I am writing a trip report and posting to the trip reports board---It's all about ME. I am leaving out the parts about using an ecv and other "disability realted" issues but wanted to let you all know some things from the trip.
First: Pop Century: We had room 3433 (I am almost positive that was the room number). Anyway we had a view of Illuminations and Wishes from our room. No sound but they're beautiful by themselves. I would imagine any of the rooms from end of corridor to about midway would have a great view.
However--this room was very awkward getting an ecv in and out of. I can't pinpoint it exactly but I was always hitting the bed. I am convinced that bed is not positioned in the room correctly.
We didn't get a fridge as this trip we had no meds that required refridgeration with us. Since I had to move the table to the other side of the tv/armoire I'm glad we didn't. I think I would have had to have them come and move the fridge for me anyway.
Since it was just DGS and myself--I pulled one of the chairs from the table and placed it at the head of his bed between the bed and wall and placed his "toy suitcase" on it. This worked great as he could play on the bed and have his things within reach. This also kept them from being scattered everywhere.
At the parks:
Other ecv users: Was standing behind a family at the race cars at MK who had a mom in an ecv and was arguing with the CM. The CM told them they had to use the reg line and they would be pulled out at a certain point. The father was arguing that the "other CM' let them in through this HC entrance. The CM asked if the had a GAC--they didn't know what it was--and she said they could go to Guest Services and explain their needs and they would be given a card. Father didn't want to go back to front of the park. I was out of my ecv but had our GAC "palmed" in my hand and was waiting for them to leave. The CM turned away from the father and asked if she could help me and I held my hand up with the "palmed" GAC and she let us in. Not sure what happened after that but very shortly the entire family joined me in the line.
At Mickey's Philharmagic, I was in line behind an ecv and a family of about 3 when a group with 2 ecvs' and about 8 people walking came. They took their ecv's and pulled up beside the ecv in front of me. Sortof--they spent most of the time hopping in and out of the ecv's and driving them in circles in the waiting area. When the doors opened, the first family went in, one of the ecvs' from this group went in, I went in and the other ecv had to get in line behind me and another ecv. The ecv in front of me pulled into the middle opening of the top row and I pulled in beside him....thinking that's where we were, and the ecv behind me pulled into the next available slot-----HOWEVER the CM had wanted him to go further down. So the CM came rushing over and told his buddy in the ecv two behind me that he had to go all the way to end of the row. They were not happy because then their group would be split up...too late...DGS and I were already seated. I TRY not to judge people but I just felt in my heart and gut that these people were truely just trying to scam the system. The CM then offered them the seats last in the row so they could be togther and they declined and the second ecv tried to park in the aisle. The CM told him he couldn't park there, he had to park it into a designated space. He then tried to park between his buddy and me!!!! He must have hit both ecv's several times trying to squeeze in but he did it. Then his friends proceed to stand behind me and DGS and talk about how they can't sit together!!!!! Then they start talking in Spanish and I tell DGS to just get on the ecv and we will move so the friends can all sit together. DGS doesn't understand because "we were here first". I finally just tell him we should sit in the ecv because it's higher up and he'll have a better view anyway. (By the way--the group was all young adults--no kids). And of course, when the show was over they were jumping back on the ecv's and racing off to their next adventure. We just sat there waiting for them to get out of the way.
Crowds were light but: I almost had a full blown screaming, pushing attack at Rosie's getting food for Fantasmic. Once the CM placed our food on the counter I grabbed it and ran--pushing through people--and I'm sorry. But I even left our drinks on the counter--I couldn't be there one more second. If I am ever STUPID enough to do this again I will stay in my ecv for the 'space" it affords me.
I got tired easily and was therefore constantly missing the road to Pop Century. While this is highly amusing (because I can direct people who are driving around the WDW area, over the phone from GA and get them to their hotel) it was just an indication of how tired I let myself get. Missing the road wasn't that big of a deal--I would just go a more "scenic route" and we'd get there eventually. I am afraid to try the buses with my ecv as I'm not sure I can "park it" well and I get flustered very easily-especially when tired. But I may try it when we go this summer since DS will be with us and he can help me.
I didn't enjoy Philharmagic or Soarin as much--because when I am tired--my brain gets tired and just doesn't process them the same way. I think perhaps these whirlwind long weekend/ shorter than a full week trips may just have to stop. I tell people that DGS is only good for 2 days at the parks and then needs a down day but in thinking about it I think it's Grandma who needs the down day. DGS begins K this year anyway so the opportunities will be fewer for these types of trips. Plus I did feel guilty that he missed his speech therapy session. His mother does not take him on her weeks so he really went 3 weeks without a true session--although we did take his words and sentences and I used the names of the attractions to help with his current "letters". I would point out attractions with the "l", "v" and "r" sounds in them and have him repeat them until he did them correctly.
Fantasmic: Because we waited so long in line at Rosie's it was a zoo getting situated at Fantasmic. We are usually there an hour before the show but this time it was more like 20 minutes. The crowds walking by me were awful and I was behind another ecv and family and don't think the CM guiding us was even aware I was back there. We passed a spot that looked like I could fit into and I just pulled in and asked the lady in the ecv next to me if she had been saving that spot for anyone. She said not but the seat in front of it was being saved. That was ok because DGS sits with me anyway.
First: Pop Century: We had room 3433 (I am almost positive that was the room number). Anyway we had a view of Illuminations and Wishes from our room. No sound but they're beautiful by themselves. I would imagine any of the rooms from end of corridor to about midway would have a great view.
However--this room was very awkward getting an ecv in and out of. I can't pinpoint it exactly but I was always hitting the bed. I am convinced that bed is not positioned in the room correctly.
We didn't get a fridge as this trip we had no meds that required refridgeration with us. Since I had to move the table to the other side of the tv/armoire I'm glad we didn't. I think I would have had to have them come and move the fridge for me anyway.
Since it was just DGS and myself--I pulled one of the chairs from the table and placed it at the head of his bed between the bed and wall and placed his "toy suitcase" on it. This worked great as he could play on the bed and have his things within reach. This also kept them from being scattered everywhere.
At the parks:
Other ecv users: Was standing behind a family at the race cars at MK who had a mom in an ecv and was arguing with the CM. The CM told them they had to use the reg line and they would be pulled out at a certain point. The father was arguing that the "other CM' let them in through this HC entrance. The CM asked if the had a GAC--they didn't know what it was--and she said they could go to Guest Services and explain their needs and they would be given a card. Father didn't want to go back to front of the park. I was out of my ecv but had our GAC "palmed" in my hand and was waiting for them to leave. The CM turned away from the father and asked if she could help me and I held my hand up with the "palmed" GAC and she let us in. Not sure what happened after that but very shortly the entire family joined me in the line.
At Mickey's Philharmagic, I was in line behind an ecv and a family of about 3 when a group with 2 ecvs' and about 8 people walking came. They took their ecv's and pulled up beside the ecv in front of me. Sortof--they spent most of the time hopping in and out of the ecv's and driving them in circles in the waiting area. When the doors opened, the first family went in, one of the ecvs' from this group went in, I went in and the other ecv had to get in line behind me and another ecv. The ecv in front of me pulled into the middle opening of the top row and I pulled in beside him....thinking that's where we were, and the ecv behind me pulled into the next available slot-----HOWEVER the CM had wanted him to go further down. So the CM came rushing over and told his buddy in the ecv two behind me that he had to go all the way to end of the row. They were not happy because then their group would be split up...too late...DGS and I were already seated. I TRY not to judge people but I just felt in my heart and gut that these people were truely just trying to scam the system. The CM then offered them the seats last in the row so they could be togther and they declined and the second ecv tried to park in the aisle. The CM told him he couldn't park there, he had to park it into a designated space. He then tried to park between his buddy and me!!!! He must have hit both ecv's several times trying to squeeze in but he did it. Then his friends proceed to stand behind me and DGS and talk about how they can't sit together!!!!! Then they start talking in Spanish and I tell DGS to just get on the ecv and we will move so the friends can all sit together. DGS doesn't understand because "we were here first". I finally just tell him we should sit in the ecv because it's higher up and he'll have a better view anyway. (By the way--the group was all young adults--no kids). And of course, when the show was over they were jumping back on the ecv's and racing off to their next adventure. We just sat there waiting for them to get out of the way.
Crowds were light but: I almost had a full blown screaming, pushing attack at Rosie's getting food for Fantasmic. Once the CM placed our food on the counter I grabbed it and ran--pushing through people--and I'm sorry. But I even left our drinks on the counter--I couldn't be there one more second. If I am ever STUPID enough to do this again I will stay in my ecv for the 'space" it affords me.
I got tired easily and was therefore constantly missing the road to Pop Century. While this is highly amusing (because I can direct people who are driving around the WDW area, over the phone from GA and get them to their hotel) it was just an indication of how tired I let myself get. Missing the road wasn't that big of a deal--I would just go a more "scenic route" and we'd get there eventually. I am afraid to try the buses with my ecv as I'm not sure I can "park it" well and I get flustered very easily-especially when tired. But I may try it when we go this summer since DS will be with us and he can help me.
I didn't enjoy Philharmagic or Soarin as much--because when I am tired--my brain gets tired and just doesn't process them the same way. I think perhaps these whirlwind long weekend/ shorter than a full week trips may just have to stop. I tell people that DGS is only good for 2 days at the parks and then needs a down day but in thinking about it I think it's Grandma who needs the down day. DGS begins K this year anyway so the opportunities will be fewer for these types of trips. Plus I did feel guilty that he missed his speech therapy session. His mother does not take him on her weeks so he really went 3 weeks without a true session--although we did take his words and sentences and I used the names of the attractions to help with his current "letters". I would point out attractions with the "l", "v" and "r" sounds in them and have him repeat them until he did them correctly.
Fantasmic: Because we waited so long in line at Rosie's it was a zoo getting situated at Fantasmic. We are usually there an hour before the show but this time it was more like 20 minutes. The crowds walking by me were awful and I was behind another ecv and family and don't think the CM guiding us was even aware I was back there. We passed a spot that looked like I could fit into and I just pulled in and asked the lady in the ecv next to me if she had been saving that spot for anyone. She said not but the seat in front of it was being saved. That was ok because DGS sits with me anyway.
