Mobility Advice Needed

[harpetj]

I need some last minute advice for our trip beginning this week. I am currently in a boot with a broken leg, non-weight bearing. We leave Thursday for 16 days at Disney, with a 4 day cruise in the middle. I am looking for recommendations for either wheel chair or ECV rental. It will be me, DH, DD 7 and DS 5 (that really needs time in a stroller after awhile at Disney). My first preference is wheelchair for cost and ease of folding it up, getting on/off resort transportation, and on the DCL. But, concerned my poor DH will go bonkers with me and the kids if he has to push me. Another option is for wheelchair for our first 3 resort days and then the 4 DCL days and then ECV for last 8 resort days. Thoughts, suggestions?

 

[lanejudy]

I recommend you use an ECV for your time at WDW. This will give you some independence, while freeing up DH to deal with the kids and stroller pushing if necessary. If he's pushing you in a wheelchair and trying to keep track of the kids, that could be challenging. Plus pushing a wheelchair all around WDW can be tiring to even the most physically fit if they aren't use to it. If you do an off-site rental, it's much less expensive than renting in the park each day, plus it gives you the ride to/from park gates and buses and around the resort. Some of those walks can seem endless.

It sounds like you are doing a cruise as well. Do you have crutches to use? I think a combination of crutches and a manual wheelchair onboard the ship will probably do you fine. Give the crutches a try, and have the wheelchair folded in your stateroom in the event you find it's too tiring on crutches. If you leave the ship for excursions, you might want the wheelchair; but I suggest checking about accessibility for any excursions you have planned, as some foreign ports are not as accessible as we are used to here in the U.S.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[harpetj]

Thank you for the advice, I do have crutches to use. So, would you recommend renting ECV for days 1-3 then returning it and re-renting for days after cruise? Also, do you know if DCL has wheelchairs onboard to use or do I need to rent for that as well?

 

[lanejudy]

With a split vacation at WDW, I suppose it might depend how heavily you plan to hit the parks on those first 3 days. If you plan to mainly hang at the resorts and be low-key those first few days, a wheelchair might work. I don't know if any of the rental agencies have any kind of deal for a split like that, or if they would consider each part a separate rental and price accordingly.

You'll want to bring a wheelchair to the cruise. As at WDW resorts, DCL has a few chairs for emergency use, but it's first-come first-served and subject to whatever abuse they've received in the past. Wheelchair rentals are relatively inexpensive so worth the money to have one that works well. You might even consider purchasing one at home to bring with you -- your insurance might cover it since you are non-weight-bearing. If you want to rent one for delivery direct to the cruise, Brevard Medical handles wheelchair rentals with delivery to Port Canaveral; the rental companies near WDW don't deliver that far, though you could rent/return from your resort.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[emldrl]

You've probably already worked this out, but just in case, this is my suggestion: If you are not in an accessible room, call and see if they can put you in one. That way you will have a roll in shower, or a shower stool, etc. I know how hard being non weight bearing can be, especially when you aren't used to it. If there are no rooms/cabins available, rent or bring your own shower chair, foot stool, or whatever will make your trip more comfortable. Have what you need shipped to your resort so you don't have to worry about it on the plane. Also, even if you are to the point where pain meds are not as crucial anymore, try to make sure you have them with you. All the extra moving around all day long, as well as the air pressure changes in the aircraft can be very painful. Hope any or all of this is helpful! Have a great trip, sounds awesome!

 

[JennyDrake]

I would suggest calling Walker Mobility and explaining your situation. I REALLY think you want/need an ECV. Yes, you may need a split rental, but that is easily accomplished. And PPer also had a good point with asking for a HA room.

I spent 12, wretched weeks last year zero weight bearing. NO FUN.