Sorry for taking so long to update everyone, my wife got sick while we where there and is still struggling to get better so I have had my handful these last few weeks but here is a short summary of the trip, mainly focusing on the EVC and rides/restaurants and experiences. Some details are cut or missing as its not intended to be a trip report but I guess at some places it may seem that way. Happy to elaborate to answer questions anyone may have.
Saturday July 23:
Flying out of Philly was wonderful, as soon as they noticed I needed assistance they got someone to assist me. They helped get our bags checked in, passed TSA, and to the gate PHL was amazing (never thought this would be the airport I was praising.) Our flight was delayed we knew that before we left but they pushed it back further once we arrived at the airport due to weather. Our 1130AM flight did not leave until 230PM... Ok that's recoverable not the worst but not great, until we get to Orlando. When we landed at MCO they had just shut the airport down due to lightning we SAT ON THE TARMAC FOR 2 HOURS! With two kids under 6 this was not fun! Finally we pull up to the gate and begin to deplane and realize that the ENTIRE airport is now deplaning... No gate assistance at all what so ever it was a mad house, crutched all the way from the gate to Aside baggage then crutch with all our bags and the stroller from A side to B side to get on the Sunshine Flyer Bus. Sunshine flyer was great. They have some things to work out mainly the organizing the pick up process at the airport but they where quick and the buses where clean. I would ride with them again, especially if the are able to stream line the airport side of things. We finally arrived at All Star Sports at around 9:30PM about 4hrs later than we had planned, tired exhausted and two miserable kids. Cast Members at Sports where Amazing! Got my EVC and helped us with our bags they where great. We went to the food court fed the kids and got everyone to bed.
Sunday July 24:
All Star Sports with an EVC the rooms are SMALL if we had to stay here all week it would have been rough. We were in the old style rooms with two standard beds, if we had been in one of the new rooms where the bed folds up maybe it would have been ok but there was almost no room with the EVC. Bathroom was nice however as it still had a standard time and I was able to sit on the side of the tub to shower. After everyone was up we grabbed a few things to eat and went to AK. I quickly realized that the plug at Sports was probly not working properly as as soon as we arrived at AK the EVC began losing power... It was not an issue however just something we kept an eye on, was able to use to scooter in the lines of Safari, Everest (child swap was easy wife went first with my daughter and I stayed with our son. Then we swapped and I was able to take the EVC threw the LL entrance to the ride), and had the handicap seating in Bugs Life. We headed out relatively early to transfer to OKW and meet the in-laws. At OKW we had a one Bedroom and it was SO MUCH EASIER with the scooter, my family had the living room to sleep in and our inlaws had the bedroom. It was so easy pulling right in and plugging the scooter in along the wall. I had my crutches so I was able to use them to get around the room. The Biggest issue with the one bedrooms at OKW is the bathroom showers. They are standard walk in showers however there is NOTHING to hold on to. So even if you have two good legs and but like to have something to hold on to as you shower to prevent your self from slipping these may be a problem. After a short break we took the boats to Disney Springs. Getting on and off the boat was easy enough with the EVC boarding the boats and buses was always interesting, it was never a negative experience (though there was one grumpy bus driver) just every driver/captain had their own way of doing it, some wanted me to drive the EVC on, others wanted me to do it at the lowest speed setting (they all asked that I turn the speed down but some wanted it so low that it almost did not have enough energy to get up the ramp), other still wanted me to let go and they parked it themselves, I did not care how but just when I thought I knew the process the next drive would change it. Dinner was at House of Blues, they asked if we could park the EVC and stroller inside off to the side, as I was able to use the crutches it was not a problem, and it was nice to get out and move for a little. No idea how they handle someone who is not able to get out of their scooter.
Monday July 25: EPCOT
Woke up early received our boarding groups for Guardians (side note AMAZING). Got to EPCOT shortly after opening rode test track no problem was able to take the EVC all the way to the ride vehicle before having to transfer, and it was waiting on the other side when done. Frozen was next and this one was harder ended up hurting myself (not bad but my leg was angry with me for a few hours) was able to take the EVC all the way to the boats, however the boats are VERY deep, almost fell getting in them and definitely did something wrong getting out of them. not much to hold on too and they are slippery... Anyway made our way to Guardians, this is where my wife began to go south. She started saying that she was not feeling well sick to her stomach and dizzy, she already has motion sickness so we took a short break got her liquids and cool she started to feel better and said that she felt she could do the ride. We saved the galaxy with no protein spills! As my in-laws are DVC we headed over to figment for the DVC lounge... and the elevator was broken... Well I have not waited all this time to not see the upstairs of Imagination so you bet I hopped up those 33 stairs! Was it worth it, if bragging to your brother that you did something he has not then yes, but other than that not so much. However I did overhear a few cast members talking that they brought snacks and drinks down to a few families that could not due the steps. Figment again was able to take the EVC to the ride vehicle and it was waiting at the end of the ride, same with the seas ride. I was a little nervous about the Land as Frozen had gone so poorly in the morning, however the boats are much higher then frozen and getting in and out was simple. We had dinner in the Mexico Pavilion, again they asked that we leave the EVC in the corner, not sure how they handle those who can not transfer out of their chair as I did not see a ramp only stairs down the to main dining room. We did Rat after dinner LONG LONG line, not worth it for the wait but the ride was fun and will definitely be on our do list next time if the line is reasonable.
Tuesday July 26:
Pool Day, my wife was starting to really not feel good today. We figured it was the heat... But the kids had fun in the pool before we headed to Chef Mickey's for dinner. Dining was meh but seeing the kids meet the characters was worth every penny. We also had Moonlight Magic at DAK. Rode FOP took EVC until the airlock then used the crutches, not sure at what point they would make you transfer if you could not do the crutches but it worked for me and had no problems with the boot on the bike. River Journey was the same as land with the boats being easier to get in and out of. We also did Dinosaur. This had a separate elevator down to the load level and back to the exit. Simple enough and allows you to get right to the ride on an EVC.
OK so this is about the midpoint I will finish the report in the next post. Will give
@yensid1967 my limited thoughts on Genie+ as well as give a recap on the rides at HS and how the trip falls apart on MK day. Its a story to be sure.
