[nagdu] Guide dogs and theme parks

[Dan Weiner]

Excellent post Ed.
I have rarely gone to amusement parks with my dogs because for me it's too
hot in Florida (I'm in Orlando0) during the summer and I figure that if I'm
suffering he might not enjoy it so I left my dog when I went to the parks if
I was with someone.
I have been to the parks in the past during cooler weather just to have fun
walking around with the dogs and they did fine.

Dan the man, Parker the dog

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ed Meskys via
nagdu
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2014 3:50 PM
To: af032010 at gmail.com; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide
Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dogs and theme parks

I have brought my guide dogs to various theme parks over the years, and have
had few problems. In the early 90s my wife and I vacationed with our
teen-age son in Orlando. We were there for the World SF Convention, but
after the con we spent several days in a campground in Disney World, \ a
tent and camping supplies from a vendor which was used to dealing with
Disney. They had the tent set up for us when we arrived. I am totally blind,
and my wife was a bit shook up when an armadillo approached our tent, but
the dog paid no attention. I am not a fan of thrill rides, but did try Space
Mountain roller-coaster. Son Stanley kept the dog while Sandy and I did the
ride. Other rides, like the Norse mythology ride with roaring gods, etc, in
the Epcot Norway pavilion, didn't bother him at all. We only had two
incidents with Gerry, a yellow lab, who had been my second dog. We spent a
whole day at Sea World, which was very stressful. It was a hot, sunny day,
and there was no shade. In the early evening there was a stage show with
fireworks. It started with a mock radio program, which was VERY loud. I do
not remember whether it was during the "radio" show or the fireworks
afterwards, but it was just too much for Gerry. We were near the front row,
he went under our seats, and tried to climb into the of the people sitting
behind us. Sandy grabbed his leash and took him to the rear of the stadium,
where he was OK. Another day we were in an open trolley for an adventure
ride, which mocked various disasters, including a great fire with fire
engines, flooding waters, etc., which he handled fine. On our last day we
did an Indiana Jones stage show. There were many gun shots, an exploding
gasoline truck, etc. This was at the end of our two week vacation, and Gerry
slept thru the whole show.

The second incident was a few years later, with third dog, Judge, a Golden. 
We were in Anaheim for the World SF Con (the same year our National had been
there two months earlier), and we went to Knots Berry Farm. The American
Indian show involved very sharp flute music, and it must have hurt the dogs
ears. He really panicked, and we had to take him out. Only other incident
happened was when we were in Chicago for the SF Worldcon, and went to a
stage show in a theater based on Georgette Heyer's short stories in the
collection PISTOLS FOR TWO. Two actors were in a shouting confrontation, and
then they pulled guns and shot at each other. We did quickly calm Judge
down, and did not have to take him out of the theater.

Ed Meskys 


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