[Susie_nkc]

Going on vacation! a day trip?
please share what places you have been that you found accommodating. and enjoyable.

thanks!

[wheeliebear75]

Found DisneyLand to be AOK. And other than that our big outings trips were either with MINI-run or on our own we go camping.

[StillFingers]

A nice day trip for me is 90 miles down south in wheeliebear75's stomping grounds. Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park, the Air and Space Museum, the many beautiful beaches and coastline.

And, just a bit more south is TJ; Tijuana, Mexico...where the Carnitas, Cerveza, Tequila and Mariachis have been known to brighten up a party or two.

[ohio4282]

We just recently got back from Colorado. Loved Garden of the Gods outside of Colorado Springs. It was absolutely beautiful there. They have a couple of paved paths that accessible. And very flat. We also took the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The staff on it where awesome about helping my bf get around. The views were amazing. A little hard to find accessible things at the top, although, we didn't spend much time trying. It is 14,000+ elevation, and that can cause some problems for some people, although my boyfriend was fine. We also tooled around in Manitou Springs, Colorado. It is at the base of Pike's Peak and a very eclectic little town with lots of cool little shops and restaurants. It was fun, but if you have a hard time with hills, probably not such a great idea.

We drove south from CO Springs and went to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. They have those sand wheelchair things (not sure what they are actually called) which there is no charge for. We got lucky and they had one available, but it is better to call and reserve one. Using one meant a transfer though and needing someone strong enough to push. Great though, if it can be managed. That place is simply gorgeous. A big pile of sand seemingly in the middle of nowhere, in front of the Rocky Mountains. Some of the dunes are actually as high as the lower peaks of the Rockies. There is also an accessible trail that has some great views.

We were traveling with friends on this trip, and just went with the flow. We didn't plan anything, but still found lots of great things to do. We flew into Denver and drove south to New Mexico, where we went home from. The biggest problem with this was finding accessible hotels along the way. Many say they have rooms that are, but really don't. And I can't believe I am going to say this, but Super 8 Motels had the best rooms to accommodate my boyfriend's needs for a reasonable price. I guess I will have to stop looking down on that chain.

[Susie_nkc]

I found Super 8 to have upped the quality they offer... I was impressed too!

we have been to Vegas... found the Luxor to be very nice but the bathrooms weren't what we needed. but they were generous with the towel and sheets.

we have also been to Branson Missouri... Silver Dollar City... we ran in to a problem... the motor went out on my husband chair... but they were willing to drive him around... he declined... but they were more than happy to help...

[CollegeGirl]

I've heard some awesome things about Disney World. I hear that they are very wheelchair friendly and have made it easy to get on rides.

[Hapahowlee]

I miss the Missouri wineries. Don't know if you partake, but great scenery especially in the fall. That was always a fun day trip for us. Just about 40 minutes from where we lived in STL.

In AZ there is a lot to see and we still have yet to see half. We went up to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon back in July to cool off from this 115 degree heat down here. I was amazed when one of the shop keepers said, "Oh my gosh, it's going to be in the 80s this week and so hot." I don't think they know what "HOT" really feels like. I truly think I could cook an entire dinner on my sidewalk.

Disney World was great. We got bumped up to the front of the line everytime. Although when we went back in the 90s, no one that worked at the parks were allowed to help hubby onto a ride. Since we had the kids with us, they were able to help body slam dad onto the rides. We also went to Universal Studios and Busch Gardens.

Daytona Beach is great b/c the sand is hard enough to drive on and also there are stations along A1A where you can get a beach chair.

Cancun was a blast. Some of the beaches weren't accessible through the hotels, but there are places where you can walk/roll to get to a beach. Everyone there was ready, willing and able to pick hubby up chair and all and put him anywhere he wanted to go. We went deep sea fishing and planned to parasail b/c they had benches for 2, but the day we wanted to go it was too windy.

We've been to Vegas about a dozen times and never really had a difficult time with accessibility except for Christmas time 2007 when we stayed at Imperial Palace's newly renovated rooms. The beds were too high and hubby needed my help to transfer.

San Diego is always a beautiful place to go, but if you want to go shopping in Tijuana, be sure you stay to the left lane while crossing the border. We accidentally went to the right and drove around some pretty scary areas and I was relieved when I saw a sign that read "Policia" b/c we didn't know how to get back across the border. Also, it's fast going into Mexico, but we were in line for about 1 hour in traffic waiting to get back across. There are lots of vendors who come up to your car to try to sell things to you or hobos just coming up to your car wiping it with dirty rags. I almost ran him over.

L.A.? Hmmm, the last trip was a "TRIP." We went in June and drove straight there on a Saturday. I drove straight to Santa Monica Pier and saw about a million people there. Well, maybe not so many, but pretty crowded. We just waited until the weekday and went to the beach. We've been to the L.A. area about 3 times and have driven around Beverly Hills, Hollywood, etc. Lots of cool stuff to see, but the traffic is horrendous.

My most favorite place to go is Hawaii. There are a lot of accessible places and lots of people willing to help. We were married on the Island of Kauai and then went to Maui and of course flew in and out of Oahu. We've gone on a trip with friends and stayed across from Waikiki Beach, which is really different from the serene atmosphere of the other islands. We plan to go back for sure to see more and check out the Big Island.

This post has been edited by Hapahowlee: 05 August 2009 - 03:18 AM

[FOWLERFAM]

If your on the East Coast....We went to Tybee Island of the coast of Savannah Georgia. It was very nice there. The people were very friendly and helpful. They had a wheel chair at the lifeguard staion to take onto the beach.

[wheeliebear75]

Disney World is fun but believe it or not Disney Land has more in the way of rides, while Disney World had more parades & shows & exhibit kind of things to do. I went to Disney World back in 88 or 89 but I was AB then......so I couldn't tell ya how it is NOW or what it is like in a chair.

San Diego Zoo is great.....the one thing though.......it's got some REALLY BIG HILLS! When I went I borrowed a friend's electric chair & left my manual chair at his house. (He had polio as a child and so he's got some minimal use of all 4 limbs but it's just that......minimal, so he was nice enough to help me give my then 5yr old son a nice outing.....it was one of the 1st I had with my son after my divorce).

Sea World is quite accessible & you can go just about everywhere. About the only thing I couldn't do was the rides; the submarine ride us w/c users get the audio & visual but we go into a room whereas everyone else go down a hatch on the top of the submarine. There are a few hills but they're quite gradual so for most it wouldn't be a problem. I LOVE DOLPHINS!!! To get to the dolphin tank I have to have someone help me stand up against the concrete side. They let visitors feed many of the animals.......just watch out for those seagulls.......they fly right at ya to get the fish......and are quite aggressive about it. If you drive an electric.......be careful going to certain shows, it's part of the "fun" getting splashed by Shamoo, among other animals........water I would think is probably very bad for electric chairs. There are a quite a few restaurants at Sea World & several tables have one spot where there is no seat......for those of us who bring our own.

Wild Animal Park: It is fun, though there are a couple trails/paths that are made of boards & so I ended up having to do quite a few wheelies & depending on how small your casters are I could definitely see the smaller ones like 3" getting caught between boards. If you have any issues with AD I would not advise you visit Wild Animal Park during the summer, Escondido (the actual city it's located in) is inland it can easily climb into the upper 90's and even low 100's.

We have season passes to Sea World & Disney Land/California Adventure.

This post has been edited by wheeliebear75: 08 August 2009 - 07:16 AM

[snowqueeneh]

When you say they let you go on the rides... do you mean both paras and quads? My husband is C5/C6 complete. I would love to see him on a rollar coaster but I just assumed he could never do that again. Could you tell me more about this?

[wheeliebear75]

IF you can lift him on & off there are SOME rides he can go on.

I'll give you a list of the rides that I believe he can go on so long as you or a friend can lift him.

(Disney Employees are referred to as "cast members" even the people working the rides)

Disney Land:
Haunted Mansion: (you'll need to tell the "cast member" that you will need to have them make the pods STOP to get him on; in the Haunted Mansion there are these pods that can fit 2 or 3 people, they go on a modified escalator but they shift left to right & back again so all 3 can see both sides. Once you tell them it must be stationary to get him in they will escort you through a slightly different way & you guys will get on there. And then the same for getting back off. If his chair is manual then they will just push it to the side, if it is an electric you will need to QUICKLY maneuver it to the side for them.

Tea Cups: although the door is sort of small to get in the cups you may be able to lift him over with the help of a friend. When we go it's usually myself, BF, Mom and/or another friend & so there is plenty of man power available to lift/carry me when/where needed. The tea cups are fun & you turn a wheel in the middle of the cup to make it turn........GREAT FUN for us paras......I spun it all by myself for a couple minutes. But although he may or may not be able to help make the cup spin he'll still be able to enjoy it.

Small World: Again this is a ride that would take 2 to lift him in; the boat is lower than where everyone stands to wait....so you step down into the boat. So how we did it was BF stood in the boat, then Mom or a friend piggy-backed me to the boat, turn around & then BF takes me & sets me down in the boat.

Pirates of the Caribbean:This is another "boat ride" & so the process will be the same for this ride as with Small World. The lighting isn't as good though so watch your step. There are a couple of down hill "weeeee"s so if he has any balance issues I would NOT suggest he sit to close to the sides........it has a nice long bench so sitting him in the middle shouldn't be any problem. (This ride does NOT have any sort of seat belt or mechanism to lock the passengers in because generally speaking it's a slow enough ride toddlers can go on it & even my Mother's guide dogs have been on that ride)

The Jungle Cruise: This is a boat ride & you'll have to do this one same as Pirates & Small World, Jungle Cruise takes you "through the jungle rivers of Africa".

TRAINS: The monorail can accomodate his w/c you will have to find a "cast member" for that "ride" & inform them, they in turn inform the conductor/engineer they've got a w/c coming abaord. They'll need to know what stop you'll be getting off at so that they can phone/radio ahead & that crew will then be ready with the ramp to de-board.

The Disney Land Train: This is used by a lot of visitors as a way of getting from one Land/area to another without having to hoof it. The train though can't take wheelchairs on.......you can still ride it, you will just have to put him in & do a FULL LOOP.

California Adventure:
Soaring Over California: This is a nice ride. I don't want to give away too much about that one......but it's to simulate as if you were in a hang-glider. "Cast Members" are NOT allowed to help you lift in any way; however what they are allowed to do is stand behind the seat you're putting him in & hold it so that it doesn't swing back & forth. I can easily transfer myself except for the part about their seat moving.......my seat is the one with wheels but theirs is the one moving.

Tower of Terror: This ride is to be like an elevator. You get on last & off 1st so you kind of have to be quick about getting him transferred but be careful as the seat for the elevator is metal & if you even 1/2 way drop him down on that it could really hurt him & you guys not know it. This ride is an up & down ride. You go up to the top........few stories......then it drops you back down.......goes back up........and down again. There is no major G-force on the spine on the way up (little to no downward pressure on the spine) you/he will feel the Gs on the way down......but for most of us that is OK.



(WARNING!!! On a few of these rides he will end up getting wet. This CAN BE a problem as he will get cold much quicker than you would as an AB, & also if his clothes & skin stay damp it could open up any sores he has & possibly start new ones.) Our solution to the cold & wet clothes was to bring extra clothes & plenty of sweatshirts + towel & a blanket {but I'm able to dress myself with little to no assistance} & I changed out of wet clothes & into dry ones. The towel is to put on the chair so that it #1 will prevent the upholstery from getting hot & burning his skin & also so that once he is back in his chair with his wet clothes on......it wont make his cushion wet. If the cushion gets wet then if you change him into dry pants the wet cushion will still make his pants & skin moist. If he has AD then you'll need to make sure he doesn't get too cold or too hot. There is The Disney Land Hotel & we just rented their suite that has a living rm & kitchenette in it.......much bigger than just about any of their other ones. When you go get the "hopper" tickets & try & stay at the Disney Land Hotel if you can, the hotel is so close it won't be much of a problem to go back to the room a couple times to change his clothes or what ever else you may need to do. The "hopper passes" make it so you so you can go back & forth from Disney Land to California Adventure.

Many of the rides have warnings for people with bad backs/necks........there IS a reason for this. If he has a lot of compression on discs & such I would NOT advise you to ignore those warnings.

I have done several rides that are "no-no's"; & I did pay for it......they did hurt my back afterward, but I now I'm older & wiser.......wise enough to realize 2 minutes of fun isn't worth hurting for days on end or possibly doing further damage to my back.

Basically he can ride anything you and/or a friend can get him on that doesn't have any major warnings. Always ask whether you should go in through the exit or with everyone else. Always tell the Cast Member that you've got somebody in a w/c.

Make you a deal........you go to Disney Land.com & then you guys take a look at what rides they have. When you come across a ride you're not sure of.......just ask & I'll try see if there would be a way of getting him on it. If you can have a friend come along especially a guy who could pick hubby up it would open up more rides for you. The benefit to the AB muscles........your hubby gets you through most of the lines a lot quicker.......hardly any standing around & waiting compared to the ABs having to wait in line.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland...Page&bhcp=1

And just so you know there are a # of hotels near-by Disney Land but then you have to deal with parking, & if you need to leave & come back you'll have to pay for parking all over again........and the parking aint cheap & no disabled people still have to pay. If you do need to use the parking lot there are vans that get sent out. They have a tram for everyone, you have to go to the tram like you're wanting on but tell the tram people that hubby is in a chair & to send out the lift van for you guys. I'm not sure but I think the lift van has shorter hrs than the tram......so you might miss out on some of the later shows. Down Town Disney is fun! It's right between the Hotel, Disney Land, & California Adventure.

Hope you guys enjoy "THE MAGIC KINGDOM"! :hugs:

[E-DOG]

I went to the liquor store the other day.
Does that count?

Had a lot of fun. Bought some cigarettes, beer n' tequila.
Had an involuntary and stank up the place.

Reckon I just don't get out much.

E

[Susie_nkc]

E-DOG, on Aug 9 2009, 04:00 AM, said:

I went to the liquor store the other day.
Does that count?

Had a lot of fun. Bought some cigarettes, beer n' tequila.
Had an involuntary and stank up the place.

Reckon I just don't get out much.

E

that is funny... but you brought back some memories... one time we got pulled over... I was speeding... I told the cop my husband shit! and it was really bad... and I was just trying to get him home... he let me go....lol