Help! DH broke his ankle this week...

[macbro]

Any advice on how to get around all the parks? We are going in about 4 weeks. DH broke his ankle playing basketball this last week, and there is a good chance he will still be on crutches while we are there. Can I rent a wheelchair? How do I get him through the lines with a wheelchair? I know that he will get really tired if he has to use his crutches all day. We are still figuring out how he can do the water rides too! Argh! What a time to do this!

 

[SamanthaL]

Your best bet would be to rent an ECV. It is one of those electric carts. The are so easy to drive. There are many companies that deliver them right to your resort and pick them up after. Some rides at Disney have special lines for handicap access and some you just go through the regular lines. The CM"S will help you at each attraction.
I would not get a wheelchair, though you can rent those too from the same companies. You would spent all your time pushing it and get worn out. The ECV also moves faster. I can't remember the name of the company we rented from but it was pretty cheap. Someone else may be able to recommend one.

 

[Castillo Mom]

If you go to the Disabilities forum on the site, you'll find lots of info plus a link to an ECV rental company. Don't worry, I'm sure things will work out just fine.

 

[hellokitty]

alot of times you get special service/attention if in a wheel chair,
like straight to the fron of the line. Not that you really wanted
that though. it is just one positive to think of.

I am sorry he broke his ankle, and make sure you take plenty
of rest periods. My step mom went shortly after foot surgery
and it swelled and all.

Our prayers will be with you!

 

[Beca]

I can offer no help with advice...I just wanted to say, "Sorry"!!!

Hope he is better soon...and, your trip will still be wonderful...After all, you will be in the happiest place on earth!!!


Beca

 

[Vanryan]

I am sorry your DH has a broken ankle but.... you get a lot of perks!!! Our first trip to Disney was with my step-mom and dad. My sm is disabled and we all got to sit in the reserved spot for all the parades. We didn't have to wait hours ahead to get a good spot, we just sat with her. My DD was chosen to use a light sabre and start the wave. A cast member said wow, you're good at this. Let's do it the whole way! And off she went leading the wave down the street. My kids could sit with my sm and get rides when tired. When God gives lemons, go to Disney and make lemonade!

The ECV advice was very important though, it is very tiring pushy someone at Disney. Have you contacted your hotel on handicapped access? Good Luck!

 

[tcfdick]

If you are staying in a resort on Disney property, they have a limited number of wheelchairs available at the resort with free use for the length of your stay. It is a first come first serve basis though.

For the cast on your DH's leg, there are special plastic sleeves made specially for casts that keep them from getting wet so you can still go in the water or bathe in a bathtub/shower. I've never broken my leg or arm, but I know people who have. Try doing a search for the plastic sleeves or ask someone at a hospital rental place. They probably would know where to look for one.

 

[Micca]

Sorry to hear about the ankle. Ouch I don't really have any advice, but my sense is that WDW is helpful and well designed for dealing with disabilities. I bet you'll have a great trip.

 

[Ms. WDW]

I'm sorry to hear about hubby's ankle!! But all is not lost. You see many folks in WDW with casts of all sorts on and you've gotten lots of good info here.

Don't dispair; I'm sure things will work out fine.

Good Luck!!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Sorry to hear about it.

You should be able to rent a wheelchair or one of those carts. You'll still have a great time. I hope he gets better soon!

 

[JKLLady]

As someone else posted, you should check the DISabilities board & rent an ECV. My DH has peripheral vascular disease & is not allowed to walk distances or he'll compromise circulation & be in a lot of pain. We are DVC members & rent from Walker Medical 3-4X a year. They drop off the ECV at Bell Services at your hotel & pick it up after you check out; all you do is leave it with Bell Services on departure.

The Disney transport people are great with loading them on the buses & you can drive them right onto the Friendship boats. Also, as others mentioned, many attractions have handicapped entrances & the waits are much shorter. The HC entrance at Haunted Mansion is the best; the CM's stay in character & joke with you while you're waiting.

Renting the ECV will make it a whole lot easier for all of you!

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by hellokitty
alot of times you get special service/attention if in a wheel chair,
like straight to the fron of the line. Not that you really wanted
that though. it is just one positive to think of.

I am sorry he broke his ankle, and make sure you take plenty
of rest periods. My step mom went shortly after foot surgery
and it swelled and all.

Our prayers will be with you!

NO in fact you do NOT get right to the front of the line. For some time now DW has mainstreamed disabled guests and almost all the time they wait like everyone else, it may be that they wait in a different area, come in a different entrance, etc. we are alsIo required to get and use fastpasses when available.
I would rather this misinformation not be prommelgated further.

 

[pouncingpluto]

In case you've never been on crutches, I wanted to make sure you know what hard work it is! Definitely do make sure to get an ECV or wheelchair, and don't let the poor guy try to hobble around.

After my ankle surgery, my arms got so strong, but boy did my underarms get raw from the rubbing of the crutches!

 

[SueM in MN]

originally posted by McCall
NO in fact you do NOT get right to the front of the line. For some time now DW has mainstreamed disabled guests and almost all the time they wait like everyone else, it may be that they wait in a different area, come in a different entrance, etc. we are alsIo required to get and use fastpasses when available.

Here is a link to the official Disney website about Mainstream Lines that backs up what McCall posted.
And here's a quote from the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities (there is one for each park):

Guest's with mobility or queue related assistance needs are recommended to use Disney's FASTPASS Option whenever possible. Guests choosing not to use the FASTPASS option should proceed thru the standard queue.

At some rides (like Haunted Mansion) wheelchair users board at the exit, but you wait in the regular line until a point right before the rest of the line gets to the boarding area. At that point wheelchair users are detoured to the exit, so you really don't get on any faster than ambulatory people. Sometimes, the wait will be longer; because of fire regulations, they can only have a certain number of people who would need assistance during an evacuation on a ride at one time. Also, to avoid slowing or stopping a ride too often, they may wait for boarding until there are several people needing assistance. That way, they can stop it once to get 3 parties on instead of stopping 3 times.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a list of the off-site rental places that DIS posters report good experiences with:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/
Phone (407) 856-2273 • Toll Free U.S and Canada (800) 741-2282

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html
(800)747-0246

http://www.scootaround.com/ Not much feedback. Several people who reported they had no problems.

All will deliver to your WDW (or close to WDW) resort.