Not Happy with WDW Part of the Trip

[Schmeck]

We just got back late Monday night. We were not particularly pleased with the WDW portion of our trip. Due to staying offsite at Bonnet Creek, we were not eligible for FP+ and due to having my 80 y/o mom with us, was not always able to get to the parks at rope drop.

First two issues - not having FP+ access due to staying offsite, and not being able to get there at rope drop, neither one is WDW's responsibility

Added to that we were not able to stay in the parks all day due to her physical problems, so for the most part, the few FP- that were available were not helpful due to having late return times.

Another nonWDW issue


Consequently we had alot of long stand by lines. We were able to get a decent return time for Soarin the one day we were able to make rope drop at Epcot though. We tried to get a DAC, but was refused. We had rented an ECV from an offsite vender for my mom, so they saw the ECV and thought that was all she needed. We tried to explain that she was a very brittle diabetic who had sudden and unexpected blood sugar drops,

Sugar drops could happen anywhere, even on the attraction, so what would you do for her on the attraction?

had problems with tight spaces, that she needed to avoid waits in the sun due to a couple of her medications, that due to her arthritis stiffness and back pain there were times she needed to get out of the ECV and walk but couldn't walk very far at a time and was unsteady on her feet, that she has had multiple eye surgeries and her eyes do not adjust quickly from bright light to dark, so she has trouble with dark queues, and that she had some mild senile dementia and would do better in a separate waiting area, as crowds cause her to become agitated and more confused. We didn't mind waiting our turn, but wanted to wait away from some of the crowds and wanted to avoid some of the convulated turns in the queues with her ECV.

Would it have been easier for her if she hadn't had to use her energy to control an ECV, and had a wheelchair all day instead? That would have alleviated the issue with tight spaces, trouble with dark queues, and the convoluted turns. She could stand up and push the chair herself when she needed to get up. Also, there is more sun exposure going from attraction to attraction than in the mostly covered queues.

We tried at both MK and DS but they wouldn't listen and just said she did not qualify for a DAC.

They were right, as she would have had to go through all the convoluted queues anyways, as most of the FP queues travel parallel to the SB ones.

OK - it wouldn't let me post because I didn't type anything outside of the quote box

 

[Yoshiandi]

I started quoting from the original post but there's just too much there...

Don't take this the wrong way, but it seems like you were asking for a lot. What can WDW do to make visiting the place with an brittle, 80 year old, senile, non-ambulatory, diabetic, claustrophobic, parent with bad eyes trouble free and magical?

It's hard to say whether or not the park staff could have done more to help you. Certainly they could if you were the only person with special needs, but as you said the wheelchair line was backed up at the ride you went to. The cast member's time is a resource that must be divided fairly among all park guests. Taking that resource out of action so they might void and re-issue you a ride entry card and save you 10 minutes in line is something they may have just decided was not a frugal investment.

The truth of this issue is that all (or nearly all) of the things that made your trip stink are matters outside of WDW's control. They didn't make you stay off site. They didn't make your mom infirm. On some days, the crowds and staffing levels permit them to go that extra mile, that's something I think they ardently strive for. Some days it doesn't work out.

I know how it is to be on the recieving end of abundant WDW magic and as well left out in the cold. I enjoy some pretty horrendous panic attacks and I have, on occasion asked to wait in the exit area or with the special boarders to a ride. It's great when it happens, and sometimes its very troublesome when they cannot make such an allowance. But Disney had no part in the events that caused my anxiety issues, they do what they can, when they can, but when they can't it would be wrong of me to blame them for my condition.

Can I shake your hand for this??? Amazingly put.

And I agree. Having 2 kids with special needs, things aren't always Pixiedust-fueled, magical times. Sometimes you have to roll with the flow and be thankful that you even got to get on a ride.