Rollator and the que

[agentcandi]

hi everyone!! My name is Candi. I am 28 and I have widespread psoriatic arthritis. I have been looking for some info on the boards but haven't found any current info on this. I am very active, typically i work out 4-6 days per week but I know that Disney is going to take its toll on me. I am travelling with my able bodied parents and we will be there from Nov 12-20. With one of those days at universal. I won't have an issue walking but I know I won't be able to stand in ques for longer than 10-20 mins and less and less through the trip.

I really don't want to rent a wheelchair since I will be walking between attractions. But I saw these amazing rollators with handy little baskets. And I'm wondering if I can bring them into the park and most important am I able to go through the que with it? Will the cm bring it to the end for me?

Any advice for an arthritic gal? I have all my biological and pain meds sorted and eating a very good diet before I go!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hi Candi welcome! I hope I can offer some advice. I use to use such a rollator before I was wheelchair bound. I have another form of Arthritis. I took that rollator for miles over those parks mine has a this awesome seat and I loved the basket to put my things in. Yes you can easily line up with it. You just hand it to a CM when you reach the ride and they return it to you when you are done! Do you have any difficulty climbing stairs? If you do there are other entrances to some of the rides like splash mountain and you can get return times for those.

 

[agentcandi]

Thank you so much Paula! That is some great info about the stairs. Usually I can do stairs without too much difficulty but its great to know if my knees or hips are bothering me that I have options.

This is the first time I will be using a mobility aid and I am a little nervous about it.

 

[gap2368]

yes you can bring them in the lines with you and the CM will have it at or near the exit for you when you get done with the ride.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I am having back surgery tomorrow and have a rollator to bring to the park in 35 days. I know my back will be better by then but am guessing my leg will not be. I will be using a rollator for the first time in the parks then. My turning 23 yr old daughter is mortified. I think it will be so helpful to be able to sit down when necessary and navigate the lines with it. Also the little basket will be handy. I plan to gate check it on the flight but think I will put the basket in my carryon because I worry about it falling off in the plane cargo area.

 

[SueM in MN]

Rollators are handled the same as wheelchairs.
All lines/attractions are wheelchair accessible to the point of boarding except the few where guests must be ambulatory - Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Tomorrowland Transit Authority and most of Tom Sawyer's Island.

Most other attractions have mainstream lines and are accessible thrust both regular and Fastpass lines.
A few have different entrances or different boarding areas; the CM will direct you to the correct place.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I am having back surgery tomorrow and have a rollator to bring to the park in 35 days. I know my back will be better by then but am guessing my leg will not be. I will be using a rollator for the first time in the parks then. My turning 23 yr old daughter is mortified. I think it will be so helpful to be able to sit down when necessary and navigate the lines with it. Also the little basket will be handy. I plan to gate check it on the flight but think I will put the basket in my carryon because I worry about it falling off in the plane cargo area.

You don't say what type of back surgery you are having, but a month is not very long of a recovery time for doing that much walking after back surgery. Please be careful!! I would definitely have a few ECV rental companies phone numbers handy just in case the walking gets overwhelming.
And anything that is removable, should be removed from your equipment before gate checking it to avoid damage or loss. It falls under the category of medical equipment so you do not have to make room for it in your carry-on unless you really want to. The airline has to allow it as medical equipment and they cannot count it against your carry-on.
Please be careful/safe doing that much walking around the park after your surgery. It is so easy to undo what they "fixed" (I guess depending on what type of surgery you are having).

 

[mamabunny]

Hi @agentcandi! Welcome to our little corner of the DIS!

I know it's hard to believe right now, but WDW is truly one of the easiest places to visit with any type of mobility aid.

In addition to @stitchlovestink's great information, remember to have the Rollator properly adjusted for your height, to insure that you don't cause any unnecessary stress on your body.

And last, but not least, if you need a bit of extra help, rent an ECV, hop on it, wave like a Princess to everyone you see, and have a great time! Like your Rollator, its just a *tool* to let you get the most out of your WDW trip!

 

[MinnieMSue]

You don't say what type of back surgery you are having, but a month is not very long of a recovery time for doing that much walking after back surgery. Please be careful!! I would definitely have a few ECV rental companies phone numbers handy just in case the walking gets overwhelming.
And anything that is removable, should be removed from your equipment before gate checking it to avoid damage or loss. It falls under the category of medical equipment so you do not have to make room for it in your carry-on unless you really want to. The airline has to allow it as medical equipment and they cannot count it against your carry-on.
Please be careful/safe doing that much walking around the park after your surgery. It is so easy to undo what they "fixed" (I guess depending on what type of surgery you are having).

Oddly this same thing happened about 5 years ago - I had the exact same back surgery but then moved the trip back a month. (It was scheduled originally the same week as my surgery). The doctor wanted me to walk as much as possible. The only thing I couldn't do was lift anything or of course ride the coasters. The magical express with luggage delivery to the room helps with that. This time my leg is more affected so I need the walker. An ECV is possible - will wait and see. I am not supposed to sit more than an hour at a time so it might not be the best option. My travel partner is only turning 13 so she cannot drive it if I need to walk. I would have to park it and walk then return to get it. I will play it by ear. Last time I had way less pain after surgery than before. And we always have the option of hanging by the resort pool and taking it easy. When it is super hot we often bail from the parks and kick back and relax in the hotel or at the pool anyway. Thanks for the advise. I didn't think about the medical items being permitted as extra luggage on the flight.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Oddly this same thing happened about 5 years ago - I had the exact same back surgery but then moved the trip back a month. (It was scheduled originally the same week as my surgery). The doctor wanted me to walk as much as possible. The only thing I couldn't do was lift anything or of course ride the coasters. The magical express with luggage delivery to the room helps with that. This time my leg is more affected so I need the walker. An ECV is possible - will wait and see. I am not supposed to sit more than an hour at a time so it might not be the best option. My travel partner is only turning 13 so she cannot drive it if I need to walk. I would have to park it and walk then return to get it. I will play it by ear. Last time I had way less pain after surgery than before. And we always have the option of hanging by the resort pool and taking it easy. When it is super hot we often bail from the parks and kick back and relax in the hotel or at the pool anyway. Thanks for the advise. I didn't think about the medical items being permitted as extra luggage on the flight.

Hmmm...your situation sounds familiar. LOL
I have had 2 back surgeries myself (although my 2nd one was categorized as a FBS). Remember NO BLT (bending, lifting, twisting)!! If you must bend, bend at the knees! My weight restriction for lifting was a gallon of milk, so 8 lbs. And turn the entire body, don't twist. I have seen some amazing highly regarded ortho spine specialists and they all say the same. Just out of curiosity, does your surgeon know about Disney? Yes, They say they want you walking as much as possible, but I bet they are not considering the 8 to 10 miles a day that one can do during a day a Disney!! That might be more than what they were really banking on, kwim?? Generally they want you up and moving to heal. And they will often have a patient walk the treadmill after a fusion, but still not 8 miles in a day.
I have leg issues and permanent nerve damage. I know everyone is different but TOO much walking could cause irritation and inflammation. And trust me I get the part about sitting too long.
Feel free to PM me if you want personal suggestions... especially regarding flying. I found that to be an exceptionally large challenge after my surgeries (and I was nearly a year waiting).
I understand about the ECV. That was/is one advantage to owning your own ECV, my kids could retrieve it for me if I was so inclined.

 

[rtilner]

Keep in mine there is a lot walking and waiting to go on rides. Not so much waiting if you have a fast pass. I rent a ecv for the trip because I can't do that walking and standing. Yes it is a good Idea to travel with a an able body person. They can retrieve the ecv where is was parked when you entered the ride. Also when you leave a restaurant then can retrieve the ecv. When you do counter service, you can help out by getting a table and the silverware napkins. And not to mention to and from your room to the bus and the bus to the park and then waiting to go thru security. Rent the ecv from a authorized Disney dealer. It is cheaper you can keep it 24 7.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Keep in mine there is a lot walking and waiting to go on rides. Not so much waiting if you have a fast pass. I rent a ecv for the trip because I can't do that walking and standing. Yes it is a good Idea to travel with a an able body person. They can retrieve the ecv where is was parked when you entered the ride. Also when you leave a restaurant then can retrieve the ecv. When you do counter service, you can help out by getting a table and the silverware napkins. And not to mention to and from your room to the bus and the bus to the park and then waiting to go thru security. Rent the ecv from a authorized Disney dealer. It is cheaper you can keep it 24 7.

Her abled bodied travel companion is 13. If it is a rental, the 13 y.o. would not be allowed to retrieve her ECV for her. If it is personally owned, she could. But the terms of a rental contract do not allow you to have anyone under the age of 18 operate a rented ECV. Disney doesn't have a rule about the age of drivers of personal ECVs.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Hmmm...your situation sounds familiar. LOL
I have had 2 back surgeries myself (although my 2nd one was categorized as a FBS). Remember NO BLT (bending, lifting, twisting)!! If you must bend, bend at the knees! My weight restriction for lifting was a gallon of milk, so 8 lbs. And turn the entire body, don't twist. I have seen some amazing highly regarded ortho spine specialists and they all say the same. Just out of curiosity, does your surgeon know about Disney? Yes, They say they want you walking as much as possible, but I bet they are not considering the 8 to 10 miles a day that one can do during a day a Disney!! That might be more than what they were really banking on, kwim?? Generally they want you up and moving to heal. And they will often have a patient walk the treadmill after a fusion, but still not 8 miles in a day.
I have leg issues and permanent nerve damage. I know everyone is different but TOO much walking could cause irritation and inflammation. And trust me I get the part about sitting too long.
Feel free to PM me if you want personal suggestions... especially regarding flying. I found that to be an exceptionally large challenge after my surgeries (and I was nearly a year waiting).
I understand about the ECV. That was/is one advantage to owning your own ECV, my kids could retrieve it for me if I was so inclined.

Thanks for all the advise.
Yes i did tell the surgeon about my Disney trip. He said it should be fine and to listen to my body. I am supposed to go back to work as a nurse in 6 weeks (he said that should be ok but I am gonna clarify he actually knows what a nurse does because it is all bending lifting and twisting lol). Actually last surgery the doc wouldn't let me go back for 3 months although he too approved Disney. I usually walk 8-10 miles a day when we go but this is only a Thursday afternoon through Sunday afternoon trip so that will help. Problem is we will want to do a lot in those days. I am pretty sure all afternoons will be at the hotel though. We like to rope drop then relax later then go back to parks at night. We are doing Halloween party and Fantasmic and have dessert party tickets for Star Wars fireworks. Those are must do's. I will have to sit on the rollator during Fantasmic because bleacher seating is the absolutely last thing I can do even on a good day. If I remember correctly flying was awful after the last surgery. I think I will take my travel pillow and put it in my lumbar area. I may PM u in a few days. I am waiting on the near to bring my Percocet now then nighty-night for me! I am glad you reminded me because I forgot how dreadful those airplane seats are! It is a two hour flight so not toooo long anyway. This will be our last Disney trip for awhile - we had season passes this year and went several times. Because we have gone so much we can cut back on touring. My daughter is super happy she gets to ride coasters twice that we fast passed. She can use my magic band for the second ride. No way I will ride anything that isn't tame. Pretty sure safari will be out and that is the only ride I will be bummed about not riding.