Injuted son

[jenn0419]

We just spent 2 hours in the pediatric ER with my 8 yr old son. He sprained the top of his foot so bad he can't walk on put any pressure on it. We check into our Disney hotel and start our hoppers on Saturday . Any advice how to get him around the parks??? Thanks

 

[jenn0419]

Injured! Sorry I'm still very stressed over my poor son

 

[andersonsc]

pediatric wheelchair.

 

[SteveMouse]

Call Walker Mobility- number's in the sticky post # 2 here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

and see what they can do for you- I know they have small wheelchairs- they may also have a pediatric wheelchair for rental.

They can deliver to the resort (you have to meet them).

Note that All About Kids is closed.

-steve

 

[GadgetTheInventor]

Well, if he can't put ANY weight on it, he will still need to get from the wheelchair to the ride vehicle. Crutches then too? He is going to have to walk sometime to get on certain rides and around the bathroom.

I'd also suggest taking a bag with you if he is going to need to ice it while in the park. You can get free ice, but a baggie might be hard to come by.

 

[heidibilotti]

You can get ice packs at the first aid stations at each park as well. When it's possible have him elevate it to keep down the swelling. When at a restaurant I always put my food on the side if my husbands chair. Make sure you carry with you whatever pain killers your sons doctor recommended. It is easier to take as directed then to have to try and catch up when he us in pain. I hope your family has a wonderful trip filled with pixie dust

 

[mdvlprof]

Pediatric wheelchair!! WDW is so wheelchair-friendly.
The first aid stations are a nice, quiet place to rest.

 

[jmartinez1895]

Talk to your doctor and tell them that you want a wheelchair due to your trip. Some insurance companies will pay a portion of the rental fee if your doctor has written orders for it. Of course with your check in so near, it may be hard to find a smaller chair in your area, but I would start with a local children's hospital and see if they have a medical supply center ( ours does, but I may be spoiled by living near Birmingham). The worse case, you will have to rent a smaller adult size. It will be a little big for him, but it will be better than him having to use crutches.
I would also recommenced that if you are not able to find one prior to travel, then rent off site. You will find much better prices and much better product then renting in the parks. Another benefit of renting off site is that you will have the chair with you at your resort and any other place you go.
Travel with a wheelchair is not a " blessing" as I'm sure you have already figured out, but I think that Disney is one of the most accessible places we have been.

 

[clanmcculloch]

DD13 had a broken ankle when we celebrated her 10th birthday at WDW. She was supposed to only bear minimal weight on it. She really enjoyed having a wheelchair (she admits to being lazy so she loved being wheeled around). She just enjoyed celebrating her 13th birthday at DL using a wheelchair (she has foot, ankle and knee issues make walking any real distances painful) and she loved that as well (maybe it's not totally a laziness issue since lots of walking does cause pain but it wasn't nearly as bad back when she was 10).

When she was 10 she was 4'8" and 80lb. A 16" chair was a good size though it would have been nice if the arms were a bit lower (not a big deal but you can see her shoulders up in pictures when she used the arm rests). Last month was up to 4'11" and 105lb and the 18" chair fit her just fine though her butt was hurting every day by the end of the day and we don't do days nearly as long as most people. A cushion would probably have helped a lot.

I would highly recommend renting a wheelchair. Talk to the rental company about the size. With his measurements they should be able to recommend the best size for him. If you rent in your home city then you'll even be able to have him try out the chairs to see which size is most comfortable.

DD13's Physical Therapist recommended a couple local companies that she knows are reputable and carry some smaller chairs as well. I bet your son's doctor would know of some companies.

As for transferring, I thought about bringing her crutches to the parks by attaching them to her wheelchair using bungee cords the trip with the broken ankle (like I said, only minimal weight bearing) but we ended up just helping her hobble from the chair to the ride cars. We were able to bring her chair right up to the attractions so there generally were no more than a couple steps so this was no problem. She even hopped some of the time using me for balance. The crutches just seemed more trouble then they were worth in the parks. She did use them some around the pool. The doctor wasn't comfortable with her using the slides since she could have banged her foot on the side of the slide or bottom of the pool but he was fine with regular swimming.

 

[Mrsjvb]

We just spent 2 hours in the pediatric ER with my 8 yr old son. He sprained the top of his foot so bad he can't walk on put any pressure on it. We check into our Disney hotel and start our hoppers on Saturday . Any advice how to get him around the parks??? Thanks

rent a pediatric WC from off site which is what Disney will suggest anyway for mobility issues

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Ask at the hotel, we were able on first come first serve use a wheel chair. Just signed it out used it for our stay and returned it when we left. The most difficult if getting around airports. Let them know on pre check in that you need assistance.

 

[lanejudy]

Ask at the hotel, we were able on first come first serve use a wheel chair. Just signed it out used it for our stay and returned it when we left. The most difficult if getting around airports. Let them know on pre check in that you need assistance.

I don't recommend chancing what's available at the resort. They definitely won't have a pediatric-sized chair, and most 8-yr-olds are small enough that a full-sized adult chair could lead to discomfort for all-day/everyday use. Plus, there's no guarantee the resort will have any chair, or the chair they have might not be standard size and is the extra-wide, or that it works well. Most of the chairs at the resorts are quite well used and not in the best condition.

OP - I think a pediatric wheelchair is the best option. If you have trouble finding one, you might look into a special needs stroller. But your son would probably prefer the wheelchair.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[geek+nerd]

Ask at the hotel, we were able on first come first serve use a wheel chair. Just signed it out used it for our stay and returned it when we left. The most difficult if getting around airports. Let them know on pre check in that you need assistance.

I would really recommend against doing this. A pediatric chair rented from an off site company will not be that expensive. Plus, it will be a much better fit for your son as well as more comfortable and in better shape than something from the resorts or even the parks.

I am a petite woman in my mid-thirties with an orthopedic disability since birth. On an every day basis, I walk with forearm crutches. However, I use a wheelchair for times when more extensive walking is needed or my pain is high. A regular sized adult chair is extremely uncomfortable for me, adding to my discomfort instead of relieving it. Several years ago I finally got a customized chair that I was measured for. It has made a world of difference to have a chair with an appropriate fit.

 

[JLC44]

In the thread Stroller for 12 year old Militraymomto5 found the liberty push chair by Orlando stroller rentals. We have the bigger version of this (200 pound weight limit) and it is wonderful.