Disabled for Disney

[J3nn78]

Hi
I ruptured my achilles tendon 2 weeks ago. It was misdiagnosed as a calf strain, but I know now it is a complete rupture. I am seeing an orthopedist on Monday. I know I will need surgury and casting for up to 12 weeks.

Our trip is only 6 weeks away. I am devistated. I was looking forward to this trip more than any other. I do not know how we will manage with 2 little ones and me most likely needing a wheelchair. Even if I am in a walking cast by then, I will not be able to walk in Disney all day. I am sore and achy after a day when I am in complete health.

We cannot reschedule. We would lose too much money and I cannot get the same time off work. I am just so sad now.

 

[Belle1962]

Here's hoping you're wrong

If you need to, rent an ecv for yourself and let DH/SO/Spouse stroller the kids. If you are in a walking cast or can walk a little, you can park the ecv and wait in line with the kids to help with them. Use a good touring plan like TGM and use fastpass whenever possible. Take it easy and realize that you really can't see and do it all in one trip even without these issues. Prioritize what you think your family wants/needs are.

Also--find out where the cut on the cast will be---bring a large sharpie and have the chracters sign below the mark. "Special" souvie just for you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I agree with everything Belle said. Don't even think about a wheelchair, think about an ECV.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including Post #2 where people rent ECVs.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[Irish9697]

You may very well need the help of a wheelchair at times, but you will surprise yourself by how much more mobile you will feel at that point, so don't panic! My boyfriend completely tore his Achilles tendon on April 16th and was immediately casted. He had surgery on the 23rd and was soft-casted. He got a removable, non-weight bearing boot 2 weeks later. He started PT about a week after that. On May 25th, he was put in a removable weight-bearing boot. We went to the beach for a week on May 30th and he used the boot when we walked down to the beach but took it off the whole time we were there to swim, play and relax. He had no pain and I don't think too a pain med in the month of May even. So, yeah, maybe you can't walk all day in the boot at Disney, but you're going to surprise yourself...6 weeks from now, you're going to be much farther along in your healing than you are now, so it's going to be better than you think!

Good luck!

By the way, he was allowed to officially be out of the boot around June 23rd and has been a-okay since. After a day on his feet, his affected ankle and foot will swell. And, he seems to have tightness with quick movements (basketball playing and the like), but otherwise is good as new.

 

[mechurchlady]

You have two options, wheelchair or ECV. With the wheelchair your spouse will be pushing you most of the time. This will mean that he cannot be there corralling kids. His time would be with you instead of the kids.

IF you got an ECV then you could get out and hobble about as needed. He could take the kids on the kiddies rides or to meet and greet characters. It would thus free up one person to be totally devoted to the kids. You could take the ECV into most lines and hobble or use their wheelchair the rest of the time. For restaurants you could park outside and hobble in or go in and have him park the ECV. For parades it is best to park on the curb and let kids be kids as the handicapped areas on parades can be crowded or part of your group would be behind you instead of dad and kids in front of you. If the kids are runners then try a harness and leash. Strollers also help corral kids.

Dont worry as you can do this with careful planning.

 

[J3nn78]

Thanks
I am really nervous at the thought of renting an ECV. Especially since I have heard such horror stories with buses lately. I cannot afford to have to wait like that with 2 little ones. If I bring a wheelchair, that means every adult in our party has to deal with pushing someone.

 

[mechurchlady]

The answer to busses is to stand there and demand to see a supervisor. If necessary send the husband with the kids to the room or where ever but you fight. Since this is an ongoing problem I would recommend logging any problems on film not pictures but video. "8:14 am and we are waiting for the bus" 8:16 that bus was full and as you see they promised one soon" "8"25 and another bus leaves"

Busses are the top complaint I see on this board right now. Documentation and demanding your rights is very important as well as knowing your rights. Like they cannot take an ECV if there is no room or if the bus is crowded. 3 able-bodied people on a bus is not crowded. They cannot load the front first if a disabled person should be boarded. Also you will get the same treatment in a wheelchair as and ECV unless your husband is willing to drag a folded wheelchair onto a bus, nope?, then you are in the same group either way.

As for busses it is random and some people have happy days on the bus while others spend hours waiting for them. It would make it a lot easier on your group if you used an ECV. If you cannot ride a ride then you could go shopping or take the little ones to a character meet and greet. If you are tired or ill you can leave early and go to your room. FREEDOM. I have to push my mom everywhere and the last time in Wal-Mart she took off and it was great to be able to shop without pushing the cart and her. She got to see things and found something she WANTED NOW. FREEDOM to not have to have someone push you to the toilet or to try to figure out where you want to go. Look a flower and you just scoot and look instead of "Hunny, look at that flower, can I get a closer look?" "What flower?"

<--- Freedom

 

[J3nn78]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely remember that.
I am so up and down right now. I saw the orthopedist and had an MRI. I definitely ruptured it and need surgery in the next week.
I am thankful I was not hurt more seriously and we still can go to disney. But I am sad that it is not going to go according to plan. I just had a meltdown. One of the little things I was looking so forward to was carrying my youngest in the Ergo carrier through the parks. Small and unimportant overall, but I realized I cannot do that this time and next time we go, he will be too old.

Sorry for venting. Thanks for the support. I am sure I will need it in the coming weeks.

 

[happysmyly]

Our experiences last week may be helpful info... mom was using a wheelchair for this trip – but since she doesn’t in ‘real life’ she doesn’t have a placard. Each day we just went up to the parking people and told them and they directed us to either the Diamond parking section or to the ‘medical overflow’ which was usually a blue cone section right behind the official handicapped rows. This was great most days—as we were close enough to walk (me pushing her wheelchair) to the gates, not using the tram. But for Magic Kingdom this was more of a pain—the walk is a bit further and has some ups and downs to it before you get to the place to monorail or ferry.
Next trip if I am going to MK, I will just park at Epcot and take their monorail over to the TTC—parking at Epcot is so much easier and closer than at MK.