Disney with broken wrist?

[Patience]

My 17 year old daughter broke her wrist this afternoon at cheerleading practice. We leave for WDW in six days. We took her to urgent care for an x-ray and, right now, they just have her wrist wrapped and we will see the orthopedist tomorrow. Has anyone gone to Disney with a broken arm or wrist? What rides will she not be able to go on? We were planning to surprise her with a parasailing flight but I guess that's out now.

 

[brymolmom]

It's been a long while but I broke my wrist when I was a teenager. Unless it is a major bad break (as in, requiring surgery or similar) - I can't imagine there is anything that she wouldn't be able to go on. I believe the casts they use are usually even waterproof now (but make sure to verify this or skip Kali River) - but they weren't back in the 'old days'. It will be awkward for her at first but she should be able to buckle/pull down the restraints with her one good hand.

Obviously bounce it off the doctor tomorrow, but I wouldn't anticipate needing to lay off anything...

 

[SueM in MN]

Post #23 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has information about attractions with warnings. You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board or follow the link in my signature.

You will want to ask her doctor what restrictions, if any, she has.
WDW puts the warnings out there, but it’s up to you to decide whether or not the warning applies to you. The CMs will not prevent her from riding anything unless the cast interferes with an over the shoulder restraint or would be a danger to other riders.

Here’s a link to a trip report from someone who went to WDW with 2 (yes 2!) broken arms.

 

[Nicolepa]

My 17 year old daughter broke her wrist this afternoon at cheerleading practice. We leave for WDW in six days. We took her to urgent care for an x-ray and, right now, they just have her wrist wrapped and we will see the orthopedist tomorrow. Has anyone gone to Disney with a broken arm or wrist? What rides will she not be able to go on? We were planning to surprise her with a parasailing flight but I guess that's out now.

When my daughter broke her wrist last spring they wouldn't even cast it for 7-10 days. One is they wait for the swelling to go down and two they don't know until then if they will need surgery. It all depends on how the bone lines up etc.

Hers was a very bad break (all the way thru one bone and horribly disfigured), but there is no way we could have gone anywhere w/in a week of breaking it. Ignoring the fact that they wouldn't cast it, she was in so much pain she didn't leave the sofa for almost 2 weeks. (Missed one week of school and all of spring break.)

My neighbor's son broke his the following month. His was a small fracture and they didn't cast it for several days either. Same reasons swelling/surgery, but he had absolutly no pain once he was bandaged up.

 

[Patience]

Hi, thanks for all the replies. The urgent care doc did mention that the orthopedist might choose to delay casting her wrist. Nicolepa, your daughter's break sounds a lot worse than my daughter's. She is in a bit of pain but didn't need pain meds other than advil and the swelling is not too bad. My daughter's is a small fracture. I will be sure to mention to the orthopedist that we are supposed to go to Disney World this weekend. If he/she thinks we shouldn't go, we will just have to reschedule.

 

[amylynne01]

I went to WDW in 1992 with a broken wrist. I was 9 yrs old, and the only thing I remember not being able to do was really go swimming because my cast couldn't get wet, and no amount of plastic could keep it dry. I also remember taking a shower with my arm hanging out of the shower at FW lol.

Honestly, it's not a big deal. It's not ideal, but no worries.

 

[laughinplace199]

OP, sorry this happened. Definitely ask the dr if a waterproof cast is an option. DD has fractured both arms (thankfully not at the same time) and she had waterproof casts both times. One of the fractures happened about 6 weeks before a WDW trip and she was lucky that she got the cast off a day or two before we left, but we were prepared to do WDW with the cast.

Good luck!

 

[ktlm]

I broke each wrist twice as a kid (never both at the same time). If it is just a hairline fracture (mine always were), the orthopedist will likely cast it at the first visit and probably with a cast that ends before the elbow. I only had a cast that covered the elbow one time out of 4, because the break was a little higher up. I remember the pain pretty much ending once the cast was on. It never slowed me down either. If she has a cast that ends before the elbow area, I don't think it will cause her any trouble on any of the WDW rides. If it goes over the elbow, it might be an issue just because of the angle of the arm. Back when I did it, casts weren't waterproof, so the biggest issue was swimming (couldn't do it) , or showers. I think today most casts are waterproof so that probably won't be a problem. I hope she heals fast!

 

[WantToGoNow]

We were at the ER tonight with ds10. He was playing with 2 other boys and wiped out on the neighbor's driveway and was complaining of one wrist and one knee hurting. The other hand and knee are all scraped up. The knee is just bruised but they said the wrist is sprained and wrapped it up. They said it is possible that there is a fracture in there that won't show up immediately on an x-ray. If it's still bothering him in a week we have to go back and have it x-ray'd again. My first thought was crutches and an arm cast - and we leave in 24 days.

 

[Patience]

The orthopedist did put my daughter in a cast today but she only has to wear it for 2-3 weeks (we go back for a check up in two weeks) and then they will put it in a brace for another 3 weeks or so after that. The cast stops below her elbow but her thumb is immobilized. Looking at the cast, we don't think it will affect her being able to go on most rides. We told the doctor about our Disney trip and he just told her to have fun and not do anything that caused her wrist to hurt. She says her wrist feels better with the cast on.

WantToGoNow, I hope your son feels better soon and that there is not a fracture.

Thanks, everyone! As someone said, it's not ideal but I am sure my daughter will still have a good time.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We went to DisneyLAND with my DD9 in a cast with a broken wrist. It really didn't impact our plans much at all.

We took her sling and had her wear it on any rides that we thought she'd be tempted to use both arms for bracing. .

She did get a lot of attention ... I guess a hot pink cast will do that.