DH ruptured his ACL and tore meniscus in knee, but we can still go!! Advice

[Dutchmom23]

Because he can not bend 110degrees, yet with his injury, the dr. approved us to go on our trip. I know we will need to rent a wheelchair and make a room request.

Originally when we planned, I got phlebitis and thought I would be in w/c, but it is resolving. Then, Grandma died last week. This new injury is the final straw, we officially need a vacation.

How does this work with a w/c? Are there separate entrances? Can the family remain together during rides and shows? Can w/c people fastpass?

TIA for your input.

 

[JLTraveling]

Go to Guest Relations and get a Guest Assistance Pass. You can have it issued for the length of your stay and it will be valid at all 4 parks. This will be good for all members of your party (limit 6) and will allow you to use the fastpass return entrances without having to have a fastpass. Every fastpass return has the capacity to handle wheelchairs, and the CMs will guide you to the proper ramp, row of seating, etc. Your party will always stay together. On some rides, he will have to transfer to the ride vehicle, on others there is actually a wheelchair-accessible ride vehicle, so he won't even have to get out. Ask CMs on parade routes to direct you to wheelchair viewing areas, so he won't have to worry about tall people standing in front of him.

Don't worry at all. My dad's had an ECV for years, and CMs really go out of their way to be accommodating. You'll have tons of fun!!

 

[Dutchmom23]

Go to Guest Relations and get a Guest Assistance Pass. You can have it issued for the length of your stay and it will be valid at all 4 parks. This will be good for all members of your party (limit 6) and will allow you to use the fastpass return entrances without having to have a fastpass. Every fastpass return has the capacity to handle wheelchairs, and the CMs will guide you to the proper ramp, row of seating, etc. Your party will always stay together. On some rides, he will have to transfer to the ride vehicle, on others there is actually a wheelchair-accessible ride vehicle, so he won't even have to get out. Ask CMs on parade routes to direct you to wheelchair viewing areas, so he won't have to worry about tall people standing in front of him.

Don't worry at all. My dad's had an ECV for years, and CMs really go out of their way to be accommodating. You'll have tons of fun!!

Do I need a dr.'s order, or is the leg brace and crutches enough? roflol. DH wanted me to ask. TY for replying. What could have been a disaster is working out for us. If he could bend 7 more degrees, he'd be having surgery. So, on with the trip. TY.

 

[mjmcca]

I would recommend an ECV. If you get a regular W/C someone whill have to push him in it and with your phlebitis i dont think it is a good idea for you to do.

 

[kandeebunny]

You may want to considder renting an ECV from offsite to help in getting around your resort and the bus stops. There's a thread with the #'s of the different companies over on the disabilities board. We always use care for me, it works well. They also make sure that you are not too big for your chair and fit you by height/weight!

OH and if he can make it without the brace on it (I don't know how bad it is for him, but if he can make it about 5-7 steps without the brace it would be a good idea) I wouldn't wear it. I have knee/joint problems and I was there during a summer with 2 black kneebraces from mid calf to mid thigh. My leg got incredibly hot and I got heat rash under the braces so when I needed to wear them I could barely put them on. On that note you may want to bring baby powder for under the braces to help keep it drier.

 

[iLoveEeyore2]

DH also has a torn meniscus. Fortunately, he can walk, but not for long periods. He will find out Mon. if he needs surgery or pt. We called for a room request, noting the knee injury. He doesn't want a wheelchair, but I'm sure after a few hours of walking, he will change his mind.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I would recommend an ECV. If you get a regular W/C someone whill have to push him in it and with your phlebitis i dont think it is a good idea for you to do.

I agree. I went on a student council trip once and had a girl in a wheel chair and we had to push her...2 other students and me 10 years younger in my early 30's and we all thought we would be in the hospital by the end of the weekend and we only went to a very small zoo over the weekend and pushed her around a high school.

 

[JLTraveling]

The only problem with an ECV is that he would not have much room to stretch out that leg. My dad uses his ECV due to arthritis in his spine, so no problems with the legs, and at various times throughout the day he has to have someone else drive the ECV for awhile so he can walk a bit to stretch out his legs. It really depends on exactly what position is going to be most comfortable for him...it will be difficult if you have to push a w/c, especially with your own problems, but then again it may be difficult for him to ride an ECV all day. You'll have to weigh both options and see what works the best for both of you.

 

[Dutchmom23]

God bless you with all these terrific posts. I have so much to think about and 7 days to pack/plan.

Have a blessed, joy filled weekend.
Dutchmom23

 

[Dutchmom23]

Go to Guest Relations and get a Guest Assistance Pass. You can have it issued for the length of your stay and it will be valid at all 4 parks. This will be good for all members of your party (limit 6) and will allow you to use the fastpass return entrances without having to have a fastpass. Every fastpass return has the capacity to handle wheelchairs, and the CMs will guide you to the proper ramp, row of seating, etc. Your party will always stay together. On some rides, he will have to transfer to the ride vehicle, on others there is actually a wheelchair-accessible ride vehicle, so he won't even have to get out. Ask CMs on parade routes to direct you to wheelchair viewing areas, so he won't have to worry about tall people standing in front of him.

Don't worry at all. My dad's had an ECV for years, and CMs really go out of their way to be accommodating. You'll have tons of fun!!

Do I need dr.'s slip for the Guest assistance pass? Do I use guest relations at parks or can I arrange this at POR? TIA for your help.

 

[JLTraveling]

You won't need a dr's slip. There's a new policy where the CM at Guest Relations is supposed to ask what type of accomodation you require, but in reality they generally just ask what the disability is and fill out the card. In the event that you are asked what you need, just explain that he is unable to walk/stand in lines... the point of the question is that people used to take advantage of the system by renting w/c for the sole purpose of skipping lines, so it's kind of a psychology thing, they're hoping that people who don't really need a GAC will be caught off guard and not know how to answer.

I'm local so I don't normally stay in the hotels, but I think the GAC can only be arranged at one of the parks. However, it doesn't hurt to ask at the resort when you check in, they *may* be able to arrange it. If you do need to do it at the parks, I strongly recommend MGM. They have a Guest Relations window outside the park entrance (bear left toward the bathrooms just after the ticket window) and there's rarely a line. Have a great trip!!

 

[Figment1964]

Go to Guest Relations and get a Guest Assistance Pass. You can have it issued for the length of your stay and it will be valid at all 4 parks. This will be good for all members of your party (limit 6) and will allow you to use the fastpass return entrances without having to have a fastpass. Every fastpass return has the capacity to handle wheelchairs, and the CMs will guide you to the proper ramp, row of seating, etc. Your party will always stay together. On some rides, he will have to transfer to the ride vehicle, on others there is actually a wheelchair-accessible ride vehicle, so he won't even have to get out. Ask CMs on parade routes to direct you to wheelchair viewing areas, so he won't have to worry about tall people standing in front of him.

Don't worry at all. My dad's had an ECV for years, and CMs really go out of their way to be accommodating. You'll have tons of fun!!

Hi! Just an FYI~

The majority of lines are mainstream access for wheelchairs and/or ECV's (those that don't have WC access have an alternate entrance). You don't need a Guest Assistance Card (GAC for short) to be able to enter those lines, the CM at the entrance of the attraction will direct you to where you need to go. The GAC is designed to let CM's know of any invisible disabilities a person might have and what assistance is needed with that situation.

ITA that the CM's are WAY accommodating!

For info on wheelchairs and/or ECV's, or even just traveling to WDW with a disability, check out the disABILITIES forum here. It's full of great information!

Have a great trip...it sounds like it'll be just in time!

 

[Dutchmom23]

Hi! Just an FYI~

The majority of lines are mainstream access for wheelchairs and/or ECV's (those that don't have WC access have an alternate entrance). You don't need a Guest Assistance Card (GAC for short) to be able to enter those lines, the CM at the entrance of the attraction will direct you to where you need to go. The GAC is designed to let CM's know of any invisible disabilities a person might have and what assistance is needed with that situation.

ITA that the CM's are WAY accommodating!

For info on wheelchairs and/or ECV's, or even just traveling to WDW with a disability, check out the disABILITIES forum here. It's full of great information!

Have a great trip...it sounds like it'll be just in time!

TY for the info. Do you think we still need to use fastpass? Or will this enable to get in as quickly, leaving fastpass for others? TIA.

 

[Humphrey Bear]

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate injury. Last year I had knee surgery but that didn't stop me from disney. My one little thing that I did to keep me going was to take two ziploc bags. Take the gallon size and preferably the freezer ones because they are thicker. Every morning on the way to breakfast I stopped at the ice machine to fill them up, during breakfast I would ice my knee. During lunch I would have the bags filled where ever I was, weither it was a restaurant or a counter service. Do the same at dinner and then on the way back to the room stop at the ice machine and ice once before bed. This also works on the airline. Take empty bags through security and have them filled at any place that has ice. I found this to help ease the pressure of the flight. Good Luck. Oh, I did find that disney was the best therapy for my knee. Don't worry you will find that disney may be just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Dutchmom23]

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate injury. Last year I had knee surgery but that didn't stop me from disney. My one little thing that I did to keep me going was to take two ziploc bags. Take the gallon size and preferably the freezer ones because they are thicker. Every morning on the way to breakfast I stopped at the ice machine to fill them up, during breakfast I would ice my knee. During lunch I would have the bags filled where ever I was, weither it was a restaurant or a counter service. Do the same at dinner and then on the way back to the room stop at the ice machine and ice once before bed. This also works on the airline. Take empty bags through security and have them filled at any place that has ice. I found this to help ease the pressure of the flight. Good Luck. Oh, I did find that disney was the best therapy for my knee. Don't worry you will find that disney may be just what the doctor ordered.

Great idea on the ice bags via ziplocks. This will NOT stop us from going. It will be a good distraction for us as he convalesces and prepares for surgery. After the last several months between my health issues, Grandma dying last weekend, and now dh's injury. Our family needs a break.

 

[SueM in MN]

Do I need dr.'s slip for the Guest assistance pass? Do I use guest relations at parks or can I arrange this at POR? TIA for your help.

TY for the info. Do you think we still need to use fastpass? Or will this enable to get in as quickly, leaving fastpass for others? TIA.

You have to go to Guest Assistance in the parks, but someone who is using a wheelchair or scooter (ecv) because of mobility needs does not need a Guest Assistance Card (GAC). What they need is an accessible entrance into the attraction. All of the fastpass lines and most of the regular lines are wheelchair/ecv accessible. The CMs can see from you having a wheelchair or ecv that you need an accessible line, so you don't need a GAC unless there are other needs.
It says right on the GAC that it is not a pass and is not meant to shorten or eliminate waits in line. It also says that if you do want to shorten your wait in line, they recommend using Fastpass. What the GAC is meant to do is be a tool for the CMs to know what sorts of assistance is needed by people with invisible disabilities.
Disney's policy is that someone who says thay have trouble standing or walking in line is supposed to be given the suggestion to rent an ecv or wheelchair.

 

[kjs1976]

My thoughts and prayers are with you to help you get through each "bump" you've had lately in your lives so that you can enjoy your break at WDW to the fullest as a family!!!! Oh...I admire your courage and persistance to not let all that has happened take you down!!!

 

[Dutchmom23]

My thoughts and prayers are with you to help you get through each "bump" you've had lately in your lives so that you can enjoy your break at WDW to the fullest as a family!!!! Oh...I admire your courage and persistance to not let all that has happened take you down!!!

TYVM for your kind words. Knowing God is in control, gives us the peace that passes all understanding.

We are five hours from leaving!!