How on earth am I going to manage this?

[Kudrah]

The good news: We leave on Tuesday morning for 8 days at WDW

The bad news: DS12 rolled his ankle in gym class, no fracture but has partially torn his deltoid ligament and is in a walking boot. He can walk at school and here and there but no way will he be able to handle WDW.

DH needs a scooter. He doesn't want to admit it, but he does and I know he will wind up renting one (he has spinal stenosis and his legs numb out after being on his feet too long).

I was planning on renting a stroller for DD5 so she won't get tuckered out.

My question is- how in the world will I manage with one on a scooter, one in a wheelchair and one in a stroller? DS is only 12 and can't drive the scooter or I'd say they could trade off. DH is a big guy and doesn't have the stamina or strength to push himself in a wheelchair...

Any suggestions on how I can manage this?

 

[bookwormde]

I would not discount your son having the maturity to handle a scooter, see if there is a place local that you can try one out, if so since both your DH and DS only need it intermitantly maybe they can share (not both on it at once) so they both get the respit they need but do to feel tied to having to use it all the time.

bookwormde

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'd think about having the kids share. A 5 year old should be able to walk for most of the trip, and if she's really tired it sounds like your DS can walk a little too, letting her ride in the chair, or ride in his lap.

Good luck!

 

[djblu883]

ECV's are tricky to drive! They don't have brakes!!! So that being said most likely even if they allowed your son to have an ECV which they wouldn't, him being an unexperienced driver would put others at risk....I had to use one 2 years back and had an accident and I teach others how to use them at work often (physical therapy). I think the idea of a w/c your son and daughter can share shounds like your best option!! BTW rest an ecv for your hubby from outside the park ! MUCH cheaper!!! I used Walker Mobility and saved several hundred dollars! Hope your trip is wonderful!!!

 

[Bete]

You're in a tough place here.

If no one will walk you will have to somewhat form a relay team. This means you pushing the wheelchair to a certain distance ahead while hubby waits on the scooter with the stroller. Then you go back and get the stroller and hubby catches up on his scooter with the wheelchair and then you catch up to him with the stroller where the wheelchair is located. I would make sure the wheelchair is in hubby's view each time you do the relay. This will be a lot of walking for you back and forth and you'd be pushing a wheelchair and stroller all day and that's like a double whammy on you. I'm not sure I would have the endurance. Also, I would park the wheelchair out of harm's way (away from the crowds and paths most travelled). If you can't trust your 12 year old to stay put this could be trouble.

I went to one scooter rental site and you must be 18 years old to rent a scooter from them. If you bought one outright even a used one for the trip (and you could this once you are there) then your 12 year old probably could ride a scooter if it was your own one. I would imagine you could get a used one that's a travel scooter for $800 or less. You could probably donate the scooter at the end of your trip someplace and you may be able to get a tax deduction that way. If you buy one that's good enough for hubby to use you may want to keep it for future trips for him. Also, you have to address whether your son is capable of doing a scooter at 12 and responsible enough not to run into anybody or wonder off on his own.

If you weren't so close to your trip date I would say cancel the trip. If you have trip insurance, then I would cancel if you are covered for what's going on.

God bless.

 

[casjen]

I say rent a wheelchair for your ds and have your dd and ds share it. They should be small enough they'll both fit in it if they need to at the same time. My ds's were 7 and 6 last trip and we had 2 strollers, one for each kid, and we did need both by the end of the trip. We are bringing a stroller for my 7 yo b/c he has mild cp and fatigues easily. If he could just hop on the scooter with me I would but I know it's a no no. DH will push him and my older ds will hold the stroller or my scooter in crowds.

I have a sprain very smiliar to your ds and walking in the boot is tiring and it gets so heavy. Walking around school is not the same as Disney (I teach, so I know : ) )

You definitely want something they'll both fit in.

I need a scooter this trip b/c I am just not healed enough to handle 6 park days and I am so worried about navigating a scooter in the crowds. We'll be there in 7 days and president's week is very very crowded.

 

[brat]

I do not know how big your DS is, depending on his size he might be able to share a SN stroller or child wheelchair with your DD.Ebay has some used ones.

 

[CeraMomof3]

I wonder if your DS could push the stroller while you push him in the wheelchair?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I agree with renting a standard weelchair for DS. It will be oversize for him but should be room (possibly with some crowding) for DD.

You could check Post #2 in the disABILITIES FAQs (click on the link in my signature) and call some of the locations that have Special Needs Strollers and see what they say.

It is unsafe and violation of all ECV rental policies to have someone ride on the lap of a person driving an ECV.

There is only one place (Randy's) that will rent an ECV for a person under 18. But their policy is it has to either be an older teen or one who has their own ECV and experience driving one. Also, as they deliver directly and not to Bell Services they will make sure the person can drive it or they will not do the rental.

And unfortunately Brat did not read in your post that you are leaving in a few days so you could not get something on eBay.

 

[Kudrah]

Thanks everyone! I realized I forgot to note one very important fact: My son's best friend who is like my second son is going to be with us, he's 13. And a great help to me. I was thinking more about how would we navigate lines, parking lots, etc with our train of transportation devices.

My son with the bum ankle is 12, but 6 feet tall and wearing men's size 11 shoes...DEFINITELY too large for a special needs stroller. The kid can barely fold his knees up to get into most regular cars, these days. I think that renting a big wheelchair is the best way to go at this point. They can all take turns in it. DH won't agree to renting an ECV beforehand, which is a big struggle here. He has never been to WDW and he has *no* idea really how much actual walking there is.

We just picked up his permanent handicapped (Michigan) parking permit and he was really upset by it. He had asked his doctor if she could approve one for this upcoming trip to hopefully make things (a little) easier, and he was really stunned and depressed when I went to go get the form and she had written him for a permanent permit, and checked the box to approve handicapped plates if we choose. He's having a hard time accepting that his condition is permanent.

I have apple scooter and walker's info and I am so on the fence--do I rent one without his consent and risk a big drama and hurting his pride? I don't want him to feel or BE left behind. I know his pride would result in him saying 'I'll just wait here' and him sitting on a bench watching the world go by. I'm just worried because he's never really driven an ECV (I have, for an entire summer when I tore my plantar fascia), and I think he'll do fine, but with it being President's Week, I have the same fears as mentioned above.

That's also the reason why even if someone would approve a scooter for my son, I'd never let him drive it in the parks, he has ADD and can drift off in an instant. I can seriously see him looking up at the Castle and running over a little kid, or plowing into someone because he wasn't watching where he was going because he saw something shiny.

I guess the wheelchair is the way to go at this point. Worst case scenario and we need 2 wheelchairs, one for DH, one for DS, and DD can share rides between them as needed.

Are there any rules regarding having a child in the wheelchair with you the way there are about ECVs?

And is it better to get wheelchairs that fold up and try to fold them up for busses/trams/monorails/boats etc?

I am off to look at the FAQ now.

I really appreciate everyone's replies.

I did seriously think about cancelling...but we've been planning this for over a year, it's my daughters 5th birthday, she's already expecting to eat lunch at the Castle and meet Cinderella, etc. Cancelling at this point is not an option.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Actually, the fact that you have another person with you who can push, should help a lot! I remember being in middle school and pushing wheelchairs for friends who'd broken things (or carrying their books if they were on crutches) so I suspect your son's friend will be helpful (especially if he's as big as your son )

As far as I know the rules about more than one person in a wheelchair don't exist the way they do for ECVs.

In regards to your husband, I'd plan on the wheelchair a head of time, but bring contact info for Apple and Walker with you. We've had plenty of posters here who've called after they were already at Disney and been able to get an ECV from an outside vendor within 24-hours. It's just a lot easier to also have it on the buses.

I think ChesireFigament is the person who has a really good "questionaire" that you could use with your DH about using an ECV at Disney.

I'm 26 and have used a wheelchair since I was 20 for a genetic condition that has caused some spinal issues that give me neuro symptoms similar to your DH's and Disney is absolutely the best place to visit if you have mobility issues, but that's partially because they are so accessible if you use a wheelchair or ECV. Have you tried asking your DH questions in terms of distances he knows? Like "could you walk to [place 1 mile from your house]?" and then "what about back again?" and finally "can you do it at least 2 more times?" I know you're aware of this, but the average guest at WDW walks over 5 miles a day and even World Showcase in EPCOT is over a mile to walk around. Maybe when he starts thinking about that side of things, he'll be willing to think about an ECV.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As Wheeled Traveler suggested:

Please ask your husband the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

In addition to the questions:

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available will increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

You might pick a location at least a mile from where you live and ask him would he like to walk there. If he hesitates, then say "and back", and of he is still not sure then add "at least three times in a row".

Once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is about 1½ miles without going into any pavilions; most people tend to average 8 - 12 miles per day at WDW.

 

[brat]

I agree with Wheeled, plan on renting a WC for each.Then upgrade to an ECV when your DH is ready.I did not want to accept a wheelchair at first my self.I tried to as my Dad used to say "solder through it".I had no choice when I moved from manual to power because I could no longer push myself.Both times I got major freedom back but did not want to admit I needed help.I also was blindsided by getting marked permanet rather than temp.I was off at college at the time and both times my grades went up in school because I was not as worn out.

 

[RCaroll]

To bad this happend just before vacation but if your big son has a support cast on can he not use crutches to get around? I got very far using them when I got hurt once.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You really cannot do Disney on crutches. Most people tend to walk 8-12 miles per day at WDW.

 

[maroo]

I think you will find that it is easier than you may imagine. Let DH lead the way through the crowds in the scooter and just form a train. You can all "transfer" - so it should be ok once you get to the rides - you won't have to have 2 wheelchair cars or anything.

I have spent some time thinking through a similar problem (2 in wheelchairs full time and one intermittently) and we are going to have some similar problems because one can't transfer at all and another one will need a lot of help to transfer (neither can walk even a couple of steps).

But you guys will be going before us - so post your experiences if you don't mind.

Have a blast!!!!!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

I wonder if your DS could push the stroller while you push him in the wheelchair?

It's still going to be a double load for you to push.

Would DS be able to maneuver himself in a wheelchair most of the time so you don't have to do so much pushing?

Planxxxx (er, don't have to plan but instead just do) plenty of rest pauses.

 

[Kudrah]

Well, we are back! I am happy to say that the mobility issues were the least of my problems on this trip (the rest is a looooong story). We rented a manual wheelchair from Apple Scooter before we left, and after our first full day in the parks, DH broke down and let me get him a scooter. Turns out that the wheelchair/scooter combo was an absolute godsend. DD, DS, and myself all wound up getting the flu in varying degrees of severity and that wheelchair got a LOT of use, between DS's ankle and the rest of us sick, dehydrated people. DD rode in whoever was in the wheelchair's lap when she got tired.

I can't say enough about Apple Scooter's service and how quickly they responded to my call for help at DHS (DH needed a scooter that day and they delivered it to me right in the parking lot).

If only my other issues had been as easily dealt with (DD vomiting all over the breakfast table at Kona Cafe on her birthday, having to cancel CRT, DS getting dehydrated and almost passing out at EPCOT, me running a fever of 103 and being too sick to fly home, having to beg Southwest to change our flight, find a room for another 2 days....just....SSSSSShhhh. I don't want to talk about it!)

Now, if DH hadn't gotten the scooter, it would have been a whole other (awful) situation. I'm so thankful he came to terms with it. He actually loved it, once he accepted that the needed it. I will admit, though, that no matter how many times I chewed him out about it, every time I turned around he was letting DD ride on it with him. We fought about it the entire trip. I think that my words of warning didn't set well against all the other people who were doing it right and left. I was really surprised to see how many children were riding with adults on ecvs and I never saw a single CM approach any of them. I still firmly believe that it isn't safe and never let up on my position on that.

 

[brat]

Kudrah, glad your DH enjoyed the scooter.Sorry you all goick on your trip.I understand both sides of the kids riding on the scooter and agree with you that it is a safety issue. As a powerchair user my kids ride my lap. I do have a baby carrier that attaches to my chair but around the house the lap is just easier and feels right.One of my issues with scooter users having kids ride with them is some just have not used a scooter long enough.

I hope you still managed to have a good time.