AAA Traveler - Spring 2020 - 19

YOUR STORY

2018. The two began working together in April 2019 for the
family's November 2019 trip. The timing was fortuitous since
Kos had just returned from a Disney familiarization tour that
taught her the ins and outs of the parks.
Carol had intended the trip to be a gift for Evy; her son, Lee;
and her daughter-in-law, Jean Folger. However, the trio insisted
Carol join the trip, too. "I didn't want to go to Disney World!
But they said, 'If you don't go, we're not going,'" Carol says.

HITTING THE PARKS
She didn't think she would enjoy it, but went along. Since
they are all Star Wars fans, the family's priority was seeing
the new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood
Studios. When planning the trip, that section of the park
hadn't even opened. Both Kos and Carol knew the new land
would be popular, which could also mean long wait times for
the rides. Kos checked in regularly with Disney
representatives to see if they would take ride reservations thus
ensuring the family could experience all they hoped to. "I
was calling time and again," Kos says. Ultimately, Disney
World didn't launch the ride reservation system, as
Disneyland had done, so the Leibfarths weren't able to book
ride times. However, since the passes Carol booked as a AAA
Member came with early park entry, the family was able to
jump on the rides before the masses of Disney visitors.
They visited Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge the first day. Carol
enjoyed riding the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, an
interactive smuggling mission ride, but what surprised her
most was how much she enjoyed the entire trip.
Carol had planned only to go to the park the first day.
"The next day, I would tell the kids I was too tired, and I was
going to read. I was really looking forward to it!" the avid
reader says. However, Carol visited all the parks (Hollywood
Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal
Kingdom) with her family. They were out until
midnight each day. "I didn't think that I
would enjoy it. But I can tell you, Disney is
not just for kids," she says. "I did most of the
rides, except the roller coasters."
Beyond the Star Wars land, she also

enjoyed Pandora - The World of Avatar and the Avatar
Flight of Passage ride. She gleefully recalls riding "It's a Small
World," lunch at Animal Kingdom, a food and wine festival
at Epcot and a fireworks display. "I can't tell you which I
liked best. It was a fantastic experience," she says.

CREATING MEMORIES
"All of us have some happy memories together from the
week. It was my granddaughter's first amusement park, so I
hope she'll remember it for the rest of her life."
Creating those memories had special significance for travel
agent Kos, who remembers her grandmother traveling with
her family to soccer tournaments. "My grandmother passed
away while I was in college. Working with Carol brought
back memories for me. I wanted to make this a great trip for
her and her granddaughter. Family matters a lot," Kos says. "I
didn't approach the trip differently given that I was planning
for a multi-generational family. I just took to heart this client
and this trip."

NEXT LEVEL SERVICE
The trip's only challenges involved mobility assistance.
Carol wears a leg brace and has difficulties walking. Most of
those who need mobility assistance at Disney World use
rented scooters. The family opted for a rented wheelchair
instead. "They made a big joke of pushing me around! I
couldn't have handled it without wheelchair," Carol says. She
was pleased with the Disney World Resort staff, all of whom
went out of their way to help her, including ensuring she was
seated on shuttle buses first. When they found the Port
Orleans Resort room where Carol was staying was less than
accessible, Disney staff cheerfully moved her into handicap
accessible room. "I can't say enough about how kind and
courteous people were," she says.
Carol says she enjoyed working with a AAA Travel
Agent to overcome the unfamiliarity of visiting a place
she'd never been. She felt reassured knowing where to
go in advance, having park passes in hand and a
pre-booked dining package. "I would certainly
recommend them," she says.

Take the guesswork out of your family vacation! Call your AAA Travel Agent at 800-750-5386 or visit
AAA.com/Travel to plan your family adventure!
TRAVELER SPRING 2020

http://www.AAA.com/Travel

AAA Traveler - Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Spring 2020