[Jackie8304]

Hi,

Haven't been on for absolutely ages!  Planning my wedding in November so that (amongst other things, college, etc) has kept us busy!

We are wanting to take Abi to Disneyland Paris next summer for a few days, she absolutely loves Mickey Mouse  .  I am worried about getting her on/off the plane, she has a manual wheelchair but is only 4 & a half so her dad can carry her for a bit.  Can anyone recommend a good travel agent?  I am also wandering what the transfer from the airport to the resort is like?  Again, thinking of the wheelchair.

If anyone has any ideas please let me know 

Jackie

[Annie]

Hi,
      We went last year.Paul isn,t in a wheel chair but he needs his buggy.At check in we asked if we could have it by the door when we were leaving the plane ; it was no problem its was just sitting there by the stewarts feet as we were saying bye.The bus transfer to the hotel was busy but the floor of the bus is low down and easy to board.Even though there was room for a wheel chair it might still be a squeeze and you have to watch for peoples bags and stuff being at face height.Anyway once there its an ace fabaroony place to go,hope you have a ball!

I think we went with Air France.

[Annie]

Hi,
      We went last year.Paul isn,t in a wheel chair but he needs his buggy.At check in we asked if we could have it by the door when we were leaving the plane ; it was no problem its was just sitting there by the stewarts feet as we were saying bye.The bus transfer to the hotel was busy but the floor of the bus is low down and easy to board.Even though there was room for a wheel chair it might still be a squeeze and you have to watch for peoples bags and stuff being at face height.Anyway once there its an ace fabaroony place to go,hope you have a ball!

I think we went with Air France.

Oh and just when I remember disabled kids don,t have to stand in long queues.There was a wee fella standing in front of me for one ride ,he had a feeding tube in his nose and after about waiting 20 mins or so he was shown to the front of the queue.Iam not sure how you go about letting them know ,you must be able to get a pass or somthing but worth looking into.

[Annie]

 Sorry! Iam such a Numpty!!!

[Nikki]

Hi Jackie,

Hope wedding plans are going well and you've organised a gorgeous dress for Abi.

We've never been to Disneyland Paris, but have flown with N before.  We've booked our next holiday direct - the flights are with Globespan.  We had to phone their head office and inform them that we require wheelchair assistance on and off the plane as they would not let us have N's buggy as soon as we got off the plane (security reasons).  We were first on and last off.  The whole family got a special lift/truck type thing from plane to gate and escorted the short way round to baggage reclaim with N sitting like the Queen of Sheba on a full size adult wheelchair.

I think most carriers are ok if you give them notice of your requirements.  We didn't do this last time, so we learned our lesson!

Regards transfer to hotel.  Don't know about buses etc as the hotel we normally stay at sends taxis for us.  We took a pony walker for N 2 times ago!

Let us know how you get on - wedding plans and college (what course?) as well.

  Nikki

[Speeds]

Flying with a wheelchair should not present too many issues.

As hubby is in one we have done this.

With regards to many resort places they have special queues and places for wheelchair/disabled visitors - just look on the website.

Flying too - look on the website.  Make sure that the staff know your needs in advance.

[Jackie8304]

thanks for the replies everyone, think i will wait till after xmas & start phoning around!  Credit crunch has hit us all i think 

[Jackie8304]

Well I have looked into Disneyland Paris, looks like we might have to wait another year, it is extortinate, and if we are going to do it we may as well do it right 

We are taking Abi to Centre Parcs in Cumbria in April instead, never been before but they have adapted lodges.  We need holidays with plenty to do 

P.S Nikki,  Wedding went well, Abi had a ball dancing all night!  I am studying HNC business Admin & IT, finish in June then hoping to start my Diploma in October through Open Uni but will see how it goes!  My life needs to be hectic or it does not feel normal 

Does anyone have any other ideas about family holidays abroad, places to go etc?  Would love the 3 of us to get away next new year, somewhere sunny maybe!

[Speeds]

Have a look at the ads in the Spinal Injuries Magazine - it is worth joining to get the magazine as it is good for wheelchair users.  If you PM me your address I can send you one of our magazines for you to have a look at.

Also - BEWARE - on Dis Paris - my friend went with her hubby and son (no special needs) and they were gobsmacked at how expensive everything was - from McDonalds to the toys etc etc etc.

[bigshabba]

Hi, 

I have never been to disneyland paris but i have been to disney world, the reason we choose disney world was if you go to disneyland when its affordable, it's too cold, freezing in fact.
However if you go to disneyworld in the off peak season ie first 2 week of dec or end january or all of february you can get the flight and 2 weeks accomadationc in disney hotels for around £450 per person if you shop around you can stay just outside of disney for around $30 a night including breakfast.
I recommend staying on disney as all the busses are free to and from the parks.

All the food is about the same as you would pay in MC DONALDS england but much cheaper than any of our theme parks, you can buy theme park tickets over here on the web and it works out just over £12-14 a day for an adult, less for a child, and you are not limited to just 1 park a day! it covers the 4 parks, 2 beaches and loads of little extra fun places ie disney quest.

I think you could get a really good deal now at a travel agents and pay towards it weekly. as long as you finish paying around 2 months before departure. We have been twice now and it was worth going without a few things to save up. and the shopping is so cheap over there all designer, if you are in to that sought of thing. if you wanna know any more let me know.

ps more than half the rides give disabled people priority, and the busses do too!

bigshabba

[pinkangel]

i have been to disneyland paris twice,and soon to book again for june this year

the first time was in april 2005, unfortunaly we didnt get to really enjoy it, as i had only come out of hospital 2 months earlier and was adjusting to life with a disability and my family were trying tocome to terms with what had happened and my seizures, i was over there on crutches, but im quite small for my age and fit in the baby buggies youcan rent at the park

the hotel we stayed in was lovely, we were on a budget and managed to get by, we went via eurostar, we did find though that standard class is VERY crammed and unfortinaly i had a seizure coming home through the tunnel which wasnt pleasent

we decided in 2007 we would go back for my 21st and my mums 50th,and this time pushed the boat out with it, spent 2 years saving
this time i was going over in my wheelchair sowas rather cautious to how it was going to work out, but there was nothing i could find fault with at all.

the wheelchair passenger travels in the first class areawith a carer, there was 4 of us, so my mum and dad just upgraded,you geta 3 course breakfast out there, and 3 course evening meal on journey home.

assistance had been booked when we booked the holiday, we were boarded first before any other passengerson the eurostar-at ashford. they have a great ramp which they had already for us. and the toilet was behind us. so was accessable

when we arrived at marle la valle - disney they had the ramps all ready and had assistance with our lugage, we used the disneyexpressservice where u leave your cases with the station and its taken direct to your hotel as check in not till 4pm so you dont have to take cases round the park

if you take proof of disability - we took my blue badge, and take it to city hall,they issue you and and your carers- up to 3 or 4 a blue card, which gives you preferantal access to rides, arreactions and as wwe found out..meeting thec characters

we found this a great help as i suffer with social phobia so ican not handle big crowds and long queues,so when meeting the characters, you show the card to the cast member whos with the character and you are put to the front.

most rides are wheelchair accesablein the queue lines, but those that done you use the card to access other gates and exits
when watching the parades the hgihlight of disney, there is section for wheelchair users and they are very strict on it and will stop able people (unless carers) accessing it.

the hotel, we stayed in the main disneyland hotel, its m,assive and expensive but certinaly worth the moneyfor the extra magic, it has masisve hallways and lifts to all floors, and you can have breakfast and dinner with characters.

it really was a magical experince, for this time myself and my family could really enjoy it wiothout the worryor pressure that we face on a day to day level here at home, its niceto be treated as a VIP for a few days!!

even when leaving,i was asleep in my wheelchair through customs, and they didnt wake me theyjust worked around it.

we decided when coming back from the 3nd trip to go back again, to which we are booking next week for june, right now it is expensive beacuase of the euro rate, but its only expensive if you make it, if you save for a while  and dont buy everything u see while over there, belive me it IS possible.

this year i willbe going over in my new electric wheelchair as im now 90% wheelchair bound now and have more difficutles but knowing that theycan deal with this over there means no worrys for me or my family so we can all enjoy it

also going to try and see if i can have the childrens meals becuaseof my food intake is lower sowe shall see!

but disneyland paris...IS the place to be!

cat

[Jackie8304]

Thanks very much, Disneyland Paris sounds great and it is really to good to hear from people with a few of the same concerns we have, not sure if we will get this year but I will continue to save 

Keep me posted on your hols