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Disabled guests sue Disney on Segway ban
A while back, Disney World made the decision to ban Segways from the park because "they can go faster than 12 mph" which is a danger to other guests. And now three disabled people are, of course, suing the company."The suit filed Friday says they're among an estimated 4,000 to 7,000 similarly disabled people who have turned to Segways as mobility tools," according to an article by the AP.
Okay, I can understand that it might be an inconvenience to not be able to use a Segway when you're used to riding one, but Disney World is a private company who has made a decision that's in the best interests of the majority. It's not like they're banning wheelchairs. There is a solution, however. If the problem with Segways is the speed, why not have an arsenal of speed-governed Segways that can be loaned out to guests. You could even paint them to look like Goofy or something.
Gallery: Disneyworld
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Filed under: Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
Johnettee Mar 25th 2008 12:53AM
Hi, to be honest, I with cp could not use the segways for long distance. However the thing you have to realize and you probably wont because your not in my shoes, I would rather walk badly than use a wheelchair. And I would rather use a segway than walk. I dont expect you to understand. But I dont think i am asking too much for you not to act like you do understand. When I walk for long distnaces my feet swell my bones ache. I have built a large tolerence of pain up in my life. So when I say my feet hurt, believe me they hurt. I have gone to doctor with injuries and been asked how the hell did you stand it? To me, small pain is not really noticable. Cause I have built tolerence. SO ANYWAY here is my point to you all. Would you rather stand on a nail. or walk on it. Worse case scenerio, stand. I would not want to use a wheelchair if I could use a segway. My ballence is bad enough that I dont think i could..... but if i could I would choose segway. Would you rather be bulky or streamlined.
And as far as being very accomadating. Until you live in the world as handicapped person, you dont understand needs of handicapped people better than they do. Isnt that a little condescending? Disney could easily EASILY make the machines go slower!
Dr. Smith Feb 8th 2009 2:22AM
This is sad, people making decisions on what a handicapped person is or is not. I am a doctor, who was in the process of having my leg removed because of a Liz Franks Fracture compounded by 4 charcot joint breakdowns. (8 screws and 2 pins in my foot) I can walk - but after 2.5 YEARS in casts and special braces, my foot is ankle and leg tire quickly (a single trip around WalMart) causing me to limp, and slow way down, unable to keep a normal pace. I tried walking around Universal Studios and within one hour my wife had to push me around the park - ruined her day and mine. I have rented electric wheel chairs ever since - so 50 buck for the day doubles my park fees, looking up all day - is a pain in the neck and requires a few visits to my chiropractor and ads to my costs for a day of semi fun. I was in for a real education my first trip to a park in a chair - the rest of the walking world are for the most part rued and un helpful... it is embarrassing to first hand witness the disadvantages the non handicapped impose on the handicapped. I want to get a Segway because I want to stand eye to eye with the rest of the world as a handicapped person - it is called self respect and dignity. I believe those that are handicapped who can ride a segway should be able to for the reasons mentioned here and many more.
Vito Nov 12th 2007 2:51PM
Disney already offers wheelchair and motorized scooter rentals at their parks.
nonicha Nov 13th 2007 11:21AM
Please...What's next? Lawsuits are getting ridiculous and this is one of them. While I empathize with wheelchair bound people, there are other means for them to get around. Remember, there are no Segways in state parks and other attractions. We cannot accommodate everyone everywhere. Frivolous lawsuits like these create chaos for everyone else, not to mention higher insurance rates, therefore, higher fees to get to the parks. Now, who is hurting who? Perhaps we should turn around and sue everyone that sues everyone else, because in essence, they are suing us all.
vicki Nov 13th 2007 11:21AM
Of course they are suing. These lazy people in this world look for any way they can get a free ride off the rest of us.
linwoz Nov 13th 2007 11:48AM
What did they do before the Segway? Just another
reason to tie up courts for money which you and I
pay for in the long run.
vicki Nov 13th 2007 11:20AM
Lets see. Maybe I will sue Disney because the kids screaming with glee there are hurting my eardrums.
liz law Nov 13th 2007 11:27AM
To sue Disney is just a money hungry suit AGAIN. Welcome to the USA and the liberal suiing tactics. Disney gives sooo much enjoyment to everyone and suiing them is just ridiculous. There are OTHER modes of transportation for the needy!!!!
Frederick Leiserson Nov 13th 2007 11:17AM
You're right, why can't they put a governor on those things?
Jon Nov 13th 2007 11:22AM
Just got back from Disney world and those people go way out of their way to accommodate the handicap. I got slowed down many times waiting for them to take care of people in wheelchairs or groups driving rascals!!!
dfdurant01 Nov 13th 2007 11:33AM
oh boo hoo... the law suits in this country are outrageous... the only people benefiting is the lawyers and the general public suffers. sure win against Disney then what happens - they raise the ticket price and everyone pays your suit.
idiots - if you dont like the policy then dont go. No one will miss you.
These type of people would sue the person they ran over because they didnt get out of the way of their segway!!
Curtis Gress Nov 13th 2007 11:36AM
If you are disabled and pissed off at the world because of your inabilities, then stay the hell home! Let the rest of the world be happy. There are planty of happy disabled people in the world who make the best of the life they have. They don't go screwing up evrybody elses lives just because of their disability. People need to stop suing for stupid reasons and grow the hell up, quit trying to get rich off of the hard working wealthy! The didn't get wealthy by sitting on their ass being pissed off at the worl!
S. Shuman Nov 13th 2007 11:45AM
I have seen Sedgeways in use at WDW at Epcot in 2007. Of course it was a Disney higher up that was using it before the laser light show .
ccaron Nov 13th 2007 11:53AM
I am all for accomadating the handicapped. But if you are that diabled then how are you standing up all day on this thing. I go at least 3 times a year to disney . I think even with a governing device on these things you are going to have safety issues . And if you say there are between 4000 to 7000 people with this same problem why have no one else joined in this lawsuit. If it is just about the segways then there should be no money involed right? Probably not the cause . Good luck to Disney in this case . I would think if this was a merited lawsuit the ADA would have taken care of this before .Segways have been around what the last 10 or so years and now its a problem that you can't use them in the park. Find something else to do with your time.
Sherry Wright Nov 13th 2007 11:54AM
Are you joking?! People now feel they're ENTITLED to use a specific type of motorized vehicle in a private facility and if not allowed to do so, are ENTITLED to some sort of redress? Disneyworld is a PRIVATE company, one which bends over backwards to accomodate the needs of the disabled, sometimes in ways that are annoying and inconvenient to the rest of us. I have no problem with that, but Segways? Get real and rent one of the available motorized carts.
Gary Wilkes Nov 13th 2007 11:59AM
First rule of disabilities -- being disabled doesn't make you a better, nicer or wiser person. In some cases, disability makes people bitter, nasty, pretentious and unbalanced. i.e. I'm surprised it's not a class action suit.
B. Driggs Nov 13th 2007 12:04PM
Speaking of wheelchairs...
When our family visited Disneyworld a couple of years ago, we ended up in line directly behind a very heavy woman in a motorized wheelchair which could not move up the inclined walkway to an exhibit in Epcot. She held up all the people in line, and was indignant when someone behind us suggested she allow those in line to move around her. The attendant made no effort to help out nor to ask for help from the management, and the problem was solved only when our menfolk physically moved her in the wheelchair up the walkway to a point where there was no need for a line.
Me Nov 13th 2007 12:04PM
I could seeing being upset if WDW did not offer alternative means to get around- but they offer it- wheelchairs and motor scooters- WDW bends over backwards to meet the accomdations for their disabled guests- both physically and mentally. I have a little boy who has autism and they are great when we go there.
MakingHappyTeeth Nov 13th 2007 12:15PM
I am 33 and live with musculoskeletal issues on a daily basis and have had to use wheelchairs at Disney to get around the park when I couldn't make it the whole way. I am forever gratful that they have those things so I can enjoy the park like everyone else. The cast members have always been so wonderful, friendly, and accomodating. I can't even see how you can use a Segway if you are disabled but I guess they have their ways. To sue Disney for this is horrible and just another way for the spoiled brats of the world to try and get thier way and pay for vacations for themselves. How horrible for Disney. Hopefully they will prevail. I hate to see people who are disbale to use their condition in this way, it puts us all in a bad light.
Melissa Nov 13th 2007 12:24PM
As somone in the legal field, this lawsuit is ridiculous! Everything nowadays is being called a "discrimination". If you are that bitter and that picky you can't use a segway then WDW is not the place for you. I was just in WDW in July and never saw a single segway so I'd like to know where these numbers are coming from. I have no problem whatsoever with adhering to the needs of the handicapped but come on, it's not like there aren't other forms of accomodations made available. I agree with special lines for those with disabilities but you can't have everything you want in this world and that goes for disabled people too....Use a wheelchair (which by way some are motorized now)....I'd like to know what disability one could have that would make it possible for you to stand up all day in a segway but yet at the same time be labeled as disabled. I would think the wheelchair would be more comfortable anyway....I don't think anyone's trip to WDW should ever be about the money either.....Pretty sad that someone has to attack "the happiest place on earth"....You obviously don't belong there.....