is just coming for the day?
And what about guests like the lady I met at Fantasmic? She had saved up for 8 years to bring her daughter to Disney then had fallen at BB on their 2ed day and hurt knee quite badly.
She was using a Disney EVC so she and her daughter could continue their vacation.
I do agree some will abuse the EVC and use it for convince but a lot of us would not be able to enjoy Disney without the EVC's.
WaltzingMatilda
Member
I never really thought about ECV's one way or the other until our recent trip. I guess I just assumed that people use them for all different reasons, but based on this trip's experience I would say convenience is probably not top among them. My mom finally broke down and got one for this trip, after two days of hoofing it on a bad ankle (a long ago injury that bothers her under extreme conditions). She's a very energetic person (watches our kids all day, everyday!) but was clearly not enjoying herself as much as she could and in fact would have missed out on quite a bit without the ECV. She really hated getting it and for her it was anything but convenient...she got very upset the first time she tried to get it onto a bus. She felt like she was causing a scene (which I don't think she was). In our case it turned out to be a compromise, she didn't want to but it was really the only way for her to be able to experience the trip with her grandkids.
Just my two cents.
P.S. - I think another thing that upset her is that to look at her you wouldn't think there was any reason for an ECV... I think she worried that people thought she was doing it because she didn't feel like walking.
minnie61650
Member
I never really thought about ECV's one way or the other until our recent trip. I guess I just assumed that people use them for all different reasons, but based on this trip's experience I would say convenience is probably not top among them. My mom finally broke down and got one for this trip, after two days of hoofing it on a bad ankle (a long ago injury that bothers her under extreme conditions). She's a very energetic person (watches our kids all day, everyday!) but was clearly not enjoying herself as much as she could and in fact would have missed out on quite a bit without the ECV. She really hated getting it and for her it was anything but convenient...she got very upset the first time she tried to get it onto a bus. She felt like she was causing a scene (which I don't think she was). In our case it turned out to be a compromise, she didn't want to but it was really the only way for her to be able to experience the trip with her grandkids.
Just my two cents.
P.S. - I think another thing that upset her is that to look at her you wouldn't think there was any reason for an ECV... I think she worried that people thought she was doing it because she didn't feel like walking.
I agree using an EVC at Disney is certainly not convenient.
Trying to drive an EVC in crowds is very difficult. Since an EVC is not
in adults line of vision a lot of people do not even see us. We become invisible so people unknowingly will walk right across our path. So we always have to be on alert for those who walk across our paths or who stop suddendly.
If anyone were to rent an EVC thinking they will get onto attractions faster or will get prime seating for shows they will learn the hard way on the first day they try.
While there are a couple of attractions in the MK where the wait may be less Disney started mainstreaming most of their lines in the late 1990s. Those in WC/EVC will usually enter in the regular line. Sometimes the WC/EVC may be pulled from the mainstream line part way down so we can board the ride in an
accessible area. They are not taken to the front of the line. They are just taken to an area where the ride is more accessible. EVC's can't climb steps so sometimes they need to take an elevator. Or they may need to board a ride where the riders usually exit in case
they need an accessible vehicle or need the moving sidewalk slowed or stopped so they can board.
Most rides I will wait just as long or longer than those standing in the regular line.
When SSE is a virtual walk on I have waited in the waiting area for 1/2 hour to get on.
Each WC/EVC party has to wait to be escorted to the exit boarding area by a CM.
Because of fire safety reasons only a few can be boarded and then they have to wait a certain amount of cars before they are able to board more guests
On the safari ride those guests in the stand by may be walking right on but DH and I have to wait for the HA vehicle. Then after boarding we may wait another 5 minutes or more for more guests if our vehicle is not full.
Yes, we get to sit in the first few front rows of the Lion King Show since WC/EVC's cant climb stairs.
But I am always placed in the back at LMA, Indiana Jones, ITTBAB, Mickey's Phiharmagic, HISTA, Muppets 3D, Playhouse Disney, Fantasmic, American Adventure, Hall of Presidents, Sounds Dangerous, the ABC studio building, and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show. In fact the Little Mermaid show only has seating for 8 WC/EVCs so sometimes even though I have arrived before a lot of able bodied people they are being let but I have to wait until the next show.*Note ( I am not complaining. I am happy just to get to see the shows no matter where I am sitting.)
For those who think that people who use the EVCs out of convince are" ruining it" for those of us really need them please think again.
As my friend Sue who has a disabled daughter said....
"The people who are "ruining it" are those who think those using wheelchairs and ECVs have some "priviledges" that they don't have. Those are often the jealous people looking around and spying to see who doesn't "deserve" the privileges. That's truly sad."
mousermerf
Account Suspended
I just wanted to comment that my contention has never been that folks using ECV's got priviledges which were in excess or unreasonable - rather that the number of people renting them has been unreasonable.
People rent them instead of standard wheelchairs commonly now. It used to be that a sprained ankle meant using a wheelchair (prior to that, actually - using crutches or not walking for a few days), now it means getting an ECV.
I just think there's too many of them in the park for the wrong reasons. I certainly don't want them takena way from the people who need them and use them. As much as yourself probably, it really bothers me to see shows with full wc/ecv seating - and sadly its often full of rental ECVs.
People rent them instead of standard wheelchairs commonly now. It used to be that a sprained ankle meant using a wheelchair (prior to that, actually - using crutches or not walking for a few days), now it means getting an ECV.
I just think there's too many of them in the park for the wrong reasons. I certainly don't want them takena way from the people who need them and use them. As much as yourself probably, it really bothers me to see shows with full wc/ecv seating - and sadly its often full of rental ECVs.
minnie61650
Member
Thanks for your reply. You made some valid points and I agree with them.
I too wanted to point out that renting an EVC is convenient but using one is
not very convenient and that operating one really takes practice and patience.
Also the public does have misconcieved notions about WC/EVC users getting extra priviledges.
<stepping on the soapbox>
Please do not assume we are using a WC/EVC for the priviledges .
We don't get extra priviledges.
So if you need an EVC than use one. If you don't need one please leave them for those who do need them.
<stepping off the soap box>