The Happiest Trip on Earth!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

As long as it is not TOO WARM for said nightshirts! ;) :D:

OH MY!!!!

[February]

Tips. . .hmm...thinking back to when I could still pilot an ECV. . .and from our wheelchair exploits-

The gift shops, especially in World Showcase can be TINY. Be careful or you may end up wearing an endcap or whatever is displayed upon said endcap!

Know that people with strollers WILL cut you off just because you have an ECV. It seems some sort of sick variation of chicken that people cannot resist.

Do NOT let them board your ecv onto ANY form of transportation without a RAMP. They tried this with one of the Friendship boats on me on our last trip and I ended up slamming into the side of the boat kind of over the edge of my chair and with a black and blue ribcage. That is why this trip I was LIVID when the lazy Friendship captain told my husband to board me 'back wheels first'. I looked at her, and at the ramp that was sitting there as she then headed to the front of the boat- ignoring the ramp.

Fortunately I have the option of getting out of the chair and hobbling onto the boat and that is what I did- but other chair guests and ECVS do not have that option and they should be using those ramps. I brought it to the Captain's attention after we docked- she was smiling at me with a look that could kill and said literally nothing- and I reported the incident. I will be writing about it too- if they're too damn lazy to use the ramps they shouldn't have that job. Period. Someone will get hurt- it's a long drop!

At the Studios- Look out for the HSM float. I am not kidding. It moves really FAST and has a golf cart type thingie which proceeds it- which is actually what almost ran me over and would have hit before the float did.

Don't forget to enjoy the music that loops by the pool at the Poly- sadly you can't buy it and I'm going to have to stay there again just to get it out of my head LOL

They have GREAT smelling spa products for toiletries at the Poly- the ones at the GF were awful! Seriously! The soap smelled like sea weed- and they had not even a bar of ivory to offer instead. They sold Zest in the gift shop but we ended up going to the Poly gift shop and buying some of their shower gel when my travel size Dove melted away (Hey, I'm clean I shower a lot LOL)

Kona Cafe has the BEST chicken noodle soup on the planet if you feel even a sniffle try to down some right away! I heard they serve it at lunch as well as dinner.

If you like stir fry type dishes- the Pan Asian Noodles at Kona is amazing. Our dinner there was the best on property the past two trips running- high on our to do list for next time.

If I think of more I'll post I know you're getting close. I hope you have the best trip ever!

Bru

[Big Wallaby]

There are people here with my phone number. If one of you could, would you give Susi a call and let her know my number, or give me hers so I can give her a call? I think she's already off the computer for a while.

[Shorty82]

There are people here with my phone number. If one of you could, would you give Susi a call and let her know my number, or give me hers so I can give her a call? I think she's already off the computer for a while.

I'll send it to you, I doubt she'll mind. Expect a PM in a little while.

[Shorty82]

I have been reading a LOT about disabilities at WDW and ECVs and busses. We probably won't have to take too many busses. We need to get to the Wildeness campground as well for the Backyard BBQ and a carriage ride. I imagine we have to go by bus there.

Bus from DTD or the TTC or there is a ferry from the MK. I believe those ferries are accessible but am not sure. I do know the ones that run between the Contemporary, the Fort and the Lodge aren't.

But we will be using the ferry to MK and the friendship boats down at the Epcot area resorts.

All Disney buses are equipped with either a lift or a ramp and can hold two wheelchairs or ECVs. ECV and wheelchair users are boarded first but exit last.

The ferry between the TTC and MK is easily accessible. A large ramp is lowered onto the deck from the dock for boarding and exiting. It is used by all passengers and it looks like a smooth and easy transition between deck and dock. The Friendship boats are accessible but I don't know how the disabled board them except that a ramp is put into place.

Resort buses bypass the TTC and go directly to the MK. There is no need to use the monorail or ferry if coming by bus from a resort.

I have read that some of the lifts are small and cannot take all the different kinds of ECV's like the larger ones. I don't know what size mine will be, the hotel made all the arrangememnts for us, renting the ECV and having it ready for us when we get there. I am hoping for a smooth trip with the ECV.

I believe there are two kinds of lifts and that one is smaller than the other. Only the oldest buses in the fleet have lifts of any kind, the majority have ramps that fold out that you drive straight up. Cranbiz or someone will know more detail than that.

Last trip two years ago, I could still walk, was in pain, but not enough to make me have to use a chair or scooter. This time I have no choice. I have to use one. I cannot walk longer than an hour. I hate to have to use the ECV, but at least we can still go to WDW and have fun instead of sitting around here wishing we could go. Disney has made everything so accessible, that is not going to be too hard to negotiate the Parks.

I have a list of some of the tight queues and turnstyles for some of the attractions like France and Mexico in the WS. I may be able to leave the ECV outside and walk a little to some of those and not worry about negotiating the tight turns there. I am hoping that I can do this with most attractions. Not have to ride it in and transfer to a chair, then to a seat or ride vehicle. If I remember correctly, May was not so crowded last trip, Soarin' was the worst wait we had and I can take my ECV there. Ay least at DL they let you ride all the way in and Park next to the lifts. That would help! Lots of Fastpasses as well! Anything more I should know about being diabled at WDW, I would appreciate any tips from anyone.
sues

The majority of attractions have accessible queues and the few that don't have alternate entrances for wheelchairs and ECVs (for instance wheelchairs and ECVs go down the exit ramp of it's a small world). All newer attractions were designed with accessible queues and only a small number of older attractions have queues that could not be modified to be accessible and the majority of those are in the MK and a few are in Epcot. All of Animal Kingdom's and Studio's queues are fully accessible.

There are a few attractions in the MK that aren't accessible. Peter Pan cannot be stopped so you have to be able to step on and off a moving belt and get in and out of the vehicle pretty quickly. The TTA (WEDWay People Mover) is accessible only by a sloped speed ramp (essentially a conveyor belt) so one has to be able to step on a sloped, moving belt, ride belt to the top, step off, go through a short queue line, then step onto a moving platform and step into the vehicle. Then you have to do everything in reverse to exit the attraction.

I'm pretty certain that the handicapped board Soarin' the same way here. Stop by Guest Relations when you first enter the park and get the Guidebook for Disabilities (titled something like that). Ask the greeter at each attraction about how to enter the attraction. Don't hesitate to ask for assistance if you need it, any CM will be glad to help and if they aren't then they aren't doing their job and should be reported. Remember though CMs cannot, under any circumstances, help a guest get into or out of a wheelchair, ECV, or ride vehicle. The WDW website has on each attraction's page information on handicapped entry.

[Princess Susi]

Thanks everyone, for the great tips. I will be printing out those posts and taking them with me.

Bru, your advice is gold, as it comes from someone who knows what it is like.
I will ask for a ramp. I usually have Ralph move the ECV through tight spots and back up and get into areas I have trouble doing.

I am going to watch for the HSM float. I have seen it at California Adventure and usually avoid it. I will need eyes in the back of my head to be able to see all the possible things that could cause me to have to stop quickly or manuver away from something. :bugeyes: You know how it is. I have had the experience of usung the ECV at Disneyland already, so I am used to it at Disney Parks.

The real problem sometimes is that we are at eye level with butts. If Ralph points out something ahead and we are in a crowd, I cannot see it because of the butts and my eye level. That is something many don't think about when they try manuvering in front of a chair or ECV. They have no ideas we cannot see around their butt.

OoOoOoOo...nice smelling toiletries at the Polynesian! Ahhhhhhh...heaven!
I will be spending a LOT of time at the resort. We will do some half day deals, where we go to the park in the morning and come back to the resort in the afternoon and then try staying around the resort in the mornings and go to the Parks later to enjoy some night entertainment like Spectromagic and Wishes from the Park (maybe). We will have a great view of Wishes from the Polynesian beach. And we have a Fireworks cruise to see them from in a boat in Seven Seas Lagoon. That will be romantic! Awwwwww..... :p:

I am looking at everything I can to get info about being disabled at WDW and I am finding some great info!

Thanks Shorty for all,the info, as I said I am going to print this out and read it several times to keep it in my head. It is such valuable information. Thanks again for posting all that! You are a champ!

Well, I am getting my hair cut ( ) and colored (gotta wash the grey away) today and finish packing. I have been doing all this a little at a time so I don't blow out my back doing it all at once! I still have to make some tee-shirts, I have great transfers, I will post some of them, they are cute! (Thanks to all the techies who helped me the first time to figure out how to make them!)

Then we have to run a few more errands! Thursday we pick up my Rx's and drop the kitties at Alameda East and Carmen at the Bird hospital to board. He does not have his friend Whistle anymore, but he is still a happy, goofy bird!

I cannot wait til Friday ...fly in to WDW and get checked in at the Polynesian and go on our Wishes Fireworks cruise that night at 9PM.

I like the Electrical Water Parade too. It passes the Polynesian at 9PM every night so that will be fun to watch. I am hoping for a particular room at the Hawaii Longhouse, 2501, right next to the Concierge lounge and it has a panoramic view of Seven Seas Lagoon and the GF, the MK, and the Contemporary. I am hoping we get it, we requested it! Pray we do!

So we are set to go and I will have stories and pics to share when we get back. As I said, I won't have a computer, which is just as well, I would probably spend too much time at eBay looking at pin auctions and not be out having fun! ;) I will TRY to post at least once or twice from there, but no promises. I have several cell numbers now and you all who Pm'd me, have ours.

Yes Big Wallaby, we got your phone call! :) We have your number too! We will see you there! We will be in the DAK on Thursday next week, I know that is your day off, but we also have a few more days at DAK, hopefully when you are working, so we can be on your safari vehicle! :D:

I hope we can get together with you and your wife too. I will be calling those who gave me a cell number and try to figure out when we can meet. You can also call us, please. We may get sidetracked and I want to hear from you all! We have to meet our WDW friends! Absolutely!

I will try to post again before we leave, but Ralph wants me away from the computer. Once I log on, it is almost certain I will be on for at least 4 or 5 hours and we don't have that kind of time to spare right now!
So I will post once on Thursday for sure before we leave for the airport hotel. OoOoOo, I just remembered that hotel has 3 computers for guest use in the lobby! :D: I will check in to find out if anyone else has PM'd me their phone numbers or schedule for the weekend and early next week. Please any of you who have not PM'd me and want to meet, do so before we leave. I can check until Thursday night late or early Friday morning if the hotel computers are not being used by other guests.
cont...

[Princess Susi]

We leave on Friday morning, have a stopover in Dallas and then onto Orlando. We had to schedule the flight that way because we needed first class or Economy Plus on United or Ted with my back and Ralph's problems and I am 6ft tall and Ralph is 6'1". Ted flies direct and has Economy Plus which would have been great, but there was no guarantee we would get it. We needed to know we had lots of room in our seat with no questions as to whether we would get the seat or not. There is no way either of us could have flown coach and been in any shape to do anything for a day or two after. Not enough room and it hurts to be crumpled up like that.

So we did the next best thing and are flying a stopover flight (ick) which will get us to WDW late in the afternoon, but we are taking a towncar into the resort so we can make a grocery/liquor store stop and pick uo some things I don't want to pack.

Thats it for now, We will see all of you WDW CM's in Florida next week! And our Character friends too...
YIPPEE!

:dancear: :break: :hi5: :hysteria: :lei: :nyah: :pirate2: :sparky: :thumbup: :bouncemic :piano: :chili: :strawdan: :toast: :mickey2: :minnie: :goofy2: :donald2: :pluto: :tink: :pooh: :eeyore: :belleg: :beast: :ariel: :aurora: :cindgown: :snow: :pumbaa2: :bambi: :flower: :thumper: :dumbo: :rufus: :stitch: :wallaby: :zazu: :runaway:

:bananana:

Susi-Q and Ralphie_pooh

[February]

I am going to watch for the HSM float. I have seen it at California Adventure and usually avoid it. I will need eyes in the back of my head to be able to see all the possible things that could cause me to have to stop quickly or manuver away from something. You know how it is. I have had the experience of usung the ECV at Disneyland already, so I am used to it at Disney Parks.

The real problem sometimes is that we are at eye level with butts. If Ralph points out something ahead and we are in a crowd, I cannot see it because of the butts and my eye level. That is something many don't think about when they try manuvering in front of a chair or ECV. They have no ideas we cannot see around their butt.

OoOoOoOo...nice smelling toiletries at the Polynesian! Ahhhhhhh...heaven!
I will be spending a LOT of time at the resort. We will do some half day deals, where we go to the park in the morning and come back to the resort in the afternoon and then try staying around the resort in the mornings and go to the Parks later to enjoy some night entertainment like Spectromagic and Wishes from the Park (maybe). We will have a great view of Wishes from the Polynesian beach. And we have a Fireworks cruise to see them from in a boat in Seven Seas Lagoon. That will be romantic! Awwwwww.....

The thing that shocked both my husband and I was how fast the float moved. Way faster than anything I've ever seen in a park before. I don't know how the people don't fall off!

The toiletries are amazing though for some reason the lotion doesn't smell quite as amazing as the body wash, shampoo and conditioner do. But it's all great stuff and they do sell it in the gift shop too in bigger sizes just remember if you want to stock up, have them ship it home for you cause that's not carry on liquid size, baby LOL.

Awww, fireworks cruise! That IS so romantic!

Have a marvelous time and hey, if you're reading this, what are you doing on the computer? LOL ;) You've got fun trip stuff to do! Get moving! LOL

;)

Bru

[Theme Park Where]

The thing that shocked both my husband and I was how fast the float moved. Way faster than anything I've ever seen in a park before. I don't know how the people don't fall off!
Bru

As someone who has had to run along side it to keep guests back, I concur. wheeze, wheeze, wheeze - I'm too old for this! :(

[Princess Susi]

The thing that shocked both my husband and I was how fast the float moved. Way faster than anything I've ever seen in a park before. I don't know how the people don't fall off!

The toiletries are amazing though for some reason the lotion doesn't smell quite as amazing as the body wash, shampoo and conditioner do. But it's all great stuff and they do sell it in the gift shop too in bigger sizes just remember if you want to stock up, have them ship it home for you cause that's not carry on liquid size, baby LOL.

Awww, fireworks cruise! That IS so romantic!

Have a marvelous time and hey, if you're reading this, what are you doing on the computer? LOL ;) You've got fun trip stuff to do! Get moving! LOL

;)

Bru

I'm going! I'm going! Off to the Hairdressers! Be Back Later!