[Travelandtourism] FW: Back from Disney

[cheryl echevarria]

I just got a response below from Mark Jones from Disney in reference to Michael's e-mail that I forwarded to him.



Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
PresidentTravel and Tourism DivisionNational Federation of the Blind631-236-5138



From: Mark.Jones at disney.com
To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:29:00 -0700
Subject: RE: [Travelandtourism] Back from Disney

Good afternoon Cheryl and many thanks for passing Michael’s comments along.  I’ll be sure to share them with my larger team. Best Regards, Mark From: cheryl echevarria [mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 11:41 AM
To: Jones, Mark
Subject: FW: [Travelandtourism] Back from Disney I am forwarding to you an e-mail from a member of the travel and tourism division, that just returned from Disney. Just to give you feedback. Cheryl Oh yes, thank you for giving me that information on the cruise lines, they are really up to date.
  Leading the Way in Independent Travel! Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com PresidentTravel and Tourism DivisionNational Federation of the Blind631-236-5138   > From: mbaldwin at gpcom.net
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:42:05 -0500
> Subject: [Travelandtourism] Back from Disney
> 
> Hi,
> We are back, well mostly back from our 2 week Disney World vacation.
> We are visiting family before we go home.
> I will go in to more detail later if anyone wishes, but I just wanted to
> post a few quick thoughts about our experience.
> We visited the parks 7 days, one day each at Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood
> Studios, two days at EPCOT, and 3 days at Magic Kingdom. For the most part,
> it was a fantastic time. The majority of cast members were helpful and
> great, but there are always those few. Because it was my wife and 3 kids,
> ages 1, 3, and 6, I elected not to take my cane. Others might disagree with
> this decision, but that is their choice to make. It is too loud to try to
> follow my wife around, and holding on to my wife, and a child is difficult
> to do when your also carrying around a cane. The majority of cast members
> didn't seem to argue when we informed them that I was blind, and they were
> very helpful getting my 6 year old and I on a few rides that no one else
> went on. The biggest issue came at the ticket booths. Some of the people
> picked up on it right away without a word being said, and others were a
> really big moron about it. At Disney they like to have your finger print on
> file with your ticket, this prevents the ticket from being transferred to
> others or sold. I have no issue with using my finger print, if they would
> have shoed me were to do it. On our second visit to the MK, the ticket
> person would not let us through until my wife used her finger print on my
> ticket. We went to guest services, and I explained the situation as calmly
> as I could, and I was issued a new ticket with no finger print on it. There
> is no reason to have my ticket matched with my wife's finger print, how
> would I get in the park if I went with someone else, or by myself. The third
> trip resulted in the same thing, the ticket person would not let us pass
> until my wife used her finger print. It was our last day, so I didn't bother
> with guest relations. Two days going in to the parks we had no issues at
> all, they didn't even question us, the ticket person noticed I was holding
> on to my wife, and knew right away I was blind. Three of the days were more
> average, so I guess it all balanced out.
> 
> My biggest issue is that if people that get Guest Assistance cards do not
> have to show proof they have ADHD, autism, etc. so they can't stand in lines
> for long periods, why do I have to carry around a cane to prove I am blind?
> The finger print readers are up kind of high, so kids and people in wheel
> chairs don't need a finger print matched to their tickets. I had no issues
> getting the GAC, but being treated like a 3rd rate citizen at the ticket
> booths is unacceptable. The problem only occurred at MK, so I am guessing
> because that park is the busiest, they are trying to get everyone in as
> quick as possible, and trying to show a blind guy where to place his finger
> would take to much time, but yet they have to have a finger print on the
> card.
> 
> This is probably the only issue I experienced as a blind person at WDW. I am
> sure if I traveled there by myself I would have had a few more. Still, we
> all had a great time, and the kids want to go back.
> 
> Michael
> 
> 
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