Every Man for himself?

[olena]

Hi all!

I'm back. I spent a week at the 'world' and I can share my experiences as a guest with a disability. I have really low vision, legally blind, visually impaired, etc. Whatever term suits you...I just can't see very well. I stayed at the GF, but we didn't valet park. DH and I just parked in the handicapped permit parking in front of the convention center. The resort was pretty empty anyway. I got my GAC at City Hall at MK on my first day. They have changed since my last visit. My special needs weren't hand-written as before. They were printed out with a pre-fab explanation. I liked the large print, but I didn't like the pre fab message. Since I have no central vision or ability to focus, I need to sit up front AND center. The pre fab card said only 'up front'. I mentioned this to the City Hall CM and he said they couldn't add 'center'. If I get too far to the side, I'm pretty much confined to listening. On most rides, it doesn't matter. It's the shows that get me.

How did it work for the rides? I had varying experiences. On Test Track, the FP CM briefly looked at it and directed me to the door for the pre-show. I got in, but people were just rude. I had people actually push their way in front of me. When the doors opened, I was nearly trampled by the cattle and was forcefully separated from DH. I was so disoriented and pretty mad. There were no CM's around to help, let alone show my GAC to. On our way out of the park, we participated in a survey and I mentioned my experience.

After that I pretty much had to make things happen on my own. This was especially tough when I did things on my own and not with DH. I would get pointed in some general direction. When it was dark, I was feeling my way and trying to figure out where to go and sit. That was frustrating, especially when people would push past me and end up in the spot I'd supposedly been directed to. For me, things have gone more towards an 'every man for himself' mentality.

Don't get me wrong though. I had a fabulous trip. I'm just reporting this aspect of it here for y'all.... Have a great day!

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry to hear things were not entirely good for you. Things are harder the less staff there are since they don't have extra bodies to direct people who need some extra help. We often do a lot of directing ourselves, because once people are directed into the preshow area, there is often no CM and no way to know where you SHOULD be waiting. Since we've been to WDW a lot, we can tell people to come to the right door or whatever.
I do think for the card regarding vision problems, it should say "Front and Center" because for many people with vision problems that is important. I think they are not allowed to handwrite anything on the card because, unfortunately, there are people who would add their own handwritten comments.

I am glad to hear that you had an opportunity to tell about your experiences in the survey.

 

[olena]

My probelms really happened on rides or shows I've never done before. Now I know....

 

[seashoreCM]

>> forcibly separated from my DH. I was so disoriented...

1. Just reading about things like this raise my temper to the point where I want to suggest "creative" ways of doing your own "every man for himself". For this specific case the following idea comes to mind: Have a signal plan whereby you call out and your DH answers alternatively and repeatedly until your DH is able to find you and return to your side.

and for this:
>> other people push past and fill up all the seats in the place the CM, now some distance away had directed you to:

2a. (modified) Have your DH go in ahead to claim a seat for you in the desired area. If necessary use suggestion #1 above to rendezvous. Regrettably I cannot agree with holding seats for a family of four let alone a family of ten. But your DH is certainly entitled to claim a seat for himself at the same time as locating a seat for you, while the other family members are on their own.

2b. Or, if you are familiar with the way the show runs and the enxt show is in quick succession, after the crowd moves on, you move to the front center seat you wanted before the next crowd pours in, and sit through the next show.

3. (best) Figure out some way to write in "and center" after the pre-printed "up front" on your card, then explain to each CM at each show.

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