Need Advice! Broken ankle - leaving in 4 days!!

[walkermm]

We are leaving in 4 days for our long awaited 2 week dream vacation at Disney, which includes our once in a lifetime stay at the Poly.....
and wouldn't you know our poor 13 yr old DD fell and broke (yes I said broke) her ankle on the weekend. She is in a removable cast/brace on crutches......WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO!!!!
Any advice from experts out there????? Re: strategies for theme park survival - wheelchair rental - does Disney help out people in these situations with standing in line?
Resorts.....are we more likely to get a request for a main floor room - we are at the POR for the first week and Poly for the second.
Should I fax the resorts and tell them of our situations? Would that help - maybe we could get a main floor room and be closer to a bus stop or pool or something!!!!!
We are panicking a little here.....
Thanks for your advice everyone...

 

[disfanRN]

So sorry this happened to your dd! My DH just broke his ankle 6 weeks ago, and had the same treatment. I would advise you to rent a wheelchair, as there is no way she will be able to do it otherwise. I would check the disabilities board, to find out how to get a wheelchair once you get to Orlando. If you are flying, the airline will help you get a wheelchair to transport within the airport. As long as you have a wheelchair, and let the hotel know, you should be fine. I know there is no way crutches will cut it for any length of time-sore underarms! All of WDW is very accomodating when it comes to this type of situation. Calm down, rent a wheelchair, and have the time of your lives! Good luck!

 

[Pumbaa_]

I am so sorry to hear your DD broke her ankle!

You may want to check over on the DISabilities board for some additional advice.

You can rent a wheelchair for her at each resort. Getting around on crutches all day will wear her out. She is too young to rent a scooter, but a wheelchair for sure

You can also ask at the resort for a wheelchair to use at the resort to get around.

There are also places to rent a wheelchair for your stay that can be delivered to your hotel and picked up when you leave.

You will still have a wonderful time, just a bit different than planned. Go slower, rest often and have a ball!

 

[LakeAriel]

We are leaving in 4 days for our long awaited 2 week dream vacation at Disney, which includes our once in a lifetime stay at the Poly.....
and wouldn't you know our poor 13 yr old DD fell and broke (yes I said broke) her ankle on the weekend. She is in a removable cast/brace on crutches......WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO!!!!
Any advice from experts out there????? Re: strategies for theme park survival - wheelchair rental - does Disney help out people in these situations with standing in line?
Resorts.....are we more likely to get a request for a main floor room - we are at the POR for the first week and Poly for the second.
Should I fax the resorts and tell them of our situations? Would that help - maybe we could get a main floor room and be closer to a bus stop or pool or something!!!!!
We are panicking a little here.....
Thanks for your advice everyone...

Your sig says you are going to Disney in April. Is it April or four days? If it's four days I would desparately try to reschedule! Your daughter will be in pain and unable to use the pool. If you can't get a FULL refund then resign yourself to her being pushed in a wheelchair! Not fun, especially for her! Ground floor won't matter because the resorts are elevated! Good luck to her!
My daughter broke her ankle at 13 also, her first time ice-skating!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, welcome to the disABILTIES! forum and don't panic.

First thing to consider is that the resorts you are going to have elevators in all the buildings so being on the ground floor really does not matter.

Second, if you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it waill take you to the Index. The third item down is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent wheelchairs.

I would suggest contacting an off-site vendor for two reasons. One is you will be able to get a better chair. Second is they will be able to equip the chair with crutch holders, so when she wants to get out of the chair the crutches will be available. Third you are sure of having one available all the time. Also telling them her size (height and weight) may allow them to provide a better fitting chair than Disney rents.

If you are flying, when you get to the airport your airline will provide a wheelchair at no charge, and a skycap will handle the pushing. You will have an expert who can assist you through security, etc. When you get to Orlando you will be met at the plane with a wheelchair. The thing is you will be first on the plane but last off. Note that the skycaps doing the pushing are definitely looking for tips.

Find out from her doctor what restrictions she has. If is a removeable cast can she go into a pool? Can she take a normal shower or bath or will she have restrictions on that. If she can take a shower, when youcheck in at your hotel ask for a shower seat for her. This way once she gets in the tub she can sit on the seat.

If the cast is not designed to be removed bring along some "Sharpie" pens and she can have the cast autographed by the Characters; this will end up being an unusual souvenier of the trip.

When you are at WDW don't be scared to ask any Cast Member for assistance. Something always beat into the Cast is that Guest Safety is absolutely the highest priority over anything else.

More later if I think of anything, or if you have any other questions please ask.

 

[SueM in MN]

You have already gotten some very good advice.
The FAQs thread should be able to answer most of your other questions about renting/borrowing a wheelchair.
Wheelchair users can keep the wheelchair with them in line and actually into the boarding area. With a wheelchair, she won't have to worry about standing in line. Having her crutches with her will help her to get from the wheelchair to the ride car. The CMs won't prevent her from riding anything, but you should look at the ride warnings to see if any would not be good choices for her.

Besides the reasons others have listed about getting a wheelchair from offsite, if she needs her leg elevated, you can get a wheelchair with elevating footrests from one of the offsite rental places.
If she needs to lie down and rest for a while, each park has a First Aid center. The staff there are very helpful and the area is cool, dim and quiet.

 

[stephwynn]

A few years ago, my niece broke her arm about three days before we were leaving for our annual two week vacation at the lake. My sister was able to secure a special cast for her that was fibreglass, lined with neoprene. She was able to swim the entire time. All she had to do was make sure to drain as much water as she could out of it after coming out of the water. If your daughter is not supposed to take the "removable" boot off, perhaps you could look into one of these casts. You have to ask for it, and probably make a bit of a fuss to get it, but they are well worth the trouble.
Good Luck!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

These disboarders know what they're talking about. Two days before our senior class trip, my friend had knee surgery. We threw her into a wheelchair and had the time of our lives.

You've got two weeks, more than enough time to slow down and enjoy all of the magic.

 

[walkermm]

Thanks so much everyone for you great advice.

Sue M.....you mentioned not having to wait in line...does that mean that if she is in the wheelchair we bypass the regular line?

Would it be worthwhile to notify our resort (s) by fax ahead of time to let them know our situation...are we more likely to get our room request? ie. at POR, to be closer to the food court and bus stops, and on the main floor?

Lake Ariel...yes it is in 4 days.....and we do not have the option of cancelling...we fly on points.

We're hoping the disney people will feel a little sorry for her and make her feel special.....she is a bit mopey (which is understandable!)

hanks again.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks so much everyone for you great advice.

Sue M.....you mentioned not having to wait in line...does that mean that if she is in the wheelchair we bypass the regular line?

no, I think you misread. I wrote she wouldn't have to stand in line because she could bring the wheelchair with her all the way to boarding. (Sorry if I wasn't clear). Most of the lines are wheelchair accessible, so she will usually be waiting in the regular line. You can use Fastpass to shorten your wait in line.

Would it be worthwhile to notify our resort (s) by fax ahead of time to let them know our situation...are we more likely to get our room request? ie. at POR, to be closer to the food court and bus stops, and on the main floor?

Some of the resorts were getting overwhelmed with faxes and actually stopped accepting them, so it might depend on which resort you are staying at. The resort board might have more info on that or you could try calling (although the call center is centralized).

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Would it be worthwhile to notify our resort (s) by fax ahead of time to let them know our situation...are we more likely to get our room request? ie. at POR, to be closer to the food court and bus stops, and on the main floor?

You might want to call Special (Medical) Reservations at 407-939-7807 and talk to them. You will need your confirmation number available. Normally they handle the accessible rooms, but they may be able to provide you with more assistance than faxing the hotel.

An alternative would be call the hotel directly (phone number on the back of your confirmation) and ask to speak to the "rooms assigner" and explain the situation. This is the person who actually decides who is going to in which room.