GAC & wheelchairs

[rpbert1]

was on this part of the site while back, my wife has SLE and the main reason we booked on site at UO and Disney, we decided this as my wife did not want to use a W/C and we would be able to go around Disney at our leisure in the mornings and then return to resort when she was feeling that she need to rest, + the front of the line at UO would be ideal for her.
unfortunatley my wife had to have an operation on her foot and had to have 2 plates inserted and 3 pins , they told us she would be ok for our holiday but the doctor has told us she will need to be very careful when we are away , and it will probably end of July or August before it will be probably healed.she should be able to wear sandals or open shoes but will need to be careful that she does not get knocked on her foot or someone standing on it as he knows what queues are like in florida and with excited children in the queues.
His advice was to get in touch with Virgin to get assistance when we are at the airport, and to either use the crutches or get a wheelchair when we are away [DW is not very happy about this] while she hopefully will be able to get about by the time we go without crutches , our doctor has said if there is an accident with her foot she could finish up in hospital and our insurance would probably not cover us for it, while she is not happy and knows she has to listen to the doctors advice, she feels people would be looking and making judgement saying "whats she need a W/C for theres nothing wrong with her" even without her foot problem, and most people know that with SLE you can look a picture of health but what you actually feel like doesnt show , so looks can be deciveing.she will not have to be in the W/c all the time just for crowds and the risk of an increased accident.
While my wife is feeling depressed about the situation she knows that its for her benefit, and she needs to listen to the doctors , but
i have told her they have W/C at the resort and she can walk about when she wants.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you haven't already, check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board. There is information about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards) and wheelchairs in that thread.
I'd suggest you read the FAQs about GACs and, if you ask for a GAC, think about what she needs. That is the information that will be important to the CM at Guest Services and the clearer you/she can explain her needs to the CM, the better her needs will be met.
You could get a GAC that allows you to avoid stairs and board at the exit for the few rides that have moving walkways (there is a link to a thread about boarding in the FAQs thread). There are no separate entrances for most attractions and if she is using a wheelchair or ECV in lines, she will be routed to the appropriate place (no stair, board at an area where the moving walkway can be stopped, etc) without having a GAC. You may find that a GAC really doesn't help you much though.

Something to think about with a wheelchair is that her feet will extend farther than the wheelchair footrest. It's quite easy to mis-calculate distances and bump the foot or have someone come close enough to bump the foot. An ECV might be a better choice - number one, her feet will be resting on a platform and are not as likely to get bumped. And, number two, she will have a lot more independence.

As for the "looks" of other people, there are a few people who might judge - we have run into the "judges" several times over the years, and my DD is not even able to walk. The only people who matter are you and your wife. You know and she knows that she needs a wheelchair or ECV. What other people think, doesn't matter. A lot of the "judges" are under the misconception that guests using wheelchairs get to go to the front of lines. That is false - most lines are wheelchair accesible and in most cases, people using wheelchairs will be in the same lines with everyone else. If boarding at the exit is required, the wheelchair/ECV users are usaully routed to that area just a little bit before the regular line gets to the boarding area.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Please ask your wife the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

If she will be getting worn out and/or in pain by afternoon this can be cumulative and will get worse from day to day. As SueM said, look at the disABILTIES! FAQ. Her best bet is a hire ECV from an off-site vendor. It will make for a better holiday for both of you.

One last thing to remember, once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is almost 1.5 miles. The distances ara lot more than expected.

 

[shades]

After 4 foot surgeries, and going to Disney parks at various stages after surgeries, I feel I'm somewhat an "authority" on this subject.

The only way to ensure that her foot doesn't encounter somebody else's foot, stroller wheels, etc., is an ECV. I wore a boot/cast one time and a lady rolled right over my foot with her stroller. Wheelchairs can't protect her foot at all - even the wheelchair driver can end up pushing her foot into somebody/something.

I didn't want to "burden" my family with pushing me around in a wheelchair and as a result, each night my foot/feet were in so much pain that even my painkillers couldn't take the edge off. I could barely walk the 2nd day in the park and I ended up taking more breaks than anybody else. I spent much more time sitting on benches.

My podiatrist told me it takes a full year for feet to heal after certain surgeries. He was/is absolutely right! My feet swelled everyday for at least a year after each reconstructive surgery. Even if your wife isn't taking pain meds anymore, I'd highly recommend she get some for your trip. I also recommend taking some gel ice packs and putting them in the hotel freezer in your room - 'cause she might need them in the evenings.

 

[SueM in MN]

I also recommend taking some gel ice packs and putting them in the hotel freezer in your room - 'cause she might need them in the evenings.

Earlier this week, Target had some of the Instant Cold ice packs in their $1 section (I guess for treating summer bumps and owies). I haven't tried them yet, but at $1 each, they would be good to carry around with you to the parks in case you need some cold befoer you get back to your resort.

 

[rpbert1]

thanks for the replies, my wife is on medication quite strong painkillers but she takes them for her SLE everyday along with a lot of other medication for her illness, another question maybe you could answer she will have quite a lot of med with her for the 3 weeks would we need a letter to show when we arrive in the USA that its prescribed medication.
My wife is not happy about having to get a W/C and her in an ECV she says definetly not , she had one last week when i took her out shopping , first time using one and to be honest she was a nightmare in it and at the time she said never again.Me DW is here and i am telling her what is being said on the board , as i said she is not happy about a W/C and when this was suggested before she even knew about the Operation she had, it was a definite NO, even now DW is saying to me she might just use her Crutches as she wants to be independent, not sure but seems to be the same with a lot of people with disabilities, when they use a W/C its maybe as if their independence is being took from them, so looks like we will have to wait till we get to florida to see what she will do, and how she is feeling.
we are not planning to be in the parks all day probably opening time till about 12 midday then back after our dinner for a few hours as they are open quite late with rest days in between which was why i arranged 2 weeks for Disney and i week in Universal to allow for plenty of rest.
If we get a GAC would it be possible to ask the CM if she could wait somewhere while i wait in line then join me for the ride whenever i get to the entrance onto the ride.
going to read the Disabilities faq`s see what i find out.
thanks again

 

[SueM in MN]

If we get a GAC would it be possible to ask the CM if she could wait somewhere while i wait in line then join me for the ride whenever i get to the entrance onto the ride.
going to read the Disabilities faq`s see what i find out.
thanks again

Most of the attractions are not set up to be able to do that. I would suggest reading the 2 unofficial links in post # 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread about boarding rides.

Also, you may want to take the phone numbers of the off-site rental companies along with you so that you have a back up place to call if things don't work out with the crutches.

 

[rpbert1]

thanks SueM in Mn will take note of the phone numbers , so i have them , but wife while she would go in a W/C reluctantly, is insistent that she would not use an ECV again

 

[SueM in MN]

thanks SueM in Mn will take note of the phone numbers , so i have them , but wife while she would go in a W/C reluctantly, is insistent that she would not use an ECV again

If she's on painkillers and feels any effects from them, it might be difficult for her to drive the wheelchair.

As was already mentioned, one of the concerns about the wheelchair is that her feet would be better protected while using an ECV. You might want to call one of the places that rent wheelchairs and ask if they could add anything to the wheelchair footrests that would protect her feet a bit more.

 

[rpbert1]

Hi SueM, have been reading the unofficial ones you mentioned , while we had planned short mornings with plenty of stops when needed in the parks, combined with a couple of hours at night and rest days in between parks when we would just stay at the resort and relax , the unofficial reports have gave me a different view on the rides.
i assumed that the majority of rides when queuing would be inside, one of the reports said about being allowed to wait in the shade, my DW has to avoid {quite difficult} the sun because of the SLE, she even has to wear sunblock when here at home all the time and our weather is not that great, so was something i was not aware of, plus on a lot of rides you seem to have to step down into them so DW would need some support,so crutches would maybe a better choice.
We went shopping in Belfast today and it was quite crowded, we where only in the town about 45 mins and we had to come home as DW was in quite a bit of pain, she used her crutches [like i said its an independent thing]and while the shops were crowded she did not expierence any problems, we had to get some clothes for our Hols still more to get, but i think this was DW saying in her own way , that she can get about on her own without anyhelp and she uses the crutches to basically shield her foot so no one can come into that bit of space.
i have told her that it will be different because of the size of the places when we are away, but like i said we had planned [before we knew of her going to have this op ]to take things easy and at a leisurely pace and to do just what we could and not overdo it, afterall we can always come back and do what we missed, plus if i can work out the FP it should help us a bit.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One thing to consider is the differences between ECVs. The ECVs in stores tend to be four wheel and very large with baskets. Here is some information about one that is normal in the off-site rental fleets. They are much more maneuverable that the ones in stores.

 

[shades]

Your DW is a real trooper! Getting around on crutches is quite difficult for me! I'm pretty clumsy, though One thing to consider - and a definite reason to get a wheelchair - are the gradual slopes around the parks. It will be very tiring - at least for me...heck, I don't think I could even make it from the car to the tram and then from the tram to the entrance before I said the heck with it! I think a combination of crutches and wheelchair would be the way to go. Definitely get a GAC - because there are not enough places to sit and wait out lines.

 

[rpbert1]

Hi shades, real trooper, i was thinking more stubborn.
the wheelchair and crutches was the way we where thinking , but then i never considered the slopes and whatever other obstacles as we have never been.
We are not planning on being in any of the parks for more than 3 to 4 hours and a couple of hours on some of the nights, as the plans we had for this holiday included more resting than parks, and the reason we decided to stay on site was so i could take DD to the parks and let DW rest up when she did not want to go to a park.
hopefully we will be able to make use of fastpass when we are at the park, so that we will not have a lot of queuing to do.