Knee Surgery

[Raggedy]

I just had surgery in April and i need another on my knee. I know i am not going to be able to do alot of walking or standing in one place. Can anyone help me, give me some advice on how to get around. I am so nervous on spending so much money on this vacation, and not getting anything out of it. I don't want to be stuck at the resort alone.

 

[SueM in MN]

At the top of this forum there is a FAQs thread. It has information about wheelchairs and ecvs (electric mobility scooters).
If you have someone who can push you, are not worried about losing independence and don't want to spend any money, it is possible to borrow a wheelchair from your resort (there is info in the FAQs thread about that). If you are willing to spend more money, renting an ecv gives you a lot of freedom and independence and no one will need to push you.
The "walking around to get from place to place" part of the vacation will be the hardest. Most people don't think about it, but a trip to WDW involves walking between 3 and 9 miles per day, depending on how much backtracking you do and how much you push yourself. Most people are worried about walking/standing in lines, but that is just a tiny part of the total walking you will do per day. If you have a wheelchair or ecv, you will be able to bring it into lines with you, so you can avoid walking and standing in lines.

 

[JudithM]

Raggedy, try to relax. Your knee condition does not mean the end of your vacation enjoyment. You do not need to be stuck at the resort alone.

Sue is correct - there is more walking around that one initially realizes.

I have a knee condition, so I rent an ECV while on vacation at WDW. If you choose to rent an ECV, then I would definitely rent an ECV from an off site supplier. I have only rented from Walker. My experiences have been very good. The ECV has been delivered in a timely manner; the battery has lasted all day & night; the cost is similar to Disney & I have the ECV more than just in the parks; etc. Walker provides a battery charger that I use at night.

I started using an ECV at WDW by renting one at each park. I rented from Disney for a few trips & learned over time that renting from Disney presented a few "issues:"

*no guarantee the park will have an ECV regardless of time of day;

*if you want to park hop there is no guarantee of an ECV at the second park;

*four wheels on a Disney ECV vs. three on off site one (at least the ones I have rented from Walker); three wheels give me a better turning radius;

*battery holds up a whole lot better on the rented ECV vs. the Disney one; I can tell you where in each of the four parks where my Disney ECV "died;"

*if you rent an ECV you will have it every where you want it - the parks, Downtown Disney, other resorts, etc.

Try to stop worrying, have fun & enjoy your trip!!

 

[Raggedy]

THANK YOU very much. I will look into renting one. How about the buses. Did you have a problem with them? Is it possible to hop parks with it?

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by Raggedy
THANK YOU very much. I will look into renting one. How about the buses. Did you have a problem with them? Is it possible to hop parks with it?

I have used the busses to the parks. At first I was hesitant, but the bus drivers were so friendly & very helpful. Usually the bus driver closes the front door of the bus & lets the guest with the ECV on through the back door via a ramp. There are two types of busses. You get used to backing up onto the ramp. Once you & the ECV are loaded & secure, then other guests are allowed to board the bus. Once in awhile the bus driver doesn't do it in that order, but it still works out.

You can park hop all you want - that is one BIG advantage to renting from an outside supplier.

 

[Raggedy]

thank you so much!!!!!