Summary: Everything you need to know about vacationing at Walt Disney World with Insulin-dependent Diabetes! Hello and Welcome! A very Happy and Healthy New Year to you! The podcast went on a bit of an unplanned hiatus during the holidays, but I’m back now with plans for lots of exciting topics in the New Year. Today we’ll be talking with my friend, Robyn Adams about vacationing at the WDW Resort with Type 1, that’s insulin-dependent, diabetes. But before we jump into that discussion, I’d like to give a shout-out to several members of the Special Mouse Podcast community who will be participating in next weekend’s WDW Marathon events: Best of luck to Kerry Kingdon and Michael Greer who will be “rolling with the magic,” looking to earn some of that coveted runDisney bling. They’ve both promised to appear on the show later this month to give us first-hand accounts of their experiences. If you’re new to the show, please visit our home base at specialmouse.com for contact information as well as our community blog. And if you have a question or a suggestion for a future show topic, please drop me a line at specialmousepodcast@gmail.com. Walt Disney always said, “We keep moving forward,” so here we go! ____________________________________________________________________________________ Tip of the Week: This week’s tip concerns making a wheelchair-accessible reservation at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review. Hoop-Dee-Doo is a vaudeville-style dinner show and all-you-care-to-eat dinner at Pioneer Hall in Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. A member of our private Facebook discussion group asks: “I am wondering if anyone can help me figure this out.We would like to make an ADR (advance dining reservation) at the Hoop De Doo Musical Revue. We will be on the dining plan and our daughter is in a wheelchair. I understand that there are 3 different seating sections, with tiered pricing. I also know that there are 3 different show times. (That is correct!) I’ve read that only section 1 is wheelchair accessible, but that only sections 2 & 3 are accepted on the dining plan, for the 1st & 2nd show times and that Show #3 – the latest show time - opens all 3 sections to dining plan participants. My question is, does anyone have experience making an ADR on the dining plan, for an earlier seating, for a party with a wheelchair? If we have to sit in Section 2 on the DDP, but have to sit in Section 1 if we have a wheelchair, what do we do? Thanks in advance, etc.” Well, that certainly does sound confusing! Luckily, several group members who have had experience making this kind of dining reservation were able to jump in and answer this question for our listener! According to Hoop-Dee-Doo’s ticketing office there is seating on the last row of the main floor (Section One) that is accessible for wheelchairs and, when booked as such, is considered category 2. Thus, it meets the requirements of the Disney Dining Plan AND Accessibility laws at no additional cost to the diner. Some guests have even reported they had this policy waived and once they checked in were shown to tables closer to the stage. Naturally, this would depend upon availability. Many thanks to Tracy, Sue, Dede and Rae for their valuable input! Now, bring on the strawberry shortcake! _________________________________________________________________________________ Feature Interview: Walt Disney World with Type 1 Diabetes: Some of the topics we discussed are: The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. The role of insulin in the body's metabolism. Need to balance FOOD/ACTIVITY/INSULIN while on your Disney Vacation. Pre-trip planning tips for people with diabetes. Diabetic packing tips (SEE BELOW) How an insulin pump works. Air travel and thrill ride concerns with an insulin pump. Importance of more frequent blood sugar testing. Utilizing First Aid Stations
