7 yo with broken ankle

[Peter_noPan]

My seven year old daughter just broke her ankle and will be in a cast for the next six weeks, and we are going to WDW over Easter.

Anybody out there been though a similar situation that can give us some ideas? I know she will not be able to use crutches for the whole trip.

We are trying to put a good spin on this, but any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[lovesdumbo]

WOW. So sorry to hear. I'm sure others who've been there will chime in.

How much does she weigh? My soon to be 7 year would still find a Maclaren umbrella stroller very comfy. They have a weight limit of 55 pounds. I wonder if that would be easier than a wheel chair.

 

[InstImpres]

Definetly get a wheelchair. DD9 tried to do crutches last summer with a fracture to her knee. I gave up fighting and let her try. It only took about an hour for her to admit she was wrong We were able to get a free wheelchair from the resort for the whole stay.

Tell her she has a great built in seat for parades

 

[Tazicket]

Definitely get a wheelchair. I messed up my knee about a month before we went to Disney and got a wheelchair every day in the parks. It worked out well. I would recommend taking a towel for her to sit on. (Those wheelchairs get pretty uncomfortable after a few hours and the towel helps cushion it a little).

Here's me in the wonderchair with Dale and with Goofy

 

[ImBeka]

we will be there easter week also So sorry about your daughter! how about getting different color sharpies and having the characters autograph her cast? Maybe you can bring something to decorate the wheelchair? Hopefully it will attract the characters!

 

[tjmw2727]

Depending the size of your dd you can either rent a wheelchair or use a stroller as a "wheelchair". Wheelchairs are not made for children and many find them very uncomfortable after a while. If you still have access to a nice stroller or can borrow one that would be a good option.

A few Orlando baby agencies rent strollers and may have one that would accomodate a 7yo. My sil used www.abbf.com and loved the service.

If you do use a stroller instead of a wheelchair make sure to stop at guest relations to get a GAC - it will allow you to use the stroller as a wheelchair. This is important as strollers are not allowed in the lines and you will need this for your dd.

Visit the DISabillties board - a few down from here right on the DIS for even more information and probably better suggestions on helping your dd have a great trip.

TJ

 

[stacy6552]

Good spin? You got it! Special seating for shows and parades and extra special service for rides. Extra attention from Cm's and charactures........Get the wheelchair and Spin away!

 

[tjmw2727]

Good spin? You got it! Special seating for shows and parades and extra special service for rides. Extra attention from Cm's and charactures........Get the wheelchair and Spin away!

Not necessarily, sometimes you have to wait an extra show for that "special seating" and an there is absolutely no special service for rides. Those in wheelchairs wait the same as everyone else - sometimes longer depending on the services needed and the availabilty of them.

I hope that the OP can get the services she needs to make her dd's trip a great one, but be assured it won't be a "head of the line pass". Traveling with a cast, disability or other "issues" is not a "spin" or a "free ride" it is going to be difficult. Disney does an excellent job of evening the playing field for those who need it but be assured its not worth it for those who need it.

I repeat my suggestion about visiting the DISabilities board here at the Dis:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

The nice folks there will know exactly what you shoud do and have great suggestions for minimizing waits and distress for your dd.

ITA about signing the cast but I would also do an autograph book as the cast will soon be a memory while the book can last forever.

TJ

 

[OhMickey]

My daughter broke her ankle right before a trip 5 years ago. She was 11. We rented a wheel chair and brought the crutches along too. She did receive special treatment from characters.

Also, on some of the older rides such as Snow White and Peter Pan we were able to basically move to the front of the line. However, with remodelling of several rides, this may have changed.

 

[byoung]

Do the wheelchair. Have a great vacation.

 

[harmonium]

Do the wheel chair but bring towels or something to make the ride more comfortable. As for the rides, some will work to your advantage and let you pass the long lines. This works great for the Safari for instance. I know the on-site resorts also have comp. wheelchairs for you to use. My DW broke her toe a few weeks before our 05' trip so we needed to use a wheelchair to get around. My leg muscles really got a workout because whenever DD 6 (at the time) got tired she would hop on the wheelchair with DW. This also saved money on renting a stroller. Also the wheelchairs have storgage compartments and handles for hanging carry bags which was very convenient.

 

[Wendy1953]

Took my DMIL in January, and although she is mobile....she can not walk for any distance...DH talked with many people and found that a companion chair is the way to go, although the person in the chair cannot guide themselves....it has four small wheels instead of two big and two small....it's easier to collapse to get on the buses, monorails, into cars! It was a delight to have....bring the crutches, rent the companion chair, and you'll be set throughout the trip....it's a lot less bulky than the wheelchair, but pretty much serves the same purpose, unless the person wants to "wheel" themself!

So, so sorry that this had to happen, but, it could've been a lot worse!

Have a magical vacation!
PS...the place we rented from dropped the chair off the morning of our arrival, and picked it up from a different hotel upon our departure...it was well worth it....if you need the name of the company let me know.I'll find out from DH!

 

[tjmw2727]

My daughter broke her ankle right before a trip 5 years ago. She was 11. We rented a wheel chair and brought the crutches along too. She did receive special treatment from characters.

Also, on some of the older rides such as Snow White and Peter Pan we were able to basically move to the front of the line. However, with remodelling of several rides, this may have changed.

Both of these rides have been updated to allow a wheelchair in the regular line so having one won't get you to the front of the line. This is true for most if not all of the attractions. In fact for those who need to use a wheelchair on the attractions the wait is longer as they have to wait the line and then wait for an accessable ride vehicle. The idea that a wheelchair gets you to the front of the line is not correct (some wait much longer to ride).

She will still have to wait her turn to see the characters but I hope they will give her a few extra minutes and perhaps sign the cast and an autograph book in addition to a picture.

I still advise the OP to find a larger size very comfortable stroller for her dd and then get a GAC to allow her to use it as a wheelchair. This way her dd is comfortable as are those that have to push her and load her on and off the WDW attractions and transportation. A stroller can be folded to bring on the bus much easier than a wheelchair and again one may have to wait for a bus to accomodate a wheelchair.

She will be allowed to use the stroller in the lines if you get the GAC and access the wheelchair seating in the shows - on a first come first serve basis but IMHO this is the best option for the OP.

TJ

 

[tksbaskets]

Go and have a wonderful time with a wheelchair. On two trips my dear MIL joined us. She's had two hip and two knee replacements and can walk but not for great distances. We rented a wheelchair everywhere we went. I've got to tell you, both trips were at the busiest time of the year (between Christmas and New Years) and being a part of a wheelchair party got us to the front of most lines, GREAT seats at shows, and parades. It was great that my MIL didn't feel like she was slowing us down.

DO BRING A PAD for the chair - I made a tote bag/seat cushion that we put down on the chair but was easy to carry into shows. Never had a problem with the chair taking off without us but you never know.

TK

 

[harmonium]

As long as your DD can transfer from the wheelchair to the ride she will not cause your wait in line to be any longer than anyone elses. This "waiting longer" should not apply to you.

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

As long as your DD can transfer from the wheelchair to the ride she will not cause your wait in line to be any longer than anyone elses. This "waiting longer" should not apply to you.

Enjoy your trip!!!

Most of the time the extra wait is for people who need to remain in their wheelchairs and either need to wait for a special wheelchair car or need to wait for space in the wheelchair car (since many will only hold one wheelchair). So you are correct that often someone who can get out of their wheelchair will not have to wait longer.
The 2 exceptions that come to mind are Spaceship Earth and the Safari at AK. Those have separate wheelchair entrances for anyone using a wheelchair or with mobility disabilities and the wait is often considerably longer - like we have waited for 40 minutes for the Safari at a time where people in the regular line were basically walking on as quickly as possible. We have also waited at Spaceship Earth for over 1/2 hour when the regular line was also walking right on.

As some people have said, most of the queues are what is called Mainstream Access, where people with wheelchairs and ECVs wait in the same line with everyone else. There are very few attractions where wheelchair users have a special entrance or get any "advantage" (mostly older ones at MK that could not be updated). AK and MGM were built with Mainstream Access and all the Fastpass lines are wheelchair accessible, so get Fastpasses or go to the parks early in the day if you want to avoid waits. Getting to the front of the lines is an exception, not the usual.

Most of the wheelchairs available at the parks and at the resorts are adult size. For an average 7 year old, the armrests will be closer to shoulder height, the width of the sling seat makes it difficult to stay sitting securely in the middle of the seat and the seat is too deep; if the child sits all the way back so their back is supported, the edge of the seat will come about mid-calf and they can't bend their knees. If they sit farther forward, so the knees can bend, they will be too far forward to have any back support. The footrests of an adult wheelchair will also be too far down for her to rest her feet on them. You are more likely to get a wheelchair that is comfortable by renting from one of the off-site places.

 

[RoseRoni2]

What about a stroller? My dd 7 still fits in disney's strollers and loves them. She can stretch out and just enjoy the world when she is tired can sit down. We may not use one this year, but it is still an option.

 

[Schmeck]

Some of the Disney strollers are vey close to the ground - very hard to get out of, with a cast on! Also, they would be hard to manuever in lines, I would think. How about just buying a stroller at home and taking it with you?

 

[SueM in MN]

You could check with your clinic or the Physical Therapist at school (most schools have at least a consulting Physical Therapist) to see about resources for renting in your area and then bring a special needs stroller or pediatric wheelchair with you. I don't think you would be able to buy a stroller (unless you bought a special needs stroller costing a couple of hundred dollars) that a 7 yr old would fit in. Many times the child's legs will be too long to comfortably fit on the footrests and the footrest will probably be too small for a cast to stay securely on it.
If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board, you can find some places in the WDW area that rent medical equipment.

 

[InstImpres]

Just an extra thought....if you think it may be helpful in the airport (and you are either taking ME or a vehical that will have room), have the ortho write you a prescription. We had a wheelchair delivered to our house by the local supply place. After insurance it cost me $9 a month (we used it for the mall, school walkathon and more at home)