Mobility problems and waiting in line

[WDWFOREVER]

I suffer with Osteo Arthritis. In addition, I have high blood pressure for which I take water tablets. My problem is this. Waiting in line can sometimes cause me problems. I use a walking stick if I am in pain but I admit to being very vain and only use it when I ABSOLUTELY have to! The arthritis is sometimes aggravated by the heat and I have to dose up on painkillers to get round the parks. The high blood pressure frequently causes swelling around my ankles.

Now, I am not registered disabled. Neither do I want to make a big thing of this as I have lived with the arthritis since I was 19 (I am now 43) and suffered with high blood pressure for the last 3 years. However, occasionally, either or both conditions are bad and I find waiting in line (particularly if it is really slow) a real pain (quite literally!). Do WDW have anything in place which could help me? Do other people here have problems like this and if so, how do they cope? We leave in just over 2 weeks and this is my 10th visit. However, I have to accept that my medical problems are slightly worse this year and I want to be prepared so that I don't make life too miserable for DH and DS (8)!

Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Jackie

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

You might want to try posting this on the disABILITIES Board.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?daysprune=&forumid=20

Last year my DD was diagnosed with a bone disease right before our trip, and I found some very helpful info on the disABILIITIES Board, which we ended up not needing, but it was comforting to know what our options were.

Good luck!

 

[Talking Hands]

Jackie,
ECV! I know you are vain, so was I but it made a world of difference in my enjoying Disney. I have Osteo, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes and hypertension plus a hearing loss. Disney is very accommodating and provides access in all instances. Also get a GAC from Guest Services. Just explain to the what accommadations will make your visit easier.
Have a great time.

 

[teri]

You are in the right place.

Click on the link in my signature below for information about the GAC, pacing, and other ideas to make your trip easier.

And read through the board for a bit - you are not alone. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[JudithM]

Jackie, I agree! Rent an ECV! I read this board for awhile & it gave me the courage to ask my doctor for a handicapped parking permit & to rent an ECV at WDW. It has made life easier for my husband & I while visiting WDW. I hope you consider renting one.

 

[Nanajo1]

The song I sing over and over on this board is "do what you have to do to have a great trip, pride is not a virtue!" A GAC is the least I would suggest for you but an ECV would be better. Follow Teri's FAQs and you'll get lots of info to help make your Family's trip great.

 

[WDWFOREVER]

You people are lovely. After reading all your replies I am beginning to think that vanity needs to take a back seat and common sense the front. Perhaps I will bite the bullet this year and use a wheelchair. I just have this feeling of "giving in" to my problems and anyone that knows me will tell you I am bloody minded and stubborn! However, I have everyone's enjoyment to consider and I just need to come to terms with that.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement. I will consider all your advice and hopefully make the right choice for me and my family. Only 15 days to go ..............! Back on 2nd June. Once the jet-lag has passed and I can cope with looking on the board (without crying!) I'll post back and let you know what I eventually decided to do.

Thanks again - you have all been wonderful.

Jackie

 

[Talking Hands]

I use interperters as I am hard of hearing. Recently I went to a convention where the interpreter was one who knew me from Disney. He saw me for the first time out of the wheelchair. We were talking about my next trip to WDW and one thing he asked was was I going to try to do the parks without my chair. He did not reccommend it. Just too much.

 

[Talking Hands]

I just noticed that you will be there at the same time I am there. I will be there in the parks from May 30 to June 3. I will have my lime green ribbons on. Look for a lady in a purple power wheelchair and lime green ribbons on the controller.
Have a great time.

 

[SueM in MN]

Looks like you got lots of encouragement already.
Most people are worried about waiting in lines, but the amount of time you will be waiting in lines is tiny compared to the amount of time you will spend walking from place to place. Just walking around WS is more than a mile! The other parks have similar distances.
Also, once you are actually in a line, there are no places to sit down, so you need to bring one with you if standing is a problem. Even the fastpass lines can be a fair distance to walk (even if the wait is short).
The other thing to think about is actually getting into the ride cars. If you have a wheelchair or ecv, you will be sent to the wheelchair boarding area for boarding. This often gives a little extra time and space for boarding, which can be very helpful. Most people who are using wheelchairs or ecvs don't need a GAC; just having the wheelchair gives the assistance they need.

Whatever you decide, have a good time. (And if you decide to use a wheelchair or ecv, you will find you are able to do a lot more.)

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Hey Lisa - I certainly will look out for you! If you see a very sad looking English family on Saturday 1st June in the Magic Kingdom, that will be us, just getting our final "fix" before catching the flight back to London from Orlando at 8.25pm! Mum may be holding on tightly to her (metal) walking stick or alternatively might be lounging in a wheelchair having followed the very sound advice she has received from all her DIS friends! I'm determined I am going to tie some lime green ribbon around my stick too!

Have a wonderful time too and I really, really hope to see you there!

Jackie

 

[teri]

You should set up a DIS meet spot, and take pictures.

 

[Joy from Illinois]

I'm sure many of us know exactly how you feel. I'm relatively young to have disabilities (arthritis of the knees) and it took me forever to admit I needed some help. I actually would walk next to the wall so that in case my knees gave out I could grab the wall! Eventually I had to admit I needed some help and got a cane. Eventually I even gave in and got a handicapped parking plackard. (I waited, of course, until I couldn't get from my car to the door without practically crying with the pain.) Looking back on it, I wonder why I waited so long. Please, please don't let fear of someone noticing your cane or disability keep you from doing the things you love, enjoying your vacation, or even enjoying being with your family. If we're lucky enough to live long enough we'll all need a helping hand so... hang in there!

 

[JudithM]

Joy, I see your first post was on this thread. Welcome! If I didn't know better I would havethought what you wrote was me in the fall of 2000 when I first started reading this bb. It was around the time I was diagnosed with my knee condition. I encourage everyone to do whatever will help you!

 

[chris1gill]

Jackie,

Believe me once you try the chair or ECV for a day, you aren't going to want to give it back! It provides so much freedom in being able to get yourself around & enjoy the parks!! Believe it or not I started using a chair about 2 years ago, for the 2 years prior I WAS SO STUBBORN... I wouldn't use a chair or ECV & you know what it meant? It meant I sat on a bench at the beginning of World Showcase waiting for my family!!! I couldn't make it, no part of me could make that walk, so instead of doing the logical thing, I sat on the bench!!! I look back at that & wonder if I had rocks in my head!!! The first time I used my wheelchair for our trip, I was so darn happy because I'd seen stuff I hadn't seen in a good couple of years!! Take my advice, take the chair or ECV & enjoy yourself... don't hold yourself back just because of a mobility issue....

Have a ton of fun for me!

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Thanks Chris! I am getting really excited now - Disney tickets arrived in the post today so we are all ready to go!

You are right. I have to be sensible. I don't want to miss out this time round, and like you, I have in the past. Sat on the wall waiting for DH and DS to go on Test Track because we hadn't been able to get fast passes (they had all gone) and I just couldn't make the wait as I was so tired from just walking around. Tickets cost too much not to be able to go on the rides you want just because of stubbornness!!

I promise to have enough fun for everyone! Can't believe I only have 8 days to go.

Thanks for posting Chris. Everyone has been SO supportive and sensible. Just a shame I wasn't so sensible in the past!

Jackie

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Here's another vote for the EVC! I was so worried about getting one since I have no visible disabilities. (I'm overweight and my knees and hips just literally kill me when I walk all over WDW! I've suffered thru two trips and each time I told myself that I was going to break down and rent one.
Our last trip I saved for three years. I decided after the kind folks here on the board helped persuade me to not spend another painful trip. I rented one on the second day of theme park hopping. I will never go any other way! I enjoyed myself so much more and even on rides that called for you to transfer, I am mobil enough to do the walking for shorted distances, it worked out really great!
I really can't stress to you the difference in using an EVC and suffering from all the walking. It made the whole trip much more enjoyable and I know that I seen more than on any other trip to WDW when I rented.
Good luck and don't worry about vanity!
Gerri