Broken Foot Cruise Emergency!

[sweetbambi]

We did not buy cruise insurance (and from now on, we will) and are scheduled for a cruise on the Magic April 7-10. My adult daughter broke her 5th metatarsal on her right foot and is having it operated on on April 4. She is convinced that she can go on the cruise the 7th with adequate pain management (She already has had 4 surgeries on her left ankle.) My question--what can we do to wheel her around on the ship itself? Skooters are ridiculously expensive. Says they have a few wheelchairs available on the ship itself, but I assume they are first come first served. I can't find a site that tells me I can rent a wheelchair and have it delivered to the ship. If we have to, we will rent the scooter--wish she had bought insurance!

 

[Evette]

I'm renting a wheelchair for my DD while we are on the June 7 Alaska cruise. We will be using it for Port Excursions as she has some mobility issues. On one of the Disney sites I found this website for the rental, www.specialneedsatsea.com . I hope this helps and that your daughter will be able to cruise.

 

[maggie blossom]

I am in similar situation. I fell and broke my tibia and fibula and had surgery a month ago. We cruise april 16 on Magic.

From what I have read they have wheelchairs on the ship but you cannot be sure one will be available so you are better off bringing, or renting, your own. I will bring my own manual wheelchair.
I am worried about excursions most of all. From what I have read the ship itself is accessible and the CMs do a good job helping.

Good luck!!!! I hope you all have a great cruise despite the unexpected changes.

 

[peemagg]

I would get a wheelchair from home and travel with it. Some insurance companies will also pay for the rental if you have a script from her doctor.

 

[dclfun]

The wheelchairs on the ship are for emergencies only and are not in great condition- they can only be reserved to embark/debark the ship and not for use during the cruise. There are companies that deliver manual w/c's and ecv's to the ship. Unless you have an accessible stateroom though, you'll not be able to get them through the door. In the non-accessible staterooms there is a step-up into the bathrooms. You can request a shower stool to use in any bathroom which might make it easier as there are only tub/shower combinations in the non-accessible staterooms. Call DCL and ask for the # to the rental companies- I hope your dd is okay- sounds like she's cutting it close after her surgery.---Kathy

 

[Pine View]

I had to rent a wheelchair when I had foot surgery. I took it with me on the plane and ship. The airlines jacked it up but didn't cover the cost.

 

[SueM in MN]

I had to rent a wheelchair when I had foot surgery. I took it with me on the plane and ship. The airlines jacked it up but didn't cover the cost.

Not sure what you mean by this.

For the OP, she should talk to her doctor. There are other things besides pain to be concerned about - one would be the possibility of infection and DVT (deep vein thrombosis). There is not an especially increased risk of DVT after foot/ankle surgery, but she may be at increased risk depending on how long the surgery is combined with the length of your flight to WDW. The doctor may indicate it is not a good idea to go so quickly after surgery or decide to give her some preventative medication (they would not normally give preventative medication after that kind of surgery).

If you decide to still go, I would rent a wheelchair from home and bring it with you. As was pointed out, depending on her insurance, she may be able to to get the insurance to cover the cost with a doctor’s prescription.
All airlines will transport a wheelchair with no extra charge and it does not count toward your baggage allowance. She can gate check the wheelchair, which means she would be able to keep the wheelchair to the gate of the plane. At that point, she would transfer out (they have narrow wheelchairs that fit down the the aisle of the plane if she can’t walk to her seat). Ask about gate checking the wheelchair when she checks in for her flight. They may give her a gate check tag at that point - or more commonly for us lately - have you ask at the gate. There is more information about gate checking a wheelchair and travel with a wheelchair in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

 

[Momtoemma]

We recently rented a wheelcair for my mom for 7 day Magic cruise. Worked great. We used Brevard Medical (they do a lot with Disney) and we were last minute (called friday am for Sat cruise) $120 for the week and the wheelcair was in tip top shape

Very easy- we used airport wheelchair to our rental car (or disney bus transfer) then there was a wheelcahir at port for use (we had called ahead and had this noted on ressie, porters got it for her). We used the disney wheelcahir to enter port terminal and check in and were then directed to a small roped off area where rental wheelchairs were waiting. Exchanged the port Disney wheelchair for the Brevard wheelcahir and onto the ship we went.

Very very very easy

Coming home, disembarked with the wheelcahir, got on disney bus to airport, left wheelcahir with disney employee at the bus. Then got airport wheelcahir at airport

It may sound complicated but it was super easy

 

[keishashadow]

when DS has similar foot issue we just purchased a transport chair @ the drugstore, worked fine and we donated it to goodwill after he no longer required it.

i'm just wondering whether the cruise line will 'allow' the OPs DD to cruise since it's so soon after surgery. We had to have a dr's clearance faxed to DCL for my DS that he was fit to travel.