Prof Drake
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- May 26, 2016
We recently got back from a trip July 5-10th (PTR here). Our experiences might be of interest to folks with physical challenges (I was in a TravelScoot), dietary restrictions (my wife and I both needed gluten free meals), and/or young kids (we were traveling with a 2 year old and an 8 year old). I'll also describe our use of Fast Pass, now that there's no longer the long minimum return time. I’ll be going day-by-day, but I might have a “lessons learned” summary post at the end.
Day 1: Wednesday, July 5th
We arrived at our hotel (the Camelot) mid-day. They didn’t have a room for us, but said they would text when they did. They did let us park early so we could head to Disneyland.
We unpacked the TravelScoot, which I’d bought based on suggestions on these boards. I’d used it around work, but never given it the kind of workout it had at Disneyland. My short review: It worked great for my purposes. The battery lasted quite well, it was small and maneuverable in the tight Disneyland spaces, and while I got tired of sitting in it by the end of the day, I think that would happen with any seat. Sometimes it had traction problems when trying to make a too-tight left turn, and there was one surface on which it slipped (the exit ramp for Space Mountain), but it’s a purchase I’m happy with — which I was worried about, since it can only be bought online.
When we arrived, due to my defibrillator, I couldn't go through security’s metal detector. I had to wait for a supervisor to approve (or do) a "visual" inspection. It was a long wait. (During the wait, my wife went to a ticket booth and confirmed the LMT Club vouchers could just be taken to the gate, then hung out with the kids.) During the course of our five day visit, I found the security procedure for me (and the associated wait) varied widely. But it was important to budget the time in case it was a slow one.
It was also on this trip through security that we discovered we couldn't bring in a Sitgo. Our security person told his supervisor they hadn't allowed last one due to worries it might slip. I had thought this might happen, given the varying reports in the Amazon reviews about whether they could go through Disney security. But I had also thought my DMV handicapped paperwork might help me get it through. No such luck.
The LMT Club vouchers worked fine at the gate, which is something else I’d had a small worry about. After arrival I went to City Hall to get mobility accommodation info. I found that the deal with rides is consistent, and is as reported elsewhere on these boards. But with parades and fireworks, apparently not. I had read that there were three mobility accommodation areas for the Disneyland parades, for example, and that they could be reserved. Instead at City Hall I heard there were two, first-come, first-served. I also had the sense that the answers they give might depend on one’s needs. Asking there, rather than trying to pre-plan, seems wise.
During my time at City Hall, my wife and kids rode the Main St fire truck, met Chip, and got new penny passports. This gives you an idea of how long it took. Don’t head in there until you have time available.
By then everyone was hot and we got ice cream on Main Street. Nice and cool. Little seating, so it might not have been as restful as we needed, but I vultured a table.
We headed into the west side of the park. I’d thought we'd have a long return wait for Jungle Cruise, but it was only 15 minutes. We got pressed pennies at the nearby store and I refilled water bottles at drinking fountains by Indiana Jones.
Our 2yo absolutely loved the Jungle Cruise. As we came around the first corner, my wife said to him, "Look, a tiger!" He said, "It's real!" He exclaimed and pointed through the rest of the ride.
Next we found, and waited in, the disability return line outside the exit for Pirates. When we got to the end of the line we were given a longer wait than Jungle Cruise -- maybe 35 minutes. My wife did a diaper change for our 2yo and pressed pennies and shopping with the kids (our 2yo got a pirate set) while I collected Fast Passes for Big Thunder, Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain. It was possible because the first two had immediate return times, but that also created time pressure. On the other hand, we didn't want the Splash return time to get any later.
I met them and got in the line to check in for our Pirates return time, while they went to another shop. I called them when I got to the front of the line. Then there was a longer wait inside the ride. (I was starting to learn that the disability return process can be both shorter and quite a bit longer than the standby line.) The kids enjoyed the ride, but our 8yo was ready for a coaster. We also only had 20 minutes left on our first two FPs.
We decided, rather than rider swap Big Thunder, which would have made our Mansion passes unusable, our 8yo and I would ride it once while my wife and our 2yo went to the Mansion. Our 8yo loved Big Thunder and wanted to be sure to go back during our trip. At Big Thunder I learned that some rides urge you to leave your mobility device at the exit, but then put you in a line of other people being accommodated, with no place to sit, in the sun. Next time on Big Thunder I will ride through the exit.
Next our 8yo and I went to the Mansion, just in time, and enjoyed that as well (though she didn’t request a return). I was urged to leave my scooter outside for that, as well, and people with severely limited mobility should ignore that, because there are a few steps, some standing, and some walking required. On the other hand, those are important parts of the ride, and it is cool and dark, so definitely a better choice to do as they urge here, rather than Big Thunder.
My wife and our 2yo had done the Mansion and Pooh, and we met them in time to do Pooh again together. This was my first ride being in the regular queue, and the TravelScoot handled the corners brilliantly. Our 2yo saw, and wanted to meet, the Pooh characters nearby -- but the line was long and we didn't have his autograph book. Got some pressed coins nearby.
Our 8yo wanted to do more shopping so we did the first test of me in the scooter and our 2yo with his harness and leash. It worked well. He stood at the fence and talked to Pooh characters between families who had waited in line, and greeted several characters as they walked by during a shift change. Later my wife and I thought our 2yo and I had lost the spyglass from his new pirate set, but it had actually just gotten into my scooter basket. (Our 2yo had put a drink there earlier, so I suspect him .)
Anyway, it felt good to do some parent switch-off, instead of my wife always handling our 2yo. And he was very taken with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, and Eeyore, which was really cute. (Though he was also a bit intimidated when they walked close and reached out during the shift change.)
We had more than an hour before the Splash FPs could be used, and we're accustomed to eating early, so a little before five we went up the ramp for the Hungry Bear. Nothing on the menu appealed to our grownups. So we headed for New Orleans Square. I checked the Unofficial Guide and it said Cafe Orleans supposedly has good pomme frites. That's when we discovered that we thought we were missing the spyglass. I went and scoured Critter Country while my wife found only a 15 minute wait for a table.
When I got back I ordered, and I really loved my meal (excellently cooked salmon over fresh, flavorful vegetables, together with polenta and broth) while my wife's was just okay (a salad with chicken). There were lots of gluten free choices, but unfortunately the pomme frites weren't among them (not a dedicated frier). Our 2yo had just started eating while my wife and our 8yo were finishing, so he and I hung out while they used the bathroom and looked in a shop.
After dinner, our 8yo and I headed for Splash while my wife and our 2yo went to It's a Small World. Apparently he loved it, just as he did when 15 months old. Our 8yo and I had a great time on Splash, then met them in the IASW gift shop for more pressed coins (quarters, this time).
Our last stop was ToonTown, for some running around before heading to the hotel to check in to our room. Our 8yo was so tired after that my wife gave her a piggy back ride, while pushing our 2yo in the stroller, from the hub to our hotel. It took so long to get settled that we let the kids stay up to watch fireworks from the hotel's outdoor hallway. But they were canceled, which it took a while to figure out.
Day 1: Wednesday, July 5th
We arrived at our hotel (the Camelot) mid-day. They didn’t have a room for us, but said they would text when they did. They did let us park early so we could head to Disneyland.
We unpacked the TravelScoot, which I’d bought based on suggestions on these boards. I’d used it around work, but never given it the kind of workout it had at Disneyland. My short review: It worked great for my purposes. The battery lasted quite well, it was small and maneuverable in the tight Disneyland spaces, and while I got tired of sitting in it by the end of the day, I think that would happen with any seat. Sometimes it had traction problems when trying to make a too-tight left turn, and there was one surface on which it slipped (the exit ramp for Space Mountain), but it’s a purchase I’m happy with — which I was worried about, since it can only be bought online.
When we arrived, due to my defibrillator, I couldn't go through security’s metal detector. I had to wait for a supervisor to approve (or do) a "visual" inspection. It was a long wait. (During the wait, my wife went to a ticket booth and confirmed the LMT Club vouchers could just be taken to the gate, then hung out with the kids.) During the course of our five day visit, I found the security procedure for me (and the associated wait) varied widely. But it was important to budget the time in case it was a slow one.
It was also on this trip through security that we discovered we couldn't bring in a Sitgo. Our security person told his supervisor they hadn't allowed last one due to worries it might slip. I had thought this might happen, given the varying reports in the Amazon reviews about whether they could go through Disney security. But I had also thought my DMV handicapped paperwork might help me get it through. No such luck.
The LMT Club vouchers worked fine at the gate, which is something else I’d had a small worry about. After arrival I went to City Hall to get mobility accommodation info. I found that the deal with rides is consistent, and is as reported elsewhere on these boards. But with parades and fireworks, apparently not. I had read that there were three mobility accommodation areas for the Disneyland parades, for example, and that they could be reserved. Instead at City Hall I heard there were two, first-come, first-served. I also had the sense that the answers they give might depend on one’s needs. Asking there, rather than trying to pre-plan, seems wise.
During my time at City Hall, my wife and kids rode the Main St fire truck, met Chip, and got new penny passports. This gives you an idea of how long it took. Don’t head in there until you have time available.
By then everyone was hot and we got ice cream on Main Street. Nice and cool. Little seating, so it might not have been as restful as we needed, but I vultured a table.
We headed into the west side of the park. I’d thought we'd have a long return wait for Jungle Cruise, but it was only 15 minutes. We got pressed pennies at the nearby store and I refilled water bottles at drinking fountains by Indiana Jones.
Our 2yo absolutely loved the Jungle Cruise. As we came around the first corner, my wife said to him, "Look, a tiger!" He said, "It's real!" He exclaimed and pointed through the rest of the ride.
Next we found, and waited in, the disability return line outside the exit for Pirates. When we got to the end of the line we were given a longer wait than Jungle Cruise -- maybe 35 minutes. My wife did a diaper change for our 2yo and pressed pennies and shopping with the kids (our 2yo got a pirate set) while I collected Fast Passes for Big Thunder, Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain. It was possible because the first two had immediate return times, but that also created time pressure. On the other hand, we didn't want the Splash return time to get any later.
I met them and got in the line to check in for our Pirates return time, while they went to another shop. I called them when I got to the front of the line. Then there was a longer wait inside the ride. (I was starting to learn that the disability return process can be both shorter and quite a bit longer than the standby line.) The kids enjoyed the ride, but our 8yo was ready for a coaster. We also only had 20 minutes left on our first two FPs.
We decided, rather than rider swap Big Thunder, which would have made our Mansion passes unusable, our 8yo and I would ride it once while my wife and our 2yo went to the Mansion. Our 8yo loved Big Thunder and wanted to be sure to go back during our trip. At Big Thunder I learned that some rides urge you to leave your mobility device at the exit, but then put you in a line of other people being accommodated, with no place to sit, in the sun. Next time on Big Thunder I will ride through the exit.
Next our 8yo and I went to the Mansion, just in time, and enjoyed that as well (though she didn’t request a return). I was urged to leave my scooter outside for that, as well, and people with severely limited mobility should ignore that, because there are a few steps, some standing, and some walking required. On the other hand, those are important parts of the ride, and it is cool and dark, so definitely a better choice to do as they urge here, rather than Big Thunder.
My wife and our 2yo had done the Mansion and Pooh, and we met them in time to do Pooh again together. This was my first ride being in the regular queue, and the TravelScoot handled the corners brilliantly. Our 2yo saw, and wanted to meet, the Pooh characters nearby -- but the line was long and we didn't have his autograph book. Got some pressed coins nearby.
Our 8yo wanted to do more shopping so we did the first test of me in the scooter and our 2yo with his harness and leash. It worked well. He stood at the fence and talked to Pooh characters between families who had waited in line, and greeted several characters as they walked by during a shift change. Later my wife and I thought our 2yo and I had lost the spyglass from his new pirate set, but it had actually just gotten into my scooter basket. (Our 2yo had put a drink there earlier, so I suspect him .)
Anyway, it felt good to do some parent switch-off, instead of my wife always handling our 2yo. And he was very taken with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, and Eeyore, which was really cute. (Though he was also a bit intimidated when they walked close and reached out during the shift change.)
We had more than an hour before the Splash FPs could be used, and we're accustomed to eating early, so a little before five we went up the ramp for the Hungry Bear. Nothing on the menu appealed to our grownups. So we headed for New Orleans Square. I checked the Unofficial Guide and it said Cafe Orleans supposedly has good pomme frites. That's when we discovered that we thought we were missing the spyglass. I went and scoured Critter Country while my wife found only a 15 minute wait for a table.
When I got back I ordered, and I really loved my meal (excellently cooked salmon over fresh, flavorful vegetables, together with polenta and broth) while my wife's was just okay (a salad with chicken). There were lots of gluten free choices, but unfortunately the pomme frites weren't among them (not a dedicated frier). Our 2yo had just started eating while my wife and our 8yo were finishing, so he and I hung out while they used the bathroom and looked in a shop.
After dinner, our 8yo and I headed for Splash while my wife and our 2yo went to It's a Small World. Apparently he loved it, just as he did when 15 months old. Our 8yo and I had a great time on Splash, then met them in the IASW gift shop for more pressed coins (quarters, this time).
Our last stop was ToonTown, for some running around before heading to the hotel to check in to our room. Our 8yo was so tired after that my wife gave her a piggy back ride, while pushing our 2yo in the stroller, from the hub to our hotel. It took so long to get settled that we let the kids stay up to watch fireworks from the hotel's outdoor hallway. But they were canceled, which it took a while to figure out.