We ate the World, but did we get to ride Soaring??

[heavenleigh412]

I was too exhausted to take any pictures of the castle the night before... the bed reached out and grabbed me

One thing I forgot to mention... DM and DF had a list going of things I was to complain about (this was all done in jest and we all added to the list our whole vacation)
So the list to this point was:
1) The iron in DM and DF's room did not work
2) The iron in my room did not work (I do not iron but DF asked for my iron after he couldn't iron with his)
3) The alarm clock in DM and DF's room did not work (mine did, and I think they were just doing it wrong)
4) Jenny B the server
5) the buses

This list will be added to periodically throughout this TR

Back to Thursday December 13...

I had my alarm clock set for 6:45 ... yes I know not enough sleep... anyway...

DM and DF were already up. DM and I head out to a DSA grabbing coffee along the way at the lounge (I absolutely LOVE that lounge!!)

We had company at the DSA:

He was there all the time, and he was friendly too... there were a lot of bunnies at Poly!

We head back upstairs to wake DD (I have always said you could set off explosives in her jammies and she wouldn't even roll over)
She was her usual charming morning self (this does not change even in Disney... I have learned the art of poke and roll to wake her, if you don't move fast enough you risk her kicking you in the head)

I dress while she moans about how unfair it is that she has to wake up...
give it a rest kid, you are in Disney... GET OUT OF THAT BED!!

She finally creeps out of bed and starts tearing around the room getting ready. DD is like a tornado once she gets moving!

This is her when she is ready to go:

This is her with DF:

This is me (and yes I had to take it myself!):

We were off!!
We (well not really, it was more like I) decided to walk to the TTC, because we (well yeah, I) were told that it was a short walk.
It was...
We walked there in probably 7 minutes, and hopped directly on the monorail for Epcot, because it was early, we got to ride with the conductor (his name was Jay, and he was fab)

Here are some pics:

We even got co-pilot licenses! All in all it was a great introduction to the monorail for DM and DF,and the views were incredible!!

We get off at Epcot and walk quickly to the security check (which is a joke... because they don't check your person, just your bag... I had cameras in my camera bag and had no problem getting through, DM had a fanny pack
sorry, but I still can't believe she bought a fanny pack just for this trip! Next trip she will probably have a baggalini!!

DF and DD are pacing by the turnstiles...

We all insert our cards... DM and DF are thrown by the finger thing... but we work it out.

Finally we are in a PARK!!!!

I immediately take out the camera... DM gives me a murderous look ... I don't know what her issue is with pictures, but I quickly pretend I don't see her and start shooting away.

up next: Breakfast with Princesses

 

[heavenleigh412]

We head past Epcot's Christmas tree and head towards Norway.
Passing Mexico:

DM gave me such an evil look when I took that last shot, that I actually put the camera away

I check in at the Podium, and run across to an open store to buy DD an autograph book.
As we walk in we are put in line to take a picture with Belle... only DD opted to do this. This package cost $31 and I did buy it during breakfast. However, I am too lazy to scan it right now, just trust me DD looked stunning and outshone Belle.

Breakfast here was a bit different than last time we came, now there was a buffet. We walked the buffet and I got a biscuit, lox some cream cheese, red onions ...now where are those bagels?... no bagels in Norway... I make myself a sandwich on a biscuit.
DF used a croissant... now why are there croissants in Norway but no bagels? Anyone?

The rest of breakfast was served family style and was as I remembered yummy.

DD with some characters:

After proclaiming ourselves stuffed, we present our dining cards and sign our receipts.
DD says she is so full she doesn't think she can walk...
This lasts until we get outside Askershus, and she remembers she wanted to try Rice Cream... too bad for her, the bakery isn't open yet!


up next: our first attempt to Soar

 

[heavenleigh412]

6) World Showcase doesn't open until 11 AM

 

[heavenleigh412]

This is a pre-post to the next installment. I thought about how to make sense of the next part of our story to people who don't know us, and I just decided it would be easier if I went a little more in depth about me, because I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea when I tell the next part of our vacation.

I am 36, I was born with a genetic condition. I usually explain it as a heart condition because that is easier. However, that is not exactly what I have.
My condition is called dysautonomia (don't worry if you never heard of it, many DOCTORS have never heard of it... it is rare)
I explained about my heart rate and blood pressure, but that is not the whole picture. You see my normal heart rate may be 42, but it drops from there to as low as 19 beats per minute, but it can high as well (it has been as high as 245 beats per minute)... my blood pressure drops as well.

People with my condition do not get sick with "bugs" often but when we do it is bad... I get 1 or 2 colds a year, but they almost always go from a cold, to bronchitis to pneumonia, no matter what I do. Each bug makes my condition a little worse because my body attacks itself when it is fighting a bug. (yes, my condition is degenerative)

I had a stroke when I was 30 and spent months in physical therapy.

I am a cancer survivor twice over.

I spent part of the summer hospitalized with coronary artery spasms (you might know this better as angina)

And even all this really doesn't cover it.

The doctors say all of this related, because my condition is not a heart condition, it is a condition of the autonomic nervous system.

I am pretty matter of fact about my condition, and if people ask questions, I answer them with no problems.

I rarely bring up my medical history because this is not about pity... and I really dislike when people feel bad for me. I have a great life, even if it is not the one I originally planned for myself.
I have a daughter who at 13, still loves me best.
I have a wonderful husband, who loves me for who I am, and tries very hard not to see me as a medical condition.
I have friends all over the world who also have my condition.
I have incredible parents.
I also have full disability from the federal government, that I had to fight in court to get.

Anyway, back to the point... the next part of the story is about how I tried to get the same Guest Assistance Card I always get when I go to Disney. The card that allows me to enjoy Disney just like everyone else.
It is NOT a front of the line pass, I do not bypass crowds. It allows me to have a place to sit and wait instead of standing in line... sometimes it allows me to wait in the fastpass line because it is often shorter (but this is only if there is nowhere to sit and wait) It also allows me a shaded place to wait, because I dehydrate faster than a normal person would.

 

[heavenleigh412]

I had thought about bypassing getting a GAC this trip... crowd levels were supposed to be low, and I can stand for short periods of time in a line.
I had also thought of renting an ECV. Two things stopped me from doing so...

1) I have never driven an ECV... and after being run over repeatedly at Disney in our past vacations by people who apparently also had never driven an ECV, I thought it best to NOT learn how to maneuver one in a crowd!
2) I had already spent $5600 on this vacation, and it was almost Christmas!

I also thought about a wheelchair, but wheeling myself would exhaust me faster than walking would... DD is only 13 and I didn't want to make her push me her whole vacation... DM has her own medical problems and DF was helping DM!

Anyway, we left Norway and headed for The Land to ride Soaring... It was about 10 AM... stand by time was 75 minutes. (BTW this is DD favorite ride, and she doesn't ride many!)
Seventy five minutes was not manageable for me... we looked at the fastpasses... return time was mid-afternoon... we wouldn't be here for it.

We noticed Epcot in general being VERY crowded.

I decided I might need a card after all...

I head off to get one with my family following. I leave them outside, and head in.
The CM I dealt with was a pretty girl from Brazil (and that is the only nice thing I can say)
She was not particularly helpful...
I explained to her my problems, and she handed me a card (not the one I needed) I then told her this was not the card I needed.
She then got an attitude with me... very un-Disney-like
I had explained what my card usually said, and she told me I couldn't have that card.
I told her I always have that card!
She asked to see that card, and I explained that my old one was at the hotel.
She told me if I went and got that card, and she saw it, she would give me a new one that said the same thing.
WHAT???????
I stood there with my mouth hanging open...
I said, "so you are telling me that I can't have that card based on what I need, but I can have it if I leave Epcot and travel back to the hotel and get the old one? Is that the way you treat all disabled people?"

She then walked away from me... and called the next person in line.

I walked out with my useless card in hand and went to wait in the Soaring line... it is DD favorite ride after all.

The wait was still 75 minutes.

I passed out in line after about 10 minutes and had to leave.
DD was crying, she hates when I pass out.

I headed back to the CM's... I got the same one!
I hand her the card and tell her it isn't going to help me, that I passed out in the line waiting.
She tells me that I should rent an ECV.
WHAT?????
I ask her if she is paying for it?
She tells me I am not entitled to a front of the line pass...
I respond... WHO ASKED FOR ONE?
She tells me there is nothing she can do for me based on the information I provided.
I quote the ADA... she is not allowed to ask about my medical condition, only what kind of assistance I need. I do not have to provide a doctor's letter, and she is not allowed to ask for one.
She walks away from me again...
This time I follow her and tell her to get her supervisor.
I wait for the supervisor sitting on the floor in the corner.
I wait 10 minutes before he comes out (he could have been busy)
He stamps my card with something about a wheelchair entrance... (almost everything in Disney has wheelchair entrance the same as the main line, and I do not have a wheelchair)
He also tells me if I go back to Poly and get my old card they can then provide the same one for me for this trip.

I leave... we have an ADR for lunch and then we are going back to the hotel.
I tell him I will be back in a few hours.


up next: Teppan Edo, Poly volcano pool

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I had thought about bypassing getting a GAC this trip... crowd levels were supposed to be low, and I can stand for short periods of time in a line.
I had also thought of renting an ECV. Two things stopped me from doing so...

1) I have never driven an ECV... and after being run over repeatedly at Disney in our past vacations by people who apparently also had never driven an ECV, I thought it best to NOT learn how to maneuver one in a crowd!
2) I had already spent $5600 on this vacation, and it was almost Christmas!

I also thought about a wheelchair, but wheeling myself would exhaust me faster than walking would... DD is only 13 and I didn't want to make her push me her whole vacation... DM has her own medical problems and DF was helping DM!

Anyway, we left Norway and headed for The Land to ride Soaring... It was about 10 AM... stand by time was 75 minutes. (BTW this is DD favorite ride, and she doesn't ride many!)
Seventy five minutes was not manageable for me... we looked at the fastpasses... return time was mid-afternoon... we wouldn't be here for it.

We noticed Epcot in general being VERY crowded.

I decided I might need a card after all...

I head off to get one with my family following. I leave them outside, and head in.
The CM I dealt with was a pretty girl from Brazil (and that is the only nice thing I can say)
She was not particularly helpful...
I explained to her my problems, and she handed me a card (not the one I needed) I then told her this was not the card I needed.
She then got an attitude with me... very un-Disney-like
I had explained what my card usually said, and she told me I couldn't have that card.
I told her I always have that card!
She asked to see that card, and I explained that my old one was at the hotel.
She told me if I went and got that card, and she saw it, she would give me a new one that said the same thing.
WHAT???????
I stood there with my mouth hanging open...
I said, "so you are telling me that I can't have that card based on what I need, but I can have it if I leave Epcot and travel back to the hotel and get the old one? Is that the way you treat all disabled people?"

She then walked away from me... and called the next person in line.

I walked out with my useless card in hand and went to wait in the Soaring line... it is DD favorite ride after all.

The wait was still 75 minutes.

I passed out in line after about 10 minutes and had to leave.
DD was crying, she hates when I pass out.

I headed back to the CM's... I got the same one!
I hand her the card and tell her it isn't going to help me, that I passed out in the line waiting.
She tells me that I should rent an ECV.
WHAT?????
I ask her if she is paying for it?
She tells me I am not entitled to a front of the line pass...
I respond... WHO ASKED FOR ONE?
She tells me there is nothing she can do for me based on the information I provided.
I quote the ADA... she is not allowed to ask about my medical condition, only what kind of assistance I need. I do not have to provide a doctor's letter, and she is not allowed to ask for one.
She walks away from me again...
This time I follow her and tell her to get her supervisor.
I wait for the supervisor sitting on the floor in the corner.
I wait 10 minutes before he comes out (he could have been busy)
He stamps my card with something about a wheelchair entrance... (almost everything in Disney has wheelchair entrance the same as the main line, and I do not have a wheelchair)
He also tells me if I go back to Poly and get my old card they can then provide the same one for me for this trip.

I leave... we have an ADR for lunch and then we are going back to the hotel.
I tell him I will be back in a few hours.


up next: Teppan Edo, Poly volcano pool

Oh my gosh that's horrible! I would be talking to managers, managers of managers, then managers of managers of managers.

I'll bet your DD was frightened when you passed out. That's so scary.

75 min stand by at 10am? What the frig! That's incredible!

That dinner I had at Bistro was great and most of the expense was an older bottle of Bordeaux we ordered.

 

[mishy]

Wow, so sorry for what happened. That's terrible. I agree with Buzz, the head hanchos should know how some cm's are treating people

Taking a break from baking, so I thought I'd check the thread out.
Love all your pictures. Great looking family.
Where did your DD get her ears? I want some when I go
Looking foward to reading more

 

[heavenleigh412]

Oh my gosh that's horrible! I would be talking to managers, managers of managers, then managers of managers of managers.

I'll bet your DD was frightened when you passed out. That's so scary.

75 min stand by at 10am? What the frig! That's incredible!

That dinner I had at Bistro was great and most of the expense was an older bottle of Bordeaux we ordered.

I talked to everyone's manager, and sent e-mails and snail mails when I got home, but it kind of put a damper on our first day at the parks!
DD deals well with my passing out at home, but in public she kind of freaks

The line for Soaring stayed that long until our last day at Disney... it dropped to 30 minutes when we had to leave to catch ME!

Wow, so sorry for what happened. That's terrible. I agree with Buzz, the head hanchos should know how some cm's are treating people

Taking a break from baking, so I thought I'd check the thread out.
Love all your pictures. Great looking family.
Where did your DD get her ears? I want some when I go
Looking foward to reading more

Thank you so much!! ... I wish they had been a little more sorry!
Maybe they will be, but I have not heard good things about Disney's responses to problems like this.

I am also taking a break from the baking of course the dog is giving me dirty looks because her cookies are NEXT, and I am sitting here typing instead of stirring and mixing and rolling!

I will pass on your compliment as soon as I find a pin to pop DD swelled head!
(she isn't really like that, but she does LOVE her some compliments)

Funny story about those ears. I bought those ears for her when she was 8.
She faithfully carried them back and forth to Disney and was very careful with them. We went to dinner at the Garden Grill and Pluto took her ears off and put them on his snout, we heard the crack when the band broke.
Pluto put both paws together and pleaded with DD to not be mad... then our server came over and told us to go to any store on Disney property and explain to them what happened and they would be replaced.

We replaced them at the little cart across from The Crystal Palace, but I saw them in Mouse Gears this trip and also in DTD (I never used to see them anywhere!)

 

[mishy]

Thanks so much for the info on the ears. I just love them!!! She looks alot better in them than I will

Pluto, Pluto, Pluto guess he didn't realize how big his snout was

Hope we get to see your dm in some pictures. ( If not, I certainly do understand , I don't like my picture taken either )

 

[heavenleigh412]

Thanks so much for the info on the ears. I just love them!!! She looks alot better in them than I will

Pluto, Pluto, Pluto guess he didn't realize how big his snout was

Hope we get to see your dm in some pictures. ( If not, I certainly do understand , I don't like my picture taken either )

no problem... glad to share the info (most adults won't wear ears at Disney and stare at my family strangely when we do!)

That Pluto is quite the character! He had us in stiches...

Here is a pic of the ears on his snout:

There are more pictures of DM coming, they are all sneak attacks

 

[pjstevens]

Just found your TR. Can't wait to read more. Your daughter is beautiful. Sorry to hear about all the trouble you had getting your card. Hope you had a better experience later.

 

[heavenleigh412]

Just found your TR. Can't wait to read more. Your daughter is beautiful. Sorry to hear about all the trouble you had getting your card. Hope you had a better experience later.

Thank you and thank you again!

 

[mishy]

People will be staring at me, cause I'm wearing those ears!! Love em'

Great picture with

Can't wait to read more

 

[OregonDisneyFanatic]

Run don't walk to Poly immediately!!
(They moved the smilies on me, I think they do that periodically to confuse me)

ODF, We loved Poly so much, my only regret is there it was such a short trip and we didn't get to spend more time soaking up the atmosphere there... we did plan pool time and a night to watch MK fireworks and the Water parade though!

We ate at Ohana's so I have seen the Poly. I ed it! I really want to stay there. It is beautiful. I am glad that you liked it. That is horrible about the way that the CMs treated you! I would have complained also Can't wait for more!

 

[OregonDisneyFanatic]

Heavenleigh, I was hoping for more on the trip report Hope you had a great Christmas

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Waiting...

 

[heavenleigh412]

Heavenleigh, I was hoping for more on the trip report Hope you had a great Christmas

HI there... don't know if anyone will even see this so long after I originally started this... I have been on strict bedrest for what seems like forever, but actually started New Years Day.

I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure (I put on 15 pounds of fluid around my heart and lungs over night, which was a LITTLE bit scary)

DH was VERY strict about the bedrest, and when he was at work if I got up DD would follow me around asking " Do you WANT to DIE??"
So yeah... bedrest it was!

Thankfully I am feeling so much better now and have to take it easy even more than I was.

I would be happy to continue my trip report if anyone is even still interested

 

[Gymfan15]

I'm interested! I just found this today but I've been enjoying reading about your trip to Disney. I love frequenting the Trip board because it's so fun to read about different people's experiences.

So sorry to hear about your health problems...that's got to be tough to deal with. My prayers for your continued good health will be heading your way!

 

[heavenleigh412]

I'm interested! I just found this today but I've been enjoying reading about your trip to Disney. I love frequenting the Trip board because it's so fun to read about different people's experiences.

So sorry to hear about your health problems...that's got to be tough to deal with. My prayers for your continued good health will be heading your way!

I am so happy to see someone is interested!
I will continue with the trip report a little later today...
For now, I will fill you in on what happened as a result of my problems getting a guest assistance card.

As I mentioned before, I sent e-mails and snail mails to Disney when I got home explaining the horrible way I was treated by Guest Services in Epcot.
I included the name of the person who "helped me"
I received an e-mail in return asking me to fax some information including a copy of the front and back of my tickets so they could finish investigating the incident.
Within a few days of doing this, I received a phone call from Disney.
The woman who called apologized repeatedly about the poor treatment I had received, and then told me Disney was sending my whole family 4 day park hoppers (so 4 park hoppers with 4 days each... and they do not expire)
They also started a file for me, so that I will always get the assistance card I need, and will not have to explain repeatedly what is wrong with me... I just give them my file number and all the information is there approved by corporate, including the stamps that will assist me!

All in all it was more than I had even hoped for!!
My original thoughts in reporting the situation were that I might save someone else the trouble of going through the same thing (including myself at a later date!)

 

[heavenleigh412]

Okay, so let me see if I can get my trip report groove back...

When I last reported I was talking about our lack of Soaring, and the troubles I had with a CM...

DM was hating me because I was annoyed and kind of stomping around... ok, maybe I had a full fledged temper tantrum brought on by being treated like a child by someone younger than me!

This didn't last long, I was in Disney... after a few choice words muttered under my breath... we headed off to show DM and DF the World Showcase!!
Mexico:

Norway:

Then I was dirty looked into putting the camera away
We took the boat across the lake... DM was cranky and I didn't want to chance making her walk all that way until later!

Japan:

View from the top of the stairs at Teppan Edo:

We had hoped for nice weather, but it was December, so who knew what we would get? Well... we got 80+ degrees everyday we were there!

It was wonderfully air conditioned inside!
The CM's were wonderful, friendly and cheerful... if I hadn't already been in a better mood, they would have fixed everything!

We were escorted to a waiting area with comfortable chairs and within a few minutes, our table was ready!
The family( yes, DM really is on this vacation with us!):

Just DD:

DM and DF were already pros with the dining plan... ordering was done quickly.
Appetizers: I had assorted tempura, DD had california roll, DM and DF had shrimp cocktail.
All were delicious!
Then came soup and salad... also very good.

Our habachi chef than came to our table, I don't remember his name, but I do have a picture that I risked my life to take :

I had chicken and steak, DD had chicken and shrimp, DF had steak and shrimp, and DM had chicken.
The dipping sauces were explained to us... and we then proceeded to torment DF about using the wrong sauce repeatedly. (Not that we really cared, he is just fun to pick on!)

DD had ice cream for desert, the rest of us sat there are stared at her... it never ceases to amaze me how much that skinny child can EAT!

Our checks came showed our cards and signed, We then rolled out of Teppan Edo in search of a DSA...

We found one conveniently located between Japan and Morocco, in the shade with a bench!

Then we hopped on the boat, crossed the lake and headed out of Epcot for a few hours so DD could swim!!



Next up: Getting lost on our way to Hawaii... will we ever be in the volcano pool?