Disneyland After Surgery

[dotfurio]

Not to thread jack, but for those of you who recommend using a scooter, what do you do with the scooter in the park? Like I know there's stroller parking but is there a place to park scooters?

I posted that we will most likely cancel our October trip due to health issues, but with the ridiculous amount of money we will lose, we make just go. If we do, I may not be able to do all the walking around the park. Standing in line and getting on and off rides I can do, walking a lot, maybe not

On a recent trip with my BFF she had to use a scooter. She had a broken foot, and was there to see my daughter march with her band, so it wasn't like she could postpone the trip. On rides where a scooter fits, you just go through the regular queue. Otherwise a CM at the entrance will direct you and your party where to go, usually through the exit. They're very good about posting CMs where needed, like on Indy we did the fast pass line to a point, and then there was a CM there to direct us to the elevator to board the ride. We didn't watch any shows, so I'm not sure how that works.

 

[sillybaer]

Could we still park it by the handicapped entrance without a DAS card?
I think, for the most part, I will be about to walk. I recently had some inflammation in my spinal cord and brain stem which affected my nervous system. I lost control over my left leg completely. At this point I can walk, but I'm not strong. I plan to go to physical therapy and hope to regain most movement and strength but it's not a guarantee. If I'm still not walking at 100% when we do make it to DL, a scooter may help for all that walking around. /

You do not need DAS with a scooter or wheelchair. You just go up to the wheelchair entrance in your scooter and the CMs will direct you from there. (Usually the wheelchair entrance is at the exit and sometimes the signs are hard to find but if not just ask a CM.) Most of the time you will take the scooter inside and park it near where the ride loads.
If there is a long line then they will scan your party's tickets and issue you a return time. Then you go back to the same location at the time stated (it kinda works like a fastpass).

In Disneyland, Roger Rabbit and Buzz Lightyear are accessible lines so you will just go through the line and at the front they will direct you to where to park and where to load.
In DCA most of the lines are accessible. The only exception is Toy Story where you go through a handicapped door a bit to the left of the line entrance. Toy Story is also the exception because it's the only ride where the CMs do not issue a return time at the ride. You have to use the kiosks designed for DAS which have green umbrellas. (One is by CA screamin', one is outside of Cars Land, and I never learned the location of the 3rd.) You still just need a wheelchair or scooter, not an actual DAS card but you will have to go to the kiosk if the lines are long at Toy Story

Also, I didn't need this but I was asked often enough that I thought I would mention that for rides with moving walkways they can slow down or stop the walkway if you need that to get on safely.

Don't make the scooter decision now, but if the week before your trip you're thinking you might need one then just get one. It's easier to do the research and have it set up than worry about it in the parks. If you think you might, you probably will.

I unfortunately did book our flights and did not spring for the insurance. Who thinks they're going to cancel a DISNEY trip?!?!! I can cancel the tickets, but they will charge me $200 per ticket :/

Hopefully your credit card (as someone else mentioned) can help you or you can find travel insurance that will cover you. I would read the terms carefully but you might still find coverage.

 

[paintingoncelluloid]

I can definitely relate! I actually went to Disneyland for the first time about 10 days after I had laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. I definitely wasn't feeling "back to normal" -- still a lot of tenderness and not-quite-normal feelings around my core muscles -- but I still had a great time. I took it realllly easy, resting and people watching whenever I started to feel fatigued, and skipped the rides that looked most intense. I was completely fine on Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Mr. Toad, etc, and even on Indiana Jones. (I decided to skip Big Thunder Mountain, the Matterhorn,and Splash Mountain.) The only ride I rode that didn't feel good was Star Tours (which was pretty predictable, but I have wanted to ride it since I was ten!), and even that didn't cause any damage/pain, it was just uncomfortable.

Anyhow, based on my experience I would say just take it slow through the park, and follow GatorChris' advice to be warier about jerky rides that might cause you to activate your core muscles. Oh! And be careful getting into and out of ride vehicles -- I felt a little silly, but I definitely needed to brace myself with my arms and lower myself into the vehicles a lot more carefully, since I couldn't use my ab muscles as much and some of the seats are deep or require a little twisting. But once I was sitting I was usually fine. Have fun on your trip!

 

[Malcon10t]

Could we still park it by the handicapped entrance without a DAS card?
I think, for the most part, I will be about to walk.

I generally park near the strollers. You can use the handicap entrance if needed. Just go to the exit, and the CM there can scan your tickets, assign you a return time, and you can wait by the side until your time to ride. If the ride is accessible (all of DCA is accessible, and many rides in DL also are, ask a nearby CM), just enter the ride normally.

 

[offwithyourhead]

I would just make sure to take it easy and slow and listen to your body for sure. Maybe visit a medical specialty store and ask if they have anything that they would recommend for a bit of padding or as an extra safety precaution?

I would take into consideration how restraint bars will touch you and if they'd cause any discomfort by pressing on or around the area of your incisions while the ride is in motion.

 

[bluebirdie]

I have recently been to Disneyland twice after surgeries. I had a lumpectomy in November and 12 days later I spent two days in the parks (this was a Thanksgiving trip we had planned before my surgery date; I told the surgeon our plans and she estimated that I'd be fine as long as I took it slow and rested when needed). We went on ToT, RSR, BTMRR, ST, Space, Splash, Indy and I didn't have any issues. Then I ended up needing a mastectomy in January and I spent 1 day in the parks 17 days after my surgery. This trip was unplanned; we ended up traveling to SoCal for a concert and figured since we were in the area might as well put our APs to use. On this trip, we skipped ToT and Splash (just timing issues, not health related) but BTMRR, Space and Indy were fine. Of course, everyone's post-surgical experience is different, but I imagine 4 weeks out you shouldn't have a problem. I haven't been able to ride Screamin' for the past two years because I have a chemo port implanted in my chest and I don't trust the restraints putting pressure on it. I would also advise skipping Matterhorn. I haven't been a fan since the new bobsleds, but I rode it to see the updates during our visit last month and it was really bumpy and painful! If it had been after a procedure, I think it would have been a major issue. Take it slow, schedule in frequent snack/rest/people watching breaks and stay hydrated. Hope you have an awesome trip

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

I spent last Saturday at the California State Fair, walking around in the sun for several hours. I was really tired at the end of the day, but I did okay! I am not so worried for my DLR trip now, which I leave for in two days. The only ride that I may avoid is Matterhorn, but we'll see. I like the suggestion of starting with the tamer rides and working my way up. Can't wait to do Peter Pan first thing!!

 

[almacdonald]

I had the same surgery 2 months ago. I would think you'd be perfectly capable of touring DL without restrictions, though, YMMV depending on your fitness level pre-surgery. I found walking to be no problem from day 3 onwards, and was actually more comfortable on my feet than sitting (I ran a 10km race 10 days post-op!) Your energy levels should be pretty much back to normal after a month, just make sure you're eating and drinking enough to sustain yourself. Oh, if you're used to carrying a bag around DL, maybe skip that, or take advantage of the lockers. I found carrying things to cause some discomfort.