Mobility Scooter Overload?

[santa's surpriz]

I am getting on this one...everyone has their health concerns and issues. I can repsect that. It's a few bad apples that turn the stereotypes to the dark side. I am pretty confident that not everyone on the motorized scooters has a dibilating illness/handicap that requires these. Children have strollers and adults have scooters. The problem is not everyone that uses a stroller and/or a scooter is courteous! It seems that they think they have an automatic right of way. It's fustrating!
It's one thing to be nailed in the back of the ankles by stroller but a scooter can knock you to your knees. I ended up with bloody skinned knees and not even a simple apology was given to me!!

Before this incident happened my daughter, then 5 yrs old, asked me at the POFQ bus stop what they were. The woman was overweight and I gave her the benefit of the doubt that maybe there was a medical reason behind it. Not all illnesses and handicaps can be seen on the surface. I gave a repsectful answer to my daughter's question-mostly becaused I feared that woman could hear me and there may have been a not-so-obvious reason why she needed the scooter. And also because I wanted my daughter to respect the handicapped and accept the individual for who they are not was in wrong with them. Then the woman jumped off and ran after her kid. Tell me how is a motor scooter a necessity and how handicapped is that! How I am supposed to teach my child to be repsectful of others special needs when there are obviously those who abuse it???

 

[SeaBreeze]

I actually remember being in middle school, getting ready for my field trip to Epcot when my friend's sister told us to say one of our friends had a hurt ankle and needed a wheelchair so we could cut lines We didn't do it, never considered it, but sheesh. I know it's abused but I try not to judge anyone in them and have only been run over by strollers; even then they've profusely apologized which is probably rare.

However, my mom is overweight and would never consider a scooter. Even when she had a broken ankle she hobbled around on crutches because she didn't want people assuming she was "fat and lazy."

 

[DisneyNut7578]

I can't count how many times I've been almost been run over, bumped, pushed, steamrolled, cut off, or just flat out killed by wreckless people on these things. Whether you are disabled or not, people who use these need to be careful. You don't see me stepping on small children or running into people when I walk, do you?

Now, to the point about people abusing these vehicles. if you don't have a medically necessary condition, you should not be abusing these things. I think everyone can agree that some people are just lazy and rent these things because they don't want to walk. That being said, here's a true story concerning a conversation I heard standing outside the restrooms by Soarin between a very elderly man and a massively obese woman who was shoving cookies in her face while talking to this man:

Elderly Man: "Whew, what a day, it's hot out there - i can't take this at my age!"
Woman: "You don't have to"
Elderly Man: "What?"
Woman: "I rent these scooters everytime I come here because I hate walking so much"
Elderly Man: "Aren't those meant for handicapped people?"
Woman: "Yeah, but it doesn't matter. I just walk up to the front of the park, tell them I'm disabled, and rent one for the day. They never ask me any questions."
Elderly man glares at her, then walks away.

All I have to say is good for that old guy. He probably needed that scooter more than that woman. Now, who wants to tell me that NO person abuses this service?

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I won't say "fat and lazy." always go hand in hand, I think it's just that when someone is on a scooter it emphasizes that notion, especially when the pop off it to go chase their kids....:brick:

 

[The Oggmonster]

Well last year one of my friends needed a scooter or wheelchair because he injured his foot, and he was wearing a boot to protect it. He said he rather walk, but the doctor advised not to or else he would have to wear the boot even longer. He took the scooter for the first day and the rest of the days he used the wheelchair.

But one of my pet peeves while down in Disney World is people bumping in to you with out apologizing, especially on scooters.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I won't say "fat and lazy." always go hand in hand, I think it's just that when someone is on a scooter it emphasizes that notion, especially when the pop off it to go chase their kids....:brick:

I agree but my mom figured people would assume that if she was in a chair, even though she had a walking cast on. It's kind of sad that she felt that way; equally sad that people abuse scooters.

 

[santa's surpriz]

I have to add some thing that this thread reminds me of...how many of us have seen Wall-E????

 

[The Oggmonster]

I have to add some thing that this thread reminds me of...how many of us have seen Wall-E????

Yeah thats what this thread almost reminds me of. :ROFLOL:

But that has to be one of my favorite Pixar movies.

 

[Fun2BFree]

You can spot the abusers from the people that really need them from a mile away-- just look for the ones that are clearly inexperienced in using the ECVs. If you're having serious difficulty maneuvering one of those, chances are you've never used one before, and that you don't need one.

 

[unclemike]

one too many buffet dinners and breakfasts. They also are very rude on those scooters.

20 Years ago we didn't see this:shrug:

 

[sknydave]

Disney is making boatloads of money on these things. They will never require a note from a doctor.

Did anyone else picture people on the scooters at WDW when they saw Wall-E?

 

[DisneyNeighbor]

They are using scooters until they get their hover chairs from.

 

[Texas84]

I don't remember scooters at DL in the 70's. :lookaroun

We got one recently at OKW for my Grandmother. At the end of the trip I got to drive it back to the main building for pick-up. Those things sure are fun! Sure got some funny looks though.

 

[Mia319]

This thread is the exact reason why I am scared to death of having to rent and use a wheelchair for my trip in September.

I am 28 years old - look completely healthy, yet i was just diagnosed with MS this month. I can not feel my entire lower body, not to mention the shooting pains that come and go throughout the day. Can I walk? yes. Is it painful and difficult? yes. do i think i could handle walking for a whole day in a theme park, let alone a week long? no.

As if i'm not scared enough about having this disease or what my future holds, then i have to worry and be self concious about what other people are thinking of me and why i'm being pushed around in a wheel chair on my vacation in the happiest place on earth??? come on. why don't you stop and think that maybe being on vacation in WDW is one thing that actually makes people happy... imagine having a disablility or an illness and finally getting the opportunity to go on a fun vacation that will make you and your family happy... and then you have to deal with ignorant people who make assumptions and judgements on who deserves to use a wheelchair or scooter.

I can not believe the ignorance that is being thrown around in this thread.

 

[Mia319]

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.

the point is... is that ignorant people are going to judge anyone in a wheelchair or scooter.

 

[krankenstein]

It is what it is. The fact of the matter is, Disney makes a pretty good bit of money off of renting those scooters. If they were to restrict the rentals to just people with actual disabilities, the profit margin would shrink. Don't expect a major change in policy when Disney sees $$$$, it doesn't happen.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

It has been a little while since I have seen one of these lazy people / disabled/ scooter use arguements... I mean debates..... I mean conversations. Let's see how long this one will last!!!!!

 

[Communicora]

I don't remember scooters at DL in the 70's. :lookaroun

20 years ago, the world wasn't as accessible to disabled people so you wouldn't seem them as often at places like Disneyland. Well I don't doubt there are some that abuse the privilege, technology like the scooters have helped an enormous number of people. My father was diagnosed with a rare muscle disorder and now uses a power chair during most trips out of the house. If he didn't have access to a wheelchair, he'd be confined at home. Have some compassion.

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

Here we go again with the lazy fatties using scooters at WDW thread.

Some people CAN jump out of their scooter, ride a roller coaster, or walk to the bathroom without the scooter. What they can't do is walk five or more miles a day while vacationing at Disney.

Not everyone who rents a scooter probably needs it, that's true. But for any of us to sit here and be like 'I hate those lazy obese people at Disney who take the ECV when a truly handicapped person could use it' is ridiculous for numerous reasons. Mainly because you cannot see every disability that would cause someone to need an ECV. Maybe they have an injury that you can't see. Maybe they look perfectly healthy, but have a disease like MS, which we know to be true since Mia319 is in that situation.

And, guess what? Sometimes fat people have a disability that you can't see - and the fatness is NOT their disability! Maybe they have another medical condition that means they can't walk far distances. Maybe they have a medical condition that CAUSED the weight gain or PROHIBITED their weight loss, and still are advised medically to not walk five miles a day.

Some of us are fat, yes. But my fatness is not what puts me in a scooter or wheelchair while I'm at Disney. And I really, really, REALLY hate all of the guests who stare at me or give me dirty looks, and you can tell they're thinking "Darn that lazy fatty, too lazy and fat to walk around on her own". And that makes me feel horrible.

So try thinking about that. Even better, how about we try not to let something like that get to us while we're enjoying our day at Disney? If you're lucky enough to NOT need a wheelchair while visiting the parks, how about we feel blessed and lucky for that, instead of being angry at the 'lazy fatties' who 'abuse' the ECVs.

 

[yankspy]

I believe that a big part of it may not always be who is using them, but how they are using them. I am pretty sure that this lady would P___s off the most patient person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjSwL-9Bzf8