Animal Kingdom - Ouch!

[Jecca]

Does anyone who uses a wheelchair have problems with the texture of the paved areas at AK? I know it’s meant for ambience and atmosphere, but I always feel like I’ve been beaten up after a day of rolling over those paths. Today was one of those days and, while we had a good time, now every part of my body hurts and that’s not typical for me. The ground there also affects my ability to push because I can never get enough momentum there. No real question or request for a solution here, but maybe wondering if anyone can commiserate.

 

[mamabunny]

I use my personal ECV, and I feel like I have been beat up after a day at AK; even with a heavily padded seat, sometimes it feels like there just isn't enough shock absorption!

It's *so* pretty, though. And there is so much to love about AK. I can't stay away!

Worst thing I *ever* experienced on wheels was at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. They have a bridge there that is an old bridge. I remember it from when I was a little kiddo, back in the 70's. Over the years, a thick "wedge" of beautiful green grass has grown up between the planks that make up the bridge. The grass now stands about an inch tall, and is so thick that it doesn't really compress when you step on it. The planks themselves are probably 8 to 10 inches wide. As you approach, it looks, for all the world, like a beautiful old bridge, with soft mossy tufts between the planks.

So... I didn't realize how tall that grass was. I also didn't realize how firm it was, and what was about to happen... I rolled down the slope, and hit that bridge and experienced the singularly most painful thing I have ever done on my personal device. It felt like I was rolling over a giant washboard that wanted to kill me. I literally had to go to First Aid and get some Tylenol and rest for a bit after, and my physical therapist lectured me for *weeks* after that, because that's how long it took to recover.

Now when I go to AK, I remember that stinkin' bridge, and the pavement isn't quite so bad! LOL

 

[Mrsjvb]

not really. no worse than San Diego Zoo/safari park. of course I use a 3 in thick gel cushion. and I have a pusher. he complains sometimes about the jarring on his hands/arms.

 

[smallworldnh]

I'm so glad you brought this topic up! I am taking my mom for the first time next May - she is 85 and although she can walk (slowly!), I will be renting a chair since the parks will be too much for her. She will not ride and ECV. So I should rent the wheelchair with the padding, someone told me to wear the bike riders gloves because I will get blisters on my hand. Any other suggestions, especially for rough hilly terrain like at AK?? Thanks!

 

[gap2368]

I'm so glad you brought this topic up! I am taking my mom for the first time next May - she is 85 and although she can walk (slowly!), I will be renting a chair since the parks will be too much for her. She will not ride and ECV. So I should rent the wheelchair with the padding, someone told me to wear the bike riders gloves because I will get blisters on my hand. Any other suggestions, especially for rough hilly terrain like at AK?? Thanks!

While some do get blister without gloves on some get them with them on so just be careful either way and do what works for you.

 

[mamabunny]

I'm so glad you brought this topic up! I am taking my mom for the first time next May - she is 85 and although she can walk (slowly!), I will be renting a chair since the parks will be too much for her. She will not ride and ECV. So I should rent the wheelchair with the padding, someone told me to wear the bike riders gloves because I will get blisters on my hand. Any other suggestions, especially for rough hilly terrain like at AK?? Thanks!

If the rental company has one, a nice thick gel cushion (like @Mrsjvb uses) would certainly help keep her comfortable; because the rental wheelchair seat is basically a "sling", after while, you can kind of sink down into the bottom, and it can get to be kind of uncomfortable. They don't typically have a lot of padding. (Full time wheelchair users have custom chairs that are designed and made for sitting all day, hours on end.)

 

[SueM in MN]

There is a wooden bridge walkway that goes between Festival of the Lion King area in Africa and Pandora.
If you think the rest of AK is bumpy, you really want to avoid that. It makes the rest of the park look smooth.

Regarding using gloves - some people like them for the wheelchair pusher. Some people hate them. My family is in the ‘hate’ category. We tried them, but found them to be very hot. The only times in many years of pushing a wheelchair that anyone got blisters on their hands were the times we tried gloves.

 

[BillSears]

Sue, I was just about to post about that bridge! The planks should have been laid the direction of the path not side to side. It's constant bump, bump, bump, bump, every 4 inches.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Instead of gloves, maybe https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Me...teway&sprefix=Wheelchair+hand,aps,158&sr=8-24

 

[Simba's Mom]

Sue, I was just about to post about that bridge! The planks should have been laid the direction of the path not side to side. It's constant bump, bump, bump, bump, every 4 inches.

Yes, I'm glad to see someone mention it also. I thought for sure I must be doing something wrong, going over that bridge. I've never felt anything at WDW that was nearly so bumpy.

 

[Jecca]

There is a wooden bridge walkway that goes between Festival of the Lion King area in Africa and Pandora.
If you think the rest of AK is bumpy, you really want to avoid that. It makes the rest of the park look smooth.

I *hate* that bridge. I don’t know what they were thinking when they chose those planks. I avoided it this trip, but didn’t know enough to avoid it last year. Awful.

 

[RaySharpton]

Yep.

 

[geek+nerd]

AK is my favorite park, but I self-propel very little there because of the reasons you mentioned, especially not being able to build up much momentum. And that bridge between Africa and Pandora is AWFUL!

 

[smallworldnh]

Instead of gloves, maybe https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Medical-Cushion-Rolling-Wheelchairs/dp/B07NZ6LJBT/ref=sr_1_24?crid=6LC1CVW13FPL&keywords=wheelchair+handle+grips&qid=1564076468&s=gateway&sprefix=Wheelchair+hand,aps,158&sr=8-24

Wow, I've never even heard of those! You are all the best!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah, when I first started using a dollar or rollator it was hard on my hands - although not as hard as pushing a wheelchair! Anyway, Amazon no longer sells the version I got, but the ones I linked look more padded.

 

[SueM in MN]

Instead of gloves, maybe https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Medical-Cushion-Rolling-Wheelchairs/dp/B07NZ6LJBT/ref=sr_1_24?crid=6LC1CVW13FPL&keywords=wheelchair+handle+grips&qid=1564076468&s=gateway&sprefix=Wheelchair+hand,aps,158&sr=8-24

I was going to suggest pool noodles, but these look better.

 

[mamabunny]

The only time I suggest bike gloves or golf gloves (or similar) is if someone is going to be a "pusher" for one of the old-school chairs that have the hard, slippery, black plastic molded hand grips. The first time we rented a chair at WDW was when we took my Mom, and I was still ambulatory. I was the designated "pusher" and by early afternoon, my hands were torn up. We stopped at First Aid, but band-aids don't stick to the palms of your hands very well, and so I took one of my (ever present) bandanas, ripped it in half, and wrapped those around the handles. After that, we never traveled to WDW without gloves until after my Mom passed away. I hated the gloves, but it was better than the blisters.

But those foam covers that @kaytieeldr found on Amazon are excellent!

 

[Groot]

Regular uncustomized manual wheelchair with arms, yes.

Scooter or powerchair, no.

 

[gillep]

The only time I suggest bike gloves or golf gloves (or similar) is if someone is going to be a "pusher" for one of the old-school chairs that have the hard, slippery, black plastic molded hand grips. The first time we rented a chair at WDW was when we took my Mom, and I was still ambulatory. I was the designated "pusher" and by early afternoon, my hands were torn up. We stopped at First Aid, but band-aids don't stick to the palms of your hands very well, and so I took one of my (ever present) bandanas, ripped it in half, and wrapped those around the handles. After that, we never traveled to WDW without gloves until after my Mom passed away. I hated the gloves, but it was better than the blisters.

But those foam covers that @kaytieeldr found on Amazon are excellent!

YES! We rented a wheelchair for my husband's grandmother and none of us were used to pushing a wheelchair and she weighed almost twice as much as me, my hands were in rough shape without gloves and those hard plastic handles.

My husband broke his foot while at WDW and we rented a knee scooter, he was fine in the other parks but asked to be abandoned at a bar in AK, he could not take the texture of the pavement and jostling with his newly broken foot, it was just too painful.

 

[musicmom3331]

That Silver Dollar City bridge is the worst! They've got the grass out of there, but the placement of the boards is terrible. I have to go very slow, and I feel like I'm on a horse. Of course, the fake horse clip-clop sounds they add don't help!

I use my personal ECV, and I feel like I have been beat up after a day at AK; even with a heavily padded seat, sometimes it feels like there just isn't enough shock absorption!

It's *so* pretty, though. And there is so much to love about AK. I can't stay away!

Worst thing I *ever* experienced on wheels was at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. They have a bridge there that is an old bridge. I remember it from when I was a little kiddo, back in the 70's. Over the years, a thick "wedge" of beautiful green grass has grown up between the planks that make up the bridge. The grass now stands about an inch tall, and is so thick that it doesn't really compress when you step on it. The planks themselves are probably 8 to 10 inches wide. As you approach, it looks, for all the world, like a beautiful old bridge, with soft mossy tufts between the planks.

So... I didn't realize how tall that grass was. I also didn't realize how firm it was, and what was about to happen... I rolled down the slope, and hit that bridge and experienced the singularly most painful thing I have ever done on my personal device. It felt like I was rolling over a giant washboard that wanted to kill me. I literally had to go to First Aid and get some Tylenol and rest for a bit after, and my physical therapist lectured me for *weeks* after that, because that's how long it took to recover.

Now when I go to AK, I remember that stinkin' bridge, and the pavement isn't quite so bad! LOL

lver