Advise for Mum please

[Theresa Hudson]

Hi all,

I was wondering if I could have some advise for my Mum. We are at WDW from 8th December to 22nd December. She has bad hips and can be quite bad at walking and standing for a long time (depending upon what sort of day she is having). Last year when we were at WDW we had to leave AK without seeing much, as it was just too much walking and waiting (we only did the other parks for a few hours at a time, or Mum didn’t go at all); then that evening one hip locked and she was in terrible pain, took her a couple of days to recover.

We have bought annual passes this year so Mum does not feel like she is ‘wasting a day’ and I am hoping that she can get to see a lot of the things she missed on the last trip by maybe spending less time at the parks but more often (if you know what I mean!).

There is no way Mum will have a wheelchair, even though we think it would be easier for her, she says she needs to move around and being in a wheelchair wouldn’t help her as she would just get more stiff.

Her hips have got worse since last year and it seems like we are in a ‘catch 22’. It causes pain and discomfort to walk and more so stand a lot, but being in a wheelchair all the time would not help either. Does anyone have any suggestions about what we could do to make this an enjoyable trip for Mum; I don’t think she will be going back again?

There are 5 of us in total, me, DH, DD, Mum and Dad and we don’t really want to be split up, as Mum missed so much last time.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi and welcome.
She sounds a lot like someone I know.
An ecv (electric scooter) would be more expensive than a wheelchair, but would give her more of a feeling of being in control. Part of not wanting to use a wheelchair might be that she feels very old and helpless having someone push her around. An ecv is really not that hard to drive after the initial few minutes and a lot of people use them at WDW. They are available first come, first served at the parks (so there might not be one available the day you want one). They are less expensive to rent from outside rental companies. Here's some info about the ones DIS posters have used:
CARE Medical Equipment - 1-800-741-2282
www.caremedicalequipment.com

RANDY'S Mobility in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://www.randysmobility.com/

Walker Medical - 1-800-334-9501
www.walkermobility.com

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

A wheelchair or an ecv is a tool that will help her conserve her energy so she doesn't have to leave the park or be in pain. The amount of walking involved in each park is really unbelievable. Just going around World Showcase at Epcot is more than 1 mile!. Nearly 2k, for those of you using metric!
Whether she uses a wheelchair or an ecv, she should get up and out of it at least once an hour and move around. Some people use the wheelchair or ecv to go between rides, but park it outside the lines and walk in line. You can find out from the CM at each ride how long the wait will be; that way, if it's a long wait, she can bring the wheelchair or ecv into the line (most lines do accomidate them). Whatever she does to alternate sitting and walking will help to keep her from getting stiff.

 

[Nanajo1]

I'd like to suggest that your Mum use a wheelchair when she needs it and the just push it along when she needs to move about. Mum get get the exercise she needs and get the rest she needs and stays with the group. Don't even start with "what will people think seeing us pushing an empty wheelchair!" Do what is best for your family.

 

[Theresa Hudson]

I <b>know</b> Mum won't use a wheelchair. She can't drive, so she definitelywouldn't use an ECV, from what she has said in the past she wouldn't feel safe using it.

If the wheelchair/ECV is out, is there really nothing else we can do?

 

[Nanajo1]

Get a GAC so she doesn't have to stand in line and use Fast Pass so you can plan where you need to be at what time and Mum can take her time getting there.

 

[Theresa Hudson]

Do you think Mum would be able to get a GAC?

Do we need to get a letter from the Doctor (we would probably have to pay)

Thanks

 

[mhopset]

This is what I would do. Ok, most people that know me know that I am very stubborn. (I don't think I am) well anyway, what you can do is just get the wheelchair and not let mum know you are getting it. Tell her to just try it, just to sit in it and see how it feels. Then take off like a bat out of H---. Go to the bus stop as quick as you can get her on the bus and before you know it she will be at one of the parks in the chair. Just kidding, but really I think that once she is in the chair and you are pushing her around and she is in no pain and is able to enjoy the sights and attractions she will thank you. If she feels like she is getting to stiff, let her get behind the wheelchair and push it for stabality and balance. That way she wont get to stiff. I think if she just tries it she will like it. Make her read this and tell her to stop being so stubborn! LOL Have a great time!!!!

 

[Nanajo1]

I do not believe a doctor's note is required for a GAC. I think you just go to guest services and state your case that your Mother has difficulty walking and standing in line so you would like her to be able to wait off line sitting down. I am sure other posters can give you more info on the GAC. But I think it might help a bit.

 

[SueM in MN]

Nanajo is right; you don't need to have a doctor's note to get a GAC. You just go to Guest Services in any of the parks and explain what the problems are. BUT, they are likely to suggest that if she has pain walking or standing, what she really needs to do is rent a wheelchair or ecv.
Here is a quote from the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities:

Some guests are concerned that they do not have the stamina to wait in our queues. We strongly suggest these Guests consider using a wheelchair or ECV, as the distance between our attractions is much greater than the length of our queues.

If they give her a GAC, it is not really likely to shorten her walks much and the GAC is not intended to (and really doesn't) shorten or avoid waiting for rides. She may be able to sit during the wait for some rides (not all), but you still have to walk between attractions and in most cases, you will walk the same distance to get into the ride whether you have a GAC or not. GAC users are also told to use FastPass as much as possible. FastPass would be a good option for you. You can send one of your party ahead to get the FastPasses and then wait somewhere sitting down.
Here's a link to the DIS FastPass info page.
You might also want to consider using 2 way radios. That way you can split up and still keep track of each other while she takes a rest.