Anyone gone Disney with pots?

[ain0004]

Our 15Yr old Daughter has been add with POTS. No way around traveling in May. I’m highly considering renting a scooter… any other tips ??

 

[lanejudy]

There have been posters who do WDW with that diagnosis. Hopefully someone pops in soon with their experience. Just to note that since she is 15, you may need to use a wheelchair - the vendors are unlikely to rent for use by someone under 18.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Our 15Yr old Daughter has been add with POTS. No way around traveling in May. I’m highly considering renting a scooter… any other tips ??

I agree with lanejudy you will most likely not be able to find a rental scooter for her. and I would not plan on renting in another name and let her use as I have heard, not directly, that is could be taken from you because of her age.

 

[ain0004]

If we can’t rent one we have an electric wheelchair we can use. Don’t want to bring it on the plane. But if we must we will. Trying to keep her mobile. Don’t care about waiting in line. If she has a place to sit vs standing for long periods In the heat.

 

[lanejudy]

Oh, if she regularly uses a mobility device, you might try Randy's Mobility -- at one time they would rent for older teens who use one at home. It's worth asking. You might also check if Orlando Medical Rentals has anything for a teen.

 

[ajsamett]

How bad is it/what are her symptoms? I have done the parks several times with my best friend who has a relatively severe form of pots, so I can help!

General tips:
- definitely get a wheelchair or scooter, just in case she needs a break
- be sure to have lots of salty snacks on hand (she found that protein is better than carb based ones, so we had things like pickles, beef jerky and string cheese). Additionally, keep a backup energy drink/noom tablets in case you're in line and need electrolytes
- if she has a heat sensitivity, bring ice packs and a cooling vest. There are a few medical centers in the parks and they will store them for you so you can change them out throughout the day
- if the heat sensitivity is bad, you may qualify for DAS. When you apply, be sure to focus on the heat sensitivity and not the mobility part of it. They'll hear the mobility part and just write you off as needing a wheelchair (where my friend only last a short amount of time outside)
- lastly, don't expect to go all day and build in the flexibility of having a bad pots day. By the end of the third day of my trip (only going to parks for like 6hrs a day), my friend was out of commission for the entire morning

I can help if you have any questions!!

 

[RoseGold]

If we can’t rent one we have an electric wheelchair we can use. Don’t want to bring it on the plane. But if we must we will. Trying to keep her mobile. Don’t care about waiting in line. If she has a place to sit vs standing for long periods In the heat.

We've got a Whill with a couple dozen flights on it, no big deal. They transport much bigger and more expensive medical equipment all the time. There are some horror stories, sure, but most of the time, this isn't a big deal. The transport to/from the airport is the bigger deal IMO. I think at least one of the shuttles is accessible now. And many would fit under the big tour buses they often use, the Whill does.