3 year old in wheelchair - help?

[mrs1017]

My daughter broke her leg and we prepaid for the Poly later this month with a special rate from a TA. Anyway, we are still going. We are taking her wheelchair rather than stroller because that way I don't have to carry her through all of the lines holding her but can push the wheelchair, right? What do I need to know?? I'm a total beginning to doing Disney with a wheelchair. She isn't tall enough to ride anything but the no height requirement rides (and barnstormer, which I know she can't ride with a cast), but she can ride the no height requirement rides with the cast or brace, right? I'm hoping she'll have a removable walking boot by then but no guarantees. Thanks for the help! I'm overwhelmed. We have TONS of ADRs for character breakfasts...

 

[danielocha30]

you can get a tag at guest services for using your stroller as a wheelchair the cast member will let you stand in line with the stroller, and I don't think they will allow her in line if she is not tall enough for the ride, but you can ask for a child swap pass

 

[mrs1017]

Thanks - I didn't know that. What would I need to get that tag? I wasn't asking about taking her in lines for rides she can't ride... Just making sure she could still ride the regular rides she is allowed to with a cast or walking boot

 

[gap2368]

My daughter broke her leg and we prepaid for the Poly later this month with a special rate from a TA. Anyway, we are still going. We are taking her wheelchair rather than stroller because that way I don't have to carry her through all of the lines holding her but can push the wheelchair, right? What do I need to know?? I'm a total beginning to doing Disney with a wheelchair. She isn't tall enough to ride anything but the no height requirement rides (and barnstormer, which I know she can't ride with a cast), but she can ride the no height requirement rides with the cast or brace, right? I'm hoping she'll have a removable walking boot by then but no guarantees. Thanks for the help! I'm overwhelmed. We have TONS of ADRs for character breakfasts...

She can ride anything that she is tall enough to fit in and that you feel she is safe on it. I would think she would be much happier in her wheel chair as she could self push ( some) and I would think it would be much easer to get in and out of it. but like the PP said you can get a tag for a wheel chair as a stroller if that would make her happier ( with a stroller you can recline and you can get some shade too.

using a wheel chair at Disney really is quite easy as the park is very accessible you just go in what ever line stand by or FP) 99%. I think there are like 5 rides that you do something different ( jungle curse, BTMRR. small world, space ship earth, space motion are the ones I can think of and two of them she is not going to ride) at theses rides just ask the CM what to do as each is a little different. POTCB you will get one of Disney wheel chair as the ride drops you off in a total different building and it is very hard to get her wheel char there on time.

for your ADR you should be fine, even if one of you can not carry her but if you can and you have to go up a few steps to ge tot your table ( if you can not then you may have to wait a little longer for a table but should not be that bad.

 

[mrs1017]

Thank you so much! Yes carrying her for short distances, helping her on and off rides, etc is no problem as she is only 3 - I just can't carry her for long periods of time. My back is already hurting and it's only been 4 days since the break LOL. I'm not used to carrying her so much

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Get her stroller tagged as a wheelchair and you can use it as a wheelchair.
Nearly everything is wheelchair accessible at WDW so don't be concerned.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks - I didn't know that. What would I need to get that tag? I wasn't asking about taking her in lines for rides she can't ride... Just making sure she could still ride the regular rides she is allowed to with a cast or walking boot

If you want to get the tag all you have to do is go to guest relations on your first day and ask. Tell them you need if for your daughter who currently can't walk. They'll issue it for your length of stay and then you can use the stroller instead of a wheelchair which may be more comfortable for her because I'm sure she is use to it. Most wheelchairs are way too big for kids so they have issues sitting in them for a long time.

 

[mrs1017]

They gave her one for her size, but it can become difficult for me to push at times. I'm going to practice with it for a few more days before we decide. It takes up significantly less space in the car (we are in Jacksonville so we drive) and it supports her leg better than the stroller which would constantly have it dangling.

 

[gap2368]

They gave her one for her size, but it can become difficult for me to push at times. I'm going to practice with it for a few more days before we decide. It takes up significantly less space in the car (we are in Jacksonville so we drive) and it supports her leg better than the stroller which would constantly have it dangling.

if they gave her a wheel chair that is her size I would use this, but I would bring a few number of stroller company ( if you can not bring hers) incase you find that her wheel chair is not working for her at Disney. and make sure ( not like you would not already) but make sure you put a little extra sunscreen on the top of her lags.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks - I didn't know that. What would I need to get that tag? I wasn't asking about taking her in lines for rides she can't ride... Just making sure she could still ride the regular rides she is allowed to with a cast or walking boot

is she able to bend at the knee or is leg out straight? that will make a big difference on what she can ride even at that age

 

[mamabunny]

@mrs1017 - search for "wheelchair handle extensions" on Amazon if the handles on her wheelchair are too low, and you are stooped over, trying to push.

 

[anonymousegirl]

They gave her one for her size, but it can become difficult for me to push at times. I'm going to practice with it for a few more days before we decide. It takes up significantly less space in the car (we are in Jacksonville so we drive) and it supports her leg better than the stroller which would constantly have it dangling.

I would check with your daughter's doctor about the advisability of using the stroller. You mentioned her leg would not be supported in the stroller. I would be worried about additional injury from the constant weight of the cast, pulling on her growing bones.

 

[mrs1017]

Thanks everyone! It is a short leg cast, below the knee so not fully extended or anything. I think we will use the wheelchair for the simple reason that I myself cannot load her and the folded up stroller onto the bus, but they'll let me use the ramp if she's in the wheelchair. My husband isn't going- it's just my friend and I and our two three year olds. The orthopedist said she'd be fine to ride anything she's allowed to ride since she's so small her feet don't touch the bottom of any ride anyway so she wouldn't be "bracing" herself. She's only 36 inches so not much available to her that's crazy

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks everyone! It is a short leg cast, below the knee so not fully extended or anything. I think we will use the wheelchair for the simple reason that I myself cannot load her and the folded up stroller onto the bus, but they'll let me use the ramp if she's in the wheelchair. My husband isn't going- it's just my friend and I and our two three year olds. The orthopedist said she'd be fine to ride anything she's allowed to ride since she's so small her feet don't touch the bottom of any ride anyway so she wouldn't be "bracing" herself. She's only 36 inches so not much available to her that's crazy

somewhere I thought leg was out straight and that could be a problem

 

[OneLittleSpark]

As everyone else has said, Disney on wheels is really easy. I'm a wheelchair user and find that WDW is one of the few places that doesn't make me 'feel disabled'. Just a few random thoughts from me:

Make sure you don't hurt yourself! If you need a break, take one! Also, if lifting her into ride cars is difficult, some rides have wheelchair accessible cars where she could stay in the chair. These take longer to come around (there's usually only one in circulation), but they may save you some stress and pain.

On the buses, you might want to consider having her stay in the chair to ride. The driver will strap her and the chair in place, so no need to worry about her rolling anywhere, and it will make it easier to protect her leg from being jostled and bumped by other passengers. It also means you're not trying to hold onto a couple of over-tired three year olds AND a wheelchair!

For your ADRs, it might be worth just phoning ahead to say that someone in your party will be using a wheelchair. That way, if that restaurant does have any steps, they'll make sure to put you somewhere accessible.

One fun thing that I always do is to decorate the wheelchair. This always gets us compliments and strikes up conversations, and it may make her feel less self-conscious (if that's an issue). Could you get characters to autograph her cast, if she's still in it by then?

Make use of the wheelchair viewing areas for parades and so on. It will mean she'll still be able to see everything and you won't have to worry about some numpty standing in front of her at the last minute (yup, this happens!). It should also reduce the risk of her being bumped and jostled.

If she ends up with swelling or in pain and needs a break, the first aid centres will let you use one of their beds to put her foot up for a bit.

As someone else said, the tops of your legs and feet are much more exposed in a wheelchair than walking, so make sure to keep putting on the suncream.

Have an amazing trip!

 

[DisneyOma]

Does your 3 year old still nap? Is the other 3 year old going to be in a stroller? What if the other 3 year old falls asleep in the stroller, what are you going to do with yours, who is probably just as tired but stuck in the wheelchair?

If you get a stroller as a wheelchair tag you can roll it on to the buses. The tag means the stroller can go any place a wheelchair can go. It will not be suitable to ride in on the bus though unless it has the specific tiedowns, If you use the wheelchair, make sure it has well marked tie down spots too. You'll line up in the HC spot at the bus stops (if there are ones) and will be loaded first. But then you'll be unloaded last - prepare the kids for waiting.

 

[bumbershoot]

On the buses, you might want to consider having her stay in the chair to ride. The driver will strap her and the chair in place

I'm nit sure that's advisable especially with a 3 year old.

Could you get characters to autograph her cast

The issue with this is that it means she'll want to keep that gross cast. My son has 3 casts floating around his room and it's nasty.

 

[Gracie09]

Does your 3 year old still nap? Is the other 3 year old going to be in a stroller? What if the other 3 year old falls asleep in the stroller, what are you going to do with yours, who is probably just as tired but stuck in the wheelchair?

If you get a stroller as a wheelchair tag you can roll it on to the buses. The tag means the stroller can go any place a wheelchair can go. It will not be suitable to ride in on the bus though unless it has the specific tiedowns, If you use the wheelchair, make sure it has well marked tie down spots too. You'll line up in the HC spot at the bus stops (if there are ones) and will be loaded first. But then you'll be unloaded last - prepare the kids for waiting.

That is NOT what the stroller as a wheelchair tag means! You cannot roll a stroller on to bus and tie it down. It is for ride lines where a stroller would not normally be permitted. Like a DAS is for ride lines, not buses. A stroller is permitted in the lines for a bus. In addition, it dangerous for both the child and the other riders on a bus to tie down a stroller that is not meant to be tied down. In an accident or even a hard stop, the frame of the stroller could bend or break and the child could be injured. Unless you have a stroller with transit tie downs you cannot tie down the stroller.

 

[DisneyOma]

That is NOT what the stroller as a wheelchair tag means! You cannot roll a stroller on to bus and tie it down. It is for ride lines where a stroller would not normally be permitted. Like a DAS is for ride lines, not buses. A stroller is permitted in the lines for a bus. In addition, it dangerous for both the child and the other riders on a bus to tie down a stroller that is not meant to be tied down. In an accident or even a hard stop, the frame of the stroller could bend or break and the child could be injured. Unless you have a stroller with transit tie downs you cannot tie down the stroller.

Some strollers are made with tiedown spots, and are designed to be ridden in on buses. But not all strollers are designed as such. have you ever seen the larger strollers made for children with disabilities? My cousin has one for her daughter. It has tie-down spots, and her daughter gets buckled in just like a wheelchair user gets buckled in. She wheels it onto the buses, as her daughter is too heavy to carry, and can't support herself well in a wheelchair.

Here's a link: http://www.adaptivemall.com/convaid2.html

 

[lanejudy]

It will not be suitable to ride in on the bus though unless it has the specific tiedowns

Unless you have a stroller with transit tie downs you cannot tie down the stroller.

You are both saying the same thing.

I believe the important part to actually highlight is that the vast majority of strollers in use at WDW, even with a stroller-as-wheelchair tag, are not designed for use with tie downs. Not even all special needs strollers can be used on buses. Most likely if you don't own such a stroller, you will not be renting one, therefore guests should plan to fold the stroller for use on buses. Whether or not a bus driver will allow you to push a stroller through the back doors and then fold it seems to be variable; the stroller-as-wheelchair tag does not necessarily guarantee this will be allowed.