Abuse of wheelchairs/ECVs? About This Page:

[Laughaholic]

Has anyone actually witnessed someone abusing the ability to rent a wheelchair? I have always heard about it, but never actually seen it..such as kids running around pushing it, playing on it, etc.

[SueM loves WDW]

Even though I have seen comments on different bulletin boards saying people "saw" someone abusing wheelchair privileges, the "evidence" that they cite is seeing the person out of the wheelchair, seeing someone different in the wheelchair later on, or seeing someone running while they push the wheelchair. All of which proves..........................
absolutely nothing.
I have a friend who went to Disney World a number of years ago with her 2 sons, who were something like 5 and 8 years old. She rented a wheelchair for them. The younger son sometimes got tired and rode in the chair. The older boy refused unless he was so tired he was ready to drop. Sometime both of the boys ran ahead of their parents. Anyone seeing them might assume they were 2 healthy boys whose parents were "abusing" a wheelchair. In fact, the older boy had a congenital heart defect that could not be repaired and his parents were told he would not reach adulthood. He died in his sleep just after turning 18.

In my own situation, my younger daughter is disabled and can't walk or stand. When she was little, sometimes my older daughter would get tired and ride in her wheelchair while we carried the wheelchair's owner. People seeing us might notice later that the older child they had seen riding in the wheelchair was walking and (horrors) even running and (even more horrors) sometimes running and pushing the wheelchair. They might assume that we were "cheating", but with no basis in fact. Since my daughter still likes to sometimes go fast, we still sometimes run while pushing her wheelchair (but, I guess we should stop giving her that enjoyment so no one judges us???).

On one occasion a few years ago, we actually heard someone comment as they walked by us that we were "some of those people who use a wheelchair just to get ahead in line." Their reason for saying it was that my daughter was sitting on a bench with her wheelchair parked next to her. She had her legs crossed and was swinging her top leg. From that little 15 second glimpse into our lives, they felt they had the "right" to make rude comments about our family (and our honesty). What they didn't see was that it took several minutes to transfer her from the wheelchair to the bench because she can't even stand without total support from another person. She's not even able to cross her leg herself (although she does like to swing it once it's crossed). And, we didn't even have a rented wheelchair - we had a custom wheelchair that cost more than my first car - her pressure reduction seat cushion costs more all by itself than a "no-frills" wheelchair.

A lot of people assume that wheelchair or ecv users get many special privileges at Disney World (including being able to go to the head of lines). In actual fact, most of the lines are Mainstream lines that are wheelchair accessible, so wheelchair users wait in line with everyone else. The main "advantage" of having a wheelchair is having some place to sit while you are waiting. Animal Kingdom and the Studio were buitl with Mainstream lines. MK and Epcot have Mainstream lines at new attractions and have added them where possible in renovated attractions.

I do know people who have shared a wheelchair or ecv. Both of them have mobility or fatigue problems, but don't want to be in a wheelchair or scooter full time. In fact, as a nurse, I have told people that it's a good idea to get out of the wheelchair or ecv sometimes an walk for a while to avoid things like leg cramps.
So, renting a wheelchair doesn't give much advantage unless you actually need the wheelchair. And, you can't judge need just by looking at the person (or the action of the person) using the wheelchair.

[CRCrazy]

I agree - you've got to give people the benefit of the doubt - there are so many disabilities that just aren't visible - it certainly doesn't make them less real!

On the other hand - I have a friend who goes to Disney every spring break. She is perfectly healthy, and has 2 athletic daughters, ages 7 & 13. She coaches every sport - and certainly did NOT need a wheelchair. She does have mild asthma. Since the crowds were so bad - she decided to rent a wheelchair, and get a guest assistance pass. Sure - she has an inhalor, but she certainly was abusing Disney's hospitality! They really go out of their way to insure accessibility. She didn't even use her inhalor once that trip. She was most definitely in the wrong, but Disney didn't know that - they need to assume that people are being honest.

[arielrocks]

We actually saw the Pooh ride being changed into a ride to accommodate a special needs little girl. Yeah, ok, so it took a little bit longer to get us on, but in all fairness, if they fast passed? Hey, they have by all rights to get on first. But I have seen it where the lines are longer then the wall of China and a wheel chair did get on before us and was actually escorted to the front and no fast pass. I have no problems with people in wheel chairs and yes, I have seen normal walking girls using their sister/brothers chair because yes, it is a lot of walking for the younger set. But I have seen wheel chair abuse by those who do get to go to the front of the line. But I normally don't say anything and just let it go because I have noticed the looks some do get when they do complain. Just a thought.

[RocklandRVers]

I use an ECV because of arthritic knees not having the stamina needed to take on a day in the parks.

Its not my idea to get any special treatment and I have never asked for any. However, when a CM sees you in line at certain attractions, usually we get pulled aside and taken to a separate entrance where I park the ECV and transfer to the ride. Usually we wait just as long as the folks around us in line for our turn. Thats something rarely seen by other guests. At something like Hall of Presidents, Philharmagic, American Adventure, Indiana Jones, Tarzan Rocks, etc. we have been taken out of the "normal" line and led into the theater via another entrance along with other ECV / wheelchair users and their parties. Once we are parked, then the rest of the guests are led in. By the way, we never get our choice of seats as other guests might get smack dab in the middle. Most often it is the very back row off to the side. Not bad seats by any means but nothing "special".

I also recall being taken to a special entrance to test track where I parked the ECV and a CM took it to the end of the ride. We didn't get on the ride any faster in fact we waited for quite a while.

I agree that there are so many invisible disablities that we need to give folks the benefit of the doubt. As someone who uses an ECV because its a necessity in order to enjoy the parks, I can tell you I would much prefer full mobility.

[Laughaholic]

I wasn't insinuating that EVERYONE abuses the wheelchair priveledge, I was just asking if anyone saw anything that obviously wasn't right. I personally know about using wheelchairs when you look normal, as my brother has Autism and we have rented wheelchairs with him and use the GAC because he cannot wait in the long lines. Most of the reason they are brought to the front is so that they can get thru the the actual queue more easily, and I'm sure most of the wheelchair users would not mind waiting like everyone else, I know I don't.

[Dave Marx]

The closest I've come to witnessing "abuse" happened several years ago at Disneyland (there are a several queues there that aren't mainstreamed). The issue wasn't that there was nobody in need of the wheelchair - one member of the group had his leg in a cast. What bothered me was that it was a large, high-spirited party of unchaparoned teens, and it seemed like they intentionally brought their injured friend so they could bypass the line as a group. They sure seemed to enjoy having their special perk. What's more, occasionally the injured individual got up on crutches and various friends had the "fun" of getting pushed in the wheelchair. It just seemed insensitive to me, both to the injured friend and to the many guests around them.

There are times when folks are hot or cold, tired, and maybe a bit short-tempered, and at such times it's easy to assume the worst of others. The incident I just described happened in the evening, after a very long day of commando park research. It was chilly and rainy... so I'm just as guilty of assuming the worst as anyone else. They were having a good time while I was burned out, so I probably envied them their good spirits. I assumed that the injured friend was being taken advantage of, but for all I know, it was his idea, or that he was depressed and they'd brought him out to cheer him up. I'll never know.

I can think of other times when I suspected abuse, but on closer examination I realized I had jumped to the wrong conclusion. If I remember correctly, what usually drew my attention was that the people were in high spirits (extremes of emotion do have a way of popping out of a crowd). How dare they have a good time at Walt Disney World! People in wheelchairs or ECVs should be sober and somber, right?

[SueM loves WDW]

I don't think anyone was thinking that this thread was insinuating that EVERYONE using a wheelchair abuses the wheelchair privilege.
I, personally, was trying to say 2 things:
1) There is no way that someone outside a situation can decide whether abuse is occurring. Just because things "obviously don't look right" to an observer doesn't mean that they are not right.

2) There are very few lines where someone in a wheelchair gets any advantage, since most of the lines have Mainstream Access. So, there is little incentive to abuse wheelchair "privileges". For the few rides that do have an alternate entrance, it's because the regular entrance is not appropriate for the needs of someone with a disability (too narrow, steps, too steep or too much stimulation). Using an accessible way to get in is not a privilege, it's usually the only way that can be used.

[AmyAngel]

Thanks for pointing out that people using wheelchairs don't necessarily get an "advantage."

This past trip my mom used a wheelchair on several days because a treatment on her foot for bone spurs had apparently done some damage and was causing her a great deal of pain in combination with her plantar fasciitis.

I knew from reading here and other places that WDW is designed so as often as possible people using wheelchairs go through the same lines and have the same amount of wait time as everyone else. I could NOT convince the family of that, though. The rest of the family was like "Yeah, get one if you need it, and we'll all go to the front of the line!" And no matter how often I tried to explain that that isn't necessarily how it works, they could not understand.

We were glad mom used a wheelchair, it really helped her to enjoy the trip more. We did not, however, get to "go to the front of the line". We did sit in wheelchair sections and sometimes got to go in to shows first, but only so we could get her parked without being trampled. I was excited to go in Haunted Mansion through the "servants entrance" which was kind of cool.

On the other hand, my sister used a wheelchair a couple days as well, and I'm not convinced at all that she needed it. She did have surgery on her hip as a child, and will likely need a hip replacement within 30 years; but it's hard to believe that someone who hasn't complained, has no limp, has done WDW 4 years in a row with no problem and who no one else can keep up with when she's walking suddenly NEEDS a wheelchair. Especially when me and my sore feet with 6 blisters are barely hobbling around after her! We were all angry with her for getting one and then assuming without asking that one of us would push her.

I kinda felt she was just trying to get more attention, since the CM's were so great and kind with mom. I was ashamed that she rented a wheelchair when she could have done without, what if they ran out and someone who REALLY needed one couldn't get one? The rest of us amused ourselves by exclaiming "Praise Jesus! It's a miracle!" each time she stood up and walked.

BTW, my mom got a wheelchair during MNSSHP, and it was free.

[Lilyian]

It is definitely important to consider that looks can be deceiving. Don't forget about the people who simply have a special assistance pass, but NO wheelchair, yet they can bypass the lines. I am one of those people. Sometimes people can have a disease that no one can see, and yet others may think people like that are the worst of the bunch because they cannot identify a problem when they look at us. So, if you see someone who appears perfectly healthy with a pass and being allowed to enter a ride at the front, don't jump to conclusions that they don't "deserve" the pass. I have mast cell disease, an extremely rare disease that manifests in the bone marrow. I look very healthy and young (I'm in my 30s), and you would never be able to tell as I was walking past to go to the front of the line that if I didn't load up on medications a couple times each day and take preventative measures to avoid getting fatigued, overheated, or near environmental triggers (even odors), that I could collapse in anaphylactic shock frequently throughout my vacation.

It is interesting to think about it like that, because that is what I live with on a daily basis and will forever. So, I think everyone should always assume that the person in the wheelchair or with the pass is using it for a valid reason. I can guarantee that that person would gladly switch places with a completely healthy person and stand waiting.

Just something to think about....

[Pooh1219]

As far as wheelchair users at WDW, my feeling is if you're in a chair, you probably need to be in a chair. I pretty much react to those people just like I react to everyone else - just ignore them like I ignore everyone else and just do my thing at the parks and let everyone else do their thing. The few mistreaters, as far as I'm concerned, can rent their wheelchairs and abuse the privilege if that's what they want. Life is a series of rights and wrongs, and there are so many people out there who choose to take the "wrong" path, and there's nothing you can do about it. Sure, there's abuse going on, like the fat guy who uses it just because he's too darn fat to walk around all day, but wheelchair access is available to help the family with an autistic child, or a mentally retarded family member, or anyone with any other variety of problems we may or may not observe, and I'm all for letting them have whatever "privileges" they can get if it makes a day in the park more enjoyable for them. Maybe some folks really don't need the wheelchair, but maybe some do. You know that old saying, "There but for the grace of God..."

And,please, no offense to the overweight. I once weighed 300-lbs., lost half of that, so I know what it's like to be a fat person in the "World" and I didn't rent a wheelchair.

[Laughaholic]

People have made comments to us, whether it's just a dirty look or a smug remark. Because you cannot see my brother's disability, you would think we are taking advantage or it so we don't have to wait. But the truth it he can't wait, so we need the pass, and he cannot withstand all the walking, so we need the wheelchair. I don't really pay attention to other people since it's our vacation, but I was just curious what you all thought.

[disneymom9092]

I never noticed it before this past summer when we needed to have a wheelchair for our DS who broke his ankle 4 days before our trip. We were in the W/C assess line at Thunder Mountain Railroad. There was a woman in the w/c about age 40 and her husband and 2 DS probably aged 10 and 12 were with her. While we were waiting to get on, the youngest girl said to her mother "It's my turn to ride in the w/c. I want to ride to the next ride" After the ride, she got into the w/c. Just food for thought??

Dianne

[Teresa]

Yes, I have seen and HEARD people (the same ones I saw) using the WC privilege.
I have a daughter in a W/C, a dad and stepmom that need ECVs when we are in WDW, and my deceased grandfather walked with crutches, and resorted to EVC usage in the latter years of his life.

I recognize a custom chair (DD has 2 - one electric and one manual, both VERY expensive, and very beat up) - so I would never even look twice at someone's child in one (or out of it)

But, I do KNOW that people abuse the system. Especially in MK. We have heard some joking about it. seems to be mostly teens, but sometimes it is a family (wow, kids! Let's go to WDW and play a little trick on Mickey! He'll think you're disabled, and pay more attention to you, and you get to go on rides faster!)
I'll admit, we don't go on Dumbo unless Samantha goes with us - 20-25 minute wait as opposed to 3 hours! But, I have even seen some people use their legitimately wheelchair bound family member to get to the front of the line, and then the person that got them to the front DOES NOT ride!!! That really ticks me too.

Yeah, the lines are the same now, but when you have a person in a W/C, they (and another person, and sometimes the whole party) can ride 1 to 3 more times! (it takes a lot to transfer a person who cant stand AT ALL, and we only go the one time, ride 2 to 4 times, and leave for the day)
When we were in MGM last Feb., the CMs commented that they were suprised that Samantha rode! They said that most people with W/Cs and ECVs get to the front, and then, the W/C doesn't ride.

Anyway, it does happen, although I think that WDW is trying to curtail it with the inclusive lines, and the high cost of renting a wheel chair now.

[graygables]

We get ugly looks b/c we still use 6yo DDs stroller as a wheelchair for her (have a note from her doc). She has chronic fatigue and a few other issues. When we get to the loading area, she is able to walk (most of the time) and boy have we gotten some dirty looks! What people don't understand is that by 2 or 3 pm, she will be dead-to-the-world asleep in her stroller, exhausted, and will miss the whole afternoon (parades, Candlelight Processional, etc), plus one of us will have to "miss out" caring for her while the other takes 8yo on the rides. I hate hearing "why do they get to bring *their* stroller??", it makes my neck cringe, but I don't know how to make people see that it really is a wheelchair for her. I don't know what we are going to do when she outgrows it; our insurance won't cover a regular wheelchair