Has anyone gone to Disney with a broken arm?

[laughinplace199]

DD9 broke her wrist the other day and is in a long arm cast. The cast will be on for 6 weeks and we leave for WDW in about 3 weeks. It's a waterproof cast, so she will be able to go in the pool.

I'm just looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. I'm wondering if we should avoid any particular rides. She doesn't like EE, ToT, or RnRC, so no worries about wild rides. She loves Splash & BTMRR though.

I'd love to hear about others' experiences.

TIA!

 

[kristinw3girls]

My DD had a broken wrist on a visit in 06. It really didn't stop her from doing anything. It made flying (security) weird and difficult, but no other problems. I only wish she had waited and not had her friends sign her cast. The characters all wanted to sign it and she didn't have a lot or room left! Feel better and have a great trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, in post #3 you will find a link to a trip report from someone who went with 2 :yes:: two) broken arms.
In general, the CMs won't stop her from riding anything unless the cast would interfere with the safety restraint. All the rides with warnings are marked on the park maps and on signs at the entrance and before boarding. If you have a question about any of them you can ask the CM at the entrance. If you change your mind before boarding, a CM will show you how to exit.
One ride that looks pretty tame, but isn't is Primeval Whirl. It can really bang people around. My youngest DD has cerebral palsy and was not able to hang on well enough. By the end of the ride, she had slid around enough that the seatbelt was at her underarm level

 

[laughinplace199]

My DD had a broken wrist on a visit in 06. It really didn't stop her from doing anything. It made flying (security) weird and difficult, but no other problems. I only wish she had waited and not had her friends sign her cast. The characters all wanted to sign it and she didn't have a lot or room left! Feel better and have a great trip.

Thanks for your reply. How was it going through airport security? Did they do anything differently due to your DD's cast?

Great idea of having characters sign the cast - I'll tell my DD to make sure her friends leave some space for that.

 

[laughinplace199]

If you follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, in post #3 you will find a link to a trip report from someone who went with 2 :yes:: two) broken arms.
In general, the CMs won't stop her from riding anything unless the cast would interfere with the safety restraint. All the rides with warnings are marked on the park maps and on signs at the entrance and before boarding. If you have a question about any of them you can ask the CM at the entrance. If you change your mind before boarding, a CM will show you how to exit.
One ride that looks pretty tame, but isn't is Primeval Whirl. It can really bang people around. My youngest DD has cerebral palsy and was not able to hang on well enough. By the end of the ride, she had slid around enough that the seatbelt was at her underarm level

Thanks for the link - I will be sure to check it out. Thanks also for mentioning Primeval Whirl. DD loves that ride but it's definitely too much for her this time.

 

[niklynn1]

My DS broke his arm right above his wrist sliding into base playing baseball 3 years ago, about 2 weeks before our very first Disney trip. I was so worried that it ruin the trip or keep from doing things he was so looking forward to, but it turned out fine. He was able to ride all rides without any trouble at all! Our biggest issues were security, as the previous poster said, and keeping the cast dry in the frequent rain showers common in Florida during June. Security wasn't too bad, they just ran the "wand" over him after he went through the beeper machine and then we were on our way. As for the rain, I kept plastic and rubber bands in my bag to cover it with on water rides and for rain showers. If your child's cast is waterproof for swimming, you won't have that problem though. Go and have fun at WDW, no worries!

 

[kristinw3girls]

Yes, airport security was strange. They needed to take DDto a seperate area to test the cast with some type of swab. They were always trying to just have her follow them, without waiting for DH or myself. We learned quickly to have me go thru first, then I was able to follow the security person to a different area. Security was always nice, but they were rushing to get it done & she wasn't going anywhere without me! It was also difficult with shoes on and off in the airport. We used the slip on type of sneakers for the airport. At wdw there were no rides she didn't go on, and she actually got a little extra attention from CM's.

 

[laughinplace199]

Yes, airport security was strange. They needed to take DDto a seperate area to test the cast with some type of swab. They were always trying to just have her follow them, without waiting for DH or myself. We learned quickly to have me go thru first, then I was able to follow the security person to a different area. Security was always nice, but they were rushing to get it done & she wasn't going anywhere without me! It was also difficult with shoes on and off in the airport. We used the slip on type of sneakers for the airport. At wdw there were no rides she didn't go on, and she actually got a little extra attention from CM's.

That definitely sounds a bit strange. Do you recall what they were swabbing (is that a word?) for? I will be sure to prepare my DD for this possibility.

I'm glad your DD was able to go on all of the rides.

 

[SueM in MN]

That definitely sounds a bit strange. Do you recall what they were swabbing (is that a word?) for? I will be sure to prepare my DD for this possibility.

I'm glad your DD was able to go on all of the rides.

They are swabbing for explosive residue.
My DD uses a wheelchair full time and always gets the 'extra security treatment'. They swab her shoes, they swab the footrests of her wheelchair and sometimes other parts of the wheelchair.

They rub a little piece of what looks like fabric in a holder then they take it to a machine to read the result.

 

[okeydokey]

I broke my arm while at Disney a few years ago. I had it splinted at the ER and followed up with the Orthapedic surgeon when we got back home. The splint was a long arm (over my elbow) and I had a sling so I was not comfortable riding the big rides so I did take it easy after that. If it was a short arm only on my wrist and hand I would have done everything.

 

[PatsMom]

I crushed the radial head of my right arm not long before our trip in December. I did not have a cast since they don't cast that type of break but the arm let me know pretty quick if I did something I shoudn't be doing!

I rode everything. Rock and Roller coaster was a bit tough and I only went on that once. Other than that I pretty much did what I wanted. I wore a sling mostly to remind myself not to try to use the arm.

And I did it without pain medication! One try at walking the parks in a Vicodin haze and I decided I would just do without.

 

[sndfan]

My DS had his arm casted before we left and didn't have any restrictions. The waterproof cast was a lifesaver!

Be sure to carry a sling and motrin with you...by the end of the day, he wanted the sling and needed the motrin because of the aches and pains.

Otherwise, you should be great!

 

[laughinplace199]

My DS had his arm casted before we left and didn't have any restrictions. The waterproof cast was a lifesaver!

Be sure to carry a sling and motrin with you...by the end of the day, he wanted the sling and needed the motrin because of the aches and pains.

Otherwise, you should be great!

Thanks for the sling suggestion. DD doesn't use the sling at home or school, but she might want it in WDW. I have Motrin on my packing list too.