Courtesy of guests and cast members About This Page:

[Laughaholic]

Have you ever been bombarded by rude comments by guests or an unsensitive attitude from cast members? Share your story! Have you ever ran into a very caring guest or a special cast member? Tell us! Please share any tips you have about 'people' experiences!

Kristin
P.S. I just wanted to create a topic we could all talk about!


Happy Easter!!

[dizzyintx]

Hello,
My DH has neurofribromatosis and because of that he has facial disfigurement. As a newelywed, when people would stare at him, I would kinda walk behind him and stick my tongue out or shoot them the finger (I was only 19 at the time). Finally we had been married for about 6 months when this happened at the mall. So I did my usual and shot them the finger, feeling all protective of my wonderful hubby. He said to me the most profound thing, " Dizzy, when are you going to get used to the stares? We can't change others reactions, what we can change is are own reaction to others." This quiet statement from him has been with me over 24 years. I now know that he was right, just smile and act like you own the WORLD. 25 years later we are quite a group. DH with the NF, me with ms and in a power chair. We also have 3 developmentally delayed and hearing impared adults that live with us in foster care. 1 also in a w/c and 1 with cerebal palsy. Believe me we get the looks when we go anywhere So if you see us in the world, we are the ones that are having the most fun, not giving a flip what anyone else thinks!! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[stonewall]

Wow dizzyintx -what a great story!You and your husband are truly inspirational.Thank you for sharing your story with us. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Teddysmom]

During our last trip in Feb., we were boarding the W/C accesible entrance to Jungle Cruise(posted wait time 5 min)and as we passed another guest she muttered, "Must be nice"

Normally I just ignore this kind of stuff but I totally lost it. I looked her right in the eye and said "Oh yes, this is definitely the benefit of all Teddy has been through in the last 13 years. Every great once in a while we get to the front of a Disney line."

Dizzy-Thanks very much for sharing your story. I will think of you next time I hear a comment I wish I didn't. Thanks again.

[Shell_of_the_South]

I have 2 wonderful experiences with CMs that I wanted to share:

During our last trip to WDW, we had our picture taken several times in front of Cindy's castle. Then on the last day we looked at them all and picked the one we liked the best. We ordered several of one pose to give as souvenirs. The CM was a wonderful lady originally from GA (yay!) and we had a nice conversation with her. When she was getting our pictures from the printer, I noticed several prints of another pose we didn't choose. I mentioned it to her and she said, "Shhh, that was too pretty of a picture not to have, so I just printed them anyway!" She was a super-nice lady, and I hope we get to see her again when next time we visit WDW!

The other nice experience was on the monorail. We had 5 kids in our group, and every day we dressed them in the same shirts - made it easier to keep up with them all. This particular day they all had their t-shirts from our church's Vacation Bible School that said "I'm on God's Team!". The CM let them ride in front of the monorail, and when we got off she came to us and said, "I told the kids I was on God's team too!" She had a foreign accent, possibly from Sweden, and it really touched me to know we have teammates on God's team from all over the world!

[Teresa]

CMs have usually been great with DD#1 who has a SCI at C5.
Had some not be so nice to Dad and Step mom in their ECVs. They said that a lot of people abuse the system.

We also have had quite a few other guests "complain" about our getting our crew of 5 in front of a long line.
One lady was so rude I told her that if she would like to exchange her daughter's mobility for my daughter's, I would go to the back of the line!
I was also pretty mean and told her that my daughter's handicap happened at 6 yr. old, so she better watch her kids (you never know what might happen)

[Teddysmom]

Teresa,

I am laughing so hard right now. I think we were seperated at birth. I have said both of those things to people who were being rude about DS(who doesn't look disabled right off the bat) when they thought he was getting something they weren't. They see him in a wheelchair but he appears fine, whatever that is [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ,and think he we are trying to pull one over on everyone by him using one.

DS didn't start to seize or suffer any of the various physical ailments he does now until the age of 2 1/2. So I have said that as well. Nice to know I'm not alone on this one. I would think if you saw someone in a wheelchair you would just thank god it wasn't you or yours [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] .

[jams67]

I am going to love this forum.

I have 2 kids with special medical needs. When DS1, Jack, was 4 we decided to take him to Florida for a trip before his transplant (he's also autistic). We were on the waiting list and it was very stressful. We stayed at my father's in W. Palm Beach for a few days before going on to disney world. I had made PS for Crystal Palace for lunch one day. A CM told me to go to the right of the line. So I did. I went to the window to ask where I should go if I had PS. There were 2 women at the window. As I stand there waiting for them to finish, the one starts pushing me out of the way (gently)by moving closer to me and away from the window. Finally I said excuse me, and she turned around and started yelling at me about how rude I was being and to get to the back of the line. I still had no idea where I was supposed to be at this point. So as she is walking away she said something nasty about pushy parents and I whipped around and yelled "I'm pushy because he is waiting for a transplant and I don't know if he's going to live to see his next birthday". My blood pressure is going up right now as I'm writing this. Just a few days ago at home Jack & I had go to the market and he was standing in front of the bins with rolls in them. I was ordering from the deli counter when I saw he was blocking someone's way. I told him to move but before he had the chance the guy pushed him aside. (there goes my blood pressure another 20 points) It was one of those thing I was shocked and didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. I've gotten better at ignoring people but everyonce in awhile, someone will just say something completely stupid and then I just say "He's autistic. He doesn't understand as well as you do." And just walk away.

I'm thinking of taking both to WDW some time next year (after my sept solo trip). It's nice to have someplace for us to discuss these things, give hints, etc and not get lost in the crowd.

Julie

[Elliot'sDragon]

I am amazed at the rudeness that you have encountered. I have always been so happy that WDW allows guests with Special Needs to skip the line. (Of course, sometimes someone in that group would turn and say, "Come with us.") [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Sam I Am]

My mom Teresa already replied but I thought I would add mine. The worst is from the year I took three of my really good friends with me to WDW. One teenage girl passed the six of us (El my best friend, her sister and brother, Sarah my other best friend, and Brad my best guy friend) standing in the handicapped line on e-ride night at Big Thunder Mountain. Under her breath she muddered must be nice to get in front of the line cause you have a crippled friend. El heard it and yelled back yeah it's the one benefit. I sat by her bedside and waited for her to die all so I'd get to the front of a darn (she really said something else) rollercoaster ride line. The CM apoligized for her. CMs have been very nice at both Dinorsaur and Tower of Terror they saw the gang of us get on and printed off a picture of us handed it off to us and refused payment.

[homeschoolmom]

I have had the need for a wheelchair at our last 2 trips to WDW. I can't say I noticed any rude comments, but sure got some horrible looks from people, especially at the bus stops. It really bugs some people that they have to wait to board while a wheelchair patron and their party is loaded. And once in a while you get a disgruntled bus driver who really doesn't want to bother (attitude says a lot more than words sometimes).

We did have a CM go above and beyond for us at MGM. We had been to One Man's Dream, but had to skip the film because of Fastpasses being due and about to expire at Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Since the girls wanted to see it so badly and it was our last day there, we left to see it. As we came back, my husband approached the exit to One Man's Dream and asked if there was a way to get in to see the film (without going back down the block and weaving the wheelchair through all of the exhibits inside), explaining we had already seen everything but the film. The CM was great! He had us wait there while he went in to tell the CM in the theater about us. He came back and told us how long until the current showing was over. We were to stay to the right and wait for the folks to exit, then the CM would take us in the back door. He did and it was a relief to my husband not to have to thread me through all of that again. They were wonderfully kind and understanding.

It's no picnic having to be in a wheelchair, even if temporarily. It's unfortunate that some people's selfishness (like those who make the rude comments as mentioned in prior posts) must intrude into the lives of others. I agree that you would think they would simply be grateful that it isn't necessary for one of theirs to be in a wheelchair. But isn't it wonderful that the contrary is also true--there are so many compassionate and caring people out there. I am so glad I have had the good fortune to cross the paths of some of them at WDW.

[homeschoolmom]

My daughter reminded me of another CM being great. We were at the bus stop at MK waiting to go back to ASMu. The first bus came, but the lift would not go up so as to get me on the bus. They had to send that bus back and another came, but the lift on that one didn't work either. The rest of the crowd did get to board that time, but of course we didn't. The supervisor was there, due to the lift problem on the first bus. He was so concerned about our wait (and I think for my embarrassment) that he called a bus over from one of the deluxe resorts and changed its placard to All Star Resorts. Then they loaded me and my family and proceded to take us to our resort--we were the only passengers on that bus! Why they didn't load some others on after us, I don't know. But we had the driver's undivided attention and he was wonderful--told us so many things about WDW on the drive to ASMu. He was also very kind and understanding to me--in no way did I detect that he was even a little put out about the change in his schedule. He wished us a great evening, change his sign to MK and left us there, a very grateful family.

[AngelOn9]

I am really appalled at the behavior/ignorance of the guests some of you have encountered(and the CM's for that matter, they <i>really</i> know better). Please know that should any of you encounter people like this when I'm around, I'll gladly give a dirty look and/or a "How dare you be so rude and unkind!" I promise not to throw in any curse words...it <b>IS</b> WDW afterall.

[RocklandRVers]

We just got back from a wonderful week in the world (May 10-16) and I used an ECV to navigate the parks.

I heard some of the rude jerks who think that ECV users are getting over somehow. I have to tell you though that all the rides we went on were pretty much walk on anyway so nobody had to wait. Sure they sent me through a special gate, but thats pretty much it. We had to wait just like everyone else short though it may have been.

As for the CMs, I have nothing but praise. They didn't make any big deal. Usually as I would maneuver through a gate, they would quietly point me to a special area where another CM would take over and lend any help I needed.

All I used the scooter for was because I am heavy and I knew I would not have the stamina to keep up with DW and DS. I really did it more for them as I didn't want to spoil things by cutting time off the parks because I was tired or my knees hurt. If it was just me visiting, I would walk and take my time and do what I could.