[nfb-talk] orlando attractions

Brian Miller brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu
Wed Jun 29 11:37:50 UTC 2011


All,

I don't know about Disney World, but Disneyland has an iPod audio
description of all the attractions.  You go to the main street guest
services office and pick up a little device with ear buds that you carry
around with you.  It picks up a signal from each of the rides and
attractions and will give you a commentary -- I think it can also tell you
what you are in front of.  We've used them a few times, and the technology
gets better every time... You can float along in Pirates of the Caribbean
and get a very detailed narrative of everything going on around you.  It's
really pretty cool, and very professionally done.  

I don't think they work as navigation tools, however, but merely serve to
describe.  

Thanks,
Brian M


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Dunphy
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 11:41 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions

Hi!
Has anyone figured out a good system for navigating these unfamiliar parks
such as the disney ones? I'm planning to go during convention on one of the
days when my agenda is light, but since the people I was going to travel
with can't go who have some vision, I was looking for any good tips for
traveling alone in a huge amusement park like Disney's parks.
Incidentally, If anyone going to convention wants to go to the parks and
wants to go with someone, get in touch here or off list at
djdrocks4ever at gmail.com

>From David
[
On 6/28/11, Bryan Schulz <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> hi,
>
> i hope some common sense would be considered as probably at least 90% 
> of most parks are asphalt and could easily burn the dogs paws.
>
> Bryan Schulz
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian Miller" <brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu>
> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 9:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>
>
>> Hi Dave and listers,
>>
>> I disagree about the blanket statement regarding dogs  and amusement 
>> parks.
>> I use a cane, but my wife uses a dog, and she brings him to all the
parks.
>> We've been to Disneyland, Disney World, Epcot, Magic Mountain in Los 
>> Angeles, Marine World in the Bay Area, and probably others I'm
forgetting.
>>
>> Her dog actually went on some of the more chill rides, but he even 
>> went on Pirates of the Caribbean and was fine.  Obviously the 
>> coasters are a no-go, so someone either has to stay back with the dog 
>> and wait at the loading station and switch out when the owner 
>> returns, or, in some cases, you can tie down the dog and leave them 
>> there for the three minutes or so you are on the ride, and often the 
>> operators will make sure no one bothers the dog.
>> This is obviously according to one's preference, however.
>>
>> We've often traveled with friends to parks, so one couple will ride 
>> while the other holds the dog, then they switch off.
>>
>> In any case, it is entirely up to you what you do, but I wouldn't say 
>> under no circumstances take a dog.  You should consider the weather, 
>> too -- especially in Disney World in July it will be scortching hot, 
>> and running around all day in that heat might be too much for the dog 
>> to take -- heck, for the humans too.
>>
>> Have fun, either way, that's the point.
>>
>> Brian M
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>> [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Evans
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 9:05 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>>
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> I would say that you should not take your guide dog along as it is 
>> very hot and they can not go on the rides.  You would need someone to 
>> hold on to your dog when you were on the rides and the employees are 
>> not allowed to help you by watching your dog.
>> The parks all have boarding kennels where you can leave your dog in 
>> the air conditioning and they will be watered and safe.
>> If you can use a cane, take a folding cane or a telescoping cane as 
>> you can keep this with you in the ride cars.  I use a "D" ring clip 
>> on the lanyard to clip it to a belt loop and leave my hands free and 
>> without worry that my cane is going to get flung out of the ride car.  
>> I use a telescoping cane and never had a problem, even on Space 
>> Mountain which is very rough and has both positive and negative 
>> "G's".
>> I have gone to the parks at least 12 times since I moved back her to 
>> Florida.
>> I like Epcot the best and Disney World second.
>>
>> I think that when the convention comes back again in 2013, I will do 
>> something about having some tours set up and tickets ready for sale 
>> to help people.
>>
>> David Evans,NFBF and GD Jack.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 5:49 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>>
>>
>>> Theme park with a guide dog? Not a good idea. Its very hot and 
>>> congested and you cannot take your guide on the ride anyway. So what 
>>> would it do during that time?  I think you'd be better off with a 
>>> cane and still you have to find somewhere to place the cane while 
>>> you're on the ride. I've not been alone so I'm not sure what you'd do
with a cane.
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Jessica
>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 1:34 PM
>>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>> 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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