Help!!

[nativetxn]

Hi cms1174

Welcome to the DIS, I'm really glad you found us. I don't have an answer for you but I'm going to put a copy of this thread over on our disABILITIES board. The people over there are real experts on this topic.

Katholyn

 

[BrianD]

Unfortunately, I can't help you but I just wanted to let you know that you should also post this question on the disABILITIES board on this website because they are quite frequently talking about GAC's and they should be able to give you some good help.

I'm really sorry about your bf. I hope you all are able to have a great trip. BTY, we're leaving for WDW tomorrow too!!!

 

[cms1174]

We are leaving tommorow and my bf has congestive heart falure that is progresivly getting worse. He still wants to go for fear that this may be his last vacation. I need info on GAC. He refuse to rent a w/c because we don't think that his arms are strong enough to wheel himself around. I will be pushing a stroller with my 2 year old in it. He is stubborn and will not get a ECV. Any suggestions or info on the GAC would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[LizL]

SOmeone will come along with some more suggestions but here is my two cents worth:
Use fastpass to avoid waiting in lines.

The GAC can state that he can wait in a shaded area so that the heat does not get to him. However, there are not always seats in these areas, so I'm not sure how much help that will be. The GAC will not get you to the front of the line. There are other things that can be on teh card. You should talk to the CM at guest services and explain all of his limitations so that they can give him everything that they can to help out.

I can relate to him not wanting the ECV. It took me 6 months to convince DH that he really needed a manual wheelchair for me to push him in (i couldn't go near the topic of a power chair). Once I won that battle, he realized that he really did need it. It took over a year from then to convince him that a power chair was needed. I could not handle pushing him, lifting it in and out of the car, etc. any longer. Now that he has it, he loves the freedom it gives him. But for a long time he saw it as a loss of independence and a weaness. These are valid feelings and your BF is probably having the same problem accepting the changes he has to make in his lifestyle.

I would try talking to BF again about the ECV. Explain how much more he will enjoy his vacation if he is not exhausted from just waiting in line or moving between rides. The world showcase in Epcot alone is over a mile long. I'm thinking that with your little one you will be in MK a lot. This park is always crowded and lines will not be short. Appeal to his sense of family - everyone will have much fonder memories of this trip if you can maximize your time at the parks (rather than resting at the hotel) and doing fun things together.

Walker Mobility and Care Medical will deliver to your hotel and pick up after you leave. You can rent at the parks, but there is no guarantee that one will be left for him to use. Perhaps he could try it and if he hates it then you could return it early? I promised DH the first time that if he hated the wheelchair he did not have to use it and we would return it. After one day, he decided he could not live without it.

Good luck and let us know how your trip goes. Remember - it's Disney and no matter what happens, you are sure to have a magical time!

 

[JudithM]

I'm sorry I didn't see that there were two threads asking this question ... I just replied under the other thread .

Again, please, please ask the boyfriend to reconsider the ECV. I was diagnosed with a knee condition a few years ago & have rented an ECV every trip since then. It has made our trips so much easier.

Again, have fun, ENJOY!

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a link to the thread that Judith responded to:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=334595
I will just close the other thread to avoid confusion.

I agree that he really should consider an ecv (scooter). Propelling a wheelchair by himself would be much more exhausting than walking would be (since he is not used to it and since he has heart problems). The amount of walking involved in being at WDW is tremendous - at least several miles per day. Just the distance around WS in Epcot is more than a mile.
Having a GAC that would allow him to wait out of the sun might help some, but he would still have to walk thru the whole length of most of the lines. The other messages that they commonly stamp on GACs are to use a stroller as a wheelchair (no help to you) and to use the wheelchair entrancess without having a wheelchair. The wheelchair entrances would let him avoid stairs, but would not shorten his wait in line. usinf fastpass like others suggested would shorten your wait. I don't think the lines are really long this time of year anyway, but I don't think that waiting in line will be what causess problems for him anyway. It will be the getting from place to place.
An ecv would be much more assistance in letting him conserve energy. If he geets to a poiunt where he needs to lie down for a rest, remember First Aid at each park has cots.

 

[JudithM]

Thank you, Sue, for consolidating threads!

Again, CMS, please encourage your boyfriend to read our comments. Have fun!!

 

[Andrew Bichard]

CMS1174

There has to be a first time for everyone.

A few years back, I wouldn't use a wheelchair either. I didn't want to be perceived as disabled even though I was lurching from side to side when I walked and falling over frequently.

I first used a wheelchair on vacation with my wife. with no-one else I knew around to see me. I was effectively hiding my shame from friends & family, yet at the same time enjoying my vacation.

I enjoyed the extra freedom so much, I bought my own wheelchair a few months after I returned. I came out of the disability closet!

My 90 year old FIL was the same. He could hardly walk, but wouldn't buy an ECV. I loaned him my rented ECV one year at Disney because his room was way, way down the corridor at the Boardwalk Inn. He loved it. Next day he rented his own at epcot.

He has now bought his own!

Maybe your boyfriend will try an ecv, away from everyone he knows, once he sees how many people, apparently fitter than he, rent them.

Andrew

 

[Piper]

I understand your bf reluctance to use an ecv. I resisted, too. But once I admitted that I needed it, it was truly liberating. You are in control of where you are going and it frees you so much. I can last longer before tiring and if I want to go back to the hotel, I can do it by myself. As a matter of fact, my next WDW trip will be all by myself!

 

[tink2dw]

Maybe you could show your BF a picture of a scooter[ECV] they look different than a powerwheel chair. Scooters are pretty Zippy. Sort of the difference between a stationwagon and a sports car!!

 

[Nanajo1]

Just adding my support. Your BF won't believe how much freedom the ECV will give him. I like the idea of "just try it and if you dont like it we'll return it."
Good Luck. PD for a great trip.

 

[sncbird]

My story is very similar's to Andrew Bichard's. I would rather try to walk hanging on to everyone and everything in site than to use a wheelchair. I didn't realize how bad my walking was until I watched myself on video. I wasn't fooling anyone about having Muscular Dystrophy but myself!! I too used a wheelchair for the first time on our first trip to WDW in Oct. 2001. I figured no one there I knew would see me (I was safe)!!! Thanks to the great people on this board they put alot of my apprehensions at ease. From that trip, I learned using a wheelchair doesn't make me less of a person. I shouldn't feel shame because I have a disabillity. In fact, it has made me a much stronger, more appreciative person. I loved being able to do and see so many more things without having to worry about how long is it going to take me to get from point A to point B. I was able to relax and enjoy my trip. I did more than I could ever imagine. It was a huge step to show me I can still enjoy life and do just about anything able-bodied people can do. I also learned my friends and family don't think any different of me. In fact, they're happy I'm finally using my chair so we can do more things!!! So, please tell your BF he will enjoy his trip so much more if accepts a little help. If you have any other questions, please post them or feel free to PM me Christine

 

[mhopset]

I totally agree with SNCBIRD. I also have Muscular Dystrophy. I think SNCBIRD and I have the same type (Limb-Girdle) anyway. I also seen myself walking. I looked more stupid walking than riding an ECV.

I can not describe the freedom my ECV give me. It is amazing. I can actually be the one getting drinks, and food for my family while they rest. Also if they want to take a nap, I go to the parks by myself. I visit the different resorts, shop, go out to eat. Tell your b/f that you both will have a much better time if he gives in to a ECV!

 

[tink2dw]

I have a really bad knees. Altho I can walk aboutr a half a block before I hurt and it gets worse and worse soon I am pouring sweat,then I get really cranky due to the pain.

When I rented a scooter this last trip to DL,I couldn't believe how much more fun I was having. But what really got me was when my Dd a teenager said she was glad I had the scooter as I wasn't soooooo cranky and it was a relief to her. Wow,that hit home!!

 

[sncbird]

Yes, Mhopset we do have the same form Limb-Girdle. It's nice to know I"m not the only out there with this. I have to tell you guys, I went to the Bon Jovi concert last night in Chicago. It's been the first concert I've gone to in 12 years!! In fact, the last concert I went to was Bon Jovi (that was pre-diagnosis). We got accessible seating at the United Center in Chicago. It was so easy to get to our seats - which were awesome!! I had an absolute BLAST!!! It feels so good to be enjoying life again vs staying home avoiding everything