Originally Posted By shonny My sister and I just returned from a road trip to DL. We drove from Clackamas, OR to Anaheim in a little Prius and have a great trip. Lots of talking, laughing, and listening to good murder mysteries all the way down and back. We stayed at Residence Inn Marriott Maingate. It was an all suites hotel with a very nice breakfast. We rode ART back and forth but could have walked. We just decided to save our energy for the Parks. I have had a couple knee surgeries and have a hard time doing stairs so wanted to know what their policy was on handicap help on the rides with stairs. I went to CA first and visited their guest services area. I walked into a room with about 8 workers staring at me. One young women stepped forward to help me but the rest just stood there and stared. Very strange. She said if I had a cast, a brace, a wheelchair, or a scooter I could avoid stairs otherwise I was out of luck. (not those words but quite rude). I told her I had knee problems and just couldn't do stairs at the end of the Car's ride or at the TOT. She said sorry but if I didn't have one of the above listed things I would have to do the ride the same as everyone else. I told her that was really crazy and she smiled and said too many people had taken advantage of their guest assistance passes so unless you had a brace, cast, etc no help was available. None of the other workers stepped in to add any other info. So I went over to DL and went to City Hall. Friendly staff not too busy and no one was standing in a line behind the counter staring as I again explained the situation. The worker there said just tell the first cast member you see that you can't do stairs and if the ride has any stairs they will offer you an alternative entrance or exit. I did that and it worked. At some rides it was going in thru exit, at some rides they would program my entrance ticket with a time to return and then I would go thru entrance or fast pass line. Then when we got to stairs the cast member with take me to an alternative entrance or an elevator. I tried this in CA. That park is newer and more handicap accessible so assistance isn't needed as much. But at TOT and Cars it worked. Cast members were polite and handled it the same way that DL did. Now if only their front of the park people could learn a little customer service it would be be great. I understand that people take advantage of those guest assistance passes but the young girl in CA was actually rude. I really wish there had been more visitors in that office listening to the way she talked to me. I have a feeling she might have got more complaints that just the one from me. Even with that less than perfect experience we had a great time. I did have to sit and catch my breath a bit but that just gave me time to watch the crowd and for me that's one of the best parts of the trip. After dozens of trips to DL I just found the little place that sells Beignets. Since I don't like Mint Julips I never go to this little window but a friend told me about the Beignets so I gave them a try. I won't ever miss them again. They were hot, fresh and wonderful. Over all we had a great trip and I'm already planning my next visit to the parks. Maybe alone next time.
Originally Posted By familyguy Sorry to hear of your bad experience. Glad the magic of the parks made up for it in the end! The good news is maybe you look so good and in such good health that the CM didn't believe you were unable to take stairs and such. Shame on the CM for not taking you at your word, but on the bright side...sounds like the reality is you look great! Let that put a smile on your face!
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips Shonny, we are practically neighbors (Vancouver, WA)..... I have done the road trip one time only and I will not do it again. Because, I have such limited time off from work.....it is just easier with the kids to just fly. But, I am glad you had a great time and got the other stuff figured out.
Originally Posted By darcy-becker I drove last trip (from Utah, not as long a drive as from the Portland Vancouver area) and it was cheaper but having extra time in the parks usually makes it worth flying. My next trip will just be a long week end so I will definitely be flying. Shonny, take that solo trip. You'll love it.
Originally Posted By Kidz-n-k9s <<I just found the little place that sells Beignets>> The line there can be painfully long, so another place to get them is in Downtown Disney at the Jazz Kitchen Express window. They make them throughout the day, not just at breakfast. I bought a pack after running the Tink 10k in May and they were just as good as the ones in the park. Glad you had a good trip overall. Sounds that the woman at Guest Services in DCA needs some retraining.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss "I bought a pack after running the Tink 10k" Sorry, but that is funny.
Originally Posted By iamsally I wish my sister and I could do that. We have discussed it but she is in Arkansas and I am in CA. Hopefully we will get it together before it is too late. Solo trips are great too. I love them! I had an experience like that at DL City Hall years ago. I had an elderly friend in a scooter. We were doing all the accessible lines. We were not trying to take advantage at all. But the Matterhorn line was long and it was really hot. All we wanted was a way to do it without her sitting for an hour in the sun. We were told that there was nothing they could do to help us. I know it was a lie as I saw others get passes for other reasons. The CM had that digression but chose not to help us. I was really hurt by the rude behavior. It was the first time I had EVER been treated rude by a CM. (Since then, I am sad to say, it has become more common.) Thank you for the report. Sounds like all in all it was a good trip. I am glad the majority of CM's were helpful.
