Just got back from WDW(3/27- 4/6/02). We drove from Charlotte and took my own ECV(Pride 4 wheeled Maxima)
Went with my DH and 7 year dd. This was their first trip to the world. I visited 6 times during the 1980's solo.
Went to Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. Went to Epcot on the 29th and since I am not only disabled, but a large woman; I was not sure what would be accessible to me. To my surprise most of future world was accessible(even if I did have to transfer to a regular wheelchair).
World Showcase was a quick once around for us and I rolled into a few shops to pick up some things. A little hard to manuever thru the people, but not terrible.
Sunday the 31st brought the Animal Kingdom and this is very accessible too. Very nice CM's and not too crowded!!
Well this is where the word crowds just get bigger and bigger as the week went on.
We had a timeshare presentation Monday early the 1st and did not get to get into the MK, until almost 11:00 A.M. This pretty much trashed the day as we later found out. The crowds were crazy and it took nearly 45 minutes to travel down Main Steet(me on my scooter and my DH , pushing a rented double stroller). As we approached theCastle we both sighed and then laughed and then turned around and headed for City Hall. We got relacement park hoppers for the day and agreed we would return the next day and do it by the book.
Well, the next day went just like clockwork and with the aids of a couple of fastpass machines that ate my passes(not my tickets, thank god) So I was able to get fast passes for Space mountain, Splash mountain and BTR all at the same time but for perfectly scheduled times(which means enough time to get there from the previous attraction) We walked right onto Buzz and then the cars. We left around one when getting around was impossible.
Then we came back at 7:00 PM and stateyed until 12:45 AM
I have never closed the park, so it was a new experience. We watched Spectromagic and
10:00 and then the crowds died down enough to scoot around without rolling on peoples feet.
We we trashed on Wednesday so we rested. We returned back to MK on Thursday and found our plan to hit some missed things worked well too. This time we included Haunted mansion(something I would advise to pass on for the mobility challenged.) I actually fell getting into the car from the conveyor belt(HOw embarrassing). We left and returned at 8:20( just in time for the end of the parade!) well we closed the park and left at 1:05 AM, but the crowds did not leave at 10:00, they left at 11:30!!. We were happy and sad to leave, but we did not let the crowds get us down.
I did not eat a lot at WDW, but if anybody has any specific questions about the attractions and access-fire away.
I will post later about the yellow tickets Safari Steve posted about, since I go to use a few when I was there.
I will also post later about scooter etiquette and my thoughts on Disney crowd management with disabled guests and some other things that are on my mind, but I am just too tired to remember right now.
Tina
Went with my DH and 7 year dd. This was their first trip to the world. I visited 6 times during the 1980's solo.
Went to Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. Went to Epcot on the 29th and since I am not only disabled, but a large woman; I was not sure what would be accessible to me. To my surprise most of future world was accessible(even if I did have to transfer to a regular wheelchair).
World Showcase was a quick once around for us and I rolled into a few shops to pick up some things. A little hard to manuever thru the people, but not terrible.
Sunday the 31st brought the Animal Kingdom and this is very accessible too. Very nice CM's and not too crowded!!
Well this is where the word crowds just get bigger and bigger as the week went on.
We had a timeshare presentation Monday early the 1st and did not get to get into the MK, until almost 11:00 A.M. This pretty much trashed the day as we later found out. The crowds were crazy and it took nearly 45 minutes to travel down Main Steet(me on my scooter and my DH , pushing a rented double stroller). As we approached theCastle we both sighed and then laughed and then turned around and headed for City Hall. We got relacement park hoppers for the day and agreed we would return the next day and do it by the book.
Well, the next day went just like clockwork and with the aids of a couple of fastpass machines that ate my passes(not my tickets, thank god) So I was able to get fast passes for Space mountain, Splash mountain and BTR all at the same time but for perfectly scheduled times(which means enough time to get there from the previous attraction) We walked right onto Buzz and then the cars. We left around one when getting around was impossible.
Then we came back at 7:00 PM and stateyed until 12:45 AM
I have never closed the park, so it was a new experience. We watched Spectromagic and
10:00 and then the crowds died down enough to scoot around without rolling on peoples feet.
We we trashed on Wednesday so we rested. We returned back to MK on Thursday and found our plan to hit some missed things worked well too. This time we included Haunted mansion(something I would advise to pass on for the mobility challenged.) I actually fell getting into the car from the conveyor belt(HOw embarrassing). We left and returned at 8:20( just in time for the end of the parade!) well we closed the park and left at 1:05 AM, but the crowds did not leave at 10:00, they left at 11:30!!. We were happy and sad to leave, but we did not let the crowds get us down.
I did not eat a lot at WDW, but if anybody has any specific questions about the attractions and access-fire away.
I will post later about the yellow tickets Safari Steve posted about, since I go to use a few when I was there.
I will also post later about scooter etiquette and my thoughts on Disney crowd management with disabled guests and some other things that are on my mind, but I am just too tired to remember right now.
Tina
