Kids in a cast at WDW

[CampbellScot]

A friend of mine is going to DW in about two weeks and her son will still be in a leg cast. He broke his tibia (the long bone in the foreleg) a month ago. He is 6. She is so conflicted about this b/c they've paid in full for the vacation, the little boy wants terribly to go, the doctor said it's fine for him to go just to avoid wet or super bumpy rides. He's almost ready for a walking cast. His mom is worried though that he will be overexcited at DW, want to go go go all day like he usually does when there and be disappointed b/c they have to take it easy.

I gave her my opinion on the issue, but I was just wondering if anyone had taken a child to DW with a cast on? How did you modify your trip? What worked? What might you have done differently? (she doesn't "do" computers very often which is why she doesn't dis...silly lady! )

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Evil Princess]

Why don't they get a wheelchair in the parks? This way, he can still get to see everything, but won't strain his leg by trying to overdo it. Disney is ALOT of walking.

 

[CampbellScot]

Yes they've got a "kid wheelchair" for him...it's like large stroller...cooler...as her son says. I think she is worried that he won't be content to be in the wheelchair once he's at DW and he'll end up feeling left out or "weird" as she says.

I actually just talked to her on the phone and she said "OH, what is everyone saying?! Am I a bad mom?!" She's just worried sick. Which I totally get, but emotionally he's fine. He is restless to get into his walking cast. I think mom is feeling nervous about him being able to walk at all. She's been able to totally protect him while he's been immobile. But once he's "walking" again she fears he'll get hurt. (He climbed a tree while at the neighbors and fell out...landed on a large boulder and broke his leg...she is just covered in guilt. Even though it wasn't her fault at all. Her son even says "Mommy I'm a boy not a monkey and I just forgot is all!" He's a very good boy...just all boy if you know what I mean!)

I just wanted to know what others have done with their kids in casts at DW. The little guy saved a whole side of his cast for Characters to sign!!

 

[jetprincess]

No personal experience but I would suggest that she rent a stroller. I know 6 seems old for a stroller but the strollers are big and considering her situation...

 

[prplcrzy]

My dd has been to Disney several times with casts. Luckily, hers have been her ankles so she had it from her knee down. Knowing we were going to Disney during the time the cast was to be on, they gave her the boot type cast that she could take off at night and let it her foot breathe a bit. She could also go in the pool, as long as she wasn't trying to stand on it and fool around.

I would tell your friend to rent a stroller as mentioned and just take things a little slower than normal. All that walking will definitely be too much with a cast and would end up bothering him. There may be a few rides he can't go on because of the bouncing/bumping, but that shouldn't be that many.

Tell them to go and have a great time!

Nancy

 

[disney-super-mom]

My brothers family came with us to Disneyland one year, and at the time my 5 year old nephew had a broken leg as well. He rode around in a wheelchair during the day (the strollers were too low for him to get in and out of easily), and he couldn't go on Grizzly River Run (the water raft ride) because he would definately get VERY WET on it, but other than that, he rode everything else without a problem, and he had a GREAT TIME! (We did have him sit in the very back on Splash so he wouldn't get wet) As a matter of fact, before the trip he seemed a little down because he couldn't go out a play with the rest of the kids (ball, hide-n-seek, tag), but at Disneyland he could pretty much do everything and have some BIG TIME FUN with everyone! It totally cheered him up!

 

[momof5boys]

Tell her to go. You didn't say if he was in a long cast or short,but either way his doctor said he could go! My son broke his femur when he was 2,he was in a spica cast(from his chest all the way down his right leg and halfway down the left) We went to a local park and I pulled him around in a wagon. He had a great time he was so bored at home! Tell your friend to call WDW and ask about a guest assistance card, my friend had one for a knee injury. She couldn't stand in line. With the card she got into every ride quickly almost like a fast pass and up to 6 people in her party could be with her! I think you need a doctors note for that though. I have this theory, kids will stop doing stuff when it hurts so if he's still going he obviously is not in pain! Tell her to have fun!!!

 

[CampbellScot]

Thanks everyone for the responses! She'll be glad to know that lots of kids have gone to WDW in a cast and lived to tell the tale AND had a great time!!!

His cast is from the mid-thigh down. Although they are at the doctor now and it may be time to change the cast to a "below the knee" with a walking shoe thing on it...little Champ will be THRILLED!!!

 

[all4fun]

I have no personal experience but I've read there are waterproof casts. I'm not sure what the criteria is for what situations those can be used with but maybe that is something they could ask the doctor about. This way he wouldn't have to worry about it getting wet and he might even be able to ride KRR!

I hope they have a great time. I'm sure he'll love being "out of the house". The CM's will probably make him feel really special too.

 

[glass slipper girl]

We are just back with a kid in a cast! Our situation was easier as DS has a broken wrist so it was an arm cast rather than a leg cast. We had it changed from a full long arm not waterproof cast to a short arm waterproof cast the day before we left. Thankfully the cortex break had healed enough we were able to do that and the short arm cast would do for the last 2 weeks of our 6 week cast period. I am SO glad to be out of the long arm cast! We couldn't get his winter coat on and buttoned over that darn thing!

Anyway...there is one cool aspect to going with a cast on...you can have some of the characters SIGN the cast. DS was THRILLED to get back to school to show his friends that the Power Rangers signed his cast!

A lot of the "head" characters can't sign a cast as they need to be able to hold the book or whatever up to their eyes but we found several that could. Just ask the character handlers that are with them if they can or not.

 

[seashoreCM]

The simple test for whether a ride is safe for a person with a cast:

If any strain is put on the bones inside the cast, then the ride is not appropriate.

Example: The kid must not have the urge to use a hand to hold on to a rail or bar if there is a cast anywhere on that arm.

>>> couldn't get his winter coat buttoned
Go to the Salvation Army or Goodwill and buy a cheap winter coat and cut off the sleeve. Or get an oversized coat that can be draped over that arm. He should not be carrying his bookbag with that hand, see the preceding.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[TiggerStac]

On the other side of this...not to be a bummer.

My brother at about 23-24 years old was denied access to certain rides w/a cast on. This was at both WDW and Busch Gardens. This was in approx 1994, but we were told it was a liability issue and he could get hurt or the cast could possibly hurt someone else.

 

[Harvest02]

I have no personal experience but I've read there are waterproof casts. I'm not sure what the criteria is for what situations those can be used with but maybe that is something they could ask the doctor about. This way he wouldn't have to worry about it getting wet and he might even be able to ride KRR!

I hope they have a great time. I'm sure he'll love being "out of the house". The CM's will probably make him feel really special too.

My DS was in a cast a few years ago. He was 4 at the time, and I was carrying him down the stairs and I landed on his leg(broke both bones in his lower leg). I felt so bad!!! My DS says he still loves me though!! Anyway, it was about 3 weeks before our beach vacation(to Gulf Shores, AL), and I was so bummed that we were not going to be able to go. We got so lucky because the doctor on call at the hospital for casts did waterproof ones!!! I had never heard of them, and was very surprised when I told the doctor about our trip and he said "Yes, go". He just said to make sure that we washed it out after he had been in the saltwater. So, I say go for it!!! I figured it got his mind off of the broken leg, and we still had a great family vacation! I have one picture in my scrapbook of my DS standing in the sand on the beach with his cast!!! Now, that is one thing I will never forget!

 

[kribit]

If the little boy is up to the trip and not in pain, absolutely go and get a wheelchair.

 

[stacy6552]

My son broke his femur when he was 2,he was in a spica cast(from his chest all the way down his right leg and halfway down the left)

My son was in a spica over his second birthday! Thank goodness he was small enough to be picked up and toted around and that his cast had a bar between the knees (handle)......Boys! Ugggg!

To the OP. Tell your friend to go! Disney will make sure they have a fantastic time. Just tell her to ask for help when she needs it.

 

[barkley]

On the other side of this...not to be a bummer.

My brother at about 23-24 years old was denied access to certain rides w/a cast on. This was at both WDW and Busch Gardens. This was in approx 1994, but we were told it was a liability issue and he could get hurt or the cast could possibly hurt someone else.

this was an issue for dd as well (not at wdw but another place)-despite any note from the doctor, the amusement park operator was'nt willing to take on the liability of her potentialy being further injured, or in the event of ride evacuation, her causing a problem for other guests.

another thing she might want to consider is that if he's been off his feet for a month it's going to take some time for him to build his strength back up-so he may get tired realy quickly. it's also not terribly unusual for there to be some pain when you transition into a walking cast (those muscles and such have gone without use for awhile).

btw-if she does go for it i hope she's made plans for bathing him. i had to help dd so much when she was casted-no way i could have done it in one of those small resort showers without her shower seat.