DS8 broken arm, WDW in 2 weeks! Advice?

[niklynn1]

Help! My DS8 broke his arm sliding into 3rd base last night. He has a cast on his left wrist/arm and we are due to leave for our first ever trip to WDW in 2 weeks. Can anyone offer suggestions? I'm wondering if he will now be excluded from some of the rides or if he will still be allowed to ride everything? Since we'll be going in late June, I'm also wondering about the heat and humidity and keeping his cast dry. If anyone has experience with doing WDW with a cast, I'd appreciate your advice!

 

[minkydog]

DD went to WDW with a broken arm 3 yrs ago--broke it just a few day before we left. She was allowed to do anything she wanted. The only thing she really couldn't do was egt her arm in the pool, but only because we didn't have time to find something to keep the cast dry. I know there is a product out there, though. Maybe someone will come along to help with that.

Other than the cast being sweaty and itchy, DD did just fine, even got Cinderella to sign teh cast--talk about a great souvenier!

 

[firkat]

I have not experienced that, but I can't imagine it would keep him off of any rides or anything. Take colored merkers for the characters to sign his cast! That would be a blast!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Ask your DR, but when my neighbors dd broke her arm before their first Disney trip, the Dr put on a waterproof cast and it seemed to work great for their trip. I wish my Dr had mentioned waterproof cast were available when I broke my ankle.

 

[niklynn1]

I know he'd be broken hearted if he can't ride the rides, because we'll also be celebrating his b-day while we're there. I was trying to think of something to keep his arm dry on rides like Kali River Rapids and Splash Mt. Anyone got any ideas for that? I was thinking of just trying to wrap it in Saran Wrap? I also know it rains frequently in Florida during this time of the year. I don't want his cast soaked in a downpour.

 

[my2kidsmom]

DD8 broke her arm last year, right before summer vacation. We wrapped a trash bag around the cast - used a rubber band at the top of the cast to keep the water out - and she could do almost anything, short of going swimming and dunking the arm. HersheyPark's water rides were fine, no water got in. We just removed the bag in between rides.

Hope this helps,
Lisa

 

[hockeymomoftwo]

Trash bags and a roll of medical tape 1-2 inches wide would work best. It's what I always use for my patients who want to shower and have an IV in place. The tape is pretty cheap and does a good job of keeping this dry for splash kinds of wetness.

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

I feel for you! We leave in a week and my som (8 also) smashed 3 of his teeth playing baseball too! But, he hurt his mouth so bad that they can't fix his teeth till we come home!! We tild him no open mouth smiles!!
I hope your son still has a super time! 8 year olds are tougher than we think!!

 

[Sharon Esch]

DS7 broke his arm Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. We leave on the 17 (only 8 days) Dr put on a water proof cast and is going to look at it on Wednesday before we leave. We are hoping it will come off. I told Dr our plans and he thought it would be ok.

 

[2kidsnutsfordisney]

If your dr. will put on a waterproof cast that would be ideal! When my dd broke her arm it was so severe that they put her in an old plaster cast from her fingers to her armpit. The dr. said that it has to be completely stable and fiberglass casts or waterproof casts allow just enough wiggle room that we could not use them. We ended up purchasing a rubber/plastic type sleeve that we pulled up over her cast. It was a lifesaver for both baths and the pool. We tried the trash bags and could not keep the water out. I had to call around to locate one at a pharmacy but it was worth every penny! Good luck - I know what a pain a broken arm can be - especially in the summer. The good news is that I bet he will gets lots of extra attention from the characters and cm's

 

[hollyb]

No advice really just wanted to say I hope you all have a great time and sorry to here he broke his arm.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

OMG, as another Mom of an 8yo baseball nut, I just wanted to offer some for both the OP and the Mom of the boy with the teeth.

 

[hollyb]

OK this must be an 8 year old boy thing!!! 3 days before we were suppose to leave on vacation to an indoor water park, my 8 year old DS went over the top of his scooter and landed on his arm. My first reaction was OMG he killed himself (dramatic I know) second thought was "I am going to kill him he broke his arm!!!" We spent all that money and would now have to cancel. He was fine THANKFULLY, however for the next 3 days he watched alot of

 

[hockeymomoftwo]

omg, you all have me worried. My 8 y/o boy is going to be playing both baseball and hockey before we leave. Should I just lock him up? Just kidding . I hope he doesn't succumb to the 8 y/o boy curse.

 

[hollyb]

omg, you all have me worried. My 8 y/o boy is going to be playing both baseball and hockey before we leave. Should I just lock him up? Just kidding . I hope he doesn't succumb to the 8 y/o boy curse.

I hear they make bubble wrap for them.

 

[DavidOH]

We leave in two weeks and have 6 games between my DD9 and DS7 before then.

You can purchase a rubber waterproof cast cover. It is like a big rubber glove. We used one when my DD was 6. She broke her arm playing soccer. It worked pretty well but not perfect. I think the sizing might not have been correct. Check with your orthopod about where in your area they carry them. I think we got ours at the local CVS or the local medical supply place. I recommend this over a plastic bag as it is sturdieer and will hold up to some wear and tear.

Your can see it on line at http://www.xerosox.com/

Good Luck.

 

[lindakmonty]

I've broken my arm twice and always used trash bags and med tape. Good luck and I'm sure it won't hold him back too much.

note to self...no wdw trips when ds is 8 ... just kidding!

enjoy your trip.


when my mom was a kid she took a saw in the bathroom and sawed her cast off...went outside to play and broke it AGAIN but in a different place! Grandma was ready to break something else of hers after that.

 

[niklynn1]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I am bound and determined that we will not let this hamper our vacation. I had no idea that there even was such a thing as a waterproof cast! I doubt there is a chance of getting one now though, as he just got this one on yesterday and we leave in 2 weeks. Can't imagine they'd change it out for us. As long as the CM's don't exclude DD8 from riding things, I'll think we'll be able to cover the arm with plastic and be okay for the "splashy" rides. What is it with 8 year olds? My DD11 also broke HER arm the summer she was 8 by falling off the neighbor's trampoline. To all those moms with 8yr olds out there--look out!

 

[SueM in MN]

As long as the CM's don't exclude DD8 from riding things, I'll think we'll be able to cover the arm with plastic and be okay for the "splashy" rides.

The CMs in general won't prevent him from riding anything. If they do suggest he not ride, you can ask why, but generally they would only suggest he not ride if they think it would be dangerous for him.
It's up to you to check out the warnings and decide whether or not it is safe for him to ride. You should also ask his doctor - depending on the break, the doctor may say some are not a good idea. There are some attractions that you might want to really think about - things where he might feel more secure if he can hang on. One ride I would suggest not riding is Primeval Whirl. The ride looks pretty tame from the ground, but you can really get banged around.

 

[kimand3kids]

Well, this is one thread I can definitely help with

DS6 broke his arm (right at the elbow) exactly 2 weeks before our first ever trip to WDW. We were there 5/20-5/26.

I was crushed and so worried about how he'd do and what limitations he may have. Our situation was a little worse b/c the dr would NOT put a waterproof cast on him b/c of the nature of the break (near the elbow). Again, I was very upset. His cast went from above the elbow to his fingers.

Well, guess who was the ONLY person worried about this - yup, ME. He had a BLAST. He rode EVERY single ride, including Space Mountain and Expedition Everest. NO ONE said anything about the cast.

In our case, the dr was/is very concerned about range of motion, so the day before we left, he was taken OUT of the cast even though the fracture was still healing. They cut the cast longways, to make a splint - so the cast was still there on the backside/ underneath his arm. Then we wrapped an ace bandage around it. Then he was to take it off 3 times a day and practice moving it. The day befoer we left, his first time out of it, he cried so hard b/c it hurt. I called the dr crying saying this would ruin our trip.

If I were you, I'd do a few things - first call the dr and make sure s/he knows you are going on vacation and your son will want to swim. If the break has healed enough by then, he should be able to get a waterproof cast. Depending on the severity and location of the break, he might be able to get one.

He NEVER once complained about his arm once we got there - things didn't work out well in the pool b/c we ended up having to take it all the way off and that made it sore, but other than that, the trip was AMAZING!

I totally understand how you feel - I was so upset about this.

Oh, and just wanted to add that we went to Sea World and their workers told me he couldn't ride the roller coaster in the kiddie area b/c he had a cast above the elbow. I told them he had ridden all the bigs ones at MK, but they still said no - when I explained that it was a "splint" not a "cast" (even though it was a cast mostly), they let him ride. So they do have rules there.

DS is now out of his cast full time, but we have to go to PT two times a week and he has to do exercises daily. Hope your break was not that bad!