Sciatica, ECV and GAC advice please

[StitchSpawn]

Hi, first let me say I have no expericnce with ECV's or GAC, but I told my DSIL who has a herniated disc and sciatica (what I think is developing into a severe level) that we should seriously consider those options for her.

Anyways, my question is: I saw that a lot of rides and lines are ECV accessible, but does that mean DSIL HAS to go on riding ECV? Can we leave it in the stroller area? I think just walking long distances will be a problem or standing for long periods of time. I don't know what we will need to do exactly, it will depend on her pain level.

I don't know what we should do, none of my party has had this issue. Any suggestions? We can't postpone our trip unfortunately.

Oh, but we know we will want to rent Disney's ECV. DSIL doesn't want to take an ECV on and off the buses, but she'll need a seat on the bus for sure.

 

[livndisney]

Hi, first let me say I have no expericnce with ECV's or GAC, but I told my DSIL who has a herniated disc and sciatica (what I think is developing into a severe level) that we should seriously consider those options for her.

Anyways, my question is: I saw that a lot of rides and lines are ECV accessible, but does that mean DSIL HAS to go on riding ECV? Can we leave it in the stroller area? I think just walking long distances will be a problem or standing for long periods of time. I don't know what we will need to do exactly, it will depend on her pain level.

I don't know what we should do, none of my party has had this issue. Any suggestions? We can't postpone our trip unfortunately.

Oh, but we know we will want to rent Disney's ECV. DSIL doesn't want to take an ECV on and off the buses, but she'll need a sit on the bus for sure.

She can park the ECV and walk when she wants to. A GAC is not needed as WDW's answer to mobility issues is to rent a ECV/wheelchair. So it sounds like you DSIL has a good plan

 

[StitchSpawn]

where do you park ECVs? In the stroller areas or are there separate areas for parking ECVs?

 

[livndisney]

where do you park ECVs? In the stroller areas or are there separate areas for parking ECVs?

In the stroller areas. There are not seperate ECV parking areas. When you park the ECV make sure your DSIL takes the key with her.

 

[StitchSpawn]

thank you!

 

[StitchSpawn]

My DSIL will need a GAC, if we end up in a 45min line with no where for her to sit she will be in a lot of physical pain, but we will also need an ECV, thanks!

 

[livndisney]

My DSIL will need a GAC, if we end up in a 45min line with no where for her to sit she will be in a lot of physical pain, but we will also need an ECV, thanks!

A GAC will not give her a place to sit. And ECV will. With an ECV you don't need a GAC.

 

[KPeveler]

My DSIL will need a GAC, if we end up in a 45min line with no where for her to sit she will be in a lot of physical pain, but we will also need an ECV, thanks!

A GAC will not help you in this situation at all. Once you are in a line, you can rarely reach a CM. Also, all the CM would do is have you leave the line. If you think she may need the ECV, bring it with you.

A GAC does not provide a place to sit, and there are almost no places to sit inside either queue lines or exits.

My advice is to always keep the ECV with you. Just the queue alone for Soarin is 1/4 mile long (inside the building, even longer from the bottom of the hill outside the pavilion), and 1/4 mile out.

I am not certain what you think a GAC would be able to help with, since you are already renting an ECV.

 

[StitchSpawn]

A GAC will not help you in this situation at all. Once you are in a line, you can rarely reach a CM. Also, all the CM would do is have you leave the line. If you think she may need the ECV, bring it with you.

A GAC does not provide a place to sit, and there are almost no places to sit inside either queue lines or exits.

My advice is to always keep the ECV with you. Just the queue alone for Soarin is 1/4 mile long (inside the building, even longer from the bottom of the hill outside the pavilion), and 1/4 mile out.

I am not certain what you think a GAC would be able to help with, since you are already renting an ECV.

I know that there is no where to sit in line, and I know we should use FP when able to, but if we can avoid standing in a line full of people for long periods of time by going into an alternate lines, which I know sometimes are available, then that will be a good option for us. We aren't trying to take advantage of anything. It will actually help her. Being out and up is going to be painful for her. Existance is painful for her right now, hence why I wish we could postpone our trip, but we can't. I'm hoping heavy medication and any assistance disney can provide will help her. She probably won't be able to ride much in the first place.

Also, do any rides have elevators? I know for splash mountain has stairs in the line...can my DSIL go up an elevator instead? She just said stairs are painful for her.

 

[StitchSpawn]

I already read on multiple sites that GAC are available for people who certain physical disabilities, such as sciatica, She has trouble being in any position for a long period of time, sitting, standing, walking for long periods, going up stairs...moving or not moving for long periods, is physically painful.

 

[StitchSpawn]

I will suggest we keep the ECV with is then if it's better to do so, but if she wants to walk and the line is even 20 minutes long...Looking at her now, she won't make it, but sitting all day in a ECV isn't healthy for her either.

 

[livndisney]

I know that there is no where to sit in line, and I know we should use FP when able to, but if we can avoid standing in a line full of people for long periods of time by going into an alternate lines, which I know sometimes are available, then that will be a good option for us. We aren't trying to take advantage of anything. It will actually help her. Being out and up is going to be painful for her. Existance is painful for her right now, hence why I wish we could postpone our trip, but we can't. I'm hoping heavy medication and any assistance disney can provide will help her. She probably won't be able to ride much in the first place.

Also, do any rides have elevators? I know for splash mountain has stairs in the line...can my DSIL go up an elevator instead? She just said stairs are painful for her.

Splash Moutain does not have an elevator. And there are no "alternate lines". Most of the lines at WDW are mainstreamed so you Dsil can sit in the ecv through the line. If your DSIL is in the ECV she has a place to sit until she can board a ride.


If you want her to avoid "standing in lines", you can use Fastpass, use a good touring plan, have her sit in the ECV until she can board.

The best way to avoid standing in line is to sit in line-hence the ECV.

 

[KPeveler]

GACs are not given for diagnoses, but to help meet certain invisible needs. If the need is primarily mobility or stamina related, as this one seems to be, Disney will request that you use a wheelchair or ECV. As you are already doing this, then that will not be a problem.

There are times an ECV cannot go through the regular line, like at Splash Mountain. In this case a guest will either have a visual cue (such as the ECV), or a GAC stating that the guest cannot climb stairs. In this case, the guest and up to 5 people with that guest will be re-routed into a different line.

Be aware that these alternate accessible entries are NOT shorter, and are often longer to wait. The last time I was in WDW, I waited 45 minutes for Jungle Cruise when the stand-by wait was 5-10 minutes because I could not use the standard entrance. (I use a wheelchair).

If your SIL wants to walk, I suggest having another member of the party drive the scooter for a few minutes. This allows her to walk, keeps the ECV with you, and even allows another member of your party to rest for a few.

Even if you had a GAC for the party, there is still almost never anywhere to sit once you enter a queue or ride.

There is no way to shorten the wait time, whatever other sites may have said. Your SIL should plan on waiting the full time, and come up with coping strategies for this.

I totally understand the pain she is in - I have constantly (as in 3 times a day) dislocating SI joints, as well as a bad back due to a rare genetic condition, which means I have constant, daily, bilateral sciatica. It is incredibly painful. I suggest looking into those Thermacare heat-wraps - I find heat helps calm the nerve pain a great deal.

I also use a wheelchair in daily life, so I get that sitting all day is NOT fun. I suggest bringing along a cushion for your SIL that she can use for some of the rides that allow it (like Jungle Cruise) - sitting on hard seats can make sciatica a lot worse, even for just 10 minutes...

Hope this helps you plan!

 

[StitchSpawn]

I realize GAC is not a pass for instant ride access and sometimes the regular line will be better or just as good. I guess if she can take her ECV on, then we should...we're not trying to take advantage of anything. I have been hoping to avoid this in the first place, but she's getting worse not better.

Anywhere I can find tips about places she can hang out while we ride rides she can't? I know Star Tours and Test Track are most likely out. Anything jerky...Heck, anything but shows might hurt her at this point, poor thing...I would be so sad if I had to miss out...

But I know anything jerky is out.

 

[StitchSpawn]

She has a bunch of those cushion things and I will definitely tell her to bring them along.

 

[StitchSpawn]

GACs are not given for diagnoses, but to help meet certain invisible needs. If the need is primarily mobility or stamina related, as this one seems to be, Disney will request that you use a wheelchair or ECV. As you are already doing this, then that will not be a problem.

There are times an ECV cannot go through the regular line, like at Splash Mountain. In this case a guest will either have a visual cue (such as the ECV), or a GAC stating that the guest cannot climb stairs. In this case, the guest and up to 5 people with that guest will be re-routed into a different line.

Be aware that these alternate accessible entries are NOT shorter, and are often longer to wait. The last time I was in WDW, I waited 45 minutes for Jungle Cruise when the stand-by wait was 5-10 minutes because I could not use the standard entrance. (I use a wheelchair).

If your SIL wants to walk, I suggest having another member of the party drive the scooter for a few minutes. This allows her to walk, keeps the ECV with you, and even allows another member of your party to rest for a few.

Even if you had a GAC for the party, there is still almost never anywhere to sit once you enter a queue or ride.

There is no way to shorten the wait time, whatever other sites may have said. Your SIL should plan on waiting the full time, and come up with coping strategies for this.

I totally understand the pain she is in - I have constantly (as in 3 times a day) dislocating SI joints, as well as a bad back due to a rare genetic condition, which means I have constant, daily, bilateral sciatica. It is incredibly painful. I suggest looking into those Thermacare heat-wraps - I find heat helps calm the nerve pain a great deal.

I also use a wheelchair in daily life, so I get that sitting all day is NOT fun. I suggest bringing along a cushion for your SIL that she can use for some of the rides that allow it (like Jungle Cruise) - sitting on hard seats can make sciatica a lot worse, even for just 10 minutes...

Hope this helps you plan!

any suggestions for things she shouldn't ride with this kind of pain? the last thing I want is to have to go to the hospital because a ride hurt her more.

 

[jdb in AZ]

any suggestions for things she shouldn't ride with this kind of pain? the last thing I want is to have to go to the hospital because a ride hurt her more.

When in doubt, ask a CM at the ride entrance. Several of the rides have warning signage, advising people not to ride if they have heart conditions, back problems, pregnant, etc.

 

[StitchSpawn]

When in doubt, ask a CM at the ride entrance. Several of the rides have warning signage, advising people not to ride if they have heart conditions, back problems, pregnant, etc.

I keep thinking...isn't that or couldn't that be a lot of rides? Thanks for letting me know, but I just wish she didn't have to miss out. She may not feel that way, but I will feel aweful for her...

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Echoing that staying in the ECV up until boarding or up to the farthest point she's allowed to take it is your best bet. Even if lines aren't long waits, they can be long distances, some with small slopes throughout the line.

I believe there's some other rides with stairs, I know the Dinosaur ride at AK has them, but if there's back problems this is a ride best avoided as its very jerky.

As for what she can and can't go on, it's really going to be a matter of how she feels. What may be tolerable for one person may not be for another.

This will sound unrelated but I promose it makes sense...my mom gets motion sick pretty easily, but can do most of the rides at Disney. My point is that there's lot of slow and smooth moving rides there so there should be a decent number that she'll be able to ride.

 

[StitchSpawn]

just saying...don't post if you don't know what you are talking about, but to everyone else, thanks for the advice. I am still very concerned, but we will do the best we can do and I am going to pray somehow she feels better on the trip.

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