The events in this story occurred during our May 2003 trip to Walt Disney World.
We arrived at the Brown Derby in what was then known as Disney MGM Studios (now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios) at 7:15 and check-in with the host. We're a little early for our 7:30 Fantasmic Dinner Package Advance Dining Reservation (ADR). For those that don't know Fantasmic is a fireworks/laser-light/stage show spectacular that takes place in a huge amphitheater. People that make arrangements for the dinner package are seated in a section of the amphitheater reserved especially for them. We're hopeful of getting seated early. It doesn't turn out that way. In fact we're seated ten minutes after our ADR at 7:40. This leaves only 50 minutes for dinner before we're supposed to be gathered to be seated for Fantasmic, but it should be enough time.
My wife Janice and I share a Cob Salad which is absolutely delicious. For our entrees Janice had the half rotisserie chicken, Robby, our son, had the children’s hot-dog, and I had the filet mignon. Our entrees were delicious as well. I tasted Janice’s chicken and it was magnificent. The spices and marinade made it a wonderful experience for the tongue. As much as I enjoyed my steak I regretted not getting the chicken.
By now it’s about 8:25 and our waitress asks us if we’d like desert. I say I’d love desert, but do we have time for it? As the words came out of my mouth her face looked like a deer in the head lights. She asked if this dinner was part of a Fantasmic package, and I said yes. I made the PS a month ago, and if I’m not mistaken we should be meeting soon for seating in the reserved section. She excuses herself and says she’ll be right back. She’s gone for maybe a minute and comes back with our passes and says we have time for desert and that she’ll have someone escort us up to Fantasmic. With this settled Janice and I each order coffee and Robby and I each order desert. Robby gets the Hidden Treasures and I get the Grapefruit cake. The Grapefruit cake is good, and I’m glad that I tried it, but I won’t be ordering it again. There’s nothing wrong with it, and like I said, it’s good. It’s just not something I would want again.
We finish desert, pay the check and we’re escorted to the show. As we’re walking I can hear the show starting. I’m glad I made the PS and we’ll have seats. As we’re being brought to our seats I’m sensing that something is wrong, because I remembered reading on allears.net that the people that sit in the dinner package section get out of the theater first, and we’re headed toward the other side of the theater. I’m OK with this just so long as we get to sit down in a decent spot. No such luck. We were brought to Standing Room Only. SRO wasn’t crowded and we were right up against the railing, but this is not why I paid a premium for dinner. The Fantasmic Dinner package cost me about $40.00 more than I would have paid if we only had dinner. Needless to say I was fuming. Those of you that know me know that I am not the type of person to take this. I have made more than my share of scenes and I don’t think twice about doing it when I feel I’m being wronged. I tell Janice that I’ll be right back and I asked a CM to take me to someone in charge, which she does. I speak to a gentleman that says he’ll find me 3 seats. I tell him that Robby is in a wheel chair and he says he can’t help me then. There’s nothing available in the handicapped section. I tell him that I need to be compensated in some way then. He tells me that I have to discuss that with Guest Services. I ask where that is and he tells me it’s on the right as you’re leaving the park.
I go back to Janice and Robby and watch the rest of the show. We deal with the mob scene leaving the theater and make our way to guest services. Janice wants to wait outside with Robby, but I tell her that I want them to see him in the wheelchair and then she can take him back outside. I wait for a short time when I’m waived to come to the desk. I speak with a CM named Sara Jane. I explain what happened and how unfair I thought this was. I point out how Robby is in a wheelchair because he’s got leukemia and tires very easily. She asked if we were going to be back at Disney MGM Studios during the rest of our visit. I say yes but not during the evening, thinking that she’s going to offer us seating in the reserved section of the theater to watch Fantasmic from there. She excuses herself and says she’ll be right back. When she comes back she has a Guest Assistance Card (a card issued to parties that have a handicapped person with them) in her hand and I pull out the one that I’ve already got. She asks to see it and explains the one that she’s giving to us is stamped in green and that these passes are given to the kids that visit through Make A Wish. She said that this Guest Assistance Card with the green stamp is the equivalent of aFast Pass
It turns out that Sara Jane is a childhood leukemia survivor. She knew as soon as I said that Robby was fighting leukemia that she was going to give us the green card, and that if we were going to be around for Fantasmic again we’d sit in the reserved section.
We got to talking with Sara Jane and asked about which type of leukemia she had and what medications she was on. We learned that she was 24 years old and that because of her treatments she’s suffered 3 strokes. Strokes are a potential side effect of leukemia treatment. She is a remarkable young lady. She’s even testified before Congress on behalf of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You want to talk about magic! Sara Jane turned an evening that was ending on a down note into a vacation that won’t soon be forgotten. For the rest of our trip we didn't wait on line for any of the attractions.
By now it’s about 8:25 and our waitress asks us if we’d like desert. I say I’d love desert, but do we have time for it? As the words came out of my mouth her face looked like a deer in the head lights. She asked if this dinner was part of a Fantasmic package, and I said yes. I made the PS a month ago, and if I’m not mistaken we should be meeting soon for seating in the reserved section. She excuses herself and says she’ll be right back. She’s gone for maybe a minute and comes back with our passes and says we have time for desert and that she’ll have someone escort us up to Fantasmic. With this settled Janice and I each order coffee and Robby and I each order desert. Robby gets the Hidden Treasures and I get the Grapefruit cake. The Grapefruit cake is good, and I’m glad that I tried it, but I won’t be ordering it again. There’s nothing wrong with it, and like I said, it’s good. It’s just not something I would want again.
We finish desert, pay the check and we’re escorted to the show. As we’re walking I can hear the show starting. I’m glad I made the PS and we’ll have seats. As we’re being brought to our seats I’m sensing that something is wrong, because I remembered reading on allears.net that the people that sit in the dinner package section get out of the theater first, and we’re headed toward the other side of the theater. I’m OK with this just so long as we get to sit down in a decent spot. No such luck. We were brought to Standing Room Only. SRO wasn’t crowded and we were right up against the railing, but this is not why I paid a premium for dinner. The Fantasmic Dinner package cost me about $40.00 more than I would have paid if we only had dinner. Needless to say I was fuming. Those of you that know me know that I am not the type of person to take this. I have made more than my share of scenes and I don’t think twice about doing it when I feel I’m being wronged. I tell Janice that I’ll be right back and I asked a CM to take me to someone in charge, which she does. I speak to a gentleman that says he’ll find me 3 seats. I tell him that Robby is in a wheel chair and he says he can’t help me then. There’s nothing available in the handicapped section. I tell him that I need to be compensated in some way then. He tells me that I have to discuss that with Guest Services. I ask where that is and he tells me it’s on the right as you’re leaving the park.
I go back to Janice and Robby and watch the rest of the show. We deal with the mob scene leaving the theater and make our way to guest services. Janice wants to wait outside with Robby, but I tell her that I want them to see him in the wheelchair and then she can take him back outside. I wait for a short time when I’m waived to come to the desk. I speak with a CM named Sara Jane. I explain what happened and how unfair I thought this was. I point out how Robby is in a wheelchair because he’s got leukemia and tires very easily. She asked if we were going to be back at Disney MGM Studios during the rest of our visit. I say yes but not during the evening, thinking that she’s going to offer us seating in the reserved section of the theater to watch Fantasmic from there. She excuses herself and says she’ll be right back. When she comes back she has a Guest Assistance Card (a card issued to parties that have a handicapped person with them) in her hand and I pull out the one that I’ve already got. She asks to see it and explains the one that she’s giving to us is stamped in green and that these passes are given to the kids that visit through Make A Wish. She said that this Guest Assistance Card with the green stamp is the equivalent of a
It turns out that Sara Jane is a childhood leukemia survivor. She knew as soon as I said that Robby was fighting leukemia that she was going to give us the green card, and that if we were going to be around for Fantasmic again we’d sit in the reserved section.
We got to talking with Sara Jane and asked about which type of leukemia she had and what medications she was on. We learned that she was 24 years old and that because of her treatments she’s suffered 3 strokes. Strokes are a potential side effect of leukemia treatment. She is a remarkable young lady. She’s even testified before Congress on behalf of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You want to talk about magic! Sara Jane turned an evening that was ending on a down note into a vacation that won’t soon be forgotten. For the rest of our trip we didn't wait on line for any of the attractions.
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