Injured Disneyland Newbie needs YOUR Advice!

[BarbieGal457]

Hey wonderful DISers!

I’m new over here, but a vet of the WDW boards and WDW itself. I leave Dec. 26th to visit my best friend in Anaheim for two weeks. She knows how big a Disney fan I am, and she has an AP, so we will be going for two days (we will also be spending time in San Fran and Las Vegas!). Being a total Disneyland newbie, I have a few questions for all of the experienced minds out there.

1. First and most important, I have a broken foot! In August I broke it in three places, and during the Phillies race to the postseason, I broke it again. I am in a walking boot up to my knee, which is very cumbersome (it is easily 25lbs) and tiring to walk in. I would hate to be a burden on Sam, and to ruin our trip by getting tired very easily and moving extremely slowly. I do have crutches, but they are often more trouble than help. I know in WDW wheelchairs are available for rent, but I was always unsure of the policy.

Do we need to call ahead? Do I need a doctor’s note of some sort? I will only need it while in the park - I am sure I will be fine to go from her car to the gates, it’s just hours of walking I am nervous of. Are they easy to push? As I said, I really don’t want to be a burden on her at all, and I’ll feel terrible if they’re really hard to push and heavy.

2. What is the weather like in late December/early January? I’ve looked at lots of holiday pictures, and asked Sam for advice, but am still having trouble narrowing down what to take with me. Would a leather bomber jacket be warm enough? Are Uggs too much?

3. Another biggie. Are there any rides at DL that are radically different than their WDW counterparts? I can tell which ones are distinct to each place, and I will definitely do those, but I am unsure as if, say, PoTC is the same at both places. I am really trying to study up on my park knowledge, but I keep confusing myself!

3a. Is there any large drops in Space Mountain? Is it comparable to WDW? I am terrified of huge drops, which is why in all my trips I’ve never done Splash Mountain or ToT! I am such a chicken, I get myself all prepared, then back out at the last exit! I’d rather be flipped upside down 6000 times than dropped!

4. What is the one restaurant and one quick service place I must try? I love being a Disney foodie! No turkey legs, please - I have them every WDW trip, and last time ended up very badly. I will spare you the details, suffice it to say, I will never look at one again!

All in all, Tiny Tim (what I like to call my broken foot) and I are super excited to go! Maybe I will even do a TR this time! Last year’s one ended up falling by the wayside due to school, sadly. ANY advice will be of great help, and thank you in advance!!

 

[HydroGuy]

1. First and most important, I have a broken foot! In August I broke it in three places, and during the Phillies race to the postseason, I broke it again.

As a life long Dodgers fan I have no sympathy for anyone who rooted for the Phils.

2. What is the weather like in late December/early January? I’ve looked at lots of holiday pictures, and asked Sam for advice, but am still having trouble narrowing down what to take with me. Would a leather bomber jacket be warm enough? Are Uggs too much?

See "Detailed Weather History for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

3. Another biggie. Are there any rides at DL that are radically different than their WDW counterparts? I can tell which ones are distinct to each place, and I will definitely do those, but I am unsure as if, say, PoTC is the same at both places. I am really trying to study up on my park knowledge, but I keep confusing myself!

See ATTRACTIONS: ºoº Attractions Unique to Disneyland & California Adventure from WDW

3a. Is there any large drops in Space Mountain? Is it comparable to WDW? I am terrified of huge drops, which is why in all my trips I’ve never done Splash Mountain or ToT! I am such a chicken, I get myself all prepared, then back out at the last exit! I’d rather be flipped upside down 6000 times than dropped!

Space at DL is comparable to MK in that the drops are similar - which means they are small. However it is not comparable in quality. DL Space got a major 2 1/2 year refurb in 2005 and it is just way, way better.

4. What is the one restaurant and one quick service place I must try? I love being a Disney foodie! No turkey legs, please - I have them every WDW trip, and last time ended up very badly. I will spare you the details, suffice it to say, I will never look at one again!

Blue Bayou at DL is the one table service to try at the DL park. Counter service? We like Redd Rockett's Pizza Port at DL and Taste Pilot's Grill at DCA.

ANY advice will be of great help, and thank you in advance!!

This thread gets a lot of mileage around here and I have never disagreed with the author in my life - "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[bumbershoot]

A wheelchair will need to be pushed by either your arms turning the wheels or someone else.

So I would rent an ECV, and to save costs I would get one from an offsite place. People talk a lot about Deckert's rentals here.

Dec/Jan can be rainy. Come prepared! And that would mean be prepared to cover the wheelchair or scooter if you rent one...especially the scooter's electronics!

I know you asked about Space, but let me mention Splash for a second. For some reason I kept getting put in the very front, and the drop was so bad for me. Then DS finally wanted to ride it so he and I sat together, side-by-side, in the very very back seat (all but that seat are single seats), and the drop was not nearly as bad for me!

From my memory there are no huge drops on Space. It's more like little rabbit hops, LOL. Just...in the nearly pitch dark.

Everyone's tastes are so different, food-wise. So my main advice there is to NOT eat at typical eating times, if you can help it. Don't head to the Pizza Port at noon, for instance. Same with Taste Pilots.

We personally like the (vegetarian) gumbo and chili that come in breadbowls. Except that I found out before our last trip that you can get it in a cup, and take the breadbowl with you! Since the amount of bread is just WAY too much for us, this was brilliant. Got a nice cup of chili that was very filling, and took about 3 days to slowly gnaw away at the loaf of bread.

 

[ScooterL]

I'm so sorry to hear about your broken foot. Hope that it is getting better.

You do not need to call ahead to rent a wheelchair/ECV, and you do not need any kind of "doctor's note" to rent one. There is "limited availability", but I've never heard of anyone not being able to get one. Still, it sounds like you are visiting during a very busy time of year, so I would recommend arriving at the park early if you are planning to rent on-site.

It sounds like you are capable of moving around some on your own (to navigate the queues) but if you are not, you can go to City Hall when you arrive and request a Guest Assistance Card - this will give you alternate entrances to attractions when you can't get through the queue with a wheelchair/ECV.

Have a great time!

 

[sreace]

I have a back injury that causes me to use a wheelchair as well. Though limited, you can rent manual/electric wheelchairs on site. They are expensive! You could ask your own doctor for a transport chair. Your own insurance would pay for it. They are very easy to push. One bit of warning...Fantasyland is VERY bumpy from a wheelchair!! Like serious brain scrabble bumpy!! With the use of a wheelchair, you will also be able to use the handicapped entrances for all rides. Which for me is a blessing since I can't stand for very long. Take it slow and listen to your body!! Have a great time!!!

 

[BarbieGal457]

Thank you everyone for so much wonderful advice! I was at the doctor's yesterday, and she said I should be fine for Disneyland! What a nice surprise. She advised me to bring the boot I have just as a precaution. Apparently my left foot is also very excited, and healing itself way ahead of schedule. Here's hoping I make it! But thank you for all the opinions and wonderful info you so quickly provided.

As a life long Dodgers fan I have no sympathy for anyone who rooted for the Phils.

Ahhh! I am a Giants fan out of the West Coast teams (I've been following Lincecum, since he was in college! and I'm only 21 haha) but I was born, raised, and still live just a block from the ballpark. My grandfather and father both worked/work for the Phillies, so I've been a fan my whole life. I started following the Dodgers once you two my two husbands Lieby and Wolfie, and got my current SoCal baseball hubby Mr. Kershaw! I even own a Dodgers hat... don't tell the Phillies!

 

[reynmagsmom]

Our favorite sit down is Cafe Orleans.. that was a way better exp. than Blue Bayou....as for counter service we love Hungry Bear and Taste Pilot's in DCA. For a really quick snack we love to share the corndogs at the Red Wagon on Main Street.
TOT and Splash..Well the drops are big but not in a bad way and on Splash as Bumbershoot said if you sit in back rows the drop affect is lessoned and bearable, I too don't like big drops anymore, but I can ride both of those rides at least once every trip.
As for Space I am in a minority as I can't stand it.. I think for me it's the riding in the dark that gets me I do like to see whats coming and on Space thats not always possible.
Above all else DL is the original and it's where I feel Walt's presence...
Have a great trip!!!!!!!

 

[PunkyBrewster]

We were in your shoes last year... not that we were injured, but we are Disney World vets and went to Disneyland for the first time!! You will have a blast, bum foot and all!

I agree an ECV (while more expensive) will likely be your best bet. We were there for Thanksgiving last year, and need warm clothing, more so that just a leather bomber jacket. Of course everyone is different, and I am a native Floridian, so take it from there!

As for the rides, they are all for the most part different from the Disney World counterparts. I disagree that Space Mountain is similar... it is very dissimilar in that DL's version has essentially no drops at all. I seem to remember it just being a corkscrew, constantly turning in the same direction with the exception of one or two times. That being said, it is definitely worth a ride, and a lot of fun (especially if you are the nervous type since it is so tame).

POTC, also completely different. My husband and I actually prefer the DL version. It is much longer, has two "waterfalls" and is much more detailed. Also don't forget to check out the holiday versions of Its a Small World and The Haunted Mansion.

Have fun!!

 

[blutes]

I have been to the park when ECV were not avail. you have to get there early if crowds are expected. OC medical now has a rental facility on Harbor very close to the park.They are easy to deal with and you can take the ECV to downtown disney. Call ahead and one will be reserved for you each day.

 

[aprincess@mail.com]

I have been to both parks and I think you will have a wonderful time at DL!
The weather will be chilly, we went last year at Xmas and we wore heavy jackets and hats...
the rides will be different ofcourse, like posters have said, POTC has two drops and so forth.
I am curious to find out what OC medical is? Do you have a link? We are taking my grandmother in two weeks and we were planning on renting a wheelchair at DL.
Sorry about your accident, but i am sure you will stay have an amazing time!
you and your friend will have a blast!
Try making reservations at Blue Bayou and maybe a Fantasmic dessert?

 

[blutes]

OC medical supply-- 800 593-4942

http://www.ocmedicalsupply.com/index.html

have used them for 4 trips and they are very reasonable and now have rental office at Ramada Maingate at the corner of Harbor and Disney way..