Miami Beach Mayor filing suit against Disney

[Gator]

Apparently, this mayor hat an iBot wheelchair and was operating it in two wheel mode. Cast members told him not to operate it in such a manner, probably thinking it to be a Segway type device. Turns out it's a medically approved transport device. Disney appologized, but that's not good enough for this mayor. He's filed suit. You know what that means? It means we the ticket buyers will see increases in prices all over the parks to cover the millions in court fees and the millions in settlement costs. One guy gets rich; we get stiffed. Go ahead and call me heartless, but I think folks like this need to be tarred and feathered-everyday for a month. That's my opinion.

[Scar]

Source please.

[Gator]

I first found the story over on another site, but here's the link from Miami Herald (with the permission of the moderators).

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/1359258.html

[caryrae]

High-tech wheelchair causes Disney ruckus

By Jeff Kunerth, Orlando Sentinel

Myron Rosner, a paraplegic, has a fancy, high-tech wheelchair that allows him to elevate on two wheels. But two wheels are too few for Disney.

On Sunday, security guards at Animal Kingdom told Rosner his wheelchair violates the parks’ ban against Segways. He heard the same thing the day before at Epcot.

“I’m sorry, but this is not a Segway,” said Rosner, 49, who was injured eight years ago in a construction accident. “It’s an approved medical device.”

Unlike the Segway, where the rider stands up, Rosner sits in his wheelchair – but at a higher level so that he is eye-to-eye with other people.

Rosner’s iBOT Mobility System is like a Transformer wheelchair that can ride on two or four wheels, climb up stairs or plow through sand.

Rosner said he was told to convert it to four wheels or he would be asked to leave the park. He refused.

“I’m not a dog. I don’t want to be on all fours,” Rosner said.

Disney officials said Rosner was informed of the park policy against two-wheeled motorized contraptions but was allowed to stay in the parks. Rosner said he was harassed and followed by Disney employees.

“The IBOT vehicle is allowed in the park,” said spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez. “To ensure the safety of our guests, we ask that they be on all four wheels while boarding attractions.”

Rosner, who is mayor of North Miami Beach, owns one of the few hundred iBOTs that were manufactured by Johnson and Johnson until production was discontinued earlier this year. The company cited the wheelchair’s $30,000 price tag, low sales and the inability to get Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for the chair as the reasons for its demise.

Rosner said he, his wife, and children have been coming to Walt Disney World for years and his two-wheeled iBOT has never been a problem before.

But in 2007, Disney instituted a policy prohibiting the Segways, contending their 10 mph speed and balancing problems created safety hazards for other guests. The ban was protested by activists for people with disabilities and resulted in a lawsuit.

“I’m not going down on four wheels, no way,” Rosner said. “They’re trying to push me down and I’ve already been there.”

[DizneyRox]

I agree with Disney on this one. Unfortunately, I've heard Segway too many times... Since this isn't a Segway (although I bet it was licenced from them) it's probably going to be enough to stir up the hornets next again.

Quite honestly, I think I'd rather get hit by someone in a Segway that an iBot. That thing looks like it could do significantly more damage.

[phillydan]

Ironically, he is probably 100% more conscientious of the people around him than 'grandma' is on her scooter that keeps riding up my leg.....

[Ian]

*MODERATOR NOTE*

All, let's try and keep this topic civil please. These scooter/Segway/mobility device topics have a way of heading South very quickly.

It's best if we keep opinions out of it and just comment on the topic at hand.

[JPL]

Basically I think Disney is going to have to resort to Doctor's notes for anyone using any type of assistance device in the parks and strengthen their guidlines and make them very clear.

[Djscherr]

I would like to hear the full quote from the spokesperson:

“The IBOT vehicle is allowed in the park,” said spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez. “To ensure the safety of our guests, we ask that they be on all four wheels while boarding attractions.”

Leads me to believe that they want to have four points of contact while on the rides to ensure safety. Would be nice to hear a little more from Disney on this.

[Ms. Mode]

I'm with Disney on this one too. Our company preaches "safety" continuously, and this looks like a safey issue.

Unfortunately, in this day and age the first reaction is to sue. Maybe...Maybe...this Mayor, could rise above it :thumbsup:

[Pagan]

Maybe...Maybe...this Mayor, could rise above it :thumbsup:
Don't hold your breath. Listen to the antagonistic statements he made like:


``He said I needed to go down on all fours, and I said . . . the only way I'm going down is if the sheriff takes me down,'' Rosner said.

With that kind of attitude, he probably had his lawyer on retainer before he even left the park.

[big blue and hairy]

Not only that, he compared people in a four wheel wheelchair to dogs. I hope he's not courting the parapalegic vote. Real nice....

:sulley:

[BluewaterBrad]

Apparently, this mayor hat an iBot wheelchair and was operating it in two wheel mode. Cast members told him not to operate it in such a manner, probably thinking it to be a Segway type device. Turns out it's a medically approved transport device. Disney appologized, but that's not good enough for this mayor. He's filed suit. You know what that means? It means we the ticket buyers will see increases in prices all over the parks to cover the millions in court fees and the millions in settlement costs. One guy gets rich; we get stiffed. Go ahead and call me heartless, but I think folks like this need to be tarred and feathered-everyday for a month. That's my opinion.



I agree with you bro. Makes me sick about all these frivolous suits!!:mickey:

[beksy]

I agree that he sounded almost like he was looking for a lawsuit. Disney was just looking out for the safety of others and now we will all pay for it.

[Buttercup]

Not only that, he compared people in a four wheel wheelchair to dogs. I hope he's not courting the parapalegic vote. Real nice....

:sulley:

That's what I was thinking!
I just googled a picture of an iBot wheelchair - it's hard to understand how they balance by looking at the pictures. I wonder if that was a concern for ride operators on certain rides where the wheelchair can be placed directly on the ride - with the person sitting up so high on, say, The Jungle Cruise. I would imagine he'd have to be 'down on all fours' for rides that you can sit in your wheelchair.

[LibertyTreeGal]

DUDE! This guy has a major attitude. He is not sympathetically representing the disabled in this country. People in wheelchairs are not dogs (politicians, however... rofl) -- he has a major chip on his shoulder about this and is evidently wanting to force it on the world. This is simply how some people operate, and it has nothing to do with his quadrapelegic status.

This special needs mama is siding with Disney this time!

[Goofster]

Sounds like a long shot to me. What were his damages?? He was allowed to stay in the park, but was asked to comply with Disney's safety precautions.

I wouldn't worry about this one at all...

[LibertyTreeGal]

He got at least part of what he wanted, I have no idea whether he got money or not. But the iBots are now legal at WDW, as long as they remain on 3 or 4 wheels. But he cannot use it in 2 wheel mode, which is what he was doing.

[Joannelet]

I think Disney will be okay with this one. They've already had a rule in place about the IBOT. He clearly was NOT following the rules that they have in place for their safety guidelines.
Personally he should have been kicked out of the park for not following the rules. If I decided to stand up or walk out of the car on every ride that I was on, I would be escorted out. He should have the same rules and regulations to follow.
That is awful what he said about the normal standing wheelchair (his comment about being on all fours like a dog). Who does he think he is?
The ADA should sue him for his inconsiderate comments and unfair judgement.

[Stu29573]

A jerk is a jerk, pure and simple.

[handmaidenofprincesses]

I know Disney has a tendency to settle these thing out of court, but I hope they make a judge embarass this idiot. I like the way a woman named Stephanie Kienzele put it in an editorial to the Miami Hearld:


I nominate Myron Rosner as Schmuck of the Year. I bet he wins.

[DigitalDaredevil]

By his own behaviors, he seems to have a chip on his shoulder. He should have handled it differently and being a public official, he certainly should know better.
I recall seeing a similar wheelchair profiled in Innoventions in the House of the Future. It was rather impressive how it would operate on two wheels.
The Mayor should be happy with the outcome of introducing Disney to the new technology. In no way can Disney cover every device and situation until they encounter it. In this case, the CM's were following the policy and they cannot be to blame.