Questions - Please help!

[Kathy C]

We have a family vacation planned to BWV in June. We planned this about 1-1/2 yrs ago. In Dec, my mom, 63, was diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer from 17 yrs ago. It has spread to her bones. Her goal is get to WDW with my brother and his family, and me and my family. We don't, right now, foresee a problem in being able to go.

I have a reservation for a 2 bdrm and a studio. My parents will get the studio and the rest of us (8) will stay in the 2 bdrm. My mom wants the studio so she can rest during the day when needed and to be able to take her "hair" off at night. Is there any way I can ensure that the 2 bdrm and studio are next to each other so my parents are close to "our" kitchen? And, I guess too, they are pretty strict on check-in times. My mom will have had her chemo 1 week before we go, and I'm sure she'll want to rest when we get there. Our plane gets in at 11:00 am. I'm probably more concerned about her than she is herself. She told me not worry about it, she'll be fine.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,
Kathy

 

[jmminarik]

You should call MS and make sure the 'rooms close together (for medical reasons)' is part of your request. No guarantees, but at least it is in the system. At check-in, mention this again. Disney does try to be as accomodating as possible for guests with medical conditions.

As to getting into the room, you seem to know that drill, but does rest mean sleep or just being able to sit down and nod off if need be? While not necessarily quiet, there are lots of places to sit and just relax. I'd also mention this need at check-in...no telling what a good CM can do.

Hope this helps,
Joe

 

[Pa@okw95]

Somewhere I remember that there is some kind of telephone number you can call down there to make these things happen for guests with special needs. I don't know what it is or what it is called. I would call WDW and ask is there any service that can help you with this situation down there. Your mother needs to rest more than likely as soon as she gets down there. These people can make things happen from what I understand. Do not call MS call the regular WDW number. Do not just do it as a request with medical reasons, go beyond that.

 

[Pa@okw95]

More: Call your guide if no one knows of this service. Perhaps that would be th best thing to do. They can push some buttons when they have to, I would think.

 

[Frozenfingers]

Kathy C, how about getting a lock-off and letting your mom have that room? Would your bro mind if they had to walk a bit to get to your place (central kitchen) just in case you were not near each other? I put my DD & fam in a lockoff and didn't hear a thing the grandkids were 3 & 6 at the time.

Your mom sounds like a brave lady, this trip will not be easy on her. I suggest you keep her close. Cherish the time, prayers headed your way.

 

[jmminarik]

Found this in a google search...may be more than you need but too much information can't hurt unless you're trying to assimilate it all at one gulp.

http://pixiedustinn.com/disabilitiesfaq/DisabilitiesFAQ.html

These are two links off that page....
http://disney.go.com/vacations/websites/disabilities/index.html

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/Plain?id=PlainHomePage

Here's one that's a little more local...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disabgeneral.htm which lists the number:
RESORTS/SPECIAL RESERVATIONS
Please call (407) 939-7807


I'd still call MS and update your requests...most of these sites tend toward the wheelchair bound, but you might find it useful.

-Joe

 

[SueM in MN]

If you are members of DVC, or renting from members, then MS takes care of the Special Needs requests.
The number that was posted for WDW Resorts Special Reservations is for reservations made thru Disney outside of the DVC.
Requests that are labeled "For Medical Reasons" or something similar to that (on our last confirmation, it said "Medical Issues") are filled before general requests. So, even though they are not guaranteed, they are almost always filled. We have been DVC members at OKW since 1993 and have had no problems getting what we needed for my DD who is disabled.

Feel free to follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES Board if you have questions about helping your mom conserve her energy. For example, even though she thinks she'll be OK, you might want to look into renting an ecv (electric cart or scooter) for her. That way, she can use her energy for enjoying the parks, not just for walking around.
If she needs to rest during the day and doesn't want to use up energy getting back to the room, there is a First Aid station at each park. Even though most people only think of them as a place to go if you have an accident or sudden illness, they are very nice for people who need to rest a bit. They have individual cubicles with cots and privacy curtains. We have used them several times when DD needed to rest and found the staff and facilities to be super.

 

[Kathy C]

Thanks everyone for your help. My mom would be mortified if she knew I was posting about this, but I want her to enjoy this trip as much as possible. The walking because the cancer is in her thigh bones, and the heat are going to be our worst enemies. (I know she wouldn't use a wheelchair). She's been many times before and really wants to see the reaction of my two nieces who are 7 and 9 and haven't been before. Again, thanks so much and I'll let you know how things turn out. Pixie dust and prayers that we get to make this trip!

 

[NancyDVC]

Kathy C,
Pixie dust and prayers are with you!
My Mom has a heart condition that limits her endurance. On both our trips with her we rented wheelchairs for the parks. She was a bit concerned at first but when we told her that it would make it easier for her to enjoy the parks with us and see her grandchildren's reactions she agreed and had a great time.
My best friend has had an increasingly difficult time walking because of arthritis and has used an ECV at some of the parks (at my insistence) during our trips in the past. This trip we rented an ECV from Walker Medical and she said it was great! She was able to do all the parks without any problem.
They do have a few loaner wheelchairs available from the Front Desk at each resort for no charge. I don't know if you can 'reserve' one ahead of time. You can use them in the parks and all over WDW.
Try the DISabilities board here for more suggestions about mobility. I have found them to be very helpful.