Husband is recently disabled...

[I'mAlittleBitGoofy]

Hi all, someone suggested that I ask some questions about wheelchair use here. My husband recently ruptured his Achilles tendon and needs surgery this week. We have a trip planned Sept 20 staying at CBR. I already called the resort and requested a handicap accessible room. He will not have use of is leg at all, so we are considering renting a wheelchair for our stay. Does anyone have any advice for me? Has anyone stayed in the accessible rooms at CBR?
Thanks!

 

[Nanajo1]

I would advise that you look into renting an ECV(scooter) from an offsite vendor. Unless he needs to elevate his leg. There is a list in the FAQs.
Pushing a w/c is very tiring. I'm sure others will be posting soon that have stayed at CBR. I don't have any experience there.

 

[BETTYDISNEY]

I would advise that you look into renting an ECV(scooter) from an offsite vendor. Unless he needs to elevate his leg. There is a list in the FAQs.
Pushing a w/c is very tiring. I'm sure others will be posting soon that have stayed at CBR. I don't have any experience there.

I totally agree w/Nanjo pushing a wheelchair is definitely not to be taken lightly Definitely rent an ECV.

HAVE A GREAT TIME

 

[I'mAlittleBitGoofy]

I would advise that you look into renting an ECV(scooter) from an offsite vendor. Unless he needs to elevate his leg. There is a list in the FAQs.
Pushing a w/c is very tiring. I'm sure others will be posting soon that have stayed at CBR. I don't have any experience there.

I am on the same page with you, unfortunately my stubborn husband is not. He INSISTS he will push himself around. I cannot wait to see how long that lasts.

 

[bzzymom]

One of the nurses I work with with ruptured her achilles tendon 2 years ago. When she first got to work, which was at least a month after her surgery, she worked light duty-sitting for 4 hours as a unit secretary. Pain wasn't a issue for her, but she had problems with swelling in that lower leg. If you rent a wheelchair, I recommend getting one that you can raise the leg up. If not, he will need to take breaks to raise that leg up.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I have an idea. Have a look into local wheelchair rental places, borrow one for a few days and get him to push himself about a bit. Then, once he's got the feel of it, pick somewhere about three or four miles away from your house. Ask him if he could push himself all the way there. If he says yes, ask him if he could push all the way there and back every day for the length of your trip. He'll most likely look at you as if you're mad, but that is about the distance most people cover at a day in Disney.

It may be that he does have enough strength in his arms to push all that way, but wheelchairs do rely on muscles that you may not necessarily use much in non-wheelchair life. I'd been in a wheelchair part-time for about a year on our last trip, pushing myself as much as possible out and about. I was still extremely grateful to my mother for taking turns pushing me.

If he still doesn't want to rent an ECV, make sure you take the phone numbers of some of the WDW-local rental places, just in case.

Whichever way you choose to play it, I hope you guys have a great time!

 

[ntsammy5]

I have an idea. Have a look into local wheelchair rental places, borrow one for a few days and get him to push himself about a bit.

That's a good idea - I'll pass this suggestion to a friend who also thinks he's going to push himself all around Disney.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Also, make sure they realise that Disney does actually have quite a few hills in it, you just don't tend to notice them on foot. Another one that will catch you out in a chair, is a camber. If the pavement slopes at all, so that one side of the chair is slightly lower than the other, pushing is a lot harder because you have to compensate for the slope too.

I forgot to say when I posted earlier, I was beginning to get fatigue problems when I went last September, and perhaps would have been able to push myself more without them, but the heat and sheer size of Disney is enough to make pushing pretty tiring.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

You said you talked to the resort, but the number you call isn't actually CBR. Which wouldn't be any any help anyway. They do not assign the rooms. If needing a handicap accessible room, you need to call CRO and ask them to talk to special needs. SN will actually block of a handicapped accessible room, providing one is still available for your time of travel.

Have to warn you though; CBR has the least of those rooms of any of the mods, so that might be a bit of a pickle. (but on the up side; most are afraid of CBR )

Did you read up on what type of rooms there are? There is the basc accessible room, that will have grab bars in the bathroom. It will still have a tub. If needed, you can request a shower bench from maintanence at no cost. Then there are the rooms with roll in shower. These rooms not only have grab bars, but they have no tub in the bathroom but a (collapsible) showerseat and showerhead you can take of the holder on the wall. Only mentioning 'accessible room' will get you the first, mentioning needing a roll in shower would get you the second.

Another 'thing' might be the number there are of you (assuming you'll take the kids along?). If he were to need the room with roll in shower, those rooms are with a king bed only at CBR. Since there are 4 of you, Disney WILL do everything within their power to take care of you, but with you being so close to the traveldate, it might be more of a problem than for those of us booking a year ahead. To make sure; Disney WILL make sure there will be a sleeping arrangement that fits your travel party size, but this close to the traveldate, they might not be able to find you a handicapped accessible room that fits his specific needs.

And of course, that's all assuming nobody did actually talk to SN for you. If they did, I didn't have to bother with the info.


About stubborn hubby? Let him be stubborn. He's setting himself up for problems, so let that be exactly that; HIS problem. He can wheel himself around as much as he likes, under 2 conditions;
- he's not allowed to complain to you or the kids about the pickle he might (will, read our lips!) get himself into
- he's on his own when he might (will ) find that wheeling around isn't doable for a non experienced person and he wants to get himself a solution. In other words; you go back to the front of the park and pray you can still rent an ECV and catch up with us at point B. If no more is available; you call the rental places! (since his wife isn't too wicked, you will be prepared and carry some of those phonenumbers in your purse )

Or he can opt for the 'keep my wife quite, but I still think I know better option' which consists of reading up on the disABILITIES board for a couple of hours where he will also see the light of it being a bit naive of wanting to wheel himself around all day for the whole trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

Y
Did you read up on what type of rooms there are? There is the basc accessible room, that will have grab bars in the bathroom. It will still have a tub. If needed, you can request a shower bench from maintanence at no cost. Then there are the rooms with roll in shower. These rooms not only have grab bars, but they have no tub in the bathroom but a (collapsible) showerseat and showerhead you can take of the holder on the wall. Only mentioning 'accessible room' will get you the first, mentioning needing a roll in shower would get you the second.

There are pictures and further descriptions of the different types of rooms in the disABILITIES FAQs thread (near the top of this board or there is a link in my signature). The information is in post #7 of that thread.

 

[friendofgusgus]

A few years ago I broke my right leg (tibia and fibula - it was a doozy!) and kept my plans to visit the World. Honestly, it was FAR from my most enjoyable trip, but I did learn a lot! Here are the things I'll never forget:

Rent your wheelchair from an outside vendor who will deliver directly to your hotel. You will need it everywhere, so getting one at the park is not an option for your DH. I did this years ago, so the board will have better info on a company than I do.

Get a good pair of wheelchair gloves and break them in thouroughly before you leave. I was doing circles around my local mall every day in preparation, and I still got blisters.

WDW is an illusion! The parks are full of "forced perspective" to make things appear differently than they really are. Main Street is one long uphill climb to make the castle look bigger. You may not ever notice it when you're walking, but just try and roll yourself up there and you'll be painfully aware!

Since you're going in September, be sure to bring a chamois to wipe up the rain and the sweat on the chair's seat. You may also want DH to consider sitting on one so that he still has some skin on the backs of his legs at the end of the day!

Some rides will require your DH to transfer. If he is using his arms all day to push himself, he will have limited strength for transfers. Do your research here and have him prioritize what he most wants to do, then do those things first.

WDW in a wheelchair is a challenge! It's certainly doable but it's tougher than I though it would be, that's for sure. I'd add my name to the growing list of people who would recommend an ECV. I'd also print out these posts and have him see that it's not just you who thinks it's a good idea!

Good luck!

 

[friendofgusgus]

I forgot to add:

Disabled parking areas are far from the main gates to the park entrances. Please don't be fooled into thinking that they are "right next to" the park entrance. They are not - especially if you get the last space in the row!

 

[I'mAlittleBitGoofy]

Thanks again for all the support and advice! I'm getting a wheelchair from here and bringing it with us. I would never had known the wheelchairs didn't have foot rests if it weren't for you all!
I also spoke to a CM regarding our handicap accessible room and it's all set. He's having surgery Thursday and we leave on the 20th. My mother and my sister are going with us, so I will have help. Thank goodness. This will be interesting to say the least.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Hi all, someone suggested that I ask some questions about wheelchair use here. My husband recently ruptured his Achilles tendon and needs surgery this week. We have a trip planned Sept 20 staying at CBR. I already called the resort and requested a handicap accessible room. He will not have use of is leg at all, so we are considering renting a wheelchair for our stay. Does anyone have any advice for me? Has anyone stayed in the accessible rooms at CBR?
Thanks!

I am right there with you girlfriend. My dh is at the hospital right now having an MRI because of a possible torn calf muscle or tendon. We also will be getting to WDW on 9/20. I am waiting to hear the verdict so I can make plans accordingly. If necessary I am renting an scooter because I will be pushing the stroller with 2 4yr old granddaughters!!!! This will be an INTERESTING trip!

 

[hematite153]

I am on the same page with you, unfortunately my stubborn husband is not. He INSISTS he will push himself around. I cannot wait to see how long that lasts.

Thanks again for all the support and advice! I'm getting a wheelchair from here and bringing it with us....

Presumably he's going to need a way to get around for the next 2.5 weeks before you head to wdw. Will he be using a w/c at home? If so, he may have time to build up the strength for the trip in a w/c (rather than an ecv), but, that makes the 3-4 mile trip there and back practice all the more important.

If he's planning to propel himself make sure you discuss w/c needs before renting it. Most of the chairs we've rented for my DW were really difficult for her to wheel herself in. She gets better every time (practice is helpful after all), but, most rental chairs just are not well designed for self propulsion. If he's going to be using the chair for more than a month there ought to be somewhere that you can get a better one from.

 

[mechurchlady]

Rental wheelchairs are not designed for people to be pushing themselves long distances. They are heavy and put your arms at a weird angle for pushing where as the sleek chairs have no arms and the wheels are angled for easier propulsion.

Add me to the list for the ECV. The benefits of a wheelchair are the ease and smaller size for lines and crowds, no need to transfer to a chair on some rides, cheaper, and they come with leg lifts. The problem is the pushing of the person can wear out other members of the party. Will the pusher need to also be corraling little kids for example?

There are times I strongly say wheelchair but those people usually cannot handle a lot of stress or have a large group of people to push. For me I would love to have an elevated leg rest right now but for others it is not needed.

 

[I'mAlittleBitGoofy]

I am right there with you girlfriend. My dh is at the hospital right now having an MRI because of a possible torn calf muscle or tendon. We also will be getting to WDW on 9/20. I am waiting to hear the verdict so I can make plans accordingly. If necessary I am renting an scooter because I will be pushing the stroller with 2 4yr old granddaughters!!!! This will be an INTERESTING trip!

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! I'll say a prayer for him! We're gonna have a great trip..

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! I'll say a prayer for him! We're gonna have a great trip..

I will return the favor and say a few prayers for your dh and family too. When you are on your trip, if you run into a middle aged man on a scooter, 2 little girls riding in a bright orange stroller and a crazy looking woman trying to push the stroller, direct the nut on the stroller, and race to the best ride in the park you will know you are looking at ME! Best wishes for the surgery! How long is your trip going to be? We will be there through Friday the 26th.