To everyone with broken toes/feet and/or leg problems...
I broke my toe while *at* WDW last summer, this is some of what I think you should consider:
#1...If at all possible, does your resort have a hot tub? I know this might sound petty, but I broke my toe last year at Disney and in my opinion a hot tub is crucial. All deluxe resorts (*except* the Polynesian) and all moderates have hot tubs.
#2...Make sure you call CRO/WDTC, explain to them that you MUST have a room close to bus stop, food court, HOT TUB
teeth
and on the first floor.
#3...Rent a wheelchair, at least at the parks. Seriously. I did not get one the day of and the day after the break and we did the parks and it was STUPID not to. Once we had that wheelchair, it made getting around so much easier.
#4...Don't just do a one-day rental every single day you're there, get MULTI-DAY rental vouchers at the first park you visit. You'll save money and time. Once you get your vouchers, you wont have to stand in line at the cashiers, you can just get your wheelchair. A couple of things...the vouchers are good at any of the parks, if you want to park-hop keep your receipt from the first park and you won't have to pay again at the second.
#5...If you really can't walk, if it is going to take extra time wheeling around the parks, if you will have to wait for a special bus...*please* consider getting a Guest Assistance pass. I felt funny getting one, since I am not considered 'handicapped', but it was a God-send. We spent so much more time getting to/from attractions and couldn't do our usual crazy running around getting Fast-Passes. It just took so much more time to just get around.
#6...If you haven't already, consider renting a car. Rather than waiting for a special bus or having to climb in and out of busses, you can get around in your own car. You might not have a handicapped plate on your car, but I think if you show the parking attendant your Guest Assistance Card, they'll usually let you park a little closer to the gates and/or be let off wherever the parking-lot wheelchairs are.
#7...There are parking-lot wheelchairs, usually near the front of the lots.
#8...If you have to get an ECV (Electric Convenience Vehicle) while at WDW, make arrangements ahead of time to rent from an off-site company. Look on the DIS-Abilities forum for recommended companies to deal with. Also, before you leave home consider renting one for a day so you can get some road-time. If you do get an ECV, look over the DIS-Abilities forum for appropriate threads (boarding busses, wait-times, etc).
WDW is do-able when you have mobility issues, if they are permanent or temporary. WDW is one of the most accessible vacation destinations you can go to. Just plan, plan, plan...and PLAN ON HAVING FUN
.
agnes!
I broke my toe while *at* WDW last summer, this is some of what I think you should consider:
#1...If at all possible, does your resort have a hot tub? I know this might sound petty, but I broke my toe last year at Disney and in my opinion a hot tub is crucial. All deluxe resorts (*except* the Polynesian) and all moderates have hot tubs.
#2...Make sure you call CRO/WDTC, explain to them that you MUST have a room close to bus stop, food court, HOT TUB
teeth and on the first floor.#3...Rent a wheelchair, at least at the parks. Seriously. I did not get one the day of and the day after the break and we did the parks and it was STUPID not to. Once we had that wheelchair, it made getting around so much easier.
#4...Don't just do a one-day rental every single day you're there, get MULTI-DAY rental vouchers at the first park you visit. You'll save money and time. Once you get your vouchers, you wont have to stand in line at the cashiers, you can just get your wheelchair. A couple of things...the vouchers are good at any of the parks, if you want to park-hop keep your receipt from the first park and you won't have to pay again at the second.
#5...If you really can't walk, if it is going to take extra time wheeling around the parks, if you will have to wait for a special bus...*please* consider getting a Guest Assistance pass. I felt funny getting one, since I am not considered 'handicapped', but it was a God-send. We spent so much more time getting to/from attractions and couldn't do our usual crazy running around getting Fast-Passes. It just took so much more time to just get around.
#6...If you haven't already, consider renting a car. Rather than waiting for a special bus or having to climb in and out of busses, you can get around in your own car. You might not have a handicapped plate on your car, but I think if you show the parking attendant your Guest Assistance Card, they'll usually let you park a little closer to the gates and/or be let off wherever the parking-lot wheelchairs are.
#7...There are parking-lot wheelchairs, usually near the front of the lots.
#8...If you have to get an ECV (Electric Convenience Vehicle) while at WDW, make arrangements ahead of time to rent from an off-site company. Look on the DIS-Abilities forum for recommended companies to deal with. Also, before you leave home consider renting one for a day so you can get some road-time. If you do get an ECV, look over the DIS-Abilities forum for appropriate threads (boarding busses, wait-times, etc).
WDW is do-able when you have mobility issues, if they are permanent or temporary. WDW is one of the most accessible vacation destinations you can go to. Just plan, plan, plan...and PLAN ON HAVING FUN
.agnes!
Anyways, he is on his feet all day @ work and the pain kept getting worse. Sent him to the primary care dr on Monday and it was xrayed - looks like it's broken in the joint area, the last of 3 bones of that toe. We're headed to the orthopedic surgeon today to find out what's going to happen. I'm going too, to make sure he tells the doc everything, like we're leaving in 4-1/2 wks for Disney! 
Other than that, I know when we went about 3 yrs ago and took my 74 yr old mom with us in a wheel chair, the CMs were very nice in getting us up to the front of alot of rides (to use the special wheelchair boats), and we got prime seating areas for the parades 
