Possible wheelchair help??

[MickeyMom2Boys]

My mom is leaving for Disney on Tuesday. She has had a bad case of plantars fasciitis. The Dr put her in a boot at first. The he gave her a cortisone injection, then a 2nd cortisone injection and put her in a full cast for 3 weeks. She just got the cast off and her heel is still bothering her. She's back to wearing the boot and gets one more cortisone injection on Monday. She's concerned that she isn't going to be able to walk that much and/or stand in line. What can she do? I know she can rent wheelchairs there if necessary, but we have no idea how to handle the lines if she is in a wheelchair. Does she need a Dr note of some sort to get a disability pass? We have been to disney many many times, but have never had this type of situation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

TIA!

 

[mechurchlady]

First read the FAQs posted on this board. Rent a wheelchair offsite as that is cheaper and delivered to her hotel. Contact the airline and they will wheel her from the gate to boarding then they will take her to the luggage carrousel then to the front door or other place to get a ride. They will wheel her right into the cabin if necessary and just tell the people at the boarding gate that she is disabled so they load her first.

You can also buy a used wheelchair cheaply locally and take that on the plane for free. Later you can resell it or donate it and write it off you taxes. A cushion helps on wheelchairs.

No, a doctor's note will not be asked for or wanted by CMs if you get a GAC. They just want to know what her limitations are such as vision, hearing, and no stairs. GAC is in the FAQs and is not needed IF she stays in her chair. IF she plans to walk onto any rides or shows then she would ask for a GAC for her limitations. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plain-text/

Some older pre ADA rides are not like the new attractions for boarding. At Small World you would get into line then go to the dock and she would be wheeled onto the boat. Toy Story Mania would require a fastpass unless you love a long winding road, lol. You get into the standby or fastpass line there then procede past where the lines join and then are sent to a special loading dock.

For a small fee offsite wheelchair rental companies will provide a crutch holder and raised foot rests and other amenities. ECV is an option but wheelchair is easier for lines.

 

[SueM in MN]

No need for a doctor's note.

There is also no need for a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) with a wheelchair for the needs you are mentioning.
Most lines are wheelchair accessible and people using wheelchairs wait in the same line with everyone else. For the few that are not, the CMs will see the wheelchair and route you to the correct place. She would be able to take the wheelchair right to the boarding area if she prefers. She will board and the wheelchair will be waiting for you when you get off. For situations where there are things like stairs or moving walkways at the regular boarding area, as you get close to the boarding area, a CM will route you to a different boarding area (often the exit).
You can still do Fastpasses if you want to - it's the same process as the regular line.
Wheelchair accessible lines where everyone waits together are called "Mainstream Lines". AK and the Studio were built with all Mainstream Lines. Epcot and MK are older and have some lines that were not able to be mainstreamed, but they did convert lines to Mainstream if possible during renovations or adding new attractions.

If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board, post #3 of that thread has a link to the WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for each park. Those will give you more information about boarding (and, indeed, you will find for most attractions, it says "Enter thru the Mainstream line").
You can go to the page for each park and look at the guidebook on line. You can print it out, or go the Guest Relations in the parks to get a copy. If you are renting a wheelchair at the parks, they often have copies of the Guidebook there too.

 

[Mary976]

My DD17 uses a wheelchair on a full-time basis. If it's not obvious where to go in a chair once you get to the attraction, just ask the CM and they will direct you. Also, some people have mentioned that it is easier to rent an ECV (the scooters like you see in Walmart). You can rent these from an off-site company as well, details in the FAQ sticky. Having someone push the chair all day is HARD. Someone like my DD is used to pushing themselves (like I am used to walking) but we are both tired out by the end of the day, especially in a park like AK or Epcot.

Good luck!
Mary