I just got back from a wonderful 16 day vacation to WDW, with a day each at Sea World and KSC. It's the trip to KSC that indirectly caused the temporary (and involuntary!) use of a wheelchair at Epcot one afternoon. To make a long story short, something I ate at KSC was bad, and I must have gotten some food poisoning, becuase I was very nauseated and vomiting for the last 5 days of our trip.
However, trooper me, I crept around the World Showcase, even though I had to stop every 5 steps to sit and rest my tummy. Finally, at American Adventure, I could not go on! I thought I was going to die! DH informed a CM, and he called paramedics and Disney first aid. They wanted to take me to the hospital, but I refused, as I was feeling much better laying down in the A/C. They offered a wheelchair, since I was having such difficulty getting around, which my DH insisted that I use. We did American Adventure, France, and ToN while I was in the chair.
Holy smokes! I couldn't believe it! People stood in front of me, (hello folks, I'm only 3 feet tall down here!) kicked me, and talked to my husband about me in the 3rd person! And these weren't all guests - one incident was a CM! While in France, we took a few moments to watch the living statues. People would look at me in the chair, and then stand in front of me. One guy rammed my legs against the chair in an effort to be the "next one" with the statue. No apology - nothin'. However, here's the one that really shocked me - my husband had to use the restroom, and wandered down the international gateway (pushing me). A CM told him that the nearest one was past the exit, but he could get his hand stamped and then come right back in. So, we proceeded to the exit. He parked me, and then asked the CM at the exit to stamp his hand because he needed to use the restroom. With me right there, right next to my DH, the CM ignored me and asked DH, "Do you need to get her hand stamped too?" H'mmm...it loses something in the writing, I think, but even though I didn't need my hand stamped, I would have preferred if she would have asked ME, instead of referring to me in the 3rd person to my husband.
Anyway, as we left the park that evening, we left the wheelchair at the wheelchair rental counter. This was definitely a learning experience! Even though it was only 3 hours or so, (if that long), it was long enough for me! I definitely appreciate the difficulties people face who must be in wheelchairs or ECVs for an extended periods of time. Lemme tell ya, I got so tired of being on the eye level of people's butts! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif The very worst thing about it, though, was that DH and I couldn't hold hands and talk as we wandered around the park. He was pushing me, so his hands were occupied, and I was getting a crick in my neck from trying to turn my head to talk to him. I actually missed him!
I also was wondering about what people were thinking of me - ok, here's a healthy looking 27 year old woman in a wheelchair - she's faking it. The CM's who brought the chair over for me to use were so nice, however. I told them that I didn't want to use the chair, because what would people think? They said that hey, nobody knows you here, who cares what they think ? And I thought, "yeah, hey, I know I'm not using it to get extra attn or shorter lines (at this point my tummy was in no condition for any attractions - I almost lost it in the France movie!) who cares what they all think?"
Like I said, it was a learning experience. And a week after my KSC food experience, I feel 100% better, thank you
Sarah H.
However, trooper me, I crept around the World Showcase, even though I had to stop every 5 steps to sit and rest my tummy. Finally, at American Adventure, I could not go on! I thought I was going to die! DH informed a CM, and he called paramedics and Disney first aid. They wanted to take me to the hospital, but I refused, as I was feeling much better laying down in the A/C. They offered a wheelchair, since I was having such difficulty getting around, which my DH insisted that I use. We did American Adventure, France, and ToN while I was in the chair.
Holy smokes! I couldn't believe it! People stood in front of me, (hello folks, I'm only 3 feet tall down here!) kicked me, and talked to my husband about me in the 3rd person! And these weren't all guests - one incident was a CM! While in France, we took a few moments to watch the living statues. People would look at me in the chair, and then stand in front of me. One guy rammed my legs against the chair in an effort to be the "next one" with the statue. No apology - nothin'. However, here's the one that really shocked me - my husband had to use the restroom, and wandered down the international gateway (pushing me). A CM told him that the nearest one was past the exit, but he could get his hand stamped and then come right back in. So, we proceeded to the exit. He parked me, and then asked the CM at the exit to stamp his hand because he needed to use the restroom. With me right there, right next to my DH, the CM ignored me and asked DH, "Do you need to get her hand stamped too?" H'mmm...it loses something in the writing, I think, but even though I didn't need my hand stamped, I would have preferred if she would have asked ME, instead of referring to me in the 3rd person to my husband.
Anyway, as we left the park that evening, we left the wheelchair at the wheelchair rental counter. This was definitely a learning experience! Even though it was only 3 hours or so, (if that long), it was long enough for me! I definitely appreciate the difficulties people face who must be in wheelchairs or ECVs for an extended periods of time. Lemme tell ya, I got so tired of being on the eye level of people's butts! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif The very worst thing about it, though, was that DH and I couldn't hold hands and talk as we wandered around the park. He was pushing me, so his hands were occupied, and I was getting a crick in my neck from trying to turn my head to talk to him. I actually missed him!
I also was wondering about what people were thinking of me - ok, here's a healthy looking 27 year old woman in a wheelchair - she's faking it. The CM's who brought the chair over for me to use were so nice, however. I told them that I didn't want to use the chair, because what would people think? They said that hey, nobody knows you here, who cares what they think ? And I thought, "yeah, hey, I know I'm not using it to get extra attn or shorter lines (at this point my tummy was in no condition for any attractions - I almost lost it in the France movie!) who cares what they all think?"
Like I said, it was a learning experience. And a week after my KSC food experience, I feel 100% better, thank you
Sarah H.
