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Old 04-15-2010, 10:43 PM   #1
PamelaK
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Special Needs Not So Magical Cast/Guests

The idea for this thread started in another thread about scooters at WDW. It was also inspired by an old thread about "Not So Magical Cast Members" (http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ical-cast.html).

Here are a couple of NSMCM that those of us traveling with Special Needs tend to encounter. (Or at least we notice them more.)

Center Stoppers will suddenly stop in the middle of wherever they are: walkways, gift shops, whatever. This usually causes the scooter use to attempt (a usually futile) sudden stop. (Contributed by CinderAbby)

Dashers are kids who run in front of you because Mom and Dad aren't watching again resulting in a usually futile attempt at a sudden stop (Contributed by CinderAbby and Eeyore Tattoo)

The Gazelles are those that will try to jump over the feet of a wheelchair in order to get to their destination faster in a crowd during a mad dash. (Usually experienced at rope drop for Toon Town or DHS when heading to TSMM) (Contributed by PamelaK)

Do you have any others to add?
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Old 04-15-2010, 11:23 PM   #2
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I'm glad you started this. If I weren't getting so tired, I'd think of a few more people we've seen.
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My Previous TripsAll WDW - July 1980 off property - July 1981 FW - July 1983 FW - July 1985 FW - August 1987 FW - July 1988 Treehouse Villas - July 1990 Treehouse Villas - July 1997 FW - August 2006 AS Sports, 1st time with DH and DD - August 2008 AS Sports - August 2009 AS Sports - August 2010 AS Sports - July 2011 AS Sports - August 2013 AS Music - August 2014 AS Music - August 2015 AS Music - August 2016 AS Music - August 2018 AS Music, Kate (lovewdw2) joined us for the weekend
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Old 04-16-2010, 12:21 AM   #3
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The Shoulder Sitters - those people who block the view of the wheelchair/scooter people by letting their kids sit on their shoulders in the front row.
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:17 AM   #4
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The Leaners - Who think that your wheelchair is their personal "lean rail"

The Player - Can be children or adults, people who think your chair is "just so cool" and want to touch it

The "Befrienders" - People who see you in line and feel the need to talk to you (even though they never talk to able bodied people in line). And of course what they want to ask you is about your illness/disability. Because what you want to talk about in Disney is being sick!
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:23 AM   #5
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The "Befrienders" - People who see you in line and feel the need to talk to you (even though they never talk to able bodied people in line). And of course what they want to ask you is about your illness/disability. Because what you want to talk about in Disney is being sick!
Befrienders is certainly nicer than my name for them - the busybodies.
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My Previous TripsAll WDW - July 1980 off property - July 1981 FW - July 1983 FW - July 1985 FW - August 1987 FW - July 1988 Treehouse Villas - July 1990 Treehouse Villas - July 1997 FW - August 2006 AS Sports, 1st time with DH and DD - August 2008 AS Sports - August 2009 AS Sports - August 2010 AS Sports - July 2011 AS Sports - August 2013 AS Music - August 2014 AS Music - August 2015 AS Music - August 2016 AS Music - August 2018 AS Music, Kate (lovewdw2) joined us for the weekend
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:40 AM   #6
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Very interesting topic, indeed!

Are we talking about cast members or guests, though?
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:41 AM   #7
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I'll go one better on the "befrienders"...we had a couple ask if they could be our "tagalongs" so they could go through the back entrance of Haunted Mansion-cause they were curious to see it.
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:42 AM   #8
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the "dramatic sighers" the ones who dramatically sigh with annoyance because your chair has to go on the bus first.
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:43 AM   #9
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Are we talking about cast members or guests, though?
Other guests. I'm pretty sure that the true CM of Disney have a lot more tact and observation skills
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Looking for my previous TR's? Here they are
My Previous TripsAll WDW - July 1980 off property - July 1981 FW - July 1983 FW - July 1985 FW - August 1987 FW - July 1988 Treehouse Villas - July 1990 Treehouse Villas - July 1997 FW - August 2006 AS Sports, 1st time with DH and DD - August 2008 AS Sports - August 2009 AS Sports - August 2010 AS Sports - July 2011 AS Sports - August 2013 AS Music - August 2014 AS Music - August 2015 AS Music - August 2016 AS Music - August 2018 AS Music, Kate (lovewdw2) joined us for the weekend
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:44 AM   #10
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we had a couple ask if they could be our "tagalongs" so they could go through the back entrance of Haunted Mansion-cause they were curious to see it.
They were curios to see it my foot. They probably thought you were getting to cut the line and that's what they truly wanted.
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Looking for my previous TR's? Here they are
My Previous TripsAll WDW - July 1980 off property - July 1981 FW - July 1983 FW - July 1985 FW - August 1987 FW - July 1988 Treehouse Villas - July 1990 Treehouse Villas - July 1997 FW - August 2006 AS Sports, 1st time with DH and DD - August 2008 AS Sports - August 2009 AS Sports - August 2010 AS Sports - July 2011 AS Sports - August 2013 AS Music - August 2014 AS Music - August 2015 AS Music - August 2016 AS Music - August 2018 AS Music, Kate (lovewdw2) joined us for the weekend
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:46 AM   #11
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I think the original thread meant it as members of a cast of characters, NOT cm's. Cm's are a lifeboat in a sea of inconsideracy!
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Old 04-16-2010, 08:51 AM   #12
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The Elevator Jumpers - in their rush to try and get on an elevator in front of you (when you've been there patiently waiting) they impede the progress of those trying to get off. Once everyone is on the elevator, they turn into the cornerstones. They try to stand as far away from the scooter or wheelchair rider in fear they are going to be hit or run over when they should have just waited for the next elevator (or used the stairs or escalator like in The Land or The Living Seas).
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Looking for my previous TR's? Here they are
My Previous TripsAll WDW - July 1980 off property - July 1981 FW - July 1983 FW - July 1985 FW - August 1987 FW - July 1988 Treehouse Villas - July 1990 Treehouse Villas - July 1997 FW - August 2006 AS Sports, 1st time with DH and DD - August 2008 AS Sports - August 2009 AS Sports - August 2010 AS Sports - July 2011 AS Sports - August 2013 AS Music - August 2014 AS Music - August 2015 AS Music - August 2016 AS Music - August 2018 AS Music, Kate (lovewdw2) joined us for the weekend
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Old 04-16-2010, 09:34 AM   #13
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Yes this thread is SUPPOSED to be about the guests. However there are a couple of actual CMs that might fit into the category of NSM also. (I met one on our vacation in November.)

As for other guests:

The scowlers that will give you the "look" when you show your GAC because of a hidden disability and then they will continue to scowl at you the entire time you are waiting in line (if they can see you).

The Obli-rents (that is oblivious parents) that seem completely ignorant of the fact that little Johnny is climbing on the rails and kicking the wall or sliding on his stomach up UNDER the wheelchair in front of or behind them. (Saw them on TSMMM)
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Old 04-16-2010, 12:42 PM   #14
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The want to Be's:
I had a man actually tell me he wished he could have a cool scooter like mine so he wouldn't have to walk, I was so lucky to be able to zoom around..
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Old 04-16-2010, 02:55 PM   #15
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OhDebbbbb!!!! I think we met the same guy!!!! I countered with "You give me the kidney I'm missing, & I'll give you the scooter"...harsh, but the look on his face was SO worth it!
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