Never been to WDW. How to manage with a walker?

[RachelR1978]

I've been invited to Disney and would love to go. Right now, I can't walk without a walker and am unsure how to get by with it at Disney.

For instance, WHERE DO YOU PUT IT if you go on a ride? Do you just "park it" some place and hope it's there when you return? And how about in restaurants? Mine is big - too big to roll up to a table and leave. Waiters couldn't get through to other tables.

 

[csarenz]

I can't speak for the restaurants, but in terms of rides, you should be able to treat the walker just like you would a wheelchair. We went a few years ago when my father was using a walker and we just used the handicapped enterances and left the walker with the other wheelchairs that people were able to transfer from.

 

[PatsMom]

You might want to look into renting a smaller more portable walker. My grandmother has one with a little seat built into it for when she needs to get off her feet. You can also rent folding walkers.

Have you considered using a wheel chair or scooter? I've seen people navigating the parks with a walker, but I'm sure it is difficult physically.

 

[peemagg]

Don't worry much at all, because Disney is very handicapped friendly. If you check out the Faq's section at the beginning of this forum, there is a lot of info in there as to what you do on the rides and such.

Just go and have fun. It will be quite easy to do.

 

[RachelR1978]

Thank you everyone.

 

[Schmeck]

There's a lot of walking at WDW - can you manage with the walker for 3-5 miles a day? If you can, then the walker is allowed to go wherever you need to go - the CMs will treat it the same way as a manual wheelchair for the most part, although you may have to leave it behind on some attractions as you wouldn't be allowed to stand with it on the wheelchair ride vehicles.

 

[LindaBabe]

If you could manage short distances - a few feet - with a cane, I'd suggest renting an ecv. Your life would be EVER so much easier.

 

[nanatink]

If you could manage short distances - a few feet - with a cane, I'd suggest renting an ecv. Your life would be EVER so much easier.

I agree. Not only easier for you but the others in your party. Once on my many visits to the World we were leaving and a lady fell. She had walked and walked all day. The park was closing. Just a few more steps she had to take. She was exhausted from all the activities of that day. Please don't think that makes you think that you can't make it. I would hate for anyone to end their trip going to the hospital. I myself have tripped using a rollator, the one with the seat, when I hit an uneven patch of concrete. Please go and witness what I have in the most magical place on Earth.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Most people actually do 8-12 mles per day at WDW. I would agree with using an ECV. If you rent from off-site, and have it available all the time you can ask them to have a cane holder attached. If you rent at a park they will store the walker for you at the rental location.

 

[cm8]

Hi!!! I used my rollator and I didn't have any issues, the only thing was that some people kept trying to run me over and sometimes I really thought I was invisible since my walker was hot pink!!!! LOL, but I just took it with me through the lines and left it when I boarded and it was waiting for me when I returned!!!