Walt Disney World: Epcot - Coral Reef Restaurant

Date of Visit: January 16, 2020

We decided to try the Coral Reef Restaurant this trip as we'd thought the aquarium aspect would be fun, especially since the five-year-old loves aquariums. It also appealed to us that it wasn't a fixed priced like the character dining and we could eat only some courses if we preferred instead of feeling like we have to get the most for our money and making sure we're hungry enough for all the courses at the fixed priced dining.

We were immediately disappointed in the restaurant as they tried to sit us at two separate tables. Not only did we want to eat all together, but the way the tables are was difficult and crowded for the wheelchair.

Luckily, when we asked if we could sit more all together at the booths they were fine with that. That at least allowed Mik to roll up to the table more comfortable. However, it was two rather large tables that we still basically ended up feeling like we were dining as two entirely separate groups rather than as one.

The main disappointing thing, though, was the restaurant has a stepped tier design and the only accessible seating is in the back area farthest from the aquarium. Thus, we really couldn't enjoy the whole point of the restaurant, especially Mik as he ended up with his back to the aquarium, although that was our choice and probably the reason they didn't try to seat our group with a wheelchair where we decided to sit. Honestly, though, the view did seem better from the booths than the initial tables they tried to seat us at as we were farther from the wave wall and could somewhat see over it. Really though if that wave wall was just more level with the tables or a clear barrier if they want it higher for safety reasons, then it would have been better.

Overall we did enjoy the food, but there is so much different cuisines to enjoy at Epcot that it seemed a waste in the end since we didn't end up with an aquarium view experience as part of the dining as we had expected. The fact that the restaurant was very empty did make it a nice relaxing break in our day, though.

Destination Info:
Coral Reef Restaurant
Epcot
Lake Buena Vista, FL

Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village Accessible 2-Bedroom Villa

Date of Visit: January 11-18, 2020


This was out third time staying at Kidani for our family trip, but it was out first time getting a 2-Bedroom rather than a lock off. For the most part it is the same, however, there is some key differences that make it a little better and a little worse.

The kitchen and living room area is the same.

The bathroom when you first come in is also the same in that it is not really accessible, although it sort of has a roll under sink.

The master bedroom sleeping area is also the same.

The bathroom, however, was unexpectedly not accessible as we have never encountered an accessible room that didn't at least have the master bath as accessible. For us, it didn't matter and was definitely preferable to if it had been the only accessible bathroom, but also kind of disappointing to not have the flexibility and a big reason why a dedicated 2-bedroom is second from the bottom of our list of choices for our family vacation.

The other bedroom has two beds. This means less floor space for Mik as we're used to a studio and not needing the sofa as a bed so he ends up with plenty of floor space. As Dad joined us this year, it was nice to each have a bed and we were able to rearrange the suitcase bench to be by the desk and sort of give Mik his own area to the left of the television.

The bathroom for the second bedroom was the only truly accessible one as the toilet area had room for a wheelchair to roll up next to and grab bars.

The roll in shower was good for both regular and accessible use. However, I found it disappointing that the decor wasn't Lion King or as fun decor as the other two bathrooms.

Just like on the cruise, we are a fan of the change to larger toiletries even though that means we don't end up with toiletries for home anymore. However, sadly they didn't have it for the lotion. There still was a little bottle. It'd be nice if there was also a dispenser size for that, too, and not have to worry about running out of any of the toiletries, which we did use to have to worry about for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash since they don't restock except sometimes on the cleaning day in the middle of the weeklong stay with DVC.

The verandah and savannah view is the main thing we enjoy about Animal Kingdom Lodge, although we didn't spend as much time out here this year as we have on past trips. Having one large verandah instead of two separate ones when in the lock off was one difference that was better. However, we felt like we had less chairs, although I think we've felt that way for the verandahs at all the resorts we've stayed at on our family trip.

Overall we prefer the lock-off style 2 bedroom at Kidani, but still works for our family trip and definitely was the right choice for this particular year. In particular, Mik prefers the extra floor space we end up with in the studio area of the lock off. However, our overall favorite for the family trip is the 2-bedrooms at Boulder Ridge.

Destination Info:
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
3701 Osceola Parkway
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Walt Disney World: Hollywood Studios - Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run

Date of Visit: January 15, 2020

Mik and I initially didn't go on Smuggler's Run as we weren't sure if it was too much of a thrill ride for us. Later in the trip, after the rest of the group was able to assure us it was worth trying, we decided try it.

Mik wasn't much into the queue, but only because it was right after we had done Rise of the Resistance and had been in the park over 9 hours. Later he realized it was the kind of experience we always feel like we miss when we do Star Tours because the wheelchair access for that ride skips the regular queue entirely and only gives a brief look down at it.

When you get to the front of the line, you are given cards with your role (pilot, gunner, or engineer). As there are only six per vehicle, our group had to split to two groups (5 and 2 paired with others).

We then waited for our color group to be called for our mission. This is interesting designed waiting area and as we had to wait about 15 minutes for the one spacecraft that is easier for transferring, we had plenty of time for playing/photos.

The ride is a simulator pod. I assume the middle aisle is smaller on the other pods and the reason we had to wait it that this one has a wider middle aisle to roll into and transfer to the ride. It is a very easy transfer as the seats don't have armrest to even have to move, although that then means there is on armrest. Again, after our Jimmy Fallon simulator experience we just don't see how this simulator couldn't have been designed as a non-transfer ride, especially considering the Rise of the Resistance has a simulator part that you can freely roam on.

The actual ride experience of a mission and working together is interesting and I actually enjoyed this Star Wars attraction. I was one of the engineers and had to press whatever buttons lit up. Mik was one of the gunners, which we actually did some trading of role cards for him as those that had been on before explained it was the easiest (at least if done on auto). He probably could have done engineer also, but it would have been harder for him to reach everything and enjoy the view part of the ride. He wouldn't mind doing either gunner or engineer now that's he's been on it, but he doesn't want to even try pilot as it seems hard to reach the controls as our dad had to reach over to push one button when needed for the five-year-old.

And the best part of the attraction, the elevator at the end. Not really as we actually enjoyed this attraction, but different themed elevators have been a favorite thing for us to discover ever since Mik was little and we used the ones to access the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. One of these days maybe we'll actually put together our list of favorites in order that we keep meaning to do.

Overall we really did enjoy the ride as it was like simulator game. In particular, it was amusing how our pilots (our dad and the five-year-old) ended up calling each other bad pilots and we were all yelling at our dad when the button needed to be pushed. While we really feel you could still have been a very fun non-transfer ride experience without the movement if they had done something like how the movement can be turned on or off for Winnie the Pooh, this is one of the very few transfer rides I can see us doing on the WDW trips Mik and I do on our own.

Destination Info:
Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
Hollywood Studios
Lake Buena Vista, FL

Walt Disney World: Hollywood Studios - Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Date of Visit: January 15, 2020

Experiencing everything in Galaxy's Edge was the main priority for Mik and pretty much our whole group except me for this year's family trip. We picked Wednesday as the easiest day for us to get to the park when it opened and have a chance at a boarding pass to get on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. We did barely manage to get us all in the park a few minutes after park officially opened around 7am and ended up with a number that starting "boarding" around 2:15pm.

While I'm totally not into Star Wars and especially the too realness of interactions that happen in the new land, I do like this new concept for handling the line for a new attraction. The only issue with it was that we only had one chance to make it work this trip, which meant we had to just all go if we were going to do it instead of most going on Smuggler's Run first and then being able to give a real idea about if it was worth it to transfer Mik (or for us non-thrill people).

The first part of the attraction is going into a room as a large group and a hologram recruiting you for the resistance. Or maybe you're volunteering to join. I don't know Star Wars obviously and I honestly wasn't paying much attention to anything except trying to not get hit in the head again by Dad taking pictures.

Next you board a transport. This is a simulator type thing, but you can stand wherever you find a spot. There is a screen in front and back, but Dad ended up positioning Mik in the middle facing forward where people blocked the view. Thus, Mik found it an extremely annoying experience. It was like taking a metro ride in the middle of the "line" for an attraction rather than actually being a part of an attraction. Basically, it seems you had to know that you should try to get a place to actually experience this part and not be the stragglers loading last...

The transport gets captured or something and you become prisoners, I think.

I think this where we get lined up for processing as prisoners or something and then we get help from the Resistance and freed? Seriously, I'm clearly not the one that should be trying to explain this experience!

Now finally you get on the actual ride. Not sure if thee side of front row always opens that wide or if they made that happen to make the transfer easier, but it was a relatively easy transfer. Also, the way this ride is trackless seems to help allow for to you really take your time loading if needed.

I might not have understood the attraction of the ride, but Mik enjoyed the experience as did the rest of our group that was as much if not more into Star Wars as him.

Certainly not an attraction I would care to do again, especially without someone else transferring Mik, but I will admit that the attraction was impressive. As it really wasn't that much of a thrill ride, though, we would do again if the rest of the family wanted to on a future trip.

Basically, the only part that was a thrill was the drop at the end, which apparently Mik wasn't prepared for (to me it was obvious we were entering an "elevator") because he grabbed my arm and didn't even realize he had when I asked for my arm back when we were pulling up to the unloading area.

The end of the ride was a little confusing as the wheelchair wasn't there and they kept asking us to get out. You unload in a different spot so clearly the wheelchair has to be moved and it appears they did do that as it didn't take them long to grab it once they realized we needed it. Apparently, they are supposed to mark the vehicle or something when loading, though, so they know to bring it when you arrive to unload.

Destination Info:
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Hollywood Studios
Lake Buena Vista, FL

Legacy Vacation Club Kissimmee/Orlando: One Bedroom

Date of Visit: January 9-11, 2020

We ended up staying here as a way to use Dad's RCI points, which always are a pain to figure out how to use and even this use we weren't so sure was going to end up working. One problem was that the minimum stay for most of the Orlando area places was too long for this trip, but the bigger issue was that you can't book and know you're getting an accessible room. As we weren't really staying at the place long, this wasn't an absolute must except the two options we had to book didn't have elevators and all they allowed was calling two weeks after booking to put in a request for wheelchair accessible that wasn't actually a guarantee.

In the end, it worked out fine as the first floor request was honored and appeared to actually be handled as a guarantee. However, we found out that requesting a wheelchair accessible unit just means they put you on the first floor and not the ADA unit, which they only have one. Turned out that room had been assigned to a reservation that didn't need it and they actually did move reservations around and we did get it (and cleaning fee waived as it took so long to check in because of this), but would have preferred if they could just guarantee it when you book and not just get lucky we asked the right question when checking in and it happening to not actually be assigned by someone who needed it, especially as I could see that easily turning in to having kicked someone wrongly out of it.

The kitchen had an open layout.

The table was a bench style. I think it worked with Mik's chair at the end, but we didn't really have the need to use it with him.

Mik enjoyed the living room area and the hardwood throughout. For us, it worked, but really wonder how it would work if you actually needed to fold out the couch as there really isn't that much extra space for that table to go. Overall the living room area isn't really accessible with the amount of space the furniture takes up.

The bedroom had a good amount of space, though.

The bathroom worked for us, though it wouldn't really be what I'd expect to qualify as ADA. The cabinet could be moved if needed, which may allow enough room for a wheelchair to roll up next to toilet for transferring. The toilet paper roll being a moveable thing on the floor ended up quite annoying.

I liked the size of the roll in shower, though as often happens it does flood the bathroom. There also wasn't any seat, although that isn't an issue for us as Mik prefers to sit on the floor anyways. It is also awkward that the shelf in the shower is up quite high.

Overall it was a good place to stay a few nights while we went to Universal Studios before our week at Walt Disney World. Just not sure it's worth the risk of booking something like this again when it's not that hard or expensive to get a guaranteed accessible room at a hotel instead.

Destination Info:
Legacy Vacation Club Kissimmee/Orlando
2800 N Poinciana Blvd
Kissimmee, FL 34746

Universal Studios Florida: Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon

Date of Visit: January 10, 2020

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon was not initially on our list to do, but as it was only early afternoon when we finished our must dos (Suess Landing and Wizard World) we started going through the list I had starred of the non-transfer attractions. This one piqued our interest in that we couldn't understand how it was a simulator ride while still being non-transfer. Basically, we figured there must be a stationary way to experience it, which ended up being the case for the Minions. Instead, it turned out to be the most impressive accessible ride experience we've ever seen.

When you enter the building for this attraction, they asked if Mik could transfer or not. They kind of tried to convince us to transfer as the wait would be longer, which we not only experienced throughout most of Universal Studios but also increasingly experienced at Walt Disney World this trip. Once we told them we preferred it to take longer to get on the ride than have to transfer, the experience with the person called to escort us and do the attraction was great.

We learned that the normal loading process is you get assigned to a group and get to free roam through a museum area until it's your turn to go. This is a fun line concept and we were told we could come back later and just do the museum area if we wanted. We didn't get around to doing that as Mik got tired and that was the one thing Mik wish we had done at Universal.

The escort took us to a room where the chair is loaded onto a platform and secured. The ride preshow is also shown in here before loading.

Then the platform is wheeled to be loaded into the attraction.

Seats are removed from the middle of the back row and the wheelchair platform is loaded into the theater.

Overall this was a surprisingly fun motion simulator ride and they've actually figured out how to make a thrill ride that doesn't require a transfer. It was also interesting to get to be in the back row as the main simulator ride we do is Star Tours and I've never experienced it from anywhere except the front. Ever since Star Tours went 3D, I haven't liked it because it doesn't look right with my glasses, but I had no problem with the Jimmy Fallon 3D and wonder if that has to do with being further from screen (tried to ride Star Tours once without Mik later that week, but, of course, still randomly ended up in the first row).

Destination Info:
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
Universal Studios Florida
6000 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819

Universal Studios Florida: Diagon Alley

Date of Visit: January 10, 2020

Diagon Alley turned out to the complete opposite of Hogsmeade. While it also only has transfer only thrill rides, the area was much more open allowing us to actually navigate and enjoy it.

Finding Diagon Alley was slightly confusing, but amusing once we noticed you just wander through the passages in the buildings to find Diagon Alley hidden in London just as it should be.

We were happy to immediately find Sugarplum's Sweet Shop, which doesn't have as big of a selection as Honeydukes in Hogsmeade, but did have the Fudge Flies Mik wanted and, of course, Chocolate Frogs I wanted along with several other sweets such as Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. The shop was also much smaller, but the layout was more open and thus easy to navigate, especially since there was no one else shopping in there when we visited.

We didn't wander into any of the other shops, but we did enjoy walking around Diagon Alley with it's much wider areas than Hogsmeade.

We did visit the Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, which is just a queue for the ice cream making it an easy go in one door and out the other after paying experience.

Mik enjoyed the Toffee Apple flavor.

I had the Butterbeer flavor.

Our wandering included ending up in Knockturn Alley.

Overall we really enjoyed the Wizarding World experiences of London and Diagon Alley, especially after the disappointment of Hogsmeade.

Destination Info:
Diagon Alley
Universal Studios Florida
6000 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819