ECV'S causing Blindness

[Talking Hands]

I have since found out that the best spots for Wishes is the Rose Garden to the left of the castle, or on the bridge to Tomorrowland practically against the railing. If you want to watch from a distance then the RR station is a great place. In all cases get there early and stake out your spot.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I suggested to DW that I decorate her ECV up like a SpectroMagic Float and I could hook an iPod to play the parade music...she wasn't keen on the idea???

NOT???????!!!!!!! She's crazy! Give me a hubby like that any day. Any chance you are at WDW in december?

 

[edcrbnsoul]

NOT???????!!!!!!! She's crazy! Give me a hubby like that any day. Any chance you are at WDW in december?

I know it was October and everything I thought it was a great costume for MNSSHP, she looked at me like I was nuts...although I get that look often.

Nope I'm going down in Nov..

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Perhaps part of the problem is height related. I am 4'10", and I have run into the problem multiple times where I will be the next person in line and they will pass me over for the person behind me. I have been run into in crowds, had problems finding somebody to help me in stores, etc. I think part of it is that people don't look down, they look at their eye level. When you are in an ECV or a wheelchair, you are very rarely at somebody's eye level, so my hypothesis is that that contributes to the feeling of invisibility.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I know it was October and everything I thought it was a great costume for MNSSHP, she looked at me like I was nuts...although I get that look often.

Nope I'm going down in Nov..

She's the one that's nuts I tell you. Nov..... now that offers possibilities. Only have to find a CM that is willing to keep you hostage for a month at the most.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I know it was October and everything I thought it was a great costume for MNSSHP, she looked at me like I was nuts...although I get that look often.

Nope I'm going down in Nov..

Yes, you just gave me the perfect costume idea for MNSSHP in Sept.! Now to start sewing...

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I was on my ECV, waiting for Wishes. We arrived early, really early, so we could get a good spot (I'm short, and even shorter on my ECV). It started to rain. We put on our ponchos. It poured-we got wet. It poured a long time. We got soaked. Then we got cold. But we stayed in our chosen good spot.

Time for Wishes. The rain ceased. Three very, very, tall guys came and stood right in front of me. They had just gotten there. They were dry. They were tall. And they would not move!

Oh lovetoscrap, that reminds me, December 2006, mom, Dh and I had been waiting for the AK Jingle Jungle Parade for about an hour, we had staked out a place next to the side entrance of the Mercantile, next to the path to Camp Minnie Mickey, all of a sudden this really rude couple comes and stands right in front of me and mom on our ECV's and stays there. There is plenty of other areas to stand, but no, they stopped in front of us. They said that they had just gotten married, and could stand whereever they wanted, I was not so polite. They did finally get the hint as I started to roll into their heels. Besides that the CM's had already come along and put the rope out in front of us.

In August 2007, Dh and I had gone down for his birthday and we went to DHS. While he went to see the stunt show, I saw B&TB and then went to watch the parade, well, I found the HC viewing area about 100 feet in front of the hat under a tree and talke for 45 minutes to ths really nice CM, as soon as the parade this tall woman proceeds to pull out her huge golf umbrella and stand so I coudn't see around her or the umbrella and here I am trying to take pictures. Michael, the really nice CM stopped that very quickly. Well, there was also a little girl in her WC that couldn't see either.

And even more s! The bit in bold sounds like something I would do! Great way to stand up for yourself!!

I haven't found the HC area in the other parks, but just might have to make sure I do for our next trip, Dh is tired of being embarressed by my big mouth.

My favourite spot in MK is the viewing area in Liberty Square. It's underneath the Liberty Tree, so is shaded; opposite the Hall of Presidents, so you get regular blasts of air con; reasonably narrow, so no one can jump in front of you at the last minute, without standing in front of the rope; and it's got a nice low wall along the back, that the rest of your party can sit on, and still see the parade past you! Oh, and you're not too far from a rest room either, which is always a bonus

As for Illuminations at EPCOT, the viewing areas closest to Future World are the best, I've found. I've never tried the one between Italy and Germany, but I know that the UK viewing area has overhanging trees, that stop you seeing some of the areal stuff. The viewing area near Future World do get busy pretty quickly, though, so stake out your place early.

I've never seen the AK parade, I'm afraid, but the wheelchair viewing areas are marked on the map, as with all the other parks.

I have since found out that the best spots for Wishes is the Rose Garden to the left of the castle, or on the bridge to Tomorrowland practically against the railing. If you want to watch from a distance then the RR station is a great place. In all cases get there early and stake out your spot.

Never tried the rose garden, but I've found the Tomorrowland bridge to provide a great view. Just be aware that if someone stands right up against the railing to your left, they may block your view of the castle. I've only had one group do that once by accident, and they stepped back as soon as I asked them to. They were also travelling with someone in a wheelchair, and we all got chatting about travelling the parks on wheels, while we waited for the display to start. There seems to be almost a secret club for those of us on wheels, but it could just be because we're all so grateful to see a face for a change, instead of someone's backside!

Perhaps part of the problem is height related. I am 4'10", and I have run into the problem multiple times where I will be the next person in line and they will pass me over for the person behind me. I have been run into in crowds, had problems finding somebody to help me in stores, etc. I think part of it is that people don't look down, they look at their eye level. When you are in an ECV or a wheelchair, you are very rarely at somebody's eye level, so my hypothesis is that that contributes to the feeling of invisibility.

Also, a lot of people subconsciously associate height with power; the taller you are, the more powerful you are, so the more respect you should get. It would explain why those of us in wheelchairs get patronised or ignored so much, and I know a lot of my shorter friends also find that they don't get treated the same as most taller people. I'm sure it's not an intentional thing, but a natural, primitive instinct. Though maybe if we all went around wielding baseball bats, we'd get noticed a little more!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

And even more s! The bit in bold sounds like something I would do! Great way to stand up for yourself!!



My favourite spot in MK is the viewing area in Liberty Square. It's underneath the Liberty Tree, so is shaded; opposite the Hall of Presidents, so you get regular blasts of air con; reasonably narrow, so no one can jump in front of you at the last minute, without standing in front of the rope; and it's got a nice low wall along the back, that the rest of your party can sit on, and still see the parade past you! Oh, and you're not too far from a rest room either, which is always a bonus

As for Illuminations at EPCOT, the viewing areas closest to Future World are the best, I've found. I've never tried the one between Italy and Germany, but I know that the UK viewing area has overhanging trees, that stop you seeing some of the areal stuff. The viewing area near Future World do get busy pretty quickly, though, so stake out your place early.

I've never seen the AK parade, I'm afraid, but the wheelchair viewing areas are marked on the map, as with all the other parks.



Never tried the rose garden, but I've found the Tomorrowland bridge to provide a great view. Just be aware that if someone stands right up against the railing to your left, they may block your view of the castle. I've only had one group do that once by accident, and they stepped back as soon as I asked them to. They were also travelling with someone in a wheelchair, and we all got chatting about travelling the parks on wheels, while we waited for the display to start. There seems to be almost a secret club for those of us on wheels, but it could just be because we're all so grateful to see a face for a change, instead of someone's backside!

I will try the area in Liberty Square. We don't usually have trouble seeing Illuminations, we have seen it next to the American Gardens Theatre on either side and you are pretty close there. At MLK, we try to get on a curb on either Main street or near the front of the castle, near a garbage can and get as close as possible to the curb, no one can sit in front of you and the CM's make those standing in the street move back, so it is almost a win win situation. Right before the parade starts, I back up slightly so DH can sit on the curb.

DH freaks out when I stand up for myself or my mom, but you know I have to do it. I will always do it, so get used to it. I was picked on alot as a child (because of my last name and because I was kinda shy and backwards) and I never had the courage to stand up for myself, but I have no problem now.

Oh, you need to see the Ak parade at least once. We haven't seen the regular parade, but the Christmas one is right up there for one of our favorites and it supposedly is the regular parade with a Christmas overlay. If you do get to see it at Christmas, smell Minnie's float as it comes by, she is "making" hot chocolate

Suzanne

 

[edcrbnsoul]

She's the one that's nuts I tell you. Nov..... now that offers possibilities. Only have to find a CM that is willing to keep you hostage for a month at the most.

Oh no having to stay in WDW for a month whatever would I do

Yes, you just gave me the perfect costume idea for MNSSHP in Sept.! Now to start sewing...

You might find some good lights here for that costume or if anyone wants to stanf out in the crowd


http://www.vibelights.com/

http://www.houseofrave.com/battery_operated.html

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I will say this, when I used the WC at DAK, it seemed to have the opposite effect. My achilles tendon had been damaged by an ECV rolling over it (poor guy couldn't see me in the crowd and felt horrible) while I was at work. I couldn't be on it for more than 10 minutes, but they didn't give me crutches or anything, so I rented a WC.

Those hills are brutal! I was by myself, so trying to power it up the hills was pure torture. I actually had guests offering to help me! It was a little embarassing, but I really appreciated the sentiment. Of course, I also look like I'm 12, so they probably thought I was some poor little kid with an air cast on their ankle who had been abandoned by her family.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I will say this, when I used the WC at DAK, it seemed to have the opposite effect. My achilles tendon had been damaged by an ECV rolling over it (poor guy couldn't see me in the crowd and felt horrible) while I was at work. I couldn't be on it for more than 10 minutes, but they didn't give me crutches or anything, so I rented a WC.

Those hills are brutal! I was by myself, so trying to power it up the hills was pure torture. I actually had guests offering to help me! It was a little embarassing, but I really appreciated the sentiment. Of course, I also look like I'm 12, so they probably thought I was some poor little kid with an air cast on their ankle who had been abandoned by her family.

Yes, some of those hills are pretty rough to motor up in the hot weather (especially for someone who's not used to pushing a chair). It's lovely to hear you got offers of help, though . I always think that using a wheelchair in Disney (or out in the 'real world') allows you to see both the best and worst in humanity. Yes, you will occasionally run into an idiot who has a mail-order medical degree and X-ray vision, but for every one of them, you will find at least ten people who will go out of their way to help. I think that that friendly attitude is seen most clearly amid the magic of Disney, as I've had so many people offer to help with heavy doors, help me pick things up when I've managed to throw them off my lap (did that with a tray of food once!), offer to reach things from high shelves, and generally been all round decent people!

Long live the magic of Disney, and all who sail in her!