Advice on Mobility Device Plans

[Chirple]

This is my first time facing the possibility of needing a mobility device for our next trip. We are starting with 3 days in WDW (staying at Bay Lake Tower) and then boarding the Disney Fantasy for a week-long cruise.

In October my right knee swelled to the point where I could not walk. I had an MRI done and saw an ortho; I have very bad arthritis in the knee. We took a cruise on DCL, and we had to get a wheelchair for the week just to get me from the atrium to our stateroom and at some points around the ship. We never left the ship, and I could not leave the room the first day or the last day. I ended up with a gel injection right before Thanksgiving, post cruise.

Since the injection, my knee is slowly getting better. However, it’s the standing in place for too long and walking without a break that are making it extra sore. In two months things could be better, but I want to prepare for the possibility now.

I was considering renting a wheelchair that I can propel from a local medical supply store to bring with me for the cruise. It won’t take up much space once folded. I don’t think I’ll need it, but I might prefer to have it just in case. I am most likely going to rent an ECV for our time in WDW; I would like to be independent of my husband since I want to do things early, and he is not an early person. I have no experience riding/renting ECVs.

Do you think this is a good plan?

 

[Someluck]

I am 68 years old and bega nusing a mobility scooter for trips to WDW and other places where the walking is frequent and covers long distances. I use a foldable 3 wheel mobility scooter, a go-go Pride, and it is very easy to steer, back up and turn. I had no prior experience and it didn't take long to become reasonably facile. It has made all the difference in my ability to be independent and to keep up with my family. I highly recommend one for the parks and also on board.

 

[mamabunny]

This is my first time facing the possibility of needing a mobility device for our next trip. We are starting with 3 days in WDW (staying at Bay Lake Tower) and then boarding the Disney Fantasy for a week-long cruise.

In October my right knee swelled to the point where I could not walk. I had an MRI done and saw an ortho; I have very bad arthritis in the knee. We took a cruise on DCL, and we had to get a wheelchair for the week just to get me from the atrium to our stateroom and at some points around the ship. We never left the ship, and I could not leave the room the first day or the last day. I ended up with a gel injection right before Thanksgiving, post cruise.

Since the injection, my knee is slowly getting better. However, it’s the standing in place for too long and walking without a break that are making it extra sore. In two months things could be better, but I want to prepare for the possibility now.

I was considering renting a wheelchair that I can propel from a local medical supply store to bring with me for the cruise. It won’t take up much space once folded. I don’t think I’ll need it, but I might prefer to have it just in case. I am most likely going to rent an ECV for our time in WDW; I would like to be independent of my husband since I want to do things early, and he is not an early person. I have no experience riding/renting ECVs.

Do you think this is a good plan?

I think it's a great idea to rent an ECV while at WDW - I'm *very* independent by nature, and one of my favorite things is rising early, and slipping down to the QS to grab a freshly brewed cup of coffee while everyone else is snoozing!

Remember that unless you are used to self-propelling a manual wheelchair that your arms and/or shoulders (and possibly hands) will feel like limp noodles in short order. Even though the ships are *technically* smaller than a Theme Park, people tell me that they still have no trouble getting in all their steps for the day, and then some!

Plus, self-propelling on carpet (don't most of the hallways have carpet?) is tougher. The carpet kind of drags on the wheels, and you have to work harder. If you have any arthritis in your arms, shoulders or hands, self-propelling is NOT a good idea. You don't want to come home from a cruise in worse shape than when you left!

If you have someone who can push you, I think it's a great idea, because you can walk behind the chair and push it (like a walker) when you don't need to use it to sit, and then they can push you when you need assistance.

If you don't really need a wheelchair anywhere near full time, I would look at a Rollator. It is a walker with a built in seat, and they often have a handy basket or cubby under the seat. It gives you a place to sit instantly if you need one, lets you offload some of the force of walking from your knees onto the walker, and still gives you a lot of freedom. Do make sure to adjust the height properly so that you don't cause any undue stress on your arms/shoulders.

I'm really sorry about your knee. As someone who has been suffering from OA since early adulthood, I have literally felt your pain.

 

[Chirple]

I think it's a great idea to rent an ECV while at WDW - I'm *very* independent by nature, and one of my favorite things is rising early, and slipping down to the QS to grab a freshly brewed cup of coffee while everyone else is snoozing!

Remember that unless you are used to self-propelling a manual wheelchair that your arms and/or shoulders (and possibly hands) will feel like limp noodles in short order. Even though the ships are *technically* smaller than a Theme Park, people tell me that they still have no trouble getting in all their steps for the day, and then some!

Plus, self-propelling on carpet (don't most of the hallways have carpet?) is tougher. The carpet kind of drags on the wheels, and you have to work harder. If you have any arthritis in your arms, shoulders or hands, self-propelling is NOT a good idea. You don't want to come home from a cruise in worse shape than when you left!

If you have someone who can push you, I think it's a great idea, because you can walk behind the chair and push it (like a walker) when you don't need to use it to sit, and then they can push you when you need assistance.

If you don't really need a wheelchair anywhere near full time, I would look at a Rollator. It is a walker with a built in seat, and they often have a handy basket or cubby under the seat. It gives you a place to sit instantly if you need one, lets you offload some of the force of walking from your knees onto the walker, and still gives you a lot of freedom. Do make sure to adjust the height properly so that you don't cause any undue stress on your arms/shoulders.

I'm really sorry about your knee. As someone who has been suffering from OA since early adulthood, I have literally felt your pain.

Thank you for your detailed response! I also had Rollator in the back of my mind, which might be better overall for both the parks and the cruise. The last cruise was our 14th; my husband pushed the wheelchair for me on the carpet while I was able to navigate myself on the smooth surfaces. I do a lot of strength work for my arms, back, and legs and use the stairs on the ships instead of the elevator (which, all things combined, is making this inactivity even worse). The wheelchair was a "just in case" scenario.

This is a temporary setback; the doctor said in November that I should be close to fully recovered in three months.

If I use a Rollator, do you have any insight how that works at the airport? We have TSA pre-check (which we know isn't always guaranteed). I used the airline's wheelchair assistance in November so we went through the normal pre-check line but didn't have to worry about getting the wheelchair through. How does a Rollator get sent through the security check if we're on our own?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Rollator:

• call airline
• tell airline you are bringing a rollator
• ask if there is a closet in the cabin
• if there's a closet, tell the agent you would like to store it in the closet (medical equipment "outranks" everything else) and ask what you need to do.

Worst case: purchase a stroller bag that will hold your folder rollator. Proceed to the gate. Get a gate-check tag. At the plane door, fold the rollator, put it in the bag (to which you've attached the tag), and leave it outside the plane.

 

[Evita_W]

Honestly, ECVs aren't that hard to drive, especially a 3 wheel one. I would seriously consider that, I can't imagine trying to use anything manual in the parks, they are just too big with rather rough terrain that makes anything manual much harder to push, just my opinion of course

 

[mamabunny]

Thank you for your detailed response! I also had Rollator in the back of my mind, which might be better overall for both the parks and the cruise. The last cruise was our 14th; my husband pushed the wheelchair for me on the carpet while I was able to navigate myself on the smooth surfaces. I do a lot of strength work for my arms, back, and legs and use the stairs on the ships instead of the elevator (which, all things combined, is making this inactivity even worse). The wheelchair was a "just in case" scenario.

This is a temporary setback; the doctor said in November that I should be close to fully recovered in three months.

If I use a Rollator, do you have any insight how that works at the airport? We have TSA pre-check (which we know isn't always guaranteed). I used the airline's wheelchair assistance in November so we went through the normal pre-check line but didn't have to worry about getting the wheelchair through. How does a Rollator get sent through the security check if we're on our own?

My friend @kaytieeldr covered it just up there a ways, but Rollators are considered medical equipment, and so fly for free; there is no additional charge to bring it. (and no additional charge to bring an ECV or manual or powered wheelchair)

TSA will typically "swab" any equipment you bring through - they will tell you what to do, and will have a wooden cane for you to use if needed as you move through the scanner. If you are having a bad day, and can't walk/stand through the standard scanner, then you will be brought through a special gate, and then an agent will pat you down by hand, and "wand" you. Allow a bit of extra time here for the equipment check.

I always arrive a bit earlier than normal to also allow a little extra time to get the gate check tags for my equipment. Approach the gate agents when they start working the flight to let them know you have equipment to board the plane. Hope for a closet for your Rollator, but realistically speaking, plan for it to go under the plane in the hold. Don't leave anything in any storage compartment on board the Rollator, and anything that could fall off of it, or become detached needs to be put into a tote bag, and come on the plane with you. You can store it in the overhead bin, or sometimes a friendly Flight Attendant can find a spot for it.

If you do have to gate check it, you can always sit in your seat, and wait; just ask the FA's to let you know when it comes up from the hold after you land. There's no point in standing out in a smelly jetway if you don't have to! Typically, your equipment comes back up out of the hold fairly quickly, but do make sure you add a wee bit of room between connecting flights - you don't want to miss your connector because you were waiting on the ground crew to get your equipment back to you.

I'm glad to know that you may be fully recovered soon! That alone is worth celebrating on your trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

There's no point in standing out in a smelly jetway if you don't have to!

Hey! I like the smell of jet fuel!

 

[Chirple]

I appreciate all of the excellent tips and feedback. I'm leaning towards getting the ECV for our short time in WDW and having a Rollator for the cruise in case I need it.

Yes, jetways can be smelly; but here in NJ during the winter they can also be freezing!

 

[mamabunny]

Hey! I like the smell of jet fuel!

I like the smell of jet fuel, because it smells like da hubs paycheck! (also his clothes after work!)

I appreciate all of the excellent tips and feedback. I'm leaning towards getting the ECV for our short time in WDW and having a Rollator for the cruise in case I need it.

Yes, jetways can be smelly; but here in NJ during the winter they can also be freezing!

Yeah, we get those days when the wind *literally* comes sweeping down the plains, and our wind chills are sub-zero, and it took exactly *less than one* of those for me to learn that I stay seated inside the plane, and let the Flight Attendants tell me when Angus comes up from the hold! Once First Class clears out, you can sit right there by the door, and typically they don't care if they know you are waiting for your medical equipment to come up. (I always ask just to be polite, but they have never refused me yet)