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My Orlando Trip-- Thurs 2/11 to 2/19 2010

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  • My Orlando Trip-- Thurs 2/11 to 2/19 2010

    My trip got off to a bad bad start but worked out to be worderful from Monday on.

    Thurs: 2./11 Travel day. Smooth flight using Allegiant. I didn't pay extra to choose my own seat but we were put together both coming & going. Walked across to Alamo & was told to go to the compact rows and choose whatever car I wanted. Chose a Nissan V? looked like a red compact station wagon and thought it would be great for my rental scooter. Drove to my ex mil where she had dinner waiting on us. Kelli & Grandma were happy to see each other and I was happy not to have divorced the whole family, just her son. Boy, it was cold!!!! Geez , Louise, I had a fleece jacket, not my heavy winter coat.

    Fri: Woke up to beyond cold and raining like a mother so went to Publix & bought a yearly pass to SeaWorld for $49 each . This was supposed to be for Fla residents but there was no sign saying so and had no problem getting in. We did have to imprint our fingerprints but don't know how well that worked altho they did check them or I'd give these to a fellow traveler.

    Drove to the ts (left Kelli w Grandma) as I was to pick up my rental scooter and meet a tugger for dinner. Unfortunatly(sp) she had had bad experiences driving in the rain , not once, but twice so she cancelled out and drove back to Grandma's to get Kelli & go out for wings with my ex-family. Back across town I go again to hit the sack and get ready for my whirlwind vacation.

  • #2
    Sat: Seaworld

    Had to have help putting the scooter in the car and immediatly knew this is going to be a problem. Kelli & I had a hard time getting it out and putting it together but we made it . Headed over to see Shamu's morning show then ate at the BBQ tent and then started to make it to the concert when bam the scooter brokeCalled the # and she told me to reset it and it worked ok for a short while. They promised it would last all day but asked me to charge it which I did while watching the concert. We had great seats (4th row center) Concert was great!! After it was over I took off in my scooter for a few short feet and it stopped again The poor security guys pushed me up the hill where I called the rental company again to tell them to come get these piece of junk but I got it started again so took it on a ride and on the way out guess what? If you guessed it broke again you have the right answer I called the rental company and told them to come and get it and cancel my contract!! He called me once in the park and I told him where it was, he brought me a new scooter, told him to keep it I'd had enough. Went to Shamu at night which I liked and when I got out the scooter from hell was gone

    We ate at a great steak house which when I remember the name I'll edit this and tell you. It's worth going to and the prices were very reasonable for the quality you got.

    Sun: Daytona 500

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    • #3
      Daytona 500- My worse day

      Now, I have to admit this wasn't my idea of fun but this is Kelli's trip and was her dream so off we went. Left very early from Orlando and had no trouble getting to the track. From here it went downhill fast. I parked in the handicap parking lot after 20 questions from security. He wanted my registration card showing it matched my handicapped sticker. Do What? Told him it was back in NC and showed him my leg and my brace so he let me go in. I don't mind anyone checking but I thought this was a little over the top as there was no instructions that I needed to bring this. We waited nearly an hour for the bus and finally made it in but I needed cart to get me to my section. No cart (as promised) was to be found so got in line for the tram to get to fan zone which cost $90 a ticket.By the time I got there it was 11am & was so crowded I couldn't get in. Tim McGraw (Kelli's future husband) was singing and we couldn't get near him or anything else in fan zone. I realized I was going to miss the start of the race so told Kelli we had to get out of here but the dang lady sheriff wouldn't let me go back the way I came in . Told me I had to walk thru this mess and around to the other end to get out. No way, told her I couldn't walk this far and there was supposed to be a cart for the handicap to be taken around. Nope, no cart, no nothin. Told her if she couldn't let me out then get me someone who could. By then I was about to cry (that's how mad I was) and I was very very close to decking her. I guess Big Frank could get me out of jailHere comes Mr Big Shot who yelled at me and said if I had gone around when he told me to about 2 hrs ago I'd have made it by now. Told him he was mistaken , I had only been here 10 mins so as you can tell I wasn't the only one. Deputy Dawg finally let me go back out and made it back to turn 2 as Harry Connick finished the Nat'l Anthem. Asked usher where my seat was and he told me to take the elevator up and then over. Hell, the elevator didn't go near my seat and I was stuck trying to get to my seat. I walked down 4 sets of stairs and that didn't work either. I grabbed an usher who showed me where my seat was but again I had to walk down 3 sets of stairs. I was on the 10th row and if the jackass knew what he was doing I could have walked on the flat surface and walk up a few rows to my seat. By then the race had started (which I missed the begining ) and plus I couldn't see crap. I just watched the big screen tv and the guy sking on the lake. The wrecks happened in front of us so at least that was interesting. Yes, I sat thru the 2 hr delay while they fixed the track. I was so glad when it was over. Stood in line over 2 hrs for tram to get back to my car. I was in immense pain and my leg gave out . The lady behind me said she was never coming back here as it was so disorganized and she has been to at least 5 other venues and never ran into such a problem. I was lucky that some of the other fans held me upright. I am in the process of trying to get back my money for the fan zone & the after party.

      May I say this is my first and last race EVER!!

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      • #4
        I am really hoping this trip improves.
        Pat
        *** My Website ***

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        • #5
          Don't worry Pat, it's all uphill from here!! shaggy

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          • #6
            Amen. It's got to get better ...

            Originally posted by GrayFal View Post
            I am really hoping this trip improves.

            Comment


            • #7
              Monday: Universal Studios / T&A

              We were exhausted from yesterday so slept in & then went to Cracker Barrell for breakfast and on to Universal. I rented a wheelchair as it was mostly flat and fairly late when we got started. Went to pick up tix for the taping of T&A and had to be back by 4:30. We went to Revenge of the Mummy, Shrek 4D, & Kelli rode the new rollercoaster which according to her was awesome. You get to chose your own music to listen to (she chose Montgomery/Gentry) & they videotaped your whole ride. She said she saw herself saying, Oh, shit, oh shit, oh shit, as she was going straight up , then straight down and rolling over & over, etc. She said I could have done it because it was very very smooth. I really regret not doing this one. Kelli loves looking for characters & we got pics made with a lot of them. At 4:30 we got in line and since I was in a wheelchair they put us up on a platform and I had a wonderful view of all that male testosterone They gave out DVD's to people who really yelled loudly and we ended up with 2 of them. It was so much fun as all the big guns were there, Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash ( my future husband) Ric Flair, AJ Styles, etc. After the show we could get in the ring & have our pic made with Mick Foley ($20) but I was awful my mouth was wide open talking to Mic. so I got a discount next day. I had a very hard time getting in & out of the ring. I basically was picked up and put in but it was worth it. I also got my pic made with Eric Bishoff & we talked awhile and then had to leave. I'm very comfortable around the older wrestlers as I grew up with them. Kelli was so happy. Yes, my trip has turned around!! shaggy

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              • #8
                Daytona 500 - Handicap Parking - Shuttle - Tickets


                RE:

                I parked in the handicap parking lot
                We waited nearly an hour for the bus

                Which handicap parking lot did you park at
                Did you get free parking & free shuttle with tickets
                Is the Park-and-Ride shuttle like the ones at Disney
                and SeaWorld or are they a regular/full size bus..

                Lot 1 - Front side of Speedway, requires
                PARKING PASS or DISABLED PERMIT or LICENSE PLATE

                Lot 6 - Backstretch of Speedway, requires
                PARKING PASS or DISABLED PERMIT or LICENSE PLATE

                Lot 7 - Frontstretch Ticket Holders
                Corner of Bill France Blvd. and Clyde Morris Blvd.

                Lot 10 - Superstretch Ticket Holders
                Southeast corner of Williamson Blvd. and Bellevue Ext

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                • #9
                  Universal Studios

                  How is the handicap parking at Universal Studios

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Marti

                    RE:

                    I parked in the handicap parking lot
                    We waited nearly an hour for the bus

                    Which handicap parking lot did you park at
                    Did you get free parking & free shuttle with tickets
                    Is the Park-and-Ride shuttle like the ones at Disney
                    and SeaWorld or are they a regular/full size bus..



                    Lot 1 - Front side of Speedway, requires
                    PARKING PASS or DISABLED PERMIT or LICENSE PLATE

                    Lot 6 - Backstretch of Speedway, requires
                    PARKING PASS or DISABLED PERMIT or LICENSE PLATE

                    Lot 7 - Frontstretch Ticket Holders
                    Corner of Bill France Blvd. and Clyde Morris Blvd.

                    Lot 10 - Superstretch Ticket Holders
                    Southeast corner of Williamson Blvd. and Bellevue Ext
                    Lot 10 is the one I parked at. There is no fee for parking or for the shuttle. This is the largest lot. I parked near the end of the row so didn't have to walk so far. They picked you up in a school bus. Some had wheel chair capability but mine didn't. shaggy

                    shaggy

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Marti
                      How is the handicap parking at Universal Studios
                      Very very handicapped friendly. Parked in Jurassic Park (handicapped area) They have courtesy wheelchairs right there for you to take to the walkway where you exchange it for another permanent wheelchair and if you want to switch it to a mobility scooter you do that once in the park. It cost 45 for the day but was worth it as I found out how hard it was to get the other one out of my car. shaggy

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                      • #12
                        Daytona 500 Experience - VIP - Hot Pass Tour - Two-hour personal track tour

                        Would like to take in the Daytona 500 Experience & see Jamie McMurray's Daytona 500 Winning No 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet (Inducted Into Daytona 500 Experience & on display)

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                        • #13
                          Marti I had paid for tix , the afterparty party at the experience but I couldn't get to it. It was a friggin zoo!! I am working on getting my money back. shaggy

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                          • #14
                            http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Event-Ticket-Insurance.asp

                            Did you take out Event Ticket Insurance - If so, see if you can submit a claim.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Sorry to hear about your fiasco.

                              Florida cops definetely tend to be an unfriendly bunch. I've had problems when going with Mom and wanting to use the elevators at the Arena in Miami because they refuse to stop on any floors but the parking lot which makes no sense. They want you to use the escalators which half the time are running in reverse of where you want to go.


                              I only hope that one day they have to endure the rudeness they inflict on others without thought. It's not easy having to use wheelies, it truly gets you no special treatment like people think.

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