News New Buses Debut With Features to Better Accommodate ECV/Wheelchair Users

[TrainsOfDisney]

Because a big part of state and federal accessibility legislation is that those with disabilities are not to be separated out from the general population.

Several attractions have separate lines and boarding areas for ECV’s and wheelchairs.

 

[Sectorkeeper71]

While I could see Disney imposing a limit to the number of additional guests that get to board with an ECV, nothing else is going to change.

I believe they already do so you can’t board say a whole party of 12 with an ecv. I forget what the limit is, and who knows if it’s actually enforced consistently

 

[Sectorkeeper71]

Several attractions have separate lines and boarding areas for ECV’s and wheelchairs.

I certainly don’t know the legislation by heart, but separate entrances and boarding areas is accommodating different needs, not saying “if you’re in a wheel chair you can’t ride this ride, you have to ride your own”.

Also a lot of older rides that predate ADA legislation that were grandfathered in

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I certainly don’t know the legislation by heart, but separate entrances and boarding areas is accommodating different needs, not saying “if you’re in a wheel chair you can’t ride this ride, you have to ride your own”.

As long as there is a bus that takes them where they want to go - I’m not sure why there would be an issue.

I know in California they have separate buses that serve the Toy Story lot. It’s the same physical buses, but one set boards wheelchairs and ECV’s and one does not - that saves time and keeps the lines moving.

Obviously it’s a bit more tricky with so many resorts so I’m not sure how it could easily work.

 

[Chi84]

As long as there is a bus that takes them where they want to go - I’m not sure why there would be an issue.

I know in California they have separate buses that serve the Toy Story lot. It’s the same physical buses, but one set boards wheelchairs and ECV’s and one does not - that saves time and keeps the lines moving.

Obviously it’s a bit more tricky with so many resorts so I’m not sure how it could easily work.

Do you mean they separate parties so that wheelchair users take one bus and the rest take a different bus?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Do you mean they separate parties so that wheelchair users take one bus and the rest take a different bus?

Wheelchair users and their parties. Possibly everyone with ADA needs -not sure.

 

[peter11435]

Several attractions have separate lines and boarding areas for ECV’s and wheelchairs.

Only older attractions have separate lines. Newer attractions have lines that are designed to be accessible and keep everyone together. A separate boarding area may be provided for accommodations but they are still able to go through largely the same queue and the same attraction.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Because people in an ECV could never truly need those spaces? What you’re proposing is illegal as electric scooters are effectively considered to be wheelchairs.


And pushes them to the back of the line to get off.

Of course, the family they cut in front of who doesn’t even get on the bus is pushed back even further.

It is outrageous to allow a family of 12 to cut the line because Mahmaw needs a scooter. The best is when they park her scooter and she gets out of it to take another seat.

I believe the sign at the bus stops says only 6 people can go with the ECV. Never once seen that enforced.

As for separate buses, not every boat from the MK resorts allows wheelchairs. So it clearly is not mandatory that every vehicle accommodate them.

 

[Lirael]

And pushes them to the back of the line to get off.

That doesn't make up for them getting in first though. Because they board in first, they often end up getting on buses they wouldn't if they were in a regular line, and thus pushing out someone who had been queueing for longer from getting on. So "but they get off laaaaast" is in no way equal to having priority boarding

 

[danlb_2000]

I certainly don’t know the legislation by heart, but separate entrances and boarding areas is accommodating different needs, not saying “if you’re in a wheel chair you can’t ride this ride, you have to ride your own”.

 

[LittleBuford]

It is outrageous to allow a family of 12 to cut the line because Mahmaw needs a scooter. The best is when they park her scooter and she gets out of it to take another seat.

Needing a scooter and being able to walk short distances aren’t mutually exclusive.

Breaking groups up to punish someone for needing a scooter strikes me as very mean-spirited and unnecessary.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

One year during new years they had ECV’s and wheelchairs wait in the regular line and then they pulled them over to the ECV area when they reached the front. This was during peak crowds of course.

 

[Indy_UK]

Im not familiar with US law in the slightest but I am surprised they don't provide buses for ECV/ Wheelchair users and their families that could potentially take more of them separately and more conformably to the monsoon of guests when leaving the parks.

I guess Skyliner and to a greater extent, the Monorail and Boats don't quite have the same issue

 

[JoeCamel]

Im not familiar with US law in the slightest but I am surprised they don't provide buses for ECV/ Wheelchair users and their families that could potentially take more of them separately and more conformably to the monsoon of guests when leaving the parks.

I guess Skyliner and to a greater extent, the Monorail and Boats don't quite have the same issue

We had a thing in the 60's called "equal but separate" that killed any notion of separating disabled from general pop

 

[peter11435]

The best is when they park her scooter and she gets out of it to take another seat.

For safety guests are supposed to be encouraged to transfer to a regular seat if possible.

 

[Section106]

Needing a scooter and being able to walk short distances aren’t mutually exclusive.

Breaking groups up to punish someone for needing a scooter strikes me as very mean-spirited and unnecessary.

This. Someone's disability is no one else's business. Being disabled, even slightly, is no fun!

My wife is a 100% Total and Permanent Disabled Veteran and wheelchair bound due to her service connected injuries. I never realized how difficult it is to maneuver through this world in a wheelchair until she needed one full time. And the amount of ableist people that think it ok to push her out of the way is astounding. No one would dare push me out of the way but folks think nothing of grabbing her chair as if she is just a piece of furniture.

Folks, disabled people are PEOPLE! They have every right to the same accommodations as everyone else. If you get left at the bus stop because of a disabled person please remember that that person has faced challenges most of us will never know just to get to the bus stop. And another bus is already on the way anyway, you bunch of babies.

 

[LittleBuford]

This. Someone's disability is no one else's business. Being disabled, even slightly, is no fun!

My wife, a 100% Total and Permanent Disabled Veteran and is wheelchair bound due to her service connected injuries. I never realized how difficult it is to maneuver through this world in a wheelchair until she needed one full time. And the amount of ableist people that think it ok to push her out of the way is astounding. No one would dare push me out of the way but folks think nothing of grabbing her chair as if she is just a piece of furniture.

Folks, disabled people are PEOPLE! They have every right to the same accommodations as everyone else. If you get left at the bus stop because of a disabled person please remember that that person has faced challenges most of us will never know just to get to the bus stop. And another bus is already on the way anyway, you bunch of babies.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m really sorry your wife has had to deal with such behaviour. There’s no excuse for it.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Folks, disabled people are PEOPLE! They have every right to the same accommodations as everyone else.

I never said anything about disabled people - I said those renting an ECV for convenience.

 

[peter11435]

I never said anything about disabled people - I said those renting an ECV for convenience.

And how do you decide the difference?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

And how do you decide the difference?

Not mine to decide. I don’t decide what strollers count as wheelchairs.