Disneyland on a bum leg?

[Melb]

Dh has a torn miniscus and a torn acl. I have no idea exactly what this entails - I just know he needs surgery and his ship may not let him get it before he goes.

He is supposed to deploy at the end of April - whether he gets his surgery or not. Before he goes - I wanted to do a family trip - but I'm not sure if he can handle the walking and the standing - he has a fancy schmancy knee brace right now... if he gets the surgery - I'm not sure what they will have on his leg.

What is the best way to go about a family trip to Disney? We will have small children with us... or should we just not go until he gets back????

(me and the kids have passes - he doesn't because he's not in town enough to go to Disney LOL - it's not a trip of a lifetime or anything like that - we just don't do family trips often...)

 

[Corpsebride]

I have had what he has. If he goes to dl before the surgery, get a wheel chair or ECV. He really will not be able to walk on his own all day . he will do way more damage.
If its after, and the surgery is a success, hell be up and around in days but still need a chair of some sort to get around dl until he is 100%.
dont let him be a "man" about it and just tough it out. he wont make it.
but either way, I hope he feels better soon.
good luck!

 

[DahliaRW]

I agree, get him in a wheelchair or scooter and see if you can get a disability pass. Then you'll get to go in the handicap entrance and not face all the lines, which is a bonus.

 

[tink_lover]

Man can I relate. I broke my foot last week. I'm hoping that by the time we go in 2 months, I can at least walk on it. But I am afraid of walking around in crowds - getting stepped on and re-injuring it. I'm not sure what I'll do. Good luck to you dh!

 

[Melb]

I have had what he has. If he goes to dl before the surgery, get a wheel chair or ECV. He really will not be able to walk on his own all day . he will do way more damage.
If its after, and the surgery is a success, hell be up and around in days but still need a chair of some sort to get around dl until he is 100%.
dont let him be a "man" about it and just tough it out. he wont make it.
but either way, I hope he feels better soon.
good luck!

Oh he will be a man about it. It's what he does... chances of getting him into a wheelchair are slim

 

[dmked]

I agree, get him in a wheelchair or scooter and see if you can get a disability pass. Then you'll get to go in the handicap entrance and not face all the lines, which is a bonus.

Yeah I don't agree with people getting to bypass lines just because they rent an ECV. You are sitting in a chair...any reason you can't wait in line like the rest of us? (not directed at anyone, I just see soooo many people rent chairs just for the purpose of not having to wait in lines)

 

[disney-super-mom]

I agree, get him in a wheelchair or scooter and see if you can get a disability pass. Then you'll get to go in the handicap entrance and not face all the lines, which is a bonus.

Yeah I don't agree with people getting to bypass lines just because they rent an ECV. You are sitting in a chair...any reason you can't wait in line like the rest of us? (not directed at anyone, I just see soooo many people rent chairs just for the purpose of not having to wait in lines)

First, you don't need a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) if you're in a wheelchair or on a scooter. A GAC is for "less obvious" needs of a guest. Your wheelchair or scooter basically is a GAC, unless you have additional needs not related to being in a wheelchair or on a scooter.

Second, people in wheelchairs or scooters don't get to bypass lines per se. Many lines are wheelchair and ECV accessible, so they wait in the regular line with everyone else. The only time a person in a wheelchair or ECV can bypass the regular line is when it isn't wheelchair or ECV accessible, and then they either have to go through a handicap entrance, or they have to access the ride through the exit. However, sometimes the wait at the handicap entrance can be longer than the regular line (which we experienced many times when traveling with my MIL, who needs an ECV.)

 

[jory29]

Make sure he takes ibuprofren (advil, motrin, etc.) round the clock when there (as many tablets as can be tolerated, as in, don't over-do the instructions on the bottle, and always take on a FULL stomache.) I had some serious foot/knee pain (and I am not even injured the way your husband is) on 2 of our trips, but the 3rd trip to DL, I listened to the kind DIS'ers here, and advil is the way to go. NO pain at all. I was amazed! Because it's an anti-inflammatory, it should help. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Leash]

I dislocated me knee 5 days before we left for DL and I was stuck in a knee immobilizer. I rented an ECV and it was really helpful, I had a hard time walking even short distances so having the scooter to get around the park was great. I would say try really hard to talk DH into an ECV as it will make the trip so much better and he will feel much better not having to do all that walking with an injury.
At first I felt self concious being in the ECV since I am young and otherwise healty but I got over that within about a day because I really did need that scooter, I would just flat not have been able to get around the park otherwise.
Other posters are right though, if you have to use the accessible line be prepared to wait longer than the people in the normal line during busy times.
Hope your DH has a successful surgery and heals quickly and have a good trip!

 

[Bunless]

We went to DL about a month after DH had his ACL surgery. He was on crutches the whole time, no wheel chair. Didn't have a problem at all.

Can your DH bend his knee to a 90 degree angle? that might be the biggest issue. On an ECV and wheelchair, if you can't bend your knee if might be even scarier than being on crutches, just having that thing sticking out there for anyone to run into. Most of the rides you need to be able to bend your knee that much, also. The only ride DH had a problem with getting onto was Winnie the Pooh.

If your DH is strong enough in his upper body, let him be on crutches. There's nothing wrong with doing that. If he doesn't see a reason for using an ECV or wheelchair, then he doesn't need to. The cast members (and surrounding people) will help make sure that theres a place for him to sit whenever possible. He'll get the same treatment as anyone in a chair.