Rich Manhattan moms hire handicapped tour guides so kids can cut lines at Disney World

[RandomPrincess]

The people on a private tour still drop more coin at WDW than your average tourist, and I'm sure the Mouse knows that. Also, the services aren't exactly equivalent--a bow-tied College Program kid with a golden FastPass is not at the same level of service the private guides are providing.

I've never used Disney's VIP tour guides but we did other tours and all the tour guide we had were in their 30s or older and had worked for Disney for many years. They were happy to tell us their Disney history and how they trained and auditioned for their tour guide jobs. I doubt they are using CP kids to show the VIPs around.

 

[taz0162]

This story sickens me almost as much as the people using the motorized scooters simply because they do not want to walk. No broken leg/foot, No real disability.

I understand the use of the scooters by people with these conditions or even the elderly who want to get out to the b=park but not simply due to laziness or wantingness to skip the lines. This lady should be banned for life from each of the parks.

 

[asianway]

The people on a private tour still drop more coin at WDW than your average tourist, and I'm sure the Mouse knows that. Also, the services aren't exactly equivalent--a bow-tied College Program kid with a golden FastPass is not at the same level of service the private guides are providing.

But it is a competing service being run on their own property - sounds like a simple google search, some C&D, and a stack of trepasses would end it. Think these guides carry liability insurance? Again, Disney creates their own problems...

 

[ExtinctJenn]

THIS IS THE PROBLEM

THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM

People can say whatever they want about me, but people... lets start with talking about the REAL issues and stop with all of our societal excuses.

While I get where you are going with this... everyone needs to be careful to assume that the individual in the first picture is in the scooter because she is overweight and not vice versa. I've known many people who became disabled and were fit and trim at the time but the side effect of their losing the ability to walk/exercise resulted in being overweight. I'm not saying that's always the case and agree that as a culture weight is definitely an issue (I've lost 51 lbs personally and have 29 more to go) but we just have to be careful not to make assumptions about people/situations we don't know/understand.

 

[ddbowdoin]

While I get where you are going with this... everyone needs to be careful to assume that the individual in the first picture is in the scooter because she is overweight and not vice versa. I've known many people who became disabled and were fit and trim at the time but the side effect of their losing the ability to walk/exercise resulted in being overweight. I'm not saying that's always the case and agree that as a culture weight is definitely an issue (I've lost 51 lbs personally and have 29 more to go) but we just have to be careful not to make assumptions about people/situations we don't know/understand.

I'm a big guy... it's because I like beer, burgers, steak, dole whips, and a whole slew of crap that isn't good for me.

It always seems be blamed on the thyroid or a genetic issue.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I'm a big guy... it's because I like beer, burgers, steak, dole whips, and a whole slew of crap that isn't good for me.

It always seems be blamed on the thyroid or a genetic issue.

Like I said, I agree that weight is an issue in our society and that the majority of those situations are indeed because we love to eat. The 51 lbs I've lost thus far were 51 lbs of "crap" and the other 29 I want to lose are 29 lbs of fat that wouldn't have existed had I lead an active lifestyle and took care of myself (ok maybe not that perfectly divided lol). I'm just saying we have to be careful not to assume that everyone who is overweight in a wheelchair/scooter started that way and that it wasn't vice-versa. Sure it's typically the case but many folks become disabled and end up overweight because of their forced lifestyle change.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Like I said, I agree that weight is an issue in our society and that the majority of those situations are indeed because we love to eat. The 51 lbs I've lost thus far were 51 lbs of "crap" and the other 29 I want to lose are 29 lbs of fat that wouldn't have existed had I lead an active lifestyle and took care of myself (ok maybe not that perfectly divided lol). I'm just saying we have to be careful not to assume that everyone who is overweight in a wheelchair/scooter started that way and that it wasn't vice-versa. Sure it's typically the case but many folks become disabled and end up overweight because of their forced lifestyle change.

I agree, not the best to assume... but how many times have I, or other members here, seen the scooters rolling around with a coke in the basket and a turkey leg in one hand.

We have to come to our own conclusions based on our own personal experiences, we can't simply always rely on the "benefit of the doubt" model.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Personally, I don't think ANYONE with a GAC card should be able to jump any line. If the wait time posted is 20 minutes, then CM should give them a card with the time 20 minutes from then and tell them to return at that time. This way they don't have to wait in line if they can't, they can go do other things, and it wouldn't be so appealing for people to get ECV's or wheelchairs just to cut the lines.

If people need ECV's and wheelchairs then fine, they should be allowed to have them. But that doesn't mean they have the right to beep their horn at people while they come flying up behind you expecting you to bow to them and move out of their way. This happened to us in September walking on the bridge from Tomorrowland to the hub. 2 ECV's, one man and one woman rolling side by side, beeping the horms, flying and the man was smoking a cigar. He ran over a woman's toes because she didn't move in time and he didn't even give her a second glance and then he rammed into the front of a stroller that was caught trying to cross his path and they didn't have time to move since he was flying. I felt so bad.

 

[flynnibus]

I wonder whether this might make Disney finally look into the tour operator business going on. I do find it strange that Disney allows independent companies to offer a service that Disney offers itself on their own property.

I think it's more on the grounds that Disney can't stop them outside their gates.. and they turn a blind eye to them in the parks (to avoid customer situations) as long as they don't become a problem. But when they do become a problem.. they shut them down. Basically, both sides know to keep it low-key.. and if they don't.. they make it known this is a problem.

 

[Californian Elitist]

...how many times have I, or other members here, seen the scooters rolling around with a coke in the basket and a turkey leg in one hand.

I'm in one of my class lectures right now, and when I read this, it took everything within me not to burst with laughter.

 

[AngryEyes]

Like I said, I agree that weight is an issue in our society and that the majority of those situations are indeed because we love to eat. The 51 lbs I've lost thus far were 51 lbs of "crap" and the other 29 I want to lose are 29 lbs of fat that wouldn't have existed had I lead an active lifestyle and took care of myself (ok maybe not that perfectly divided lol). I'm just saying we have to be careful not to assume that everyone who is overweight in a wheelchair/scooter started that way and that it wasn't vice-versa. Sure it's typically the case but many folks become disabled and end up overweight because of their forced lifestyle change.

If carts make people gain 400 lbs, then they should be outlawed, because they're worse than cigarettes. A little weight, sure, but it's not like these people can't get ANY exercise. I see too many of them roll right up to something and get out and walk the last few steps.

Anyway, a member of my family actually chooses the cart over losing weight. No physical disability at all. It's shameful...and there are a million of them out there.

Sidenote: I bet they watch Wall-E and long for the future.

 

[Lord_Vader]

I'm a big guy... it's because I like beer, burgers, steak, dole whips, and a whole slew of crap that isn't good for me.

It always seems be blamed on the thyroid or a genetic issue.

I am not too far off from you, I do walk 5-6 miles a day and still weigh too much but my wife is not, has a slew of health issues too long to list here, or in public. She had to have her thyroid removed last September and has SERIOUSLY struggled with weight gain and hunger since. She likens it to taking steroid injections daily that increase your appetite with ZERO metabolic boost. She cannot get out and walk a quarter mile because of severe back issues let alone run, bikes are out because she cannot bend her neck up as it is fused, etc.

MY problem is not only with people abusing the system but others that judge without any clue about the other person, their personal story, reasons, etc. that may be the root cause of their current condition. I am not saying obese people too lazy to walk and take pride in themselves is not an issue in this country but as a whole we need to keep in mind that each person has a reason they are doing what they are doing, be it lazy, health or otherwise.

 

[Sans Souci]

Tangent alert:
The Wall-E pic reminds when I was in grad school and I gave a presentation about interventions for obesity. At the end of my presentation, I had that picture from the movie where people are in those recliner things. I had my handed to me for "fat-shaming." Then, despite my evidence from peer-reviewed journals, someone told me that just because health issues and obesity are linked, I couldn't prove a direct relationship. Wow, ok, enjoy your little river cruise down De Nile. I seriously thought I fell down a rabbit hole. I was gob-smacked. I guess this is where we are headed...

 

[ddbowdoin]

Tangent alert:
The Wall-E pic reminds when I was in grad school and I gave a presentation about interventions for obesity. At the end of my presentation, I had that picture from the movie where people are in those recliner things. I had my handed to me for "fat-shaming." Then, despite my evidence from peer-reviewed journals, someone told me that just because health issues and obesity are linked, I couldn't prove a direct relationship. Wow, ok, enjoy your little river cruise down De Nile. I seriously thought I fell down a rabbit hole. I was gob-smacked. I guess this is where we are headed...

I am not too far off from you, I do walk 5-6 miles a day and still weigh too much but my wife is not, has a slew of health issues too long to list here, or in public. She had to have her thyroid removed last September and has SERIOUSLY struggled with weight gain and hunger since. She likens it to taking steroid injections daily that increase your appetite with ZERO metabolic boost. She cannot get out and walk a quarter mile because of severe back issues let alone run, bikes are out because she cannot bend her neck up as it is fused, etc.

MY problem is not only with people abusing the system but others that judge without any clue about the other person, their personal story, reasons, etc. that may be the root cause of their current condition. I am not saying obese people too lazy to walk and take pride in themselves is not an issue in this country but as a whole we need to keep in mind that each person has a reason they are doing what they are doing, be it lazy, health or otherwise.

as you can see, I am FAR from ever having a 6 pack... but I would personally never step foot in Disney, or any other similar place, if I couldn't walk because I let myself go to the point where walking became an impediment.

 

[CDavid]

If someone shows up at a WDW park one day, out in the hot Florida sun, and they weigh 400 pounds or whatever, I'm going to say they probably truly and honestly need the scooter regardless of how or why they got themselves into that situation. People can get around significantly overweight, and clearly need the exercise, but at some point a person can get so heavy it becomes disabling - they simply are not capable of walking around all day. They can't lose the weight and get in better shape right there on the spot, and honestly I'm not even sure it would be safe for such a large person to even try to walk the parks under those conditions. A scooter has become a necessity for them at Disney, even if they never use one back home (where it might be assumed they aren't doing much walking).

Further, if it weren't for all the people who don't really need or have any business on a scooter abusing the privilege, I doubt anyone would hardly notice - let alone raise as objection to - the morbidly obese person on a scooter.

 

[71jason]

I've never used Disney's VIP tour guides but we did other tours and all the tour guide we had were in their 30s or older and had worked for Disney for many years. They were happy to tell us their Disney history and how they trained and auditioned for their tour guide jobs. I doubt they are using CP kids to show the VIPs around.

Just reporting what I've heard from reliable sources (and this jives with what I've personally seen in the parks). These are all day tours, not the specialized backscene ones. Also, I'm not talking VIPs like Johnny Depp or Tom Brady. I mean people willing to pony up $350 an hour.

 

[71jason]

But it is a competing service being run on their own property - sounds like a simple google search, some C&D, and a stack of trepasses would end it.

Absolutely. The fact TDO has never done this, despite one of the top companies being owned by the #1 web expert on WDW (sorry, Lou) indicates they see no reason to do so.

Think these guides carry liability insurance?

Can't speak for the charlatans at the heart of this thread, but the reputable ones most definitely do.

 

[luv]

I'm a big guy... it's because I like beer, burgers, steak, dole whips, and a whole slew of crap that isn't good for me.

It always seems be blamed on the thyroid or a genetic issue.

My thyroid stopped working. I gained weight. Cause, effect. Period.

If you'd like, I'll meet you in the park one day and you can see the scar from its removal. It's right on my neck for the whole bleeding world to see.

And I'll tell you the whole, long story.

And then, I hope, you will stop insinuating that people are lying when they say they gained weight because they had a thyroid issue. I don't want sympathy, but it is kind of upsetting and hurtful when people suggest that things that made me suffer and worry were just figments of my imagination, made up to hide the fact that I'm piggish.

So, I'm willing to show you and explain the whole, long story, in the hopes that I (and others) will not be made out to be liars and pigs...for no good reason.

You let me know when. I'll be there. (Unless its very soon as I'll be having another surgery, lol. But give me a few months and THEN pick any day, lol. I'll be there.)

 

[ddbowdoin]

My thyroid stopped working. I gained weight. Cause, effect. Period.

If you'd like, I'll meet you in the park one day and you can see the scar from its removal. It's right on my neck for the whole bleeding world to see.

And I'll tell you the whole, long story.

And then, I hope, you will stop insinuating that people are lying when they say they gained weight because they had a thyroid issue. I don't want sympathy, but it is kind of upsetting and hurtful when people suggest that things that made me suffer and worry were just figments of my imagination, made up to hide the fact that I'm piggish.

So, I'm willing to show you and explain the whole, long story, in the hopes that I (and others) will not be made out to be liars and pigs...for no good reason.

You let me know when. I'll be there. (Unless its very soon as I'll be having another surgery, lol. But give me a few months and THEN pick any day, lol. I'll be there.)

once again, congratulations... that's your personal story. But in reality, we assess situations or scenarios in terms of percentages. You're in the minority, scientifically speaking.

 

[tissandtully]

once again, congratulations... that's your personal story. But in reality, we assess situations or scenarios in terms of percentages. You're in the minority, scientifically speaking.

Maybe you should enlighten us Dr. Duarte.