Just broke my ankle and I leave for WDW next week - AFTER ACTION REPORT ATTACHED.

[dwarven1]

Well, the title says it all, really.

My wife and I are flying down to WDW on 10/17 for 4 days in the park, 4 days on the Wonder for the DVC Members Only cruise, and finish up with 2 days at Universal... and I just broke my right ankle. Walked on it for 8 days before I got a cast on it this morning; I thought it was just a sprain.

Well, anyway... it was still hurting longer than I thought a sprain should, so I finally got it x-rayed, and low and behold... broken ankle. Cast, crutches... don't put weight on it... the works.

So... I've read the threads on which scooter company to use (probably Care; they've been REAL nice on the phone) and about the accessibility and the various rides... and I basically need a little encouragement here. My wife is talking about canceling because she thinks I'll have a miserable time. From what WDW is telling me, I should be able to get on most of the rides as long as I can hand off my crutches to a CM and get the them back after the ride, and it sounds like I can at least sit on the beach on Castaway Cay and not have to worry about walking on sand if I can get a sand wheelchair... right?

Or am I dreaming? Should I just cancel and wait for next year? Anyone have experience in hobbling through WDW with a broken leg or ankle? On the Wonder? Castaway Cay?

Give me a little help here folks... I don't know if I need a reality check or a pat on the back.

 

[KPeveler]

i say go for it - especially on a cruise where everything is so self-contained. yes, you want to rent a scooter, because crutches at WDW are impossible... and except water rides (put your cast in a plastic bag on splash mountain and you should be fine - but no Kali) you should do okay...

while i do not break my ankles, i have chronic sprains due to some weird genetic thing, so i know that disney while hurt can be more work, but just as much fun! take it slow and you will be fine

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Goodness me! You don't need to cancel! I'm so so sorry you're hurting, especially when you're about to go on holiday, but you'll still be able to have a wonderful time. I say rent the wheels, go and have a wonderful time!

When you rent the scooter, ask them to add crutch holders. It will probably only add a couple more dollars to the price, and it will keep them safely stowed out of the way when you're riding. For tips for a first timer on wheels at Disney see this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1543998

Make sure you read the FAQ, especially things like bus loading, before you leave. Also, try to practice using the scooter around the resort a little before hitting the parks; that way you'll be more confident when you come up against the crowds.

A lot of the ride queues will allow you to take the ECV through the line, but be warned that there may be some sharp twists and turns. For some, you'll need to transfer into a regular wheelchair (available to borrow at these rides) to get through the queue. Or, if you're able to, you can park the ECV with the strollers and use the crutches through the queue (if you can manage it, this will probably be easier and will often shorten your wait time).

Don't stress it though, you'll be fine! Disney is the most accessible place I've found, so you shouldn't have too many problems. If you need any help when you're there, ask a CM and they'll sort you out.

Have a great trip!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Hopefully you are renting the ECV for the entire vacation including the Cruise? or at least a WC, though on ship board an ECV is way better too much carpet on board and makes the wheelchair pushing hard. Of course it is too late to get an accessible cabin I imagine but they can usually work with you for charging and storing the ECV if you can't get it in the cabin.

I have done at least a dozen cruises with my ECV by now.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would agree to let whoever you are renting from to be aware that your starting and ending hotels will be different. There is no problem bringing it on board the ship, and, if you are suing Disney transportation, getting it to and from the ship.

I had a friend who, several years, ago, managed to break her ankle in several places ten days before a WDW trip.

She rented an ECV for the entire trip. She was able to get crutch holders installed which made carrying them much easier.

The only problem we had was coordinating two families of six people (total) with two rental ECVs and one car.

One other thing. If the cast is fairly large and white, bring some "sharpies" and have the characters autograph the cast; after the cast is removed it will make an unusual souvenier.

 

[dwarven1]

Mickie, I wasn't thinking of renting the ECV for the whole week and a half; I thought I'd be able to get away with just using my crutches for the ship. Bad idea? I'm not sure how I'd get it to the port and back; I'm using the Disney buses to get from Beach Club to the port and Tiffany from the port to Universal. I guess I could ask Care if they can move it...

Cheshire, too late. I decided to go with basic black for the cast - I didn't want to deal with it looking filthy after only a few days. Besides... at 47 I'm a little old for that.

And no offense, but I'd rather forget that this ever happened - I feel stupid enough having broken the ankle; I really don't want to immortalize how stupid I was!

 

[SueM in MN]

Mickie, I wasn't thinking of renting the ECV for the whole week and a half; I thought I'd be able to get away with just using my crutches for the ship. Bad idea? I'm not sure how I'd get it to the port and back; I'm using the Disney buses to get from Beach Club to the port and Tiffany from the port to Universal. I guess I could ask Care if they can move it...

If you are using Disney Magical Express and/or the Disney Cruise Line buses, they do have wheelchair/ECV accessible busses with lifts. You should request one ahead of time, but even if you don't, they will be able to get one for you. You just might have to wait a bit more for it.

 

[KPeveler]

Cheshire, too late. I decided to go with basic black for the cast - I didn't want to deal with it looking filthy after only a few days. Besides... at 47 I'm a little old for that.

And no offense, but I'd rather forget that this ever happened - I feel stupid enough having broken the ankle; I really don't want to immortalize how stupid I was!

If you change your mind, there are silver sharpies that will work on black casts!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I don't know how many cruises you have been on but they are not always steady and crutches can be very unsteady, also the ships are BIG, Long distances to cover. So I do suggest you do get the scooter for the duration, just let Disney know you will be traveling with the ECV and they will make the arrangements.

 

[dwarven1]

I don't know how many cruises you have been on but they are not always steady and crutches can be very unsteady, also the ships are BIG, Long distances to cover. So I do suggest you do get the scooter for the duration, just let Disney know you will be traveling with the ECV and they will make the arrangements.

Quite a few, actually, including one to Bermuda through 25'-30' seas... my wife was on crutches with her knee in a brace and decided to spend that day in the cabin. Can't imagine why.

But the long range forecast, at least for Nassau in the Bahamas (which, IIRC, is 30 miles from Castaway Cay), seems to be the usual "scattered T-storms" thing; no big storms in sight. At least, as far as out as our sailing date. Long distances, though... Hmm... You do have a point there.

 

[murcor]

Go and have a good time! Im sure at times you will wish you didnt have that darn cast on, but you will have a wonderful time regardless!

 

[dwarven1]

Got another question that springs to mind after reading the "whiny letter" thread.

I'll be using the ECV to get to the rides, but was planning on getting off it and going in line on my crutches - should I get the GAC I see being mentioned? I'm a little concerned about how long I'll be standing on the crutches in line...

Should I take the wheelchair line? 'Cause I can't really put much weight on my bad ankle, so I'd be putting all of it on my arms and one good foot. And with plantar fasciitis in my "good" foot (yeah, I know... I'm a mess. I haven't even mentioned the tendonitis, either.) , I really can't stand on it too long.

What do you guys think?

BTW, I just reserved a scooter for WDW and Universal, with a chair for the cruise portion, from Randy's - Adam there was very helpful on the phone, and was great about the complex arrangements. and YOU guys have been great; thank you so much.

 

[KPeveler]

use the scooter in line. there is no "wheelchair line" at the vast majority of attractions, and if you have the scooter, it would be bes to keep it. scooters and wheelchairs will go through the regular line, so you will be on your feet a lot should you choose to leave it behind.

 

[OKW Mom]

Had a canoe accident, a nasty puncture wound and 4 days in a hospital. The Dr. only released me if I agreed to keep the leg up.
You bet I did! Got a wheelchair from the airport to the plane to the airport to the shuttle. OKW had a wheelchair for me and my family obliged to roll me around without dumping me.
This was around the time they stopped giving wheelchairs the front of the line. I did get better seating for the parades, tho.
BE CAREFUL-people do not see wheelchairs and scooters. I got walked into ALOT, then they glared at my leg being out straight (almost closelined a few folk).
This past Sept. there were zillions of scooters zipping around with people of all ages- some did not watch a speed limit and flew around people.
Wish there was a protocol for the machines-between the wide double strollers and the different powered chairs it was crowded and sometimes difficult to dodge the speeders.
Don't let this ruin your vacation!

 

[dwarven1]

Well, I went and had a great time - thanks in a large part to you all!

I rented from Randy's Mobility - see comments on Randy's here. I DID go on most of the rides - left out a few (Splash Mountain - worried about getting cast wet; Space Mountain - cars are too small to try and squeeze that cast in there; Mission: Space - didn't want to find out what all that centripetal acceleration would do to a still-healing broken bone) but by and large the CM's were great.

Some observations:

• Be QUICK on the brakes - people will walk right in front of you. You guys told me this but seeing it in person is a whole 'nother thing. I just smiled and gritted my teeth and remembered that I was on vacation.
• Some shop clerks (like the lady at the Spiderman ride shop in Islands of Adventure in Universal) have their brains programmed to only see people at a 5' level - I had to say "Excuse me - DOWN HERE!!" to get her to realize that there was someone there!
• Watch your speed - those things CAN move!
• Some WDW bus drivers will belt you in, others want you to get out and sit in a bus seat - depends on the driver and how crowded the bus is.
• I did NOT find a bus that couldn't accommodate the ECV - WDW gets high marks for their transit system.
• Not at WDW, but at Universal, the people are even worse about not seeing you - I swear they checked their brains at the gate!
• At Universal, I actually got SWORN at by some British (sounded like he came from London) tourist who was pissed off at me because the ride attendant put me, my wife and two other riders in the front row of the Ice Dragon roller coaster before letting the other passengers on - he'd been in the line for the front row. I didn't bother to try and tell this raving lunatic that we'd all been waiting for about 6 ride cycles at the handicap entrance to get on the ride before the ride attendant even noticed us - we had to call out to him to get his attention.
• Do NOT get an ECV for Universal - get a powered wheelchair if you can. The mazes at Islands of Adventure are too small for an ECV; they tell you to go into the exit, and those exits are TIGHT - at the Mummy ride I had to go up a switchback AGAINST the flow of exiting riders!! Whoever dreamed that idiocy up definitely gets failing marks for handicap accessibility. Wheelchairs can fit, they tell me - so be aware.
• The cast members at WDW go out of their way to help you out - they took my crutches for me and were usually pretty good about having them right there for me when I get off the ride. I can't say enough good things about them - they definitely made what could have been a miserable experience not only bearable but fun. Waitstaff in the restaurants were also great.
• The boats that go between the Royal Pacific Resort and Universal Studios parks are very handicap accessible - I just backed my scooter right up onto it.
• WDW AND Universal both changed my room on short notice to get me a handicap accessible room - I really appreciated that walk-in shower and the seat (balancing on one leg while showering is NOT fun... DAMHIK!)
• Randy's Mobility ROCKS. I can't say enough good things about them - great product, great service, friendly folks, and always there a bit early just in case. I recommend them wholeheartedly.
• Some parks have terrain that can be... challenging, especially if you're in an unpowered chair. Animal Kingdom, especially, had pavement that was quite uneven. I mention it because I had to buy a beach towel and roll it up and place it under my injured foot - otherwise the constant broken pavement (well, pavement that was made to LOOK broken) would be constantly jarring my broken ankle. Not a problem for anyone who's NOT dealing with an injury, but worth mentioning. They also had the most hills in the park, too... If I'd been in an unpowered chair, I'd have needed help at some points.

Conclusion: I'm never letting a mere broken ankle going to slow me down again... and if I ever wind up needing a scooter at Disney again, it's Randy's for me!

Once again, I want to thank all of you who responded to my first post - you gave me the courage to go and have fun without worrying about getting around.

Some pics...

One last sad note... while I was on the cruise, my Knight, Sir Gaius Auklandus (mundanely known as Richard Auklandus) passed away. Rich was my Knight in the SCA, my Brother in FreeMasonry, and my brother in all but parentage. I love him and I miss him terribly. Here he is (left) with myself and my Lady wife. Godspeed, my Brother.

 

[Notatourist]

My lord Randy...

Much sorrow in the passing of your asteemed knight. May your sorrow fade into grand memories.

As for your mundane journey to the Universal Park. Much shame to the folks who did not direct you to the elevator! That is most uncool.

(as you can tell, I too am scadian....)

 

[dwarven1]

It's not that they didn't direct me to an elevator, but the maze (the crowd control line) leading up to the ride was too tight that they though that an ECV couldn't negotiate it. I asked, believe me! So it's a design feature that's the problem. (although it didn't look that tight... and those three wheel scooters are pretty nimble. Maybe they've had problems with scooters in the past, who knows?

And thank you for your sympathy.

Lord Domnall MacDaniell,
squire to Vicomte Sir Gaius Auklandus, KSCA

MKA

Ross S.

(Randy was the company I rented a scooter from... )

 

[Notatourist]

blush....sorry Ross....

And yeah, ouch.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I'm glad you had such a good trip, in spite of injury. Pretty much every problem you encountered are ones we lot face every day, so we have the greatest empathy for your predicament!

So sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[dwarven1]

Pretty much every problem you encountered are ones we lot face every day, so we have the greatest empathy for your predicament!

I've got friends who are in wheelchairs or are permanently disabled, so I like to think that I'd already had some empathy for the problems you folks face, but having rolled and hobbled a mile in your treads (so to speak), I'd say that it's even greater now.

But I will always remember a friend from the University of Hartford - Todd had taken a bad step (about 85' straight down) and as a consequence was in a wheelchair for life... and it cost me $10 to learn that yes, he COULD wheelie that chair over a quarter mile! I do NOT underestimate folks who are in wheelchairs or are what some other people consider disabled any more.