Any tips on not letting a broken leg spoil my trip?

[charhill]

Does anyone out there have any tips for someone who will be going to Disney with a broken leg??

I just broke my leg and am awaiting surgery for it, we are leaving for WDW in 20 days for a family holiday and I don't want to spoil the trip for everyone

I know I won't be able to walk it all, so I don't know if I will be better with a wheelchair or a scooter. I am guessing scooter since my dh will be pushing a stroller already.

I have no idea where to get a scooter and what is involved, can I use one at the resort as well or just the parks. We havn't stayed at SSR before but from what I understand it can be quite a distance from the room to bus stops and pools.

I would love any tips...

Thanks

 

[joey8544]

I was told that if you are in a wheel chair, you AND YOUR PARTY are moved to the front of the line for the rides.
That should brighten up your day!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

You can rent a scooter from off property and have it waiting for you at the resort. Disney rents scooters in the parks for about $35/day, BUT you will need one to get to the park. I think off-site rental is cheaper as well. You may also be able to rent a scooter from home, and take it on an airplane. I've read about it, and seemed easy enough, but I don't recall the details.

SSR uses busses to get everywhere. You may consider taking your car OR renting one. I don't think using the busses are that big of a pain, and your group will get to get on the bus first. You will occassionally have to wait for the next bus as the busses only take so many scooters. Handicapped parking at BWV was very convenient to the resort, so I think it would be to SSR as well.

BroganMc has posted many times on the DIS and has raved at how great SSR is for people with disabilities. She raves about how great it is to go scooting around the great grounds at SSR. Her Dad broke his leg WHILE at Disney, and she called SSR a really great rehabilitation center.

Disney swears that people in scooters don't get special treatment, but when we visited with my sister in a scooter, my BIL (other sisters husband) referred to it as the scooter fastpass, so you decide. I think it helped on some rides, didn't make a difference on most, and caused a minor, minor inconvenience on a few others when Sis had to wait on a car. Sis could get out of her scooter so that made a bit of a difference.

I'm sure someone here will have great suggestions for you, and you definitely want to check out the DISability board for more information.

 

[disprincessatheart]

First, sorry to hear about your leg - hope it heals quick!

You can get a scooter at the parks or you can rent one for the whole week that can be delivered to SSR so that you don't have to worry about walking at all. I don't know where to do the rental, but look on the disabilities board - there will be info there. I'd do the week long as I believe it's more cost effective and you'll be guaranteed a unit - at the parks it's first come, first served. Call SSR now and let them know you'll need a handicap accessible room.

As far as front of the line access goes, that's not really true anymore. You can go to guest services at the park and ask for a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) and that will get you some extra help. Most of the rides have handicap accessible lines now, so the CM's will direct you how to navigate each as you enter the line. There may be a few rides you can't do with a broken leg (RNR, SM?) but think of how not tired your feet will be at the end of each day! Look at it as an opportunity to take things slower on this trip and take in more of the Disney magic. We'll be there the same week at SSR - I'll keep an eye out to say Hi if I think I see you!

Have a great trip.

 

[Pennykay]

I hurt my leg on my last trip and ended up in a wheel chair. I just decided to have a good attitude about it and still enjoyed everything. I would definitely recommend a scooter over a wheel chair,though. Many cast members and fellow travelers were very nice about my injury. Have fun!

 

[Melani]

I was told that if you are in a wheel chair, you AND YOUR PARTY are moved to the front of the line for the rides.
That should brighten up your day!

That's what my mom's doc, ("Dr. Disney" to his staff) told her when we asked if she should cancel her trip coming the next month. He said "No way you all can go to the front and not wait"

 

[anonymousegirl]

That's what my mom's doc, ("Dr. Disney" to his staff) told her when we asked if she should cancel her trip coming the next month. He said "No way you all can go to the front and not wait"

Your Mom's doctor is misinformed. Only Make a Wish kids get front of the line absolutely. Why shouldn't someone in a scooter have to wait like everyone else? Heck, they at least have a seat, LOL.

That's not to say that your mom wouldn't get some kind of special treatment, but front of the line is rare and should not be expected.

I suggest you post this over at the DISabilities board for a real eye-opener.

And for the OP, I would definitely rent the scooter and have it delivered to your resort. SSR is big and you will need it just to get around the hotel area, nevermind getting from the bus area to the scooter rental area in each park. Plus, it will give you time to practice driving, reversing, etc, in a much less hectic atmosphere. Also, Disney only has a finite number of scooters available. It would be terrible if you got to a park and they were sold out.

 

[Cora]

Our son has had different orthopedic issues over the years and we've been to WDW several times with a wc. Definitely get the scooter BEFORE you arrive. It will be there waiting at the resort. Also, as many have posted there is no need any longer for people to be put at the front of the line. What we did find was since our son couldn't walk too well they would let us stay on a ride and go again (if that was mechanically possible.).
Good Luck...you'll have a ball.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Sorry to hear about your broken leg and I hope it heals quickly and well.
ITA that a scooter would be easier for you, especially since your DH will be pushing a stroller. I suggest you post on the Disabilities board regarding names of reliable scooter-rental companies. As on all the Disboards, the folks there will be happy to help you out.

 

[SueM in MN]

I was told that if you are in a wheel chair, you AND YOUR PARTY are moved to the front of the line for the rides.
That should brighten up your day!

That is not correct.
AK and the Studio were built with what is called Mainstream Lines. This means that the line are wheelchair (and in most cases ECV accessible) and people using those will wait in line with everyone else.

Epcot and MK are older parks and were not built originally with Mainstream Lines; they were added as attractions were renovated or added. Some were not able to have Mainstream Lines because of space or how the ride loads.

A number of people who thought they would get 'better' access have actually kept track and it has been reported quite a few times that about 50% of the time the wait was exactly the same, they felt they got on quicker about 20-25% of the time (but usually not that much quicker) and waited longer 25-30% of the time.
People sometimes have the perception that they are getting on faster because they may be moved to a different waiting area, but usually the wait is not that much different than if they had been in the 'regular' line.

First, sorry to hear about your leg - hope it heals quick!

You can get a scooter at the parks or you can rent one for the whole week that can be delivered to SSR so that you don't have to worry about walking at all. I don't know where to do the rental, but look on the disabilities board - there will be info there. I'd do the week long as I believe it's more cost effective and you'll be guaranteed a unit - at the parks it's first come, first served. Call SSR now and let them know you'll need a handicap accessible room.

As far as front of the line access goes, that's not really true anymore. You can go to guest services at the park and ask for a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) and that will get you some extra help. Most of the rides have handicap accessible lines now, so the CM's will direct you how to navigate each as you enter the line. There may be a few rides you can't do with a broken leg (RNR, SM?) but think of how not tired your feet will be at the end of each day! Look at it as an opportunity to take things slower on this trip and take in more of the Disney magic. We'll be there the same week at SSR - I'll keep an eye out to say Hi if I think I see you!

Have a great trip.

You don't usually need a Guest Assistance Card with a wheelchair or ECV. They are more for 'invisible' problems/disabilities. Since the CM can see the wheelchair or ECV, they will route you to the accessible entrance, which is usually the same line as everyone else.
There is more information about GACs in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (near the top of the disABILITIES Board, or you can follow the link in my signature).

In post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find information about renting wheelchairs and ECVs, including links and phone numbers for companies recommended by DIS posters.

 

[wehavesix]

I don't really have any advice. It looks like you've gotten some good tips already though. I just wanted to say that I hope your surgery goes well and your leg heals quickly.

Just out of curiosity, what type of break do you have? I assume you are having hardware installed since you mention surgery. Feel free to ignore me if you don't want to answer.

My curiosity stems from my own broken leg experience last June. I was actually in EPCOT when I fell down the steps in Mexico. I shattered my tib/fib and dislocated my ankle. I had surgery a day and a half later in Orlando to repair the damage. I have 2 rods and some screws in my right leg. I had a 3 screws removed in November because they were hurting me but there are still 3 in there.

That was not my most fun vacation but probably my most memorable. Hopefully our future trips will be a lot better!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just a word about the ECVs. Definitely rent one from an off-site location and it will be waiting for you at your resort when you arrive. We have done this several times, and it is so much easier than trying to get to the parks first. Besides that, the ECV is smaller and easier to handle than the big ones in the parks (not to mention more economical). It's VERY easy to get on and off the buses with the ECV, and was a real God send to us the times we needed it.

 

[tomandrobin]

Rent a power chair from an off-site company.

Go to the DisAbilities forum, here on DisBoards for more information about going to WDW with a broken leg. There is also recommended companies to rent chairs from, very helpful.

Call the resort ahead of time, and let them know of your situation. They will try to put you in a HA accessible room to help your stay be better.

With a cast on your leg, I think it will be quite obvious of your condition and won't need a GAC.

 

[Nanax3]

You may want to request a change to a handicapped accessible room.

I went with a broken knee and had a regular room which was very difficult. You can't reach anything and it is very tough to shower. At least the HA room you can have a lower bed, counters, accessible shower.


It was pretty easy go get around on the bus and the boats.

I had a scooter which I rented for the six weeks at home and brought with me.

 

[SueM in MN]

Rent a power chair from an off-site company.

Just one clarification. You can rent ECVs (electric mobility scooters), but you can't rent power wheelchairs in most cases unless you are already an experienced power wheelchair user. ECVs are operated with a throttle for the speed and a tiller that you turn like steering a bike to turn.
Power wheelchairs are driven with a joystick that controls the direction and the speed at the same time.
The only reason I'm adding the clarification is that some people in the past have asked for a power chair and were told they could not rent one, so they rented a manual wheelchair. They didn't realize until after they came back that they should have asked for an ECV.