Allison Joy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2015
- Messages
- 716
I'm going to share my Disney story here, especially since you mentioned you feel like you're "too young" to have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. First of all, don't let others or even doctors tell you that you are "too young" for any particular diagnosis The human body is a strange and marvelous thing, but everyone is different. Don't judge your situation by others. And if others give you grief about it, then that's their problem, not yours. And, if you want to respond, which you absolutely don't have too, then feel free to respond with humor. You know, "Yep. I'm a [insert age] year old trapped in the body of an 80 year old!" Or "Yep. I won the medical mystery lottery. Maybe you'll be next." (Okay. So that last one may be a bit harsh.) Or just tell them to bug off. Any of those options, or ignoring them are acceptable!
Now. On to my Disney story. I hope all the regulars don't mind me posting this again, because I post it on most threads when someone is reluctant to get a wheelchair/scooter.
I'm now 34, and took my first Disney trip summer of 2016, when I was 33. At the age of 29, I had a hip replacement, due to complications from hip problems, and subsequent surgery at age 9. And my entire life, I've had some other minor (to me) physical limitations. I always like to think they are not obvious to others, but I think they are more obvious than I realize, because, despite being and looking young, I am nearly always offered a seat on a full bus/light rail, whether at Disney or the occasional times I take public transportation in my city. That's the intro, and here's my Disney story.
On our week long trip, the last day in the parks (Magic Kingdom) my friends rented a wheel chair for me. I'll be honest, I was kind of upset. I didn't feel I "needed" it, because, honestly, I can do longer distances. I'm just slow. Like... really slow, especially be the end of the day. I felt like I was taking advantage of something I shouldn't, and even hesitated sharing my story here at first, for fear that other people would think I was taking advantage of things. Looking back, I'm glad they did rent the wheelchair for me, because the next day was departure day, and I'm honestly not sure I would have navigated nearly as well at the airport the next day with my luggage (carry on) if I hadn't had that "rest" day the last day in the parks. (That being said, I'd still like to "conquer" Magic Kingdom without a wheelchair/ECV one day.)
One special thing that happened to me is I saw a young girl with a pink cast on her leg who was also in a wheelchair. She looked pretty sad to have to use the wheelchair. But the moment she saw me, she got this HUGE smile on her face and waved at me. I think I was probably the first younger looking person she saw in a wheelchair, and it made her feel not quite so alone. So... all that to say there are definitely advantages to renting a scooter/wheelchair and there may been some hidden magic pixie dust in that wheelchair/scooter too.
(P.S. I love sharing my full story to hopefully encourage others. Post here or PM me if you want to hear it.)
Now. On to my Disney story. I hope all the regulars don't mind me posting this again, because I post it on most threads when someone is reluctant to get a wheelchair/scooter.
I'm now 34, and took my first Disney trip summer of 2016, when I was 33. At the age of 29, I had a hip replacement, due to complications from hip problems, and subsequent surgery at age 9. And my entire life, I've had some other minor (to me) physical limitations. I always like to think they are not obvious to others, but I think they are more obvious than I realize, because, despite being and looking young, I am nearly always offered a seat on a full bus/light rail, whether at Disney or the occasional times I take public transportation in my city. That's the intro, and here's my Disney story.
On our week long trip, the last day in the parks (Magic Kingdom) my friends rented a wheel chair for me. I'll be honest, I was kind of upset. I didn't feel I "needed" it, because, honestly, I can do longer distances. I'm just slow. Like... really slow, especially be the end of the day. I felt like I was taking advantage of something I shouldn't, and even hesitated sharing my story here at first, for fear that other people would think I was taking advantage of things. Looking back, I'm glad they did rent the wheelchair for me, because the next day was departure day, and I'm honestly not sure I would have navigated nearly as well at the airport the next day with my luggage (carry on) if I hadn't had that "rest" day the last day in the parks. (That being said, I'd still like to "conquer" Magic Kingdom without a wheelchair/ECV one day.)
One special thing that happened to me is I saw a young girl with a pink cast on her leg who was also in a wheelchair. She looked pretty sad to have to use the wheelchair. But the moment she saw me, she got this HUGE smile on her face and waved at me. I think I was probably the first younger looking person she saw in a wheelchair, and it made her feel not quite so alone. So... all that to say there are definitely advantages to renting a scooter/wheelchair and there may been some hidden magic pixie dust in that wheelchair/scooter too.
(P.S. I love sharing my full story to hopefully encourage others. Post here or PM me if you want to hear it.)
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