Hello to all

[ransam]

This is my first post. First of all, let me tell you i am a disney fanatic. When i was a kid my mom and dad use to take us every summe to disney. It was great, cause every year it was a surprise. We'd go out to eat as a family and end up in disney. We'd go to the airport to "pick up grandma" and end up getting on a plane and going to disney. My mom would always pack our clothes w/o us knowing it, and off we'd go...so basically we'd wake up in kansas, and go to sleep in orlando. It was incredible. It got to be where my sister and I never knew if we were really going out to eat or going to disney. It was actually quite fun, knowing it was gonna happen, but not knowing when. As a 42 year old now, I look back to those times w/ such sweet memories. My buddy just took his family out there last november, and remembering all the times my family surprised us, he decided to surprise his kids, so they picked them up from school and just took off, they didn't tell them where they were going until they got to Memphis. Just as a suggestion, you want to see your kids face light up, try surprising them w/ a disney vacation. it's a great way to begin a vacation.
Now that i'm older I haven't gone in a long time. I took my brother (he was only 15, there is quite a big age difference) and my roommate to disney back in 1999, but before then it had been almost 15 years since i had been there. we had a great time.
Next week, my sister and I and my family are gonna turn the table on mom and dad. my dad, has retired, and my mom is not in the greatest of health. My mom as been a foster mother for years,and she has always stayed in touch w/ her children. so on the 14th, my family and my sister have planned it so we are gonna surprise them and take them to disney, just like they use to do to us. the fun thing is we have arranged for quite a few of their foster kids to also go out there and when mom and dad get there, they will have a 2nd surprise as they will be surrounded by all these kids and their families that they have helped over the years.
I can't wait.

well now that i told you my story, and bored you all, i have a couple questions. first of all, this is teh first time we've stayed in a disney hotel. we're staying at teh all star sports. just wondering, i've heard differen't answers, but is the pool open all night? some say it is, others say it's not. also, my mom is severely handicapped. is it hard to get around in disney, or in the hotel?

thanks for all answers

 

[pearljim]

Welcome!

We've been to WDW 60-70 times and I think it is one of the most handicap accessible places you coud find. I think you will be pleased with the help you receive from CMs.

Most resort pools are open at night (can't speak for the ASR) but do have a closing time posted. It likely varies depending on the season.

Enjoy!

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Thanks for sharing your memories! What wonderful ones to have! I wish you and your family the happiest of times when you return next week. Wish you could capture your parents' surprise and share it with all of us. How nice that even some of their foster children will be able to share in the surprise. I know you will all have incredible memories when you leave!

 

[minnie61650]

What a wonderful surprise for your parents. I enjoyed reading about your surpise Disney Trips.

The pools at the All Stars are open until Midnight.
Sometimes guests use them after hours. If the guests are quiet they are usually allowed to stay. If it is after midnight and guests in the pool are keeping you awake just call the front desk and they should handle it.

I do highly recommend The All Star Resorts. They have great bus service.
I would also suggest that because of mobility issues she should rent an ECV
from an offsite company.
I have mobility problems and have rented mine from Care Medical (800-741-2282) and Walker Mobility (888-726-6837) in the past. I would recommend either one.The cost is about $30 a day. The ones at the parks cost $35 a day and are bigger and have 4 wheels kinda like a golf card. They are harder to steer and to control. If she rents from an offsite rental they will deliver the EVC to bell services at the resort. She can use it to go to the pool, and food court as well as the bus stop.
All Disney buses are accessible. I love using my EVC it gives me more indepence and helps keep my pain to a minimum. The rooms at Pop and All Stars are the same size but there is more room between the door and the bed than at POP. I just back my EVC into the room, plug it in and I ready to go to the parks in the morning.
Also the beds are bolted down at POP but you are able to move the ones at All Stars to give you a little more useable floor space.
If she decides to rent an EVC (which I highly recomment) she can practice using one at a local store such as Wal Mart or Target. Those are a little bigger than the rental ones but the practice will help.
I will give you more tips on a second post I will call Part Two.
Linda
__________________

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Welcome!

Thanks for sharing your wonderful story!

 

[minnie61650]

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
All Star Sports is at top.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.


I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
Linda

 

[Pryncess'mom]

Now after I wipe the tears from my eyes have a great time!! What a special trip this should be!!

deb

 

[Samsma]

Have a great time! Your mom and dad must be a lot of fun and very special people. You are lucky to have them, and vice versa. Hope the weather and crowds cooperate and you have the best time ever! And welcome to the Disboards! Planning my trips with everyone here is truly half of my fun!