Anyone use a wheelchair when recovering from surgery?

[disneyvoice]

Our 16 year old son is recovering from knee surgery. My DH and I are going to WDW the end of Oct and since our son is just sitting around all day bored to pieces I am wondering if he could come with us and use a wheelchair. He has a full length leg brace, by the time of our trip he will be able to walk a bit more without a cane but not enough to be able to walk around WDW. Has anyone gone to WDW having to use a wheelchair after surgery?

How do lines work with a wheelchair? He won't have any problem waiting in line, just needs to do it in a wheelchair. He would be able to transfer into ride vehicles (wouldn't do rides where the ride vehicle would bump his knee). Can he wait in line with us or would he need to go into a separate line for wheelchairs? Can you bring a walking cane into the parks? That might make it easier for him to transfer into some of the ride vehicles assuming the cane would be allowed on the rides.

Trying to decide if it would be worth it or if he would find it too much of a hassle. I can't believe I've never paid attention to how this is handled before.

 

[gwb]

get him an ecv you'll be far better off instead of getting worn out from pushing him. as for the rest go to the disAbilities forum and you'll get all the info you'll need
The getting an ecv is from experience pushing my wife around in a wheelchair at WDW you will get worn out there is no doubting that. It will also give him freedom to go about by himself as any normal teen wants.
If you are flying make sure you let the airlines know by going to the special needs of the airline. You can get transport in the terminals such as wheelchairs or carts to get him from check in to the plane and then from the plane to ME. Again from experience with wife going to WDW multiple times when she needed help.
And 1 good thing is he will be boarded before others on the plane
good luck

 

[Soarin4us]

Our 16 year old son used a wheelchair for a broken foot. No problems pushing him; everyone had a great time.

 

[disneyvoice]

@gwb Thanks for mentioning the airport! I didn't think about him needing some additional help there.

 

[siskaren]

get him an ecv you'll be far better off instead of getting worn out from pushing him.

Someone under 18 can't rent an ECV (OP's son is 16).

 

[bushdianee]

I'm not sure but I think the age for renting an excuse is 18. Check out the Disabilities section. They will have all of the info and tips you will need for a successful trip.

 

[gap2368]

I'm not sure but I think the age for renting an excuse is 18. Check out the Disabilities section. They will have all of the info and tips you will need for a successful trip.

Most places you have to be 18 to rent ECV a few might rent to someone 16, but it is not easy as it looks to use an ECV. So I would just plan on getting a wheelchair. and he does not have to sit in it all the time he can use it as a walker and push it.

all but about 5 lines at Disney you can take the wheelchair in line with you up to where you get on the ride, so no need for a different line. the rides that are not accessible are jungle cruise BTMRR space mountain ( sometimes IASW) and spaceship earth. I might have missed one.

 

[mamabunny]

Yes, he will not be able to rent an ECV; you must be 18 to rent/use an ECV at WDW. The exception is personally-owned mobility equipment. (there is even a manufacturer that makes ECVs for children and people of a shorter stature)


Only caution regarding the wheelchair is if he will need to extend his leg...

People don't always watch very carefully where they walk at WDW ::shocking::: I know! LOL) and if they bump into his leg when it is extended, could it cause him pain and/or trauma to the recovering knee.

Otherwise, bring along a pair of inexpensive bike or golf gloves if you rent a chair (in case it has the hard plastic handles that will cause blisters quickly on a pushers hands) and if he is more comfortable boarding the buses by walking up the ramp, just let the driver know. Avoid the tracks on Main Street in MK (cross at an angle, so that the wheels don't get stuck in the groove of the tracks) and remember that going uphill might be tough, but going downhill can actually be more difficult to manage.

Remember if he is sitting all day to advise him to either wear long pants or bring along something to cover his knees/upper legs as they can get sunburned (as well as his arms, shoulders, back of his neck...) If you do rent a wheelchair (sometimes you can borrow one from friends, family, Church, Masons, Elks Lodge, etc.) ask about renting a nice thick gel cushion as well, for his comfort. Remember that a black wheelchair seat can get HOT in the Florida sun, so bring along a towel from the Resort room to cover the seat when he is not in it.

He can even push the chair himself for a while - it will give him something to hang on to, but let him get out and stretch a bit too.

If you do borrow a chair from someone, it will fly free with you as medical equipment (no extra baggage charge). Be sure to let the Gate Agent know that you need to gate check the chair, and (typically) he will be allowed to board first, so that he can get settled and the chair stowed under the plane. When the plane arrives at the airport, ask your flight attendant to let you know when the chair has come back up to the gate; there is no point in rushing off the plane as it will take several minutes for that come up from the tarmac.

If he is still in PT, and can tolerate it, it might feel really good to sit in the spa (hot tub) at the Resort at the end of the day and let that joint loosen up; his stitches will need to be fully healed, obviously. Ask his doctor if that would be allowed.

I had my first knee surgery at 16; I hope and pray he has a swift and complete recovery.

 

[Mrsjvb]

get him an ecv you'll be far better off instead of getting worn out from pushing him. as for the rest go to the disAbilities forum and you'll get all the info you'll need
The getting an ecv is from experience pushing my wife around in a wheelchair at WDW you will get worn out there is no doubting that. It will also give him freedom to go about by himself as any normal teen wants.
If you are flying make sure you let the airlines know by going to the special needs of the airline. You can get transport in the terminals such as wheelchairs or carts to get him from check in to the plane and then from the plane to ME. Again from experience with wife going to WDW multiple times when she needed help.
And 1 good thing is he will be boarded before others on the plane
good luck

unless he uses an ECV daily at home he may NOT rent one/use one in the parks being under 18.

with rare exceptions( mostly in MK) lines are mainstreamed so being in a chair is no different than standing in line. the entire party will be diverted if necessary to the HA line. if he must keep it extended at all times, I am not sure Jungle cruise will be an option. I seem to recall that it is pretty cramped when they hoist you up and over. ( and for Pete's sake DUCK!!!!)

 

[Staren]

The big question that I would have is how much experience your son has with a wheelchair. Has he been using one through this recovery? Disney is a really bad place to be figuring out how to maneuver one unfortunately. If you all decide that a wheelchair would help, make sure that has some practice before the parks. Disney is kind of advanced urban driving for wheelchairs.

 

[gap2368]

The big question that I would have is how much experience your son has with a wheelchair. Has he been using one through this recovery? Disney is a really bad place to be figuring out how to maneuver one unfortunately. If you all decide that a wheelchair would help, make sure that has some practice before the parks. Disney is kind of advanced urban driving for wheelchairs.

the OP son will need some type of mobility device a wheelchair or an ECV since he is under 18 a wheelchair is really his only chose I know there is a learning curve for ECV but there really is not one for a wheelchair. I would not worry too much about practicing somewhere. but to go slow and not try to race everywhere.

 

[mamabunny]

the OP son will need some type of mobility device a wheelchair or an ECV since he is under 18 a wheelchair is really his only chose I know there is a learning curve for ECV but there really is not one for a wheelchair. I would not worry too much about practicing somewhere. but to go slow and not try to race everywhere.

I wonder if we are all talking about a self-propelled/pushed chair vs. some of us may be thinking of a motorized chair. In the case of a motorized chair, @Mrsjvb has a great point - WDW is no place to try and learn how to use a motorized chair for the first time. The learning curve for one of those is steeper than an ECV (which we know is off the table for this young man).

My greater concern is about the OP's son trying to self-propel at WDW; even a healthy 16-year old will have limits as to how far they can self-propel before their arms become limp noodles, and their shoulders give out.

The family will have to help push, and of course he can get out and push the chair himself from time to time if he wants to move around a bit.