Riding attractions with injury?

[familydad]

I'm asking this on behalf of a friend who is visiting Disney in the next month or so:

"My teenage daughter is currently on crutches, due to surgery she had on her foot a few weeks back. Does Disney prohibit people who are on crutches or otherwise injured from riding on any of the rides at the parks?"

Thanks!

 

[IndyDisneyFan]

Although I have never tried to ride things while on crutches, Disney is a very handicapped friendly place, so she should have no troubles at all. If she is fearful that a certain ride might cause her pain or discomfort due to the nature of the ride, then she should of course not ride it. But most Disney rides are fairly tame and she should be fine. If she has a question about a certain ride, there are always very helpful cast members nearby who can give suggestions. I am sure she will have a great time!

Laura

 

[msr709]

You would probably better off asking over at the Disabilities forum but I have had knee problems and have rented the ECVs while at WDW and DL and both places were very accomodating. She shouldn't have a problem.

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by familydad
I'm asking this on behalf of a friend who is visiting Disney in the next month or so:

"My teenage daughter is currently on crutches, due to surgery she had on her foot a few weeks back. Does Disney prohibit people who are on crutches or otherwise injured from riding on any of the rides at the parks?"

Thanks!

If you are physically able to ride a ride Disney will not stop you from riding it. That does not mean she should ride some things but that would be her call.

 

[Tigger22]

We were there in early March - and my husband had recently had foot surgery, and was only off crutches for a week. He had a walking "boot" on the whole time, and no one ever stopped him from going on anything.

I would recommend renting a scooter - someone on crutches will not last too long with all the walking. My husband had never used one before, and by the end of our stay, he was WAY too use to it - lol. He found he was okay on most of the rides - with ToT, he found he had to make an effort to keep his bad foot pressed down to the floor of the elevator (the first drop, it slammed down and hurt a bit). Other than that, we did everything we normally do.

We rented the scooter from Walker and they were terrific...it was waiting at the AKL for us when we got there.

Good Luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Tigger22

I would recommend renting a scooter - someone on crutches will not last too long with all the walking. My husband had never used one before, and by the end of our stay, he was WAY too use to it - lol. He found he was okay on most of the rides - with ToT, he found he had to make an effort to keep his bad foot pressed down to the floor of the elevator (the first drop, it slammed down and hurt a bit). Other than that, we did everything we normally do.

We rented the scooter from Walker and they were terrific...it was waiting at the AKL for us when we got there.

Good Luck!

If she's under 18, they will only be able to rent a wheelchair for her. The parks and the off-site rental places will only rent scooters for use by people over 18.
There are "caution" icons on the park maps and the signs outside the rides that are rougher (or not recommended for people with certain health conditions). No one will question or stop her from riding anything though, she and her parents just need to use judgement of what to ride/not ride. It would be a good idea for them to talk to her doctor before going. There might be some specific types of activity that her doctor feels she should avoid. Definately don't want to risk re-injury just to ride something.

 

[McCall]

Sue,
I have rented from Walker on more than one occasion and have never been asked the age of the person that would be using the scooter, only the weight to see if regular or large scooter was needed. they did not ask age sex or condition.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue,
I have rented from Walker on more than one occasion and have never been asked the age of the person that would be using the scooter, only the weight to see if regular or large scooter was needed. they did not ask age sex or condition.

Other people have posted that they were (from all the companies) and that the paperwork that they got with the scooter indicated they were agreeing that no one under the age of 18 would ride/drive it.
Disney specifically lists in their Guidebook for Guest with Disabilities that the park scooters are not for use by people under 18.
So, I guess, it might be possible from some companies. I still don't think it would be a good idea unless it's an older teen who is used to driving a car in traffic, because that is basically what they would be doing, especially MK since it is very busy and congested.

 

[ehagerty]

My brother has MS and uses two crutches for locomotion. We use a Disney wheelchair and he was able to go on almost everything, since most rides can be stopped for loading.

My recommendation is that you pay close attention to the disability information on the park guide map for each attraction (and is repeated on the ride signs) as to whether the ride can be stopped for loading and / or if the rider will need to take steps from wheelchair to ride car. Based on this information, your daughter can decide what she can handle.

Note: I've seen many casted / bandaged people hop on rides without any problem, without the ride being stopped for loading. If you think you want the ride stopped for loading, don't assume the cast member will automatically know this. Ask.

Note: Last summer, I went to Disney for 3 weeks 2 weeks after an abdominal hysterectomy. I used the wheelchair and went on everything that didn't have G-forces associated with it. I was surprised how many people were recuperating from surgery / injuries there. I think it is becoming more common, as some surguries are becoming less invasive, but people still need time off to recover / rest. I had more than one person ask me how well it was going because someone they knew was thinking about going to Disney for post-op hysterectomy recovery. It's probably not for everyone, but, for me, it beat hanging around the house!!!

 

[McCall]

I am not advocating renting scooters for children to use, but at the same time I have never had to sign anything stating the person using the scooter would be over 18 never had to sign anything at all for that matter, simply called with my credit card and scooter was delivered to my hotel.
also their are children who use power chairs and they are very much the same thing as far as manuvering etc. is concerned.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm just reporting that other people have said they were told that no one under 18 could drive it. Maybe the company you rented from doesn't care, but some do. I only mentioned it because someone a while back had planned on renting one for their (I think about 15 yr old) child and were really disappointed that they were not able to.
It's true that you will see children with power wheelchairs at WDW, but they have used their power wheelchair a lot in quiet, non-crowded conditions like school gyms or empty hallways under the direction of a PT or OT to learn how to use it safely before venturing out in crowds. My DD uses her power wheelchair in the crowded hallways of her high school during regular passing times, but she worked her way up to that. Having a child drive an ecv for the first time at WDW would be a little like putting a new driver into rush hour traffic.

Here's a link to a past thread about ride boarding that includes information about rides with moving walkways. In general, those are best boarded at the exit by someone with a mobility problem (even a temporary one). If you have crutches or a wheelchair/ecv, the CMs will direct you to the right place to board.