Just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! The first time I went to Disneyland as a quad was in 1999. They had three options for me, and two of them were closed. J After my daughter went to the hospitality people and complained that her almost two year old son was allowed in without any payment and could ride many of the rides and I had paid a regular pass and had only one ride that I was able to go on they refunded my money and gave me a free pass that was good up to five years later.
The last time I went was three years ago and it was a completely different story. There were several rides that I could easily go on, and a couple of others that they were willing to allow me to be transferred to. (HINT I always take 3 or 4 yards of 2 inch Velcro and a couple of yards of 1 inch Velcro, it's amazing what ingenuity can do to allow me to have a good time) My favorite ride Was California Soaring-I was able to write three times by just telling the best person at the beginning part of the line that I would like to go more than once. They were very patient while I was being transferred which took at least 5 minutes as I had to have a 2 man lift and then strap me onto the bench seat. But believe me it was worth the inconvenience for me. We went whale watching in Santa Barbara one-year on a fairly small boat. There was absolutely no way to get me and my chair together down the stairs-all 35 of them-so the deck hands got me one of the fiberglass patio chairs, we Velcroed me into it, and with a lot of hard work got me down the stairs, then up the stairs onto the boat. There were only eight of us on the trip on the captain was nice enough to extend the time of the trip so that we could follow along with 4 juvenile whales for 30 minutes and watch them play about 50 feet from our boat. I was willing to go out without my chair, but they insisted on getting it down to the landing and then they used a hoist to put it on deck. All of this for $35.00. Unfortunately, they are no longer there as I learned to my disappointment when I went to my nieces wedding in Santa Barbara last month. I could have gone out on a much larger boat, but it would have been much more difficult to observe the whales from up above. Back to Disneyland. One of the things that bothered me was the fact that the Disneyland employees would always, and tell me to go to the front of the line. I usually have a grandchild with me, sitting on my lap, and even when I tell them we're just fine if they make quite a fuss and encouraged me to go to the head of the line. I don't get it-I'm the only one sitting down, everyone else has to walk. My grandchildren think it's a pretty good deal though! When you first get there go to the hospitality center and ask them for a list of the rides and shows that are power wheelchair compatible, and which ones you might be able to transfer to Have a great time, and relax and enjoy a special time. Joan C4 complete 1990
