Going to Disney with a broken shoulder and with a large family

[pollyjo]

I am hoping someone would be able to give me some advice, please. I have also posted this in the UK planning forum but I think most of the UK would be sleeping at the moment

We are from the UK and we have planned a trip of a lifetime visiting the east coast of the US. So far we have been to New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC. At the moment we are in Bethany Beach, a quiet beach in Delaware.

Unfortunately my husband managed to break his shoulder blade and collarbone 2 days ago, playing with the rough waves here. His arm is in a sling and he is not allowed to move his arm until he sees a specialist on Thursday.

We go to Orlando in 4 days. Initially our insurance company wanted us to fly back home but I managed to stall them as we were only on day 10 of our 28 days vacation. They agreed to wait and see what the specialist says on Thursday before making a final decision on whether we should go home.

After struggling in the last 2 days with the kids. I now feel it would be best for us to go home on Thursday/Friday and miss Disney. However it's not our decision to make as we need to wait for our insurance company to make this decision.

If insurance decides that we stay and go on to Orlando. I have a few questions; I feel it would be far too difficult to do Disney with our family. We have 4 kids - ages 11, 9, 6 and 4. The 11 year old likes thrill rides. The 9 year old is very petite and may struggle to make the 48" height limit as I think she is just under 48". She's 120cm which is under 48". My husband won't be able to go on ANY rides. It would mean me taking the younger 3 on the rides and leaving my eldest to ride the thrill rides on her own - I don't feel happy about this. I have booked tickets through Maple Leaf and I think I can get a refund minus 10% admin costs. Would it be worth doing this if insurance decide we can stay in the US?

I have booked 4 days at Disney plus 4 days at waterparks etc and Universal studios. We have hired a car - it is under my husband's name as a driver. We bought excess insurance in the uk again under his name. I have been trying to move this to my name as I will be doing the driving if we go to Orlando.

Sorry this is quite long winded - I am quite stressed about all of this. It has been a nightmare and I am quite annoyed that this silly incident has happened.

Hopefully insurance will send us home as it will be easier overall but I need to plan for the eventuality if they feel we are able to continue with our trip.

Thanks,

P

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Having suffered through a broken arm and shoulder, I don't see how your husband is dealing with the pain. Just the thought of either flying that far or staying and going to Disney is making my arm hurt. What do the doctors say? Will surgery be necessary?

 

[pollyjo]

Thanks - hopefully our travel insurance will send us home.

We are so far away from home which makes it quite difficult to do anything.

Husband doesn't need surgery as the fractured bones are not dislocated, which is good - I guess.

I like to be prepared for both eventualities. If insurance isn't going to send us home and we end up going to Florida. We can spend the 12 days there, chilling out and taking things easy rather than rush around the theme parks.

So sad but Disneyworld will still be there if we come to Florida in the future

P

 

[usnuzuloose]

I am so sorry, but I guess your DH is more important and WDW will be there. I hope they gave him pain meds. If you could recover some money and save it up for the next round that would be good. Then everyone will have an awesome time together. I am sure he feels horrible. I hope he heals very quickly.

 

[quakechicago]

I am hoping someone would be able to give me some advice, please. I have also posted this in the UK planning forum but I think most of the UK would be sleeping at the moment We are from the UK and we have planned a trip of a lifetime visiting the east coast of the US. So far we have been to New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC. At the moment we are in Bethany Beach, a quiet beach in Delaware. Unfortunately my husband managed to break his shoulder blade and collarbone 2 days ago, playing with the rough waves here. His arm is in a sling and he is not allowed to move his arm until he sees a specialist on Thursday. We go to Orlando in 4 days. Initially our insurance company wanted us to fly back home but I managed to stall them as we were only on day 10 of our 28 days vacation. They agreed to wait and see what the specialist says on Thursday before making a final decision on whether we should go home. After struggling in the last 2 days with the kids. I now feel it would be best for us to go home on Thursday/Friday and miss Disney. However it's not our decision to make as we need to wait for our insurance company to make this decision. If insurance decides that we stay and go on to Orlando. I have a few questions; I feel it would be far too difficult to do Disney with our family. We have 4 kids - ages 11, 9, 6 and 4. The 11 year old likes thrill rides. The 9 year old is very petite and may struggle to make the 48" height limit as I think she is just under 48". She's 120cm which is under 48". My husband won't be able to go on ANY rides. It would mean me taking the younger 3 on the rides and leaving my eldest to ride the thrill rides on her own - I don't feel happy about this. I have booked tickets through Maple Leaf and I think I can get a refund minus 10% admin costs. Would it be worth doing this if insurance decide we can stay in the US? I have booked 4 days at Disney plus 4 days at waterparks etc and Universal studios. We have hired a car - it is under my husband's name as a driver. We bought excess insurance in the uk again under his name. I have been trying to move this to my name as I will be doing the driving if we go to Orlando. Sorry this is quite long winded - I am quite stressed about all of this. It has been a nightmare and I am quite annoyed that this silly incident has happened. Hopefully insurance will send us home as it will be easier overall but I need to plan for the eventuality if they feel we are able to continue with our trip. Thanks, P

I'm so sorry. Can you book a wheelchair for him if you have to go? Maybe he could do half days or mornings and then hang out at the pool?

You might be able to break the kids up into groups this way too. Take 2 to the park in the morning and then the others in the afternoon. Or maybe ask a family member to join and help? Or there's babysitting if you're on site and your DH needs help watching them poolside.

That said? Our last trip, first morning I had outpatient surgery in Tampa and then stomped around Disney bruised from my chin to my chest for days with a 2 yo! Keeping busy helped and it was way more fun than sitting at home in bed miserable. You might want to ask this good folks on the DISabled boards too. They probably have tons of suggestions.

Your eldest might have to miss some rides and help you. Some Disney is better than no Disney! Best of luck to you and speedy healing to your DH!

 

[chris31997]

If Dr okay hubby staying, then go ahead and go to Disney. Get some pain meds for hubby to help handle the pain.

Plan on taking things very slowly.

Rent a wheelchair thru Disney for hubby. It will help him. And might save your sanity.

Plan thrill rides around hubby and his ability to take lil ones to do things. You can also get FastPasses for the thrill rides. Or try.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I am so sorry about DH arm. Prayers that he will get good new and low pain this week.
I think, depending on his report and pain, you guys could very well have a nice WDW trip. There are very few rides that everyone could not go on. The height for most of the "trill" rides is 40, with just a few being higher. There may well be lots of things your DH could go on and are just as mild as riding in a car, or on a plane. For the few higher height thrill rides, maybe DH would see the older two to the line start, and then meet them at the exit while you go a few things with the shorted kids. Are you on site at WDW? He could also hang at the resort some, while you guy did the parks. good luck!