2 Questions!

[ShhhQ]

1st....
My Mom and I have been planning our trip for this August and we already had planned on renting a motorized scooter as she does have mobilities issues and can not stand or walk for long periods of time. However, a couple of weeks ago the DR. diagnosed her with Congestive Heart Failure. I am not sure how this will effect her on the trip... she has to get the water weight off so her heart can function right. She now has to use her O2 (she doesn't tend to do so, unless she has a problem) more often and may need to plan on taking it to the parks with her. Regardless, she will need it at night. I have been reading about GACs and was wondering if it would be prudent for her to get one.... since she may be on oxygen and she will definately need a little extra time getting on some rides (talking about the slow boat ride type ones) I have read that they will stop these boats to allow slower moving guests to board... if I am wrong about this please correct me, we are new at this...

2nd....
I have plantar fasciitis in both feet, I had surgery in January to remove a heel spur from my left foot and will probably have a surgery next January to remove one from my right. I returned to work about a month ago to a job where I am constantly on my feet.... ere go I am constantly in pain and lately both legs and feet have taken to swelling up. I have been going back and forth in my mind about the issue of whether I should also rent a scooter. I am hoping that my left foot will be healed by the time August rolls around, but even so my right foot will probably be worse. I just keep thinking about the cost of renting 2 scooters, how it might be cumbersome for both people in our party to be driving them... considering the size of the room and use on the buses. I am willing to sacrifice pain for my mother (she keeps suggesting trading off her scooter and I said no), but on the other hand, I am afraid if I get to hurting too bad it may ruin both of our times... and I have been longing for this vacation for 28 years (since our last trip)

any advise would be more than welcome.

 

[LindaDVC]

Sounds like you will have more fun if you have a second scooter available.
I have mild p.f. and recently went for a 2 day trip -- I was about ready to get a chair since my foot flared up and was killing me--
I was deciding what to do next based on the distance!

We also go often so it didn't matter to DH or me what we did --
If you have been waiting that long do EVERYTHING possible to make you both feel the best possible and enjoy the trip !!!

If you rented a scooter off site you could have it available when you needed it. You might use it in the morning then leave it in the room in the evening if you return to the fireworks, etc depending on how you feel.

GACs will help you get accomidations but we have never gotten one since DH's disabilities are pretty obvious and the accommidations are made without any problem.

Linda

 

[SueM in MN]

She now has to use her O2 (she doesn't tend to do so, unless she has a problem) more often and may need to plan on taking it to the parks with her.

When she rents an ECV from off-site, she can also ask for oxygen holder.

I have been reading about GACs and was wondering if it would be prudent for her to get one.... since she may be on oxygen and she will definately need a little extra time getting on some rides (talking about the slow boat ride type ones) I have read that they will stop these boats to allow slower moving guests to board... if I am wrong about this please correct me, we are new at this...

The boats all come to a complete stop for loading for everyone and the CM operating the ride doesn't send the boat on its way until everyone in it is safely seated (Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Living with the Land, Jungle Cruise, etc.) The attractions that may be a problem for her would be the ones with moving walkways. In order to slow or stop those, you need to board at the exit.
If she is using the ECV in lines, she would not need a GAC to do this. The CMs would see that she has an ECV and would know that she has some mobility problem. They would not know exactly what kind of assistance she needs though, so she would need to watch the line moving for a few minutes and decide if she needs the moving walkway slowed, stopped or if she can do it at the 'regular' speed.
There is a section of the disABILITIES FAQs thread ( near the top of this board) that answers questions about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards). There are also some links in post #3 of that thread that should be helpful - especially the one about boarding rides).

For the question about you and the scooter - I think you will find your trip is much more pleasant if you are not going around in pain. You can always reserve one and cancel if your foot is much better (they may charge you a portion of the fee though). If you are worried about keeping 2 in your room, some people have posted that Bell Services at their resort was able to store an ECV for them.