First Time Disney in a Wheelchair

disneyktee · Nov 24, 2015

Hi All,

I am having surgery Monday (Nov 30) for a torn hip labrum and CAM impingement and I'm going to Disney on December 20. I'll be on crutches for the first two weeks of recovery so by the time we go I will have been back to weight bearing for about a week. I know I will need to use a wheelchair frequently because even though I'm allowed to weight bear at that point it's still WAAYYY too early in my recovery for the typical Disney 5 miles a day! We're not planning to rent an outside chair because I will be able to do a little walking (ie- around the hotel) but I will probably rent one for our mornings in the parks. We're DVC so moving the trip isn't an option for us this close to the date.

EDIT: I'm home from surgery, the docs said there was more damage than the scans indicated but that it was very successful. They also said I need to be on crutches for a month so rental chair here I come!

I was hoping people could share some of your experiences the first time you went to Disney in a wheelchair. I'm especially interested in hearing about what things you enjoyed most? Also what things do you wish you had known in advance? What advice would you give me as a first timer? Any and all experiences doing Disney from a wheelchair definitely appreciated.

Thank you so much for any input!

disney david · Nov 25, 2015

Sorry in advance I know you didn't say anything about buses but I give some tips just In case.

1. All the drivers are friendly and helpfully and will do what ever they need to load you safely and quickly
2. Their not allowed to touch the wheelchair so if they don't offer to help push or move it not because heir being rude it against Disney policy
3 they will offer verbal help and other help when asked
4.take your time loading you have every right to load so do it safely don't worry what others say or tve you looks
5. You can use the back ramp and be tie down or use the back ramp and transfer to a sit and fold the wheelchair that is up to you
6 if the bus is full of the tie down spaces or full the driver will call for another bus so you don't have to wait so long

So for the bad spelling and grammar and ramble on I get little excited when talking about buses. I won't go into the new stuff I seen at Disney this week with the buses I spare everyone. Have a fun a safe trip ask as many question as you can and think of I add more tips as other disers if you need the buses.

SueM in MN · Nov 25, 2015

I would suggest renting a wheelchair from off-site.
Even though you can do some walking, renting in the parks means you will need to walk from the park to the buses or your car when you leave. You'll also need to stand for a while, either while waiting for the bus or the parking lot tram.
At the end of your day, that might be more than you can do comfortably.
If you don't want to rent ahead of time,mat least take contact info sling with you.

I don't have much time right now to respond, but suggest checking out the disABILITIES FAQs thread (near the top of the board or follow the link in my signature).

minnie mum · Nov 25, 2015

I agree with Sue about reconsidering an off site rental. It would be a mistake to underestimate the amount of standing and walking that you need to do outside the park gates. Especially only 3 weeks after your surgery. The info in the FAQ sticky is really useful.

loves to dive · Nov 25, 2015

Are you renting a manual one or an EVC? My mother had Lupus so the last few years I took her we had to get a wheel chair. We used the push kind, I also broke a toe on my son's foot the last day of one of our trips and we had to grab one after my son got tired of me limping along. I had no problems pushing my mom, many will say it's too tiring for the one pushing but frankly I couldn't even tell half the time and when my son was little (around 3) he would sit in her lap when was tired so I'd be pushing both of them. The only problems we had, was people would steal it while it was parked outside. I know, who would steal a wheelchair, but people did. She was able to walk to the buses and sometimes stand in line. She didn't ride many rides so that was not an issue, we would park her and she would babysit the kid if he didn't want to ride. When my son had to push me, we were at HS and had already pretty much ridden all the rides we were going to and just went to shows. As a matter of fact we were actually, standing in line for LMA before I got the wheel chair when a CM saw me kind of proping the foot up, saw the toe and said oh no, that isn't going to work. She had someone run and get the wheelchair, and had my son take me in early to park me. He was so mad at me because he had been trying to get me to get one all day.

disneyktee · Nov 26, 2015

Thanks for your input everyone! I'm pretty sure I want to stick with a manual, I'm not comfortable that I'll be able to safely drive an EVC through Christmas crowds and my husband/ teenage siblings say they're up for the challenge lol! I hadn't given much thought to standing for the busses, in my head I was thinking about resorts having benches but I forgot that they're scarce at the parks! Do you need to reserve them far in advance? I know my family wants to "play-it-by-ear" with renting a wheelchair based on how my early recovery goes. I know I probably shouldn't worry about how it looks, but I'm still self conscious about what happens if we get the chair but then I do want to try to walk sometimes.

disneyktee · Dec 1, 2015

Hi Everyone,

Just an update I'm home from surgery. My labrum was worse than the scans indicated but the docs said they were able to fix it and that the surgery was definitely a success. I'll be on crutches for a month so I'm renting a manual chair later today (hubby and teenage sisters said they want to push me). I would still really love to hear experiences of your first trip in a chair? Things that were great experiences, things that were tougher than expected, whatever advice you might give a newbie.

Thanks!

jstbcuz · Dec 1, 2015

We leave tomorrow and it will be my first time in a WC as well. They tell me I have PF in both feet as well as bone spurs.......so I have relented to getting a WC, tho I am not thrilled about it, I have accepted it as I dont want it to ruin my vacation. I will let you know my opinions when I get back.

gap2368 · Dec 3, 2015

disneyktee said:
Thanks for your input everyone! I'm pretty sure I want to stick with a manual, I'm not comfortable that I'll be able to safely drive an EVC through Christmas crowds and my husband/ teenage siblings say they're up for the challenge lol! I hadn't given much thought to standing for the busses, in my head I was thinking about resorts having benches but I forgot that they're scarce at the parks! Do you need to reserve them far in advance? I know my family wants to "play-it-by-ear" with renting a wheelchair based on how my early recovery goes. I know I probably shouldn't worry about how it looks, but I'm still self conscious about what happens if we get the chair but then I do want to try to walk sometimes.

you may want to rent from off site the on site chairs are harder to push and it might be easer for your pushers also if you are on the smaller size WDW wheel chair are nearly impossible to self push as they are either large or extra large I know you have self pushers but there will be times that you will want to self push.

and I hope your recovery from surgery goes smooth

Disneykidsdad · Dec 3, 2015

Rent the chair now. With the crowds, they may run out fast.

jstbcuz · Dec 8, 2015

Just wanted to follow up with you about my first (and only trip in a wheelchair). I have plantar fasciitis and bone spurs and so I am able to walk and usually do but progresses as the day goes on.........but we decided there was no way to walk Disney and have a good time. I felt bad knowing that it meant a slower pace, and someone would have to be with me at all times. Being in the wheelchair made me feel "not as much part of the group" as it was hard to hear with all the noise around, and they couldnt hear me...........and I did feel like it was inconveinent for them to have to deal with. After having a brief "adult conversation" with the DH, I felt better about things and he tried to be more attentive.

Magic Kingdom is a TOUGH place to navigate a wheelchair.........and a ROUGH ride. As long as you stay on the sidewalks/smooth areas you should be fine, but there are alot of bricked areas. I would avoid pushing down Main St and the hub (stay on sidewalk) as our wheels got caught in the track more than a few times.

Animal Kingdom is another TOUGH place to push a wheelchair............lots of hills and again different terrains.

Hollywood Studios was the best and smoothest ...........

Epcot was good as well.

On our last day there (Saturday), the rest of my family went on the Wild African Trek in AK and so I decided that I would just wear my boot and go to MK. We met back up at the hotel, went to HS to see the Osborne Lights......I decided I would walk because the crowds were considerably heavier and it would be easier to navigate.........while I am glad I walked because the crowds were massive and wc and scooters were just stuck in the throngs of people with nowhere to go..........we went back to MK to close the park to end the night. My Garmin said I had walked 13 miles all in the boot that day and my legs/calves/feet were KILLING me. Here it is Tues and they are still killing me. USE THE WHEELCHAIR!!!

Most people DO NOT see or care if they cut in front of you............or if they are blocking your view. When we went to the parade we used the handicap viewing area..........when we were at Epcot I wanted to just listen to the Candlelight processional (no tickets or standby.........we were just outside the ampitheater listening by the ropes) We were there for the 6:15 or whatever time the second one is. I was behind people and was looking between them to get a glimpse.......when it was over people moved and we positioned ourselves right next to the rope so we could get a front row seat for the next one.

Even tho I was able to walk I never left my wheelchair outside. When we went on the rides, we took the WC thru the line with us and they have a special entrance to some of them that you just leave your chair there. Sometimes that is faster than waiting in the normal line, but it also meant the wheelchair not getting moved, or rained on. So we took advantage of that. They would just ask if you could transfer. Even when we ate, I stayed in it (basically because it was raining and I didnt want a WET chair.

Suggestions:

*Have a cushion of some sort for you to sit in the wheelchair on
*Have the person pushing wear biking gloves..........otherwise they will get blisters.
*Have something to lay over your legs with in case it rains
*I took a trashbag to put over my boot when it rained so it didnt get wet.
*You will be cooler in the chair than if you were walking.........a couple nights I used a jacket to cover my legs up with to either block the wind or keep the rain off.
*Get Christmas lights or bike lights for the wheels as it helps distinguish the wheelchair and helps light up dark areas. (One night as we were coming out of MK we got stuck in a throng of people and it was Dark.......people couldnt see me, my husband couldnt see where he was pushing, I had to whip out the flashlight on my phone so noone would get hurt)
*Use the handicap areas for parades, etc.
*I bought a cup holder for my wheelchair & we had a back pack that we hung on the back of the wc that had snacks, raingear, etc in it.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

disneyktee · Dec 8, 2015

jstbcuz said:
Just wanted to follow up with you about my first (and only trip in a wheelchair). I have plantar fasciitis and bone spurs and so I am able to walk and usually do but progresses as the day goes on.........but we decided there was no way to walk Disney and have a good time. I felt bad knowing that it meant a slower pace, and someone would have to be with me at all times. Being in the wheelchair made me feel "not as much part of the group" as it was hard to hear with all the noise around, and they couldnt hear me...........and I did feel like it was inconveinent for them to have to deal with. After having a brief "adult conversation" with the DH, I felt better about things and he tried to be more attentive.

Magic Kingdom is a TOUGH place to navigate a wheelchair.........and a ROUGH ride. As long as you stay on the sidewalks/smooth areas you should be fine, but there are alot of bricked areas. I would avoid pushing down Main St and the hub (stay on sidewalk) as our wheels got caught in the track more than a few times.

Animal Kingdom is another TOUGH place to push a wheelchair............lots of hills and again different terrains.

Hollywood Studios was the best and smoothest ...........

Epcot was good as well.

On our last day there (Saturday), the rest of my family went on the Wild African Trek in AK and so I decided that I would just wear my boot and go to MK. We met back up at the hotel, went to HS to see the Osborne Lights......I decided I would walk because the crowds were considerably heavier and it would be easier to navigate.........while I am glad I walked because the crowds were massive and wc and scooters were just stuck in the throngs of people with nowhere to go..........we went back to MK to close the park to end the night. My Garmin said I had walked 13 miles all in the boot that day and my legs/calves/feet were KILLING me. Here it is Tues and they are still killing me. USE THE WHEELCHAIR!!!

Most people DO NOT see or care if they cut in front of you............or if they are blocking your view. When we went to the parade we used the handicap viewing area..........when we were at Epcot I wanted to just listen to the Candlelight processional (no tickets or standby.........we were just outside the ampitheater listening by the ropes) We were there for the 6:15 or whatever time the second one is. I was behind people and was looking between them to get a glimpse.......when it was over people moved and we positioned ourselves right next to the rope so we could get a front row seat for the next one.

Even tho I was able to walk I never left my wheelchair outside. When we went on the rides, we took the WC thru the line with us and they have a special entrance to some of them that you just leave your chair there. Sometimes that is faster than waiting in the normal line, but it also meant the wheelchair not getting moved, or rained on. So we took advantage of that. They would just ask if you could transfer. Even when we ate, I stayed in it (basically because it was raining and I didnt want a WET chair.

Suggestions:

*Have a cushion of some sort for you to sit in the wheelchair on
*Have the person pushing wear biking gloves..........otherwise they will get blisters.
*Have something to lay over your legs with in case it rains
*I took a trashbag to put over my boot when it rained so it didnt get wet.
*You will be cooler in the chair than if you were walking.........a couple nights I used a jacket to cover my legs up with to either block the wind or keep the rain off.
*Get Christmas lights or bike lights for the wheels as it helps distinguish the wheelchair and helps light up dark areas. (One night as we were coming out of MK we got stuck in a throng of people and it was Dark.......people couldnt see me, my husband couldnt see where he was pushing, I had to whip out the flashlight on my phone so noone would get hurt)
*Use the handicap areas for parades, etc.
*I bought a cup holder for my wheelchair & we had a back pack that we hung on the back of the wc that had snacks, raingear, etc in it.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Wow! Thank you so much for all this, there's a lot in here that's really so helpful!
I had never thought about visibility in the dark but lights are a great idea. I was actually going to send my mom to a craft store for things to decorate the chair with a bit and lights in the wheel would be great too!
I'm not allowed to fully weight bear until January but I can get around on my crutches well. I was planning to bring them with me to the park each day so when I want to get up I can (I actually go back to the doc for my first post op today so I'll learn more about just how non-weight-bearing I need to be).
Our current plan is to go to rope drop every morning then come back to the hotel around noon (so glad we're staying at BCV!) so we were hoping to avoid the worst of the crowds that way.
I've been worried about being "a part of the group" like you were saying but most of the family is really aware of how nervous I am about still having a good trip. I'm also the Disney guru in the trip and the planner so I have high hopes it'll be okay.

Question: how hard is it to navigate around in the shops? We love looking at all the unique things they come up with and just sort of exploring in general. Also did you get to Disney Springs at all?

jstbcuz · Dec 8, 2015

I too am the headmaster for the Disney trips, and was nervous too. I just dont think they realize how different it is from the chair & not being on their level. We usually go to one park in the morning, come back to hotel for a break, and go to a different park that afternoon/evening.

Personally I would leave the crutches at home/hotel. For me, it would be a pain to have to deal with holding them and them getting in the way. You will be much more comfortable in the chair believe me. If you cant transfer from the wc to the ride, most have certain "cars" that they just take the wheelchair on.

I found it easier when riding the buses to just stay in the chair. I felt more out of the way than sitting in a chair holding the wheelchair bunched up in the aisle.

We didnt do alot of the stores, but like anything else...........crowds will determine alot of it & patience! The biggest problem I see is the crowds of people that are overlooking you and you trying to get around or close enough to see something.

We didnt do Disney Springs..........there isnt alot down there that interest me other than the Christmas Store, and I would rather spend my time in the parks.

If you think of anything else, let me know.

Coloradomom · Dec 8, 2015

I've used a wheelchair for the last several years due to a bad ankle. I can walk but when it is hot and humid it acts up and I ride. We bought a transport wheelchair years ago. You cannot roll it yourself, but the upside is that it is lightweight and easier to push, and easily folds up on the buses. My DH does not mind pushing it at all. We bring an inexpensive poncho to cover it when it rains and keep a washcloth to wipe off the seat if it does rain and drip. We tie a scarf on the grip so it stands out as ours, however it is red so we have never had a problem. The cost was very reasonable and it has paid for itself over and over. that way too, you have it at the airport, you just hate check it like a stroller.

mgentry210 · Dec 12, 2015

I agree with everyone with my first time needing assistance this year. I say go with the ECV. I am a terrible driver (in a car) and I had no problem after about 30 minutes navigating, turning, etc. I may or may have not done a donut in the lobby of the Poly at 2 am? :tongue:

Go for it. Then you won't have to worry about someone pushing if you get tired (and you will!). Offsite rental is the way to go. I used Buena Vista and they were great. Clean and well kept.

minnie mum · Dec 12, 2015

jstbcuz said:
Personally I would leave the crutches at home/hotel. For me, it would be a pain to have to deal with holding them and them getting in the way.

I will have to strongly disagree with this. If your surgeon has instructed you to be non or only partial weight bearing it is essential that you use your crutches any time you are out of the chair. Doing otherwise could set back your recovery or even reinjure the operative area.

As someone who has lost track of how many trips I've had to do WDW with a chair, I'd also recommend that you get out of it and walk around with your crutches every couple of hours for a few minutes, even if it's only to the restroom and back. And switch to a regular chair in the restaurants when possible. Your butt will thank you and it's good to get your muscles working a bit.

I haven't found the stores that hard to navigate, but stay out of the Main Street stores around closing. They're a mad house!! The stores can be harder to get around with an ecv since they're bigger and many need a wider turning radius. Getting around DS is no different than getting around the parks if you're getting there by bus. I've read that getting out of the parking garage is a trick, unless they've improved the signage since it first opened.

Pappa Bear · Dec 13, 2015

This summer was my first time to have to navigate the park in an ECV. I too was hesitant about using a chair because I did not think that my disc and knee issues were truly "disabling." Use an ECV (we used Buena Vista and were totally satisfied) because navigating the park will be difficult if you don't.

My only advice would be to go slow. People will cut in front of you deliberately or by accident and a slow speed helped me avoid an accident several times. I never had trouble in any of the the shops unless one was really crowded. Then I simply waited for an opening and shopped.

That ECV saved our trip as far as my family is concerned.

Stigsmom · Dec 14, 2015

Thanks to everyone who posted advice here. I am going to need it this weekend.

disneyktee · Dec 17, 2015

Anyone have thoughts on how the new metal detectors will affect those of us in wheelchairs? :/ I'm bringing my crutches with me because I know I'll want to get up once and a while but the surgeon says I'm still 100% non weight bearing until after the trip. Thinking about how much extra time I might need to build into the schedule since I can't go through the detectors...

elmoandzoey · Dec 18, 2015

disneyktee said:
Anyone have thoughts on how the new metal detectors will affect those of us in wheelchairs? :/ I'm bringing my crutches with me because I know I'll want to get up once and a while but the surgeon says I'm still 100% non weight bearing until after the trip. Thinking about how much extra time I might need to build into the schedule since I can't go through the detectors...

I had a similar thought after I read about the installation of the metal detectors. I will bring crutches as well on our next trip. From what I gathered though not everyone needs to go through the detectors, they just pick out certain people. I think they might not pick you because the crutches most definitely will set off the detector. Or if everyone will have to go through, the might hand wand you later like they do at the airports. Either way, it's gonna be a bit more complicated.... especially if you also use an ECV or wheelchair.

I think since these are so new, no one will probably no for sure what's going to happen with these and how such things as crutches, canes, ecv and ec will be handled.

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