Making my mother cry

[AngiTN]

This. I found it more comfortable just to sleep on the sofa as is

I've always said that a gravel sidewalk would be more comfortable than that sofa bed!

 

[melissa723]

Yeah. It stops if someone needs extra time to get on/off.

I definitely know this, but I was trying to help her understand that this is a normal occurrance.

 

[melissa723]

I wanna know how a supposed 16 year old can enter into a binding, legal contract for the purchase of real estate in the state of FL.

I'm taking this as she's a member because her mom is a member and she lives in the same household.

 

[Sugardimples]

I don’t think there are any bus stops that are a half mile walk at SSR. Something is not making sense here.

 

[Searc]

I don’t think there are any bus stops that are a half mile walk at SSR. Something is not making sense here.

Nope.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

First post by OP
Wonder if this is a made up post!

 

[Dug720]

I’m sorry you are having issues. As people mentioned rides do break down and that is beyond the control of Disney. Spaceship Earth might have stooped to load or unload a person with a disability. Each time we’ve ridden it always seems to stop.

Room requests aren’t guaranteed- don’t know if you requested a specific location or not. It sounds like the location is not ideal for you, did you go to front desk and ask if another room is available? Do not call as it is a call center.

Regarding the getting tired- you’ve been there numerous times before and just did Universal for several days. You know the layouts of the parks and distances you cover daily. Disney on its own is tiring for most people, put physical limitations on top of that (plus 5 days at Universal), it’s understandable you are having issues. That is something only you can control. Maybe take a rest day or space out FastPasses so you can rest.

Disney does it’s best but at times we need to accept the fact that things are beyond their control. We also need to accept our own limitations (physical). You need to allow plenty of time to get places knowing how slow or fast your mobility is. It appears you might not have done this.

I’m sorry your mom cried but this isn’t all Disney’s issue.

All of this.

And also, it sounds like you scheduled dinner way too tight to make Illuminations - especially it being the final one. I got into Epcot around 2 yesterday after a morning at Animal Kingdom and people were already staking out spots around WS Lagoon. By 6 when I walked back to check in for the party I was attending, there were no spaces by the railing and in some places people were already 2-3 deep. So if seeing it was a high priority, an ADR should never have been made.

Regarding the drunk people, while obnoxious, it is Food and Wine. The only way someone who has been to Disney 18 times by the age of 16 would not know that the festivals will result in this more than just a standard day is if they have never been to Epcot during a festival. Couple Food & Wine with the Illuminations final performance, and it was bound to happen.

 

[Lynne M]

Let’s maybe try making helpful suggestions instead of piling on the poster.

 

[stephk1981]

I am sorry the trip isn't living up to your expectations. So first, I would highly suggest that you book a preferred room at SSR. That resort is huge, and if you both have mobility issues, that might be helpful in the future. The second thing I would suggest, would be for you both to rent mobolity scooters next trip. If you both have health problems and have had a hard time getting from point a to b, Disney World is huge, if you need them to enjoy your trip....get them.
The sheets issue.....we have experienced this at BCV. It is definitely an inconvenience, but wouldn't ruin a trip. I agree that SSR, at least the last stay we had there I'm 2017( short 2 nights) needed a refurbishment.
Maybe with a few adjustments a better time will be had on upcoming trips. I really hope you and your mom can make a few nice memories on this trip as well though.

 

[sponica]

I've never stayed at SSR but if you have the time today, if you're still there, I would suggest stopping by the front desk to see if it's possible to move rooms to something in the same class that might be better for your needs?

 

[cobright]

Oof. If it wasn't for bad luck you'd have no luck at all.

Just a few observations that might help you put this in perspective...

1. Your room is a 900' walk from the bus stop. As a comparison, from the bus stop at Epcot it is 900 feet to Spaceship Earth. Your route to Spaceship Earth, Journey into Imagination, Nemo, and then the Japan Showcase is over a mile of walking. I sympathize, an extra 10 minutes walk after a long day can feel brutal but even the best located rooms have ~some~ walk. In the grand scheme of the day that extra thousand feet of walking is a tiny fraction of the walking you should have been planning to do based on your itinerary.
2. Those frequent 1-3 minute (sometimes longer) stops on Spaceship Earth, the Nemo ride, and Haunted Mansion (over in MK) are almost always a result of someone with a mobility issue who is unable to enter or exit the ride in the time the ride car is aligned with the moving platform. Yes, there are days where trotting a half mile from Nemo to Japan Showcase in 40 minutes is a challenge, but maybe one day it will be me or you putting Spaceship Earth down for 2 minutes... offering a little grace on the subject now lets me retain a little of my dignity when that day arrives.
3. Based on the timeline you lay out, it sounds like you get back to your room at about 10:30 or maybe later. Illuminations ends at 9:15, takes at least 15 minutes to get to bus stop. You wait 15 minutes for bus. Bus ride is about 15 minutes (with loading and such). Then a 10 to 15 minute walk to your room. Expecting a room change that late might be asking too much but you're never going to get that accommodation from the same person that sends you a bundle of blankets.
4. If you are unable to secure a better room based on the excessive walk to the bus then insist they at least fix the flickering light in the bathroom. They may decide it's easier to just move you to a different room.
5. If you must remain in that room, request another set or two of bedding to bolster up the sofa-bed mattress.
6. Failing that, you might suggest buddying up on the bed rather than put your semi-infirm mother on such a lousy bed.
7. What it looks like to at least one impartial observer is that, knowing you would have mobility problems, you severely over planned your first day in the parks.

I hope it gets better for you and your mum. Slow it down. Remember to take those $13 Ponchos to the park tomorrow, you'll probably need them. If you over do it again, take an Uber back to the resort, best $10 you might spend.

 

[cobright]

I don’t think there are any bus stops that are a half mile walk at SSR. Something is not making sense here.

The bus stop is 900 feet from her room. But ... I've been in her shoes ... at Coronado Springs I was certain it was a half-mile walk to the front desk and it turned out to be just over half that.

First post by OP
Wonder if this is a made up post!

I don't doubt the poster's sincerity. It sounds like she had a crummy first day of vacation and it stings too much for her to appreciate that, by her own account, Disney did mostly right here.

Understandable to a degree due to liability but then again, what is someone of that age supposed to do? Just not go? Even if they have a DL does no one rent? Seems a bit unfair there's no solution to someone who can drive but may have an issue that they can't get around easily

It does seem unfair and I was surprised at this but I sat down one day a few years back and called the big players in resort ECV rentals and asked to rent one for a dependent minor, I was told it would be impossible every time. Since then I have heard of a few cases where someone was able to get a rental for a teen but ... yeah ... If you're under 18 and your legs don't work and you have to travel to WDW ... pack your own ECV.

 

[Chuck S]

Be happy Spaceship Earth only paused to load/unload other guests with mobility issues. My Mom, who could walk some, but at DIsney it was way too much since she'd had 3 surgeries on the same hip, was basically wheelchair bound in the parks. Once we had to do an in ride evac from the attraction after a breakdown. We knew it was down when the lights came on ;-) We were almost to the opening scene with the mammoth. It is all stairs in that area. We took it slowly, and she did OK, but was tired when we got down and was happy to be back in her chair.

I don't know if you booked a studio or larger unit, but if you plan to do studios, I would suggest trying to book OKW in the future, as there are two real queen sized beds in OKW studios, but be sure to book a Handicap Modified unit, or call Member Services and tell them you need a ground floor unit or elevator building, only 3 buildings at OKW have elevators. If you book 1 bedroom or larger units, I'd suggest trying the fold out chair, instead of the couch. It is smaller, but usually more comfortable. Together Mom and I did nearly 100 trips to WDW, and at least 70 of those were with her being in a wheelchair. She passed on, at the age of 87, but I still have the DVC Membership. We purchased in 1992.

 

[kaytieeldr]

@Chuck S, sorry to hear about your mom. I know you enjoyed traveling together many times.

 

[Sarahslay]

sorry for a view point: deleted

 

[cobright]

But here’s the thing, do you join a Disney board just to come on and complain to people you have no prior “relationship” with?

Actually... where better to get a sounding board for your views on any subject than a discussion board about that subject?

I don't really think much of this OP critique has merit, but I think it's fair to air a grievance.

 

[Marionnette]

I am 16 and I have gone to Disney 18 times. I know the ins and outs. Today was the first day of my mother and I’s vacation at Disney. We are both DVC members so we are staying at the hotel we belong to. Saratoga Springs. I used to love this hotel but that changed today. The day started great; we get to check in and we begin to check in. The hotel room is already ready. Great! Then the cast member goes on to tell us about Disney Springs and some of the nice things there. Then he tells us where our room is quickly.
one thing you should know before you read on is my mother has a wheelchair she needs to use at times and the people knew this. Turns out, we are the LAST ROOM. Now that wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t on the final floor and the last room. Room 7836.
On the map they show you were it is and we are like ‘oh okay it’s not that bad of a walk.’ And mom is like ‘i Can wheel there and to the bus stop.’ No she cannot. The bus stop is a good half a mile away. Now that might not be much but we are both out of shape (due to physical problems) and one of us might have to be using a wheelchair!
it doesn’t look long on the map so then after talking a while more we get back to our luggage which is outside. We have to get an escort on one of those golf cart things to get to the building our hotel is in.
We get into the elevator and we go up. There is no close door botton. It’s almost like it was ripped off. We get in the room and I go into the bathroom. The light has a major delay and when it does eventually turn on it flickers (like a strobe light) then turns on very weakly before turning fully on.
My mom is annoyed but she doesn’t know how bad the walk is since they had us take the golf cart. We walk to the bus stop and my legs already are hurting as well as my feet. We walk across the road to the bus stop and we wait. That’s fine. The bus was one of the two good things that went on.
We go to get into Epcot having already missed 2/3 of our fast pass. We get to the magic band part and it’s anything but magical. The person at the desk told us he activated them for us for everything. Then we have to go to the guest help to turn on our tickets into the park. The lady at the desk is nice and that goes fine. We get into the park and my mothers glasses break. Not Disney’s fault but it also shows more into how bad of a day it was. We try to find super glue or electrical tape to fix it but none is to be found. We would have to wait over an hour for someone to help and by then we would miss all of the fast pass.
Now we get into spaceship earth and it all goes fine. Till we get to the boy selling newspapers. It breaks down for a little. Maybe one or two minutes. Then at the end it does the same on the steep decline.
Whatever. We try not to focus on it in hopes today will get better. We go to Journey into Imagination with Figment. It breaks down and we have to do an in show exit. Thats not ideal.
We have reservations for dinner. We have time in between so we go on Nemo and friends. That doesn’t break down but the cast members rushed us in getting out and in the shells. Now my mother and I are in pain so we can only walk a few steps before having to stop. We get off and get to the exit. It is now pouring. We buy pancho (which were 26 dollars for two together) once we get them on it stops raining. We take them off and now we have 30 minutes to get to Japan from Nemo. We try and basically run but we can’t.
We end up getting there a few minutes late. That’s fine we wait and we get seated in the restaurant. It was amazing. I loved it and so did my mother.
We get back outside. We missed the last illuminations ever. We have to get through a crowd of drunk people to get to the exit to then get to the bus stop. We were the second furthest one. We are in pain and we end up standing on an over crowded bus. After waiting at least 15 minutes for one to come. We get to the bus stop and we have to walk more back to the hotel. The sprinklers are on and half of them are pointed at the sidewalk so I’m soaked.
Now we are in the room at night and my mother says “I mine as well sleep on the floor. It doesn’t even feel like there is a mattress on this bed.” She is sleeping on the pull out bed due to my back problems. She also said “I wouldn’t have the dog sleep on this thing.” There was no sheets on the pullout bed. We look in everywhere. There are no sheets or pillows for this thing. We call down and we ask for (a) if we could be moved to a room closer and (b) if we could have sheets, blankets, and pillows after they politely said no we couldn’t be moved right now. They send a person up who throws the stuff on it and leaves. He said nothing to me and only said “Hi. I have the bed stuff.” To my mother.
She tries to make the bed but the “mattress” is sown into the springs so she can’t tuck her sheets or anything. She ends up crying out of frustration and pain.
Thr five days prior to this we were in Universal (my first time) and so far it’s better. The beds are better, the service is better, and the walk wasn’t sugar coated but it was from our room to the park and it felt shorter. There were also people with carriages attached to bikes offering rides for “only a somewhat generous tip).
Disney does not seem to care anymore. It hurts seeing someone I grew up with and loved become so greedy and bad. I am upset and disappointed.

OP, I’m sorry that your trip got off to a bad start. Seeing as you have not been seen online since shortly after posting, I’m hoping that your trip has improved vastly.

I hope you return at some point to read some of the helpful advice that was offered. It could make a huge difference during your next visit.

 

[Chuck S]

@Chuck S, sorry to hear about your mom. I know you enjoyed traveling together many times.

Thank you. Looking forward to being able to see our Leave a Legacy tile again.

 

[AngiTN]

Actually... where better to get a sounding board for your views on any subject than a discussion board about that subject?

I don't really think much of this OP critique has merit, but I think it's fair to air a grievance.

Same.
In addition, sometimes "talking" it out can relieve some of the frustrations
Sometimes it makes you see how trivial some of the thoughts are
It can just feel better to get it all off your chest. And if her mom is already upset she's not likely to be a good sounding board.

 

[Lynne M]

I'm not singling anyone out, but I want to address a point that's come up several times.

The DISboards was created for discussion of all things Disney - good and bad. You'll find literally thousands of posts here complaining about some experience with Disney. And many more talking about the good times we've had at Disney parks and with Disney movies, shows, games, etc. Talking to people we don't know about Disney? That's pretty much what we do all day here.

The OP's post is something we see a lot of here, and it's also a good example of what I love about this board. Someone's having troubles that are sucking the fun out of their vacation, and posters here jumped right in to try to help. Lots of good practical suggestions, and friendly support, too.

Unfortunately, I've also had to remove multiple personal attacks on the poster. It's inevitable that you'll come across something that you disagree with, or even something that makes you angry, while you're reading here. Respectful disagreement is fine. Telling someone they shouldn't have posted or accusing them of lying is not. If you don't like a post, move on to another one. We've got plenty.