Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Word is, they broke a record at Epcot this New Year's Eve, for most attendance at any Disney park, ever. << I can't confirm this, but I was there that night and I can believe it. It WAS jammed. I'll have to ask today to see if I can surface more info. ---------------- >> They just position 2 cast members at those "crossover" points (like where you would walk into the Coral Reef, for example), and hold the line, leaving a gap. Then, little by little as the line gets shorter in front, they let a few guests through to the "other side". << I'm pretty sure this is what they've been doing at Nemo/Epcot, and it does work. But as busy as it was it was still an invite for line jumpers. CM's were at the crossover, and at the very end of the line. But there was little line control along the length of the line out towards the end. No stanchions or rope to help delineate things.
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Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Word is, they broke a record at Epcot this New Year's Eve, for most attendance at any Disney park, ever. I'd be curious if anyone here can confirm that.<< I don't have the right numbers,nor do I care to know what they are, but I can confirm this much... based on my recollection, December 31st, 1999 was more crowded at EPCOT than this past new year's eve. >>Lack of obesity?<< You know what bugs me Mr. X? Not only do these so-called handicapped guests take up way too much space when the parks are extremely crowded with their vehicles and strollers, now they place themselves into the category of "disabled" and get invited to the front of the line (with the rest of their party of 14) or feel entitled to use premium space reserved for those who REALLY are medically disabled. American laws have allowed this situation to get out of control.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I'll "weigh" in on TDLfans' thoughts too. I do think culture has a lot to do with it. In Europe (and my experience of the Far East), people walk. To the bank, to the store, to the restaurants and bars. But these people aso virtually live on top of each other. In the US, everywhere is so spread out, the car is king! This is one of the reasons for the obesity/difficulty in walking in parks - lack of practice. In the UK, car usage has doubled in 10 years, and that has been commensurate with obesity increases. Also, diet has something to do with it too. In Europe you pay for refills in drinks, the cup sizes - a large in the UK is a medium/small in the US. Supersize is very rare. The diet can be healthier too (though I do think the average American eats healthier than the average Brit, but not Japanese or Chinese in my experience). The US has a more open attitude to disability too. In Europe, unless born with a disability, people tend to shut themselves away. It wasn't that long ago that Europe used to euthanise it's disabled population or lock them away in hospital. Electronics are cheaper in the US than Europe as well. So add all of this up, and you have the increased numbers in ECVs/Wheelchairs in the US parks.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "You know what bugs me Mr. X? Not only do these so-called handicapped guests take up way too much space when the parks are extremely crowded with their vehicles and strollers, now they place themselves into the category of "disabled" and get invited to the front of the line (with the rest of their party of 14) or feel entitled to use premium space reserved for those who REALLY are medically disabled. American laws have allowed this situation to get out of control." I hate to admit this, but I think TDLFAN is right. I have been a wheelchair user (37 breaks in one leg and a broken arm compounded by non progressive cerebal palsy), a disability support social worker, and my mom's disabled. I did indeed witness what looked like boguses cases when we were at WDW. And I also witnessed some true disabled people being treated like dirt :-( No doubt because of the pain of the bogus guests.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>skip Milford this year<<< lol...milford was a lot of FUN though! Thanks, Dennis (AND Bob, and fam)! As far as what Dave and TDLFAN said, yes I think this is becoming a horrible problem for the enjoyment of the MAJORITY of park guests...but who suffers the MOST?? Like Dave said...the TRULY disabled!! Because, naturally, when CM's and other patrons start to feel like every other person on wheels is just lazy or whatever, they start to RESENT the wheels. And so when a truly disabled person shows up...they are treated as "one of the herd" of wheelchair folks, when they themselves have done nothing "wrong" and deserve to be treated with a little respect and, YES, a little bit of extra special service.
Originally Posted By Mr X By the way, DAMN Dave...what the heck happened to you!? 37 breaks in ONE leg!? Ugh. Was that a result of the CP or something? In any case, I sure hope your health has improved since then!!
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Sometimes when I am at a Disney park, I feel like I am mixed in with some sort of medical treatment program for the clinically depressed. I think there are a lot of mentally ill people out there who use WDW as "therapy." It's not so much entertainment, as an escape from the real world and almost a medical "entitlement." It's really no surprise to me that these same people are morbidly obese and have other physical conditions that require ECVs and other devices to survive. I think it's great that we allow people with these conditions an outlet to enjoy themselves. I also wonder sometimes whether we might be too accepting of all of these medical conditions in our society, to the point that people are satisfied and even encouraged to all themselves to degenerate to the point that they need all of the ECVs, medication, and other things to get them through life. We seem to have a pill or medical device to solve every problem in America these days and people don't seem to be at any shortage to rush out and test drive the latest medical treatment option. Of course, Florida is also the retirement and geriatric care capital of the world, so it's probably no surprised that there are a lot of people there with medical conditions.
Originally Posted By Mr X Let me also round this out by saying that I know there are some posters on here that ARE in fact facing the very real dangers of mortal obesity...and it's nothing to joke about. I worry that some of those people are in very real physical danger, and I would hope that those folks who have actually found themselves "on wheels" at the Disney parks for no other reason than extreme weight problems can come to realize that they MUST take some measure of control before they die. Honestly, these folks need to immediately seek help, get their weight under control by any means necessary...so that they too can someday stroll around enjoying the Disney parks like everyone else. But, if you can't walk...Disney is not someplace you should be. You should be in some sort of intensive program to get things under control! Seriously (I remember someone asking "can I ride Space Mountain even though I weigh more than 300 pounds?" (I believe that was a rather short female asking the question!)...the answer is, seriously, you shouldn't be worried about Space Mountain...you should be in a hospital getting things out of "life threatening" phase). I'm not joking here, and I'm sure I'll offend some, but anyway we ARE talking life or death here. WAY beyond "how can I enjoy Disney from a wheelchair".
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Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Let me also round this out by saying that I know there are some posters on here that ARE in fact facing the very real dangers of mortal obesity...and it's nothing to joke about.<< I admit I am one of them. >>Sometimes when I am at a Disney park, I feel like I am mixed in with some sort of medical treatment program for the clinically depressed. I think there are a lot of mentally ill people out there who use WDW as "therapy." It's not so much entertainment, as an escape from the real world and almost a medical "entitlement."<< I would be one of those guests as well, But I will be darned if I go to rent a wheelchair to play the game, like a good percentage of "faux handicapped guests" do at WDW. At least I still carry my weight on my own two feet all over the parks.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Take it easy, bro.<< He needs to get out of the Mafia.. tough business!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "Let me also round this out by saying that I know there are some posters on here that ARE in fact facing the very real dangers of mortal obesity...and it's nothing to joke about." I'm one of these. 6ft 2, 350 lbs. Not good. I know the worst thing is lack of exercise. I work hard, and when I'm not at work or driving to and from it, I'm relaxing with family or on the PC. Thank god I swim, or else just imagine the situation (no whale jokes guys). It is difficult living out of hotels and grabbing food on the go. So I grab whatever is easiest (which normally means fast food). I know it's a prob, being put on Blood Pressure meds in my 20's and still being on them now, is terrible. But I think I have proof that for me it's lifestyle and not really diet - I lost weight at WDW - why? Because I was active. Once someone gets to the ECV because of obesity, it's game over.
Originally Posted By Mr X TDLFAN, unless you have changed drastically in the past few months, you are FAR from "mortally obese". Pretty damn cute, in fact (don't tell FGM).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Man TDLFAN, if you are morbidly obese, what does that make me???? (Do I want an answer?) And yes, for me Disney is therapy. Without a Disney fix, I think I'd crack up.
Originally Posted By Mr X Dave, you CAN chose better foods, EVEN on the go...that whole excuse doesn't really hold water and you KNOW it (if you WANTED to seek out healthier foods, you easily could, EVEN on the road, RIGHT?). Not to mention, excersise. Of course, I'm talking to you and me both! Swimming is a great exersise routine...have you considered increasing it?
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka When I had my surgery this July, I had to use a wheelchair when we went to a concert at the zoo. I was mortified by the thought that people would think I needed it because I was too lazy to walk due to being overweight. I only used it a little bit that day and couldn't get out of bed all the next day. I can't imagine the dignity one would have to give up to ride around in a scooter all day because they are fat. That makes me so very sad that I can't be angry or feel disdain for them. They've got enough problems w/o me adding to them.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Once someone gets to the ECV because of obesity, it's game over.** Only if they stay there.
