Knee issue

[vjgkam]

My knee started hurting a couple of months ago, and like the stubborn fool I am, I kept thinking it would just go away. Well, i waited until just 4 weeks before our Disney trip to see a Dr. and it turns out I have a torn meniscus on the inside of the knee and a shreaded meniscus on the outside. I'm taking anti-inflamatories and am pretty much pain free, but also stay off it as long as I can. The Dr. said there was no way he could do the arthroscopic surgery needed and have me up and ready for Disney in 4 weeks. He's recommending a cortisone shot 3 days prior to going.

Here are my questions:
Anyone here have any experience with the shots just before a Disney trip? If so, did it do the trick and keep you active at the parks?

If I get the shot and it doesn't help, will I struggle without one of those electric carts?

I've heard that even without a cart, you can geet a special pass to get right on rides if your Dr. writes that you will have difficulty standing in line. Anyone know of such a pass?

I really do not want to get a cart and hope that the shat works. if it doesn't I'm just going to deal with the pain and take frequent breaks while my wife and kids venture off. It's our one and only trip to Disney as a family and I really want to take in as much as i can. We're going for 7 days, so an option would be to go to the parks in the AM for a few hours, then go back to Old Key West for lunch and some pool time, then go back to the parks in the late afternoon.

Any thoughts?

 

[peemagg]

You do not need a dr's note to get a Guest Assistance Card or even to rent a ECV or wheelchair. In fact they will not even look at it. You do need to be able to tell them what you need in order for them to help you get the right stamps. A diagnosis is of no help. They need things like can you do steps?

 

[Belle1962]

I've had shots in my neck and they work very well--however I wouldn't be going to Disney the very next day--I think the 3 day timeframe your dr has suggested is good. This gives them some time to get in, break up and start to work.

The best way to minimize time in lines is to use a program like Tour Guide Mike or Ridemax. This will minimize your time in line and allow for more efficient touring.

I think you were given misleading information about the pass. There isn't any type "special pass to get right on rides if your Dr. writes that you will have difficulty standing in line."

The CM's at Guest Services can't/won't even read your note. They are not medical personnel, they simpy need to be told what your needs are: "I have knee problems and can not stand in line". They will probably suggest you rent a wheelchair or ecv. Renting a wheelchair/ecv is the most logical solution as there is a mini marathon of walking & standing between rides and even fastpass lines are long ( I believe the fastpass line for Soarin is 1/4 of mile). Many of the preshows and many of the shows at EPCOT in the countries are ones you have to stand through.

I noticed you had asked about AAA parking at the parks---esp. at the Magic Kingdom you need to walk quite a ways to get to the gates/transportation to the gate. Having your own ecv/wheelchair will save a lot of this walking.

Probably not the answer you wanted but wanted to make sure your expections were not so high that you get disappointed or don't have the chance to plan properly.

Hope this helps

 

[KPeveler]

If you cannot stand or walk the whole time, you will need to rent an ECV or wheelchair. There is no way to skip lines. You do not need a dr's note for any of this. In fact, CMs will not look at a note most of hte time.

 

[SueM in MN]

Post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread is about Guest Assistance Cards. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follwo the link in mu signature to get there.

A Guest Assistance Card will not usually shorten the distance you walk in lines/attractions and will not help at all with distances between things. Unless you can walk 3-9 miles a day, you will need an ECV or wheelchair to get around. Guests might walk 3 miles on a short day, but 6-9 is more reasonable estimate. Because most of that distance is walked between attractions just getting from place to place, WDW recommends a wheelchair or ECV for guests who are worried about walking or standing.
There are some attractions where guests do have to stand for between 5 and 15 minutes. Some may have a wheelchair that you can borrow to wait, but many have no place to sit unless you bring a seat with you.

 

[Janell]

My mom has had the shots in her knee. Even before a WDW trip. She did just fine and it helped. It takes a few days to take full effect, so I would do it a week before you leave. I have had a shot in my back and it took 3 days to take effect.

I have had a torn meniscus I would recomend looking at MBT shoes. They are wonderful and takes a lot of pressuer off your knees and lower back. Although they take some getting use to and that may not work with your knee.

I would also look into walking sticks from REI. They are great and will help you when you are out of the ECV.

I would also read up on some of the ECV threads to see what you will experience being in an ECV. The biggest one is people walk right in front of you and you may hit them and you may not. And of course they will get mad at you. Its happen to us. In fact we got yelled at by a mother hows daughter walking right in front of us and got hit by the ecv. Kids run off don't look and have no clue that ecv don't have breaks. So these things happened, but it really bummed us out. Its not like we want anyone to get hurt(the little girl had flip flops on and got scratched by the plastic on the ecv) And then the mother yelling at us, just made it worse. So be ware, give yourself a lot of room, our group sort of walks on all sides of the person in the ecv to hope to block people from walking in front of the ecv and the ecv not being able to stop. Its not easy in the crowds.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've heard that even without a cart, you can geet a special pass to get right on rides if your Dr. writes that you will have difficulty standing in line. Anyone know of such a pass?

100% FALSE.

First, Walt Disney World's strong recommendation for any mobility or stamina issue IS to use a wheelchair or ECV. A Guest Assistance Card - not pass - will offer no assistance anyway in the long walks between attractions as described by SueM in MN, above.

Second, there is never a need for a doctor's note. It's pointless. What would matter to a Guest Services Cast Member is the Guest's specific needs, not a doctor's diagnosis, since any two people with the same diagnosis may have entirely different needs.

Finally, with the exception of Make a Wish kids (and similar groups) and their parties - NOBODY GETS RIGHT ON THE ATTRACTIONS/GETS TO SKIP THE LINES. It's a myth, one that caused Disney (both parks) to change the designation from "pass" to "card".

 

[katytrott]

About six years ago when I was out there with my parents, about 3 days into our trip, we realised that my Dad really wasn't dealing well with his knee (he ended up needing a total knee replacement). I suggested going into City hall at MK to enquire if there was anything they could suggest, not knowing anything about any protocol, but knowing that was the place to go if you had any sort of a dissability.

Well my Dad did, and he came out with a piece of card with the details of his problems on it. What we did the rest of the trip was to show the card to the CM at the front of the attraction and they showed us straight in round the back and on to the ride. Well it wasn't straight on to the ride, I suppose it was slightly quicker then a fastpass wait, which was just right for my Dad.

I don't think anything was mentioned about an ECV, he didn't need that - it really was the standing around and waiting he couldn't cope with.

Only other thing was that the "pass" only entitled him to go on with other members in his party, so we did take it turns with him.

 

[KPeveler]

That may have been true six years ago, but today they will tell you to rent a wheelchair - they have spent that last few years making everything accessible, so there is no "wheelchair line" and no one is taken in the exit anymore (I use a wheelchair AND i have a GAC, so I've seen almost every scenario in handling disabilities except Wish Trip kids)... Not saying you are wrong, just not to expect that to happen anymore.

*There are a couple rides where wheelchair access is through the exit due to very small queues, they are almost all in fantasyland.

Also, waiting in lines is a VERY small part of the day, and a GAC (used for invisible disabilities - not mobility related ones), is NOT accepted in bus lines, character lines (usually), restaurants, some shows (you HAVE to wait til the next showtime), street performers, parades, fireworks, or at any resort for anything...

I am all for justing renting a wheelchair or ECV and walking when you can, riding when you cannot - that is what I used to do before my disability progressed.