Disney's response to hurt leg

[skater]

We just returned yesterday and I wanted to share one of our more interesting experiences. In the middle or our trip, my DD twisted her knee stepping off the Buzz Lightyear ride. She couldn't put weight on it, so we sat for a while in tommorrowland trying to figure out what to do. She is 12 so carrying her was out of the question. Eventually I asked someone who looked like a manager for help and oh boy things happened fast from there. I think there were 3-4 disney people and at least 2 paramedics there in a very short amount of time. Everyone was very nice. I was almost embarressed. There was nothing evident wrong with her knee - she just couldn't walk! The paramedics wrapped her knee and a wheelchair was brought back for her. they also arranged for a van to take us back to POR. When we arrived at POR the luggage people (couldn't remember what they're called!) immediately asked if we needed a wheelchair and told us to go to the front desk. The woman at concierge was not quite so friendly, but she did get us a wheelchair.
My DD used that wheelchair for 2 more days before she was okay to walk around the parks. By the way, it was sometimes an advantage and sometimes not. It was rough pushing her up the hill gong through the line at TOT. And at some of the shows we had to sit in the back. We did get to sit in the front row at Lion King even though I tried to tell the cast members that she could walk at that point - just not for long distances!
This experience did help me to realize that sometimes people who appear to not really need a wheelchair really do. I'm not judgemental of others, but sometimes I did wonder. We got some nasty looks when she got out of the chair and walked for short distances. I decided to ignore the looks and take care of her. I have to admit I was relieved when she was done with it!

 

[sherreis]

I'm glad that everything turned out alright and she is doing fine now. About the wheelchair and people looking -- unfortunately, as you are well aware of now, not every disability is detectable. Don't forget to write them a letter of appreciation. It goes a long way.

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

Glad you posted. You had a great reaction from cast members. Something like this happened to us on a quick 2 day trip when my youngest daughter was 9 minus the injury occuring at the park.

She was just a little too big to carry around the park. She twisted her ankle and could not put weight on it. (This was at our hotel the night before our first day.)
We got a wheelchair and had her hop between us for short distances. We would take the wheelchair into the restroom but she would hop in or for some of the shorter lines. Cast members were wonderful to us.

There were a couple of "looks" from guests but it didn't matter. It did teach me not to judge someone's ability to get around.

 

[Karnak]

Where did the van meet you that took y'all back to your resort from the Magic Kingdom? Did you have to travel back to the transportation center by monorail or boat to meet the van, or did the van pick you up just outside the Magic Kingdom gate?

The reason I'm interested is because a few years ago my wife became very ill while we were in the Magic Kingdom, and the CMs gave us a wheelchair to use for her. But when we exited the park I asked for a taxicab or other transportation to our resort (we were staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge during this particular trip), and I was informed by a CM at the exit, that to get any transportation other than a Disney bus, I would have to get her to the transportation center via. monorail or boat. (We ended up waiting for the bus, making for a much longer time before she could relax in our room. It was two days before she could venture outside again, but that's another story.)

Just wondering.

Thanks.

 

[Smooshdog]

Glad to hear things worked out so well for your family and that your daughter is ok! It is always good to hear such a story because it goes to show how great Disney really is!

 

[skater]

Karnak

Believe it or not the van picked us up "backstage" in Tommorrowland. It was behind that stage (not sure what its called as we've never seen anything there). So, luckily we didn't have to travel anywhere. The cast members were very nervous about us seeing anything backstage which I thought was sweet. We were not allowed to go back there until the van was actually there. Two very kind cast members guarded our kids from even looking back there while we were waiting. When we did get in the van there was nothing to see except for the backs of buildings. We were told the trailers holding the candy for MNSSHP were there but I forgot to look!

 

[Karnak]

Skater, I am happy things worked out well for you. I wish I could have such service for my wife, as hers was a serious illness that ended up with her in the hospital after we got back home.

By the way, I have driven that back road you mentioned, and yep, about all you can see from there is buildings.

Thanks for the response.

 

[Schmeck]

Where did the van meet you that took y'all back to your resort from the Magic Kingdom? Did you have to travel back to the transportation center by monorail or boat to meet the van, or did the van pick you up just outside the Magic Kingdom gate?

The reason I'm interested is because a few years ago my wife became very ill while we were in the Magic Kingdom, and the CMs gave us a wheelchair to use for her. But when we exited the park I asked for a taxicab or other transportation to our resort (we were staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge during this particular trip), and I was informed by a CM at the exit, that to get any transportation other than a Disney bus, I would have to get her to the transportation center via. monorail or boat. (We ended up waiting for the bus, making for a much longer time before she could relax in our room. It was two days before she could venture outside again, but that's another story.)

Just wondering.

Thanks.

Are taxis allowed up by the bus stops? I've never seen one there, thought they were all routed to TTC. If Disney was doing the driving (as in, a manager had arranged for alternate transportation) then I think they'd get you by the buses, but if you didn't have that worked out before you left the park, I think TTC is as close as outside transportation can get.

 

[minijeanie]

how great is Disney

You would never get that service anywhere else

glad she is okay

guess it was just a freaky thing and she mended well.

I agree about wheelchair


we took my mom for her 70th birthday and we rented a wheel chair.
we never bucked the line at all,\.
She could never of walked the parks all day and that is why we rented it.

DH & I took turns pushing. You are so right..the hills are a dog!!

It certaintly slows you down and I would never want to do it again.

although she is now 80 and I would love to bring her one more time,

she got such joy

 

[jlcd]

Glad everyting worked out well.

In 2005, my daughter had an accident tin MK that required an ambulance ride to the ER. Only one person could ride with her so my DH and DS (who was hysterical because his sister was being taken away in an ambulance) couln't ride with us. Disney brought them to the ER in a van, and then the driver waited and took us all back to WL. My husband wrote a letter telling Disney how wonderful the 2 CMs were that took care of us.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

On our last trip in 1991, I twisted my ankle on a stairway at CBR (luckily it was the very last night of our trip). It turned out a light bulb was burned out on the stairway and that's why I didn't see the last step. The manager immediately came up to our room, brought extra pillows, ice and plastic bags to make ice packs. He told us all of our options in case I wanted to see a doctor right away (which I didn't since we were going home the next day). He took all of our info. and wrote a report which he said he was required to do. When we got home, WDW called to ask how I was doing and they ended up covering my medical bills. Everyone we dealt with treated us with courtesy and concern. I had just chalked it up to my being clumsy but WDW insisted on helping us out and, in my opinion, going above and beyond. By the way, I plan on being very careful on our upcoming trip!!!

 

[sunny_]

I'm so glad they were so great to you!

 

[Donold_Fan]

A similar incident happened to us in 2001 at Wilderness Lodge. Unfortunately we weren't staying there, but had gone for breakfast at Artist Pointe (back in the Pooh character breakfast days). As we were leaving the lodge, we were looking at the bush sculptures (is that what they are called) and my five year old DD missed a step and scrapped her shin.

It wasn't a serious injury and her tears didn't last long, but you'd have thought that she had lost her leg. We went back in to the lodge to clean her up in the restroom and when we stopped at the desk to ask directions, the CM asked if anything was wrong (I guess she noticed what was left of my daughter's tears). Anyway, she asked us to have a seat and the next thing I know, a paramedic shows up and treats the scrape, cleans it, applies antibotic ointment, and wraps it really nice.

He then gave us some extra bandages and ointment to use later. They took our information and called and checked up on her the next day.

That was all the attention that we received, but I was a little embarassed as it really wasn't that bad of a scrape and they made such a big deal out of it. I almost expected to be asked to sign a release so we couldn't sue, but they never did and it really made us appreciate the amount of care/concern they do have for their guests.

 

[katieb]

It's nice to see them go out of their way like that!

When Wishes first started we were at the park one night watching it from fantasy land (just by Dumbo) and DM had a fairly large piece of the firework shell hit her in the face. We went to guest services about it and all they did was offer for her to get a free picture with goofy. She wasnt bleeding or anything but it did turn into quite a black eye. They didn't even seem too surprised by it, apparently sometimes the wind blows the wrong way and that happens.

 

[Karnak]

Are taxis allowed up by the bus stops? I've never seen one there, thought they were all routed to TTC.

No, taxis are NOT allowed up by the bus stops. As the CM told us, we would have to get to the TTC to get a taxi. That was the whole problem. The CM at the exit was no help whatsoever.