[nfb-talk] orlando attractions

David Evans drevans at bellsouth.net
Tue Jun 28 18:05:29 UTC 2011 

Dear Jessica,

I am sure that someone somewhere has taken their guide dog, but I know that 
the dog was not riding on most of the rides.  That would be too dangerous 
for the dog and the other people.  It would certainly scare the crap out of 
the dog.
They do have kennels for pets and guide dogs and you would just have to 
rough it with a cane or a sighted guide.
I had more vision back in those days that did help us get around that park, 
but today I don't, but I still like to ride.  I just would not take Jack, my 
guide dog.
A nice little group of 4 to 8 people could be a great party group and not be 
too big to handle.

There might be a way to see if there are others like you who want to go and 
you might check with the guest services at the hotel where they sell the 
tickets for the parks in the Shingle Creek Hotel and Resort.
Maybe there are a few others you could meet and travel with and go see the 
park of your choice.

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 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions


> 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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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