Trip Report - Nov 29 to DEC 4 - Day 1 - and an extra 5 hours at Dulles Airport

[Jgasink]

Hi all,

took my Mom to DW after thanksgiving... She had a stroke last Feb is aphasic (very limited speech), her right arm is severely impaired, however she can walk short distances...

first challenge - flying to the Mouse -

RIC to Dulles to MCO - well this didnt go well, and not because of mom, she was a trooper...

1. It was raining in Richmond and Pouring at Dulles... we took off late, and landed late, then no gate for the aircraft... this was a small regional jet, and at Dulles you have to go out to the Tarmac... So were late, they know they have a wheelchair transfer and what do they bring to empty the plane? Stairs... I remind you it is pouring rain...

and on the advice of the board we gate checked her wheelchair... I had the foot rests, brake extenders and seat pad in a bag on the aircraft with me.

they took her wheelchair out of the baggage compartment and let it sit in the rain for 15 minutes... our other carry on was also out in the rain... the clock is ticking... we have to transfer terminals.... we have upgraded seats in first class.... and as you can guess we missed our flight...

Fortunately we had clean and amazingly dry clothes in our carry on, so we changed and got some breakfast

They rebooked us on the next flight 5 hours later... needless to say the upgrades were gone... because I fly over 100K miles on this airline, I get put back on the upgrade list at #2 Mom is at #9 (there are 12 FC seats on the aircraft -and 10 seats were sold) - I actually cleared -so I put mom in first class and took her window seat....

Flight from IAD to MCO goes well - except instead of getting there at 3 pm its now 8:45( I Canceled our TS reservations) - pick up our Alamo rental car - we reserved a ford escape - its what we have at home and mom can get in and out easily... They jumped through hoops to get us an escape , ok so we are now in orlando... WE need FOOD- so its a quick trip to the McD's at crossroads - best big mac I have eaten in a long time...

Ok check in at Fort Wilderness - cabin 2525... get mom settled and I take the bus back to get her scooter - we rented from Apple Scooter... Great service.. took the buses for the first time.. every bus driver but one was very very helpful...it now almost midnight - time for Bed...

More tomorrow... and how not having a printed set of our TS reservations causes us to "sprint from the studios to Epcot"...

 

[Bete]

but hopefully the rest of the trip went better. I'm looking forward to hearing more.

 

[Jgasink]

Hi Gang,

Since we got in late - we slept in - roll in shower worked well for us, except for getting dry- solved that by bringing in one of the kitchen chairs... then a little scooter practice - Mom did great with the scooter... (I wanted to hit some people for cutting her off) - but the only person she hit all week was me.

We wanted a real meal for Breakfast.. so we hit Perkins at the crossroads, then hit the local publix for supplies...

Once we got back to the room it was off to the Magic Kingdom...

took the Bus to the ft. wilderness dock...

and by the time we got there we wanted lunch... tried for a last minute walk up at the plaza (no room) and were directed to Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe... it was ok...

I made a lunch reservation for Sat at the Plaza ( a mistake - details later).

went on carousel of progress, then walked through fantasy land to liberty square... Mom knows I love the haunted mansion - I know she loves hall of presidents ( we only had time to do one) so we went to HOP...

Bus to Wilderness lodge

then it was off to Wilderness lodge for dinner... we were early... we waited until our time... we like whispering canyon and eat there every trip... Mom had the chicken and penne pasta, I had the meatloaf... it took forever... food arrived - it was cold... I sent it back.. Milkshakes are included on the dining plan at WCC, it was like drinking a scoop of ice cream... Dessert - mom had vanilla Ice cream, I had the apple caramel pie...both good... once we got hot food we were both pleased...

Then on to the bus to go back to the room and chill for a while...

a note about our table service restaurants - the service was good to great - Mom would transfer from the scooter, and they would take it and park it outside and bring us the key...


Next time (as previously promised) - Hollywood studios - and a reservation mix up

 

[Bete]

I find them interesting.

 

[Sandy321]

Wow - that does sound like an ordeal with the rain and missed flight - amazing -

Thanks for sharing, I'm staying tuned for more!

 

[Jgasink]

Day Three - Dec 1... Downtown Disney and Hollywood Studios

We ate breakfast in the room today... Mom has decided she doesn't want to take the bus... So I need to figure out how to take apart the scooter. . I a not a mechanical guy, but I can read... So I looked at the instructions... and I couldn't figure out how to get the seat off... so I called Apple Scooters... and I got an answering machine!!! - and two minutes later I was called back...

and by the end of the trip I could take it apart and put it together in about 3 minutes...

So we went to Downtown Disney... and we wanted lunch... we looked at Earl of Sandwich... the lines was wrapped around the store and out the doors... (had to be at least 45 minutes just to order.) So we went around the corner to wolfgang puck express - we got a table and I went to order at the counter... Mom had the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf - mashed potatoes, port wine sauce and crispy onion rings. I had the Barbequed Chicken Pizza - Red onion, plum tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and the brownie ( it was ok -but there may have been a better choice). This was by far the best counter service meal we had... I would highly recommend it...

Then the plan was to go to the studios, dinner at prime time and then the Osborne lights. I did star tours (love the new version) while mom waited outside and watched the Jedi academy. Then it was off to American Idol, and the great movie ride... at which point we headed to Prime Time... And this is why when you arrive, you need to have them print out your reservations... We checked in at the desk at 6:30 for our 6:50 reservation... EXCEPT our reservation was for Chefs De France... Know I know what your thinking, there is no way, no way that we can get from Hollywood Studio to EPCOT, and then to France in the 12 minutes we have until our reservation expires. The cast member at Prime Time Called Chefs De France, and asked them to hold our reservation... which they did!!!!, but this of course means that we wont see the lights tonight... (plan was to see the lights tonight, and the candlelight processional tomorrow)... So we get to France in 45 minutes - and check in and five minutes later they call us for Dinner... we each had the three course Prix Fixe menu. mom had the Soupe a l'oignon gratinee - the classic onion soup topped with Gruyere cheese, Gratin de macaroni - Baked macaroni with cream and gruyere cheese, and Gauteau au chocola - Chocolate mousse cake, vanilla ice cream. I had the Bisque de Homard - Lobster bisque, Filet de Saumon, ratatouille sauce Choron - Broiled salmon, tomato Bearnaise,ratatouille made with onions, zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers, Gauteau au chocola - Chocolate mousse cake, vanilla ice cream. The food was good, served hot and the service was excellent.

Tomorrow, EPCOT, my friend liz, a failed wait for the early candlelight processional , dinner at Hollywood & Vine.... and we almost miss the lights....

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

Dulles can be such a hassle! This is why DH wants to drive to WDW rather than deal with Dulles. (we're about 35 miles from there).

Love your TR so far. By the way - DH & I stayed in 2525 at Ft. Wilderness on his first trip to the World. We loved it!

 

[Jgasink]

Day Four - Dec 2...

Well it become apparent that we wont be doing rope drops anymore....

So its off to EPCOT - also being joined by my friend LIZ today....

so the plan is grab fast passes at Soarin when we get to the park, and see what we can see... then meet my friend Liz for lunch...

2:45 fast passes for Soarin...

we did counter service lunch at Lotus Blossom Cafe... Liz found us - it was not a memorable meal... adequate at best....

We did Soaring, Mom still loves the ride...

Then we went and got in the standby line for the candlelight processional... and we didnt get in... so off to the studios for our 7 PM reservation... not realizing that the studios is only open until 8 PM... we eat, (food was good) a buffet is still a little bit of a challenge for us... then hurry off to see the lights, which are actually open for an hour after park close....

had a great day... tomorrow last day at the park... A character breakfast, lunch at the plaza, 2000 Cheerleaders, backstage "unmagic", and a tour of the xmas lights at fort wilderness.