OKW & Knee Surgery Recuperation

[DisNDat]

I guess it's time to pay the piper, but why me, why now? Has anyone stayed at OKW who was on crutches? Kinda far for access to parks on crutches. Or is a wheelchair advised? Or should I just cancel my Dec 13 week or try to rent it out. It's looking like this just isn't my year to go. Has anyone gone in this condition and enjoyed it? Or is better to just unload the week and try again next year?

 

[spiceycat]

ask your doctor if he says okay go - mind allow a visit to WDW 3 weeks after surgery...

Get a wheelchair at OKW - then push it more than use it - it really helps you to walk and straight the knee - it (the wheelchair) was a great help to me - tell the CM's at the rides what your problem is so they won't expect you to bend the knee sharply - you might need enough room for 2 - but you can go to WDW and rides most of the rides...

Welcome to Disboards!

 

[JudithM]

You might want to ckeck out the disABILITIES section of this bb. We have a variety of posts about going to WDW & using crutches, wheelchairs & ECVs (battery operated scooters). I used to rent an ECV at the individual WDW parks. However, on my last several trips I have rented the ECV from a medical supplier in the Orlando area (Walker Mobility).

I would ask your doctor what he/she thinks. If the doctor thinks the trip is do-able, then contact Member Services & let them know you will be using crutches & that you need a first floor room for medical reasons.

 

[BillM]

Definitely go. Take Judith's advice and rent an ECV from Walker Mobility. Then go anywhere you want. You will have to use the buses to haul you and the ECV.
As a person with a permanent disability we always stay at OKW, with my van and ECV.
Have fun but definitely ask MS for a first floor for medical reasons.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Knee surgery--what kind? If you are only in your 40's or early 50's and you are just having it scoped, then it's nothing. But if you are having tendons reattached or your kneecap repositioned or something entailing more involved surgery, then your immobility will be longer. I would think seriously about the wheelchair meentioned above, but I personally would die before I got a scooter. I did Disneyworld with a broken leg once, and found the bathrooms not as assessible to the handicapped as I thought they were. I found it to be a tight squeeze for wheelchair space, and the bars around the toilets were all wrong--they were too far back toward the toilet to be much help getting a boost up so I could get back into the wheelchair. Being temporarily disabled gave me a whole new outlook on what the permanently disabled have to deal with, and it made me

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

Been there but I would not do it on crutches. Do not cancell your plans and get a EVC from one of any of the Medical supply Co's in Orlando. They all deliver and you will get a good chair. Do not depend on getting one at the park entrance because they don't always have them, and unless you get to MK early they will not have one. For some reason people rent the EVC at MK and use it as a extra ride for their children, as I have found out, and a fast way to get to the front of lines and also at parades.
I ended up renting one from a Medical supply and they delivered it early the next day and it was better then the Disney ones.

 

[DisNDat]

You folks are awesome. I feel much better now. I'll also check out DISabilities...haven't visited that one before. Now's the time. Thanks everyone for great advice!

 

[JudithM]

Last May I rented an ECV from Walker, stayed at OKW & relied on WDW transportation to get to most of the parks. The bus drivers were so hoelpful. They always made me feel important regardless of how many other guests were waiting to get on the bus. They would tell me to take my time, etc. Our group had a very good experience.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I needed a Electric cart the last time I went, and I rented one from an outside agency recommended by DVC. It was called Care, and I got it for $150 for the week. It was really convenient, because they delivered it right to OKW and picked it up too.

 

[fkj2]

I would also speak to the doc/therapist about taking along a gel pack to freeze and have available to ease any swelling. Also, check into other things like elevating the knee when lying down. At least during Dec., you won't have the intense heat of Fl, which will help also. Your doc may want you on an anticoagulant if you aren't already.

If you take a wheelchair and are flying, you can ride straight to the door of the plane and the flight attendents will take the chair to the cargo area and it's waiting for you at the door of the plane when you disembark. Call the airline ahead of time.

Also, if you rent a car, make sure it's large enough to accomodate the chair and any limitation of knee function, by that I mean that the door opens widely and you have enough leg room.
You probably should ask for first floor accommodations and I think there may be shower chairs available through housekeeping.

The cast members at the attractions are wonderful about accommodating the physically challenged. Just let them know when you approach.

Have a good time.