CHF

[Rschall]

We have a trip planned this fall. It is our first trip in ten years. My partner's mother has CHF and will spend 2-3 hrs in the parks each day and then have to take a rest. Would a disability card be available for her? I worry she will not see much. Also for the fireworks, is there a special area for the disabled. Thank you

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, that sounds like a stamina issue, and the recommended solution would be a mobility device.

Even if she were able to get a DAS, it wouldn't extend the length of time she could stay in the park, or the speed with which she accessed any attraction.

 

[gap2368]

Yes this sounds like stamina problems the DAS is not to get you to do more in less time. I would look at whys to save energy if need be and there is nothing for fireworks

 

[gap2368]

OP what would your MIL needs be, If you mean CHF as conginanle (sp?) hart failer then there could be a number of needs depending on the person, So if you know her needs then we could maybe help you out more and give you more tips

 

[Hopefully]

CHF is an accepted abbreviation for “Congestive Heart Failure” a form of heart disease. It is not Congenital.

 

[Rschall]

No, that sounds like a stamina issue, and the recommended solution would be a mobility device.

Even if she were able to get a DAS, it wouldn't extend the length of time she could stay in the park, or the speed with which she accessed any attraction.

Yes we will be getting her a wheelchair

 

[Rschall]

Yes this sounds like stamina problems the DAS is not to get you to do more in less time. I would look at whys to save energy if need be and there is nothing for fireworks

Nothing for fireworks that is too bad. It is long to wait. Do you think the fireworks party would help?

 

[Rschall]

Yes congestive heart failure I am sorry I should have written more clearly.

 

[Rschall]

OP what would your MIL needs be, If you mean CHF as conginanle (sp?) hart failer then there could be a number of needs depending on the person, So if you know her needs then we could maybe help you out more and give you more tips

She gets tired. We will have the wheelchair but she will only have a few hours in the morning. Tips will be very helpful. We only want her to enjoy herself as this will probably be her last trip with her age and health thank you so much

 

[gap2368]

A few tips on what you have said ( it sounds like she tired easily)

If you have a chose on when to go try to pick a slow time to go ( weekdays are slower then weekends)

get to the park at DR ( when the park open ) they are less crowded and have a few hours and then go back and rest at the hotel and go back later in the day. I know some people that will do RD one park have an early sit down lunch and then a few more hours after spending about 6 to 8 hours in the park and the next day they will sleep in and have a slow morning and go to the park late afternoon have a sit down dinner and enjoy the night time stuff.

Make sure you book your FP for rides she really wants to do. After you do your first 3 you can book one more and so on so having them early is a good thing ( I like to book my FP starting just after RD

If you are staying on sight use EMH as they tend to be less crowded and you can do a lot during these times. ( and then go back to the hotel and hope to another park.

each park has a first aid that she can rest in. If she does not need a long rest maybe a nice sitdown meal will give her the rest she needs.

getting a wheelchair where she can sit would be very helpful, just make sure you have a few people to push her ( it can be more tiring then you think.

All the parks have indoor show that is really cool to see ( I have heard that doing a ride and then a show so that you are not having to get out of your wheelchair saves energy) Some rides she can even stay in her wheelchair for.

make sure she and you all drink a lot of water and stay hydrated it get very hot in FL and you can become dehydrated fast. a wide brim hat (or a very small umbrella ) to keep the sun off her. A fain and a cooling towel if she has problems overheating or does not do well with the heat.


As far as the dessert party It gives you a place to see the fireworks and some food it is pricey but you will not have to fight to see them ( I have done it a few times at the MK and love it) I have never done it at any other park. There is a thread on the main board about it it was started by ( I am pretty sure) @GADisneyDad14 I can try and link it later. but it will have more than enough information on it ( and really good pictures) about both types of party


I hope some of this helped you out.

 

[mamabunny]

@Rschall

Now, about the fireworks dessert parties:

We have done them at MK, Epcot and Hollywood Studios (I keep waiting for ROL at AK to get a Dessert Party LOL) at one time or another, all within the last 5 years.

Personally, I think they are worth it, simply because you get a special experience for a fairly reasonable (in the Disney World economy) price. We never eat as many desserts as we think we will, although they are typically quite good with a nice selection.

I will say that MK fireworks dessert party was for me a bit more difficult the last time I was there, simply because it was easy to kind of get overrun when the fireworks start, although I understand from someone who has done one fairly recently that has been addressed by Disney by changing the layout of the tables, so I am looking forward to going on our next trip.

Do make sure that her doctors (cardiologist and primary care) are on board with the trip. Be sure to have her insurance card with you, in the event she needs medical attention, and make sure that at least one other person besides her is up to date on her medications, dosages and timing.

If you are flying, you can bring a wheelchair from home, and it will fly free as medical equipment, and can be gate-checked; she can ride all the way to the door of the plane. Many airports are *huge*, and the wheelchair will mean that someone she knows is pushing her.

If you are driving, and renting the wheelchair in Orlando, then try to rent a lightweight chair; a mesh back if possible (air circulation for greater comfort) and regardless, bring along a pair of bike gloves or golf gloves (can be purchased for very little at Walmart) to help prevent blisters if the rental chair has the old school, hard plastic hand grips. Sweaty hands + black plastic, hot from the Florida sun = blisters. I know from personal experience!

If you all are staying on site at a Disney Resort, she can remain seated in the wheelchair, and the driver will flip out a ramp for the chair to go up/down. Mobility devices always load first, unload last, on all Disney Buses and boats. The Monorail is the exception, but a Cast Member will have a portable ramp to bridge the gap. Any time you are unsure where to go with the wheelchair, just ask a CM (Cast Member) for help.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

 

[Bete]

Shows can be nap times. When we took my older mom she would snooze at some of the shows. We felt this was fine. It allowed her to stay longer and enjoy other attractions.

Assuming you are onsite doing Disney bus transportation will be more tiring except maybe for Magic Kingdom. If you can drive to the parks especially Hollywood Studios I would do it. If you can stay at a monorail resort this would be easier getting to and from the parks.

I'm in agreement with doing the extra morning magic hour, rope drop and fastpasses. Taking an afternoon break and a nap really helps. Then, go back for the evening, if possible.

 

[redberyl]

my daughter, age 9, has congenital heart disease and chronic lung disease, among other issues. she tires very easily, even using the wheelchair. on a good day we can manage 2or 3 hours in the morning and another 2 hours in the evening after her nap. on a bad day we only get 2 hours in. its best to accept going in that you won't get to do/see it all. think of 2 or 3 things that are must-dos, get your fastpasses for them, and consider anything else a bonus. you will do better if you plan to leisurely do the parks and enjoy the atmosphere, than worrying about how much you are/aren't getting done. you've gotten the best tips already; go early to avoid crowds, alternate shows and sit down meals with rides, use the wheelchair, take the nap. going early morning/late evening helps avoid the worst heat, which is helpful. make sure she stays hydrated. using the bus system and returning for the nap was stressful for us; we found it much easier to be able to just go to our rental car when we were ready to leave, without waiting for a bus or worrying about if there were already too many wheelchairs/scooters on it and we would have to wait for the next one. the fireworks parties could be helpful, but will she realistically last that long? even going back for the nap, my daughter simply can't last until fireworks (although obviously she is a lot younger). plus, i wouldn't want to fight the crowds at closing when she is tired and ready to go back to the hotel. if you don't mind not being up close, there is a spot next to the ferry dock at the transportation center that gives you a really good view of the fireworks, and gets you out before the crowds. I would still ask for the disability assistance pass, although as others have said she may get denied. sometimes the wheelchair simply isn't enough; the DAS lets you wait outside the line. which means with the pass you can get a return time, then while you wait for the return time go sit inside an airconditioned building for a meal or go to first aid for a quick lie-down without leaving the park. while it is true that the point of a DAS isn't to allow you to get more done in less time, the fact of the matter is it does have that effect. again, you may be denied, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[Rschall]

A few tips on what you have said ( it sounds like she tired easily)

If you have a chose on when to go try to pick a slow time to go ( weekdays are slower then weekends)

get to the park at DR ( when the park open ) they are less crowded and have a few hours and then go back and rest at the hotel and go back later in the day. I know some people that will do RD one park have an early sit down lunch and then a few more hours after spending about 6 to 8 hours in the park and the next day they will sleep in and have a slow morning and go to the park late afternoon have a sit down dinner and enjoy the night time stuff.

Make sure you book your FP for rides she really wants to do. After you do your first 3 you can book one more and so on so having them early is a good thing ( I like to book my FP starting just after RD

If you are staying on sight use EMH as they tend to be less crowded and you can do a lot during these times. ( and then go back to the hotel and hope to another park.

each park has a first aid that she can rest in. If she does not need a long rest maybe a nice sitdown meal will give her the rest she needs.

getting a wheelchair where she can sit would be very helpful, just make sure you have a few people to push her ( it can be more tiring then you think.

All the parks have indoor show that is really cool to see ( I have heard that doing a ride and then a show so that you are not having to get out of your wheelchair saves energy) Some rides she can even stay in her wheelchair for.

make sure she and you all drink a lot of water and stay hydrated it get very hot in FL and you can become dehydrated fast. a wide brim hat (or a very small umbrella ) to keep the sun off her. A fain and a cooling towel if she has problems overheating or does not do well with the heat.


As far as the dessert party It gives you a place to see the fireworks and some food it is pricey but you will not have to fight to see them ( I have done it a few times at the MK and love it) I have never done it at any other park. There is a thread on the main board about it it was started by ( I am pretty sure) @GADisneyDad14 I can try and link it later. but it will have more than enough information on it ( and really good pictures) about both types of party


I hope some of this helped you out.

Thank you so much for these tips very helpful. We will have a wheelchair and our focus will be the mornings, so I will book the rides then. The dessert party would be lovely for her something special

 

[Rschall]

@Rschall

Now, about the fireworks dessert parties:

We have done them at MK, Epcot and Hollywood Studios (I keep waiting for ROL at AK to get a Dessert Party LOL) at one time or another, all within the last 5 years.

Personally, I think they are worth it, simply because you get a special experience for a fairly reasonable (in the Disney World economy) price. We never eat as many desserts as we think we will, although they are typically quite good with a nice selection.

I will say that MK fireworks dessert party was for me a bit more difficult the last time I was there, simply because it was easy to kind of get overrun when the fireworks start, although I understand from someone who has done one fairly recently that has been addressed by Disney by changing the layout of the tables, so I am looking forward to going on our next trip.

Do make sure that her doctors (cardiologist and primary care) are on board with the trip. Be sure to have her insurance card with you, in the event she needs medical attention, and make sure that at least one other person besides her is up to date on her medications, dosages and timing.

If you are flying, you can bring a wheelchair from home, and it will fly free as medical equipment, and can be gate-checked; she can ride all the way to the door of the plane. Many airports are *huge*, and the wheelchair will mean that someone she knows is pushing her.

If you are driving, and renting the wheelchair in Orlando, then try to rent a lightweight chair; a mesh back if possible (air circulation for greater comfort) and regardless, bring along a pair of bike gloves or golf gloves (can be purchased for very little at Walmart) to help prevent blisters if the rental chair has the old school, hard plastic hand grips. Sweaty hands + black plastic, hot from the Florida sun = blisters. I know from personal experience!

If you all are staying on site at a Disney Resort, she can remain seated in the wheelchair, and the driver will flip out a ramp for the chair to go up/down. Mobility devices always load first, unload last, on all Disney Buses and boats. The Monorail is the exception, but a Cast Member will have a portable ramp to bridge the gap. Any time you are unsure where to go with the wheelchair, just ask a CM (Cast Member) for help.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

Thank you so much for your generous help.

We will try the MK fireworks party I think. That is what she has her memories from with the castle and everything

We will be bringing her wheelchair from home

Do you know what hospital is best should we need an emergency room for any reason?

 

[Rschall]

Shows can be nap times. When we took my older mom she would snooze at some of the shows. We felt this was fine. It allowed her to stay longer and enjoy other attractions.

Assuming you are onsite doing Disney bus transportation will be more tiring except maybe for Magic Kingdom. If you can drive to the parks especially Hollywood Studios I would do it. If you can stay at a monorail resort this would be easier getting to and from the parks.

I'm in agreement with doing the extra morning magic hour, rope drop and fastpasses. Taking an afternoon break and a nap really helps. Then, go back for the evening, if possible.

She will definitely need a nap. I am not sure if she will make it back at night. We hope for her to see the fireworks one night anyway

Yes the shows. She will like them I think And a nice place to rest for a while

 

[Rschall]

my daughter, age 9, has congenital heart disease and chronic lung disease, among other issues. she tires very easily, even using the wheelchair. on a good day we can manage 2or 3 hours in the morning and another 2 hours in the evening after her nap. on a bad day we only get 2 hours in. its best to accept going in that you won't get to do/see it all. think of 2 or 3 things that are must-dos, get your fastpasses for them, and consider anything else a bonus. you will do better if you plan to leisurely do the parks and enjoy the atmosphere, than worrying about how much you are/aren't getting done. you've gotten the best tips already; go early to avoid crowds, alternate shows and sit down meals with rides, use the wheelchair, take the nap. going early morning/late evening helps avoid the worst heat, which is helpful. make sure she stays hydrated. using the bus system and returning for the nap was stressful for us; we found it much easier to be able to just go to our rental car when we were ready to leave, without waiting for a bus or worrying about if there were already too many wheelchairs/scooters on it and we would have to wait for the next one. the fireworks parties could be helpful, but will she realistically last that long? even going back for the nap, my daughter simply can't last until fireworks (although obviously she is a lot younger). plus, i wouldn't want to fight the crowds at closing when she is tired and ready to go back to the hotel. if you don't mind not being up close, there is a spot next to the ferry dock at the transportation center that gives you a really good view of the fireworks, and gets you out before the crowds. I would still ask for the disability assistance pass, although as others have said she may get denied. sometimes the wheelchair simply isn't enough; the DAS lets you wait outside the line. which means with the pass you can get a return time, then while you wait for the return time go sit inside an airconditioned building for a meal or go to first aid for a quick lie-down without leaving the park. while it is true that the point of a DAS isn't to allow you to get more done in less time, the fact of the matter is it does have that effect. again, you may be denied, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

I am sorry to hear your daughter battles these issues. I hope she is doing well. We will have a car.
Maybe we will ask for the pass and see what happens?
Our hope is for 2-3 hours each morning and then rest at the resort
If we try to do the fireworks that will probably be her park visit for the day I would expect
She will be so happy just to be there
Thank you for your comment I will ask for the pass to see

 

[gap2368]

Do you know what hospital is best should we need an emergency room for any reason?

Celebration has a decent Hospital and there is at least one in Orlando if she needs to go to the hospital Disney will pay for you to go and pay for you to come back ( from first-hand experience )

 

[arminnie]

I had an emergency appendectomy at Dr Phillips hospital on Turkey Lake road. Great treatment.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Has anybody ever had a non-emergency appendectomy?