Let the hate begin - Wheelchair only buses?

[ZachS]

I never said they are evil or even bothersome. I said it may affect us once or twice. A family standing in line with you who have been waiting in like you is not the same as waiting in line and a group with one person in an ECV rolling up and the whole group getting on the first bus that comes.

You're right they could have been joking around, but joking around like that in front of other people can have unintended consequences.

I have a bad knee and sometimes have problems getting around the park myself, I have a lot of compassion but I think that compassion should extend to a whole group not having to wait for a bus.

Ultimately it happens once or twice a trip, not a big deal. Its not something I dwell on.

 

[ford91exploder]

My wife,daughter and I travel with my mom who cannot walk far distances or stand for a prolonged period of time and uses a wheelchair. Therefore,we use the wheelchair line to board the bus. We get on and get mom seated and do not use seats ourselves...we stand unless there are seats available. We feel guilty "cutting" in front of others. Others that board with their party may want to consider doing the same. We've seen countless others get on the bus with their party in the wheelchair line and just sit anywhere not having any consideration for women or little children or seniors getting onboard at the front door thus making them have to stand when the bus is full. Drives me nuts!

Same thing here with DMIL - Usual practice is for one of us to help her with wheelchair the rest of us get in the regular line hey we are all going to the same place anyhow.

 

[Mouse_Trap]

How about a flatbed and ponchos if it is raining?
Again, I am only kidding! Don't hit me with your selfie sticks.

Just think how many this could transport.

Of course the better solution would be to tow them behind the bus. No loading time, they get to be first off and don't take up any space on the bus. Problem solved.

 

[mouse in my house]

I have been meaning to reply to this for a few days. Reading the self-righteous comments from people who are probably proud of themselves for hurling "descrimination" labels at the OP's theory and who compare any alternatives for the disabled as akin to racism without thinking about the people involved aggravate me. My father is a 70 year old veteran who only has one leg and cannot wear a prosthetic and can only stand on his other leg with a walker for about 5 -10 seconds max. After having helped him through vacations over the years, I can tell you we would love a chance to have a shuttle just for wheelchair families. Making life easier and less stressful for us would be a good thing. It is not like saying he can't eat at a certain restaurant or get a certain job because he is in a wheelchair. That is preposterous. (sorry I am not good at adding quote inserts yet so just look back at that poster)
Whenever we are in a crowded situation, our family has to make a formation to help him navigate through the hordes. He is definitely one who tries to say "excuse me" over and over and not run into people. But others act like he is either a piece of furniture or invisible. They constantly move right in front of him and if it weren't for us, he would never get through. Even at my son's graduation, we had to work together. If we are at the zoo or aquarium, everyone crowds in front of him at an exhibit the second a spot opens so we have to create a zone to get him to the viewing rail.
Anyway, if Disney said we could reserve a time (we already reserve everything short of toilets as it is) for wheelchair pick-ups, that would be a good thing, not a bad thing. The whole situation would be less stressful for everyone involved. We wouldn't mind standing up around him on the bus if it only had room for 4 or 5 wheelchairs, for example, and all family and friends stood instead.
Of course, it comes back to the same problem, they couldn't get to the parks faster than regular buses or the cheaters would move in for the kill. We would be o.k. doing the regular line while he rode the wheelchair bus and we met up with him at the park. I think the separation for 20 minutes would be worth his ease in travel. I have a feeling truly wheelchair-bound people don't want any shortcuts at all, just courtesy.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I have been meaning to reply to this for a few days. Reading the self-righteous comments from people who are probably proud of themselves for hurling "descrimination" labels at the OP's theory and who compare any alternatives for the disabled as akin to racism without thinking about the people involved aggravate me. My father is a 70 year old veteran who only has one leg and cannot wear a prosthetic and can only stand on his other leg with a walker for about 5 -10 seconds max. After having helped him through vacations over the years, I can tell you we would love a chance to have a shuttle just for wheelchair families. Making life easier and less stressful for us would be a good thing. It is not like saying he can't eat at a certain restaurant or get a certain job because he is in a wheelchair. That is preposterous. (sorry I am not good at adding quote inserts yet so just look back at that poster)
Whenever we are in a crowded situation, our family has to make a formation to help him navigate through the hordes. He is definitely one who tries to say "excuse me" over and over and not run into people. But others act like he is either a piece of furniture or invisible. They constantly move right in front of him and if it weren't for us, he would never get through. Even at my son's graduation, we had to work together. If we are at the zoo or aquarium, everyone crowds in front of him at an exhibit the second a spot opens so we have to create a zone to get him to the viewing rail.
Anyway, if Disney said we could reserve a time (we already reserve everything short of toilets as it is) for wheelchair pick-ups, that would be a good thing, not a bad thing. The whole situation would be less stressful for everyone involved. We wouldn't mind standing up around him on the bus if it only had room for 4 or 5 wheelchairs, for example, and all family and friends stood instead.
Of course, it comes back to the same problem, they couldn't get to the parks faster than regular buses or the cheaters would move in for the kill. We would be o.k. doing the regular line while he rode the wheelchair bus and we met up with him at the park. I think the separation for 20 minutes would be worth his ease in travel. I have a feeling truly wheelchair-bound people don't want any shortcuts at all, just courtesy.

It's not us, take it up with ADA. They are the ones that insist that no one be treated as a segregated person just because they have a disability. If it were economically feasible it would be a great alternative for a lot of people with disabilities but not all of them. Some do not want to be treated like a "disabled person", but as a person with a disability that is recognized and accommodated within the world of the rest of us.

You actually in one sitting, not only explained why it would be better, but, also why it wouldn't work. So I guess we are all stuck with the current solution. BTW, it is not self righteousness, it is reciting of law.

 

[Lord_Vader]

@mouse in my house , if WDW did have a separate bus that had little to no wait and was shuttling guests with disabilities around other guests would complain that they were getting better treatment, especially if the buses/vans were direct.

If the transportation wasn't direct, how many stops would it make, four, five, six or more and at what time cost? Would it be based on the most direct path from resort to resort? My point, if a bus has six wheelchairs/ECVs from six different resorts it could easily take an hour plus to fully unload and load other guests at the resorts.

The logistics of something like this would be both expensive and potentially very time consuming for the disabled parties but if it was a dedicated ride the rest of the people will be screaming and yelling about preferential treatment.

The current bus situation is not optimal, my wife is wheelchair bound and have been both lucky and unlucky at WDW on their transportation. We have been at resorts where we were not the first stop and had a tough time ever getting on a bus because guests would not move or the driver simply wouldn't ask while other times we have walked up with a line in front but were loaded first. Anytime we load and were not first we do not sit unless the line was very short and everyone will be able to sit. We have at times sat down when we were first to the stop and still had idiot/inconsiderate guests make snide comments about us abusing the first load privilege. Secondly, we always give our seats to the elderly or small children.

A few times we have given our seats to children where parents take them and have the kid stand too which we find appalling.

 

[jloucks]

And just how exactly would you determine who is just "fat and lazy" and who are really deserving of a wheelchair?

I've read all sorts of crazy posts, and your has to be the most crazy. Which is why I am hoping/guessing it is a joke. No one could really be that simple minded/rude/lacking in compassion.

Well,, here is a hint... if you rent a scooter because you are far and lazy.... then that is the type of person I am referring to. Currently because of ADA laws it is not really possible to determine who is legit and who is not. Case in point, people abusing the assistance animal laws.

I am only referring to the abusers that then affect everybody, both the able bodies and the truly handicapped.

You are confusing crazy with exasperation. ...I can see the similarity. I have a serious issue with people who for whatever reason think they are better than, or have more rights than, others. The only except is where there is a life threatening issue at stake. ...ambulances for example.

 

[mouse in my house]

I completely get why it wouldn't work. My only rant in my post was for people who assumed that people in a wheel chair would be offended to be in a separate bus. That is all.