Finally Going to WDW - Disability Questions

[Escape2Disney]

Hi!

A little history (sorry, it's a bit long)
I'm a Disneyland Vet, but have never been to WDW. We tried to go a few years ago, but my doctor shattered that plan by telling me I can't be on a plane for more than 2 hours at a time. Since we live on the West Coast, I thought I'd have to just accept I'd never get there.

This year has been a series of medical nightmares. I won't rehash all of the details, but I will say nobody expected me to make it home alive. Once I was miraculously out of the woods and recovering in the hospital, I started thinking it's about time I find a way to hit things on my bucket list. As a result, my youngest daughter and I are planning a long road trip to see friends and family, and of course visit WDW!

This will be a huge undertaking! The only way to do this safely is if DD and I take turns driving, and we make a point to stop every 2 hours for a 15 minute walk (since I'm now prone to blood clots). With the frequent stops and detours to hang out with family for a few days, we will likely take nearly a month to do everything that's planned. A month away from home is costly, so we decided to save up and go in September of 2016.

I have to be honest - I'm a little nervous about the logistics of the WDW portion of our trip. That's why I'm starting the planning process now - almost 3 years in advance. This will let me figure out how much money we need to pull together, how long we should stay at WDW, and how to get around the parks in a safe way.

Sorry about the long winded opening! Here are my questions:

1. I've heard a lot of horror stories about Disney transportation and scooters. Since I have a very painful disease, I really need to avoid being bumped and pushed whenever possible. Am I right to worry, or are those stories the exception instead of the rule?
   
2. Since we'll have a car (and handicap placard), would it be easier/better to drive from resort to resort?
   
3. At Disneyland I usually go back to the room for a nap mid-day. Is that a possibility at WDW, or are the hotels too far away?
   
4. I was thinking we may do one park in the morning, go back to the resort for a rest mid-day, then head to another park in the afternoon. Is that something you'd suggest, or is it better to do one park per day?
   
5. We've tentatively scheduled a 7 night stay. Since this will likely be my one and only WDW trip, do you think that's enough time? DD will use the single rider line on the E-ticket attractions since I can't ride most of them.
6. Are there charging stations for the scooters in the parks?
   
7. We're planning to rent the scooter from Apple. Do their scooters hold a decent charge?
   
8. My doctors are nervous about all of this, but I'm pretty stubborn and will go anyway. I did promise them I'd find a good medical facility in each place we'd be staying overnight since I may need one or more infusions during the trip. Which one would you recommend in the Orlando area?
   
9. I'm assuming each park has a first aid center like Disneyland. Are they all located near the entrance?
   
10. I've been playing with Google Maps to figure out our route. It's showing one or more tolls in Florida on the way to Orlando. Is that correct? If so, do you know how much each toll would be?

I think that's all! Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[disney david]

Hi!

A little history (sorry, it's a bit long)
I'm a Disneyland Vet, but have never been to WDW. We tried to go a few years ago, but my doctor shattered that plan by telling me I can't be on a plane for more than 2 hours at a time. Since we live on the West Coast, I thought I'd have to just accept I'd never get there.

This year has been a series of medical nightmares. I won't rehash all of the details, but I will say nobody expected me to make it home alive. Once I was miraculously out of the woods and recovering in the hospital, I started thinking it's about time I find a way to hit things on my bucket list. As a result, my youngest daughter and I are planning a long road trip to see friends and family, and of course visit WDW!

This will be a huge undertaking! The only way to do this safely is if DD and I take turns driving, and we make a point to stop every 2 hours for a 15 minute walk (since I'm now prone to blood clots). With the frequent stops and detours to hang out with family for a few days, we will likely take nearly a month to do everything that's planned. A month away from home is costly, so we decided to save up and go in September of 2016.

I have to be honest - I'm a little nervous about the logistics of the WDW portion of our trip. That's why I'm starting the planning process now - almost 3 years in advance. This will let me figure out how much money we need to pull together, how long we should stay at WDW, and how to get around the parks in a safe way.

Sorry about the long winded opening! Here are my questions:


[*]I've heard a lot of horror stories about Disney transportation and scooters. Since I have a very painful disease, I really need to avoid being bumped and pushed whenever possible. Am I right to worry, or are those stories the exception instead of the rule?

[*]Since we'll have a car (and handicap placard), would it be easier/better to drive from resort to resort?

[*]At Disneyland I usually go back to the room for a nap mid-day. Is that a possibility at WDW, or are the hotels too far away?

[*]I was thinking we may do one park in the morning, go back to the resort for a rest mid-day, then head to another park in the afternoon. Is that something you'd suggest, or is it better to do one park per day?

[*]We've tentatively scheduled a 7 night stay. Since this will likely be my one and only WDW trip, do you think that's enough time? DD will use the single rider line on the E-ticket attractions since I can't ride most of them.
[*]Are there charging stations for the scooters in the parks?

[*]We're planning to rent the scooter from Apple. Do their scooters hold a decent charge?

[*]My doctors are nervous about all of this, but I'm pretty stubborn and will go anyway. I did promise them I'd find a good medical facility in each place we'd be staying overnight since I may need one or more infusions during the trip. Which one would you recommend in the Orlando area?

[*]I'm assuming each park has a first aid center like Disneyland. Are they all located near the entrance?

[*]I've been playing with Google Maps to figure out our route. It's showing one or more tolls in Florida on the way to Orlando. Is that correct? If so, do you know how much each toll would be?

I think that's all! Thanks in advance for your help!

I started this thread to get positive stories and bus drivers I hope this helps I know it not a lot but their are great drivers. If you have trouble you can speak to a manager and they will take care of it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3099627

 

[Escape2Disney]

I started this thread to get positive stories and bus drivers I hope this helps I know it not a lot but their are great drivers. If you have trouble you can speak to a manager and they will take care of it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3099627

Thanks! I'll check it out.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi!

A little history (sorry, it's a bit long)
I'm a Disneyland Vet, but have never been to WDW. We tried to go a few years ago, but my doctor shattered that plan by telling me I can't be on a plane for more than 2 hours at a time. Since we live on the West Coast, I thought I'd have to just accept I'd never get there.

This year has been a series of medical nightmares. I won't rehash all of the details, but I will say nobody expected me to make it home alive. Once I was miraculously out of the woods and recovering in the hospital, I started thinking it's about time I find a way to hit things on my bucket list. As a result, my youngest daughter and I are planning a long road trip to see friends and family, and of course visit WDW!

This will be a huge undertaking! The only way to do this safely is if DD and I take turns driving, and we make a point to stop every 2 hours for a 15 minute walk (since I'm now prone to blood clots). With the frequent stops and detours to hang out with family for a few days, we will likely take nearly a month to do everything that's planned. A month away from home is costly, so we decided to save up and go in September of 2016.

I have to be honest - I'm a little nervous about the logistics of the WDW portion of our trip. That's why I'm starting the planning process now - almost 3 years in advance. This will let me figure out how much money we need to pull together, how long we should stay at WDW, and how to get around the parks in a safe way.

Sorry about the long winded opening! Here are my questions:

[*]I've heard a lot of horror stories about Disney transportation and scooters. Since I have a very painful disease, I really need to avoid being bumped and pushed whenever possible. Am I right to worry, or are those stories the exception instead of the rule?

The bad experiences are the exception.
If you've not used a scooter before, you want to practice, especially before trying to get on the bus.
You will basically be parallel parking on the driver's side of the bus. Most drivers are helpful - most people I have seen having problems are trying to hurry, going too fast, and turning too soon, even when the driver is helping them out by telling them exactly when to turn.

If your daughter feels comfortable doing it, she could drive it onto the bus for you.

[*]Since we'll have a car (and handicap placard), would it be easier/better to drive from resort to resort?

For resort to resort, driving will be easier. There are not buses that go directly from one resort to another.
All resorts have transportation to each park.
The one park I suggest everyone use WDW transportation for is Magic Kingdom. If you drive, you have to park in a very large lot and then get to the monorail or ferry boat to get to Magic Kingdom.

Also, keep in mind that if you drive, you will need take the scooter apart to fit into the car, lift it in and then take the scooter pieces back out again and put it back together when you get where you are going.

[*]At Disneyland I usually go back to the room for a nap mid-day. Is that a possibility at WDW, or are the hotels too far away?

As a general rule, WDW says to plan an hour to get from place to place. That allows for a wait for the bus (they usually come every 20 minutes or so) and travel time.
Depending on your resort, there may be more than one bus stop and the bus stops may not be that close to your room. Resorts may seem far apart, but even Animal Kingdom a Lodge, which seems far away is only about 15 minutes from leaving the resort until you get to a park.

Another possibility is staying at one of the resorts that is within walking (or scooter) distance of a park.
Contemporary Resort is a short distance from Magic Kingdom.

Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Dolphin and Swan have boat transportation and a path to both Epcot and the Studio.that would be nice for you, but also easy for your daughter if she stays in the parks longer then you.

[*]I was thinking we may do one park in the morning, go back to the resort for a rest mid-day, then head to another park in the afternoon. Is that something you'd suggest, or is it better to do one park per day?

That would be personal preference.
If you are going back to the resort, it won't really matter what park you go back to - you will still be riding a bus to somewhere.

[*]We've tentatively scheduled a 7 night stay. Since this will likely be my one and only WDW trip, do you think that's enough time? DD will use the single rider line on the E-ticket attractions since I can't ride most of them.

A lot will depend on your stamina, how busy it is and what attractions you plan to go on. The thrill rides (E-tickets) are the ones that generally have the longest waits. Some of them do have single rider lines, but not all do and they are not always operating.
If your daughter can get to the park at opening, she would be able to hit at least one of those with little wait.

[*]Are there charging stations for the scooters in the parks?

[*]We're planning to rent the scooter from Apple. Do their scooters hold a decent charge?

MK has some charging stations - not specifically for scooters. You would be competing for them with people charging their cell phones.

Most people have no problem with their scooter holding a charge. It's important to charge it every night, turn it off when not in use and have the correct one for your size.

[*]My doctors are nervous about all of this, but I'm pretty stubborn and will go anyway. I did promise them I'd find a good medical facility in each place we'd be staying overnight since I may need one or more infusions during the trip. Which one would you recommend in the Orlando area?

I don't have a recommendation, but you will need a doctor's order for infusions.
The more information you have from your doctors, the better.
I would ask your doctors for recommendations for each area you will be traveling thru. Doctors (especially specialists) often know other doctors in other areas. Sometimes it's from where they trained or from conferences.

[*]I'm assuming each park has a first aid center like Disneyland. Are they all located near the entrance?

Each park has a First Aid station. They are not all near the entrance, but are centrally located and well marked on the park maps.

[*]I've been playing with Google Maps to figure out our route. It's showing one or more tolls in Florida on the way to Orlando. Is that correct? If so, do you know how much each toll would be?
I think that's all! Thanks in advance for your help!

Yes, there are tolls in places.
There is probably a Florida website that shows them.

 

[Escape2Disney]

The bad experiences are the exception.
If you've not used a scooter before, you want to practice, especially before trying to get on the bus.
You will basically be parallel parking on the driver's side of the bus. Most drivers are helpful - most people I have seen having problems are trying to hurry, going too fast, and turning too soon, even when the driver is helping them out by telling them exactly when to turn.

I'm glad to hear it's the exception! I've used a variety of scooters for about 5 years, so the parallel parking won't be an issue (thankfully). Hopefully after one or two times loading into the bus, it'll feel easy.

If your daughter feels comfortable doing it, she could drive it onto the bus for you.

Good idea! Sometimes I have a hard time looking over my shoulder, so she could do it if needed.

For resort to resort, driving will be easier. There are not buses that go directly from one resort to another.

Good to know. We were hoping to try some of the resort restaurants, so we'll use the car for those.

All resorts have transportation to each park.
The one park I suggest everyone use WDW transportation for is Magic Kingdom. If you drive, you have to park in a very large lot and then get to the monorail or ferry boat to get to Magic Kingdom.

Also, keep in mind that if you drive, you will need take the scooter apart to fit into the car, lift it in and then take the scooter pieces back out again and put it back together when you get where you are going.

While my daughter is well versed in taking apart and loading a scooter, I'd hate for her to be doing it all of the time. Since I'll also have my manual wheelchair, we can just drive for meals at resorts, and stick to WDW transportation for parks.

As a general rule, WDW says to plan an hour to get from place to place. That allows for a wait for the bus (they usually come every 20 minutes or so) and travel time.
Depending on your resort, there may be more than one bus stop and the bus stops may not be that close to your room. Resorts may seem far apart, but even Animal Kingdom a Lodge, which seems far away is only about 15 minutes from leaving the resort until you get to a park.

Thanks for the time estimates. That really helps.

Another possibility is staying at one of the resorts that is within walking (or scooter) distance of a park.
Contemporary Resort is a short distance from Magic Kingdom.

Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Dolphin and Swan have boat transportation and a path to both Epcot and the Studio.that would be nice for you, but also easy for your daughter if she stays in the parks longer then you.

Unfortunately these are just too expensive, so we're planning on staying at Port Orleans French Quarter.

That would be personal preference.
If you are going back to the resort, it won't really matter what park you go back to - you will still be riding a bus to somewhere.

Good point. I will always need the mid-day break if I'm going to keep up on this trip. We'll get hoppers since we'll have the option to go somewhere else in the afternoons. I already assume my daughter will love Epcot, so I can see being there on many afternoons/evenings.

A lot will depend on your stamina, how busy it is and what attractions you plan to go on. The thrill rides (E-tickets) are the ones that generally have the longest waits. Some of them do have single rider lines, but not all do and they are not always operating.
If your daughter can get to the park at opening, she would be able to hit at least one of those with little wait.

To be honest, my stamina isn't good at all. When we do Disneyland, we intentionally go when the park hours are short. So we'll be in the parks at opening (9-10am), and I go back to the room by 1 or 2 in the afternoon, and don't head back in until 3 or 4. We'll stay from then until closing (8-10pm). With the extra transport time, I'm assuming I'll be in a park 3-4 hours, take a break, then go back and stay as long as I can.

I'm not sure if my daughter will want to go alone in the mornings. She's an adult, but she does have mild autism. There's going to be a lot of new experiences on this trip, so only time will tell if she'll be comfortable wandering alone.

MK has some charging stations - not specifically for scooters. You would be competing for them with people charging their cell phones.

Most people have no problem with their scooter holding a charge. It's important to charge it every night, turn it off when not in use and have the correct one for your size.

I tend to get the scooter one size up from the recommended one since I am more comfortable in a captain's chair. Hopefully that'll help keep the charge.

I don't have a recommendation, but you will need a doctor's order for infusions.
The more information you have from your doctors, the better.
I would ask your doctors for recommendations for each area you will be traveling thru. Doctors (especially specialists) often know other doctors in other areas. Sometimes it's from where they trained or from conferences.

Good idea! I hadn't thought about that. I'll ask them since my real need would be specialists instead of the ER.

Each park has a First Aid station. They are not all near the entrance, but are centrally located and well marked on the park maps.

Yay! That puts my mind at ease.

Yes, there are tolls in places.
There is probably a Florida website that shows them.

Thanks - I'll look for a website with that info.

Thank you for answering all of my questions! I'm sure I'll have more at some point.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Hi!

1. I've heard a lot of horror stories about Disney transportation and scooters. Since I have a very painful disease, I really need to avoid being bumped and pushed whenever possible. Am I right to worry, or are those stories the exception instead of the rule?
   
2. Since we'll have a car (and handicap placard), would it be easier/better to drive from resort to resort?
   
3. At Disneyland I usually go back to the room for a nap mid-day. Is that a possibility at WDW, or are the hotels too far away?
   
4. I was thinking we may do one park in the morning, go back to the resort for a rest mid-day, then head to another park in the afternoon. Is that something you'd suggest, or is it better to do one park per day?
   
5. We've tentatively scheduled a 7 night stay. Since this will likely be my one and only WDW trip, do you think that's enough time? DD will use the single rider line on the E-ticket attractions since I can't ride most of them.
6. Are there charging stations for the scooters in the parks?
   
7. We're planning to rent the scooter from Apple. Do their scooters hold a decent charge?
   
8. My doctors are nervous about all of this, but I'm pretty stubborn and will go anyway. I did promise them I'd find a good medical facility in each place we'd be staying overnight since I may need one or more infusions during the trip. Which one would you recommend in the Orlando area?
   
9. I'm assuming each park has a first aid center like Disneyland. Are they all located near the entrance?
   
10. I've been playing with Google Maps to figure out our route. It's showing one or more tolls in Florida on the way to Orlando. Is that correct? If so, do you know how much each toll would be?

I think that's all! Thanks in advance for your help!

1: I do the World in a wheelchair and I often feel crowded and jostled. during very busy times it is normal to be running onto people, have them running on to you and otherwise making it difficult. many guests just literally do not see us ( or strollers or ECVs) as they are too busy focusing on what;s around them. the World is VASTLY different in terms of open space vice the Land( I also do DL in a chair and find it much less stressful)

2: not necessarily. handicapped parking at the parks can be further away than the bus drop off points.

3: usually doable with planning. Monorail resorts are good to get from EPCOT and MK. AKL is actually the furthest from all parks except of course AK, Buses runabout every 20 minutes give or take and as long as you avoid the peak times( just after parades etc) you should be okay. if the bus is full or cannot take your WC/ECV then ask the driver to call for another bus to come immediately.

4: I personally do not do that, but lots of others swear by it. as long as you have park hopper option you can do that.

5: 7 days gets you one full day in each park, a down day ( we use that for shopping and a Ghiardelli sundae at DTD) plus additional days to revisit places you missed. while I prefer ten day trips, 7 is eminently doable.

6/7: can't answer as I am in a manual chair and my husband is my battery heheheh

8: can't answer that one either.

9: yes but I honestly do not think they are right at the entrances..I am sure someone else has the precise locations

10: that's what AAA is for. long ago we sprang for EZpass and it works all along the entire East Coast and we just have it set up to automatically load $100 on it every time the balance dips below a certain amount. we no longer keep track of tolls.

 

[curemyreed]

I wanted to comment about when you plan to go. The two weeks following Labor Day traditionally have lower crowds as parents are hesitant to pull their children out of school right after it starts. So that would make it a great time to go. However, it is incredibly hot and humid then. It's going to be much harsher than you are used to in Oregon. I don't know if extreme heat & high humidity have any impact on your medical issues, but I wanted to throw that out for your consideration.

Also, I agree with PP about extending your vacation at WDW. If it is in your budget, I think 10 days would let you have "down time" days and also allow you to experience more in all four parks. Personally, I would stay at a Value resort instead of POFQ and use the money saved to extend my vacation.

Last thought...
Free dining codes have been offered the last few years for check-ins during September. That potentially could save you money. I know a month of traveling is expensive. Maybe free dining would appeal to you? If so, then Value vs. Moderate resort have, in recent years, offered two different free dining plans & that might sway you to stay in one over the other.

 

[Escape2Disney]

1: I do the World in a wheelchair and I often feel crowded and jostled. during very busy times it is normal to be running onto people, have them running on to you and otherwise making it difficult. many guests just literally do not see us ( or strollers or ECVs) as they are too busy focusing on what;s around them. the World is VASTLY different in terms of open space vice the Land( I also do DL in a chair and find it much less stressful)

2: not necessarily. handicapped parking at the parks can be further away than the bus drop off points.

3: usually doable with planning. Monorail resorts are good to get from EPCOT and MK. AKL is actually the furthest from all parks except of course AK, Buses runabout every 20 minutes give or take and as long as you avoid the peak times( just after parades etc) you should be okay. if the bus is full or cannot take your WC/ECV then ask the driver to call for another bus to come immediately.

4: I personally do not do that, but lots of others swear by it. as long as you have park hopper option you can do that.

5: 7 days gets you one full day in each park, a down day ( we use that for shopping and a Ghiardelli sundae at DTD) plus additional days to revisit places you missed. while I prefer ten day trips, 7 is eminently doable.

6/7: can't answer as I am in a manual chair and my husband is my battery heheheh

8: can't answer that one either.

9: yes but I honestly do not think they are right at the entrances..I am sure someone else has the precise locations

10: that's what AAA is for. long ago we sprang for EZpass and it works all along the entire East Coast and we just have it set up to automatically load $100 on it every time the balance dips below a certain amount. we no longer keep track of tolls.

Thanks!

I wanted to comment about when you plan to go. The two weeks following Labor Day traditionally have lower crowds as parents are hesitant to pull their children out of school right after it starts. So that would make it a great time to go. However, it is incredibly hot and humid then. It's going to be much harsher than you are used to in Oregon. I don't know if extreme heat & high humidity have any impact on your medical issues, but I wanted to throw that out for your consideration.

Also, I agree with PP about extending your vacation at WDW. If it is in your budget, I think 10 days would let you have "down time" days and also allow you to experience more in all four parks. Personally, I would stay at a Value resort instead of POFQ and use the money saved to extend my vacation.

Last thought...
Free dining codes have been offered the last few years for check-ins during September. That potentially could save you money. I know a month of traveling is expensive. Maybe free dining would appeal to you? If so, then Value vs. Moderate resort have, in recent years, offered two different free dining plans & that might sway you to stay in one over the other.

I'm quite worried about the weather. My health gets markedly worse when I'm in the heat too long. If we go during that time, I'll likely have to plan the days differently by not being in the parks in the afternoons.

The problem is this - we'll be driving since I can't fly. We also have to work around my daughter's schedule, since she'll be transitioning from the community college to the university around that time. Her only real breaks are December, mid-summer, and September. We can't go in December, since we'll likely hit winter storms during the drive. That leaves middle of summer or September. Not great choices.

On the other hand, I had noticed the free dining every September. That'd certainly help the budget!

When I looked up the averages on weather.com, it said mid-80s. Is that accurate? How high is the humidity in mid-September?

I'm working on rearranging the budget to see if I can extend the trip. That'll become really important if I have to hibernate during the heat of the day.

 

[curemyreed]

Trying not to be a downer here...

September in Orlando, according to my research, is the most humid month of the year. All that moisture in the air combined with the high temps (yes, mid 80's and higher) make it feel hotter than the thermometer reads, however. I haven't returned during September because it was too uncomfortable to me and I do have a choice about when to visit. It sounds like, for several reasons, September is the only time that will work for you. So....

I would say plan to arrive before rope drop each day and to take breaks in the cool AC of your hotel for the hottest hours of the day. If you are renting a scooter then consider renting one that has a sunshade, if available, and also renting a rain cover to keep it dry during inclement weather. Carry sunscreen with you so you can reapply it as needed. If it appeals to you at all---it can be very relaxing and rejuvenating to swim, or even just sit, in your hotel pool in the evening when the sun isn't scorching.

You will have a magical time no matter what time of year you visit! As fabulous as Disneyland is, there is so much more to see and do at the four Disneyworld parks. I know you are going to absolutely LOVE your time at WDW.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Trying not to be a downer here...

September in Orlando, according to my research, is the most humid month of the year. All that moisture in the air combined with the high temps (yes, mid 80's and higher) make it feel hotter than the thermometer reads, however. I haven't returned during September because it was too uncomfortable to me and I do have a choice about when to visit. It sounds like, for several reasons, September is the only time that will work for you. So....

I would say plan to arrive before rope drop each day and to take breaks in the cool AC of your hotel for the hottest hours of the day. If you are renting a scooter then consider renting one that has a sunshade, if available, and also renting a rain cover to keep it dry during inclement weather. Carry sunscreen with you so you can reapply it as needed. If it appeals to you at all---it can be very relaxing and rejuvenating to swim, or even just sit, in your hotel pool in the evening when the sun isn't scorching.

You will have a magical time no matter what time of year you visit! As fabulous as Disneyland is, there is so much more to see and do at the four Disneyworld parks. I know you are going to absolutely LOVE your time at WDW.

You're not a downer! I appreciate all of the candid replies. If it were my choice, we'd be going in February. Unfortunately driving cross country in February by myself (since DD wouldn't be able to go then), would be a recipe for disaster.

Unfortunately, pools are out of the question. For some reason, I'm allergic to the chlorine they use in public pools - I get sick every time I try to go swimming. I'll have to use that time in my room or another air conditioned place.

I like the idea of the canopy for the scooter. I'll look a little silly, but I don't care. Maybe I can rig a few battery powered fans on the canopy to help keep cool.

Thanks for the well wishes! We're most excited about going to Epcot. From the pictures, I can't tell - is there a lot of shade in that park?

 

[Random Ninja]

You're not a downer! I appreciate all of the candid replies. If it were my choice, we'd be going in February. Unfortunately driving cross country in February by myself (since DD wouldn't be able to go then), would be a recipe for disaster.

Unfortunately, pools are out of the question. For some reason, I'm allergic to the chlorine they use in public pools - I get sick every time I try to go swimming. I'll have to use that time in my room or another air conditioned place.

I like the idea of the canopy for the scooter. I'll look a little silly, but I don't care. Maybe I can rig a few battery powered fans on the canopy to help keep cool.

Thanks for the well wishes! We're most excited about going to Epcot. From the pictures, I can't tell - is there a lot of shade in that park?

The canopy and fans are great ideas. If you can't be in the pool, check out some of the other resorts. I love sittig in the lobby of WL and AKL with a good book. I live down here in FL and tend to stay inside most of August and September because it's just too humid. From around 11-4, it can be down right miserable. I would also recommend planning sit down meals for lunch to get into the AC.

 

[curemyreed]

No, I would not describe Epcot as shady. But there are plenty of air conditioned places to go into. I like PP's suggestion of sitting down to an indoor lunch to get out of the heat, especially if retiring to your room day after day gets old. I'm sorry about the chlorine issue. We have a salt water pool as our differently-abled daughter has trouble with chlorine, too, so I can relate to that issue.

 

[JEWLSVERN]

Is there any way you can fly if you just take a few smaller flights that are under 2 hours each? It would be a really long day but much easier than driving that far.

 

[Escape2Disney]

No, I would not describe Epcot as shady. But there are plenty of air conditioned places to go into. I like PP's suggestion of sitting down to an indoor lunch to get out of the heat, especially if retiring to your room day after day gets old. I'm sorry about the chlorine issue. We have a salt water pool as our differently-abled daughter has trouble with chlorine, too, so I can relate to that issue.

Good idea. I'm thinking an indoor lunch, then back to the room to sleep/rest in the afternoon before heading back to the parks after dark. I have to take a nap every day anyway, so it'll work out just fine. How are the evening temps in September?

Is there any way you can fly if you just take a few smaller flights that are under 2 hours each? It would be a really long day but much easier than driving that far.

This was my first thought, though we weren't able to find a route that each leg was 2 hours or less. We live in a tiny town in rural Oregon. Even if we drove to Portland or down to San Francisco, we just didn't find a flight with short legs. I could find ones with 2 1/2 to 3 hour legs, but the doc said pushing past that 2 hour mark at all is a bad idea. I MAY be able to pull it off if I just try booking each leg separately.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

How mobile will you be in terms of parking the ECV and walking short distances? The only reason I ask is because you may have issues bringing the ECV into buildings with the canopy up (and I don't know how easy it would be to take the canopy down and store every time you go into a building). It certainly wouldn't work in most of the stores.

It's worth checking with WDW about the pools because I believe people have commented here that WDW doesn't use the same chemicals as most public pools.

FYI, it is possible to ask Google Maps to give you a route with no tolls. Below where you put in the start and destination addresses there's some linked text that says "Show Options". If you click that it gives you the option to ask for a route without tolls. You certainly can avoid them in FL if needed, but it may take you a little longer (since I don't know exactly where you live/where you'll be coming from, I just did the Portland Zoo to WDW and driving direct it's less than an hour difference if you remove tolls). There are loads of Toll Roads in FL, though. If you don't want to get one of the electronic toll things, it's worth starting a change jar now since it's faster to go through if you can pay exact change and then you have it just in case. Also, if for some reason you were to go down closer to Miami, there's at least one county in FL that will send you a bill after the fact (they either read ez-pass/sunpass/electronic pass or take a license plate photo, I think) rather than actually make people stop at toll booths.

I agree with the others about talking to your doctor. If he or she doesn't know, you might be able to find online where other people who need the same infusions as you do prefer. I will say that for emergency care, I personally would go to Orlando Regional Medical Center rather than Celebration Hospital. They're much better equipped to deal with complex conditions (I have my own complex health conditions and friends in the Orlando area so got their recommendations).

I haven't been to WDW in September, but I would expect high humidity along with the 80s for temperature. I know when I've been in late October, it's still been very humid. I have all sorts of heat/humidity issues and live in New England where we can't avoid them in the summer so do at least have suggestions. I highly suggest lightweight clothes that are actually long and not fitted. They'll catch air in them better than fitted clothes give you better circulation closer to the skin. (I wear long flowy skirts a lot in the summer for this reason and it does still work with a wheelchair or ECV.) The coverage will also help with photosensitivity. Several people on the board have found mini air-conditioners online and there used to be those mister fans (fan attached to a spray bottle), although I haven't seen them for sale more recently. Certainly before my next WDW trip, I'll be searched for the misters at minimum. I also carry single-use ice packs. If you can keep reusable ice packs cold enough to use all day, great, but having the single use around means you have something you can access quickly without having to ask for ice or go somewhere to pick up your reusable packs. Sometimes First Aid will let you store icepacks there, but it's not definite (they don't have full sized fridges and priority goes to medications). It might also be worth looking into getting a cooling vest. Depending on the conditions you have, it may be possible to get insurance to cover, or you can save up and buy your own. You can definitely use first aid to lie down/rest in air conditioning if you do get caught out and can't get back to your room quickly enough. I'd also talk to your doctor. I don't know what specific conditions you have, but I know one of the ones I have that causes some of my worst heat/humidity intolerance can be slightly mitigated by medication. You may not need it all the time since it sounds like you're from an area that doesn't have such an issue with the weather, but it might be worth asking about specifically with regards to going somewhere hot and humid.

Have you considered taking the train? If you can do stairs, then you could definitely use the sleeper car and get walking in whenever you want. If you don't do stairs and are willing to sit in coach, you can also walk however much you want, just you'd also have to figure out how to sleep in a coach seat. It may also be possible to use the ADA sleeping room and walk without stairs, I just don't remember there being as much room to walk at that level. It's longer than flying, but much faster than driving and is actually a really cool way to see the country. We did a cross-country train trip when I was a kid and I'd love to do another one some day. (I love flying, but I love the train even more.)

 

[CJN]

This was my first thought, though we weren't able to find a route that each leg was 2 hours or less. We live in a tiny town in rural Oregon. Even if we drove to Portland or down to San Francisco, we just didn't find a flight with short legs. I could find ones with 2 1/2 to 3 hour legs, but the doc said pushing past that 2 hour mark at all is a bad idea. I MAY be able to pull it off if I just try booking each leg separately.

How about flying out of Eugene? It's a small yet extremely easy and comfortable airport to navigate. Delta currently has a 2 hour non-stop to Salt Lake City but who knows what the schedule might be in three years. Once in SLC you would have lots of options from there. Would it work to fly a couple of short legs, stay overnight, fly a couple more short legs? For me and my health issues, I would much rather spend a few days "plane hopping" to Orlando than driving. And because you wouldn't have to worry about weather related driving conditions it would also open a wider window of travel time.

 

[pixidustmom]

I too was thinking the same thing. I know you can get a flight from Eugene into Vegas (my Dis Diva friend you can visit us for an over nighter if that would help?) then from Vegas into Tx and then onto Orlando. I too have to watch my sitting time for clotting issues and I will be doing a straight through flight and will get up to walk the isle a bit every couple hours or less. Even if to just stand in my isle. You will be on blood thinners right? This will mean less likely to have a clot anyway.
I think the drive to be quite long and may cause more issues? I do want to do a road trip myself but only if I had no time limmit to do it in.lol

 

[Escape2Disney]

How mobile will you be in terms of parking the ECV and walking short distances? The only reason I ask is because you may have issues bringing the ECV into buildings with the canopy up (and I don't know how easy it would be to take the canopy down and store every time you go into a building). It certainly wouldn't work in most of the stores.

On a good day, I can get around by cane for short distances. I often do that at DLR - I'll scoot to a general area, then get around by cane for a bit. That way I get a little exercise, and can shop without running into everything. If I'm having a bad day, I won't be able to do that. It really depends on how I'm feeling each day.

It's worth checking with WDW about the pools because I believe people have commented here that WDW doesn't use the same chemicals as most public pools.

It would be GREAT if they used different chemicals! It's been so long since I've been in a pool, that I'd likely spend a full day swimming around!

FYI, it is possible to ask Google Maps to give you a route with no tolls. Below where you put in the start and destination addresses there's some linked text that says "Show Options". If you click that it gives you the option to ask for a route without tolls. You certainly can avoid them in FL if needed, but it may take you a little longer (since I don't know exactly where you live/where you'll be coming from, I just did the Portland Zoo to WDW and driving direct it's less than an hour difference if you remove tolls). There are loads of Toll Roads in FL, though. If you don't want to get one of the electronic toll things, it's worth starting a change jar now since it's faster to go through if you can pay exact change and then you have it just in case. Also, if for some reason you were to go down closer to Miami, there's at least one county in FL that will send you a bill after the fact (they either read ez-pass/sunpass/electronic pass or take a license plate photo, I think) rather than actually make people stop at toll booths.

Good ideas! Thanks!

I agree with the others about talking to your doctor. If he or she doesn't know, you might be able to find online where other people who need the same infusions as you do prefer. I will say that for emergency care, I personally would go to Orlando Regional Medical Center rather than Celebration Hospital. They're much better equipped to deal with complex conditions (I have my own complex health conditions and friends in the Orlando area so got their recommendations).

I do have a friend who lives just a few minutes from WDW, so I'll ask my doc, then give her a call. I haven't told her I am coming yet (in case something changes), but I could certainly do that before we leave.

I haven't been to WDW in September, but I would expect high humidity along with the 80s for temperature. I know when I've been in late October, it's still been very humid. I have all sorts of heat/humidity issues and live in New England where we can't avoid them in the summer so do at least have suggestions. I highly suggest lightweight clothes that are actually long and not fitted. They'll catch air in them better than fitted clothes give you better circulation closer to the skin. (I wear long flowy skirts a lot in the summer for this reason and it does still work with a wheelchair or ECV.) The coverage will also help with photosensitivity. Several people on the board have found mini air-conditioners online and there used to be those mister fans (fan attached to a spray bottle), although I haven't seen them for sale more recently. Certainly before my next WDW trip, I'll be searched for the misters at minimum. I also carry single-use ice packs. If you can keep reusable ice packs cold enough to use all day, great, but having the single use around means you have something you can access quickly without having to ask for ice or go somewhere to pick up your reusable packs. Sometimes First Aid will let you store icepacks there, but it's not definite (they don't have full sized fridges and priority goes to medications). It might also be worth looking into getting a cooling vest. Depending on the conditions you have, it may be possible to get insurance to cover, or you can save up and buy your own. You can definitely use first aid to lie down/rest in air conditioning if you do get caught out and can't get back to your room quickly enough. I'd also talk to your doctor. I don't know what specific conditions you have, but I know one of the ones I have that causes some of my worst heat/humidity intolerance can be slightly mitigated by medication. You may not need it all the time since it sounds like you're from an area that doesn't have such an issue with the weather, but it might be worth asking about specifically with regards to going somewhere hot and humid.

Great ideas! Thanks!

Have you considered taking the train? If you can do stairs, then you could definitely use the sleeper car and get walking in whenever you want. If you don't do stairs and are willing to sit in coach, you can also walk however much you want, just you'd also have to figure out how to sleep in a coach seat. It may also be possible to use the ADA sleeping room and walk without stairs, I just don't remember there being as much room to walk at that level. It's longer than flying, but much faster than driving and is actually a really cool way to see the country. We did a cross-country train trip when I was a kid and I'd love to do another one some day. (I love flying, but I love the train even more.)

My first choice was the train, but it becomes cost prohibitive. Coach isn't an option because I need to lay down periodically. The rooms make the trip more than three times the cost of flying, and twice the cost of driving.
Good thought though! I'd jump on it in a sec if it wasn't so pricy.

How about flying out of Eugene? It's a small yet extremely easy and comfortable airport to navigate. Delta currently has a 2 hour non-stop to Salt Lake City but who knows what the schedule might be in three years. Once in SLC you would have lots of options from there. Would it work to fly a couple of short legs, stay overnight, fly a couple more short legs? For me and my health issues, I would much rather spend a few days "plane hopping" to Orlando than driving. And because you wouldn't have to worry about weather related driving conditions it would also open a wider window of travel time.

This is possible if I can find the right combination of flights. I can to come up with two options - one with a bunch of short flights, and one driving. I'll have the doc look them over and tell me the benefits/risks of both. One potential obstacle for the flights is I tend to get sick from air travel more often than I do with road travel. I have no idea why. Increasing the number of flights could be great or disastrous.

Since we have a 4 1/2 week window to get this all done, we could either extend stays along the way near each airport, or extend stops along our drive. Either way I could hopefully mitigate many of the problems (like we did on our first road trip to DLR earlier this year).

I too was thinking the same thing. I know you can get a flight from Eugene into Vegas (my Dis Diva friend you can visit us for an over nighter if that would help?) then from Vegas into Tx and then onto Orlando. I too have to watch my sitting time for clotting issues and I will be doing a straight through flight and will get up to walk the isle a bit every couple hours or less. Even if to just stand in my isle. You will be on blood thinners right? This will mean less likely to have a clot anyway.
I think the drive to be quite long and may cause more issues? I do want to do a road trip myself but only if I had no time limmit to do it in.lol

That's such a sweet offer! If we can figure it all out, I may take you up on it.

Here's part of the challenge (and why we haven't tried this before). They had to take me off of the blood thinners because it was causing problems with other health issues. When I do fly (like the 2-hour flight to DLR), I can take aspirin for the week leading up to travel, up to a few days after I get home though. I also have to be careful how much exposure I have to pressurized cabin air because I tend to get fluid build-up around my lungs. That's why the cumulative exposure can be a problem.

Oh, and walking around on the plane might be a problem since they take my cane away once I board the plane. Sometimes they'll give it back when I need to go to the bathroom, but most times they won't. Since my daughter will be on the flights with me, they usually let her balance me to get from place to place. Otherwise, I could grab onto the backs of people's seats in a pinch (though I wouldn't be making many friends). The best option for me is to stand up in front of my seat and walk in place. I do that on short flights all the time since one of my health issues makes it very painful to stay in one position for very long.

My doctors are NOT happy that I travel at all, but they understand it's what makes me happy. They just try to help me come up with the safest way to get things done. Sometimes it'd be easier to plan a military operation than it is to get me to a Disney park!

If we do drive instead of fly, I would have the added benefit of seeing my grandson, daughter, sister, cousins, and friends along the way. I'd have places to stay and rest up between cities. On the other hand, if I fly, I'll have more time and money for Disney.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[pixidustmom]

Yes that makes since. I am on baby asprin all the time now since they took me off my coumadin last year. I actually wasn't on anything for a while then my oncolgyst said we need to have you take this now since they still never found a cause for my clot.
Never thought about the compression. Well do what's best for you and all will still be fine once you make it to WDW. I am going next year with two of my grandkids and now my mom who is having many health issues too. So I am on this thread to learn to make this the best trip for her too.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Yes that makes since. I am on baby asprin all the time now since they took me off my coumadin last year. I actually wasn't on anything for a while then my oncolgyst said we need to have you take this now since they still never found a cause for my clot.
Never thought about the compression. Well do what's best for you and all will still be fine once you make it to WDW. I am going next year with two of my grandkids and now my mom who is having many health issues too. So I am on this thread to learn to make this the best trip for her too.

You're a good daughter to do that for her! You'll have to let me know how it goes. It sounds like it'll be a fun trip!

To be honest, I really want to go, but WDW scares me a bit. I am so familiar with DLR, that I know how quickly I can get back to the room, get medical attention, etc. There's no real issue with any of it there. With WDW being so spread out, I'm having a bit of anxiety about it.

That being said, there's NO WAY I'm cancelling these plans!

It sounds stressful not to know the source of your clot. They are pretty sure what caused my clot. I went into multi-system organ failure earlier this year, which put me in a coma. I was unable to move for weeks, so I ended up with a clot in my lungs. I'm moving better now, but not enough to take me out of danger. With all of the underlying medical issues, they said I'd always be a high risk. The fluid on the lungs has been a huge issue. I've had to have it drained 5 times, and still have some residual fluid after 11 months of rehab. Nobody can tell me if it'll pass or not. That's why I'm so cautious about pushing the envelope with that particular problem.

SO, instead of stressing about that (who wants to be stressed all the time??), I plan Disney trips, and focus on the fun and wonderful things in the world!