Any help for a first time wheel chair user for a July trip

[figment301]

This will be a bit of a long read, so thank you in advance for reading.

facts:
*Me: Chris My daughters: Caleigh (12) Emily (11)
*We will be traveling to Disney in July 2014 with the girls track and field team
*We have been to Disney world 4 times before and the girls have been dying to go back
*I have been dealing with a couple injuries since late September 2012 and since a re-injury in late June 2013 I have been out of work completely
*We have only ever traveled during low crowd periods and in cooler months and I have never dealt with injuries before (we always used the commando touring style- go go go all day/night long).

My concerns:
*with my injuries I will have to use a wheel chair as there is no way I can stand or walk for any length of time (any tips for traveling in a wheelchair, especially in the heat)
*How bad is the heat and are there plenty of shaded areas for me to "hide" (I don't do well sitting in the blazing sun)
*Is there any way to get a lot done with the crowds? Are all the ride lines hours long? How long should you get a spot before shows/parades/fireworks etc... to make sure you get a good spot?
*Basically I am freaking out that we are going to be miserable because of the differences and lack of being able to get to do all the things we love to do while in Disney

**As far as I can tell from reading up on the new fast pass rules I won't be able to reserve any in advance because we are going to purchase our tickets once we arrive in Disney with parents on the team who are in the Military. So I am worried about not getting to see the frozen characters (I am in shock that my "too cool" 12 yr old is mostly concerned with character autographs).


So the reason we are going in July instead of our normal time of year is because with my lack of income and the SUPER deals we are getting because we are traveling with the team(super low room rate on property and military park tickets) this is the only way we can get there at all.

Basically any tips from people who have dealt with July crowds and weather and if you dealt with all of it with a disability then please give me your ideas for a smooth trip.

I will post this in the disability area too. So if I can only have it in one place I apologize. Thanks in advance for any tips/help you can offer.

 

[Bete]

I can answer some of your concerns.

Hopefully, you are staying on site with Disney. With that said it won't be as hard getting around; because, their buses and such are handicap friendly.

This will be heavier on the finances, but I really think you should consider a scooter rather than a wheelchair. If you rent from an outside source, it's about half the cost of one at the Disney parks. You will have a lot more freedom with a scooter; because, you won't have to rely on a pusher for the wheelchair. At the airport there are loaners you can get free; so, you are covered there.

You still can make fastpass plus reservations when you arrive and get your park tickets if you have access to Internet. If you are staying at Disney I believe a resort CM can help you do this, as well if you don't have Internet. It won't be as good as 60 days out, but it's still better than not having them at all. You will have less choice of fastpasses; because, many others before you have already pre-booked their fastpasses. This will still be better than just going to the park and winging it. I can't see you being able to get fastpasses for the Frozen characters. You still can be in a regular line for the character greet, but this will take hours to do. Frankly, I would skip it if you can't get fastpass plus for it. I think you have to be happy with the rest and not worry about a few no go situations.

If you can't be in the hot or sun too long make sure you alternate what you do like see a show and then do a character greet; do a ride and then do a character meet; eat and then do a parade. You get the idea; this way you will get relief. Parades and fireworks do have handicap access areas for scooters and wheelchairs. If you are there during the first week of July with the fourth holiday you can expect the crowds to be horrible with or without handicap access. Again, you may have to forego some to survive. There are sun hats, sunglasses, suntan lotion that can all help give you some relief from the sun, too. There are cooling vests and cooling bandanas that can be worn for relief. Try to go to the parks in the morning and evening and avoid afternoons or at least do more inside activities for the afternoon.

You can get free water and ice at the parks. You do have to wait in line to get it, but that will keep you hydrated and you will feel better.

 

[figment301]

I can answer some of your concerns.

Hopefully, you are staying on site with Disney. With that said it won't be as hard getting around; because, their buses and such are handicap friendly.

This will be heavier on the finances, but I really think you should consider a scooter rather than a wheelchair. If you rent from an outside source, it's about half the cost of one at the Disney parks. You will have a lot more freedom with a scooter; because, you won't have to rely on a pusher for the wheelchair. At the airport there are loaners you can get free; so, you are covered there.

You still can make fastpass plus reservations when you arrive and get your park tickets if you have access to Internet. If you are staying at Disney I believe a resort CM can help you do this, as well if you don't have Internet. It won't be as good as 60 days out, but it's still better than not having them at all. You will have less choice of fastpasses; because, many others before you have already pre-booked their fastpasses. This will still be better than just going to the park and winging it. I can't see you being able to get fastpasses for the Frozen characters. You still can be in a regular line for the character greet, but this will take hours to do. Frankly, I would skip it if you can't get fastpass plus for it. I think you have to be happy with the rest and not worry about a few no go situations.

If you can't be in the hot or sun too long make sure you alternate what you do like see a show and then do a character greet; do a ride and then do a character meet; eat and then do a parade. You get the idea; this way you will get relief. Parades and fireworks do have handicap access areas for scooters and wheelchairs. If you are there during the first week of July with the fourth holiday you can expect the crowds to be horrible with or without handicap access. Again, you may have to forego some to survive. There are sun hats, sunglasses, suntan lotion that can all help give you some relief from the sun, too. There are cooling vests and cooling bandanas that can be worn for relief. Try to go to the parks in the morning and evening and avoid afternoons or at least do more inside activities for the afternoon.

You can get free water and ice at the parks. You do have to wait in line to get it, but that will keep you hydrated and you will feel better.

We will be staying at all star sports and luckily a frig is included with the room with the team travel package. So I plan to bring a cooler and bring in frozen and cold water bottles (plus brita filter water bottles to refill when we run out). We will be there right after the 4th (arriving the 6th and leaving the 13th). I was hoping the crowds would recede that Sunday (wishful thinking). I would have booked my trip the other end (9th-16th) as my girls don't start competing until the 10th so that we were further away from the holiday. But the team deal is only for the week of the competition which runs from the 5th-13th. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Lampoon2012]

I can give advice to being in a wheelchair from a person who is normally not in a wheelchair.

Last April we traveled to the world, I was 14 weeks pregnant and after a brief visit to Celebration Health I was put on modifications. ie VERY minimal walking. Poor DH had to push me through the parks for 7 of our 10 days there. Some people were great and mindful. But most people acted like I wasn't even there.

I would wait for the family to come off rides and at Splash mountain someone actually tried to move me out of the shade! At Soaring I had an older teen literally jump over me. It was very frustrating. I had to remember to be patient and lower my expectations. That helped a bit.

The Disney cast members were always helpful, however. They would go out of the way to help me or to tell us better places to go that were wc accessible to view parades and or shows.

Overall, my advice to you is to keep your expectations low, stay patient, and remember that no matter what it is your vacation. Make the best with what you are given.

 

[Mrsjvb]

WHICH military ttickets?

the $149 4 day hoppers CAN be purchased EARLY at their base ITT or MWR office. you get vouchers but those CAN be linked to MDE and thus allow you to book Fast Passes at 60 days out. technically these are ONLY for the Servicemember and their family and do have a cap of 6 to purchase, one of which MUST be for the SM.

the regular tickets( small discount but can be purchased for up to 10 days just like regular tickets) are also available ahead of time at MWR/ITT. these have no other restrictions and the SM can purchase as many as they like.

as someone who IS in a WC, if you are not used to pushing yourself around and your kids/others are not willing to do it for you.. GET A SCOOTER.

if you do opt to provide your own power.. get fingerless gloves. in fact for anyone pushing you, get fingerless gloves. your palms will thank you.

DH uses his weight lifting gloves which have a slight padding.

the heat/humidity is brutal in the summer. best times are at rope drop, then around lunch go back to the resort to rest/cool down and then return in the evening. provide your own shade.. a hat is a MUST, even with copious amounts of sunscreen. alternate outdoor attractions with indoor ones. the lines may be shaded, but they are still long and outside in many places.

no you will not be able to do everything, or even a lot.. depending on your definition of 'a lot' . so prioritize.

 

[figment301]

Lapmpoon2012, I have seen the way people with wheelchair/scooter and strollers are treated at Disney people are harsh in the low season I can't even imagine how crazy it is going to be in a super high season. Especially with me (I have decided to rent a scooter) in a scooter that I have never driven before. So I am a bit paranoid that I am going to run into or over someone I have seen this happen quite a few times too. If you have not figured out from my original post, I am a bit of an over thinker lol But thank you for your outlook. I am really trying to become zen in my thinking about this trip. Fingers crossed

Mrsjvb, my friends will be purchasing the salute promo tickets that are $169. I am going to go with renting a scooter. I cannot wheel myself as I have 3 herniated disks in my neck and two tears in my rotator cuff on my right side (and it has now started bothering me on my left side too). This causes pain/burning/numbness from the base of my skull, down my neck, across the shoulder and down my arm into my hand. I also have lower back (sciatica/maybe disk issues) going on. Which has recently changed from just pain to numbness down my leg into my foot (right side). Then to top it off I have knee issues (I had multiple surgeries from the age of 12-19). I tend to swell up when I have done too much (which is a new problem since my injuries). I was worried about the scooter because of the crowds and my lack of experience driving it. But it is the lesser of the evils instead of making my kids push me in the crowds and heat.

Sorry for all the rambling. I am really thrown by all the differences this trip. I am a bit overwhelmed by trying to figure it all out. Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it!

 

[JillyBean1899]

Floppy wide brimmed hat. And bring bandannas, you can use them to make mini ice packs from the ice water you get at any food service place that has a soda machine (carts that just sell bottled water/soda won't have the free water, but you might be able to swipe a handful of ice when nobody is looking ).

And, I can't say enough about this, but get a CamelBak or similar hydration backpack. You will drink so much more water when all you have to do is sip instead of carry around a water bottle. Plus it gives you a little cooling on your back, and the new ones that are front-fill are super easy to fill up with ice and water. Just remember to hold the bite end up and squeeze it to send the water back into the pouch when you're done for the moment, otherwise that first mouthful will be nasty hot.

Take your time, and use the horn on the scooter if needed. Sometimes people just need a reminder that you're there, and a "beep beep" is generally preferable to running into them.

 

[Bete]

There are ways back home to practice with a scooter.

First, for free you can do scootering at a lot of retail and grocery stores. Those scooters are actually bulkier and harder then the ones you will use at the parks. Next, going to a local zoo you can rent a scooter and get a real feel for what it's like. This will be added expense, but you feel more comfortable about the scooter that way.

 

[Mrsjvb]

I agree: practice. grocery stores and warehouse stores give you practice in lines and confined spaces. Zoos give you practice in large /crowded scenarios.