[tinkerbell]

this will not be as funny as fifi's post about running over people with her stroller .. but I just have to say this.
When ever the bus would arrive the driver did not let anyone on till he loaded my DH. we got a lot of glares and stares from those standing at the front door of the bus .. we had children and adults run past as he was trying to back in ( his wheelchair doesnt have rear view mirrors folks) and that didnt help him get loaded any faster. We are sorry you had to stand there and wait while the driver made sure him and his wheelchair were secure. some had at least 5 different safty straps, but his family were also standing there waiting while you stared and glared at us. None of us, specially my DH liked being the reason you were not on your way to the park.
twice we had to wait over an hour for a bus that was handicapped acessibile, while everyone else was able to get on the bus and go .. And you were able to get off the bus first, while we had to wait for you.
So in a way it evened out, you were no where near as inconvienced as you felt.

[mattomouseman]

All I have two things to say:
#1) :madmad SHAME! SHAME! :devil on anyone who would take offense and feel they were being inconvienced by someone who is handicapped!:madmad

#2) As far as I'm concerned Tink you and your DH have ABSOLUTLY nothing to be sorry for!

[mickaholic4077]

How horrible for you,Tink,and your husband too!! I hope you realize that those miserable excuses for human beings are in the extreme minority.

[tiggerlover1971]

1 that really stinks
2 shame on those nasty people I know I shouldnt wish things but some times I wish something happened to them and they see how it feels

[garada3]

Originally posted by mattomouseman
#2) As far as I'm concerned Tink you and your DH have ABSOLUTLY nothing to be sorry for!

I second this!

I am also sad to learn that you had two waits of more than an hour for an accessible bus. That, in my opinion, is absolutley unacceptable.

[grinner01]

I often have to remind myself that rude and inconsiderate people are in the minority but sometimes it is very difficult. It just seems that there is always at least 1 around. I find sometimes that people aren't always as bad as they seem..they just don't THINK !
I'm sure you have learned to be a very patient and forgiving person. Thanks for reinforcing that we should all try a little harder.
If I see you guys out anyplace I'll play blocker for you :D !!

[rlander]

This is very sad. People get so inconsiderate when they in a hurry. I witnessed the same ignorant comments when we were in line to get on a bus that was loading a wheelchair. My wife and I just gave them the evil eye when we heard the comments. Of course this didn't stop them!!!

I agree Tink. You have nothing to be sorry about.

[preidel24]

Tink,

What a shame to think folks are that insenitive to the needs of others. I agree with everyone one else you have nothing to be sorry for. If you feel sorry for anything, feel sorry for those folks.

Paula

[inluvwithdisney]

How dare anyone glare or stare!!!PATIENCE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
Isn't Disney about magic and love and family?? No need for apologies AT ALL!!!!

People need to get a clue!!!!!!!:(

I am sorry for your unpleasant experience!!! Unfortunately, those people are the ones that pass that on to their kids, so the cycle never ends!!!!

Hopefully, the rest of your experience was more pleasant!!!

[tinkerbell]

thanks ya'll
we did feel horrible. specially in the beginning. my DH was still really new to the wc, and he had to back up on to the bus ramp. if there were people already sitting on the bus he had to be very careful not to bump them while trying to get the wheelchair backed in to the spot. at times he turned the power off and me or Lisa Summer guided him up on to the bus and got him in to position to make it faster. But lots of times we stood there just trying not to over hear comments or catch the glaring looks. We felt like we were doing something awful :( Once I even cried because just as my husband got the wheelchair lined up just right to board the bus this man walks right behind him ..followed by his kids and my husband almost ran over one of the kids. they were trying to get to another bus that was behind the bus we were loading on. the man stopped and said "watch out you nearly hit my son!!" my DH said he was sorry ..that he didnt know he was back there. I dont think I could have done as well as my husband.
I know we shouldnt have ..but both DH and I said we felt ashamed, and embarrassed .. one thing he never did was take his chair in the restuarants .. he parked it outside and used his cane .. he wanted to make sure after I had told him that someone's child on the board had been run over by someone on an EVC. that he didnt do anything like that.
We are very proud that he ran over no one but his own family!!!! Poor Barbie got run over twice and so did I !!

[garada3]

Tinkerbell - I thought of you and your DH this morning as I did the weekly shopping at the grocery store. I had my three sons plus the two kids I watch (the $ helps pay for my grad classes) all parading after me through the store.

A woman was shopping with the assistance of a an EVC (ECV??) and of course the five kiddos managed to surround the poor woman as they passed by her in an aisle. She stopped right away to keep from hitting the youngest two, who were so focused on getting to the pop tarts that they ran right into her path. I apologized profusely to the very kind woman who was very understanding of the excitment of kids. I used this as a teaching opportunity for my three, to try to be more aware of those around them, to look before they cross the aisle, path or walkway and to apologize if they accidentally cut someone off.

I worry about Disney, if they get this excited over pop tarts what will it be like when they see Mickey?!

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by garada3
Tinkerbell - I thought of you and your DH this morning as I did the weekly shopping at the grocery store. I had my three sons plus the two kids I watch (the $ helps pay for my grad classes) all parading after me through the store.

A woman was shopping with the assistance of a an EVC (ECV??) and of course the five kiddos managed to surround the poor woman as they passed by her in an aisle. She stopped right away to keep from hitting the youngest two, who were so focused on getting to the pop tarts that they ran right into her path. I apologized profusely to the very kind woman who was very understanding of the excitment of kids. I used this as a teaching opportunity for my three, to try to be more aware of those around them, to look before they cross the aisle, path or walkway and to apologize if they accidentally cut someone off.

I worry about Disney, if they get this excited over pop tarts what will it be like when they see Mickey?!

garada3, the kids we understand .. really I mean we were very aware of the children and trying to watch for them at all times ..ooo you dont know how many near misses there were .. like this one time in the FP for Buzz this little one was playing on the rail and she had leaned out in to our part just as DH was approacing. We even understood how some adults were just not aware because they were caught up in everything around them. Like I said .. we are really so proud .. no one but family members were run over :) I dont think people in w/c or EVC's want any thing special ..and I believe that most dont want to run over anyone or cause any extra trouble .. I know my husband didnt. and its very sweet that you used the shopping trip to help your children understand, but you can expect them to be children :) and hopefully the person in the w/c or EVC will remember that too !!

on a funny note .. stop and think about the view of someone in a wheelchair .. its ususally everyones butt *grin*

[tragic312]

tink, you shouldn't apologize for anything involving your DH handicap. it's the people who stared and glared at you that should apologize for not helping or making it comfortable for your DH and your DF. some people can just be rude and inconsiderate towards those who aren't like them. then we all wonder why we are on constant terror alert and the world is the way it is. no one lends a simple helping hand to those who need it. if we are all God's children, why do we hate each other so much for our differences? it's very childish if you ask me about all of this. again, don't apologize for your DH handicap.

[DisneyAnne]

I think its terrible that people could be obviously annoyed by something so small. I sure hope they never need any assistance... Just keep taking the high road, Tink!

[sandanv1]

I was once one of those annoyed people who had to wait. On vacation, ready to go and made to wait.

Then I experienced WDW with my grandparents using EVC's. What an eye opener. It really gave me a new outlook. Although WDW is handicap friendly, it was a big challenge. Trying to navigate the bus and the boats took a couple days to master. Riding the monorail, standing in lines, even being seated for dinner was a challenge.

I now find myself more patient, and even accomodating when faced with waiting for the driver to buckle you in, or when you just seem to appear out of nowhere to get in line ahead of me.

So please accept my apologies. Sometimes we forget all those manners and social graces that our parents teach us. And it takes a real life situation to put us in our place and make us see the errors of our ways.