My Nightmare Solo Vacation

Claudia Kellenberger

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 19, 1999
Messages
2,212
I have had 18 solo Disney vacations, but this one was an absolute nightmare. My arrival day was Wednesday, Dec 2nd. My flight was good, and my visit at the Studios was good. I planned on sleeping late the next morning and then arriving at MVMCP promptly at 4:00. All good, so far. Thursday the 3rd, was light rain almost all day. During MVMCP it started raining a little harder and I broke down and bought a poncho. After the wonderful fireworks, and the usual stampede of people out of the park, I decided to head for Splash Mountain. After all, I am already wearing a poncho.

As I was walking to Splash Mountain, right about in the area of Pecos Bill's, I slipped on something extremely slippery on the smooth pavement. I fell pretty hard. The pain was so great that I almost vomited on the spot. Some kind strangers helped me get up and into some chair. My skinny ankle was now the size and shape of a baseball. As I looked back, I saw that the slippery substance on the pavement was ice cream. CM's got me to the first aid station in the Magic Kingdom. From there, I was transported to Celebration emergency room, via ambulance. From there, I was admitted to the hospital for three nights. My foot was actually broken. My beloved solo vacation was trashed. Not only was I in the hospital in Florida, but my entire family was in New York. No one could bring me fresh clothes or even my toothbrush. I had the choice to use a hospital gown, but my clothes were actually more comfortable. So I stayed in the same clothes, and slept in the same clothes for three nights.
I was hooked up to an IV, and a heart monitor, and had lots of blood work anticipating possible surgery on my foot. The orthopedic surgeon took a full day to get to my case, but, thankfully, it did not need surgery. Although it was broken, the bone was not displaced, so it should heal on it's own. Disney was kind enough to give me a voucher for a cab ride back to my resort. ( POR )

It was too difficult to try to arrange a Southwest flight back home, and arrange Magical Express, and the return of the wheelchair I rented from a private company, and coordinate it all, so I kept the same flight schedule back home. My vacation was from Wednesday to Wednesday, and I got hurt on Thursday, so I only used one day of my 7 day park pass. I also was in the hospital on the night of DISAPALOSA. Let me tell you - I was miserable.
Back at POR, I used the wheelchair to get to breakfast in the food court, and dinner at Boatwright's. Many kind strangers saw that I was struggling to get up the hilly paths around POR and offered me a push. Other than meal times, I stayed in my room watching TV.

Disney gave me a late check out of 1:00 because it was extremely difficult to pack up all of my stuff, while trying to keep one very painful foot off the floor. I used my brand new walker to move about the room. I was able to buy the walker at the Celebration Hospital Pharmacy department.

Back home, my Husband was arranging all the plans for help at the airports in Orlando and Albany. I had wheelchairs at both airports, and someone else pushing them.

Now that I am home, I will have even more tests on my black and blue foot and leg, and I may be somewhat disabled for about 4 months until the bone heals itself.

Although a solo Disney vacation is truly wonderful, there are lots of complications if you get hurt while vacationing alone.
 
I am very sorry to hear of your devastating experience. As someone who broke an ankle (in my own home, however), it was a very difficult time in my life. Surgery and non weight bearing for 3 months was discouraging and depressing for me. I can only imagine how even more difficult it would be to have happened on a Disney vacation.

My heart goes out to you. Good wishes coming your way for a smooth recovery and quick healing. My advice: Do not skimp on physical therapy. Do everything they say and be faithful. It will allow you to return to Disney World to have a wonderful trip. I went back 6 months later and didn't skip a beat.
 
Oh I'm so sorry! I thought I had it bad when I had to cancel my mom and my's trip back in September when I broke my ankle two weeks before we were due to leave. At least I was at home. Be glad you didn't need the surgery ( I did) you probably would have had to have a family member fly down to help you with that. I'm still in physical therapy, it's a long road ahead! It is very depressing to suddenly be so immobile, and for it to suddenly be So Hard to do any of the little things you are used to just doing. I'll send positive thoughts your way.
Also, something I learned, Amazon is your new best friend! I couldn't drive for 3 months so utilizing prime shipping for just about everything was very helpful.
 

Oh wow, that really is a nightmare! Anyone who says their holiday was ruined because a certain attraction was closed or because they couldn't get a specific ADR should read your story and understand what an actual ruined vacation looks like.
 
That could possibly be one of the worst Trip stories I've heard. Sorry for all that happened, hopefully some day you can look back and get a chuckle at your misfortune. It's coping with the wheelchair that would have gotten to me ...nice to be reminded how lucky most of us are.
 
So sorry to hear all of this news!!

I have been in a similar situation before; my foot wasn't nearly as bad as yours though. I did wind up renting a scooter as it was the beginning of my two week trip. It made a huge difference.

Here's to quick healing and dreams of a new trip!
 
So sorry to hear about your ruined vacation. Hope you have a much better one in the future, once you have a (hopefully) speedy recovery. Isn't it also nice, though, to know you have what sounds like a wonderfully helpful hubby, and to find out with all the "nice strangers" you ran into that their are still great people - concerned about others - in this world?
 
Oh no!!! That really stinks - to put it much too mildly!! And to miss out on the Disapalooza too :( Sending many good vibes and hoping that you are recovered very soon and can plan a replacement trip back down!
 
That is so awful! I'm so sorry you went through that. I hope you foot heals quickly!
 
I'm so sorry to hear you had such a bad fall!
Did you perhaps contact Disney about reinstating your ticket for the days lost due to a spill in the park causing you this injury?
Might be worth a shot?
 
I am so sorry to hear that! I feel with you, I slipped this past August and broke my ankle as well. I needed surgery though and now can claim I am two screws and a plate richer than I was before surgery :D Look at the bright side - you don't need to go through that! I am 4 months post op as of yesterday and I am just starting to walk with the help of only one crutch. As people have said before me - do not skimp on physical therapy! Even if it may feel painful at times, it will be even more painful later on if you don't do PT. There'll be ups and there'll be downs and it'll be a load road to recovery. Go your own pace - however fast or slow that is. You know your body the best.

We'll be going back to the world in May - me, DS12, DS7 and DD3. That has helped me a lot through some of the darker days. It also keeps me going forward and progress.
 
I am so sorry to hear that! I feel with you, I slipped this past August and broke my ankle as well. I needed surgery though and now can claim I am two screws and a plate richer than I was before surgery :D Look at the bright side - you don't need to go through that! I am 4 months post op as of yesterday and I am just starting to walk with the help of only one crutch. As people have said before me - do not skimp on physical therapy! Even if it may feel painful at times, it will be even more painful later on if you don't do PT. There'll be ups and there'll be downs and it'll be a load road to recovery. Go your own pace - however fast or slow that is. You know your body the best.

We'll be going back to the world in May - me, DS12, DS7 and DD3. That has helped me a lot through some of the darker days. It also keeps me going forward and progress.
Hang in there, and best of luck with the rest of your recovery, you have an awesome attitude. And I hope being able to look forward to your trip give you a lot of hope and joy!
 
Keeping a future Disney World trip in mind while going through PT DEFINITELY helps the pain of PT.
As stated above, my ankle has more metal in it than a lawn mower and was probably one of the most difficult experiences of my life.
I never knew that a non weight bearing ankle could affect my life to the degree it did for months.

Each and EVERY PT appointment (3 times a week - 54 sessions) I wore a Disney shirt and Disney jewelry. I was the laugh of the rehab place and though many days were crying days, it got me through because of my desperately wanting to reschedule that sadly cancelled Disney trip.

Walt Disney World = Motivator
 
Keeping a future Disney World trip in mind while going through PT DEFINITELY helps the pain of PT.
As stated above, my ankle has more metal in it than a lawn mower and was probably one of the most difficult experiences of my life.
I never knew that a non weight bearing ankle could affect my life to the degree it did for months.

Each and EVERY PT appointment (3 times a week - 54 sessions) I wore a Disney shirt and Disney jewelry. I was the laugh of the rehab place and though many days were crying days, it got me through because of my desperately wanting to reschedule that sadly cancelled Disney trip.

Walt Disney World = Motivator
DVCjj - Good continued future recover to you as well! Glad you toughed it out through PT, with the positive thoughts of the future trip in mind. I have faced some "difficult medical times" (including PT) in the past, and will be facing more ahead, and yes - you always need SOMETHING to focus on, keep you "steady on", and motivate you!!
 
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I am so sorry that this happened to you. I kinda understand. I was going on my first solo trip on October 18 and did not even make it onto the plane. I passed out at the airport for then unknown reasons and spent the day at the emergency room. I am on blood pressure meds and due to all of the walking I had been doing to prepare for the trip and trying to lose weight, my meds were to strong and my blood pressure dropped to much. I did not make it at all. But my luggage did make it to POFQ.
 
I am so sorry that this happened to you. I kinda understand. I was going on my first solo trip on October 18 and did not even make it onto the plane. I passed out at the airport for then unknown reasons and spent the day at the emergency room. I am on blood pressure meds and due to all of the walking I had been doing to prepare for the trip and trying to lose weight, my meds were to strong and my blood pressure dropped to much. I did not make it at all. But my luggage did make it to POFQ.

Oh my.....that is such a sad story. I am so sorry and I know I would have felt just awful that it had to happen on that day, at that time.

I hope you will get to Disney soon, if you haven't already.

Again, very sorry.
 












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