Bags are packed. Kitty-sitter lined up. Tickets checked (still need double- and triple-checking!). Accessible shuttle confirmed at the other end. We're set to leave early Monday morning for Vegas!
Now it is time to panic:
- Will all of the elevators between home and the Vancouver airport be fully operational? One "Out of Order" sign and we are hooped!
- Will the bus lift be working? (That is part of the reason why we're leaving ample of time to get to the airport by transit.)
- Will we both get on the same bus? (The public buses can take only two wheelchairs. If one spot is taken, we'll need to wait for the next bus.)
- How thoroughly will security feel me up? (Oh, please let a female security guard be available!)
- Will we have time for breakfast? (Last year we only had time to grab Tim Horton's doughnuts before boarding the plane. Then with no lunch, we were quite ready for supper once we found some place to eat in a city we had never been before.)
- Will the airlines know what to do with our two power chairs?
- Will our chairs arrive intact and working?
- Will we get all of our bits n pieces back? (I find the fewer the pieces, the easier to keep track of when crew brings them onboard and off board for us.)
- Will I be able to wait pee until we have landed and deplaned? (Of course, we're the last off!)
- How long we will need to wait for an accessible shuttle to the hotel? (Last year we waited over an hour.)
- Will our room actually be accessible? (After previous incidents while traveling, I am always a little skeptical. If we get the same or similar room as we had last year, then we'll be fine.)
Once we are in our hotel room and back in control of what we're doing, I'll be more relaxed. The process of getting there is what I find nerve-wracking and draining. Our 2.5 hour flight last year took us 12 hours to get from home to our hotel room. We're hoping to beat that time this year!
Tuesday our vacation begins! We will likely check out the Titanic Exhibition at the Tropicana and then explore the MGM Hotel. Apparently there are lions all around? Wednesday we may try venturing downtown to Freemont Street for a lunch buffet and to watch the light show - 12.5 million lights! Thursday is still open. Friday to Sunday is BlogWorld.
The following Monday we do the process in reverse. Our flight is at 9am, which means being at the airport for 6am! How early shall we book the shuttle? Is there any point going to bed Sunday night?
I will tell you all about it (or most of it!) when we return.
Wish us luck!
