Back problems at disney

[SD25]

I would think most rides (other than fantasy land) that have really long lines shouldn't be ridden if you have back problems. so hopefully you really won't have problems with standing in shorter lines.

They do not bother me and I've asked my doctor for permission. I am allowed to ride the rides. the only problems I have, even at home, is standing for long periods of time without moving.

 

[SD25]

While a mobility aid may not solve the problem alone, a mobility aid used in conjunction with periods of standing and sitting, as well as taking breaks to lie down, whether in first aid or the hotel, would cover most aspects of the issue.

I am not sure what the GAC would be able to help with in this situation (I have nerve problems at the same level, so I understand the daily pain that gets worse with standing in one place for too long). Most walking that takes places would take place between the attractions.

Once at attractions, there are three main groups, shows, batch loaders, and continuous loaders (with some overlap of course). There is no GAC that would help a person not have to stand to wait for the next show, Philharmagic for example. The person with the GAC would have to wait for the next show no matter what was stamped on the card.

Batch loaders are rides like Haunted Mansion (which eventually turns into a continuous, I know), Soarin, Small World, Pirates, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Great Movie Ride, and many others. In these cases, a person is in a queue that is in one place for a period of time, then moved forward quite a bit at once, and then stops in one place until it is time for the next batch to go in. These times between batches can be 2 minutes or 15 minutes, with little way to guess ahead of time.

Continuous loaders cause the fewest problems with standing - people get on a ride continuously, like Buzz Lightyear or Nemo in Epcot, and the line gradually moves forward.

Obviously it would be the standing in one place for shows and batch loaders (which is the majority of the attractions at WDW) that would cause difficulties. Sitting sometimes, standing, walking when possible, and moving around in place would give multiple positions and multiple options to avoid standing in one position for a long period of time.

What could a GAC do that would change the above situation, with batch loaders and shows? It could not change the number of minutes spent waiting, as people are only taken in at certain times for things like shows. Occasionally a GAC will change the distance walked, but distance is not the problem here, standing in one place is the problem.

Disney does not want you to suffer, and if there is a GAC that can help, then they will provide one for you. But many people had started asking for a GAC simply because they did not "want" to have a wheelchair or scooter, even when one was offered to them free of charge.

I spend a lot of time in City Hall (it takes a while to print the sign language interpretation schedule at least once a week, plus I am in there every two weeks to renew my GAC), and many people come in saying they have back problems or knee problems, and that they cannot stand in the lines. This is when Disney suggests their best option to avoid standing is to rent a wheelchair or scooter, especially since the most walking is done between attractions. Then the person explains that they can walk just fine, they just cannot stand in one place. Again, the CM suggests that having a wc/ECV would allow them the option of sitting sometimes. I will not speculate on what percentage of people get a GAC or what the stamp is - I cannot see it and any numbers would just be guesswork on my part.

I am simply stating that this situation is one common for Guest Relations to hear. And at least in DL (CA), they have been very good about stressing that mobility and stamina concerns can often be met through using a wheelchair or ECV. Of course there are always situations that are not met through a seated mobility device (as opposed to crutches, canes, and other types of mobility devices).

I am not sure what a GAC can do to make standing times shorter - even Make A Wish kids need to wait for the next show to start.

The answer none of the people I have asked (not on this board, elsewhere) is why they refuse to use a wheelchair or ECV at all, even as part of a larger strategy which includes walking, standing, lying down, stretches and ice packs/heating pads (either in First Aid or the hotel), and whatever else a person does in the rest of their life to alleviate the pain the L5-S1 problem causes.

I know a wheelchair is not going to fix everything (I use one full time - I am aware of its limitations), but I really do not understand why people refuse to consider it out of hand. I have even heard people ask Guest Services to give them a GAC which allows them to sit while in line (or while their party is in line), but utterly refuse to consider a wheelchair, even when one is offered for free.

And what is a wheelchair but a place to sit in the lines?

I know it is not a cure-all, but neither is a GAC, and I am not sure what people want a GAC to provide in this case.

Well when posting this I wasn't sure what the GAC even WAS, I had no idea what I was even looking at when I saw that lady go through the line and show it, all I knew was that she had a knee brace on and walked right through the FP line at park opening and I wondered about it. I now realize its probably not for me especially since many people say it doesn't do much good for standing still pain/problems. I've been to disney before with this, and somehow attempted to hold my own for the day,(it wasn't as bad though except last yr), but I was curious since I saw this last July when I went. For my trip in May I am just going to do my first touring plan and hope for the best with it!

And on the wheelchairs:
Personally I wouldn't want to have anyone pushing me or have to wheel myself for a 8-9 hour day in a manual wheel chair, and the electric ones are too expensive per day, even when renting off property. And when renting off property you are required to bring it with you and neither I nor my boyfriend have a big enough car to do so. I also like walking, it's healthy. And hey, it doesn't hurt me.. so I might as well enjoy it because one day it may start to cause pain while walking, but for now it doesn't. Thanks for your honest feedback!

 

[Gracie09]

I'm not going to enter the whole gac debate except to say when dh had a bulging L7 and associated pain and problems the alternate waiting area did nothing for him. What did help was pushing the stroller and leaning on it to relieve some pressure and pain. He also used a cane at times when we didn't have the stroller. So maybe a cane or rolling walker would help.

 

[SD25]

I'm not going to enter the whole gac debate except to say when dh had a bulging L7 and associated pain and problems the alternate waiting area did nothing for him. What did help was pushing the stroller and leaning on it to relieve some pressure and pain. He also used a cane at times when we didn't have the stroller. So maybe a cane or rolling walker would help.

Sorry to hear that. Thanks

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you really don't want a wheelchair or ECV you might want to consider renting a rollator, which is a walker with a seat. Another option would be to rent a manual wheelchair (more comfortable seat than a rollator) and push it when walking and sit in it when you need it in lines. With a mobility aid, you'll mostly go through the regular lines, but for rides where there regular line isn't accessible, you'll be directed to the appropriate entrance. There's also a map you can pick up that shows where the wheelchair accessible entrance is. If you're going to be using WDW transportation, either a manual wheelchair or rollator won't be an issue. On buses you'll be given the choice between sitting in a regular seat and holding it folded or having it & you strapped in and sitting in it. I can't tell if you're someone who is local and goes often or if you're planning a specific trip. If it's a specific trip, can you walk 6 miles every day of your trip without having problems walking as well as standing? The guest/group walks at least 6 miles per day in WDW. Most of that is between attractions where nothing can be done to shorten the distance. There are lines that are as much as 1/4 mile long one-way where there is no shorter line. Even though you don't realize it, the mileage adds up. If can't manage that for the length of your trip, you might want to consider renting an ECV from offsite. You can rent in the parks, but they do run out of ECVs some days and are substantially more expensive than an offsite rental. An ECV just would give you more freedom if you can't walk the distances than a manual wheelchair (where you'd need to be pushed because the rental ones are too big and heavy to push yourself in). If you're local and have a season pass, then it's easier to limit how far you walk since you don't need to try to as fit as much into a finite amount of time.

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I also have back issues (5 bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the spine and feet, etc.) and would like to know more about this rollator. Where can I rent one? Would I bring it to the rides with me and the CMs move it to the exit so that it's available when I get off the ride?

 

[stitchlovestink]

I'm not going to enter the whole gac debate except to say when dh had a bulging L7 and associated pain and problems the alternate waiting area did nothing for him. What did help was pushing the stroller and leaning on it to relieve some pressure and pain. He also used a cane at times when we didn't have the stroller. So maybe a cane or rolling walker would help.

Do you mean T7? There is no L7.... it stops at L5 and starts next with S1. T7 is a good bit higher so it "can" be a different type of pain than pain felt at L4, L5, S1, S2. Any back pain is not fun. But they 'can' be very different in nature.

 

[KPeveler]

I also have back issues (5 bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the spine and feet, etc.) and would like to know more about this rollator. Where can I rent one? Would I bring it to the rides with me and the CMs move it to the exit so that it's available when I get off the ride?

A rollator is just a rolling walker with a seat - I believe you can rent ones locally in Orlando from some of the ECV companies, or see about bringing one from home (airports are huge too!). And it would be treated like any other mobility device - you would board the ride and in most cases it would be waiting near or at the exit for you. I am not sure how things would work with POTC.

 

[KPeveler]

Well when posting this I wasn't sure what the GAC even WAS, I had no idea what I was even looking at when I saw that lady go through the line and show it, all I knew was that she had a knee brace on and walked right through the FP line at park opening and I wondered about it. I now realize its probably not for me especially since many people say it doesn't do much good for standing still pain/problems. I've been to disney before with this, and somehow attempted to hold my own for the day,(it wasn't as bad though except last yr), but I was curious since I saw this last July when I went. For my trip in May I am just going to do my first touring plan and hope for the best with it!

And on the wheelchairs:
Personally I wouldn't want to have anyone pushing me or have to wheel myself for a 8-9 hour day in a manual wheel chair, and the electric ones are too expensive per day, even when renting off property. And when renting off property you are required to bring it with you and neither I nor my boyfriend have a big enough car to do so. I also like walking, it's healthy. And hey, it doesn't hurt me.. so I might as well enjoy it because one day it may start to cause pain while walking, but for now it doesn't. Thanks for your honest feedback!

My post was more general as opposed to directed specifically at you. There are a lot of people who want a place to sit whenever they want, but do not want to have a wheelchair (which is just a place to sit wherever you want).

A lot of people push the chair empty, or put the backpack and stuff you inevitably carry in the chair, and then just sit when you want to. You would not be able to push a rental chair even an hour, much less all day.

There are some small ECVs which break down and fit into the trunk of cars pretty easily.

I get not wanting to use a wheelchair because to continue walking is healthier, but the time spent in WDW, even if you sat on your rear every minute, will not derail your overall health goals.

You may also want to consider a rollator - just a rolling walker. I see lots of young people in Disney using them (many had knee surgery or have bad backs), so it is not an "old people" thing. It is lightweight, gives you a place to sit when you want, but is designed for you to walk, and even take a little of the pressure off your back/legs.

 

[Gracie09]

Do you mean T7? There is no L7.... it stops at L5 and starts next with S1. T7 is a good bit higher so it "can" be a different type of pain than pain felt at L4, L5, S1, S2. Any back pain is not fun. But they 'can' be very different in nature.

I checked it was his L5. It was a few years ago. I blocked much of it out. It was not a fun time for any of us. Until his surgery. Now I send flowers to his doctor every year on the anniversary of the surgery.

 

[SueM in MN]

I also have back issues (5 bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the spine and feet, etc.) and would like to know more about this rollator. Where can I rent one? Would I bring it to the rides with me and the CMs move it to the exit so that it's available when I get off the ride?

Post 32 on page 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs addresses questions about rollators.

You can find that thread near the top of this board.

Rollators can be rented, but many people end up buying one. You can find them for sale in places like Sam's Club, Costco, CVS Pharmacy with prices starting around $100 and up (more expensive ones are fancier and have more features).

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks so much. What you learn on the Dis!