Advise for DH ~ PTSD and back injury

[pixiedust_in_ak]

I've been cruising the DISabilities board for a while but am posting to get some advise. Our family is going to WDW in January. It will be myself, four kids (7-16), and dh, who is a wounded warrior with a back injury and PTSD. This is our first trip post injuries. We are taking all the steps we can to make sure dh does well in WDW but I'm stuck on a few things. We are going for 10 nights - Jan 9-18 - and plan to take things slow. We are very familiar with WDW so we have a good idea of what rides he would have issue with for back pain. We did a test run of sorts to a local theme park to see how he did with the crowds, the rides, and the walking.

With the back injury he has to walk very slow and several hours on his feet causes serious pain. He is very prideful and does not want me to rent an ECV in advance. He hates to be seen as disabled. But I fear multiple days on his feet will be too much. So is there any option of renting an ECV at the parks that is reliable (since I know there are a limited amount and such)? Is there places we can rent on short notice (call while there and have delivered in a day or so)? Also, if his back gets too bad is there an urgent care nearby that he can go to? Taxi cab distance (we are staying on site w/o a car)?

With the PTSD the main triggers are crowds (being boxed in without an escape route and having his back to too many people) and explosions. He has come leaps and bounds from where he was but I still worry. We are trying to go at the least crowded time of year that we can. In general he does okay except in the lines that fold back on themselves, so that hundreds are packed in a small space. If he has elbow room or a wall near him he is okay. My family has gotten really good about standing in front of and behind him and leaving a bit of extra space, but if the people are too close on the sides it may be an issue. My question is should he get a pass? Or are the line queues spacious? I'm trying to picture the queues but am drawing a blank on most and I'm not sure how many would be an issue, especially in January. We will utilize FP+ and such as much as possible of course. Again I fear the pride thing may get in the way with him being willing to ask for a pass.

The fireworks I think we have a plan. He does okay if he is aware that they are starting. So we will stay very conscious of the time and be where we can see them. Once we were in a building when they started (in a different theme park) and the surprise of them got him, so doing inside shows or restaurants at the time is definitely out.

Any other advise for either issue would be wonderful!

 

[Hoodie]

Also be aware that some of the stage shows use fireworks/explosions. I know the ones in front of the castle often set them off during the day.

 

[gap2368]

I've been cruising the DISabilities board for a while but am posting to get some advise. Our family is going to WDW in January. It will be myself, four kids (7-16), and dh, who is a wounded warrior with a back injury and PTSD. This is our first trip post injuries. We are taking all the steps we can to make sure dh does well in WDW but I'm stuck on a few things. We are going for 10 nights - Jan 9-18 - and plan to take things slow. We are very familiar with WDW so we have a good idea of what rides he would have issue with for back pain. We did a test run of sorts to a local theme park to see how he did with the crowds, the rides, and the walking.

With the back injury he has to walk very slow and several hours on his feet causes serious pain. He is very prideful and does not want me to rent an ECV in advance. He hates to be seen as disabled. But I fear multiple days on his feet will be too much. So is there any option of renting an ECV at the parks that is reliable (since I know there are a limited amount and such)? Is there places we can rent on short notice (call while there and have delivered in a day or so)? Also, if his back gets too bad is there an urgent care nearby that he can go to? Taxi cab distance (we are staying on site w/o a car)?

With the PTSD the main triggers are crowds (being boxed in without an escape route and having his back to too many people) and explosions. He has come leaps and bounds from where he was but I still worry. We are trying to go at the least crowded time of year that we can. In general he does okay except in the lines that fold back on themselves, so that hundreds are packed in a small space. If he has elbow room or a wall near him he is okay. My family has gotten really good about standing in front of and behind him and leaving a bit of extra space, but if the people are too close on the sides it may be an issue. My question is should he get a pass? Or are the line queues spacious? I'm trying to picture the queues but am drawing a blank on most and I'm not sure how many would be an issue, especially in January. We will utilize FP+ and such as much as possible of course. Again I fear the pride thing may get in the way with him being willing to ask for a pass.

The fireworks I think we have a plan. He does okay if he is aware that they are starting. So we will stay very conscious of the time and be where we can see them. Once we were in a building when they started (in a different theme park) and the surprise of them got him, so doing inside shows or restaurants at the time is definitely out.

Any other advise for either issue would be wonderful!

yes you can rent an ECV last minute from an out side vender. Disney is great at helping guess your husband can go to the first aid to lie down for a bit, I know when I went there I ended up in the ER and the ride there was free ( ambulance ) and free ride in a taxi back to the hotel so I am guessing if he needs an ugarent care it would be free ( I am not 100% on this)

with the lines even with the DAS ( the disability pass) you have to stand in lines some times for 20 to 30 minutes. no one here can say weather or not he would get one but you can go to guess relation and tell them his needs and what happens she he is in lines. but I think having your family around him will do the best I have at times told people around me that I have problems and they have all be great about giving me room ( I waited for a buss for over an hour when there was a car accident)

but I think you are going at a great time you are taking things slow and you have family to help you out.

 

[minnie mum]

Gaps info regarding ecv rentals is accurate. You might want to look at the FAQ sticky, and write down the names and contact info for some of the vendors just in case.

I think your plan regarding having your family providing a buffer zone around your husband is a good one. And you can use your own judgement about whether the standby lines are too long- the wait time is posted at every entrance. Almost all lines are wide enough for 2 people to stand side by side. But most lines do switchback. One area that might concern him is the hallway from the stretching room to the loading area in HM. I find it pretty claustrophobic in there as people tend to squeeze together there.

I do have a concern about Wishes. How will he handle the huge crowds that happen when Wishes is shown? And the crush of humanity down Main Street as soon as it ends? Would using a Wishes FP help him in that situation?

 

[pixiedust_in_ak]

Thank you everyone! Love this board!

Also be aware that some of the stage shows use fireworks/explosions. I know the ones in front of the castle often set them off during the day.

I didn't even think of that! This may be more of a challenge than I thought.

...

I do have a concern about Wishes. How will he handle the huge crowds that happen when Wishes is shown? And the crush of humanity down Main Street as soon as it ends? Would using a Wishes FP help him in that situation?

The Wishes crowds are a very good question. I've never been when the FP+ existed for Wishes so I'm not sure if it will help or not? The rush of people down Main Street are definitely a no-go. My thought was watching somewhere else in the park and not trying to leave right after. Fantasmic and Illuminations our plan is to watch from the side/back and let the crowds leave in front of us. Or leave the park before they start.

Thank you everyone for pointing things out I hadn't thought of!

 

[gap2368]

also wishes is much lauder then most fire works you may want to leave before hand and head over to one of the resorts near by and watch them there you could then wait a little and go back to your hotel

 

[PlutosUnDr8d]

I second him getting the assistance pass. That way he can wait elsewhere and take a breather from crowds. He may want to have ear buds or ear plugs to buffer the fireworks noise as well. Often, smells (fireworks, gun powder from a show in Frontierland, charred cooked anything, etc.) can trigger PTSD reactions, so if he has a therapist he works with, maybe he can go over his triggers with him or her and figure out solutions before hand. Great job doing practice runs--and he has time to keep desensitizing and planning for the anxiety that accompanies exposure to triggers. Best of luck with the trip, and thank your entire family for your service!

 

[HopperFan]

Check these out http://www.getdubs.com/

 

[PlutosUnDr8d]

Another person posted this, which could be helpful for your trip. It shows the other parks as well.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-...take-mid-day-breaks-within-the-magic-kingdom/

 

[powellrj]

My DS has PTSD and the fireworks are awful for him. He is better than he use to be, but he still can't go to a fireworks display. Between the crowds and the sounds he is a mess.

 

[mamabunny]

...With the back injury he has to walk very slow and several hours on his feet causes serious pain. He is very prideful and does not want me to rent an ECV in advance. He hates to be seen as disabled. But I fear multiple days on his feet will be too much. So is there any option of renting an ECV at the parks that is reliable (since I know there are a limited amount and such)? Is there places we can rent on short notice (call while there and have delivered in a day or so)? Also, if his back gets too bad is there an urgent care nearby that he can go to? Taxi cab distance (we are staying on site w/o a car)?

Would your husband accept the use of an ECV (or a rollator might actually work well for him) if you told him to think of it as tool? Using an ECV sucks - I won't lie. I have to use one in my personal daily life.

Regardless of what it is, just remember that we ALL have "something" "wrong" with us. My Mom was a Special Needs teacher, and she told me one time that EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING. Some people suck at math. Some people struggle with issues like Dyslexia. Other people need glasses, or hearing aids. And some people have bodies, or central nervous systems, that just don't work they way we want them to. Use the tools at your disposal - whether it's a calculator to do math, or an ECV to supplement walking, and go on, and have an amazing trip.

Yes, you can rent from WDW for $50/day (plus a deposit), but the ECV must stay in the theme park you rent at. You can "hop" the rental to another part for that day. You rent the ECV near the entrance of each theme park at WDW. (Any Cast Member can help you find it - don't worry!) You might want to put the phone numbers for several of the local (offsite) ECV vendors in your phone, in case your hubby decides he wants to rent from an off-site vendor. Most of them can deliver an ECV out to you within a ½ day; many within an hour or two of calling. Pro tip: If you rent an ECV for the duration of the trip, be sure to charge it fully every night, and please remember that you are not allowed to hold a child (or children) while driving an ECV at WDW.

You may also want to keep handy an App in your phone called "Doctor On Demand". They have doctors available not just for stuff like sinus infections, sore throats, and earaches, but they also have licensed therapists now too. It basically works like a FaceTime call, with a licensed physician. It's about $50/session for the therapist, and if you sign up, and get their newsletters, they send out coupons at least once a month for free or reduced price sessions... I have personally used them for sinus infections and similar issues when I couldn't get in with my doctor, and didn't want to pay outrageous prices for our local Urgent Care.

Finally, there are LOTS of places where you can see the fireworks, without nearly as much of the noise, if that's something your DH wants to do. Remember to pick your resort carefully - for example, some resorts are closer to theme parks, and you can hear (as well as see) fireworks from the grounds, and some rooms.

I wish you, and your entire family the most Magic possible for your trip!