Disney's Hollywood Studios
Shocking Incident at Disney: Child’s Nearly Crushed by Vehicle After Parents Turn Away
A recent report from a Walt Disney World Resort visitor has shed light on an unsettling experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, highlighting a troubling encounter involving a mobility device and an ableist confrontation. The guest’s mother, who uses an electric convenience vehicle (ECV) due to back issues, faced an aggressive interaction with another guest in the park.
The Incident: An Aggressive Encounter with No Empathy
The visitor recounted:
“I was just at Hollywood yesterday, my mom uses ECV because of back problems and a child ran in front of her, she instantly stopped just in time so no one got hurt and the child was a foot away anyway.”
While the situation was avoided without injury, the guest’s mother was then confronted by the child’s grandmother, who reacted aggressively. The visitor recalled: “The grandmother? went up to my mom, yelled in her face ‘how about you get off your ass and walk like normal people’ being completely ableist and that sh*t made me so furious.”
This moment of ableism highlighted a recurring issue: the challenge of facing unwarranted judgment and lack of understanding while navigating public spaces with a mobility device.
The Broader Issue: Ableism in Theme Parks
This incident points to a broader issue for many guests who rely on mobility devices, even in environments that aim to be accommodating. Walt Disney World Resort provides ECVs and other accessibility measures to assist guests, yet these facilities can still be marred by the insensitive behavior of other visitors. The guest’s report underscores the importance of both accessible infrastructure and the responsibility of all parkgoers to be understanding and empathetic.
The visitor’s post quickly sparked online conversations about ableism in theme parks and public spaces. Many users shared similar experiences, reinforcing the need for patience and respect toward guests with mobility challenges. “What if they hurt themselves, they start eating the colors, ingesting the cap, etc.” the guest further added, calling for better understanding and responsible behavior from the public.
The Need for Awareness and Respect
Disney has yet to comment publicly on the specifics of this incident. However, the situation serves as an important reminder that the responsibility to create an inclusive and supportive environment falls not just on park staff and infrastructure but also on visitors. Mobility devices are legitimate means of navigating the park, and respect for those using them is vital to fostering an inclusive atmosphere.
Though no physical harm came of the incident, the emotional impact felt by the guest and their mother points to an ongoing need for greater awareness and kindness within public spaces. Theme parks like Disney are meant to be places of joy and inclusion, where everyone can feel welcome, no matter their abilities.
My mom had Meniere’s Disease. It throws off your balance and causes Vertigo. So she needed to use either the ev chair or be pushed in a wheelchair. At first she would rent the EV but I noticed that guests were not very nice to her and would walk right in front of her or children would run right past her. She would get funny looks during most of the day. So I started pushing her in a wheelchair, all of a sudden guests are nice and make sure to be mindful of where the wheelchair was. I get it, there are people who abuse the EV and should be walking but not everyone is that way.
My daughter-in-law was pregnant and, due to several miscarriages, the doctor wanted her to use an EV; so we rented one. Two older women were sitting on a bench outside of the entrance to our resort, and they made vulgar remarks – within her ear shot – toward her using the EV. She chose to let it go, but her remark to me was regarding those women having their private parts sewn together (to avoid miscarrying) and seeing how they would feel – would they make the same vulgar remarks?