Tiiiigergirl
<font color=red>Had to be rolled out of the restau
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2000
- Messages
- 782
Cast of Adventurers
Me: Shelly Disney Nut and wanting to go back to WDW for 12 plus years.
DH: Warren Converted Disney Nut
DS: Brandon, Age 7 Being raised right (a Disney Nut)
I awoke refreshed and invigorated prepared to meet the new day. OH ALL RIGHT! I awoke. What more do you want. Remember the time difference. When we woke up at 7am it was more like 5am. But hey, we were at Disney World. OK, OK we were at the airport Sheraton, but we were in Orlando and almost there. We decided after the good meal at the hotel the night before that we should eat breakfast at...McDonalds. Don't ask me why. I have no clue. So we snarf our McFood down and amble back to the hotel.
Once again we start the ritual of supplying money to people for looking at our bags. We arranged to have Tiffany Town Cars take us in style to Dixie Landings. We pay the bell hop, our bill at the front desk and it seems like someone else got some cash although for the life of me I can't remember who. I wish I could remember who our driver was so we could try to avoid him in the future. He was surly and sullen and did not want to stop at Publix Market. Now Publix was the tip I had gotten from the board and it was printed on my itinerary so who was he to argue with my preprinted, carefully worded itinerary. Besides we were footing the bill, why should he care what grocery store parking lot he hangs out in? Let me tell you we ran through that store buying raisin bran that did not get eaten until we got back to Utah. Yes, friends I am so cheap that I can not stand to throw anything usable away. So that unopened, smashed box of raisin bran rode in the town car, stayed at WDW, rode in another town car to Port Canaveral, cruised the Bahamas and flew back to Utah. It was well traveled raisin bran. We did, however, manage to eat all of the pop tarts and the Nutter Butter Cookies. I guess you can see where our priorities are, hmmm?
So we arrived at WDW Dixie Landings and it is gorgeous. I loved how the car stopped right where our luggage went and everything was handled. I grudgingly paid our Tiffany driver and silently stuck my tongue out at his back. You're right I didn't but I felt like it. We checked in and the desk clerk gave Brandon some crayons and an Adventurers Magazine. I loved the little rocking chairs where the kids can watch cartoons. About this time I was really regretting our McDonalds Breakfast. I wasn't quite sure it was going to stay down. The room started spinning and I told Warren it was time to find my electric cart.
One of the best tips from the DIS board was from the DISabilities board to rent an ECV from Walkers. They were incredible. At the time I had a job where I could not make outbound calls from work and their office was open when my office was. I was able to leave a message with their answering service requesting an evening phone call and Mr. Walker himself called me at my home. He arranged everything and it was wonderful. I received two moderate to severe head injuries 12-13 years ago. I can walk but not any great distances. Disney vacations are the best because with my wheels I can keep up with my family. OK plug over, back to the story.
He got it out of the luggage room right where they said it would be and I was grateful for it. Dixie Landings is enormous. Warren and Brandon went with the Luggage and I raced them on my ECV. They beat. I was in no condition to care. By the time we got to the room I was sick. All I wanted to do was lay down and I can tell you that that was not printed on my itinerary anywhere. Brandon is saying lets get going and I'm saying no I think you need to watch some cartoons. He was a pretty good sport about it considering we did not come all that way to sit in the room and watch TV.
Happily after about an hour we left for EPCOT. I was grateful for the lack of an audience as I tried to back my ECV on the bus. I wouldn't always be so lucky. I was back!!! We headed for spaceship earth and Brandon would have spent the rest of the afternoon trying out all the kiosks as you get off if we would have let him. We went to Living with the land for some lunch. On the ride some yahoo made fun of Brandon's vocal tic. Momma wanted to reach over and teach him some manners but I refrained. Next on our schedule was the Living Seas, added since my last visit. I think I over-hyped it in my mind. I would have liked to have tried the JIM suit but people kept cutting in front of me in line. I think they must have thought that since I was in my chair, I didn't want to or couldn't and physically and emotionally I was not up to asserting myself. Maybe next time. We swung by Test Track fast pass earlier and when our pass time came up the ride was closed so they stamped it to return any time.
Off to World Showcase. We went past Canada but knew we weren't going to try to take Brandon in the theater and also could not find the accessible way into that land, so we basically skipped it. Peeked in shops at Great Britain and France and then entered the Millennium Village. Watched part of the soccer game at Brazil and then Brandon wanted to go to the rain forest. It looked like a tight squeeze for my cart so I said I'll wait for you out here not realizing that it had a separate exit. The things I muttered under my breath are not repeatable or printable and I really wished we had 2-way radios. Finally caught up with them when I switched from obscenities to prayer. I parked the ECV and Warren helped me climb the Swedish exhibit because I heard about this giant frozen egg. I was underwhelmed. Off to Israel and I wish this was a permanent exhibit. That country is definitely on my list of places to visit. Brandon was whining to stay longer but the narrow aisles and the crowds made it very difficult for me to navigate so we told him no and stop whining.
He was getting tired but by golly it was just the first day and nap, well we'd already had an unplanned one earlier. A little uncooperative through Japan and Morocco and then to my destination. American Adventure. I'd waited 12+ years to see it. It was well done but with everything else at WDW I think I can wait another 12 years before I see it again. Brandon fell asleep. We loaded him in stroller and peeked in Germany and Italy, saw some African Drummers and caught the acrobat act at China. Brandon woke up and we rode Maelstrom and Rio Del Tiempo.
Somehow we managed to be at the disabled viewing area for TON just as they were putting up the ropes. It was a great location. I parked and sat. It was close to the sailing ship playground in Norway so Brandon and Warren went to go play. I can not describe that parade. I was not expecting much but just thinking about it gives me chills. We ate and watched it again and then saw Illuminations.
Trying to wheel and ECV through a crowd is not an easy thing to do. Now luckily I have experience in crowds...just not buses. When we got to the bus stop they directed us where to wait. There was another wheelchair party waiting as well but they boarded me first. Now I thought I understood which way the driver wanted me to enter but I guess not. Of course he waited until I was all parked and feeling very proud of my self before he mentioned that I was facing the wrong way. So with my audience, I changed directions only I was nervous and banged the door and the driver. I'm not certain but I think a subconscious part of my brain wanted me to get the driver. I'm kidding. I think.
Back at DxL. We are all exhausted. Brandon fell asleep waiting for the bus. His meds make him sleep anytime he slows down so we're all used to him sleeping in strange places. I however wanted and needed a bath to soothe my muscles and relax me enough to sleep.
Mickey we have a problem. I start putting water in and found some floaties in my tub including a very long black hair. Yuck. I wanted to move rooms but Warren did not. I can see his point. Our legion of luggage would need to be moved as well and he would have been the volunteer uh I mean chosen one to do it. If I would have packed cleanser in all that luggage I would have cleaned it out but that wasn't on ANY of the lists I saw. Who knew. I called housekeeping. They sent someone who acted like I was crazy for caring about a hair but I paid money to have a clean bathroom. Sometime around midnight I got my bath. Uh honey would you please set the alarm for 6:30. Now dear, Brandon still might be able to hear your language even in his sleep.
Me: Shelly Disney Nut and wanting to go back to WDW for 12 plus years.
DH: Warren Converted Disney Nut
DS: Brandon, Age 7 Being raised right (a Disney Nut)
I awoke refreshed and invigorated prepared to meet the new day. OH ALL RIGHT! I awoke. What more do you want. Remember the time difference. When we woke up at 7am it was more like 5am. But hey, we were at Disney World. OK, OK we were at the airport Sheraton, but we were in Orlando and almost there. We decided after the good meal at the hotel the night before that we should eat breakfast at...McDonalds. Don't ask me why. I have no clue. So we snarf our McFood down and amble back to the hotel.
Once again we start the ritual of supplying money to people for looking at our bags. We arranged to have Tiffany Town Cars take us in style to Dixie Landings. We pay the bell hop, our bill at the front desk and it seems like someone else got some cash although for the life of me I can't remember who. I wish I could remember who our driver was so we could try to avoid him in the future. He was surly and sullen and did not want to stop at Publix Market. Now Publix was the tip I had gotten from the board and it was printed on my itinerary so who was he to argue with my preprinted, carefully worded itinerary. Besides we were footing the bill, why should he care what grocery store parking lot he hangs out in? Let me tell you we ran through that store buying raisin bran that did not get eaten until we got back to Utah. Yes, friends I am so cheap that I can not stand to throw anything usable away. So that unopened, smashed box of raisin bran rode in the town car, stayed at WDW, rode in another town car to Port Canaveral, cruised the Bahamas and flew back to Utah. It was well traveled raisin bran. We did, however, manage to eat all of the pop tarts and the Nutter Butter Cookies. I guess you can see where our priorities are, hmmm?
So we arrived at WDW Dixie Landings and it is gorgeous. I loved how the car stopped right where our luggage went and everything was handled. I grudgingly paid our Tiffany driver and silently stuck my tongue out at his back. You're right I didn't but I felt like it. We checked in and the desk clerk gave Brandon some crayons and an Adventurers Magazine. I loved the little rocking chairs where the kids can watch cartoons. About this time I was really regretting our McDonalds Breakfast. I wasn't quite sure it was going to stay down. The room started spinning and I told Warren it was time to find my electric cart.
One of the best tips from the DIS board was from the DISabilities board to rent an ECV from Walkers. They were incredible. At the time I had a job where I could not make outbound calls from work and their office was open when my office was. I was able to leave a message with their answering service requesting an evening phone call and Mr. Walker himself called me at my home. He arranged everything and it was wonderful. I received two moderate to severe head injuries 12-13 years ago. I can walk but not any great distances. Disney vacations are the best because with my wheels I can keep up with my family. OK plug over, back to the story.
He got it out of the luggage room right where they said it would be and I was grateful for it. Dixie Landings is enormous. Warren and Brandon went with the Luggage and I raced them on my ECV. They beat. I was in no condition to care. By the time we got to the room I was sick. All I wanted to do was lay down and I can tell you that that was not printed on my itinerary anywhere. Brandon is saying lets get going and I'm saying no I think you need to watch some cartoons. He was a pretty good sport about it considering we did not come all that way to sit in the room and watch TV.
Happily after about an hour we left for EPCOT. I was grateful for the lack of an audience as I tried to back my ECV on the bus. I wouldn't always be so lucky. I was back!!! We headed for spaceship earth and Brandon would have spent the rest of the afternoon trying out all the kiosks as you get off if we would have let him. We went to Living with the land for some lunch. On the ride some yahoo made fun of Brandon's vocal tic. Momma wanted to reach over and teach him some manners but I refrained. Next on our schedule was the Living Seas, added since my last visit. I think I over-hyped it in my mind. I would have liked to have tried the JIM suit but people kept cutting in front of me in line. I think they must have thought that since I was in my chair, I didn't want to or couldn't and physically and emotionally I was not up to asserting myself. Maybe next time. We swung by Test Track fast pass earlier and when our pass time came up the ride was closed so they stamped it to return any time.
Off to World Showcase. We went past Canada but knew we weren't going to try to take Brandon in the theater and also could not find the accessible way into that land, so we basically skipped it. Peeked in shops at Great Britain and France and then entered the Millennium Village. Watched part of the soccer game at Brazil and then Brandon wanted to go to the rain forest. It looked like a tight squeeze for my cart so I said I'll wait for you out here not realizing that it had a separate exit. The things I muttered under my breath are not repeatable or printable and I really wished we had 2-way radios. Finally caught up with them when I switched from obscenities to prayer. I parked the ECV and Warren helped me climb the Swedish exhibit because I heard about this giant frozen egg. I was underwhelmed. Off to Israel and I wish this was a permanent exhibit. That country is definitely on my list of places to visit. Brandon was whining to stay longer but the narrow aisles and the crowds made it very difficult for me to navigate so we told him no and stop whining.
He was getting tired but by golly it was just the first day and nap, well we'd already had an unplanned one earlier. A little uncooperative through Japan and Morocco and then to my destination. American Adventure. I'd waited 12+ years to see it. It was well done but with everything else at WDW I think I can wait another 12 years before I see it again. Brandon fell asleep. We loaded him in stroller and peeked in Germany and Italy, saw some African Drummers and caught the acrobat act at China. Brandon woke up and we rode Maelstrom and Rio Del Tiempo.
Somehow we managed to be at the disabled viewing area for TON just as they were putting up the ropes. It was a great location. I parked and sat. It was close to the sailing ship playground in Norway so Brandon and Warren went to go play. I can not describe that parade. I was not expecting much but just thinking about it gives me chills. We ate and watched it again and then saw Illuminations.
Trying to wheel and ECV through a crowd is not an easy thing to do. Now luckily I have experience in crowds...just not buses. When we got to the bus stop they directed us where to wait. There was another wheelchair party waiting as well but they boarded me first. Now I thought I understood which way the driver wanted me to enter but I guess not. Of course he waited until I was all parked and feeling very proud of my self before he mentioned that I was facing the wrong way. So with my audience, I changed directions only I was nervous and banged the door and the driver. I'm not certain but I think a subconscious part of my brain wanted me to get the driver. I'm kidding. I think.
Back at DxL. We are all exhausted. Brandon fell asleep waiting for the bus. His meds make him sleep anytime he slows down so we're all used to him sleeping in strange places. I however wanted and needed a bath to soothe my muscles and relax me enough to sleep.
Mickey we have a problem. I start putting water in and found some floaties in my tub including a very long black hair. Yuck. I wanted to move rooms but Warren did not. I can see his point. Our legion of luggage would need to be moved as well and he would have been the volunteer uh I mean chosen one to do it. If I would have packed cleanser in all that luggage I would have cleaned it out but that wasn't on ANY of the lists I saw. Who knew. I called housekeeping. They sent someone who acted like I was crazy for caring about a hair but I paid money to have a clean bathroom. Sometime around midnight I got my bath. Uh honey would you please set the alarm for 6:30. Now dear, Brandon still might be able to hear your language even in his sleep.
Too funny.
