Magic in the air last week

[ireland_nicole]

I'll add a Dumbo magic story from our trip in May.

My youngest DD last rode Dumbo when she was about 7 yrs old. With the small opening in the Dumbo and the fact that when she gets excited, she is all squirming arms and legs, it was just too difficult to transfer her into Dumbo.
So, no Dumbo for her.

I had heard that Dumbo had a new transfer car that opened more completely. DH, my mom and DD were off to the side of Dumbo while I had gone up to the railing trying to get a look at the ride car.
OK, I needed a picture for the disABILITIES Board, but I also wanted to see if it might be possible to transfer DD using this new car.

I was standing along the rail with my camera for several cycles of the ride when a CM came up to me and said, "I was talking to your husband and daughter. Do you know that we have a transfer car for Dumbo? Why don't you come get a better look and you can decide if your DD will be able to ride?"
She explained a little more about it and we decided to try. She said that if we decided we could not transfer her, that would be OK, but we would at least get to look at it.
We got in line (there is a separate wheelchair gate, but we did wait about as long as we would have in the regular line). When our turn came, the CMs opened a door that opened the whole side of the Dumbo, rather than just the narrow slot that is normally used to get in. DH lifted DD in while I did wheelchair duty.
I planned to get into the Dumbo right in front of them so I could take pictures, but by the time I had helped transfer DD, another family was already in that Dumbo. I asked nicely if they would mind moving so that I could be close to DD. They very nicely agreed.

And thanks to a very nice CM who approached DH, that was how we rode Dumbo for the first time in many years.

Sue: Nope, I didn't sleep much for about 6 months before hand. There were six of us total so I made a total of over 90 items- yes, I am insane.

I love this story- was that from this trip? What an incredible moment- were you able to get the pictures like you hoped?

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue: Nope, I didn't sleep much for about 6 months before hand. There were six of us total so I made a total of over 90 items- yes, I am insane.

I recently cleaned out some of my sewing stuff and found outfits I had never had time to finish from when my DDs were little!

I love this story- was that from this trip? What an incredible moment- were you able to get the pictures like you hoped?

It was from our trip in May 2010.

It's funny about the pictures.
I brought my older laptop with to WDW and I downloaded the pictures to my computer during the trip.
When I was typing up the Dumbo story, I thought I would also include some pictures of the Dumbo car.
I opened up the DIS site photo page to download my photos and could not find them. Looked in my Library for iPhoto library and it was blank. Opened up iPhoto and it says "No pictures" when I was expecting to find close to 15,000 photos!
I was in a panic, thinking that I somehow deleted all my pictures....
and then I noticed I was typing on my new laptop, which I have not transferred any pictures to yet. WHEW!!

So, pictures to follow if I can add them after I get DD to bed.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I recently cleaned out some of my sewing stuff and found outfits I had never had time to finish from when my DDs were little!

It was from our trip in May 2010.

It's funny about the pictures.
I brought my older laptop with to WDW and I downloaded the pictures to my computer during the trip.
When I was typing up the Dumbo story, I thought I would also include some pictures of the Dumbo car.
I opened up the DIS site photo page to download my photos and could not find them. Looked in my Library for iPhoto library and it was blank. Opened up iPhoto and it says "No pictures" when I was expecting to find close to 15,000 photos!
I was in a panic, thinking that I somehow deleted all my pictures....
and then I noticed I was typing on my new laptop, which I have not transferred any pictures to yet. WHEW!!

So, pictures to follow if I can add them after I get DD to bed.

Wow, I would have been in a dead panic- I'm pretty sure my BP would have skyrocketed anyway; thank goodness they're ok. Hope you get a chance to post, I know it must have been an incredibly sweet moment for y'all. btw, so sorry about circumstances since you got home- anything I can do or pray about?

 

[SueM in MN]

Wow, I would have been in a dead panic- I'm pretty sure my BP would have skyrocketed anyway; thank goodness they're ok. Hope you get a chance to post, I know it must have been an incredibly sweet moment for y'all. btw, so sorry about circumstances since you got home- anything I can do or pray about?

Thanks for the good thoughts. Pray for serenity and peace.

The circumstances are work related, not home, and nothing I have control or direct effect on. Thanks though.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Thanks for the good thoughts. Pray for serenity and peace.

The circumstances are work related, not home, and nothing I have control or direct effect on. Thanks though.

ok- if it makes you feel any better, I returned to being on call, a 14 1/2 hour day not including paperwork, the news that my LVN is now unable to do the 5 insulin visits per day 2 patients require, one of our case managers is leaving in a week, and our case load doubled in 1 week (after holding steady for 2 years)- apparently I'm not allowed to go on vacation again I'm wondering if it's just a nursing thing? Something about having all the responsibility and none of the power maybe- anyway, I'll be praying for ya.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'll pray for you too. Sounds like you could use some good thoughts too.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Not trying to move too much away from the subject, but as Joshua gets older I feel more and more 'connected' to this disABILITIES forum and it's now my main focus on the DIS.
I assume if we have some sort of 'trip report' we just start a new thread in this section?
I might just do one for our forthcoming August holiday.

 

[SueM in MN]

Not trying to move too much away from the subject, but as Joshua gets older I feel more and more 'connected' to this disABILITIES forum and it's now my main focus on the DIS.
I assume if we have some sort of 'trip report' we just start a new thread in this section?
I might just do one for our forthcoming August holiday.

Yes, that's what we've done in the past. We don't have a special section for trip reports like some boards have.

Your question gave me an idea though. I can make a new post on the disABILITIES FAQs thread that has links to trip reports from the disABILITIES Board. That way, it will be easier to find them when they disappear from the first page of the board.

 

[cm8]

I know people post about their experiences, and unfortunately, many of us encounter struggles- both at Disney and in our every day lives.

We just got back from WDW on Monday, and I have to report that:

The magic is alive and well at WDW. Never, ever have I experienced such universally positive CM interaction. Sure, it was hotter than the surface of the sun, and I'm pretty sure I left the bottom of my crocs melted to the pavement in DHS. Sure, I think I met about a million and a half of my closest friends in MK. And I will definitely be back to staying onsite next trip. But I was absolutely blown away by how incredibly sweet so, so many CM's were to us this trip. There were a couple of CM's who merely smiled back when we smiled at them- and that was the "worst" of it. It really was amazing.

Some- not even close to all- included:
1.The dapper dans singing happy birthday to DD on the streetcar

2.The photographer who literally caught DD up and gave her the most wonderful photo shoot up main street and through the sweet shop just before park opening

3.The Management CM who provided us with VIP seating for FOTLK after the show we had been waiting and seated for had to be cancelled at the last minute.

4.The most absolutely amazing LadyTremaine and stepsisters- we will never forget you.

5.Tigger who bounced with my ASD princess for well over 5 minutes- you must have been exhausted, but you never let on- and Rabbit, who let me cry in your arms while DD exulted in bouncing with her hero.

6.The management CM who ran out of CountyBounty to find us when Tinkerbell arrived.

7.The CM at columbia Harbour house who took my son to ring the bell and made all the CM's gather to sing him their happy birthday song

8. The CM driving the firetruck down mainstreet- DD will never forget leading her parade.

There are so many, I can't possibly make room for them in this thread.

To be honest, sometimes I can get a little concerned and deflated when I hear of people's negative experiences- I think they're completely right to share them, and I will continue to support them, but I just wanted to offer up my experience too- and my sincere hope that yours will echo mine.

And, of course, if there's anyone else who wants to share some "magic"- please chime in!

your post made my heart melt like Ice cream on peach cobbler !

 

[SueM in MN]

The magical Dumbo ride.
CM unlocking and opening the door on the side that allows the Dumbo to have a wider opening:

Dumbo with the door wide open. A wheelchair can be parked as close as you like to the Dumbo. It is a downward transfer, but at least the opening is wide.

And, very magical, DD and DH enjoying the ride

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Yes, that's what we've done in the past. We don't have a special section for trip reports like some boards have.

Your question gave me an idea though. I can make a new post on the disABILITIES FAQs thread that has links to trip reports from the disABILITIES Board. That way, it will be easier to find them when they disappear from the first page of the board.

That sounds like a good idea Sue.

I will do a report from our holiday in August with photos.