Going with stress fracture on foot...

[nicumom2]

I was at Disney 2 years ago not long after my knee surgery and I was on crutches. The trip was planned for Oct...but had to postpone to late dec. due to Nov surgery - so the trip ended up being 1 week after surgery and I was still on crutches. A friend told me to go into guest services and see if they could help me out - I did not expect or anticipate a guest pass for rides. But I was quite thankful. Esp with some things having steps in and out. Well fast forward to this trip - I have a stress fracture on my foot (lucky me) - I have one of those shoe boot things. Again with the steps and also standing on it for a long time. I am tempted to take my crutches with me due to all the walking...but either way I am concerned about a pass. I heard the policy has changed recently. Some say now the guest with a disability goes on ahead down the short path while their family goes the regular way and just wait for them up front. This wouldn't really work unless there were a seat to sit and wait on. Then another friend told me when she had her broken foot - she never asked for a pass - she just walked thru the handicap entrance every time and the cast members didn't say anything because her shoe boot was obvious. Sorry for the long post - just curious if I should bring a letter from a doctor. Or any tips on what to do. I don't want to take any help for granted and I can't imagine the people that try to play the system with a fake injury. Thanks for any suggestions!!! ETA - not only the things that have steps, but some things like Nemo - oh my goodness that is a long que...even with No line, and NO wait - it takes forever to walk thru that maze.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The lines for almost all attractions at WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that the queue is set up to allow wheelchairs and/or ECVs to go through the line just as a person without a mobility problem. As it was built prior to the ADA, the Magic Kingdom is most likely to have non-mainstreamed lines. Some attractions, such as Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion you will go part way through the regular queue and then be diverted. Other attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain or SpaceShip Earth you will initially be directed to an accessible entrance.

All the theaters are set up with seats (usually in the back row) removed so a wheelchair or ECV can pull into a space and there will be regular seating on either side of the space for the others in the party.

Where there are quantity limits on space, or other limitation involving accessibility, you may have to wait longer to see a show or ride an attraction than people without disabilities.

The normal (and official) response of Guest Relations to people with mobility and/or stamina issues is to recommend rental of a wheelchair or ECV. The Guest Assistance Card (GAC) is intended for "invisible" disabilities not related to mobility or stamina. A wheelchair or ECV is sufficient to notify Cast Members of special assistance normally needed. However, if a person has other issues, such as auditory or visual, they would probably also need a GAC.

Note that a GAC is not intended to allow bypassing of lines, and it so states on the card itself. The only people who will get the special Front Of The Line GAC are where a terminal or medically fragile child is traveling on a trip from Make A Wish or similar foundation.

 

[nicumom2]

Thanks for posting chesire. Maybe they changed things up since we were there a year and a half ago. They gave me a pass that allowed me the shortest way to enter - either a wheelchair access or a fastpass access. I had a physical disability. The ramps really helped with my crutches. And for the events with seating we were up front and not in the back. For Haunted Mansion they had us go in thru the exit. Interesting. I guess what I had heard was right - that things have changed in the last year and a half. I'm still taking my crutches though rather than renting a wheelchiar. They do the job as far as keeping me off my foot. Thanks for the info.