Cast on Leg... Please advise

[BigRed7399]

I have posted before, but my friend is sooo insistent that I am wrong.

My 21 month old has a cast on her leg. People on the dis boards told me we would be fine and she will be able to ride everything. My friend keeps telling me that when she went last year with her son, and he was not allowed to ride anything. I need to make sure we are going to be okay.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I don't think I've ever heard of a CM telling someone they couldn't ride because of a cast; ultimately it's your decision. As she's so young, she's not going to be going on any of the thrill rides, which are the only ones I can see being a problem with a cast. I don't think that going on It's a Small World is going to do her much harm. Besides, most children her age will be spending a lot of their trip in a stroller too, so it probably won't be that much different for you than if she didn't have a cast.

I don't know if anyone's told you about this yet, but you might want to look into getting a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) to allow you to use a stroller as a wheelchair. This will mean that you can take her stroller into lines and buildings such as The Land, where they're not normally permitted. For more information on the GAC, see the FAQ thread, post 6.

When using this, you will be routed through the wheelchair entrances. Most of the time, this is the same entrance that everyone else uses, though you may be pulled out of the queue near the boarding area, to board elsewhere (usually the exit). For some rides at MK and EPCOT, you will go through a different entrance. You will normally wait about as long as everyone else, but at least you won't have to be holding her for all that time. Whenever you get to a ride, just ask the CM at the entrance where you should go with a wheelchair, and they'll direct you!

I say go and have a great trip!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The only time that a person will not be allowed to ride is if it is felt they will be a safety hazard either to themselves or to other Guests. Obviously at 21 months she will not be tall enough to ride any of the thrill rides, so there really is no chance of her being tossed around and causing any injuries.

In addition, you might want to talk to the person who will be removing the cast. Have a line drawn on the cast where it will be cut for removal. Then bring along some "Sharpies" and have the characters autograph the cast, asking them to make sure their signature does not diectly cross the line.

Once the cast is removed and fully dried out, you will then have a very unusual souvenier of the trip.

 

[churchillm]

I have a knee injury that means that I cannot bend my knee and it is permanently straight. I have never been stopped going on any rides that I am physically able to sit on - Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain were fine for example.

At 21 months, I assume an adult will be with her in most cases so there is no reason why she would not be allowed on a ride.

 

[Schmeck]

Will she even be comfortable in a stroller? Will it have enough leg support? Will it be safe - WDW is a busy place, and people could bump into the stroller and her leg by mistake. I'd check with the doctor to see if he thinks she's stable enough for the trip.

If you do go, bring something to pad around her leg - a towel, small blanket, etc. Also, bring something like a blunt chopstick so you can reach any itchy spots she may have inside of the cast?

I love the idea of having characters sign the cast, but are they allowed to do so?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I love the idea of having characters sign the cast, but are they allowed to do so?

Yes. Otherwise I would not have recommended it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, bring something like a blunt chopstick so you can reach any itchy spots she may have inside of the cast?

As a nurse, I have to advise against putting anything into the cast, even if it is blunt. It's very easy to cause a small scratch or irritation that could turn into an infection under the cast. Sometimes that padding inside the cast can also get displaced when putting something in to scratch.
Also, don't put anything like powder, cornstarch or anything else inside the cast. They can become irritants or growth media.

If it's itchy, you can use a blow dryer set on cool. Another, more portable solution would be to use some of the canned air that is sold for blowing dust off of computer keyboards.

 

[3littleHalls]

I consider myself a pro at casts my DS was born with bi-lateral clubfeet and has spent some time in casts. I think keeping her leg cool enough will eliminate some misery. So maybe bring some ziploc bags in the parks with the possibility of filling them with ice. I personally think a stroller is fine. When my son was 4 he was in casts from his upper thighs to the bottom of toes. We used our stroller 100% of the time when we were out b/c it was easier for me and he was comfortable in it and he could lay back(not poss. in a wheelchair) It was a Mac that had leg supports. He only used a wheelchair for preschool and around the house so he could get around. We have not been to WDW with casts, but on our last trip a couple of months ago my eldest DD broke her arm up by her shoulder a week b4 so it couldn't be casted but was in a sling and was on a "no bumpy rides" order from the dr. She rode the teacups, Safari ride at AK, and any other mild ride in any of the parks and a few bumpy rides and none of the CMs said she couldn't. Most would ask what happened....and she got some sympathy treats from the CMs but not one said whether she shouldn't ride. I hope you have a magical trip!!!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I popped in over here to make sure you were getting the answers you needed I knew this board would be able to put your mind at ease. Let your friend know you have talked to the Disney experts and you are going to go and have a great time!

What the previous poster said is good advice about some baggies with ice-- or just keeping her sippy cup full of cold water. This time of year it shouldn't be too hot, but sometimes by midday it can get warm. One of the great "secrets" is that you can get free ice at Disney--any place that has ice available for drinks--that serves fountain drinks. Just ask they will give you small cups and you can transfer those into the baggies if necessary. Of course since your daughter is little just keep a close eye on her with the baggies.

So are you packed yet?

LTS

 

[mechurchlady]

The Nurse's Station has ice also and you can stop by the Baby Care Center for toddler and infant care. Definitely carry zipper bags. Use the GAC as a wheelchair though you might find the regular lines faster. Use Fast Pass and Single Rider lines as well as the Baby Swapping to get the most of your vacation.

Baby Swapping is where the party rides using the regular line, single rider line, fast pass line or GAC, which ever applies. The party then returns and takes the kids and the person left babysitting gets to ride with one or rarely two people.

The only reason a person in a cast is not allowed on a ride (based on having a cast) is if the cast could come off, the cast prevents the person from riding safely, or the cast could be a danger such as the casted arm hitting a rider in the nose. Your child will not be able to ride some rides because of height and age not the cast. There is still lots of fun things for the toddlers like Fantasyland and Small World. Check this site's info on parks with toddlers.

 

[Schmeck]

As a nurse, I have to advise against putting anything into the cast, even if it is blunt. It's very easy to cause a small scratch or irritation that could turn into an infection under the cast. Sometimes that padding inside the cast can also get displaced when putting something in to scratch.
Also, don't put anything like powder, cornstarch or anything else inside the cast. They can become irritants or growth media.

If it's itchy, you can use a blow dryer set on cool. Another, more portable solution would be to use some of the canned air that is sold for blowing dust off of computer keyboards.

Thanks for the warning, Sue - while it's never happened to anyone I've known who had a cast, I guess a toddler's skin might be too delicate. The chopstick was recommended by a doctor of ours.

 

[Schmeck]

Yes. Otherwise I would not have recommended it.

I thought characters were not allowed to sign on anything on someone's body? Can they sign on the back of a T-shirt someone was wearing, for example?

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the warning, Sue - while it's never happened to anyone I've known who had a cast, I guess a toddler's skin might be too delicate. The chopstick was recommended by a doctor of ours.

It doesn't seem like it would cause problems, but it's recommended for everyone never to put anything into the cast. Even an adult's skin could be scratched or broken under the cast.