Newly disABLED & Airports

[HillSil]

Long story short...Since breaking my hip in January '11 I've been walking with crutches. I'm still not able to walk far due to over-compensated back muscles and I have a small-ish manual wheelchair for long outings. Hopefully, all the PT I'm getting will help, but Disney's calling & I know I won't be 100% by then.

Since I'm new to this, what's the best way to get through busy airports? We (DH, DS10, DS8) are leaving Boston the day before Easter, transferring in Atlanta, going on to MCO.
Thanks for any help & advice!

 

[SueM in MN]

I only have a short time to reply between some things at work, but I would suggest you take the wheelchair with you. Mobility devices are transported free of charge and do not count toward your bag allowance. You can check it at the gate the same way that strollers are checked.
You will be able to keep the wheelchair until the door of the plane, then you leave it and the baggage handlers will take it down and put it into the plane. You can choose to have it returned to you at the gate at your transfer point, the gate at your final destination or at baggage claim.
There is more information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread located near the top of this board or you can follow the link in my signature. Post 1 of that thread is an index that tells which post is covering which subject.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Is your wheelchair comfortable enough that you'd want to take it with you? Is your DH willing to push or would you be ahead to borrow an airline wheelchair and have a sky cap push?

When the sky cap wheeled DMIL through the airport to security, she remained in the wheelchair and she was "wanded." She was wheeled to the gate where she again sat in the wheelchair til the flight was called, then did early boarding and was wheeled through the jetway right to the plane.

When you get to WDW, I would rent an ECV offsite, so you can keep it with you at the hotel and take it on the buses and monorails. Then instead of pushing you around (pun intended) your DH's biggest challenge will be trying to keep up with you. 8^) Your kids will probubbly try to bum a ride on the ECV but that's strictly forbidden. Even tho you'll see rule breakers from time to time.

 

[Tony NY]

I would call your airline ahead and ask for a whellcahir in advance in order than have to wate for a cahir at the airport when you land and you get to the airport... you can also request for the reserved handicap seats on the airplane... to help you with your mobilty issues I hope you get better real soon...

 

[disneymom3]

Whatever you do, make sure you have either your wheelchair or an assistance wheelchair to go through security. I just got home from LAX and since the terminal I was in is smallish, I figured I would just use my cane. Well, in Mpls, #1 it is a short walk and #2 they give you an alternate cane to walk through with (or crutches etc) But no alternate in LAX. In fact the guy looked at my like I was crazy when I asked. They told me I would have to do the pat down and I said fine.

However they seemed to not want to do that and one guy told me he would just bring me my cane after I walked through the scanner. Well, he didn't. I stood there forever, almost falling over and with one guy who asked me what I was waiting for and another telling me "just wait there" while the other dude was nowhere to be seen.

So, save yourself that trouble and get a wheelchair.

 

[Coloradomom]

If your wheelchair is comfortable I say bring it. We have a transport wheelchair that we take on every trip-it is treated just like a stroller and is gate checked. Then you do not have to worry.Plus you have it with you whenever you need it-at the parks or even at the end of the day at the resort when you are just to achy to walk with everyone to the pool or where ever. It is no hassle at all to take. In fact I never get an ECV because my DH does not mind pushing it.(note that I had an ankle injury about 4 yrs ago so am healed but it acts up when I walk too much so I conserve my energy by riding in the chair into the park from the buses)