Back injury

[mrs_z]

Our group of six will be visiting DLR in May. My husband recently injured his back; he can walk but it is difficult. Has anyone experience with wheelchair/scooter rentals? He is thinking about renting a stroller and using it to lean on to walk. If he used a wheelchair how is it handled with lining up for rides?

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Yep. Last three trips I needed to use one. I have a back issue where I can walk but standing in line or walking all around Disney makes my back lock up. So we just start with the wheelchair now. I wouldn't bother with the stroller. Get him the chair. He will be able to then load and unload ok and rest inbetween. They have made the handicapped process SO MUCH BETTER from the last time we went (4 years ago.) We just got back and it was AWESOME.

In Disneyland there will be some rides you can enter normally (they just fixed matterhorn's queue so you can wait in line like normal) and some you can't. Basically all of fantasyland you have to go to the exits to load. For rides that have a super long wait time you go to the exit and they will scan your tickets and give you a return time. You can then go sit somewhere or shop until your time (like a fastpass but not connected to fastpass). This allows you to not be clogging up the exits. You can hold one of those return times at a time. (but like I said, you can also have a fastpass..we didn't ever run into that situation.)

As for California Adventure, you can wait in every line!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Also, tell him to bring something soft to sit on. By the end my tailbone was screaming in pain from the chair (but that might be because I broke it when I was younger haha).

 

[Niltiac]

If he decides to use a wheelchair, the process will be different for different rides. For everything at DCA, he'll be able to take the chair in the ride queue with him, and if the queue has stairs at the end he'll be redirected to an elevator or alternate loading area at some point in the queue. DL is a little trickier because the rides are older and not all queues were built to accomodate wheelchairs. Some will have you wait in an alternate waiting area instead of standing in line, and some will give you a return time and you'll return to the exit. When you approach the CM at the entrance to the ride they'll direct you. When planning your time, give yourself a little extra cushion because some rides will take longer to load from the handicap entrance (for example, if there's only one handicap car there are other groups ahead of you). Also keep in mind that if a line is short and he's up for standing for a while, you can park the wheelchair in a stroller area and come back to it after the ride.

 

[mrs_z]

Thanks for the info. He may end up staying home .

 

[tarheelalum]

If his back is hurt have him stay away from the Matterhorn. That ride will beat you up pretty bad.

 

[gottalovepluto]

ECV. ALL THE WAY. Leaning on a stroller/walking chair situation sounds like a recipe for disaster to be honest & wheelchairs are exhausting if you're not used to one- and he would feel awful making the rest of you push him around I suspect. For our group member with issues finally renting an ECV has made a world of difference.

 

[Malcon10t]

In DCA, all lines are accessible, so just enter normally. In DL, you can ask at the exit. If it isn't accessible (like Peter Pan) they will scan your tickets and give you a return time just under the standby time. If it is accessible, like Buzz or Matterhorn, they will direct you where to go.

As for an injured back, please note many rides discourage you from riding due to back issues. I don't ride Indy, Star Tours, or Matterhorn due to back issues.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Thanks for the info. He may end up staying home .

I would urge him to reconsider. We enjoy the parks just as much with me in a chair. I don't want an ecv. I don't want the extra stress of trying to operate one. My husband is fine with pushing me (aside from when he gets annoyed with people who think they can cut us off without getting run over).

I don't know the level of his pain obviously and if he thinks he'll just be miserable, staying home is probably best...but if he's worried about working the parks in a chair, tell him NOT TO BE. I used to get so much anxiety about it but this trip was so fun. They really have it to an art.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks for the info. He may end up staying home .

I don't ride a lot of rides because of my back and leg issues. I use an ECV to get around the parks. All that said, I love going to Disneyland with the family (and even solo sometimes). It is relaxing to me.

 

[lorijohnhill]

I don't ride a lot of rides because of my back and leg issues. I use an ECV to get around the parks. All that said, I love going to Disneyland with the family (and even solo sometimes). It is relaxing to me.

Same here! People laugh at me when I tell them Disneyland is where I go to relax. With my back problems and arthritis, I couldn't do the parks without an ECV. Most of the time my daughter goes on the rides and I take pictures. We both love it!

 

[lk2500]

Our group of six will be visiting DLR in May. My husband recently injured his back; he can walk but it is difficult. Has anyone experience with wheelchair/scooter rentals? He is thinking about renting a stroller and using it to lean on to walk. If he used a wheelchair how is it handled with lining up for rides?

Is your DH fit other than the back injury? I am 52, tore a disc a few years ago and have made pretty much a full recovery, back to riding roller coasters and whatnot. Let me know if you'd like any tips. You can post here or PM me.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If your husband decides to rent an ECV, have him practice using one at Walmart before your trip. That way he is not having to get used to using one under stress at DLR with people all around him, in front and behind. That can be pretty overwhelming.

 

[mrs_z]

Thanks for the encouragement! Today it looks like better than 50% odds that he will end up going. That's a lot better than earlier in the week.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Thanks for the encouragement! Today it looks like better than 50% odds that he will end up going. That's a lot better than earlier in the week.

YESSSSS. Keep working on him If you have any specific questions feel free to message me or tag me here.