DD Hurt! Worth Visiting with a Cast on Leg?

[DadtheKid]

My 13 year old DD injured her ankle in a softball game last night and has a cast up to just below her knee that will probably need to be on 1-2 weeks, which is the time frame that we will be at RPR.

She would probably need a wheelchair as they do not want her to put weight on the leg. We were only at the hospital after the injury last night and haven't seen an pediatric orthopedic surgeon yet, so can't be sure exactly what they will require of her when we are in Orlando. Don't know if we can get a waterproof cast or when it may come off during the trip, and even if it does, they might not want her to put weight on it for some time because of a potential growth-plate injury.

So has anyone gone with a leg injury and was it managable and still worth it? She loves roller coasters and it will kill her if she can't go on them. Will there be any rides she can't go on, other than the water rides (if she can't get the cast wet)? Will it be hard to push her around in a wheelchair if it is busy at the parks? We are wondering whether to cancel. My daughter's first words to me after she was carried off of the field, were "I want to go to Orlando."

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I'm so sorry this happened to your DD. I hope she is feeling better. I remembered reading a thread about casts and found it for you. It has lots of great info, hope it helps.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=730368&highlight=cast

 

[phamton]

It sounds like she really wants to go even with the injury. I suspect, if it is not broken, and only a severe sprain that she might get one of those strap on leg braces. I had that when I have broken my foot twice. It bends at the knee. With that she can ride even the coasters and walk also. I hate to see you cancel to trip as she is probably disappointed enough about getting hurt. I know Sharon pushed her older teen daughter in a wheelchair and we rode MIB together. Maybe she can tell you of her experiences.

 

[ktglads]

I broke my tib/fib about 2 weeks before vacation 2 summers ago and went with a cast that went from about 2 inches below the knee on down. I was completely non-weight bearing and on crutches. What I did was rent a wheelchair at home (managed to get one for about $50 for 3 weeks) and brought that with me. I had friends that helped push me in the park and I also helped on my own as well.

At IoA, I did not do much. I did Cat in the Hat, Posiedon, and Spiderman. That was about it since I could not get the cast wet and the Hulk and DD were out for me, just due to the pressure that they would put on my leg and the fact that I was completely NWB. If she is in a waterproof cast or brace, there would be no reason why she could not go on Bluto's or Jurassic Park

Universal, on the other hand, I rode everything, including the Mummy. MIB was awesome since we got caught there in a freak rain storm (it poured for about 2 straight hours) and they just let us go on over and over again since there were no lines as everyone just stopped where they were, it was raining that hard.

 

[Katy]

A couple of years ago my then 12 year old son broke his ankle playing baseball and we were scheduled for a visit over the 4th of July. He was put in a "Gortex" waterproof cast to just below the knee. We ordered a wheel chair online to be delivered to our hotel. We were visiting just Disney at the time.

We had a great time. We had to take turns pushing him in the chair and he enjoyed the extra attention he received from everyone. He even got to the front of the line on a few of the rides. He swam everyday and checked with the lifeguard about using the pool slide. The allowed him as long as it was clear below. I stood guard! I would say if you have your hearts and schedule set on it to go ahead with your plans. The waterproof casts are great - he's since broken his arm another summer! You just have to rinse it out with fresh water after you swim.

Good luck!

 

[DadtheKid]

Can we get a wheelchair from the parks, or do we need to arrange to obtain one from somewhere else?

 

[phamton]

They have wheelchairs to rent at the park.

Wheelchairs: $12.00 per day + a $50.00 deposit & a signed rental contract

 

[A Mickeyfan]

My DD went the day after spraining her ankle on a trampoline. Doc didn't want much weight on her leg for a week. He gave her crutches. When we went to the parks, we go the wheel chair. I do have to warn you, it is a long haul on crutches to the park itself. We were staying at the HRH & just from the bus to the park was a hike while on crutches. If you are off site, from the parking lot to the park is even further. If you plan on going to both parks, we weren't allowed to take the wheel chair from one to the other. We had to turn it in then show the recpt at the other park to get one there. It was hard for her to get to the other park. As far as the rides, she was able to transfer and get on most of the rides she wanted. Since we were onsite guests, we didn't have to worry about any type of line skipping so I cannot say how that works..

 

[Katy]

I called the resort before to see about a wheelchair. I wanted a child size one that would be easy to manurver. They couldn't gurantee I could get one at the resort if anyone needed it before I got there. So I opted to rent online. It was a little better quality than the ones at the resort and if I recall not too expensive.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I called the resort before to see about a wheelchair. I wanted a child size one that would be easy to manurver. They couldn't gurantee I could get one at the resort if anyone needed it before I got there. So I opted to rent online. It was a little better quality than the ones at the resort and if I recall not too expensive.

That is most likely the best route to go. This way she will not have to hobble on crutches to the parks & in between each park. The CM's at the parks will be very helpful to you so don't hesitate to ask them any questions you may have about a ride. As I said, our main problem was the 2 & from the parks...not once while we were in there. I was not able to get a wheel chair at the HRH, they said that they did not supply them. I was surprised to hear that... My trip then I actually had two on crutches. My husband had just had knee surgery but he only hung around the hotel, stayed away from the parks totally! It was a site seeing the 2 of them with the crutches getting in & out of the elevator.