smart kid

[BostonRob]

You campers might appreciate this.

I took my daughters camping this weekend. We were "exploring" and we wandered onto an empty site that was a bit different. I said this must be a VIP site because its got an extra long table and a second "stand-up" grill (in addition to the standard firepit grill.) I started explaining to my 5 year old that the extension on the end of the picnic table was like a counter where you could set up your stove. She interupped me and said "Daddy, this is where a wheelchair person sits." So I looked at the table, looked at the grill and realized that the 5 year old was right - we were looking at a handicapped accessible site.
I always knew my kids would be smarter than me someday, but I kind of expected that would happen at some point after kindergarten.

 

[VACAMPER]

cute story, my kids figure everything out before i do. Aren't they great!

 

[AuburnJen92]

Yep, got a kid like that. I look more stupid every day.

 

[Us3]

hehe...great story, thanks for sharing!

 

[mamaloya]

That is interesting. Is it new. I had a horrible time in my wheelchair there in Feb. When I told them I needed w/c accessible, they acted like I was crazy. Do you remember which loop or site? Do you have pics? Seabee would also be interested in this I am sure.

 

[TxTink :)]

That is cute

 

[BigDaddyRog]

...She interupped me and said "Daddy, this is where a wheelchair person sits." ....

Dang smart-alek kids..always going for the obvious answers!!!!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Once them dang young'ns start to show us adults up,, it'll never stop !

 

[BostonRob]

That is interesting. Is it new. I had a horrible time in my wheelchair there in Feb. When I told them I needed w/c accessible, they acted like I was crazy. Do you remember which loop or site? Do you have pics? Seabee would also be interested in this I am sure.

Sorry, this was a state park in MA. Surprised WDW doesn't have accessable sites though.

 

[mamaloya]

OK, I need to write a letter. If a state park can have an accessible site, then FW can too. And I don't mean a premium. I can tent camp in a chair. They actually have a tent designed for someone in a wheelchair. I told them in advance that I needed it to be accessible and they gave me the narrowest pad around. I could not roll to the door of the camper. They do have accessible showers and stalls, but no sites???? Come on FW, catch up.

 

[Shan-man]

OK, I need to write a letter. If a state park can have an accessible site, then FW can too. And I don't mean a premium. I can tent camp in a chair. They actually have a tent designed for someone in a wheelchair. I told them in advance that I needed it to be accessible and they gave me the narrowest pad around. I could not roll to the door of the camper. They do have accessible showers and stalls, but no sites???? Come on FW, catch up.

Our favorite weekend camping location is a local state park, Falls Lake SP, and it has one handicapped site on each loop. These sites are adjacent to the CS, they are the only paved sites in the campground. So there is a paved pad and a paved path to the CS. Also, they have elevated grills in addition to the firepit grills at other sites, and I think they have picnic tables with long overhangs. These sites are obviously meant for trailers or MHs since the level parts of the site are paved. I doubt they get much demand for handicapped accessible tent sites. I'm not even sure what would distinguish an accessible tent site, other than the grill and table. The key difficulty, I would think, would to provide a wheelchair navigable pad, that drains well, and accepts tent pegs. Perhaps a concrete pad riddled with radiating, angled holes to permit stakes?

That said, I think the only real difference between the accessible sites at our SP and the new premiums at FW would be the picnic tables... and maybe not even that since we don't know what the upgraded grills and tables will be like. It could be that every premium will be handicapped accessible! We can hope for the best.

 

[RvUsa]

I agree about FtW. When we were there in feb/march, we asked to be close to a CS, because I don't walk well, and we got a site about 1/2 mile away.... lOl. I requested it on the ressie, I requested it 4 days in advance with a fax, I requested it when we got there at 11 am and had to wait till 3 pm. When I finally got to the site, I called up front and they saiid that was all they had available. Then to top it off, the site had a CLIFF on one side, and was so narrow, I had to limbo under the awning to get out, and the steps were about 1 foot from the cliff, it made it hard for me to get around the whole time we were there.

Our local State Park is more handicapped accessible than the fort.

 

[Shan-man]

Well yeah, that's kinda my point. Pretty much all sites that are wide enough to accommodate wheelchair access and an RV are becoming premiums, with wide paved pads. Since you cannot request sites or even be assured of loops you can now reserve a site type and be assured your site will accommodate your needs, at least size-wise. That doesn't help as far as the distance to CS, but at least you wont step out onto a cliff, or sink in seashell crush. Conversely, if you get a preferred or partial site you can pretty much be sure you will be in some of the narrowest sites in FW, and should make that choice being fully aware.

 

[BostonRob]

Our favorite weekend camping location is a local state park, Falls Lake SP, and it has one handicapped site on each loop. These sites are adjacent to the CS, they are the only paved sites in the campground. So there is a paved pad and a paved path to the CS. Also, they have elevated grills in addition to the firepit grills at other sites, and I think they have picnic tables with long overhangs. These sites are obviously meant for trailers or MHs since the level parts of the site are paved. I doubt they get much demand for handicapped accessible tent sites. I'm not even sure what would distinguish an accessible tent site, other than the grill and table. The key difficulty, I would think, would to provide a wheelchair navigable pad, that drains well, and accepts tent pegs. Perhaps a concrete pad riddled with radiating, angled holes to permit stakes?

That said, I think the only real difference between the accessible sites at our SP and the new premiums at FW would be the picnic tables... and maybe not even that since we don't know what the upgraded grills and tables will be like. It could be that every premium will be handicapped accessible! We can hope for the best.

For whatever its worth, this was definately a tent site. And I'm not sure why an accessible site would need to be paved. I've never been in a wheelchair, but I would think they move around pretty well on the packed ground you normally encounter on a tent site.

 

[mamaloya]

Yes, I have no problem maneuvering in the tent pads at FW in my chair. It is the uneven terrain next to the concrete.

It is not fair that it would only be the premium sites accessible. All resorts have accessible rooms in all categories, value, moderate, deluxe, cabins, concierge, etc. Why at the fort would you have to pay premium just because you are in a w/c? I could not put a tent on a premium. Luckily I am not in the chair 24/7 and can walk and get around pretty well for limited amts of time or I would not have been able to use our site at all in Feb.

I actually think that the partial sites are somewhat accessible. The only prob would be making it over the lip from the pad to the concrete.

Fort Wilderness needs to work on a couple of sites in each loop to designate as accessible or even one site in each class would be nice. What is the point of accessible comfort stations if the sites are not?

BTW, the bus drivers, except for 1, were awesome with us. They were friendly and great about getting my chair tied down. We had one bus driver many times and he was just the best.

 

[disney4dan]

This reminds me of an area on Martha's Vineyard where there is a nice cobble paved parking lot near the water, and a wooden wheelchair ramp that leads toward the water. However, they stop the ramp in the dune area, amid all the really soft sand that never gets packed, not down closer to the water line where you might be able to maneuver better in a wheelchair. Forgive my ignorance if this seems normal, but to me it looked like an impossible challenge in a wheelchair and more of a tease than a help. Hard to describe, but I've been to beaches where the ramp gets just beyond the dune area and seems more accessible to wheelchairs.