Son in a cast... a few questions?

[4menandalady]

OK so my son had to be put in a cast on Tuesday from the knee down for a fracture in his foot. So I posted on the other board the other night and was told to come here for help. He has a walking boot but it is heavy and he gets tired. So what would be your plan?? We have 6 days and I want him to enjoy this trip as much as possible because it is his first. I don't expect special treatment but what are some things I can do to make sure he enjoys his trip. THanks

 

[anonymousegirl]

He will probably need a child's wheelchair and those are best rented from an off site company. Be sure and pick up the special park map at each park that details the various wheelchair-accessible entrances. This will also tell you if he needs to transfer to a different chair for the actual ride.

 

[SteveMouse]

How old is the child?

 

[clanmcculloch]

How old/big is he? DD10 had a heavy boot due to a broken ankle last August so I can sympathize. We rented her a 16" wheelchair and it was perfect. There's no way she could have handled WDW without it. Of course not only did she have to deal with the weight but the doctor also wanted her keeping weight off because it was a growth plate fracture. She was around 4'9" and 80ish lb and as I said, 16" was the perfect size for her. Standard wheelchairs are 18". Make sure you get a wheelchair that is the right size so he'll be comfortable. We also liked having a chair where the legs lift and support behind the calf so we could put up her leg if we were sitting around to prevent swelling. I'd also bring ziploc baggies to fill with ice from CS locations so you can cool down his leg when sitting around.

 

[4menandalady]

Thanks for all the advice. He is 8 years old and about 65lbs. I was wondering if the wheelchairs at Disney would be too big. He can walk on it but gets tired from lugging that foot around. What offsite company did you guys use? I called apple scooter and am thinking about going with that one. Thanks in advance.

 

[peemagg]

I would use the ones from Apple. This way you also have it around the resort.

One tip I would do is try and get one of those cast covers that allow him to possibly swim or at least wade in the pool a bit. I would also take a garbage bag (or the cast cover) with you into the parks to cover the cast in the event of rain or a wet ride.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I used K&M Rentals for our 16" chair. The chairs in the parks are 18". We used 18" chairs at the airport and DD10 was swimming in it; note that she was bigger than your DS. Whatever company you choose, make sure of the size of the chair and ask if the legs can be raised to support an elevated foot.

Just to give you an idea of sizing, here's DD10 in her 16" chair. You can see that a bigger chair would have been too long in the seat and too wide in the body. As it was, it would have been better with lower arm rests. Again, she had just turned 10 and was around 4'9" and 80-85lb. I know the second shot doesn't show the chair well but I don't seem to have many pictures from the side to show how she fit in it.

If he wouldn't feel uncomfortable, you can also consider a stroller instead of a wheelchair. At 10yo my DD wouldn't even think about a stroller but at 8 your DS may be ok with that. If you go with this option, you might want to consider a stroller as a wheelchair tag just in case he gets tired quicker than you're anticipating.

A manual wheelchair doesn't have to be difficult on the busses. You have the option of folding it up like a stroller so you don't have to take up as many seats or have it strapped down. You still enter through the back of the bus like with any other mobility device but it's so much easier to just fold it and hold onto it. Some drivers will insist on strapping it down which isn't a big deal but when given the choice, folding it really is simpler.

Totally unrelated advice: Make sure he ALWAYS wears a sock with the boot. OMG that thing gets nasty and it's not easy to clean.

 

[welovespacemoutain]

I would use the ones from Apple. This way you also have it around the resort.

One tip I would do is try and get one of those cast covers that allow him to possibly swim or at least wade in the pool a bit. I would also take a garbage bag (or the cast cover) with you into the parks to cover the cast in the event of rain or a wet ride.

We forgot the cast cover one day and had to use plastic shopping bags and rubber bands to keep DD's foot dry - so even if you don't intend for it to get wet (water ride), prepare for rain!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Great point about the rain. We brought white kitchen garbage bags in case of rain and for water rides. It worked like a charm.

For the pool our doctor told us she could take the boot off to swim (which I found weird since she was supposed to keep weight off of it) as long as she kept weight off. Ask his doctor for recommendations for what to do about the pool. I hear that there are inflatable casts that work wonderfully in pools; maybe the doctor is familiar with these or has other recommendations.

 

[thesaurinis]

Rent a wheel chair off property. Ones in Disney aren't the best and are pricey. Once you have the wheel chair go to guest relations and get a card/pass to use the wheelchair through the line and they will pull you up through fast pass area. My son used a stroller when we went 2 yrs ago in place of a wheel chair and thats what a CM told us to do get that pass. It will help you out in more than 1 way.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, especially Post #2 where people rent wheelchairs.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

In addition, you might want to talk to the person who will be removing the cast. Have a line drawn on the cast where it will be cut for removal. Then bring along some "Sharpies" and have the characters autograph the cast, asking them to make sure their signature does not directly cross the line.

Once the cast is removed and fully dried out, you will then have a very unusual souvenir of the trip.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Rent a wheel chair off property. Ones in Disney aren't the best and are pricey. Once you have the wheel chair go to guest relations and get a card/pass to use the wheelchair through the line and they will pull you up through fast pass area. My son used a stroller when we went 2 yrs ago in place of a wheel chair and thats what a CM told us to do get that pass. It will help you out in more than 1 way.

You don't need any kind of special pass to take a wheelchair into lines. That's only needed when you're using a stroller as a wheelchair.

 

[KPeveler]

Rent a wheel chair off property. Ones in Disney aren't the best and are pricey. Once you have the wheel chair go to guest relations and get a card/pass to use the wheelchair through the line and they will pull you up through fast pass area. My son used a stroller when we went 2 yrs ago in place of a wheel chair and thats what a CM told us to do get that pass. It will help you out in more than 1 way.

Also, now that almost all lines are mainstreamed, using a wheelchair or Guest Assistance Card will NOT put you into Fastpass lines. You will wait as long as all other guests, occasionally a little shorter, sometimes longer. Though some guests report they were directed to the FP line, you should never count on that happening, as it is not Disney policy.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I would use the ones from Apple. This way you also have it around the resort.

One tip I would do is try and get one of those cast covers that allow him to possibly swim or at least wade in the pool a bit. I would also take a garbage bag (or the cast cover) with you into the parks to cover the cast in the event of rain or a wet ride.

I was going to suggest this but someone beat me to it. My DD is a fish. She could live in the pool. While under the supervision of her older DSs, I was out doing groceries and they ere 17 and 19 at the time, she got burned. She had made some popcorn in the microwave. She had just turned 12. Instead of asking for their help in melting butter she decided to do it herself. She had watched them do it in the microwave many times. Well not understanding that the dish would be hot she took it out of the microwave and dropped it intantly. Hot butter all over her forearm. We were to be leaving for Disney 3and 1/2 weeks later. We got one of those inflatable cast covers so she could take a shower and such. We just slipped it on over the bandages and inflated it. She was thrilled to be able to go in the pool at the resort and her bandages never got wet. So go and enjoy. He we be fine.