Going in a week, son broke his ankle

[melissab213]

So we are going to Disneyland in a week, and my son just broke his ankle in a soccer game. Can he still go on rides? We were thinking we could push him around in a wheel chair and then he could get out to get on the rides. His foot is in a boot not a cast. Any help or ideas would be great

 

[skiingfast]

I think you have the right idea. WC because over the course of a day it will be a lot of walking. And he will be able to ride most things fine. If he's very WC dependent you may loose a lot of time waiting, it's a bit of a catch 22 in that respect.

 

[Riverrunner]

We had a similar issue with my daughter about 5 years ago.We rented a wheelchair and it actually worked out quite well for us! On many of the rides, we got to go up the FP line or another entrance. The whole group went together and we actually got on many rides faster than we normally would have!!

I've heard, though, that they're cracking down on WC use and other "special needs" for that very reason. I'd heard that they only rent WCs if you have a prescription from a doctor. We brought one and it worked out OK, but I couldn't tell you if they wouldn't have let us have one if we didn't have it. I would call them and check on their policy. Note that this experience was about 5 years ago.

And, yes, it was very helpful to have that WC just to keep her off her foot. She had a badly sprained ankle and was in a boot, too.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

It's actually illegal for Disneyland to ask for documentation to rent a wheelchair (ADA laws). I'd recommend renting a chair as well. I went shortly after a knee surgery and was miserable without resting. It may not get you to the beginning of the line, but it's not going to hold you back. I've been in situations where the person in the chair waited at the exit while the rest of us waited standby and picked up the person in the chair when we made it to the front. Best thing to do is to ask each cast member at each attraction what the policy is. Most, if not all of the queues at DCA are set up to accommodate a wheelchair in the standby line.

 

[Habfan888]

Just finished our disney trip and noticed many a wheel chairs around. some of them were kids who were around 10 to 12 years old or so with inflatable casts/boots.

The other option I saw some folks do was use motorized scooters for whatever reason.. I don't know the costs, but I did see these folks go into rides and what not as well, plus it'd be easier than pushing a wheelchair around

not sure how old your son is, but what kid doesn't want to ride a motorized scooter

Have fun

 

[Disney Dreams]

...I'd heard that they only rent WCs if you have a prescription from a doctor....

This is not true. Anyone can rent a wheelchair, provided that there is a wheelchair available at the time.

...The other option I saw some folks do was use motorized scooters for whatever reason.. I don't know the costs, but I did see these folks go into rides and what not as well, plus it'd be easier than pushing a wheelchair around not sure how old your son is, but what kid doesn't want to ride a motorized scooter

It's quite a difference. $12 and $50 (per day, plus a refundable $20 deposit). I believe you have to be 18 to rent/use one. And while I agree that the idea of riding around in a motorized scooter sounds fun to a kid, they are potentially dangerous if the user is not careful and responsible. Someone could seriously injure another person with an ECV in a split second. They are essentially mini-vehicles in a crowded place.

OP, sorry about your son's ankle. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope you have a fantastic trip! Disneyland is very accessible. Just be sure to communicate with cast members about his needs (no stairs, no standing, etc... and they can assist you accordingly).

- Dreams

 

[TinkBride]

Just returned from a trip last week and saw a lot of people in WC with boots on their feet. Some kids, some adults. And they had the little pass thing to let them on rides through the FP line. The CM would always ask if they were okay with stairs, if the queue had stairs.

You should have no problems with the WC and riding rides. As long as he can maneuver from WC to the ride.

 

[starshine514]

We had a similar issue with my daughter about 5 years ago.We rented a wheelchair and it actually worked out quite well for us! On many of the rides, we got to go up the FP line or another entrance. The whole group went together and we actually got on many rides faster than we normally would have!!

This is not the case now. You will more than likely wait longer to get on to many rides. Pretty much all of the CA ones you will wait longer (they're integrated, so you'll stand in the regular line, then have to wait for the HA vehicle as well. Sometimes, you'll wait the same as everybody else - but in my experience, you'll always wait at least as long as everyone else at CA), though you may get a slight break on the lines in FL. The CMs seem to make it a point for people using the HA entrance (often the exit at DL) to have to wait, even if the standby line is walk-on.

 

[Love Tink]

This is not the case now. You will more than likely wait longer to get on to many rides. Pretty much all of the CA ones you will wait longer (they're integrated, so you'll stand in the regular line, then have to wait for the HA vehicle as well. Sometimes, you'll wait the same as everybody else - but in my experience, you'll always wait at least as long as everyone else at CA), though you may get a slight break on the lines in FL. The CMs seem to make it a point for people using the HA entrance (often the exit at DL) to have to wait, even if the standby line is walk-on.

Our experience at DL three weeks ago couldn't have been more the opposite.

If you can transfer (i.e. don't have to wait for the special wheelchair-accessible ride vehicle), our experience was that waits were almost nonexistent.

A few times I almost wanted to tell the CM, "We can wait a while. We don't have to get right on." because I felt guilty. But since I'm not the one who's had three back and neck surgeries and is in pain all the time, I kept my mouth shut.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

How old is your son - is he small, average or husky? DD is 8 and can still fit in our Mac Volo - perhaps you can use a stroller as a wheelchair....

 

[Potterswife]

You will be fine. Just rent a wheel chair and push him around. You do not need a note from his doctor or to explain what is wrong with him. If he can stand in lines (if there are any) just handle it like if he was w/o his boot. If he can't stand in lines, at DL you can use the exit on most rides, over at CA you wait with him in the normal line while he sits in the wheelchair. Using the exits in DL does not mean a shorter wait, for us it usually meant a longer wait (husband tore his achilles and was in a cast with crutches) a few weeks ago.

Have fun!!