12/02/2019
Happy Monday everyone. I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and that you survived your Black Friday experience.
While I was enjoying the holiday with my family, I experienced a moment that triggered a, "but no one ever acts like that at the happiest place on Earth!" reaction. No, I wasn't at one of the parks. That would have been great though. It was just one of those vacation, over reaction, melt down kind of things that happen when a toddler is to tired and has just reached that 'don't push my button phase'. And wow, unfortunately this one took a bad turn. This isn't about the parents, it's the backseat driver parents that stepped in and gave me something to share with y'all today.
Nope, I'm not going to break form. I'm still here to help with travel tips, I just wanted to let you know where my inspiration came from for today's topic. This is something, or these were something, that I was going to be wanting to share about at some point it just so happens that they will fit together perfectly today.
If I were to talk about traveling over the holidays, that would be a very broad topic and I would end up jumping all over the place, but 2 things that are near and dear to my heart are kiddos and those with disabilities (for today's blog, I am going to be focusing more on those with mobility challenges however). When we travel, both present their own challenges. I would like to look at a few challenges for each of them from 2 different angles. The first angle being that of the individual and or the family. The second angle being that of the public. What I hope by the end of the blog is that the families and individuals may have gleamed something from my experiences that I plan to share and lessons I have learned. And I hope that those of you that are reading this today that do not travel with children nor do you travel with someone with mobility disabilities, that you will have a true understanding for what it is to travel with a child that just wants to burn off some extra energy, or maybe is teething. I would also hope you would learn to look out for those with a mobility disability.
Before I talk about kids and melt downs and make any suggestions, let me start off with, I was not the perfect mom. I was a home school mom, and any home school mom out there will tell you there are days that you want to just scream your head off into a pillow because you are so flustered. On those days nothing goes right. And yes there are "THOSE" days out in public too. So, yup, I've had people telling me how to raise my kids too! That's not about holidays nor is it about travel. I just wanted to let you know I've been there.
So, let's talk holiday traveling with kids. The perfect world - Christmas Break - You pick up the kids from school and head to the airport. You have read all of my blogs, so your bags are packed either using zip lock bags (one per day, per kid - this keeps out fits separate and gives you a bag for when clothes are wet by end of day....Florida-rain) or packing cubes, you have your fast passes all set and ready, your dining reservations are set, you have your Magical Express scheduled to deliver you to your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.
I will also be taking the same magical vacation. The difference in my travel plans are that I will be using my wheelchair, and traveling with my husband and no children this time around. See you there!
Along our journey we are both going to encounter a list of things, we will also bump into each other once.
1. Airport security:
-Family - Mom and Dad have to take off their shoes and belts and unload their computers and phones and small liquids into the bins. Dad is carrying 6 year old who is out like a lamp while mom is trying to keep hold of 4 year old who wants to run and play because they have been standing in the security line for an hour. When I have been here I have heard several remarks about handling your unruly child, and a few about that poor child, having to wait all this time.
- when we were here in years past something we would try when possible would be to switch back and forth. One, that was giving the carrier a break, and two that was giving the one with the active child a chance to throw some new distraction in. We did simple little distractible tasks such as make sure this tag doesn't touch the back of this bag. As our boys got older it was more like the first one who can correctly finish the President song can carry this (it would be something like the froggie neck pillow)
Mobility Disability - Before going to the airport call TSA let them know all of your flight information and what time you are arriving. Arrive at airport and go to TSA manager for check-in. Go to possessing. This is not a pass. The wheelchair goes through complete inspection, then it is wiped down with special test strips and tested for any illegal substances. Next, I have to go through a full body pat down. All of my items still have to go through the scanners, I still have to remove my shoes, and belt if I have one. I also have a full inspection of my hair and head. On one of our trips I did not have my own chair, and had been using another. The cushion on that chair had had a white crusty spill on it. We didn't think anything of it until I was trying to go through security. The swab alarm went off. They tested a second time, and again the alarms were set off. At this point I was separated from my husband, my medicine, any water (there reason this is important is because I am asthmatic), taken into a private room to have the swab test run on my clothing. The forced me to a standing position by having me hold on to an officers shoulders so that they could swab the back of my pants. We know now they did not have the right to have me back there without my husband, without my medicine or water (all of which I asked for).
-Tip If you are traveling, know your rights, keep your
medications, written prescriptions, and
travel companion with you at all times.
Public view-For those waiting in line, they may have been agitated at the kids pulling on everything, and running around. they also would have been wondering why the parents weren't stopping him. They also would have noticed the wheelchair roll right up to the front and cut right in front of everybody. Why does she get special attention. Maybe I should get pushed up in a wheelchair next time.
2.Boarding
Family- Priority boarding- Families with children are within the first few to board so that they are able to get in and get settled. This is actually a blessing for everyone - for mom and dad because they aren't worried about bumping into everyone trying to wrangle the kids and the bags, and depending on the airline, they might even be able to choose the row that works best for them either closer to the back for bathroom access, or as far away from the wings as possible so that the kiddos can nap with out jet engine noise.
Tip to others - Don't rush. These parents aren't rushing
on to get your over head storage, and
plus you will get to see where they are sitting and you
can pick the seat that is not right in front of
there screaming or kicking. (mom and dad, not that your
little one is doing either).
Mobility Disability- You will be the first to board. Make sure though when the gate agent gets there, check in and let them know you will need special assistance, especially if you will need an isle chair. And again, we are not after over head storage. It is quite difficult to get on and off the aircraft and it is not something that can be done once others have started boarding that is why we are the first on and the last off. Which also means our luggage has usually been pulled from the carousel when we get there and we have to go and find it.
Tip- If they offer to put you in the front seat make sure
you have everything you need because
they will put your bag up since you will have no under
seat storage.
Public view - Already covered how Parents with small children and those needing mobility assistance are going on early and there are several people that believe this is being taken advantage of to get over head storage and better seating.
Tip to everyone- When flying ALWAYS take your flight
attendant a gift. They LOVE Chocolate!
3.Handicap and Family/Handicap Bathrooms (I'm not referring to stalls inside either the men's or women's restrooms)
Family- For this instance we are assuming the family is mom, dad, a potty training toddler, and a little one in diapers. Family either just gets off a ride, or get out of a line for a ride because our potty training toddler (been there done that) has to go to the bathroom now. The closest bathroom is a Family/Handicap as they are running there, they see 2 teenage girls run in. Dad bangs on the door and says my daughter needs to go to the bathroom, this is for families. The girls ignore him. The little girl really, really has to go, and they had left mom back by the ride, because the little one was sleeping. So dad ends up having to take his daughter into the men's bathroom. When they come back out the girls are still in the bathroom. He waits for them to come out so he can tell them that they are neither handicap nor a family. when he does, the response was less than appropriate, but very tennagerish.
Tips- I wish I had some because the truth is, yes this
happened to us when the boys where little but it has
happened to me countless times when I am in my
wheelchair. What is going to need to happen here is for
others that see this is wrong to step up and tell them that
they are perfectly capable of going to a regular restroom.
These are reserved for those who need them.
Mobility Disability - See Above
Public view - I can not speak for the public on this matter. I just don't understand.
4.The cross over
Okay, this one is really tough for me. It used to only be a Disney thing (I thought), but I have been experiencing it in other places, but the worst occurrences are still at Disney. As most of you know if I have to be up walking around for more than 10 - 15 ft or on my feet for more than 5 minutes, I need to be in my wheelchair. I am not sure how many of you have gotten to see it, but it doesn't have brakes, it has a joystick 🕹 that makes me go forward, backwards, or in circles. Plainly speaking, I can't stop on a dime. Yet, since I started driving my wheelchair at Disney, people have literally been throwing their kids in front of my chair to get ahead of me in line. If I am going along at a walking speed and boom there's a kid falling out of the sky landing right in front of me, I can't just stop. I love kids. I don't want them hurt. WHY is it so important for your family to get in front of me that you would take the risk of me running over your child? This stops being my Happy Place when kids get hurt.
Tip- Either one of two things, you can slow down and
enjoy your day with your family where everyone is happy
and healthy, or two if somehow you have gotten
separated from your group, tap me on the shoulder and
ask me if you can please pass and I would be happy
to stop by letting go of the joystick. Everyone will be
safer this way no matter where we are
be it Disney, New York, Sea World, etc.
I know this was a little bit different for me today, but I hope everyone learned a little something to have a safe and happy holidays.
If nothing else was learned,
Always, Always bring a gift to your flight attendant! (Share this with one you love)(or just know) ~
Tink
Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Home School Mom - Travel Expert / Blogger - Disney Dreamer, New Braunfels, TX.
