The Tim Tebow Foundation Night To Shine 2024 was spectacular!   People with disabilities and their caregivers face many challenges that often leave us feeling down but on this night, we were lifted up and celebrated!

An event like this requires exceptional people that have the compassion and drive to help people with disabilities.  I want to give a  heartfelt thank you to Immanuel Lutheran Church for organizing this wonderful evening.  So much care went into making Caitlin and all the honored guests feel like royalty.  They went above and beyond with blessing Caregivers with similar treatment, also making us feel like queens and kings. Thank you to the Tim Tebow Foundation for supporting the disability community.  We thank celebrities like Tim Tebow that use their platforms to bring awareness and to fight for people with disabilities.  

From the moment Caitlin, Scott and I pulled up to the church, we could already tell it was going to be a special evening.  The building was aglow with a dazzling display of lights.  Many volunteers outside set the tone for the evening with their warm welcomes.  Caitlin struck up conversations with the pastor and other church volunteers.  She felt the kind embrace of their words and immediately felt at ease.  

The first order of business was to check in for the event.  The line was going a little slow and we had to wait several minutes outside even though we had received a designated time slot.  We were thankful that it was an unusually warm February evening.  The purpose of the check-in was to review contact information, medical and special needs which we provided ahead of time.  The check-in was hectic but a necessary step to increase safety for the participants.

After checking in, we met Caitlin’s assigned buddy.  The volunteer buddy is assigned to accompany her for the whole evening.  Caitlin’s buddy was a sweet, pretty young lady named Zoey.   We spent a few minutes on introductions and going over some things to watch out for with Caitlin.  Because I had provided detailed information to the church, Zoey was already informed of Caitlin’s needs.  However, this was a good time to show her how Caitlin acts, communicates and moves and also to provide some reminders.  Zoey caught on quickly and they were prepared to have the time of their lives! 

Night to Shine is not just a dance, but an all-around prom experience, with multiple activities that are designed for honored guests to feel all the love and attention.  We navigated a few of the activities with Caitlin and Zoey before parting ways.

The first activity was the grand red carpet entrance.  The arrival of each honored guest was announced over the loudspeaker by name and a little bit of information about her/him.  Then together including her buddy and caregivers, we all made our entrance and walked down the long hallway.  Volunteers joyfully cheered from the sidelines, uplifting us with words of encouragement, inspiration and love while vigorously shaking pom poms.  Caitlin had extra pep in her step as she enthusiastically strutted the carpet, soaking in the thrilling, paparazzi-like atmosphere.

I had forgotten the little bit of information that I provided for the grand entrance.  Here is how it went….”Our next honored guest is Caitlin!  She is an in-car DJ who always wants control of the radio!”  The funny thing was that the announcer was a local radio personality, Shannon from Channel 955.  She was very amused and said “Is that you Caitlin?!  It better be on Channel 955!!”  We all got a good laugh from that!

Next, we picked up a fabulous wrist corsage from the friendly volunteers.  Then, we went to the hair and makeup area.  Caitlin chose glitter spray, crystal embellishments and blue tinsel for her hair.  She just loved all of the attention and interaction with the many volunteer stylists.  Our last activity together was the photo station.  We took a family photo and Caitlin took a solo picture.  She looked absolutely beautiful!

At this point, we went our separate ways.  Caitlin and Zoey went off to dinner while Scott and I made our way to the respite room.  Being separated from Caitlin was something new for us because when we attend  activities, we are always together and responsible for helping Caitlin.  It felt great to know that Caitlin was safe and having fun and that we could have a couple of hours for ourselves. 

The church organizers did an excellent job in helping caregivers feel comfortable with leaving their loved one’s in care of volunteers for the evening.  Prior to the event, they communicated frequently via email and encouraged us to ask questions or bring concerns ahead of time.  There were a lot of medical personnel on-site wearing scrubs so they were easy to identify.  I also learned that they limited the participants to 100 but had more than 3 times the number of volunteers.  Everyone working the event had gone through special training and were watching out for the safety and well-being of all that attended. 

When I heard “respite room”, I pictured a typical, bland conference room with some tables and chairs set-up.  But I was tremendously surprised by the reality.  The respite area was in their historic chapel.  It is a cozy, spiritual space… a perfect setting for caregivers to enjoy and relax.  Comfortable chairs and couches were available for lounging.  A delicious dinner buffet, snacks, desserts, beverages and mocktails were served.  Jazzy melodies of a live saxophone player filled the air.  Later we were entertained by the “Conductor”, a charming gentleman who told funny stories and ran the trivia game.  There was an over-abundance of giveaways from blankets to puzzles to cookies and candy to flowers and books.  The Conductor encouraged all of us to take as many items as we wanted.  There were also massages available if you so desired.  We walked away with armfuls of gifts and full bellys from all the food.  This was a totally unexpected “date night” and we enjoyed it very much.  We are so appreciative to the church for the detailed preparation it took to make this evening as enjoyable and stress-free as possible for caregivers.

If we wanted to see what Caitlin was up to, we were asked to join a “tour group” to visit the area where the prom was taking place.  They limited as much as possible the number of caregivers in the prom areas and my guess is they were trying to control overcrowding.  And maybe also a way to encourage caregivers to try not to hover over their loved one.  Part of me did feel like we were missing watching her (and I’m sure it would be allowed if needed) but at the same time we felt good that all of us could enjoy the event independently.  Caitlin left us earlier in the evening very excited to be with her new friend Zoey and we didn’t want to disrupt her experience too much.  When we checked in, Caitlin was just finishing up dinner.  They were planning on joining friends for a limo ride (they had several limos circling the parking lot as many times as you wanted) and then go do some dancing.  She was thoroughly enjoying herself and the company of new friends.  She was quick to say bye to us!

On our way back to the respite area, we couldn’t help but stop by the team of therapy dogs.  It was so thoughtful to have therapy dogs there to pet and spend some time with to ease any anxieties.  We also got a picture with the cast of Star Wars!  Their costumes were very authentic.

About 15 minutes before the event ended, it was time to go back to the main area to reunite with Caitlin.  We all gathered in the big gym and ended the evening with their signature crowning ceremony.  All the honored guests received tiaras and crowns.  Caitlin had the biggest smile as she received the tiara from her buddy Zoey!  We viewed an inspiring message from the founders of the event, Tim and Demi Tebow.  Then danced a little more to some final songs to end the evening.

On our way out we picked up even more gifts!  They had a huge bag of goodies for Caitlin and one for caregivers.

This evening was so memorable and we are graciously overwhelmed by the amount of attention, time and effort spent and gifts that they provided.  We all had a marvelous time and it exceeded our expectations in so many ways! 

Hey friends!  Thanks so much for returning to the blog for the third and final part of our Alaska cruise! 

In case you missed it, you can go back and read “Part 1” by clicking on this link: “Alaska Cruise Part 1: Seattle, Embarkation, At Sea”, “Part 2” by clicking on this link: “Alaska Cruise Part 2: Juneau and Skagway” And I also have a cruise planning post that you can read about by clicking here: “Alaska Cruise Planning for People with Disabilities”

On Day 5 Wednesday, we cruised the inlets of the Glacier Bay National Park.  This was a day at sea because we weren’t actually going on land but instead, viewing the glaciers from the ship.  I don’t believe there’s a better way to see them given the remote location.  Earlier in the morning, a small vessel had pulled up to the ship to drop off a couple of Interpretive Park Rangers.  They had come aboard for the day to provide narrations and other useful information while we viewed from the ship.  This was conveniently broadcast on every channel and loudspeaker so we didn’t miss out no matter where on the ship we were located.  The Mendenhall Glacier that we saw earlier in the week was a teaser for the magnificence we were about to witness. 

The forward bow of the ship was going to be open to passengers, just for the day, for viewing the glaciers.  We hoped that by having a leisurely breakfast and waiting a little while would be enough time for the initial rush of people to cycle through.  The normally crowded atrium was nearly empty as many passengers were already outside.

To get to the bow of the ship, we had to go to deck 8 and all the way to the front of the ship.  Anything that rolled, i.e. wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, strollers etc., was not allowed past a certain point.  We had to leave Caitlin’s transport chair at the halfway point of a long and narrow hallway.  At the end of the hallway there was a heavy metal door that opened to the outdoors.  Then from there, we had to climb a flight of stairs to finally arrive on the outer deck.  This was definitely a test of strength and stamina for Caitlin but she’s been exercising at weekly personal training sessions in addition to gym class at school.  Stairs are a significant barrier for people with physical disability like Caitlin but because of her positive attitude, she saw this as a chance to show that her hard work has paid off!  She has loads of confidence and often tells me: “I do steps everywhere and I’m good at them!” 

Jaw-dropping views surrounded us as we ascended on to the mostly unobstructed bow.  There was still quite a crowd of people on the deck.  However, everyone was being polite and took turns at the best picture-taking spots.  The ship was seemingly motionless as we lingered in the inlet.  Because the ship was still and quiet, this amplified the viewing experience and we took the opportunity to soak it all in.  I really got the sense of how large the glaciers are when I compared them to the ship.  As I observed Margerie Glacier, I guessed it was at least six stories (or about 70ft) from the surface of the water since we were standing eye-level on the eighth or ninth deck (subtracting out a couple decks below sea level).  That was a severe underestimate after I researched it later and discovered it was actually 250 ft high from the water surface!  Norwegian really encouraged guests to stay on the bow as long as they wanted and even served seafood chowder and hot cocoa.  We stayed for about an hour before heading back to our cabin to take more pictures from our balcony.

We saw seals slipping into the water from some of the larger pieces of iceberg as well as in the distance resting on the rock where the mountain meets the water. 

The colors of the Alaskan landscape are crisp and cool from the striking blue glaciers, to the icy teal water, to the mossy green mountains playing peek a boo through the ashen white clouds

On Day 6 Thursday, we arrived in Ketchikan at 7am.  With only about five hours in port we opted not to plan anything and just walk the town.  I was surprised that we docked at Ward Cove which is about a 15-minute drive to Ketchikan.  When looking at google maps it seemed more convenient to dock right in town, but I’m sure there was a good reason why we didn’t.  Ward Cove was under construction and there was not a lot there except a warehouse that was set up as a gigantic gift shop.  We had to walk thru the gift shop to get to the shuttle area.  The lines were long because it’s the only way to get to town and it’s not really walkable from there.  There was a separate, shorter line for shuttles for people with disabilities.  They had a couple of wheelchair accessible shuttle buses and smaller passenger vans.  Things were moving along smoothly and with a wait time of about 20 minutes plus the 15-minute drive to town, it took about 40 minutes total to get to town.  There are big plans to transform Ward Cove into a top cruise ship destination in the future but they hadn’t made a lot of progress for our visit.

Once in town, we strolled up and down the streets window shopping and popping into the many souvenir and jewelry shops.  The highlight of our walk was the Historic Creek Street shopping district.  This is an elevated boardwalk over the Ketchikan Creek with charming shops and galleries selling unique items.  We spotted a couple of adorable seals playing in the water. 

Ketchikan was the only stop on the trip where we encountered another cruise ship.  We happened to meet a nice couple that was on that other cruise.  They were about a week or so into a 28-day cruise from Los Angeles to Tokyo!  Wow, now that’s a voyage of a lifetime!

Back on the boat, our friends scored the best seats in the observation lounge.  We sat there for hours taking turns whale-watching with the binoculars and enjoying the unlimited drink package.  It wasn’t too hard to spot the whales because the lounge would erupt with excitement and passengers would point to exactly where they were.  Later in the early evening, we enjoyed the other Broadway show Jersey Boys.  It was good but not as impressive as the other show.

On Day 7 Friday, we were mostly at sea.  We had left the calm waters of the inner passage and were heading toward our final stop in Victoria.  We encountered major headwinds which delayed our arrival by nearly two hours.  The boat was rocking pretty good all day.  I’m certain we all would have been very sea-sick but fortunately we had been taking Dramamine.  We watched another Beatles show in the afternoon and during the show we could hear big booms from the waves crashing against the ship.  We were definitely swaying in our seats and I was amazed at how the performers on stage were able to keep their balance.  I guess they must be used to performing in all kinds of sailing conditions. 

We spent a bit of time again in the Observation Lounge.  The drink and food service were top-notch all week.  Take a look at these neat drinks they made for Caitlin.  When we arrived in Victoria we decided not to go on land.  It was about 9:30 at night and we were only scheduled to be there a few hours.  We chose to have an unhurried dinner with our friends on this final evening of the cruise.  We headed out to the open sea again after midnight.  The heavy winds, waves and rocking continued throughout the night.  I’m surprised none of us rolled out of our beds!

Here are some other miscellaneous tips and information from our trip.  We knew we would likely get motion sickness and preferred to stay ahead of it so we all took Dramamine every day.  Elevators on a cruise ship are always packed.  They had one marked “priority” for people with disabilities but it was actually faster just to get in any elevator that had space even if we had to go up a few decks to come back down or vice versa.  The cruise line has Port Valet Service where they take your luggage straight to the airport from the ship.  This saves you from having to get your luggage from the cruise terminal and also checking it in at the airport.  There is a deadline to sign up for the service, which we missed and unfortunately, we could not take advantage of the convenient service.  Rideshare services and taxis are plentiful at the Seattle cruise ship terminal.  I had pre-reserved a ride and he was running late and I felt obligated to keep the reservation.  Had I known, I would not have made a reservation and just grabbed any rideshare.  We used the cruise ship laundry service and it was reasonably priced.  It does take a couple of days so best time to use it is Day 3 of the cruise so you have clean clothes back for the last few days.  There were a lot of dance parties, dance lessons and music playing around every corner of the ship.  This created a fun party atmosphere and we all loved it!

That wraps up our Alaska Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line! 

Hey friends!  Thanks for returning to my blog to read “Part 2” of our amazing Alaska Cruise!

In case you missed it, you can go back and read “Part 1” by clicking on this link: “Alaska Cruise Part 1: Seattle, Embarkation, At Sea”

And I also have a cruise planning post that you can read about by clicking here: “Alaska Cruise Planning for People with Disabilities”

So, continuing on, we drifted toward Juneau on Monday, Day 3 of the cruise.  For most of the morning we were cruising the Stephens Passage thru to the Gastineau Channel.  The serene waterway is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest.  The mountains were tree-covered but from this vantage point, one would have thought they were mounds of soil as the pitch-black color contrasted sharply with low-floating white clouds.

We spent most of this morning in our cabin, enjoying the views from our private balcony.  Our arrival time at Juneau was around 1:30 pm so we had plenty of time to relax and get ready for our day in port.  The weather was about 50F degrees, hazy with a drizzle of rain.  We had anticipated cool, wet weather and packed a bunch of outdoor gear to keep us warm and dry.  We brought rain coats and pants, hand and toe warmers, waterproof hiking shoes, hats and gloves and small umbrellas. 

The color of the mountains changed from black to green as we moved closer to Juneau.  The lush forest served as a grand backdrop to the small city.  Since our cabin was on the port side of the ship, we had a sprawling view of the whole city as the ship was maneuvering to the dock.  The ship was docked facing north so to our left we could see downtown and to our right was the Goldbelt Tram.  The Goldbelt Tram is a popular excursion on this cruise.  Unfortunately, all the Tram tours were canceled because it was too windy to operate. 

In one of the distant mountains there is what looks like a waterfall.  Later we learned that these were not natural waterfalls.  They were actually trenches cut into the mountains to avoid avalanches and what we were seeing was rushing water from recent rains filling the trenches.  The trenches would hardly be noticeable on a dry day.

Fun fact about Juneau:  it is not accessible by road!  The only way to arrive is by boat, ferry or plane.  It is the capital of Alaska and over the years, the location proved to not be ideal.  There have been efforts over the years to move the capitol to a city with better access.  However, it was too much money and hassle, so there it stayed.  

Getting off the ship at this port was pretty straightforward.  We were able to walk/roll down a short ramp that ended directly onto the dock.  There were plenty of crew members available to help us get safely down the ramp with Caitlin in her transport chair.  Once off the ship, we walked along the dock to another ramp that led us up to the street level.

The majority of our time in Juneau was spent at the Mendenhall Glacier National Park and Visitor center.  We booked the tour through the cruise line.  I recommend booking the tour as soon as possible because they sold out months in advance.  I’m not sure if that happens all the time or if it was just during this time of year.  The tour included admission to the park and transportation in a motorcoach bus.  They were able to bring Caitlin’s transport seat and she was able to walk up a few steps to the seats.  Even though it’s not a necessity for Caitlin, I was disappointed that the bus was not wheelchair accessible.  The ride to the park was about 25 minutes. 

We had never seen a glacier before so this was a new and exciting experience for us!  We learned a lot by exploring the exhibits and watching the short movie at the visitor’s center.  Did you know that the Mendenhall Glacier is the closest glacier accessible by land?  The glacier has retreated about a mile since the mid-eighties.  Mendenhall Lake is in front of the glacier and has grown as the glacier has shrunk.  There were historical pictures of tourists walking on the frozen lake to get closer to the glacier.  They say that the glacier may not be viewable by land by as early as 2050!  We also learned that this is just a small portion of an enormous ice field as shown in one of the exhibits. 

There are plenty of photo ops of both the glacier and surrounding landscape along the park trails, there are spectacular views from every angle!  The hiking trails were smooth concrete but narrow, I would say about four people wide.  This was just enough space to accommodate opposing directions of foot/wheelchair traffic.  There were some people rushing their way through and bumping other people along the way which was extremely rude!  We were the only cruise ship at the park and I can’t imagine how crowded this place would be if there were more tourists.

The days are short in October in Alaska and night had fallen by the time we returned to town from the park.   We did a quick walking tour before heading back to the ship.  We had a low-key evening and turned in early to rest up for a full day of sightseeing in Skagway the next day.

We arrived in Skagway at 7am Tuesday, Day 4 of the cruise.  Getting off the ship had some additional logistics that was a little odd although everything went smoothly.  The ship was parked at the far end of the dock.  The shuttles to town were at the other end of the dock.  It was a short distance but they wouldn’t allow people to walk because it was not safe.  The reason it wasn’t safe is because the dock was adjacent to a steep and rocky mountainside with a high risk of falling rock.  So, we had to shuttle the short distance from the ship to the other end of the dock.  Once we were at the other end of the dock, then we had to exit that shuttle and jump on a different shuttle to take us into town.  They had wheelchair accessible shuttles and this driver made the short trip a bit more interesting with a rocking, swashbuckling impersonation

Skagway is exactly how I envisioned a quaint, Alaskan town to be with it’s pretty pastel-colored buildings, simple architecture, rough wooden sidewalks, nestled at the base of the mountains. But exploring the town would have to wait until after we returned from our driving excursion.  I really wanted to make the drive to the Yukon Territory so that was first thing on our agenda.   Tour options were limited during this time of year but the 3-hour Yukon Sightseeing Tour with Southeast Tours was exactly what I had hoped for.  One of the main reasons I chose this tour was because the buses were smaller and there were less people.  And I liked the idea of a guided tour because I read that the Klondike Highway can be hard to drive on your own.  And the tour guides know exactly where to stop and they provide a ton of interesting information.  The meeting place was at the popcorn emporium in town. 

The tour takes you on the Klondike Highway from Skagway, thru British Columbia, to the Welcome to Yukon sign and then back to Skagway on same route.  Not only is the scenery gorgeous but there’s so much history to learn about.  This area is known for the Klondike Gold Rush era.  The stories of the gold prospectors were both gruesome and mind-boggling.  Each traveling group was allowed 2,000 lbs. of gear and supplies to take with them.  Many of them overloaded horses and other animals with gear but did not provide them with enough food, water or rest.  Part of the trail was nicknamed “The Dead Horse Trail” because over 3,000 horses died there.  The long lines of prospectors on the trail were continuous and jam-packed.  It was so crowded that if a traveling group stepped out of the line for whatever reason, it could take them days to make their way back into the line.

Here are some pics of the Tormented valley, Bridal Veil Falls, Pitchfork Falls, Summit Lake, Tutshi Lake, Welcome to Alaska and Welcome to Yukon signs and other sights from this scenic drive.

A passport is required for this tour. The customs station is in Fraser which is 8 miles north of the US/Canada border. The reason it’s so far from the border is that the terrain is too rough and this is the closest area where they could build.

On the way back, the tour guide passed around maps that outlined the trail of the gold rushers.  A lot of people lost their lives making this treacherous journey and most did not complete the journey nor did they become wealthy from it.

I thought the tour was pretty good for somebody like Caitlin that has difficulty walking long distances or over uneven terrain.  The beautiful countryside scenery can be enjoyed through the large windows from inside the bus should you choose not to get off at a stop.  There was not a lot of walking because all of the stops were along the roadside.  The bus was not wheelchair accessible and there was no room for Caitlin’s transport chair (which we ended up leaving at the popcorn shop).  We didn’t need the chair at all because we were not at the stops very long and it was good to get out and walk a bit.  The downside was there was only one rustic bathroom along the way that we stopped at twice, once on the way out and once on the way back.  There are literally no other buildings, gas stations, rest stops etc.… on this part of the freeway!

There was plenty of daylight left to explore Skagway when we returned.  We visited some shops and had an appetizer and a pint of the signature Spruce Tip Blonde at the historic Skagway Brewing Company.

When we returned to the ship for the evening, we took in one of the Broadway musicals “SIX”.  Basically, it was about the six wives of Henry the VIII who were competing with each other to see who had it the worst.  Each wife was portrayed as a modern pop persona (for example, one of them sang similar to the rocker P!NK)  In the end, they stopped competing and celebrated their girl power!  I thought it was an excellent performance and I loved the flashy costumes.  Caitlin loved the music and showed us her best moves during the final song.

That wraps up “Part 2” of our Alaska Cruise vacation!

Stay tuned for future posts on the remainder of our trip as we continue on to Glacier Bay National Park, Ketchikan and Victoria.

We recently returned from an Alaska cruise with our friends and I’m happy to report that we had an amazing time!  This post will cover “Part 1” of our trip: Seattle, Embarkation day and a day At Sea.

I’ll pick up where I left off from my previous post “Alaska Cruise planning for People with Disabilities” to give you an update on how things actually went vs. what we planned for. I’ll also share with you a few other tips that might help you plan a cruise to Alaska, such as accessibility challenges and other considerations, when traveling with a person with disabilities.  And of course, all the fun stuff there is to do!

We went in October 2023 on the Norwegian Bliss through Norwegian Cruise Lines.  We stayed in Seattle on Friday and the cruise was from Saturday to the following Saturday.  This is one of the last Alaska cruises offered until spring because October is the very beginning of the winter season in Alaska.  The cost savings for cruises in October are significant compared to the peak summer months.  The reason is because the weather is cooler and wetter and many of the shore excursions are closed for the season.  Although not ideal for some, there is still plenty to enjoy and we had a very positive experience!  We made sure to dress appropriately for the weather and stayed warm and dry while we were out and about.  Driving, bus and train tours were still available and that worked great for us due to Caitlin’s limited mobility.  Also, we were the only cruise ship in all the ports so it wasn’t crowded with people when walking around the towns.

We came in a day earlier than our cruise departure because we didn’t want to be rushed or miss the ship should our flight be delayed.  We also wanted to have some to time to explore Seattle since we’ve never visited before.  We had an early morning, direct flight from Detroit to Seattle.  An early check-in at the hotel worked out perfect because we were able to drop off our luggage and freshen up a little after our full morning of travel.  We didn’t really have a firm sight-seeing plan for Seattle and decided to do a walking tour.  It was a warm, sunny day and being outside felt great after spending the morning cooped up in an airplane.

Our first stop was the Olympic Sculpture Park.  This was about a 0.6 mile walk or 15 minutes southwest from where we were staying at the Fairfield Inn Downtown Seattle.  The sidewalks were smooth and flat for most of the way so it was pretty easy rolling as we pushed Caitlin in her transport chair.  But about 2 blocks from the park, the street becomes very, very steep and we had to hold on tight to Caitlin’s chair as we shuffled slowly down to the park entrance.  The park is a wide-open space with sweeping views of Elliott Bay.  We meandered our way on the hard packed gravel path stopping periodically to admire the huge sculptures and interesting art displays that were dispersed around the park.  The path led us to a boardwalk along the water’s edge where we continued our stroll to Pier 70 where we took the opportunity to rest in a couple of comfy chairs.

From there we continued south on the waterfront side of Alaskan Way heading toward the Pike Place Market which was about another 0.6 miles or 15-minute walk.  It was a smooth walk/roll with expansive water views, colorful murals and boat marinas.  We passed Pier 66 where we were going to be embarking from the next day.  We stopped in front of the Seattle Aquarium and beyond that you can see the Seattle Great Wheel.  It was at this point we needed to make our way up one block to get to Pike Place Market.  Since we were at the water level it was way too steep to push Caitlin back up the block to get to Western Ave or Pike Place which is the main part of the market.  So, from Alaskan Way we walked to a parking garage which is on the backside of the market and there we found elevators to take us up to the main level.

Pike Place Market was bustling!  We had an energizing experience being among happy customers, surrounded by cheery music while capturing whiffs of delightful smells.  We strolled slowly past the eclectic collection of food vendors and small shops wishing we had more room in our suitcases to take home their unique offerings.  A lot of the eateries in the market are counter-service with hi-top seating or no seating at all which didn’t work well for us.  We ended up at Pike Place Bar & Grill, a quaint old and all original restaurant.  We snacked on a seafood platter and salmon dip and sampled a couple of local brews.  They also have a private bathroom which was clean and convenient.  There’s a lot to see and working our way thru the narrow aisle ways and crowds of people took some patience.  The market was founded in 1907 and I could tell that it was not originally designed with accessibility in mind and had been retrofitted over the years.  Elevators are available throughout to get you to the main levels.  But there are some areas where there are steps to get to the shops.

Our friends had traveled on a later flight than us and were going to be arriving at the hotel soon.  We had walked enough for the day and called an Uber to take us back to the hotel to meet up with them.  We spent the remainder of the day together wandering the Seattle Center area.  It was a beautiful evening and the area was busy with tourists and concert-goers heading to a show at Climate Pledge Arena.  We visited the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. The sculptures are very large, colorful and complex. The museum has a small theatre where we watched a short documentary of the history and the process of making the sculptures…it was fascinating!  Not only do I admire the artist’s vision but also his ability to bring it to life!  The museum is completely accessible. 

Next, we walked over to the Armory.  Inside there are several food vendors and some shops. It’s a good place to get a quick bite to eat and use the restroom.  We had a snack and margaritas at the Mexican restaurant.  The Space Needle was closing soon so we viewed it from the ground up.  We ended the evening with a nightcap at The 5 Point Cafe.  This is an iconic dive bar that is open 24 hours.    The place is pretty small and there wasn’t enough room inside for our large party.  It was fine though because the weather was good and we enjoyed our drinks at the outside patio.  The bathrooms are not accessible and pretty icky, as expected for a dive bar!

The next day was Saturday a.k.a. Embarkation Day!  I was able to choose an arrival time window when I checked in for the cruise a couple of weeks earlier and it was between 12 – 12:30. This gave us time to have a hearty breakfast at the hotel.  We also squeezed in a little more sightseeing of the Amazon Spheres and the surrounding city blocks.  It’s hard to believe the humble beginnings of Amazon when strolling around the massive campus headquarters. 

We booked a private shuttle for the 10-minute ride from the hotel to the dock.  It dropped us off right in from of the cruise ship terminal at the baggage stations.  From there it’s a short walk around the corner where the lines are to enter the check-in area.  There is a separate line to the right with a large sign for people needing Special Assistance.  This helped because the area had more space to navigate with wheelchairs or scooters and it was quieter and less hectic.  There were employees directing us to the elevators and different stations which made the process easier and less confusing.  The ramps up to the boat are not too steep but enough that it took extra effort to push Caitlin in her seat.  Once on board, we had to check in at our emergency station.  Ours was easy to remember because it was in the casino.

Once on board our first stop was lunch.  All the activity of the morning had us needing to re-fuel.  Choosing a seat by the window, we cherished our last views of the Seattle skyline before we were to head out to sea at 5pm.  After lunch, we had more time to spare since our rooms were not going to be ready until around 3pm.  We lounged on the deck soaking in the sun on this warmer than usual Seattle afternoon.  It would have been nice to cool off in the pool but we didn’t have access to our luggage where our bathing suits were packed (next time I’ll be sure to put them in our backpack!).  When the sun got too hot, we found a seat at the outdoor shower where the cool water sprinkled over our toes.  Next, we headed to the shade of Spice H20, the open-air bar at the aft of the ship, for a Bon Voyage toast!

Promptly at 3pm, the announcement was made that our rooms were ready!  We had stateroom 9730 which is a regular balcony stateroom, not wheelchair accessible.  I had read the Accessible Cruising information and knew that the entry door was a very narrow 26 inches wide and made sure to measure Caitlin’s transport seat.  To get in our room Caitlin had to get out of her seat so that we could fold it up to get inside.  It was a minor inconvenience for us. It would not be possible to roll a wheelchair or scooter inside the room if it were wider than 26 inches which I believe most are.  Our room was a little different set up then pictured in my other post because the bed was near the exterior glass door and not near the closet.  This actually worked out better because it gave us more space in front of the closet, bathroom and entry door. I also called housekeeping right away and they brought a shower seat.  The bathroom was a small space, slightly larger than the one in our camper back home, and there is a step up to the bathroom.  A balcony room was a must-have for us and is worth the extra charge in my opinion.  It’s great to have the extra outdoor space and the ability to open the door for fresh air.  I also loved that we were able to take in the views from the privacy of our room. 

I was a little leery of drinking the cruise ship water so I ordered a case of water to be delivered to our room.  I would have brought my own but outside beverages are not allowed on board.  It was convenient to have drinking water in the room and readily available for our shore excursions.  It saved us trips to the buffet to fill our water bottles.  Next time I will order less because we ended up with quite a few unopened bottles even after giving some to our friends. 

No time is wasted on the cruise and the fun activities started immediately!  Every day we received the Freestyle Daily, a paper newsletter of all the activities scheduled for the day plus tons of other helpful information.  On the first night we went to the theater and watched The Beatles Experience, a cover band from Argentina.  They were excellent! 

Then we went to Crank Up the Silence at The Social.  This was a “silent disco”.  The way it works is that everyone wears headphones and music is only played thru the headphones and not out loud.  On the ceiling, there are screens that divide the dance floor into four different music quadrants from different decades of the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and Today.  As you move around the dance floor, the music automatically changes when you enter a different quadrant.  It’s funny to take the headphones off and watch everyone dancing in “silence” and singing along to the music.  It’s a really fun concept and unique experience!

The second day of the cruise was At Sea.  We were free all day to explore the ship and more activities since we were not stopping at a port.  We spent a good amount of time in the Observation Area on Deck 15.  This is a great place to unwind and lounge in oversized chairs and comfy sofas.  The floor to ceiling windows allowed us to gaze out into the open waters for miles.  Many people had binoculars and would draw attention when they sighted whales or seals. 

In the Atrium, we participated in a ChaCha dance lesson.  Caitlin loved it and jumped out of her chair to join in. 

Later that evening we watched another show of The Beatles Experience.  This time it was in a smaller venue, The Cavern Club, and they did a different set than the other show.  The music for this show was from the Sergeant Pepper era compared to the other show which was mostly their earlier music.  It was another excellent performance!   We also planned a group dinner at Manhattan, one of the complimentary restaurants.  I recommend making dining reservations ahead of time especially if you have a large group.  Reservations can be made 90 days in advance.  The restaurants get booked quickly and wait times can be long.  I made reservations for the two nights that we were at sea because I didn’t think we would make it back on the ship in time on the days were in port.

That’s all for “Part 1” of our Alaska Cruise vacation!

Stay tuned for future posts on the remainder of our trip as we continue on to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, At Sea and Victoria

The local library is an ideal place to visit for my daughter with disabilities. We usually head over there mid-week, after school and work,  when we’re looking for a low-key activity to get us out of the house for a bit.  There are plenty of interactive displays to play with, interesting materials to consume and friendly people to meet.  It’s a very accessible, indoor space where we can stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer. It gives Caitlin the opportunity to practice her social skills and it’s a safe space for her to navigate around independently.

Our first stop is typically the front desk.  The pleasant librarian is always willing to chat.  It’s a good opportunity for Caitlin to practice having a conversation.  Caitlin is good at breaking the ice with questions such as “what’s your name?” or “what is your job here?”   A lot of times when Caitlin is speaking to someone, they will look at me to translate because they don’t understand her.  But on one of our visits, the librarian caught on to most of her words.  This was so awesome and validated for me that her speech is getting better!   

On another visit, Caitlin was having trouble remembering where the book return was located which prompted a stop at the front desk to ask.  After a few minutes of chatting, the librarian was very happy to direct Caitlin to the book return.  The book return is a conveyor belt system which makes it a fun, interactive experience for her.  I helped place her large stack of books on the table conveniently located in front of the belt.  She was then able to feed the books onto the belt all by herself.  She enjoys putting the books on the belt and watching them quietly disappear into the slot in the wall.  

In the lobby of the library is a Gechron.  What is a Gechron you ask?  Basically, it’s an electronic world clock that sections off the entire earth into different time zones.  It also shows which areas of the earth have night or day.  We took a quick look to see what time it is in the Philippines where my parents spend part of the year.  Of course, because it’s on the other side of the globe it is morning there when it is evening for us!  We spend a little more time locating spots on the map where we would like to travel or where other family and friends are from.

In the middle of the library set up on a high-top table is the community jig-saw puzzle.  We don’t have much patience to work on it, but we give it a try!  It’s usually a 1000 pieces plus and the pieces are small.  Other patrons are nice enough to organize the pieces by color to try and make it a little easier.  So sometimes we find a piece that is quick and easy.  On this visit, the puzzle was almost complete and I happened to find a piece that fit.

One of my personal favorites at our library are these shadow boxes that are built into the floor.  The boxes are filled with an interesting collection of items with each box having a different theme.  I think it’s such a creative way to display items instead of a typical display cabinet against a wall.

During one visit, I wanted to look for an article in the local newspaper.  While I was  searching for the article, Caitlin wandered off down one of the aisles of books.  I started to follow her like I usually do.  She glanced over her shoulder with her eyes pointed to me as if to say “stop following me!”  I’ve seen this look before and it means that she wants to do this by herself.  Sometimes she’ll even say “Mom you stay over here and I’ll go over there”!   Under most circumstances, I wouldn’t let her walk off by herself.  But since the library wasn’t very busy and it is a contained area, I let her walk around while I went back to look for the article.  The area is not that large and I could pretty much see her the whole time from where I was sitting.  Occasionally she would look over her shoulder to check if I was following her.  I could tell by the slight smile on her face that she was enjoying the moment of being on her own.  At the end of an aisle she came upon a computer and stopped to press some buttons on the keyboard.  Then she wandered over to a desk where another librarian was stationed and struck up a conversation.  I decided to join her over there and just as I walked up, the librarian asked what kind of books she was looking for.  And of course she said her favorite thing…Cats!  

We generally select books in the children’s area near the end of our visit.  Strolling the aisles browsing titles and covers, we stop when something interesting catches our attention.  I’ll read the title as Caitlin inspects the picture on the front cover.  If it looks good and sounds good then we hang on to it.  She gets excited when we come across books that she recognizes from TV or YouTube shows.  She can read simple sentences and I like to pick out some beginner reading books.  And because she is visually impaired I also search for books with larger print.   We go up and down each aisle until we end up with a huge stack of books (a few of them are about cats, of course)

The children’s area at our library is an interactive experience.  Activities and displays occupy every nook and cranny.  There are fun things to open, close, twist and turn.  What a good way to exercise fine motor skills and engage the senses. This is also the area where we read to the PAWS Therapy Dogs.  

Caitlin’s favorite part of the visit is checking out the books!  She just loves the self-checkout stations not only at the library but at any retail store that has them.  The self-checkout process is very easy at the library.  All you do is scan your card and then put your books on the mat and it is automatically scanned.    Caitlin has her own library card.  I think it adds to her sense of independence to check out with her own card. Of course she chose the design with…cats!

I didn’t know until recently that the library is also a resource to rent all kinds of equipment.  I’ve seen many unexpected items such as tools, speakers and even trail-cams.  I like taking a look at what’s available because there’s a good chance it sparks an idea for a new hobby to try.  But between working a full-time job and being a caregiver I actually don’t have much spare time for hobbies!  But in a previous visit we checked out a bird watching kit and it was fun and didn’t take up much time.  Today I saw a ukulele and a backyard explorer kit, how cool is that?!

Before going home we take a few minutes to play with the outside instruments.  Bongos, chimes and a xylophone just to name a few. Caitlin still had a little streak of independence on this visit and suggested that while she banged on the drums, I go somewhere “over there”.  For me this meant striking up a tune on the xylophone which was a short distance away from her.  It felt good to release some energy and to make some noise! 

That wraps up the major highlights from a typical visit to the library.  I hope you’re inspired to pay a visit to your local library soon!

In June of 2023, we spent an afternoon in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.  Our first stop was St. Ignace which is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  The 5-mile drive over the Mackinac Bridge (that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas) is usually picturesque with water views all around serving as a glistening backdrop to the tall towers of this famous suspension bridge.  On this day, however, the visibility was very low.  This was due to smoke that was blown this way from Canadian wildfires that had been raging for weeks hundreds of miles away.  We could barely see the towers even from a short distance.  

Once over the bridge, we stopped in at Manley’s Fish Market to grab a snack for lunch.  The market had the look and feel of what you’d expect in a rustic, fish-town shack.  The inside was tiny with room for only a few people and a large glass case that featured their signature smoked fish and dips.  Scott had been craving whitefish dip so we picked up a tub of that along with some saltine crackers.  They had three types of fish available on this day and we went with a hefty filet of smoked lake trout.  

We drove a short distance to the St. Ignace Public Marina where they have a spacious dock with benches and picnic tables.  There we settled in and spread out a blanket and our feast of delicacies.  The dip and fish were delicious!  

The sky was still a bit hazy but the visibility was much better compared to earlier.  On one side of the dock is East Moran bay where we watched the ferry boats come and go.  On the other side were sailboats and speed boats parked in rows of boat slips with the Wawatam Lighthouse a little further in the distance.  After we were done with lunch, we took a short stroll down the street and browsed around a couple of the gift shops.  

Before heading back to the Lower Peninsula, we stopped at Bridge View Park to see if we could get a glimpse of the bridge.  We could see one tower and just a little bit of an outline of the second tower.  

We drove back on the bridge into the Lower Peninsula to Mackinaw City.  We didn’t have much planned but to walk the shopping area in the Village of Mackinaw City, although there is plenty more to do such as Fort Michilimackinac and the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.  It was getting a little warmer out so we cooled off with frozen drinks from Dairy Queen before walking the square shaped area.  

I loved the eclectic decor and crammed shelves at Sign of the Loon Gifts.  And Caitlin was in “ty” heaven at Sharky’s Mackinaw Outfitters.  Among the multiple racks of stuffed animals she found a new “Zippy” for her stuffed animal collection.  We came across a place called The Forge.  It’s a blacksmith shop where you can make your own knives.  The owner was a contestant on History Channel’s show “Forged In Fire”.  We watched as a customer hammered away under the watchful eye of the instructor.   

I don’t know the name but there’s a souvenir shop at the corner of Louvigny and W Straits street.  I really wanted to go there because they have a good selection of quirky and unusual things.  But unfortunately, they were closed.  So instead, we went next door to the Fort Gift shop and Fudge shop.  Caitlin found a snow globe to add to her collection and also posed for a picture in front of this life-sized stuffed bear.

There’s so much more to explore in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.   Here are links to help you plan your visit:

St. Ignace Visitors Guide

Mackinaw City Visitors Bureau

Thanks for stopping by!  Have fun should you plan a visit to St. Ignace and Mackinaw City!

We’ve always wanted to go to Alaska.  So when our friends asked if we wanted to join them on an Alaska cruise, we jumped at the chance!  We have a few months to plan and I want to have a great experience especially since it’s Caitlin’s first cruise. Caitlin has multiple disabilities and I’ve found that researching and planning in advance helps to make a vacation go smoothly.  In this blog post, I’ll share what I’ve discovered so far from my research on accessibility and accommodations for the cruise.

We’ll embark on the Norwegian Bliss on Norwegian Cruise Lines.  I booked directly with Norwegian Cruise Line on their website.  On their site there is a whole section for Accessible Cruising.  The information is very easy to find by going to the HELP menu.  If you’re considering going on a cruise, I encourage you to read through this section first because it has a ton of helpful information.  I had a lot of questions and found most of the answers here.  I called the customer service number for more assistance and not only were they able to clarify some things for me,  but they were very friendly and patient too!

Below are pictures of the cruise ship and itinerary map. We are looking forward to exploring the ship and the ports!

One of the first things you’ll read about on-line in the Accessible Cruising section is the Guest Special Needs Request Form.  This is a form that you fill out after you’ve booked your cruise.  By filling out this form, it will inform Norwegian of the accommodations that you need.  You can also call Customer Service and they can put in the request for you.  Below is a copy of the form with all of the different questions on it.  The questionnaire covers a wide spectrum of disabilities and special needs.  I believe the intention is so that they can accommodate your individual needs and also advise where they may have limitations.

After submitting the form, I got an email confirming receipt of my form stating that they would contact me in 30 days.  In almost exactly 30 days, I got a response!  Here is a copy of the email I received.  I was happy for the acknowledgement and additional information.  I was concerned about the section on Tender Policy, especially the part that said there were certain vessel transfers that are not wheelchair accessible which means there’s a possibility of not being able to go ashore.  That would not be a good thing if we could not get on land to explore the ports!  So I called the customer service line again.  The agent confirmed that there were no tender ports on the cruise and that getting ashore would not be an issue…Great news!   The information on Tender Ports can also be found on their website.  On the website, the ports for the Alaska cruise are marked with an asterisk which means it may or may not need a tender.  It’s best to call customer service just to be sure!  I was not aware that there are ports that are not wheelchair accessible and will definitely remember this when booking future cruises.

When booking a cabin the one thing we really wished for was to stay in a room with a balcony.  There were plenty of balcony rooms available but the accessible rooms were completely booked, even with the 6 months advance booking!  Since I was doing the booking on-line I decided to call customer service in case I missed something.  The agent confirmed that there were no accessible balcony rooms available.  I went ahead and completed the reservation for a regular balcony room and then she made a note on the reservation just in case there happens to be a cancellation.   My guess is that if you’re really needing a wheelchair accessible room that even more advanced planning is needed, maybe a year or more.  The great thing is we were able to get a room just a few doors down from our friends! I also made note of the location to the elevators and we’re pretty close, but not too close.

Here are pictures from Norwegian’s website of the Balcony room. I think it looks awesome!

I’m about 50/50 when it comes to must-having a wheelchair accessible room when traveling.  Our travel experience has been that it is more convenient to have the extra space but we can also be comfortable in a regular size room.  Since Caitlin is not a full time wheelchair user, we are able to fold her manual wheelchair to save space and she can walk short distances around the room.  We usually request a shower seat and can manage with a smaller bathroom.  

Norwegian has a buy one get one free airline ticket deal that can be a pretty good savings if you can take advantage of it.  For the three of us, we would pay for two tickets and get one free.  I was able to get a quote so that I could do some comparison shopping before making a decision.  The catch with this deal is that it offers little flexibility because you can’t select the exact flight that you want and you have to arrive/depart on the same days of the cruise.  The other thing is, it’s possible they could put you on a red-eye with one or more connections.   It’s not a bad deal if you can go with the flow, but for us, this would not be ideal at all!  Our travel experience is that things go much smoother when we have a direct flight, can pick the exact time of our flight,  and can pick the exact seats on the plane.  As I continued to research, I found that for an additional charge, you can request a Deviation which means that you can arrive or depart on a different day then the cruise (but still no flexibility in selecting the exact flight).  The other option is to use their premium airline service that allows you to choose exactly the flight you want.  However, you can’t use the BOGO deal with the premium service!  I ultimately decided to book a flight directly with Delta Airlines.  It’s a non-stop flight that gets us to Seattle early in the morning the day before the cruise.  This should leave us time for some sight-seeing, barring no delays!  I also saved a few dollars by booking directly with Delta vs. using the Norwegian Cruise premium airline service.  The one advantage though to using the Norwegian Airline service is that if for some reason there is a flight delay or other issue that causes you to miss the boat, they will help get you to the next port to catch up with the boat.  I’m pretty confident that with the flight arrangements I made with Delta that we will get there before the boat leaves the port!

Lastly, I booked a room at the Fairfield Inn in downtown Seattle.  The hotel is reasonably priced and has free breakfast.  It is centrally located to a lot of attractions and also close to the port…perfect!  Another detail that I’ll need to arrange is transportation to and from the airport.  We usually Uber but maybe coordinating transportation with our friends might be a better option this time.  

Well, that’s where I’m at so far with the cruise planning.  I think that takes care of most of the big stuff.  Next step is to fine tune the details as I look into shore excursions, activities/amenities on the ship and ground transportation.  More to come as I continue planning this amazing vacation!

Staying busy and having lots of fun means that we spend quite a bit of time running from one activity to another.   My family and friends are much like us and with everyone going in different directions, it can be hard to carve out the time to spend together!

One way we like to catch up with family and friends is to attend the kid’s extracurricular activities together!  Between six nieces and nephews and close friends, we’ve been spectators of all kinds of events from soccer matches to band concerts to swim meets to dance recitals.  I usually ask for schedules as far in advance as possible so we can pick a date that works best with our busy schedule.  

At most events we have at least a solid hour to chat.  Huddled together in the bleachers we can squeeze in an endless number of topics…How’s your week going? How was work today?  Guess what happened the other day?!  Guess what I’m planning for vacation? etc..etc…  All this in between cheering very loudly for every goal scored or perfect dance number performed, of course!  

But the part I love the most is when the game ends and we have the chance to tell the kids how awesome they did and how much we enjoyed watching them.  The big hugs of appreciation that we get in return are priceless!  

Caitlin loves being with people and the excitement of a sporting event.  Being in the stands is a perfect place for her to do two things that she loves: meeting new people and striking up a conversation.  She’s gotten pretty good at greeting people starting with a cheerful Hello!  Most people are willing to chat with her, especially friends of our family.  She usually starts a conversation by asking the person what their name is and then in return she tells them her name.  Then she follows with a bunch of “W” questions that she’s practiced at speech therapy and school.  By asking Who, What, When and Where questions, she keeps the conversation going and finds out pretty interesting stuff about others too!  And of course, she loves joining in on the cheering, clapping and laughter of the event.

Recently we watched my nephew play basketball.  We were so impressed with how much he improved compared to the previous year. He played very good defense and was aggressive in trying to steal the ball away.  He made a couple of baskets and free throws!  And the icing on the cake was that they won the game!

We also went to see my niece perform at a cheerleading competition.  With 14+cheer squads in attendance, it was a little loud but so much fun.  This was my niece’s first year cheering and she did amazing!  I thought their routine was perfect!  Their squad came in 7th place which I thought was excellent given the tough competition.

I’m also very grateful when my family returns the favor and attends my kid’s events!  This past summer Caitin was scheduled to play in a baseball game on her birthday.  I invited family and friends to the game and they came out in a big way to support her!  After the game, we hosted a fun celebration with cupcakes, balloons and decorations.  The whole baseball team, coaches and spectators sang Happy Birthday to Caitlin.  It was a great time!

Hi there!  It’s January 2023 and we just returned from a long weekend in Orlando, Florida.  Caitlin has extra days off from school and January is always a good month to trade dreary Michigan weather for the sunny skies of Florida.  This post shares our experiences visiting EPCOT theme park and Universal Island of Adventure. I’ll also share some tips for traveling with a loved one with disabilities or special needs. 

Try a Smaller Airport for Less Crowds and Hassle

We tried something different and departed from a smaller airport, Bishop International, in Flint, Michigan.  It was a direct flight to another smaller airport in Sanford, Florida.  Both airports were less hectic than the larger international airports flying out of Detroit and Orlando.  The lines at security and baggage check were much shorter.  And it was a lot less crowded in the terminals.  In Flint, the long term parking lots are a short walk or shuttle ride to the terminal.  The only thing that makes me nervous about flying out of Flint is that there are not many alternative flights if yours is delayed or canceled.  For example, our flight on Allegiant Air was only available on Thursday and Monday and we could only depart or arrive on those days.  Thankfully, we had no issues with our flight and made it to our destination as scheduled!  Sanford is further north than Orlando International Airport but with less crowds and hassle, it was definitely worth the additional driving time.

TSA Cares for Assistance at Airport Security

TSA Cares is a service provided by the TSA to help people with disabilities through the security screening process. I filled out the form on their website Passenger Support | Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov) earlier in the week and received a response about 24 hours later confirming my inquiry and some general information.  By filling out this form, it informs both airports of your request for assistance.  The email referred me to this link https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures.  There’s a lot of information on all the accommodations that are available during the screening process.  When we got to the airport (both in Flint and Sanford)  the security checkpoints were not crowded at all.  The TSA officers were very accommodating and helpful and I didn’t even mention at all that I signed up for the service.  The information that I received thru their website prior to leaving helped me understand what to expect. I think flying out of the smaller airports also made a difference in making the screening process easier. 

Costco Membership for Best Prices on Rental Car

I have a Costco membership and I use Costco Travel to book rental cars when we travel. Making a reservation on Costco Travel is easy and it compares prices across all the major car rental companies.  The prices are good and they have good cancellation policies.  We went with Alamo because they had the best price.  The Alamo rental building at the Sanford airport is the furthest from the terminal, about 700 ft, but a smooth walk/roll on an outdoor covered walkway.  We usually go with a minivan when we travel which gives us plenty of space for Caitlin’s manual wheelchair and walker and it’s easy to step in and out of.  The checkout at Sanford airport was fast and they had a lot of vehicles to choose from.  I try not to forget to bring the handicapped placard for our car so that we can park in handicapped designated parking wherever we go.

Make the Most of a Slow Start

Our first stop after leaving the airport was the Black Hammock Airboat Ride in Oviedo.  Black Hammock is about 20 minutes south of the Sanford Airport on the shores of Lake Jesup.  It is one of the few (or maybe only) airboat rides in the area.  It could have been a fun, short excursion but it didn’t work out for us!  Unfortunately, it was too windy for our liking and we decided not to go on the boat ride.  We made the most of our visit by going to their well stocked gift shop where we picked up a magnet to add to our collection.  Caitlin meets people wherever she goes and she struck up a conversation with the cashier.  Caitlin is really good at keeping a chat going by asking a lot of questions.  She discovered that the cashier had never seen snow before!  Caitlin’s response was “Really?!”  It is so interesting what you can learn from others with a few simple questions.  We also visited the birds and alligators that live there.  The food was decent at their on-site restaurant.  But their bathrooms were a wreck and not accessible at all! We managed to squeeze into the one tiny stall.  It was disappointing that our first outing on vacation was a bit of a bust.  But I like to look on the bright side… we were able to take the time to refuel, stretch our legs and take in the Florida landscape while meeting new people!  Overall, it was an interesting place if you’re looking for an adventure off the beaten path. 

Stay in a Familiar Hotel

After lunch we made our way to the hotel.  We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Major Drive near Universal Orlando theme park.  I really love Holiday Inn Express and stay there whenever we have a chance.  Their rooms, breakfast (the cinnamon rolls are delicious!) and other amenities are pretty consistent across the US and knowing what to expect makes travel easier.  Their customer service is also very good.  Earlier in the week, as I was double checking our reservations, I realized I did not book an accessible room.  I sent an email to the hotel requesting an accessible room and also if the two rooms I booked could be next to each other. The manager called me the following morning and was so helpful in modifying the reservation and blocking two rooms.  After checking into the hotel, we spent the rest of the day relaxing.  Caitlin checked out the fitness room and the pool area.  We ordered carry-out from Lee Bistro Asian Cuisine and had a low-key dinner in the hotel dining room.  It was a good way to wrap up our long travel day before hitting the theme parks in the following days!

Disability Access Service at Walt Disney World

The next day we woke up refreshed from our day of travel and ready to go to EPCOT theme park at Walt Disney World!  It’s widely known that Disney does an outstanding job accommodating people with disabilities and we’ve experienced it first hand on previous visits to EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.

Before you even leave for your trip, I suggest you go to the Walt Disney World website to the Help&Rules / Guests with Disabilities section.  This section contains extensive information on all accommodations in the parks.  I also recommend downloading the Guide for Guests with Disabilities for the park that you’re visiting.

Here’s an example of helpful information on the Guide for Guests with Disabilities: 1. The location of companion and accessible restrooms. There are many throughout the park. 2. if the ride or attraction can accommodate a wheelchair. If someone is not able to transfer, most rides can accommodate wheelchairs and those attractions are indicated on the Guide. Disney cast members always asked if Caitlin was able to transfer to the ride on her own. She is able to transfer from her wheelchair to the ride and sit in the regular seat but needs more time to get seated properly.  They are able to slow down or stop the ride to give her more time to enter and exit. 

One of the best accommodations at Disney World theme parks, in my opinion, is the Disability Access Service.  This allows a person with a disability and their party (I believe the max is up to 5 additional people) to not have to wait in the standard ride queue. I encourage you to read all of the details about the DAS.  Not everyone qualifies just because they use a wheelchair or scooter.  The program is intended for those that are not able to tolerate the standard queue because of their disability.  It also does not completely eliminate your wait time to get on rides.  There is still a wait but you don’t have to spend the time in the standard queue.  The Disability Access Service doesn’t cost anything.  But if you don’t qualify for the DAS, an alternative is to purchase the Lightning Lane pass for each member of your party which will also allow you to bypass the standard queue.  

Our first stop in the park was Guest Relations to get set up with the Disability Access Service.  They also have an option where you can get it set up ahead of time through a video chat with a Disney Cast Member.  If you choose to go to Guest Relations, it’s helpful if you have the Walt Disney World app downloaded on your phone.  The cast member will ask a few questions, take a picture of the person needing access and enter information into the computer system and then program a button for the DAS in the app on your phone..  

Basically the way it works is that you go into the app and schedule a return time for a ride.  The return time is usually about an hour.  While you’re waiting,  you’re free to check out other rides that might not have a long wait or go shopping or get a snack etc…  When your time is up, you go to the ride and check in at the Lightning Lane.  There still may be a wait in the Lightning Lane queue but it’s a lot shorter than the standard queue.  And depending on the ride, you may be directed to a separate area within the queue to further accommodate your disabled party member.  Only one ride at a time can be scheduled in the app.  But, as soon as you check into a ride, you can immediately schedule another ride in the app.  The app will also tell you if a ride is temporarily down.  And it will also tell you how long the wait time for other rides is.  All of this information was very helpful in planning our day. 

EPCOT Highlights

Caitlin loves the thrill of amusement park rides, meeting people and being where all the action is and EPCOT delivers on all of this! 

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a great ride to get started with.  The line is usually shorter and it can be done while you’re waiting for a ride that you may have scheduled using the DAS.  There’s an aquarium, play area and gift shop that will keep you busy while you wait.

Mexico has to be one of our favorites in the World Showcase.  I just love the music, the colors and the upbeat energy.  The Grand Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros ride is really fun and accessible.

I read a review that the Biergarten restaurant in Germany was the best value in the park. With entertainment and an all you can eat buffet, I would have to agree! The hostess mentioned that you could go out on the dance floor if you wish. Caitlin did not forget about that and she was the first one down there when the music started playing!

There is an excellent film/Audio-Animotronics show at The American Adventure. The grand theater was a great place to take a break from all the walking. Prior to the show, there is an acapella singing group that performs in the domed lobby of the theater. We enjoyed it up close and personal!

Living with the Land is a leisurely and educational attraction that was fun for all in our party. There is usually a short wait and we rode it while waiting for Soarin Around the World that we had scheduled with DAS. For Soarin, you do have to transfer from your wheelchair but you can roll right up to the attraction seat and there is extra time to transfer and get situated.

What’s great about the Disability Access Service is that the return time is flexible meaning that you can arrive any time after your designated time. This was very helpful because there is so much to explore in the park. We spent a good amount of time strolling through all of the countries in the World Showcase without feeling rushed.

Two of our favorites rides are Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Test Track.

In Jan/Feb, EPCOT has the Festival of Arts and I captured some of the artwork on display.

Attraction Assistance Pass at Universal Island of Adventure

After logging nearly 20,000 steps at EPCOT my legs were a little tired heading into Universal Island of Adventure on Sunday!  It was all good though and we decided to go at a more leisurely pace (but we still ended up with 15,000+ steps for the day!)  

Before going to the park, I suggest you go to the Universal Orlando Resort  website to the Accessibility Information section.  This section contains extensive information on all accommodations in the park and at each ride.  I also recommend downloading the Guide for Rider Safety and Accessibility.  There is a ton of information in this guide.  The Attraction Assistance Pass is mentioned on page 3 of the guide.  There is very little information about it.  The only way to obtain the pass is by visiting Guest Services at the park.

Before going into the next section about the Attraction Assistance Pass I’ll start off by saying that I very much appreciate that both Disney and Universal go above and beyond what is required for accommodating their guests with disabilities. I can see that they have good intentions for making the theme park experience accessible and fun for everyone.  However, in comparison, there was a clear difference in how each park approached the disability pass that was hard to ignore! Getting the pass at Universal was definitely not as easy or as welcoming as it was at EPCOT. I hope I don’t sound like I’m complaining because I am grateful to both Universal and Disney for having this complimentary service available.  

Our first stop at Universal was Guest Services.  There was a well dressed employee by the name of Carlos standing at the front of the entrance.  He was friendly and asked what we needed help with.  I told him we were here to get information on disability access.   He replied that the park is very accessible and that we should go out in the park and give it a try and if we still had questions that there are other Guest Service locations in the park that could help.  I sensed that he was discouraging me from going into the building to inquire more.  I knew better than to leave because we had been to the park before and knew the access pass was available.  I told him we just went to EPCOT, mentioned the DAS pass and that we were looking to get the same type of pass.  He said they were a different park and had different processes and encouraged us again to go out in the park.  Not once did he mention that the Attraction Assistance Pass was similar to the DAS nor did he encourage us to go in and get it!  I asked him if the Express Pass was an option and he said yes but they were sold out for the day (and therefore, not really an option on that day)!

At this point I decided it was time to stop chatting with Carlos and go inside the building to talk with someone else.  The employee inside was very nice.  She asked us a few screening questions.  Just like Disney, not everyone qualifies just because they use a wheelchair or scooter.  The program is intended for those that are not able to tolerate the standard line queue because of their disability.  She gave us the pass and explained how to use it and we were on our way.    The lesson learned here is to bypass the “Carlos” barrier if at all possible!  

Basically, here’s how the Attraction Assistance Pass works.  Guest Services registers your party in the computer system and gives you a paper pass.  You take the paper pass to the ride attendant and they will give you a return time and sign the card.  The return time is usually half the time of the standard queue line.  So for example, if the wait were 120 minutes, they would give you a return time of 60 minutes. However, if the wait is less than 30 minutes then you have to go in the standard queue.   When it’s time for you to return, the attendant will scan your card, validate your card with their initials, then direct you to the Express Pass entrance.  There may still be a short wait and on some rides you may be directed to a more accessible area.  At Universal, because it is a manual system and not on an app, you have to physically go to the attraction to get the return time.  You can only have one unused return time at a time on the card.  Overall, it worked out great!  We were able to schedule about one ride per hour and while waiting, we enjoyed attractions with lesser wait times, shopping, snacks etc…  

Universal Island of Adventure Highlights

I think the best thing about Universal Island of Adventure is how distinctly different each district of the park is.  You’re immersed in totally different worlds when wandering from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Jurassic Park to Seuss Landing and more! All your senses are awakened as the sights, sounds and smells all contribute to the theme of each area.

Every inch of Seuss Landing is colorful and bright and silly! Even though it’s geared toward younger kids, there were plenty of big kids like ourselves that were having a blast!

As you enter The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the snow-covered buildings are so realistic that you wished you would have brought your winter coat! It was by far the most popular and crowded part of the park. We checked in to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction with the Attraction Assistance Pass. With about 45 minutes to wait, we watched an entertaining musical performance that helped to pass the time. The Forbidden Journey attraction has a private queue for people with disabilities. You take a long walk thru the building, up and down a couple of elevators to get there. In the area, the ride seats are completely stopped and you can take your time getting situated. There was nobody else waiting and the attendant offered for us to ride multiple times if we wanted to. My husband, son and brother-in-law went first. About 5 minutes later they returned. Then my husband and son stayed on for a second turn while Caitlin and I got on for our first ride. When the ride was over, the attendant said we could ride again if we wanted because there was no one waiting and they didn’t like to send empty cars out. We passed on the offer because once and twice on the twisting-turning-upside-down ride was definitely enough for all of us!

Walking thru Toon Lagoon was a blast from the past. There were cafes and shops themed around some of the popular comics from back in the day: Beetle Bailey, Blondie, Cathy and Heathcliff to name a few.

A must do in my book is The Amazing Adventures of Superman ride in the Marvel Super Hero Island part of the park. The graphics and storyline are … well … Amazing!

Rider Switch at Disney or Child Swap at Universal

Another service to consider when traveling with a loved one with a disability is the Rider Switch at Disney or Child Swap at Universal. Basically the way it works is that if the child is not able to go on the ride, one parent can wait with the non-riding child while the other one rides and when they return, the other parent can then have a turn without having to wait in line again.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Direct flight from Flint, MI to Sanford, FL.  Black Hammock Airboat Tour and Lunch.  Check In/Rest at Holiday Inn Express on Major Dr.  Dinner was Chinese Food carryout at the hotel.

Day 2 – Breakfast at Hotel, EPCOT Theme Park, Lunch was snacks around EPCOT, Dinner at Biergarten in Germany

Day 3 – Breakfast at Hotel, Universal Island of Adventure, Snacks around the park and late Lunch at The Burger Digs in the park, Late dinner was McDonalds carry-out back at the hotel

Day 4 – Travel back to Michigan. Monday we had a midday flight back to Michigan which did not leave us enough time to do any more activities.  This was ok though because sometimes I don’t mind getting home early to unwind before returning to work and school the next day.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope these tips were helpful!

Many times in my caregiving journey I’ve felt I haven’t spent enough time with our son Matt, Caitlin’s older brother.  Managing the many special needs of Caitlin takes a lot of time and sometimes leaves me feeling like I’ve not given Matt as much attention or quality time as I should.  So I was ecstatic when he and I had a unique opportunity to travel on a short trip together!

In December of 2021, Matt and I traveled to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia.  Matt is a college student and avid sports fan, with football being one of his favorite sports.  He was thrilled when I asked if he wanted to go and immediately said yes!  This was the best time to make this trip since the Michigan State Spartans were playing and my nephew was going to be performing with the marching band!  We were so happy for him and couldn’t wait to watch him perform!  My sister and her family were also going and we looked forward to spending time with them too.

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is one of the six elite college football playoff games in the United States.  Dedicated college football fans flock to the annual event to watch two of the nation’s top teams challenge each other.  With a ton of pre-game events and activities it’s sure to be a supercharged time.  Downtown Atlanta has a lot to offer so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.      

On Wednesday, Matt and I boarded an early morning direct flight on Spirit airlines from Detroit to Atlanta.  Once in Atlanta, we hopped on the Marta public train system from the airport to our hotel.  It was about a 25 minute train ride to the Peachtree Center station and then from there it was about a 10 minute walk to the Holiday Inn Express on Cone street.  We checked in and had a couple of hours to relax and unpack before we needed to leave to catch the band’s first performance. 

The band was scheduled to perform in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis hotel at 5pm.  We headed out for an early dinner but didn’t quite beat the crowd.  A lot of restaurants and bars were already busy with tourists and football fans.  We went a little off the beaten path and found a small Mexican restaurant called Taqueria on Broad.  It was counter service, had no wait and plenty of open seats…perfect!  Matt had a burrito and I had the chicken nachos, both were delicious and filling. 

The Marriott was a nice 15 minute walk from the restaurant.  We arrived a little past 5pm and the band was starting to play as we rode up the escalator to the mezzanine level of the lobby.  Spartan fans and other travelers were energized as they watched and listened from all levels of the hotel.  The booms of drums and blares of horns echoed from the bottom to to the top floors.  Whether you were a Michigan State Spartan fan or not, you couldn’t help but feel pumped up!  We inched our way to the front of the crowd and managed to get close enough for a picture of my nephew.  The band was on a tight schedule so there was little time to visit with him. It was a great performance!

There was plenty of daylight left and we decided to take a walk through Olympic Park.  The park was busy with tourists and football fans enjoying a beautiful evening in the city.  We walked past  the aquarium and paused for a picture in front of the Olympic rings.  Hard to believe that the Olympics took place there in 1996 and Matt wasn’t even born yet!  Wow, that was a long time ago!  The grounds around Coca-Cola World were decorated for the holidays, all red and white lights of course!  We turned in a little early because we already had a long day of travel and activity.  The next day was going to be super busy and we needed to get some rest. 

Thursday we planned on going to the Peachbowl parade to watch the band but it was cancelled due to rainy weather.  So instead, we went to Coca-Cola World earlier than planned.  Seems as if everyone else had the same idea because the place was packed!  They were restricting the number of people entering the exhibits probably due to the large number of people visiting (in addition to Covid protocols I assumed) which meant that we had to wait in line.  We just went with the flow and still enjoyed the visit despite the heavy crowds.  Matt and I had a good time learning the history and discovering fun facts of this iconic global enterprise.   Here are some highlights from the visit.

Next, we went to the Georgia World Congress convention center for the Chick-fil-A Fanfest to watch the band perform again.  Both the MSU and Pitt bands were in full dress uniform for this Pep Rally performance.  We came ready to cheer with our Spartan signs in each hand!   The bands took turns performing and pumping up their fans.  It was a fun battle of the bands!  There’s a lot to take in at the FanFest.  There were bouncy houses, cornhole games, artists, food and drink vendors, and many other displays to enjoy if you wish.  

We had some time before the start of the game so we stopped at The Food Shoppe for carry out and brought it back to the hotel to eat.  I had read a lot of good Google reviews and was so glad we had the chance to try this Creole style cafe.  It’s a tiny little place so there’s not much room to sit.  The Walk and Eat Bowls are their specialty.  The large size portions are pretty big and I’m glad we had a fridge in the room to keep the leftovers.  I got the Shrimp and Grits and Matt got the Voodoo Jambalaya.  We also got an order of their signature dessert, Angie’s Bread Pudding.  It was all so delicious!

This brings us to Thursday night and finally, game time!  The game took place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  It’s within walking distance to the hotel, just like all the other spots we’ve visited during this trip (the Holiday Inn Express is very centrally located)  It was easy to find because all we had to do was follow the huge crowds heading in the same direction!  Ends up there were about 41,000 people in attendance at the game.  We had good seats for the price.  Excellent view of the whole field which was perfect for capturing the marching band formations.  Their performance was so awesome!  The football  game was really exciting.  MSU had a great 4th quarter and pulled off the win in the end.  We weren’t in a rush to get back to the hotel so we stayed thru most of the trophy presentation to avoid the crowds.

On Friday, it was time to go home and we had a 6am flight back to Detroit.  I knew it was going to be a little rough to wake up for this flight but it was the cheapest and best available to get back in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home.  The Marta trains don’t run that early in the morning and I wasn’t confident in navigating the bus system so we pre-arranged for an Uber and it worked out great.  I think we only got about 3 hours of sleep and we were exhausted!  But we slept on the plane, got home early enough to catch up on more sleep before bringing in the new year!

Here’s an outline of our itinerary:

Day 1 – Travel from Detroit to Atlanta, check-in/relax at Holiday Inn Express downtown, Dinner at Taqueria on Broad, Band performance at Marriott Marquis, walking tour of Olympic Park

Day 2 – Coca-Cola World, Chick-FilA Fanfest,  Dinner at The Food Shoppe, Chick-Fi-A Peachbowl game

Day 3 – Travel back to Detroit, Happy New Year at home!

That was a short, whirlwind of a trip!  But so worth it to have spent the time making wonderful memories with my son Matt!