one week away...last minute questions

[mrs_p_bear]

Okay, so as I had posted a couple of weeks ago, I hadborke my foot and torn ligaments this summer, and now have done the same thing again. Fracture of the fourth metatarsal and totally torn ligament in ankle plus pulled ligaments in foot and ankle. I was supposed to be on crutches for two weeks and I am in one of those cast boots.

I have spent a lot of time on this board the past couple of weeks, and evryone has been very informative and seems so helpful. So now I have other last minute questions I'm trying to get answers to in order to make this a great trip. I know this is a long post, but hopefully I will get some good information out of it.

I have called ASMovies and requested to have a first floor room or one near the elevator. Also, they will have shower bench for me, as I can't stand in the shower.
I am taking my crutches (obviously) and we plan on renting an ecv in the parks.
So this all leaves me with a few questions...

What would be the best thing to do at the airport? Use my crutches? Or do they have wheelchair available? I don't know about Orlando, but we are flying out of DFW and it is pretty big.

Also, It is myself, DH and our 5 and 7 yo boys. We will have three suitcases to be checked plus 2-3 carry-ons. Should I plan to have someone take us to the airport and help us get our luggage checked and such?

Now since I will be on crutches, can I request to pre-board, or is this standard? It is something my MIL suggested. We are flying AA there and Delta back. Anyone know how these airlines handle these situations? And how's the leg room on these airlines?

What do I do with my crutches on the plane? Will they be put in overhead storage? How about at the parks since I will be using an ecv most of the time? Do the WDW rentals come with a holder or do I need to bring something to attach them with?

Now on to rides and attractions...
Hopefully by next week I will be able to walk a little with out being into much pain. So I will definately be able to transfer to all rides, I think. Anyone have an opinion about rides where ou should transfer from the ecv to a w/c? Should I just use my crutches for these lines? Is it usually a long wait once you get to that point?

Also, my DH is very concerned about me going on certain rides due to the fact that, right now, me just bumping my foot into something REALLY hurts.
Do you guys think there are certain rides that would be just too jarring and that I should avoid? Honestly, right now my plan is too take a lot of pain meds and ride evrything I possibly can (This is my first trip ever to Disney)

Okay, I think that may cover it. I know it's A LOT of questions, but I'm very very worried/stressed/concerned about making this an awesome trip. I don't want my family to not enjoy it just because of me. And I'm trying to be as prepared and knowledgable as possible for all circumstances.

Thank you so much in advance for any help/thoughts/ideas any of you can give me!!


Laura

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think you have made some good decisions.

Let the airline know you need a wheelchair.

When you get to the terminal at DFW they will have a skycap bring a wheelchair and that person will take you through security and all the way to the gate. Normally the same person will come back just before boarding and will also wheel you down the jetway to the plane.

They will also have a wheelchair waiting for you right outside the aircraft door at MCO. The Skycap will take you all the way to baggage claim.

I think that the Skycaps do get paid by the airline for providing transport, but I know my mother will tip them an extra $5 each way.

One of the cabin crew will take the crutches from you to put in a closet up at the front of the plane. Be aware that you and your family will be first on the aircraft but also will be the last off, as they will want the aisle to clear so you don't block other passengers.

Next concerns your room. When you said you called ASM did you actually talk to a "rooms assigner" at the hotel or did you talk to Disney Travel/Central Reservations? At WDW your reservation will not show up in the hotel's computer until five or six days prior to your arrival. If they cannot see your reservation they cannot put notes on it at the hotel, and the "rooms assigner" is the person who does the actual assignments.

If you did not talk to the hotel itself and just the regular reservations office you do not have a "guarantee" of a first floor or near elevator room, but only a "request". If you did that you should call the special (medical) reservations office at 407-939-7807 and talk to them. They are the only ones who can "guarantee" a location.

The one thing where I will disagree with you is concerning the ECV rental. I think you would be much better off renting from an off-site company for several reasons. One is that you will have the ECV available at all times (at a lower price than Disney), especially since it may be quite a distance from the bus stop to your room. Another is that the off-site rentals are much easier to use and maneuver than Disney's. But also very important is you can ask that they provide you an ECV with a crutch holder which they have available, while with a Disney one you do not have that option.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Any attraction that requires you to transfer from an ECV to a wheelchair will do so at the entrance - so, yes, TAKE THE WHEELCHAIR. Space Mountain, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tower of Terror... all involve long walks/waits from where you'd transfer.

Since you'll be in a wheelchair at the gate, you should automatically be preboarded (once, on Delta, even though I was sitting ten feet from the counter directly in front of it, the Gate Agent "forgot" I was there).

You might want to ask if your crutches can go in the overhead bin, since you MAY need to use them. Also, for legroom see www.seatguru.com - find your airline, then your plane, for information. In all honesty, the pitch (distance from front of seat to front of seat behind it) is generally not that great. While there may be more room in a exit row, you won't be able to sit there - you because you'd be unable to assist in an emergency and your kids because you have to be at least fifteen. On the Delta planes I've been on, this eliminates the bulkhead row too - but again, see seatguru.

And about renting the ECV offsite? I agree with Cheshire Figment. The price is comparable, if not better, and the offsite rentals are easier to maneuver. See the disABILITIES FAQ sticky for links to popular rental sites.

 

[mrs_p_bear]

Thanks for the info so far.
CF - I will look into the offsite ecv rental and am going to call ahead to the airport. Thanks for this info

kaytieeldr - thanks for the seatguru link. I'm about to check it out.