26th Annual International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities
March 14-19, 2011
Manchester Grand Hyatt, One Market Place, San Diego, CA
Conference Website: www.csunconference.org
Welcome to San Diego, CSUN 2011 Attendees!
Accessible San Diego is pleased to provide updated Insider's information with the CSUN attendees in mind so you will have a great accessible time in San Diego. Please feel free to contact Accessible San Diego, as well as other local resources listed such as Transportation, Tour Providers and Attractions.
Again, welcome to San Diego! We hope that you have a chance to explore the city during your stay, and share this info with friends when you go home so others can plan a fun accessible trip to San Diego. Last but not least, we appreciate your feedback. Please share with us if you know of fun accessible places in San Diego area.
Sincerely,
Wes Johnson, President
Accessible San Diego
Visitor Center for Travelers with Disabilities
Phone: 619-325-7550 (10:00am-3:00pm, Mon-Fri)
E-mail: mail@asd.travel
Website: asd.travel
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-San-Diego/104542773907
Twitter: twitter.com/accesssandiego
Hotels
CSUN Conference hotel: Manchester Grand Hyatt
One Market Place, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-1234
Website: manchestergrand.hyatt.com
Twitter: twitter.com/manchgrandhyatt
Manchester Grand Hyatt is a beautiful accessible 2-tower hotel. All conference sessions and exhibit will take place in this hotel. Blind and low vision attendees are recommended to take advantage of the Orientation Sessions offered by the Conference and the Center for the Blind. For schedule, visit www.csunconference.org.
Hotels near the Conference venue:
The news is, the Conference hotel is already sold out! Here are some other options.
- Embassy Suites San Diego Bay (Across from the Hyatt)
Phone: (619) 239-2400 - Marriott Hotel & Marina (Next to the Hyatt)
Phone: (619) 234-1500 - Hilton San Diego Bayfront (Across from the Convention Center)
Phone: (619) 564-3333 - Holiday Inn on the Bay 1355 North Harbor Dr.
Phone: (619) 232-3861 - Courtyard by Marriott (Downtown) (1 trolley ride)
Phone: (619) 446-3000 - Porto Vista Hotel (Little Italy) shuttle to 1 mile radius
Phone: (619) 544-0164 - 500 West (1 trolley ride or walk to the Hyatt)
Phone: (619) 234-5252
Transportation
Shuttle and Taxi
Whether you arrive at San Diego Airport, Amtrak station, or Greyhound station, there is a shuttle to take you to the Manchester Grand Hyatt or to the hotel of your choice.
Cloud 9 SuperShuttle:
1-800-974-8885
www.cloud9shuttle.com
SOL Transportation:
(866) 765-3177
www.soltransportation.com
Yellow Cab of San Diego:
444-4444
Online Taxi Reservation:
www.1800cabride.com
Paretransit- MTS Access
Certification: 1-877-232-7433,
www.adaride.com
Reservation: 1-888-517-9627
Public Transportation
Orange Line trolley stops in front of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, which takes you to Gaslamp Quarter and the Horton Plaza. Contact San Diego MTS for the complete bus and trolley routs and services.
- All buses and trolleys are wheelchair accessible.
- Service dog welcome!
- NO DISCOUNT for attendants.
- Ask the driver to call out your stop when you board a bus.
- If you are blind or visually impaired, stand on the pad with bumps located towards the front of the trolley station.
- When the trolley stops, press the button located near or on the door.
- There is a ticket vending machine at every trolley station, which may require sighted assistance.
- If you are taking public transportation often, we recommend a Day Pass or 3-day Pass, which gives you unlimited use of both bus and trolley. Day Passes can be purchased from the bus driver or at the Transit Store on the corner of First Avenue and Broadway.
San Diego MTS (Public transit)
Phone: 511 or 619-233-3004
Website: www.sdmts.com
Facebook: facebook.com/sdmts
Twitter: twitter.com/sdmts
For Guide/Service Dog Users
These groomers provide discounts to service dogs. Bring a proof that your dog is a service dog.
City Dog (Downtown San Diego, near Park & Market
trolley station)
Phone: 619-269-0201
Website: www.citydogsd.com
Dirty Dog Pet Wash and Boutique (North Park)
Phone: 619-640-0227
Website: www.dirtydogsandiego.com
Yuko's Dog Grooming (North Park)
Phone: 619-280-6040
*Check if Yuko is accepting a new customer.
Free Dog Food Delivery:
www.petworth.com
Contact for San Diego area:
Wayne Gilbert 858-757-3663
Email: wayne.gilbert@petworth.com
Things to do in San Diego
Attractions near Manchester Grand Hyatt
Seaport Village and Embarcaderro Park
Adjacent to Manchester Grand Hyatt, enjoy the 3-mile waterfront walk through Seaport Village and embarcadero Park. You will find plenty of outdoor fun, shopping & dining
Website: www.seaportvillage.com
By popular demands from last year's CSUN attendees, we have arranged volunteers on Thursday 3/17 and Wednesday 3/18 to show you around the Seaport Village, courticy of the Port of San Diego! Come to Accessible San Diego booth across from the Conference Registration during the Exhibit Hall hours and sign up.
USS Midway Museum, 910 North Harbor Dr. San Diego, CA 92101 (Bus #992)
Phone: 619-544-9600,
Website: www.midway.org
2-for-1 for guests with disabilities and their companion
USS Midway Museum is a floating aircraft carrier museum. Elevators available throughout the ship; audio tours and flight simulator available -- try the new Family Audio Tour, which promises to be fun and educational for everyone. *Ask if you can see the replica of the Midway!
Hornblower Cruises
1066 North Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101 (Bus #992, #923)
Phone: 619-686-8700
Website: www.hornblower.com/hce/home/sd
2-for-1 for guests with disabilities and their companion
(Harbor cruise only)
San Diego harbor cruise, dinner cruises and events
Shopping, Dining & Nightlife
Gaslamp Quarter:
One-stop trolley ride or short walk from
the Hyatt, Gaslamp Quarter offers tons of shops, restaurants
and clubs along the 5th Avenue.
Horton Plaza:
324 Horton Plaza (Downtown San Diego)
San Diego, CA 92101, http://westfield.com/hortonplaza/
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00am-9:00pm
Sat 10:00pm-8:00pm, Sun 11:00pm-7:00pm
Fashion Valley Mall:
7007 Friars Rd. San Diego, CA 92108
www.shopfashionvalleymall.com
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am-9:00pm,
Sun 11:00pm 7:00pm
Other Attractions
Extending your CSUN Conference to a vacation? Check out these attractions.
San Diego Zoo:
2920 Zoo Dr. San Diego, CA 92101 (Bus
#7)
Phone: 619-231-1515,
Website: www.sandiegozoo.org
2-for-1 for guests with disabilities and their companion
San Diego Zoo is diligently working on some different things
to assist with the blind and low vision guests. At this time,
with advance notice, Tour Guide Service is available for
blind guests who may need some guidance because they
are alone or with another person who is blind or low vision.
We can provide a person to walk around with them (guide) to
describe exhibits, animals, plants, etc.
We have had a number of tour guides who have been
through an Audio Description training program which is
Visitor Center for Travelers with Disabilities allowing us to provide a tour in a little bit of a different fashion if we know someone needs that service.
*To arrange this service with at least 1 week advance notice, please call Linda at extension 4526.
Phone: 619-325-7550
E-mail: mail@asd.travel
Website: www.asd.travel
SeaWorld
500 Sea World Dr.
San Diego, CA 92109 (Bus#8/9)
Phone: 1-800 25-SHAMU (1-800 257-4268)
Website: www.seaworld.com/sandiego
2-for-1 for guests with disabilities and their companion
Enjoy Shamu, sea lion, and new dolphin shows! They are fun even without being able to see everything! If you are brave enough, place yourself in the "wet zone" at your own risk! There is an area where you can pet stingrays and starfish.
Old Town Trolley Tours / Seal Tour
Phone: 619-298-8687,
Website: www.trolleytours.com/san-diego/
2-for-1 for guests with disabilities and their companion
See the best of San Diego! Knowledgeable guide will describe major sites of San Diego and Coronado. For pickup locations and ticket info, call or visit website.
Balboa Park
1549 El Prado - Houses of Hospitality
(Visitor Center) (Bus #7)
Info Line: (619) 239-0512,
Website: www.balboapark.org
Balboa Park is a large park in the middle of downtown/Hillcrest. There are many museums and gardens with hands-on exhibits. You can also enjoy the whole park on free Balboa Park Trolley. For more info, call or walk in and talk to friendly Visitor Center staff. Here are some suggestions for you!
- San Diego History Center 619-232-6203
- Old Grove costume exhibit, "Dressing the Part" till April
15, 2011; visitors have opportunity to try on some of the
costumes on stage!
- Ruben H Fleet Science Center 619-238-1233 -- Many
hands-on exhibits to feel and experiment.
- Botanical Building and outdoor gardens throughout the
park