[nfb-talk] orlando attractions

Kerri Kosten kerrik2006 at gmail.com
Tue Jun 28 17:48:16 UTC 2011


Hi David:

Wow, tha is cool! Great story and it's awesome that you guys didn't
let your blindness or the lack of sighted help/assistance stop you!

Kerri

On 6/28/11, Jessica <jessmonsilva2003 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> David that is amazing. I have been to several theme parks but always with
> someone sighted. Universal's parks are so humungus though lol.
> Also has anyone went to a theme park with a guide dog?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 28, 2011, at 9:27 AM, "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> Dear Jessica,
>>
>> I do not let the thought of visiting a theme park worry me much.
>> Several years ago, I went to a National Convention in Dallas and when to
>> Six Flags Over Texas.
>> I was with 3 other Blind people who were total and I was the only one with
>> any vision at all.
>> As we came through the gate at the park, a park employee stopped us and
>> seemed concerned because we were all Blind.
>> He told us to wait there and he would be back in a few minutes.  He did
>> not say why we should wait, but we were afraid that they were going to try
>> to throw us out of the park.
>> We did not wait around, but took off to enjoy ourselves until they caught
>> us and tossed us out under protest.
>> We found our way around by asking questions of other people and rode just
>> about every thing.
>> One of the people I was with, a tall blind guy named Richard, said that he
>> would like to go on a roll-a-coaster, but not one that went upside down.
>> He was afraid that it would make him sick or that he would fall out of it.
>> We did not tell him, but we took him on at least 4 coasters that day that
>> did go upside down and later when we told him what he had done, you could
>> not wipe the grin off his face.  Richard"s parents had always sheltered
>> him and discouraged him from trying things because they were afraid he
>> would get hurt.  He had no self confidence at this point in his life and
>> both of his parents were now dead.
>>
>> We also drove the bumper cars.
>> We had to wait in line for the ride and as we got up to the front, the
>> ride operators would count off so many people and then send them out to
>> get into the cars.
>> When it came time for us to go out and get into the cars, there were only
>> a few other people that went out ahead of us and got into the cars.  The 4
>> of us split up and using our White Canes felt around and one by one found
>> an empty car and got in.
>> We then sat there for a few minutes until we heard an announcement that
>> asked for volunteers to finish filling up the cars.  I could see that the
>> line was still very long, there were at least 20 cars empty still,  but
>> not one person came out to get into the cars after us.
>> Finally, the cars started up and the 4 of us would shout and yell so that
>> the others would have an idea of where we were.  We drove around the track
>> smashing into each other and the other cars as well.  I could hear some of
>> the people in the line talking to each other and remarking about us and
>> our driving.  Like how do they know which way to go.  Did you see that
>> blind guy T-bone that other guy?  How do they do that, I would be so
>> scared.
>> The ride ran a little longer than the other times we had seen go on before
>> us, but it finally stopped and we all got out of our cars and produced our
>> Long White Canes.
>> I was closest to the exit and I yelled to the others and they used their
>> canes and worked their way around all of the stopped cars and over to
>> where I was standing on the curb.
>> As the last of our group climbed the curb and we were all together,
>> everyone in the line started clapping and yelling for us.  The 4 of us
>> looked at each other and then without a word we all turned to the crowd
>> and did a nice little bow for them.  Then we turned around and left the
>> ride laughing.
>> We bumped into people from that crowd the rest of the day and some came
>> over and said that they never thought that anyone blind could do what we
>> did or that they were surprised to see blind people having the same kind
>> of fun as everyone else.  They asked if we had special training to learn
>> how to go on the rides and do what we did  and we just told them that we
>> had mobility training but that was all.
>> There are about 250 people who will never look at Blind people the same
>> way again.
>> We spent over 6 hours in that park and then found our way out and back to
>> the bus pickup and with back to the hotel exhausted.
>> That day was a major turning point for Richard and he was never afraid of
>> going anywhere again after riding the bumper cars and those coasters and
>> going upside down.  He still claims that was the best day of his life.
>>
>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jessica"
>> <jessmonsilva2003 at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 11:03 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>>
>>
>>> I'm going to call guest services and see what they tell me since a few of
>>> us plan on going.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jun 28, 2011, at 7:46 AM, "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I have no information on Universial Studios, but there is a lot of
>>>> walking there just to get into the main park area.
>>>> I would suggest that you buddy up with someone you know or check with
>>>> the parks ticket offices to see if they have anything special to help
>>>> you get around.  It is always more fun with a friend.
>>>>
>>>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jessica"
>>>> <jessmonsilva2003 at sbcglobal.net>
>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 10:17 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> I'm wanting to go to islands of adventure to see the wizzarding world
>>>>> of Harry potter. I get concerned though since I have no sight at all
>>>>> how I'll find anything there.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jun 28, 2011, at 5:09 AM, "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dear Kerri,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Epcot and Disney World have an electronic system that uses a hand held
>>>>>> device to give you directions and information about the park, as you
>>>>>> walk around.  It can help you locate restrooms, places to eat. the
>>>>>> entrances of the rides and attractions and much more.
>>>>>> Our own Dwight Sayers of the Florida Affiliate has tested these
>>>>>> devices and could give you more about them.  Contact the ticket
>>>>>> offices at Disney to get more info.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kerri Kosten"
>>>>>> <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 2:31 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Jessica and Everyone:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm kind of wondering the same thing. My aunt and uncle are coming up
>>>>>>> on July 10th and we are going to Disney but I have the day of July
>>>>>>> 9th
>>>>>>> (day after convention) to myself and am trying to figure out what to
>>>>>>> do. I would really like to go to one of the parks but at this point
>>>>>>> don't have anyone to go with. I'm also curious to see what others are
>>>>>>> doing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kerri
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 6/28/11, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> I'm going early rather than staying late.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Mike Freeman
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>>>> Behalf Of Jessica silva
>>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 9:00 PM
>>>>>>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org; nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hello all:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I know we are all getting excited for the convention coming up, as
>>>>>>>> we should
>>>>>>>> be.  There will be lots of interesting neat things related to
>>>>>>>> blindness that
>>>>>>>> will be presented and discussed.  I'm writing to ask however, if
>>>>>>>> anyone is
>>>>>>>> staying after the 8th, since it will be a weekend.  If so, do you
>>>>>>>> plan on
>>>>>>>> going to any of the local Orlando attractions or any of the tourist
>>>>>>>> attractions and which ones?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> This convention seems like it is going to turn out to be  certainly
>>>>>>>> one of
>>>>>>>> the biggest.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> See you all in Orlando.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Jessica
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> nfb-talk:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> nfb-talk:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/kerrik2006%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>>> nfb-talk:
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>> nfb-talk:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/jessmonsilva2003%40sbcglobal.net
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> nfb-talk:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nfb-talk:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/jessmonsilva2003%40sbcglobal.net
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nfb-talk:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/jessmonsilva2003%40sbcglobal.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/kerrik2006%40gmail.com
>




More information about the nFB-Talk mailing list