[nfb-talk] orlando attractions

Wed Jun 29 13:56:56 UTC 2011

Dear Brian and All,

If I misstated myself, I apologize.  What I meant to say is that you, as a 
guide dog user, need to consider your dog in making the decision to take 
them to a Florida theme park in the Summer.
Dogs are much more likely to get heat stroke than are people and they often 
can not tell you it is getting to them as a person can.
The theme parks are very hot in the Summer here and there is the possibility 
of your dog getting heat stroke or even burning its paws walking on the hot 
surfaces or standing in line to get on to a ride.
Most rides, the dog is not going to be able to accompany you on as it is too 
dangerous for the dog, you and the other theme park guest and operation 
personnel.
Anyone who comes here this time of year must Use some common sense.
The theme park employees are specifically prohibited from touching or 
handling your dog and are not responsible for watching them any more than 
they are for watching someone's child while you go on a ride.  Would you 
leave a baby with a stranger just so you could take a ride?  In this state 
you could be arrested and charged with child neglect or abuse if you left 
your child basically unattended .   You can also be arrested here for 
leaving your dog in a car unattended too.  .  Why would you do that to your 
guide dog?
Why stress the dog out?  Think about it and look at your options first.
You can take your dog, but be sure to take care of their needs and health. 
One fun day at the park is not worth hurting your best friend.
There are boarding kennels at most all of the parks that are air 
conditioned, clean and the animals are well looked after.
May be you have a friend you can have watch your dog back at the hotel or 
who will go with you and take care of the dog to see to it that the dog is 
safe and reduce the stress.
I want everyone who comes to visit us here in Florida,especially guide dog 
users,  to have a great time and come back and see us again.  Just use some 
reason and common sense in deciding what you will do with your dog.
The reason the dogs are not allowed on the rides are many.
The dog can get sick and throw up or have a bal movement due to fright or 
excitement.  Would you like to be the next rider to climb into that ride 
car?
Would you like to be the employee that has to clean it up and maybe put the 
ride out of use to do it?
Would you want to be in a rider car with an animal that is frightened and 
trying to get out of the car while the ride is in motion?  Someone , or the 
animal is going to get hurt possibly and who is going to be to blame?
I can see some of these issues and I think that I will take it upon myself 
to try to make it better for our members the next time we host the 
convention here in Orlando in 2013 and 2015.
I will work to have some special tours set up that will help with seeing to 
it that your guide dog has a safe place to wait for you or that there are 
some people here to help to get you around the parks in a guided tour. 
Maybe we can even get some other perks thrown in too, like lunch with Mickey 
Mouse or something.
I will see what I can do and get back to you all on the list and through the 
Braille Monitor later.
I likely can not do anything much this time, but when you all come back 
again it will be better.

David Evans,NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Miller" <brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 7:33 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions

> Hi Bryan,
>
> This is why I offered the cautionary note about the weather and the 
> heat...
> However, there are shoes that a dog can wear to protect their paws.
>
> Brian M
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Bryan Schulz
> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 11:12 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] orlando attractions
>
> 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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