At WDW now, dislocated my knee, need advice

[Tigger in a kilt]

I have been at WDW since Saturday, and last night I dislocated my knee. It is stiff and sore, but not bad enough to make me go home. We are here for 4 weeks total, so I need some help working out the logistics please.

We are at POR, on the second floor. I can use the elevator, but I think I will struggle to walk around this big resort. I might make it to the parking lot behind the building, so I could get Uber or a Minnie Van.

I will definitely need an ECV in the parks. My concern is whether I can walk between the taxi/MV drop off and the ECV collection point. This is esp true for HS - I know I could not do that, having done in on Monday.

If I rent an ECV from a private company, will I be able to take it up in the hotel lift or would I need to ask to be moved to a ground floor? How much hassle it is to deal with ECVs outside the parks?

I use a walking stick in everyday life so I have learned a lot of the disability info but I didn’t pay attention to ECV info because I didn’t intend to hire one.

Also, is there anything else I am missing? I think I can step into the shower with help, so I shouldn’t need to ask about an accessible room.

Any help would be appreciated. Yesterday I just wanted to go home, but today I’m in a better frame of mind and would like to try to salvage this if I can.

 

[lanejudy]

So sorry you are injured on your vacation! I would call an offsite ECV rental for the rest of the trip. Yes, it can go in the resort elevators and it should fit in your room as well. You can also request a bath chair if that would help in the shower, or rent one.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

Thank you so much! I hadn’t thought of a bath chair but that would definitely help. I really don’t want to move rooms. Thank you!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have been at WDW since Saturday, and last night I dislocated my knee. It is stiff and sore, but not bad enough to make me go home. We are here for 4 weeks total, so I need some help working out the logistics please.

We are at POR, on the second floor. I can use the elevator, but I think I will struggle to walk around this big resort. I might make it to the parking lot behind the building, so I could get Uber or a Minnie Van.

I will definitely need an ECV in the parks. My concern is whether I can walk between the taxi/MV drop off and the ECV collection point. This is esp true for HS - I know I could not do that, having done in on Monday.

If I rent an ECV from a private company, will I be able to take it up in the hotel lift or would I need to ask to be moved to a ground floor? How much hassle it is to deal with ECVs outside the parks?

I use a walking stick in everyday life so I have learned a lot of the disability info but I didn’t pay attention to ECV info because I didn’t intend to hire one.

Also, is there anything else I am missing? I think I can step into the shower with help, so I shouldn’t need to ask about an accessible room.

Any help would be appreciated. Yesterday I just wanted to go home, but today I’m in a better frame of mind and would like to try to salvage this if I can.

rent offsite for rest of trip your knee will thank you. from what you have said you are going to need ECV at resort. if you can use an elevator at your resort to get to your room ECV will fit same goes for buses. been there done the ECV on the buses. see if you can get a shower chair. hopefully you can enjoy the rest of your trip. Ps adult daughter used an ECV at your resort esp to get around the resort

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

rent offsite for rest of trip your knee will thank you. from what you have said you are going to need ECV at resort. if you can use an elevator at your resort to get to your room ECV will fit same goes for buses. been there done the ECV on the buses. see if you can get a shower chair. hopefully you can enjoy the rest of your trip. Ps adult daughter used an ECV at your resort esp to get around the resort

Thank you so much! I don’t think there is any way I will be able to get to rye parks if I don’t have an ECV at the resort - it was big even when I was able to walk around it, but tonight it seems insurmountable. I’m very reassured that your daughter successfully used one here, and I really appreciate your advice.

 

[Selket]

Definitely rent a scooter from off-site. That way you can go room to park with an issue. I had to do that one trip as well - but it worked out great. There are several good rental companies but I recently rented from Gold Mobility Scooters and I cannot recommend them highly enough - they will deliver it to you in person and teach you how to use it if needed. However any scooter company should work very well. Talk to them about your needs and they will help you find the right size and type of scooter. I always like 3 wheeled ones because they maneuver best.

You will be amazed at how much you can do with the scooter - it can go into most ques. You generally need to transfer so hopefully you can walk a bit - if you can then you can ride everything really. Watch out for some rides where the knee has to bend quite a bit (Splash Mountain, It's a Small World, 7DMT come to mind). If you find you get in the seat and can't bend the knee enough - just ask to get out and exit the ride - don't let it stop you from trying but let the CM know you need to see if it works for you).

As bad as my knees are at this point, Disney World feels like the only place I can go and have a true, enjoyable vacation and do everything pretty much without limits because of how ECV friendly it is. It makes me think that's one reason why we see so many ECV's in the parks - because people like me who would have been majorly sidelined on trips that require a lot of walking but generally don't use an ECV in regular life, are able to get out and enjoy everything there so we keep going back..

 

[ttintagel]

I broke my foot during a WDW vacation and I thought the trip was ruined! But aa rente ecv saved the trip. Stay on top of whatever pain medication you're taking instead of waiting for pain to happen. Use ice and elevation whenever possible. You may find you have to be more patient and go with the flow instead love doing everything you had planned, but with a four-week stay that should be less of an issue.

 

[KPeterso]

Definitely rent a scooter from off-site. That way you can go room to park with an issue. I had to do that one trip as well - but it worked out great. There are several good rental companies but I recently rented from Gold Mobility Scooters and I cannot recommend them highly enough - they will deliver it to you in person and teach you how to use it if needed. However any scooter company should work very well. Talk to them about your needs and they will help you find the right size and type of scooter. I always like 3 wheeled ones because they maneuver best.

You will be amazed at how much you can do with the scooter - it can go into most ques. You generally need to transfer so hopefully you can walk a bit - if you can then you can ride everything really. Watch out for some rides where the knee has to bend quite a bit (Splash Mountain, It's a Small World, 7DMT come to mind). If you find you get in the seat and can't bend the knee enough - just ask to get out and exit the ride - don't let it stop you from trying but let the CM know you need to see if it works for you).

As bad as my knees are at this point, Disney World feels like the only place I can go and have a true, enjoyable vacation and do everything pretty much without limits because of how ECV friendly it is. It makes me think that's one reason why we see so many ECV's in the parks - because people like me who would have been majorly sidelined on trips that require a lot of walking but generally don't use an ECV in regular life, are able to get out and enjoy everything there so we keep going back..

I second renting from Gold Mobility. We used them last month and they were fantastic. We plan to use them for all trips moving forward. Scooter can go most places. And like above, my Mom prefers the smaller 3 wheel scooters. There are a few rides at MK that will require you to either walk or transfer to a manual wheelchair (Pirates and Pooh are the 2 that come to mind). It really will make you trip much better.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I second renting from Gold Mobility. We used them last month and they were fantastic. We plan to use them for all trips moving forward. Scooter can go most places. And like above, my Mom prefers the smaller 3 wheel scooters. There are a few rides at MK that will require you to either walk or transfer to a manual wheelchair (Pirates and Pooh are the 2 that come to mind). It really will make you trip much better.

I third recommending Gold Mobility. I don't know if it says on their website, but Nick told me that if you're staying days beyond their 1 week rental, they charge an additional $10/day.
Like you, I use a cane everyday, and kept a folding cane in the ECV basket.
As far as using the ECV outside the parks, I found rare occasions on buses when a bus would have its capacity of 2 scooters taken when it arrived, so I had to wait for the next bus. If possible, you might want to "scoot" to an early POR bus stop to reduce the chances of this happening-this is what I did at OKW one time.
Just a note on using a wheelchair at Pirates and Pooh. I was solo at both, and the CMs were happy to push me (I offered to "self-propel") to the ride and back, just in case you go to the rides alone.

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

I’m sorry for the delay in replying to this post, but I did read everything and I’m very grateful for everyone’s help - thank you very much!

I have had the scooter for 5 days now and I’m getting along great with it. I have a brace on my knee, so I’m able to get into most rides, and the scooter is giving so much more freedom than I had imagined.

I’m taking the bus more than I had planned because the accessible Minnie Vans are so rare, but I have used them 3 times too and they have been great. The busses are not nearly as scary as I imagined, but in the first couple of days I was so impressed at how helpful the drivers too. It’s all going really well. I’m not confident going to the waterparks, but that’s the only thing that I don’t feel I can do. Thank you all!

 

[lanejudy]

I’m glad you are having a good time despite the injury! Thanks for the update.

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

I’m glad you are having a good time despite the injury! Thanks for the update.

Thank you! I’m having an amazing time!

 

[ttintagel]

Disney bus drivers are the best. Glad to hear it's going well!

 

[cmwade77]

Looking at the boards, I think everyone is recommending Gold Mobility, which is what I was going to do until I saw you rented one already. Amazing how good customer service can really get people to like a company.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I’m sorry for the delay in replying to this post, but I did read everything and I’m very grateful for everyone’s help - thank you very much!

I have had the scooter for 5 days now and I’m getting along great with it. I have a brace on my knee, so I’m able to get into most rides, and the scooter is giving so much more freedom than I had imagined.

I’m taking the bus more than I had planned because the accessible Minnie Vans are so rare, but I have used them 3 times too and they have been great. The busses are not nearly as scary as I imagined, but in the first couple of days I was so impressed at how helpful the drivers too. It’s all going really well. I’m not confident going to the waterparks, but that’s the only thing that I don’t feel I can do. Thank you all!

glad you took the advise and are still enjoying your trip. you are a pro now. bet you have learned that an ECV is a tool like a person who needs glasses to see. keep on enjoying your trip

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, Tigger in a kilt. I'm sorry that you dislocated your knee and I am happy that you are enjoying yourself.

I have been at WDW since Saturday, and last night I dislocated my knee. It is stiff and sore, but not bad enough to make me go home. We are here for 4 weeks total, so I need some help working out the logistics please.

We are at POR, on the second floor. I can use the elevator, but I think I will struggle to walk around this big resort. I might make it to the parking lot behind the building, so I could get Uber or a Minnie Van.

I will definitely need an ECV in the parks. My concern is whether I can walk between the taxi/MV drop off and the ECV collection point. This is esp true for HS - I know I could not do that, having done in on Monday.

If I rent an ECV from a private company, will I be able to take it up in the hotel lift or would I need to ask to be moved to a ground floor? How much hassle it is to deal with ECVs outside the parks?

I use a walking stick in everyday life so I have learned a lot of the disability info but I didn’t pay attention to ECV info because I didn’t intend to hire one.

Also, is there anything else I am missing? I think I can step into the shower with help, so I shouldn’t need to ask about an accessible room.

Any help would be appreciated. Yesterday I just wanted to go home, but today I’m in a better frame of mind and would like to try to salvage this if I can.