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Wheelchairs no longer complimentary at Disney's water parks
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
But equally if you are confined to a chair permanently you would be in your own when you arrived. But yes, the majority of attractions are up stairs.
Seabasealpha1
Well-Known Member
Guess Grandma won't be attending the water parks with us this year...
No Name
Well-Known Member
They charge for strollers. On a basic level this isn't too different. I like that they charge for strollers, because if they didn't, even more families would use them and the pathways would be even more clogged. I think strollers are fine, it's just that the parks weren't built to handle them, or handle too many of them.
Much like strollers, wheelchairs also clog up the pathways. So by charging for them, you weed out those guests who don'y really need wheelchairs but use them for the heck of it.
The key difference to me is that many others actually do need them for medical reasons. And many of those others, because of such medical reasons, cannot experience or participate in much that the waterparks have to offer. So, since they paid the same price to get in (is that right?) but can do far less ... at the very least Disney could give them a wheelchair.
It's a catch 22, they help one problem and hurt another. I'm not sure which is better, charging or not charging. Of course Disney will go with whatever'll make more money, and from this decision, it's evident which option they believe will do that.
LOL.
Such a dumb joke but you made me laugh.
Much like strollers, wheelchairs also clog up the pathways. So by charging for them, you weed out those guests who don'y really need wheelchairs but use them for the heck of it.
The key difference to me is that many others actually do need them for medical reasons. And many of those others, because of such medical reasons, cannot experience or participate in much that the waterparks have to offer. So, since they paid the same price to get in (is that right?) but can do far less ... at the very least Disney could give them a wheelchair.
It's a catch 22, they help one problem and hurt another. I'm not sure which is better, charging or not charging. Of course Disney will go with whatever'll make more money, and from this decision, it's evident which option they believe will do that.
LOL.
Such a dumb joke but you made me laugh.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
I suspect that most people who actually need one already have one, right?They charge for strollers. On a basic level this isn't too different. I like that they charge for strollers, because if they didn't, even more families would use them and the pathways would be even more clogged. I think strollers are fine, it's just that the parks weren't built to handle them, or handle too many of them.
Much like strollers, wheelchairs also clog up the pathways. So by charging for them, you weed out those guests who don'y really need wheelchairs but use them for the heck of it.
The key difference to me is that many others actually do need them for medical reasons. And many of those others, because of such medical reasons, cannot experience or participate in much that the waterparks have to offer. So, since they paid the same price to get in (is that right?) but can do far less ... at the very least Disney could give them a wheelchair.
It's a catch 22, they help one problem and hurt another. I'm not sure which is better, charging or not charging. Of course Disney will go with whatever'll make more money, and from this decision, it's evident which option they believe will do that.
LOL.
This isn't about making money, it's about influencing guest behavior. The goal is not to profit off of people who need wheelchairs, it's about discouraging people who don't need wheelchairs from using them just because they're free.
Last edited:
asianway
Well-Known Member
have you ever been to a water park? Ive seen 2-3 chairs tops, ever.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
Exactly. I'm not talking about hoards of people abusing the program, I'm talking about how two idiot a-hole teenagers can ruin a family atmosphere with juvenile antics.
asianway
Well-Known Member
ok...this simply doesnt happen at a waterpark...
Bolt
Well-Known Member
Yeah - it's why Grad Nite is going there. Always a cool, calm place...
No Name
Well-Known Member
Yes, I'd think so.
I'll be the boxing referee and squeeze between you both. And say that it's partially for crowd control, partially for money. Maybe not equally for both, but certainly not 100% for one or the other. Match end in a draw.
You boxers may not like what the referee has to say, but what can you do about it? The referee makes the final call.
I suppose if you truly disagree you could strip your clothes off.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
Minnie Mum
Well-Known Member
Wheelchairs aren't complimentary anywhere else on property, so why would they be at the water parks? Actually, that isn't true- there are a few chairs made available for guests to get from the park gates to the bus or tram areas, but those are few and far between. Wheelchairs cost money, and they need to be maintained, which costs money. Why shouldn't Disney charge for their use?
Most guests who need a wheelchair either have their own, or rent from an off site agency for their whole stay, or rent one at the parks for the day.
As someone who has had to use a chair at WDW for almost 20 years, I can assure the PP that nobody chooses to do it for giggles, or just because they're there for the asking, or because they're too lazy to walk. Stupid teenagers aside (and I highly doubt that they would be in the majority), those "inconsiderate " guests in their wheelchairs who are clogging up the sidewalks and getting in your way, are using them because they NEED them.
Most guests who need a wheelchair either have their own, or rent from an off site agency for their whole stay, or rent one at the parks for the day.
As someone who has had to use a chair at WDW for almost 20 years, I can assure the PP that nobody chooses to do it for giggles, or just because they're there for the asking, or because they're too lazy to walk. Stupid teenagers aside (and I highly doubt that they would be in the majority), those "inconsiderate " guests in their wheelchairs who are clogging up the sidewalks and getting in your way, are using them because they NEED them.
dupac
Well-Known Member
That's what I said about the Olympic wrestling coaches to whom he is referencing.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Rob562
Well-Known Member
I believe many (though not all) slides at Blizzard Beach are handicap accessible via the ski lift. There's one or two "gondola" cars on the cable to accommodate chairs.
From the top they can access Slush Gusher, Teamboat Springs, and most of the mat and tube slides.
According to the BB map only Summit Plummet and Downhill Double Dipper are "must be ambulatory".
-Rob
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
It's because charging for wheelchairs is more low hanging fruit on the 'Gotta Make our Numbers' tree sadly enough.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
I'll play along.
Approximately 2 million Americans are wheelchair or scooter riders. In a nation of 300 million people, that's 0.67% of the population. I think it would be safe to assume that a relatively smaller percentage of wheelchair users decide to visit water parks in a given year, but let's assume the population percentage holds. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have combined annual attendance of approximately 4 million. Applying the 0.67% figure, we can estimate that the number of guests visiting a Disney water park in need of a wheelchair is about 27,000, but let's round up to 30,000 to be generous. Even if none of those people came with their own mobility devices, the annual revenue on 30,000 wheelchair rentals at $12 a pop is $360,000, or less than $1,000 per day. You're willfully ignorant if you think $45,000 per park per quarter is going to help anybody "Make their Numbers."