Need some URGENT advice

[jpritchard]

My family and I have been planning on going to DLR this weekend and my 11 yr old son just broke his foot. The doctor put him in a walking boot and he is moving around fairly well on crutches. For anyone that has ever had to deal with something like this my first question is will it be worth it to go even though he will have a pretty major mobility issue? If we do end up going I'm worried that he won't be able to make it around the park without tiring himself out. I did see that DLR offers wheelchair rentals and that most of their rides are accessible to someone in a wheelchair but I don't know how that would work logistically. Our hotel is booked already but can be cancelled without any fees and we have not bought our disney tickets yet. Given the situation do you think it makes more sense to postpone the trip for a few months or try to make the best out of a bad situation....any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I'd probably reschedule. If you need to "sell it" to your kids, remind them that the new Carsland will be open in a few months and postponing the trip may mean getting to see all the new stuff.

 

[MrsMears]

I am sorry your son broke his foot, I hope he feels better soon!

I would probably reschedule seeing as you are buying tickets, just so you can get the most bang for your buck.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I would reschedule, and give the foot time to heal. Then you will all have a great time.

 

[disneylover2005]

If your son still want's to go then I would. First off I would rent a wheelchair and have a adult push him around. I have gone a couple time with my parent's who are both in a wheelchair and we never had any problems. You can rent from Disneyland and it cost's $18 for the day but you have to make a $20 down payment but you get that back when you return your wheelchair with the receipt. They give you a brochure that tell's you what rides are wheelchair accessible and how to go about it. Planning a trip takes time and effort, there is always going to be something that puts a bump in the road but make the best out of it anyways.

I hope you son feels better soon!

 

[CamoMama]

If you decide not to postpone it actually wouldn't cause any major accessibility issues, really. Get a GAC from guest services. If he can transfer from teh chair to the ride I don't think there are any rides that he can't get on. And with the GAC he and up to 5 others (I believe) can use the disabled entrance for many rides (PoTC and Splash Mountain that I know for sure), which means much shorter lines. HM slows down the ride for people with mobility issues to board and if you have a wheelchair waiting for you you can ride all the way back to the beginning, which is kind of cool although there's really nothing much there. I went in 2010 and a friend of mine from Southern California (with an AP) who had just had knee surgery joined us for a day, we had 0 mobility issues and very rarely had to wait in line.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Take your lead off your son...if he is gung-ho...then go for it! If he is pretty mobile, get the wheelchair to push him around all day to keep him off his foot but take the crutches to wait in line and get around some areas that aren't as accessible if he is worried about the perception of "special" treatment being in a wheelchair.

God knows there are days I wish someone would push me around the park all day!

 

[disneymomjcs]

When you check in at DLR see if your resort has a wheelchair. They lent us one at VWL in WDW once and we didn't pay to rent it.

 

[nannyz]

If you do decide to go, I would suggest renting a wheelchair from an outside source. It is not expensive and that way you have the chair at all times and he won't have to walk to and from the park.

 

[Chelsea524]

I'd reschedule, not because of having to deal with getting around but because of the pain. When I broke my foot, if I was up and going for over a few hours my foot would be throbbing, add in the bouncing around it will get in a lot of the rides, it could make for a painful trip for him.

 

[Malcon10t]

And with the GAC he and up to 5 others (I believe) can use the disabled entrance for many rides (PoTC and Splash Mountain that I know for sure), which means much shorter lines.

As someone who frequently has to use the HA entrances, this is NOT true. POTC is often a considerably longer wait than standby, so is Space Mountain and IASW. We have timed people at IASW since you can watch the lines easier, and while it took the person we times last time 6 mins to get on a boat, it took us 21 mins. On POTC, they limit the number of HA parties on at one time for evacuation purposes, and we have watched the ride be walk on, while we waited 10 mins. If the line is down to the gumbo place, it is an hour wait there. The little alcove area to the boarding is generally 45 mins. Splash is usually about the same as standby, but in the summer can be longer also. The 2 rides that might be slightly shorter waits are Indy and Jungle Cruise. DCA is fully handicap accessible and wheelchairs use the same lines as everyone else, so the waits are the same.

I would also take my queue from him. But having gone with my daughter numerous times in walking boots (she has had a spiral fracture to her foot, to numerous ligament tears and pulls) while he may not realize it while hyped up for Disneyland, the foot will get very sore and painful from the jostling. And while he may be in a wheelchair, his foot will be a target for those trying to get to the next ride faster, and many will run into his foot! My daughter usually just walks in her walking boot, but when she had her spiral, they did say NO WEIGHT, and it was quite painful. Keep his ibprofen close by.

 

[tinkcollector]

I would post-pone the trip. I have broken many bones over the years and elevation is really important to keep the swelling down. I would also be concerned with the crowd forecast for this weekend. (10 out of 10) The chances of your Sons foot getting bumped or stepped on would also encourage me to post-pone this trip. Another thing to consider is the fact that even if you rent a wheelchair it cannot leave DL or DCA.

 

[jpritchard]

I really appreciate everyones feedback. My wife and I sat down to compare our schedules and it does not look like we would be able to make it back to DLR for at least 8-10 months, since we have been planning this trip for about 6 months we do not feel like it's right to make our boys wait almost another year to go back. I talked with him last night and he was worried that he had ruined the trip for everyone and I told him that we were still going to go and have a great time. My son is able to get around with his crutches and has been a trooper about the entire situation, obviously we will be renting a wheelchair for him to use along with his crutches to try and make moving around as easy as possible. So.....we'll be there Sunday bright and early, wish us luck.

 

[Leshaface]

I really appreciate everyones feedback. My wife and I sat down to compare our schedules and it does not look like we would be able to make it back to DLR for at least 8-10 months, since we have been planning this trip for about 6 months we do not feel like it's right to make our boys wait almost another year to go back. I talked with him last night and he was worried that he had ruined the trip for everyone and I told him that we were still going to go and have a great time. My son is able to get around with his crutches and has been a trooper about the entire situation, obviously we will be renting a wheelchair for him to use along with his crutches to try and make moving around as easy as possible. So.....we'll be there Sunday bright and early, wish us luck.

Glad to hear this. It will probably brighten up his spirits a bit too! We'll be there on Sunday as well...expect lots of crowds but have LOTS of fun!

 

[Malcon10t]

So.....we'll be there Sunday bright and early, wish us luck.

Know where First Aid is. (Behind the Red Wagon in Disneyland, and by the old Mission Tortilla in DCA. If his foot starts swelling or painful, you can get some Ibprofen and ice. Are you staying on Disneyland property? If so, call ahead and you can sometimes get a wheelchair delivered to the room for your entire stay. If offsite, try calling an offsite company (we use Deckerts Surgical) to have a chair you can take back to the room (and not have to wait for each day in line.)

 

[azdisneylover]

My family and I have been planning on going to DLR this weekend and my 11 yr old son just broke his foot. The doctor put him in a walking boot and he is moving around fairly well on crutches. For anyone that has ever had to deal with something like this my first question is will it be worth it to go even though he will have a pretty major mobility issue? If we do end up going I'm worried that he won't be able to make it around the park without tiring himself out. I did see that DLR offers wheelchair rentals and that most of their rides are accessible to someone in a wheelchair but I don't know how that would work logistically. Our hotel is booked already but can be cancelled without any fees and we have not bought our disney tickets yet. Given the situation do you think it makes more sense to postpone the trip for a few months or try to make the best out of a bad situation....any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I would postpone the trip until the foot is healed. I would purchase the park hopper tickets once I resceduled the hotel incase of a price increase. This would give you more time to save $$ and plan with your son what he will like to do when you do go in a few months.
What ever you do decide, have a great time.