Smoking -
Ok, I don't smoke so a total ban wouldn't worry me in the least.
In all my many previous trips though, I had only occasionally
been bothered by cigarette smokers. Since my last visit 'designated
smoking areas' have been introduced without, in my opinion, any
real improvement. Firstly, smoking rules seem to be generally
ignored, and I still found people who think that cupping a cigarette
from view in their hand is as good as seeking out a smoking area
- I just wish they would remember not to swing that hand within
six inches of my face. Being a non smoker, I don't check out where
the smoking areas are, then get an unpleasant surprise when I
stumble onto one by accident. Finally, my favourite bar (the Belle
Vue Lounge at the Boardwalk) now considers itself a 'smoking'
bar without even a non-smoking area. During my trip it was cold,
Cold, COLD!!, and maybe that brought all the smokers inside. Who
knows? All I know, is that I had to leave the bar a couple of
times when fellow guests lit up on the next table.
Last time
we visited (September '99), we had to wait for ages to get back
to the Boardwalk by boat after Fantasmic! Soon after, Disney constructed
a path along the canal leading to Crescent Lake to link up with
the path into Epcot. Its original use (according to a boat captain)
was as a running path linking MGM and Epcot for the Disney Marathon
in January 2000. That path now has railings along the canal plus
lighting and is now officially open to guests. It is a great way
to get back to the Boardwalk from MGM in an electric wheelchair
when there are three boats worth of guests waiting. It is just
under a mile, and I can make it back in about twelve minutes,
less if I cut through the car park to the front of the Boardwalk.
It was however, too far for my wife after a long afternoon walking
around. The 12 year old Glenmorangie I had at the Belle Vue Lounge
waiting for her was good though!
Have you noticed
how we wheelchair and ECV users like to be first getting off the
Friendship boats at Epcot's International Gateway? We are not
trying to be pushy or rude, just saving the crew the trouble of
getting out the ramps. When full, the Friendships are level with
the dock and no ramp is needed; as people get off, the boats rise
in the water.
Disney photographers
in the parks (not so far on the cruise ships) are changing over
to digital cameras. Mostly, the pictures they produce are fine
for their intended purpose, head and shoulders snapshots, printed
6x4 maximum. However, I was part of a group photo of radp members
taken at the International gateway. I was one of about 250 people
in the photo. My face was reduced to a single pixel on the print
and my shirt just two more. The photo was definitely a picture
of 250 people, but no individual was recognisable. I didn't buy
the photo. Digital technology isn't good enough yet for group
photos. Disney needs to re-think.
I notice that
the new quiet pool at the Wilderness Lodge Villas has 'disabled'
access. This consists of a flight of steps continuing out of the
pool up to a platform at wheelchair height. Anyone with restricted
use of their legs, but strong upper body strength could 'bump'
themselves out of the water, then on up the steps to the platform
where they could make an easy side transfer to their wheelchair.
I would love to be able to go swimming again and I look foreword
to being able to use the pools (and hot tubs) at Disney someday.
Floating in water, my disability goes away. Maybe I can't swim
as fast as everyone else, but the exercise would be great. I just
wish that they would provide some kind of hoist too, for those
of us without upper body strength, who cannot use the steps.
On my way
out of London Gatwick airport, a luggage porter asked me where
I was headed. It turns out he is a Disney fan not long back from
a stay at one of the All Stars. He told me about this fantastic
wheelchair he had seen at Innoventions. He reckoned it must have
been very, very expensive; at least £5000. I had to point out
that my relatively unsophisticated powerchair cost me £6500 ($9500).
The chair he had seen was the IBOT, on show in the future house.
It can climb steps and steep ramps, and can lift the user eye
to eye with anyone standing, by tipping up and balancing on two
wheels. In the upright position it balances, I assume, with the
aid of some kind of gyro controlling the power to the wheels.
In the demonstration, the CM gives it a hefty shove and the (empty)
chair powers off automatically in the direction it is pushed to
maintain its balance. Very impressive indeed, though I wonder
what would happen if it 'tripped over' a chair say, when balancing.
I later find out that it is still a prototype without federal
use approval. Disney has two so they can switch between them to
ensure they always have a working one on display. They cost about
£25000 ($35000) each. I cannot see the UK National Health Service
or US Medicaid handing them out any day real soon!
My wife and
I tried to see the New Year in at Epcot. Cold weather was forecasted,
so we were bundled up well as we entered through the International
Gateway from the Boardwalk about 11am. Epcot was already closed
to offsite guests and CMs were already stationed outside the turnstiles
checking that everyone had a hotel key. I assume they were checking
that no-one had parked at one of the Epcot hotels and were trying
to sneak in posing as hotel guests! People were already staking
out spots by the railings around the lake with blankets ready
for Illuminations. The day was quite warm provided you kept out
of the shade, but once the sunset, temperatures dropped rapidly.
People were now huddling under those blankets around the lake
adjusting their hats and scarves, and generally looking very miserable
indeed. By 10 pm my wife was insisting on walking around the lake
one more time just to keep warm. The trouble with using a wheelchair
is that you don't generate any heat just sitting there. I was
wearing about four layers, and had wrapped myself in a blanket
but I was chilled to the bone. We were back in bed at the Boardwalk
by 11pm and couldn't even drag ourselves to the window to watch
the fireworks from our window.
Disney
World - The Online Guide is not affiliated with, maintained by,
or in any way officially connected with the Walt Disney Company.
Walt
Disney World & it's theme parks, resorts, attractions &
area names are trademarks of The Walt Disney Company. All information
contained in Disney
World - The Online Guide, including prices, dates,
times, availability, is subject to change & not official. Joanne
will not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented
on any page in this site, and will not be held responsible for anything
that happens as a result of following advice or information on this
site, and does not represent the Walt Disney Company in any
manner.
