[blparent] Disney World

Wed Aug 31 21:57:15 UTC 2011

Hey Michael,

You're making me want to get back to DW really soon!  We're going to wait
until Dawson is around 6 or 7 so that he's old enough to run around and do
all the fun stuff but young enough for it all to be really magical.  I know
that different times of the year have different costs but when my husband
and I went this last time it was the week before Christmas vacation.  I
understand your situation with your wife and I wouldn't go over Christmas
break itself either since it is way too crazy because everyone and their
cousin is there.  My parents took us once the week before Christmas break
and pulled us out of school for it but it was only because we were young
enough to where there wasn't a ton going on during the last week of school
anyhow.  When we were older we definitely only went during actual school
vacation times.  Second only to the Christmas break, summers are the next
most expensive time to go because as you know that's when most people have
the most time off with their kids.  I highly recommend the character meals
so try and get one or two of those if you can.

I know prices have gone up since we last went in 2007 but we got a free
travel agent through triple A who found us some awesome deals.  Our room
cost us $79 per night and it cost the same for both of us to eat every day
which included two huge meals and one snack.  Kids at the time ate free
through having the meal plan but we didn't have our pumpkin at that time.
I've had friends pay for food at the parks without the meal plan and it
costs an arm and a leg so be forewarned.  The entire cost for us to go for 6
days and 6 nights was $1400 not including air fare.

The only reason I asked about the dog was because there's some good info to
know about the kennels at the parks.  Additionally, DW used to let their
cast members hold service animals while someone was on a ride but some bozo
ruined that for all of us with a law-suit so now that's no longer an option.
When I went I kenneled my dog for a few hours in the morning so I could run
around on the big rides and then went and got my dog before lunch and had
him with me for the rest of the day.

I'm excited for you and your family!  Have a blast!  It's truly a place for
everyone and a chance for all to be a kid again.

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Michael Baldwin
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 12:30 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] Disney World

Hi,
WOW, 5 times. I have never been, this trip will be the first.
I didn't know they had a permanent fast pass. I will have to check in to
that, but I was just thinking to have one of the grand parents that will be
with us, run and do the fast pass thing. A permanent one would be much
easier.

I am not a dog user. I have had many opportunities to get one, different
people and organizations willing to pay for me to go, but, for the most part
we have lived in small towns, population 500 or less, so I felt a dog would
be wasted on me. 

We can only go during summer months, my wife is a teacher, and we have 2
kids in school now. I am NOT going to take a kid out of school for a
vacation. I know this has been debated on many Disney discussion boards, but
I am against doing so. Then there is the fact my wife don't get vacation
time, so she couldn't take it off anyways.

I have actually read that December, around Christmas time is one of the most
busy. I have read of people who were turned away from the park, because by
law, they can only allow x amount of people in. same around the 4th of July
holiday.

While early June is not idea, for the times we can go, it is the best. It is
still consider mid season, so rates are not as high as in high or peak
season. Of course this depends on the hotel. We are actually going to be
staying off Disney property. We will need two rooms, and even at the value
hotels during the time we will be there, we are looking at over $200 a night
total. These are rates direct from Disney. We are driving down, I will not
fly anymore unless it is a life or death situation. I refuse to put up with
the TSA's crap and the ridiculous fees for every little thing from the
airlines. The perks for staying on Disney property aren't all that important
to me. The extra park hours, well I won't have my kids out at midnight
waiting to go on rides, and my wife don't wake up well, so there is probably
no way we would be there for the early hours anyways. Assuming any parks are
doing the magic hours during our stay. There is the free parking as well,
but I can pay $14 per car and still come out ahead staying off property. We
probably won't buy much on property either, the prices are pretty high, and
the same stuff at lower prices can be had at Disney outlet stores.

All that being said, if I were going by myself, or just our family so we
could use only one hotel room, staying on sight would be more appealing. 

The plan is to check in on June 4th, and check out on June 18th. We are also
planning on visiting universal and Sea World, and taking a trip to Tampa.
I hope to get a couple character meals in for our girls. That will depend on
how fast they book up. I have heard of some booking within minutes of
opening for reservations. The reservations open 180 days before the date you
want, if you are staying off site, so I am hoping others will be busy with
the winter holiday celebrations and forget, or put it off.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions,
Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Erin Rumer
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 11:52
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] Disney World

Hello Michael and all interested,

I've been to DW 5 times now and it's one of my favorite places in the world
to go.  I don't know about cast members assisting if you want to go on a
ride by yourself, but definitely ask about that.  I get what's called a
permanent Fast Pass when I go which allows you to go through a faster line
than the main line to get on the rides quicker.  You may know this already
but nearly every ride has what's called a fast pass ticket machine where
people take a ticket and it tells them what time to come back to that ride
to be able and go through the fast pass lain.  That wouldn't work well for
us since we can't go running from ride to ride quite like people with sight
so DW is great in accommodating folks with disabilities by providing a
permanent fast pass.  This way you can carry your card and not worry about
hopping from ride to ride for those silly tickets just to come back again
later.  I think you just need to go to the customer relations office at
whatever park you decide to visit first to obtain your fast pass but make
sure and confirm that with DW when you call.  I don't know if you're a dog
user but if you are please let me know because I have more info I'd be happy
to share if you're interested.

As for the cane I think your idea is a good one and I'd carry a spare or two
for emergencies encase that telescoping cane decides to give out on you.  Do
you have any identification canes?  Those are a nice folding light-weight
option as well.

Are you planning on staying on the property?  If so I recommend staying in
one of the Value Resorts because this way you're in one of the cheaper
hotels which are plenty nice and still qualify for their meal plans, luggage
perks that take your luggage from the airport right to your hotel, charging
perks that allow you to use your room key as your credit card and meal
ticket and more.  DW also has this great option where you can have a store
anywhere on their property send your purchased items right to your hotel
room so you don't have to carry what you bought.  This is only an option if
you're staying in one of their hotels.

I'd love to hear of your plans and I hope you and your family have an
amazing time.  Have you got the dates planned yet?  If not, I strongly
recommend going to DW in December because that's the least rainy month in
Florida with beautiful temps and one of the most magical times to go with
all of the Christmas festivities.

Chow,

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Michael Baldwin
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 8:01 AM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: [blparent] Disney World

Hi,
I know some of you have been to DW on here, and we are planning a trip for
June 2012. My question isn't really parenting related, because there will be
4 adults, and 3 kids, so the kids should not create an issue for 1 blind
dad. 

What is the best kind of cane to take. I was thinking the telescoping kind.
Easy to collapse before getting on rides, and it will be small enough I can
just put it in the stroller with a kid if I don't feel like using it at the
time.

if I am the only one who wants to go on a ride, will the Cast Members
assist, or will my wife need to go to help me get on, but then she not get
on herself.

Other tips for a blind adult at DW?

I know of the Braille maps and guides, but those don't interest me much,
unless I can get them ahead of time. I don't want to take time away from the
kids' play to read a guide.

Thanks,
Michael
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