BWV in March with our new challenges!

[photobob]

This will be a different trip for us for sure. It will be the first WDW trip since DW's multiple sclerosis diagnosis (that rhymed!) and our first ever trip taking a pet with us. I got my wife a miniature schnauzer (Minnie) a few weeks back for companionship since she has to spend so much time at home. DW and Minnie have become very close and I am afraid separation anxiety would be too high for DW so we are taking her to Best Friends Pet Care at WDW where we can go a visit with her as often as we like.

The most prevalent symptom that MS sufferers deal with is extreme fatigue and I told my wife if she didn't feel like going to a park a single day that it would be fine with me. We can hang around the resort and Boardwalk and go visit Minnie a couple of times per day, I just want to be there. She has been worried about the trip so I have been trying to put her mind at ease.

Our world was pretty well rocked when she was diagnosed so we have been trying to get accustomed to our new reality. Our previous trips have always been be at a park every morning at rope drop and go pretty much wide open before the crowds arrive and then head back to the resort after lunch and then usually another park later in the evening. Now we will be going at a completely different pace which in itself will probably be welcomed. We will literally be taking time smell the roses since Flower and Garden Festival starts at Epcot while we are there! I hope DW will still have the same enjoyment of WDW if not more.

Staying at BWV if we do some parks it will probably just be Epcot and DHS due to the quick and easy access especially since DW will be going via wheelchair. Any words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[peemagg]

Naps are a girls best friend!!! Take time to rest each day. The more that she can rest, the better time you both will have.

By using the wheelchair, that will save her some energy, but I know myself that just being out can drain a person quickly. Don't let her push herself and then cause her to crash. That is the worst thing for someone with fatigue issues.

 

[photobob]

Naps are a girls best friend!!! Take time to rest each day. The more that she can rest, the better time you both will have.

By using the wheelchair, that will save her some energy, but I know myself that just being out can drain a person quickly. Don't let her push herself and then cause her to crash. That is the worst thing for someone with fatigue issues.

We napped before she was sick! Thanks for the advice we will definitely take it slow!

 

[disney david]

i got a tip if you take the boat from dhs and want to get to bwv quicker get off at swan and dolphin and make a left and go over the bridge and the villa right their. Instead of waiting to get to the board walk stop it will save you a lot of time. but for the most part using the path is quicker then the boat.

 

[livndisney]

i got a tip if you take the boat from dhs and want to get to bwv quicker get off at swan and dolphin and make a left and go over the bridge and the villa right their. Instead of waiting to get to the board walk stop it will save you a lot of time. but for the most part using the path is quicker then the boat.

Getting off the boat at Swan may save time, but not energy. That hill up the bridge is not fun when you are fighting fatigue (or pushing a wheelchair).

You may want to sit back and enjoy the ride a bit longer

 

[disney david]

Getting off the boat at Swan may save time, but not energy. That hill up the bridge is not fun when you are fighting fatigue (or pushing a wheelchair).

You may want to sit back and enjoy the ride a bit longer

your right it won't save energy i thought the walk from the stop to the bridge was not as bad of a hill as the bridge from yacht club to board walk. it not as steep as the other bridges but i just thought i give a tip to save time.



Not sure if you be driving or have a plac card but just thought you like to know they moved the self parking lot to next to the valet lot which will be further away. You can still park in the old lot which they now call conference parking since it across from the conference center. I parked their over night and they never said any thing to me but it was emptier then it has been but if you go to the new lot it packed in. So may be that helped out they did put new signs up to direct you. so if your driving and don't have a plac card i would suggest dropping dw off at front to save the walk. Well if you have a plac card valet parking will be free so it might not affect you as much or if your not driving it won't affect you at all.

 

[photobob]

so if your driving and don't have a plac card i would suggest dropping dw off at front to save the walk. Well if you have a plac card valet parking will be free so it might not affect you as much or if your not driving it won't affect you at all.

We will be driving and do have a HC parking placard! Valet is free with the placard? Didn't know that!

 

[disney david]

We will be driving and do have a HC parking placard! Valet is free with the placard? Didn't know that!

yes at all disney resorts it is free to valet park so that will be one less thing your have to worry about. You don't have to be staying at that resort to get free valet parking so if you have an adr you can use their valet parking to.

 

[bookwormde]

You probably already know to ask for a room near the elavator for medical reasons (halls are very long). Other than that BWV is perfect for a slower pace (we will be there in June).

Bookwormde

 

[photobob]

We are looking at going at times where temperatures are more moderate as well as crowds. I'm thinking the first week of March should be ok for both. It is early enough to be before most spring breaks and and it will also be my DW's birthday.

I am considering early November (my birthday) and early March (DW's birthday) as optimum times for us. The birthdays just coincide! DW really doesn't need to go during times of high heat and extreme crowds.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

You might also want to consider renting an ECV (scooter) rather than using a manual wheelchair. Most people I know with MS can handle a scooter (and the one who can't uses a powerchair) and it would be another way for both of you to conserve energy since you're not looking at going at busy times anyway. While a scooter does take some mental work, it's substantially easier on your body physically. I've been a wheelchair user for several years and even when I was more physically able now I couldn't push my own wheelchair around the distances at WDW. A scooter will allow her some independent mobility rather than needing a push.

Several things people with MS on this board have talked about as finding useful are cooling vests and those fan mister things. Also, if you're in a park and she gets hit by sudden fatigue, she can always lie down in the First Aid centers to have a bit of a rest without having to go all the way back to the room. Alternating shows or quieter rides (things like The Great Movie Ride) with more intense things can also help conserve energy.

You may be pleasantly surprised by how much of WDW is accessible to her and how much she can do there. Most rides are very accessible either using the regular entrance or an alternate entrance. Some even have cars that can handle a manual wheelchair if you do use that rather than a scooter. If your wife can walk a little, she can probably manage just about anything in the parks that she wants to do. The only ride where I can't think of a safe way for a mobility impaired person to ride is the Tommorowland Transit Authority as there's no accessible entrance (just the moving walkway). Peter Pan also has a moving walkway that can't be stopped, but if she can walk enough safely on the flat moving walkway to get in then she could ride it. Certainly within the parks you're expecting to go to, she shouldn't have problems doing most things.

Also, if there are rides you want to go on Fastpasses are your friend. I've been at Soarin' at noon when fastpasses were already for 8PM (this was first week of November so not an overly busy time), but even knowing that you could get a fastpass and then go back to the room to rest.

I don't have MS, but I do have fairly bad fatigue from the conditions I do have. While I can't commando the parks, I generally can do most things I want to do. Certainly some of it is the "Disney Magic" (really just adrenalin from being there), but also I think if you hit the right time having the right weather helps loads. I am both heat sensitive (in similar ways to MS patients) and cold sensitive and generally WDW at end of October/beginning of November (and I suspect early March would be like this as well) is pretty good weather for me, certianly much better than the same times where I live (Connecticut)! End of October can be a little too hot occasionally (it was in the low 80s part of the time when I was there in 2010), but generally it's been low-to-mid 70s which for me is pretty close to perfect. I do tend to crash some when I get home, but for me it's worth it.

As a side note, since fatigue is her main issue, it might be worth having her talk to her doctors about whether there's something she can take for the fatigue both in general and at WDW specifically (if she doesn't want to take things all the time). There are things like Provigil, but there are also several supplements out there that are starting to show on studies help reduce fatigue (including in MS patients).

I think your plan of being very relaxed about the trip is a good one, but don't underestimate her abilities to do things either. I don't know any specifics of what type of MS or how it affects your wife, but in general I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with how much she can do at WDW

 

[photobob]

You might also want to consider renting an ECV (scooter) rather than using a manual wheelchair. Most people I know with MS can handle a scooter (and the one who can't uses a powerchair) and it would be another way for both of you to conserve energy since you're not looking at going at busy times anyway. While a scooter does take some mental work, it's substantially easier on your body physically. I've been a wheelchair user for several years and even when I was more physically able now I couldn't push my own wheelchair around the distances at WDW. A scooter will allow her some independent mobility rather than needing a push.

Several things people with MS on this board have talked about as finding useful are cooling vests and those fan mister things. Also, if you're in a park and she gets hit by sudden fatigue, she can always lie down in the First Aid centers to have a bit of a rest without having to go all the way back to the room. Alternating shows or quieter rides (things like The Great Movie Ride) with more intense things can also help conserve energy.

You may be pleasantly surprised by how much of WDW is accessible to her and how much she can do there. Most rides are very accessible either using the regular entrance or an alternate entrance. Some even have cars that can handle a manual wheelchair if you do use that rather than a scooter. If your wife can walk a little, she can probably manage just about anything in the parks that she wants to do. The only ride where I can't think of a safe way for a mobility impaired person to ride is the Tommorowland Transit Authority as there's no accessible entrance (just the moving walkway). Peter Pan also has a moving walkway that can't be stopped, but if she can walk enough safely on the flat moving walkway to get in then she could ride it. Certainly within the parks you're expecting to go to, she shouldn't have problems doing most things.

Also, if there are rides you want to go on Fastpasses are your friend. I've been at Soarin' at noon when fastpasses were already for 8PM (this was first week of November so not an overly busy time), but even knowing that you could get a fastpass and then go back to the room to rest.

I don't have MS, but I do have fairly bad fatigue from the conditions I do have. While I can't commando the parks, I generally can do most things I want to do. Certainly some of it is the "Disney Magic" (really just adrenalin from being there), but also I think if you hit the right time having the right weather helps loads. I am both heat sensitive (in similar ways to MS patients) and cold sensitive and generally WDW at end of October/beginning of November (and I suspect early March would be like this as well) is pretty good weather for me, certianly much better than the same times where I live (Connecticut)! End of October can be a little too hot occasionally (it was in the low 80s part of the time when I was there in 2010), but generally it's been low-to-mid 70s which for me is pretty close to perfect. I do tend to crash some when I get home, but for me it's worth it.

As a side note, since fatigue is her main issue, it might be worth having her talk to her doctors about whether there's something she can take for the fatigue both in general and at WDW specifically (if she doesn't want to take things all the time). There are things like Provigil, but there are also several supplements out there that are starting to show on studies help reduce fatigue (including in MS patients).

I think your plan of being very relaxed about the trip is a good one, but don't underestimate her abilities to do things either. I don't know any specifics of what type of MS or how it affects your wife, but in general I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with how much she can do at WDW

Thanks so much for your detailed reply! We at some point will probably look into ECV's or powerchairs but currently being so new to the diagnosis she isn't emotionally ready for that. The manual chair I think makes her feel more that this is a temporary thing that she is going to improve. Honestly I am in good shape, I work out four to five days a week and I will not have a problem pushing her around. We are staying at BWV so we will have easy access to Epcot and DHS, probably won't get on a bus the entire trip.

The fatigue medications my wife has tried makes her heart race and makes her feel jittery so she doesn't take them. The doctor is still searching for an MS therapy that will work for her, so we are hoping that down the road she will feel better.

My DW can walk, but not far and she is not steady on her feet. She has problems with her legs because of the location of the lesion on her spinal cord and some occasional problems with her hands and arms. I'm really hoping that we can just go maybe do a park or two and go visit our puppy we are boarding at Best Friends Pet Care on property and enjoy each other's company!

 

[livndisney]

Question-

Will you have a car? To my knowledge there is not transportation to the kennel.

 

[disney david]

I would suggest taking the bus to mk because it will drop you off in front bypassing the need to get on the monorail or ferry. It not a bad trip from mk board walk the first stop going to mk you have to stop at swan and dolphin first then mk. Dtd and ak driving is better option because theses buses will stop at all of Epcot resort.

 

[disney david]

Question-

Will you have a car? To my knowledge there is not transportation to the kennel.

Their no bus transportion to the kennel(five star pet resort) the only problem is their dog might not want to leave they have some nice suites with tv big beds their nice size rooms.

 

[photobob]

Question-

Will you have a car? To my knowledge there is not transportation to the kennel.

We always drive down, so we will definitely have a car!

 

[photobob]

I would suggest taking the bus to mk because it will drop you off in front bypassing the need to get on the monorail or ferry. It not a bad trip from mk board walk the first stop going to mk you have to stop at swan and dolphin first then mk. Dtd and ak driving is better option because theses buses will stop at all of Epcot resort.

IF we decide to go to MK it will definitely be on a bus. Epcot and DHS are our most likely venues but if DW is feeling froggy we may venture to MK. Epcot is our favorite park, particularly for DW.

 

[disney david]

IF we decide to go to MK it will definitely be on a bus. Epcot and DHS are our most likely venues but if DW is feeling froggy we may venture to MK. Epcot is our favorite park, particularly for DW.

Yes that why I love bw Epcot my fav to plus we close enough to Dhs for you story mania.

 

[Bete]

Do some homework to find the rides that are wheelchair accessible. Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Mania for example are rides where the wheelchair fits unto the ride vehicle. You go through a special handicap line to get to these special ride vehicles.

Enjoy the shows, live street entertainment, parades, and fireworks. Maybe, your wife can catch a cat nap at the shows; my mom does it and it refreshes her. Nemo is a great one for a nap. There's more to see at Disney then just rides. Do some character meet and greets; make sure you have your camera or photopass.

Each park's first aid centers can help with rest without going back to the resort. There are even cots to rest on.

Alternate your activities to conserve energy and avoid fatigue. Do a ride, then a show, then a ride, and then some eats. You get the idea. Build in rest periods. This will help you, too with pushing the wheelchair.

Have a set time to visit the dog and catch a nap before going to the park for a second time in the same day.

Try some other things that are more relaxing like an afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. Do a spa treatment. Take in a movie at Downtown Disney. People watching at the Boardwalk can be fun. Do a fireworks cruise. Take in some dining experiences that are special like Victoria and Albert's. Watch the MK fireworks from the Grand Floridian's boat dock or better yet from the inside of Narcossee's (get the right time for a dinner ressie, here). Since she likes Epcot take the time to go into a lot of the gift shops especially around the world showcase. Try on some hats or komonos or touch Buddha's belly for luck as you see the different gift shops. Look for hidden mickeys everywhere including your resort; there are books on this topic. Maybe, try the Kim's Possible game in World Showcase.

Watch for signs that it's too much for your wife. She may not say much here, but you can usually tell when enough is enough. You may have to cut back on actual hours in the park or even take two naps.

Enjoy each other and the pooch. Perhaps take a car ride to a park with the dog. You can take your dog in and out of the kennel as long as you do it at the proper times.

 

[photobob]

Do some homework to find the rides that are wheelchair accessible. Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Mania for example are rides where the wheelchair fits unto the ride vehicle. You go through a special handicap line to get to these special ride vehicles.

Enjoy the shows, live street entertainment, parades, and fireworks. Maybe, your wife can catch a cat nap at the shows; my mom does it and it refreshes her. Nemo is a great one for a nap. There's more to see at Disney then just rides. Do some character meet and greets; make sure you have your camera or photopass.

Each park's first aid centers can help with rest without going back to the resort. There are even cots to rest on.

Alternate your activities to conserve energy and avoid fatigue. Do a ride, then a show, then a ride, and then some eats. You get the idea. Build in rest periods. This will help you, too with pushing the wheelchair.

Have a set time to visit the dog and catch a nap before going to the park for a second time in the same day.

Try some other things that are more relaxing like an afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. Do a spa treatment. Take in a movie at Downtown Disney. People watching at the Boardwalk can be fun. Do a fireworks cruise. Take in some dining experiences that are special like Victoria and Albert's. Watch the MK fireworks from the Grand Floridian's boat dock or better yet from the inside of Narcossee's (get the right time for a dinner ressie, here). Since she likes Epcot take the time to go into a lot of the gift shops especially around the world showcase. Try on some hats or komonos or touch Buddha's belly for luck as you see the different gift shops. Look for hidden mickeys everywhere including your resort; there are books on this topic. Maybe, try the Kim's Possible game in World Showcase.

Watch for signs that it's too much for your wife. She may not say much here, but you can usually tell when enough is enough. You may have to cut back on actual hours in the park or even take two naps.

Enjoy each other and the pooch. Perhaps take a car ride to a park with the dog. You can take your dog in and out of the kennel as long as you do it at the proper times.

Lots af great ideas, thanks!