broken toe, wheelchair, flight delays Disney June 8 - 16

[cajunsrus]

I have been a lurker for about 6 months and got a lot of great information on this site. Since I experienced Disney in a wheelchair at a couple of parks I wanted to do a trip report and let everyone know how it went, as well as the fun we all had.
The players
Me - 38 been numerous times
Hubby - 38 also a Disney veteran
And - 50 had not been in about 10 years
MO - 40 had not been in 25 years
KAC - their daughter 12 first time visit

It all started when my husband had to leave for a business trip overseas 2 weeks before we had to leave. He left on a Friday I broke my toe the following Wed and figured I would have the worst time in Disney boy was I wrong....

Day 1

We had a flight out of Lafayette LA at 9:50 in the morning with a connecting flight in Houston then on to Orlando. Everyone was concerned I would not make the connection in Houston so we got wheelchair assistance...BIG mistake. No problems in Lafayette but they took me and KAC on the cart and drove us all over the airport. We barely made the plan and it only took everyone else about 15 min to make the connection...I could have walked even in my stupid shoe. So if you are able to walk at all with a broken anything do that instead of taking the cart they were EXTREMELY rude. Got to Orlando around 3:50, got the rental car from National and we were on our way to Sheraton Vistana Resort. From reading the boards we had already called ahead to asked for a room with an elevator as AND has knee problems as well. We were in the Fountains and they were gorgeous. Very quiet we faced the pond on a second floor with a balcony. VERY VERY happy except for one night but more on that later. Now to back up a bit the maps that National gave us did not help us a bit trying to find the hotel so we ended up in DTD about 3 times before we stopped at the Hess station to call and get directions but we made it. We unpacked and headed out for beer and dinner. The Bennigans that is just in front of the resort is wonderful and the waiters are great. We got to see the shuttle go up from their parking lot it was wonderful. We headed back to the room for some drinking and then headed to bed tomorrow would be Animal Kingdom...more tomorrow.

 

[lynn71092]

OK, sounds like Party People..
I'm in!

 

[PittypatBR]

Well hi there neighbor! I'm from BR but my son lives in Lafayette. I was there in May (you can see my TR). I thought I had broken my toe the second day there but it was only dislocated thank goodness. I will be reading to see what would have happened if it HAD been broken!

 

[cajunsrus]

Hello to you both...I hope you enjoy the next day of our report....

Day 2 - Animal Kingdom

We decided on Animal Kingdom for the first day since Saturday would be too much for Magic Kingdom. We got there a little after it opened due to going to bed a little tipsy the night before and getting all of 5 hours of sleep ....

The park wasn't too bad got there at about 9:30 and I decided I would try and walk this one since my foot felt pretty good and it wasn't all that big a park with lots of places to sit down. We had down our reservations through AMEX so we had to go to the ticket window to get out Disney passes. MO told the girl it was her first time in Animal Kingdom so we all got 1st time passes...this was a very very important part of a couple of the days. We figured out that is how some of the wishes are granted and we did receive a lot of CM noticing and mentioning how it was our first time. Headed over to a Bugs Life and began the park experience. I realized that we needed to get a fast pass for EE but no one wanted to listen to me (of course ) and I realized the chances of getting on this ride in the afternoon were VERY slim but I went with it, knowing only me and AND would go on the ride anyway. The park wasn't all that busy we hit everything right on time. Since we were staying in a villa with a fridge we were going to shop Friday night and pack a lunch but that didn't happen so we ended up eating in the park which wasn't all that bad. By the time we got there it was too hot for the animals for the safari so we didn't do that ride but no one seemed to mind. After lunch we headed over to EE...the line was close to 2 hrs for wait and the fast pass was for 6 - 7 we had plans for the Pirates show at 8 so we were debating on what to do....then it happened one of the CM came out and asked if we had been on the ride we told him no and we were thinking of doing the fast past but wasn't sure. So he asked how many were going on we told him two he told us to come with him and he would give us a look in the control room and put us on the next ride.... ... broken toe or not I almost ran after this guy. Now we are not teenagers anymore but thrill seekers none the less so we looked crazy hugging and laughing in line as we completely PO'd everyone who was hot, miserable, and were waiting in that line. We started the climb and I actually found MO and Hubby watching us they heard my BIG mouth yelling to them and hubby got it on tape....woo hoo first wish....we even got a certificate telling us that it was granted it was AWESOME!!!!!! After that headed to Dinoland and the parade and headed back to the room for a couple of beers and a shower before the dinner show...

Pirates Dinner Show

Not the best food but the show was pretty good. We bought souv. cups with (of course you will see a trend) beer in them for like 10.50 which wasn't bad since it was well over 16 oz. If you go make sure you make it for the pre-show it was pretty good and got the audience involved plus the app were actually better then the dinner. We all tried to get the wave going in our section but no one would play along...some people this is the happiest place on earth people get with the program....LOL

Left there around 10ish and headed back to a 2 in the morning laugh, giggle feast on the balcony with too much alcohol and lots of fun. We went and saw one of the pools for a bit but the water was cold that day due to the rain we got while we were at the show. Again Sheraton Vistana Resort is definately worth it. Even though you are not on property it was just really refreshing....

Hope I'm not getting too winded the trip was soo good and I want to fill everyone in. Tomorrow -- Tampa (my husbands aunt/uncle 50th ann, Hooters and a plan for a whinny 12 yr old and an child of 40)

Thanks for reading..

 

[jcc0621]

What/where is the pirate show. I am assuming it is off property

Sounds like your group is the kind that has fun wherever they may be

Next installment please

 

[cajunsrus]

The Pirates Show is on Carrier Drive north side of Int'l drive...Im going to try and type the next one later this evening...thanks for reading

 

[rentayenta]

Lovin' it!

 

[cajunsrus]

Day Three - Tampa and a little bit of Monday planning

We were SUPPOSED to get up early on Sunday to go to Tampa on the road at 7:30 well as you have read we like to drink on vacation and the 5 hour nights were catching up so when we all checked the alarm clock at 8:30 and realized we were late...oh well no beach in Tampa. We had a great time visiting with family and going to the ann party its not ever day that someone makes it to 50 years of marriage.... We stayed in Tampa until 5:30 and headed back to Orlando for a night at Hooters. For some more background on this crew we actually met at the Hooters in Lafayette LA when hubby and I moved and we have been bf every since so needless to say this was going to be one of the destinations when we were in Disney. Stayed there for a bit and headed back to the villa for...you guessed it... more beer and laughter. Now hubby and I do not have kids and the friends we went with have their 12 yr old daughter..My bf MO wanted to see MK so bad on this trip and hadn't been in 25 yrs so hubby and I felt the need to take over as the parents for the MK day...well it was quite the experience but I learned 2 things....my mom had more patients then god and I don't have even an ounce. So to end this very small version of our trip report. I give a LOT of credit to parents who can handle the screaming, pounting and demanding issues that come with having kids...I will explain with the tomorrow visit how bad it was for me and my temper and how I do give all the credit in the world to parents. It killed me to see the "melt down" that came around 4 in each of the parks with kids that were real young and the parents that were just trying to give their kids a good time...so on that note and soap box to all you parents.

Day 4 - MK, attitude, meltdown and a complete day 9 - 11 at Disney.

Night all and thanks again for reading.

 

[cajunsrus]

Since this was going to be a big park we needed the wheelchair. On a side note I feel every person should have to go through this. This gives you an insight on people who don't have the option not to use one. Between the hubby and AND they pushed me around and not very many people paid attention or even got out of the way...also some of the people in strollers where almost worse. Back to the story

We picked up the w/c before getting on the monarail and had informed KAC that me and hubby where the parents for the day so MO could have her day. We saw the opening show which none of us had seen and loved it. We got in the park and headed to Space Mountain..KAC started the "I don't want to go" routine and we informed her she did not have a choice because we all where going and she wasn't staying outside alone. We only had a 15 min wait and on the ride we went. After the ride KAC was ready to go right back on. We hit all of Tomorrow Land in 2 hours. We had finally shopped and packed a lunch which saved a LOT of money. We had a backpack/cooler that hung on the wheelchair so we had water, lunch and snacks all day.

Then went to get KAC some autographs (which was packed) but she got a few. Headed over to its a small world and with a 45 min wait since we had the w/c we got in in 5....OK so at this point the w/c became our fast pass. Did the same thing on Jungle Cruise and POC. Then headed over to Thunder Mountain. This was also a 60+ minute wait then found the w/c line another 10 minute wait...also got the front. At this point we had done everything we wanted to do and just needed to eat dinner, Splash Mountain, the electric parade and the fireworks...OK here comes the meltdown. We went to Splash and there is no wheelchair line and the fast pass is not working. So as you can guess the line was forever. We made the decision to pass it since we still needed to eat and the parade was starting in a little over an hour. KAC threw a fit and we lost our parenting priviledge. AND took over. Now this child had been up since 6 and it was now pushing 8 and she was exhausted but we all lived through it until the rain started...BAD. We had dinner and figured we were going to miss out on the parade .... the magic of Disney came through and we saw the parade which was incredible. Hubby said it had changed since he saw it and it was great. The parade ended and the fireworks began. We were just a little to the right of the castle and the colors and music where so overwhelming it made you want to cry. After the fireworks we dropped off the w/c and headed back to the car. No big beer giggle tonight too tired and had Seaworld the next day. KAC had no idea we were even going so we were excited. She didn't even leave the parking lot at Disney before she passed out.

Tomorrow Seaworld, pool and relaxation a bit.