Once the special-needs passengers are on board, the logical thing to do is offer up the empty seats to the people standing in line.
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It's not just the bus drivers that need some practice loading and unloading. I watched one evening while someone in an ECV tried to back up the ramp into the bus. They went backwards, then forwards, then backwards, then forwards, then almost off the ramp itself. The driver tried to help by suggesting he turn this way or that.
We almost cheered when he finally got up the ramp and into the bus.
As the parent of a child who uses a wc I am a little bit offended by the suggestion of a "separate" bus. Do you think that my son wouldn't love to be able to leap up the steps of a bus? Do you think ANYONE likes requiring wheels because they can't uses their legs effectively? I would guess not. My 6 year old would much rather be able to run jump and play like most other children his age then to get "special treatment" or a shorter line for the bus. Please, think about how you would feel if you or someone you love were the person requiring extra assistance and then tell me if you would want to be stuck on a bus with the rest of the people "like you". That is nothing short of discriminative. :soapbox: Stepping down
Lori
The person in that ECV was more than likely required to back on to that bus. On the older buses for some reason there is a law that makes you back in and the Disney driver is only doing this to keep his job. Believe me I have tried many times to charm a driver into letting me go in forward.:blush: It is a no go.
I have found that I have no problems getting on the bus backward or forward if I can focus in on what the driver is telling me, not listen to the hecklers and take my time to line up straight before starting back.
I did "snap" one day when 3 younger, in shape men stood and shouted that it was unfair that they had to wait for me to get on the bus. I'm sorry to say I asked them which one of them would like to step up and be a man and load the thing for me, since they knew they could do it better and faster. It was odd I had no takers.
Truely if you have never loaded an ECV on a bus yourself, I wouldn't be cheering at the misfortune of someone that is having trouble trying to do it.
I had to grin when I read about your offer to the hecklers. It's tough to drive those things. I do know that they have to be backed in so they can be properly positioned in the bus.
Unfortunately, the delay in boarding causes a lot of tension and unkind remarks to be made.
Good for you on your snappy remarks, though.
I can see where you would get that idea from my clumsy post. Actually, our crowd was quite civilized and sympathetic to the guy on the ECV. I used that example as a way of explaining why I think people might become hostile and unkind. It takes patience to enjoy Disney World, and some folks forget to pack theirs. :wait:
I've always been under the impression that you must back in on the older buses so that the greater weight be on the lift part (i.e., the person's weight, the batteries and the motor) and not on the "extension" part.
I find it utterly nerve-wracking to have to back on to the ramp and then parallel park the ECV. I don't even like parallel parking my car to the left, much less an ECV with a gazillion people watching. :blush: It's kinda like a really weird driver's test!
First off let me say that I know that the intent of this thread was not to offend and I truly am not trying to flame anyone but I, like Lori, am also offended at the thought of being made to use a different bus than "normal" people. I am able to use my legs but not for long and not for much. I also get tired quickly due to my disease. I will not go into a long explanation but let's just say that I ALWAYS wait my turn in the bus line and don't allow myself to be loaded first. There is already so much that I can't do because of my disease and spending 5 minutes on a bus with "normal" people, sharing excitement about where we are and what we are doing is one of the few things that kind of makes me forget that I'm not like everyone else. So many of the "normal" things in life have been stolen from me because of my disease, that making us take a special bus just adds insult to injury. Simple pleasures that so many people take for granted like holding your children or grandchildren (which a lot of times I cannot do) are blessings that you don't even see, so waiting 5 extra minutes for a w/c to be loaded onto a bus should make you grateful that you can step off the bus when it stops. I'm not trying to be a smart alec but should there also be a different bus for the elderly because some walk slower? Or maybe a seperate bus for families with children because you have to wait for the parents to move the strollers before you can get off the bus? Where does it end? No, the system is not perfect but at least it gives a little normalcy to those who aren't always afforded that luxury.
I cannot believe that people are so disregarding of people who need wheel chairs. Maybe I have my head in the sky or I am naive, but I have never thought to get mad at someone who has to be loaded on or off the bus that is in a wheelchair. I remember thinking this last time (November 2008)how everyone I saw in a wheelchair was grateful to the bus driver and their parties tried to make it easy for the bus driver and how wonderful the bus drivers are and how much work it is for all involved and that everyone does it because everyone wants to share the magical world of Disney. When did our world become the wheelchair police? If someone is in a wheelchair, I assume they are supposed to be in one, not that they are trying to get on rides faster. I am sure it happens, I am not that naive, but truthfully, when I am at Disney I am concentrating on having fun, being in line is part of the experience and I don't waste my time trying to catch someone doing something they shouldn't. I do not feel that anyone who has to be in a wheelchair should have to be in a separate line. That is my lengthy 2 cents.