Was already stupid, need help/ advice now

[sandravb79]

Hey all,

Monday evening, I showed (once again) that I am not the most elegant person in this world. I fell of the stairs, and am now with my leg/ foot in a cast. for about 2 months. And I leave on vacation (cruise, WDW) in 2 weeks.

Exactly. I am a stupid guest who was stupid at home.

I asked these questions on the DIS, but many people there are too enthousiastic about WDW, that I wanted advice from people with another point of view.


How easy/ difficult will it be for me to visit WDW on crutches, with a cast? At this point, I have a regular cast. The night before we leave on vacation, the doctor will take this one off, and i'll get an "aircast", apparantly something with Velcro that I can take off to shower etc. So I don't have to worry about how to avoid sand in it (we'll be a couple of days at the Bahamas first). Will I still be able to do some rides? Like Jungle Cruise, my all-time favourite?

We also have booked the Backstage Magic Tour, and the tour about the trains. Have other people with crutches been on these tours, or do we need to cancel them?
We also have tickets for MNSSHP, and ADRs for Kona breakfast, Cape May breakfast, Luau (still have to call for my special order cake!), LTT dinner, 50 PTC dinner, Coral Reef dinner, ...

I don't mind being a little bit uncomfortable, I really would love to do all those things, unless everyone tells me I am completely insane because I even think about it :(


We will be staying at AS Music, we have regular, non-preferred room. Should I contact my TA and ask for another room? Are there rooms available with "step-in" showers instead of a bath tub? (bath tubs are impossible for me right now, regular "step-in" shower is possible, and I don't want to smell too badly ;) )

Thanks for your help, and ideas/ advice/ ... !

A desperate stupid guest

[GaTechGal]

I'm not a CM, but as a frequent guest here are some of the concerns that I would have:

1. The tours might just be too much walking. When you're touring on your own and get tired or in pain, it's easy to just pack it in and go back to the room. The same might not be true for a Disney tour as you might be in restricted areas. So I'd cancel those for this trip and keep them for next time.

2. I'd definitly call my TA and see if he/she can get you in a handicap access room. I'm sure if Disney got the explanation they would be glad to accomodate you. Better to let them know NOW though, rather than trying to switch rooms when you get there.

3. I don't see any reason to miss any of your dining reservations.

4. Keep in mind that you might just need to take this trip a little easier. Make sure to take breaks in the day, and ice up your leg/foot regularly to keep any swelling down. Also take any meds your dr. recommends for pain/swelling as well. If you don't want to leave the parks, get some ice from a CS restaurant in a ziplock bag, find a nice bench, and people watch while your group continues on.

5. There's a lot of stuff that you can do at MNSSHP that doesn't involve walking as much. Make sure that you get a good spot for the parade and fireworks. They are FANTASTIC. Also, look around on line for a schedule of events that you are interested in and see those early before you start hurting. I definitly think this is as much of an atmosphere event as anything, but it might also be a good way to get in some rides that you might find more crowded on a regular day.

But mostly - DON'T OVER DO IT!! Disney will still be there next time when you're all healed up.

Other folks here can probably give you the skinny on a rented ECV or the like. Good luck and have a great trip.

[lady ulrike]

GaTechGirl pretty much has it, but I don't think you necessarily need to cancel your tours. I would call, I'm not sure who though and ask them about the tours and if they're wheelchair accessible, which they probably are, you can then rent a wheelchair, at least for those days and still enjoy your planned tours.

[ktulu]

I think you'll be okay for the train tour, there wasn't too much walking, lots of sitting, but you will need to be able to climb into the train from ground level, and the engine if you think you can do it.

[Big Wallaby]

One of the things that's nice about Disney is they think ahead of people who are temporarily or permanently disabled. I, being as large as I was when I came down here, could still fit into any ride... which was not the case at UO... although with some work I was able to get onto Hulk.

It was very nice getting into a Pargo (golf cart) the other day. It was the first time I did it in a while, because I was backstage using my phone, and there was a definite gap between the steering wheel and me.

Of course, dinner with a bunch of you helped none.

I am also looking forward to the 14th, because my schedule changes then and I will have more days off per week to go into the parks, where I seem to get the best exercise as I walk around.

Wow, I am awful when it comes to staying on topic.

I was curious, when you get your new cast, will you have any ability to bend your knees? If you can do that, you should be able to get onto anything you want. Even if you can't, there's still a lot you can do. But I agree with GaTechGal, don't overdo it. Come back and see us again.

[sandravb79]

My new cast will look a little bit like this: http://www.equipmedical.com/catalogue/7850979.jpg
It's my ankle that is completely... kaput, so they don't touch my knee :)

Thank you for all the advice!
At this moment, I have too much time to think about everything, since I'm home (no way I can drive around in my car all the time), and I worry way too much. I should just go and see what happens.

The TA has already changed our room into a handicapped accessible room, so the shower-problem should be covered too :D: I won't be the smelly guest ;) Stupid guest, yes, smelly guest, no!

[Big Wallaby]

My new cast will look a little bit like this: http://www.equipmedical.com/catalogue/7850979.jpg
It's my ankle that is completely... kaput, so they don't touch my knee :)

Well, if you have to be in a cast, then that looks like a nice one to have.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

We went on the Backstage tour last week. One of the guests was quite a bit overweight and had bad feet problems. the CM warned us that is was a seven hour walking tour! The guest with problems was very much a trouper, but about halfway through the tour the CM kept asking her if he could get her a wheelchair or ECV. All of us on the tour slowed down walking so she could keep up and get all of the narration!. They did have breaks throughout the tour and we rode a buss to the various parks! Plus they provided iced water bottles for us!

The other stuff should be no problem! (despite buying and breaking in two pair of walking shoes with special socks, etc DW got blisters, but we treated them and she enjoyed all of the attractions we had planned, Including the segway tour!)

[Floridian]

I don't really see the need to cancel any of your plans, although it would be a good idea to call and see if you can get a room with an accessible bathroom. If I was in your situation I would rent a wheelchair for the walking tours, if someone knows that wheelchair are not allowed on tours please correct me. I only suggest that because overdoing just one day for the tour could do you in for the rest of your visit. Overall though the parks for very friendly toward people with disabilities though and so long as you understand that there might be a few attractions here and there you won't be able to experience you should have a great time. I imagine if you stop into guest relations in the parks they will be able to tell your specifically what attractions will might cause your some difficulty.

[mechurchlady]

GaTechGal covered everything but I have things to say that are different.

1. For tours it depends on the tour and as explained by Ktulu the Train Tour should be fine but you need to find out if you can take a wheelchair on the other tours. If not then you will need to cancel the others.

2. A handicapped accessible room will have grab bars, rails next to the toilet and other things that will make it easier to use the bathroom. It is not necessary if you are on crutches and using a wheelchair. The one question is what do you do at home? Can you at home take a shower and bathe with a normal bathroom? It you say yes then there is no need to change rooms.

3. All restaurants are wheelchair accessible and thus accessible to people on crutches.

4. Use a wheelchair and ask for one that has a leg rest than can be elevated. If you use an ECV then you will have to get out and switch to a wheelchair. ECVs are great but the wheelchair is smaller and can go more places. ECVs do not have leg lifts so you have no way of elevating your leg.

When I had the ultimate damaging fall in Disneyland I used for a while a wheelchair in park that had a raised leg rest. You can rent those cheaper than parks but check to see what options there are. Boards have that info. Zazu probably knows.

5. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. The air cast is meant for every day stuff like shopping, working, church, the beach, and cooking dinner. Some rides may jar the bones too much with an air cast so you need to check with the doctor to see if some rides are too dangerous or other options.

I can ride the Bobsleds fine but Indiana Jones and Autopia usually leave me in severe pain.

6. Check online for the Nurse's Station in each park. They can provide ice, a quiet though public place to rest, water, and all the comforts of a doctors office except for not having a doctor. It provides a sterile place for medical procedures such as catheters, shots and and testing. It also provides a private place for dealing with autistic children and is a much cleaner and quieter place for changing disabled kids.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/co ... DetailPage

You can get a cup from restaurants if that is easier to drink water from a fountain. They also give out cups of free ice. Put the ice in a plastic bag for a temporary cool down but real ice bags are best.
7. Some sites I recommend are:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

THE ULTIMATE WDW GUIDE

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/co ... ilityDPage
Let me walk you through what your case would need to know.

Transportation
As I stated you will need to use a wheelchair with the leg rest. You will become the designated pack mule for the trip, lol. Be willing to hop around on the crutches such as in shops, exhibits and restaurants if that is easier. Do not tie yourself to the chair but be prepared for arguments over you staying in the chair. Some CMs and guests will insist you stay in the chair even if you can get out and do things. This is from experience.

You can fold the chair if you are able to easily hop onto a monorail or the trains. Some rides and transportation may prefer you stay in the chair. Smile and do what the CM tells you to do.

If you have a temporary disabled parking plate or tag then bring it but try to park in regular parking. Regular parking puts you near the tram where as disabled for me meant a half mile hike to TTC. It can be from any US state but you have to conform to that state's eligibility requirements. These plates, plaques or tags will allow you to use valet parking for free.

Shows, Rides and Attractions
The above site lists all the attractions available to guests in wheelchairs. In your case you only need to learn which are too much for your leg and how you are to enter.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/co ... inHomePage
That is their general disabled guests page. You can check out each park and other info there.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/co ... mmodations

My head is killing more or I would give you more info. Try Passporter also.