first trip to WDW

[HelloKit]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to introduce myself. This August I'll be visiting WDW for the first time. I have a mobility disability that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis except that the joint deformities are present from birth, and it does not progress. I am able to walk, but do have mild stiffness in all joints in my lower extremities. I do occasionally use a wheelchair, and expect to make some use of it while at WDW, but am certainly planning to do as much walking as I can. My more severe effects are in my upper body - I have several under- and un-developed muscle groups and extremely limited range of motion in my shoulders and elbows, and my hands and wrists are contracted (imagine curled under like hooks). I've thought about renting a scooter, but because of my arm involvement I'm honestly not sure whether I'd be able to drive one - but it would sure be a great thing for my fiance not to have to push me around all day!

Anyway, I'm sure I'll be spending a lot of time on this forum over the next six months (these are going to be the longest six months of my life! ), gathering information and asking specific questions as I think of them. In the meantime, if there is anyone here with a similar disability who has any suggestions for making this trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible for both of us, I'm all ears! (a little Mickey humor there... )

 

[KPeveler]

Welcome! You will get more advice than you would ever imagine here!!

here's a hint, use your wheelchair. use whatever type is comfortable (are you going alone? can someone help push you?). i dont like ECVs personally, but then i have problems driving them. some people think they're a godsend. it really is up to you.

i would save the walking for places where a wheelchair is difficult (i.e. getting in and out of ride vehicles or certain non-accessbile lines, or a water park) but use a chair for anything else!!!!

check out the FAQs, you'll find them very useful. feel free to ask all the questions you want!

p.s. where in RI are you from (i lived there!)

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES.

From what you have written about your hand involvement, I don't think you would be able to use an ECV. In order to drive one, you would need to be able to grasp the handlebar/yoke to steer and also to use the throttle. You might also have problems because of limited range of motion.

You could also look into a power wheelchair. Most of the off-site rental companies won't rent one unless you are already somewhat experienced with one. It might be worthwhile to rent one at home to try it out and get some experience.
A power wheelchair would probably work for you because you can drive one with a very small range of motion. Power wheelchairs are driven by a joystick; the direction you push the joystick determines the direction it goes and how far you push it determines the speed it goes at. Some joysticks don't require any grasping to use; for example, my DD has a goalpost (shaped like a football goalpost) on her power wheelchair. It can be driven with a fist if necessary. It is turned by rotating the fist to the right or left against the upright part of the goalpost.

One of the things it would be helpful for you to be aware of is that some rides involve getting into a ride car where being able to grab on to pull yourself on would be helpful. The CMs can give a steadying hand or move a wheelchair/ECv out of the way, but are not allowed to physically assist other than that with transfers. There is some information about boarding rides in a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
Ask as many questions and as specific questions as you would like. There are many people on this board who are knowledgable and willing to help.

 

[HelloKit]

where in RI are you from (i lived there!)

You know, for such a small state, it's amazing how many people I encounter online who have lived here! I am in Warwick, about 10 minutes away from the airport.

The real crazy thing is I'm not from here originally. I grew up in a small town in Oregon, and the number of strange coincidental connections between RI and my hometown is eerie. I meet all kinds of people here who have been to my hometown... even once saw a car at my old apartment complex with a license plate frame from a dealer back home! And I just reconnected with a girl I knew in the third grade - who it turns out was born in Providence and all of her relatives are still here in RI!

 

[HelloKit]

Thanks, Sue, for your suggestions!

I did already read (and bookmark) the information about ride boarding. My fiance can help me to balance, etc. but I do have problems with stepping onto moving surfaces, so the information about the GAC and boarding at the exits will come in handy.

I had thought about renting a power chair before I read that they don't like to rent them to inexperienced drivers. I don't have a way to transport a power chair at home, so renting one to practice would be tricky.

 

[bopper]

Sometimes your local Costco or large store has ECVs that you could use while shopping....that might be a way to try one out at home and see how you do.

 

[HelloKit]

Okay, so here's my first round of questions:

- I had suggested to my fiance that we look into buying a new wheelchair bag to carry items such as our camera, bottled water, anything we might purchase in the parks, etc. His arms will be occupied pushing me. He said that he thought they would not allow any bags inside the parks. Is this true?

- At attractions where I might get out of my wheelchair to ride (especially the safari in Animal Kingdom), do they have a secure area to store the wheelchairs?

 

[OneLittleSpark]

You are allowed to take bags into all the parks, but they have search points before you get to the turnstiles (it saves some time if you have all the pockets unzipped before you get to the tables). They'll just have a quick look in your bags then send you on your way. I don't think we could cope at Disney without a bag to hold the waterproofs, camera, shades, autograph book, mug etc etc....

That said, you don't necessarily have to go out and buy a specific wheelchair bag. Any rucksack can hang over the handles of the wheelchair, then you can just grab it and sling it over a shoulder when you want to get onto rides. I use a satchel type bag that goes over my shoulder and sits on my lap most the time. When I want to get out of the chair, I just stand up and the bag comes with me . I'm sure some people would find this annoying, but I prefer it that way.

The wheelchairs are stored out of the way, but they are often still within a public area. I've never had any problems leaving a chair, and the CMs will keep half an eye on things (but obviously can't be responsible for them, or be expected to know who's chair is who's). If you were worried about leaving it, you could invest in a combination bike lock, and lock one of the back wheels when you leave the chair. Anyone trying to take a chair who's back wheels wouldn't move would be fairly obvious!

Hope this helps, and if you have any more questions, we'll do our best to answer them!