May I vent for a minute please?

[mommie2angels]

We just got back from a VERY magical weekend at Disney. Three problems out of the whole trip and I think that's great. The only reason I am venting is so I can go on and forget about it and just remember the wonderful things.

The first was when we went to check in at CBR (which was wonderful!). I think the CM we got was just new possibily. We had requested to be near the food court. We have two daughters in wheelchairs. We mix there medicines in food so it would be convenient to be near the food court. He couldn't find us anything near the food court. He asked someone to help him and that gentleman asked if we made the reservations through special reservations and I said yes. He immediately found our room that had been reserved. However it was very far from the food court. We ended up buying food to fix in our room. Other than the distance and the amount of time it took us to check in there were no problems at all. The size difference in the rooms between CBR and ASM really helped.

The next thing was the only problem we had getting on a ride. Going through the line at MGM for the backlot tour was awful! We were being herded through the line like cattle and our daughters in their chairs were getting bumped into right and left. I can't imagine how the people in the electrical chairs were getting through there.

OK last one I promise. We had just finished seeing wonderful Fantasmic at MGM. WOW!!! We were waiting until the crowd thinned out before trying to move our daughters. I was standing with our infant strapped onto the front of me and I was behind my daughter's wheelchair so that I would be bumped by the crowd instead of her. My husband was behind our other daughter in her chair. This man went to "jump" over the sit where we were to try and beat the crowd. He tripped and "almost" feel on top of our daughter. No excuse me. No apology or anything. My husband got VERY upset and said some things he shouldn't have said. Well the guy's friend was behind my husband and started yelling at my husband, what's the big deal. My husband said he almost fell on my daughter. The man said well he didn't. It got ugly. A very nice man walked by and grabbed the other guys arm and said come on it's Disney World let it go. The guy then turned and walked off. My husband apologized to the ones around us for getting upset. Our daughter cannot speak so he was being her voice. For that I was thankful! I don't think she would have said what he said though. It really wasn't the Christian attitude that either of us wanted to convey but how do you handle careless people like that? A very nice girl came up and asked what happened. She could tell I was upset. I told her what happened. She was very concerned about our daughter being alright. She was very nice to take the time to stop and check.

Still with these three small negatives our trip was wonderful!

 

[cinjam]

I am glad you had a magical trip! I remember reading your posts as you were planning.

I do not blame your husband ONE BIT!!! He said what needed to be said. I am my child's defender and voice - for as long as he needs me to be - I would, and have done, the exact same thing your husband did. Even if the man did not realize that he almost fell on your daughter, once it was pointed out to him he should have immediately apologized.

I am glad you are not letting the small negatives mar an otherwise wonderful trip!

 

[s&k'smom]

I'm so glad you put such a positive spin on your post and had such a great trip, and that nothing was able to dampen your families enthusiasm. They don't call is the most magical place on earth for nothing!

 

[Talking Hands]

Some tips. When you make your reservations with special needs be sure to let them know that you need to be by the food court. Make it part of the request.

Backlot Tour - I find it better to be at the beginning or the end of the line with my power chair. Normally I am at the beginning because I am with a sign language interpreter. They don't run over us them. (guess it is because I am with a castmember they chill out)

On stupid people tricks. Been there, done that, don't know how to change them. I had one literally flip my power chair on the side he hit it with such force. No apology at all. Didn't even stop to help. Castmember and another guest helped right the chair and make sure I was ok. Was at an E-night and I ended up leaving because I was in such pain. Trust me I was not voicceless that night. Both my mouth and hands said some really unchristian things.

 

[Michigan]

On our last trip a man climbed over the top of my oldest DD's wheelchair and knocked her in the face because he was in a hurry to get somewhere. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back over in front of her and made him tell her he was sorry. He did but the funny thing was a woman that saw what he did just stood there and watched me grab him and then when he started to walk off she started yelling at him telling him he should be glad that wasn't her daughter he ran into. I sure hope it wasn't the same guy I think after that he probably will avoid wheelchairs at all cost.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know what it is that makes people think they can climb over a wheelchair, but it must be pretty common because my DD has been climbed over too.
Sort of makes you want to travel with a barbed wire enclosure.
And some people's comments leave a lot to be desired to. Yesterday DD was driving her power wheelchair in a hallway when we met a man coming the other way. He said "Is it safe or will she run into me?" I still don't know if he was just rude or trying to make a joke, but I said "Well, she usually only runs into her mom." He looked at me kind of funny and then said "I guess I'm safe, then".

 

[2disneywego]

I'm glad you had such a good time and sorry for the jerk!!

My husband is temporarily in a wheelchair since Sept. and I can't tell you how many times I've had to "speak up".
I'd like to hope that this will cause me to think more in the future.

 

[ducklite]

I had someone climb over my chair at Fantasmic a few years ago as well. Geezzz...

Anne

 

[mommie2angels]

I just want to say thank you to ya'll for the nice comments. It really helped to vent and just dwell on the wonderful aspects of our trip. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.