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Walt Disney World, 2003

"All you need is trust... and a little bit of pixie dust!" --Peter Pan

MICKEY MOUSE

For Spring break, 2003, we went to Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. We visited four parks - The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM, and The Animal Kingdom. I have to say, wheelchair and all, I had a fantastic time! We purchased the four-day hopper pass and which allowed us to jump between The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM, and the Animal Kingdom as much as we wanted. We can't wait to go back again, except, next time when the water parks are open so the children can go on the water slides, wave pools, and all those other fun water rides. We visited The Magic Kingdom and Epcot more than once while there (that's why the hopper pass is terrific!)

We saw parades, fireworks, went on rides, saw shows, ate, drank, and were merry. I have to say, the fireworks at Epcot and MGM are pretty grand! I had, as a child, been to The Magic Kingdom and remembered the fireworks display from there. Yes, the fireworks at The Magic Kingdom is awesome BUT the fireworks at Epcot and MGM are even more awesome!

For those of you who see this page and know me, you know of my handicap and limitations. I had been worried about going to an amusement park and actually having fun. My concerns were unfounded at Walt Disney World; I had a lot of fun. Sure, I would have had a lot more fun if I were not disabled but considering I am disabled, I had a blast!

We had a wonderful place to stay, as well. A huge two bedroom suite. We stayed in an apartment, not a hotel. We had a kitchen, dining area, two bathrooms, two bedrooms, living room, and a screened-in-porch. The kids bedroom had two beds yet Mick decided he'd rather sleep on the couch in the living room in front of the large screen television. And, when I say large screen, I mean large screen, it was a 61" television. Very nice. Mick loved it. I had a king-sized bed and jacuzzi in the master bedroom. I'll tell you, after a long day at the parks, that jacuzzi was a joy. We also had the use of five swimming pools, a game room, several restaurants on the premises, and many other amenities including a spa, beauty salon, and in-apartment massages.

Of course, the main purpose of the trip was to take the children to Walt Disney World, not where we stayed! But, when we go back again, I'd stay there again. I was able to get a special deal on the place and it cost me less than fifty dollars per night plus I was able to get discounted tickets to Walt Disney World.

At the Magic Kingdom I wasn't able to go on rides like Space Mountain or Splash Mountain, but there was still plenty to do. I did find out though, much to my chagrin, that many, many, many people are extremely rude to individuals who are in wheelchairs. To anyone out there that is rude to anyone in a wheelchair (and you know who you are!), SHAME ON YOU!

Undaunted, and determined to have a great time regardless of the rudeness of other's, I decided not to let it get me down. After all, I was in the Magic Kingdom! I went to The Hall of Presidents, County Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer's Island, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Small World, the Magic Kingdom Train, Peter Pan's Adventure, The Extraterrestrial Experience, The Tomorrowland Tram (a great one to go on when you're tired and just want to sit!), plus many other's.

Sarah and I also discovered "pin trading." Mick didn't like pin trading. He just didn't get it! Pin trading is VERY big at Walt Disney World. You can trade with employees and/or other guests. Sarah was able to get most of the Beauty and the Beast pins and I was able to get most from Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians. Warning though, pin trading can become a very addictive experience!! :) Sarah and I had a lot of fun talked with a lot of people while trading pins. Now, to go back and get some more pins... ha ha ha

We also took OVER 100 pictures of our trip to Disney. We met "heros" and "villains" as well as all of the characters associated with Disney. Below are some of thumbnails leading to the pictures of our days of fun at Walt Disney World (and of course my long-winded narrative of the events surrounding the pictures!). If you wish to see a larger picture, just click on the thumbnail and voil� there you go. Enjoy!

"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are..." -- From Peter Pan

Breakfast With Pooh & Friends

We had breakfast with Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet at the Magic Kingdom. Disney has available all sorts of character events you can sign up for anything from Cinderella's Palace to dining in "Africa." They have all kinds of packages available catering to all different ages.

I decided on breakfast because I figured a large breakfast was good to get us through most of the day (and I was right!). I decided on the Pooh because when my son was little his room was done over in Pooh (and this was long before Pooh could be found EVERYWHERE!). The breakfast was a buffet. The food was splendid. And, while you are eating each of the characters come around and visit all of the tables so you can have your pictures taken with them. They don't rush you and you can eat as much as you like and they even suggest you take a beverage and fruit to go.

You need to make reservations ahead of time. I suggest you make them when you book your trip to Disney especially if you want to have dinner in Cinderella's Castle or have a meal with the character's from Toy Story. Once you get to Disney you can go to "City Hall" at the Magic Kingdom or any of the information centers at any of the parks and book reservations. some of the characters are easier to dine with than other's. If you're staying at one f the Disney resorts, they'll gladly make reservations for you either upon check-in or ahead of time if you give them a call.

And if you're adults or taking older children like teenagers and doubt you would enjoy a character dining experience, you should think again. When we went, my children weren't "little." In fact, they were both older teens and we all enjoyed the character breakfast. It really helps to makes a complete "Disney Experience." As we were waiting to go in, Mick, my teenage son, wondered if we would be the only group there without little one's. We weren't. Sure, there were lots of kids there; young and old. It was a lot of fun! Here are the pictures from that breakfast: morning:

Breakfast Pictures

The three of us with Winnie-the-Pooh.

The three of us with Eeyore.

The three of us with Piglet & Tigger.

The three of us with Piglet.

Mick & Winnie-the-Pooh.

Mick & Eeyore.

Mick & Piglet.

Winnie-the-Pooh parading around dining room.

Winnie-the-Pooh parading around the dining room.

Sarah, Mick, & Pooh.

Tigger parading around dining room.

The Villains
What would the Disney stories be without their villains? I'm sure if I name a movie, you can name the villain. Snow White? 101 Dalmatians? Aladdin? The Little Mermaid? Lady and the Tramp? Beauty and the Beast? Cinderella?

We all have our "favorite" villain! Who is yours from this list:

take my poll at: Favorite Villain:

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Since I was unable to go on the majority of the rides, and went at a much slower pace, I encouraged the children to go off together so I wouldn't slow them down. That way they would be able to go on as many rides as they wanted. But, Sarah and Mick, being Sarah and Mick, didn't want to leave me all alone most of the time. They're just the greatest kids any mom could ever hope to have!

We spent a lot of time together as a family, the children going on rides with me I could go on. Then each of the children spent time alone with me while the other went off and rode some rides using "fast-passes" we had gotten, and needless to say, I couldn't use for rides like Space Mountain. The children also did go off together because there were things I wanted to do that they didn't so I went off alone then. On one of the times I was with just Sarah we just happened upon a gathering of Disney villains.

What were they all doing gathered like that? Was it some secret meeting? Were the villains planning something evil like villains often do? For being villains, Sarah and I thought they were awfully nice.

Here are pictures of the Disney villains:

Sarah and I met Cruella De Vil. She called us "darlings," and wanted to know where the best pin, her pin, was in our collection of pins. Sarah told her I had mine back at the room because I didn't want to trade it. True! She seemed pleased with this response and "decided to allow" us to have her picture taken with her.

Mother and daughter with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

We also met the Sheriff of Nottingham. Before allowing us to take our picture with him he DEMANDED we bow before him. Sarah bowed and I tried to bow the best I could. I guess it was good enough because he did allow the picture to be taken.

Sarah and Mama with the evil queen from Alice in Wonderland

We also met the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. She was very evil looking.

I had just left the Morocco store when who should I happen upon but Jafar! He pointed right at me as he approached, but I knew enough to not look into the eyes of snake staff. Luckily I escaped.

Disney's Good Guys

M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E. The star of Disney, and the guy that began it all, Mickey Mouse.

We ran into quite a few of the green army men. They looked so real-and by real I mean like real statues, but they weren't, they were real live green army men.

We saw Buzz in the parade at MGM. We also saw him the next day in Tomorrowland. I was able to get pretty close, right up front, to view the parade because of my wheelchair until a couple with their children decided standing in front of me was the perfect spot to stand. At least I got a pretty good shot of Buzz. In Tomorrowland, there was such a long line filled with happy and excited little kids! Wow! Do they love Buzz! We weren't going to wait in line there to have our picture taken with him. Buzz just isn't my kinda guy.

Mr. Potatohead was riding on the hood of the car Buzz was driving. I guess he had something to hold onto so he wouldn't fall off! He seemed to be a pretty good scout.

Here Sarah and I ran into Baloo the Bear. He gave us a giant bear hug. This was at Epcot. We seemed to see more characters (with shorter lines) at Epcot compared to the other parks.

While hanging out near Morocco we ran into Goofy and a lot of his pals. Mick, sadly, was off exploring by himself and I didn't get to take his picture with any of the characters at Epcot.

Poor Pluto. Mickey was near by and had a long, long, long line of kids waiting to see him and no one was waiting to see his dog Pluto. Sarah and I skipped the line for Mickey and I took her picture with Pluto.

After escaping the evil eyes of Jafar I found my daughter *phew* and we ran into Genie and Aladdin while at Epcot. I wonder, is it Genie that helps to make wishes come true at Walt Disney World? Hmmmm? Could be.

Mickey with one of the Green Army Men at MGM. (I said they were everywhere! Maybe they were on patrol.) He use to play with miniture versions these guys when he was little. Didn't almost every child?

Mickey, Minnie, and Goofey in the MGM Parade.

Here's Goofy driving Mickey and Minnie in the parade at MGM. Pluto is also in the front seat but you can't really make him out in this picture. Would you want goofy as your chauffeur? Hmmmmmmmm I don't think I'd want him driving me around; I'think I'd rather be house-bound!

EPCOT

Sarah and I loved Epcot. Mick didn't love it as much. At Epcot you could visit little "villages" representing many different countries like Morocco, China, Mexico, France, Canada, United States, Italy, and Great Britain, etc. (They are always adding new countries!)

You really get a flavor for each of the countries you choose to visit be it through tasting their foods or buying their wares. Epcot was my favorite of all the parks.

In addition to learning about the countries you "visit" there are also all kinds of (shhhh don't tell the kids educational) rides, games, and forms of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy!

For example, you can try your hand at an environmental game show. Or take a ride into space on Mission Space or be a part of the audience in "Honey I Shrunk The Audience." There's also, Innovations: The Road to Tomorrow, Spaceship Earth, Figment-a journey of the imagination, and the list goes on and on. Epcot is fun for adults and kids alike!

Me in front of Canada's waterfall at Epcot.

Sarah standing in front of the totem pole, in Canada, at Epcot. Doesn't she look so so so small next to the totem pole?

Here I am, standing at the entrance to Epcot. I really LOVED Epcot. This dome can be seen from almost any location in the park.

This is a long distance shot of Paris and the Eiffel Tower at Epcot. A year later we went to Paris and saw the real thing! We saw it during the day and at night.

These two pictures are of Sarah playing and winning the environmental game show at Epcot Center. She also played and won another game show but since we were playing (Not Mick), I couldn't take any pictures.

This is not a statue. There are dancer/acrobats that put on quite a show at the entrance of Epcot.

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LAST UPDATED: 19 NOVEMBER 2004