can broken bones do anything at DL???

[challada]

We are scheduled to be down at DL in two weeks and DH just broke (shattered) a bone...
I think we are probably stuck cancelling at this point, but if you can convince me that he can do ANYTHING...I'm there!

 

[iceskatejen]

OUCH! I broke my foot years ago, so I feel his pain. You didn't mention which bone was broken, so I'm not sure what to say. I'd say if it's an arm, go anyway, but if it's a leg or foot, maybe not, though you'd sure get on the rides faster if he needs a wheelchair. I'd talk to the Dr and see what he/she says. I was in a walking cast for my foot, so I could have gotten on and off rides rather easily, though I might have gotten a wheelchair for getting around because I still would have gotten tired and my foot sore if I tried walking all day, if I had gone while in my cast.

 

[challada]

Unfortunately, it's a collar bone that shattered so there is little that can be done for him....it cannot be cast, doesn't immobilize and just generally is a rotten break to have. I specifically asked the doctor if we could travel, be active, etc and only got an answer of "I am not going to restrict you", yada,yada,yada...I just want a clear answer from doc so I can cancel in time...

 

[ekmdisney]

I would say go. But just don't do any jarring rides,like roller coasters. I think you will be fine on rides like Splash Mountan, POTC, HM etc.

 

[disneychrista]

How long did the Doc say it would take for it to "heal."

I would not take the chance even though most rides are gently, they all have the potential to "jar" you.

So I say postpone the trip until he can go without restriction.

 

[ivanova]

Originally posted by iceskatejen
....though you'd sure get on the rides faster if he needs a wheelchair.

I wouldn't count on that with the way they've changed their guest assistance policy....

 

[challada]

Thanks all...

we most likely will cancel at this point as I don't think it would be too enjoyable for him and we have the potential of too much jostling just in the summer crowd.


The wheelchair issue is definitely a hot topic IMHO...at Xmas when we were there my mom was in a chair due to recent surgery and we had such difficulty w/it. The abuses of the handicapped system at DL in the past has made the powers that be have to change the policies to make it much more difficult for the truly handicapped. It was next to impossible to get a pass at guest relations for her and most people in the park were difficult to deal w/as well (from comments to outright shoving). The ability in the past of anyone to just walk into GR and ask for a pass no questions asked meant lots of able-bodied people abused it to get onto rides faster....now those that deserve that chance don't necessarily get it (and let's face it, our society is not too accommodating to those less fortunate, they should at least get a break at "the happiest place on earth"). Well, enough ranting about wheelchairs...thanks for the input!

 

[cupcake]

It is my understanding that DL is adopting the policy used at WDW, which works well. The guest assistance card ("GAC"), as it is known at WDW and will now be called at DL, allows a guest to seek assistance for a non-visible disability. It alerts the CMs to the assistance you need (e.g., waiting in a shady area if the line is sunny and the guest is photosensitive) and is not a "go to the front of the line" pass. At WDW, if you have a wc, your need to use the handicapped accessible entrances is obvious so they never required a GAC for that. It was and is used for non-obvious things.

Here is a link to a post about the current status of GACs at DL:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=589384. They say that guests in wcs at DL, as at WDW, do not need a GAC in order to use the accessible entrances.

I am going to DL next week (WHOOO!) and use a wc so I guess I will see whatever it is firsthand. If anyone has any questions about accessibility at WDW/DL, the disABILITIES board here is great!

Cupcake

 

[ivanova]

they are making queues more and more wheelchair friendly, so most handicap entrances will be disappearing ... I think even most queues in DCA are ECV friendly...

 

[cupcake]

At WDW, the newer attractions were all designed to be mainstream access and the MK had more separate entrances as it was older. Now, however, even the Fantasyland rides at MK are almost all mainstream. Most of the time, you wait with everyone else but may get on a ride/enter a show a little differently. Maybe DL is just behind WDW by a few years in terms of converting to mainstream access that is hc accessible.

WDW also has made some great innovations that hopefully DL has taken into account (my fave are the practice ride vehicles so you can see what getting in/out entails & practice transferring before you are under pressure with everyone else boarding/exiting and realize that -- oh no! -- you are stuck). So if you see someone at DL next week in a wc not-so-gracefully and slowly getting in & out of an attraction, smile and wave, it might be me! (I have extra bones in my feet which give me trouble walking and distances are a no go).

Cupcake