son in law's first trip to WDW....in need of information

[disneyholic family]

i don't even know where to begin - i have so many questions...

we'll be at WDW this summer, for 2 weeks (of fun in the sun )
it's always been the 4 of us - me, DH, DD and DS...

DD and DS got married (not to each other ) and this trip will be both couples' honeymoons...

so it's 6 of us on this trip...

DSIL was in a terrible accident 5 years ago (fell off a 40 foot cliff)...
long story - doctors were sure he wouldn't survive and if he did, were sure he would be paralyzed. After 25 hours in surgery, he miraculously survived and walks.

There is not really any outward sign of the fact that his back was broken in several places and that he's put together with pins and plates.
(the only sign is a long scar on his scalp)..

so if you look at him, you'll never know he has any physical issue....and he's a tough looking guy, so it's even less obvious..

he can't stand or walk for extended periods (in fact, even sitting can be an issue - we have to fly for 13 hours non-stop....the only way the doctor would permit him to fly for that length of time was in business class....so he'll be up in business class, while the rest of us are in economy)..

so....

i've been to WDW a gazillion times, but never with anyone needing assistance...

so i totally don't know what to do..

well....i do know that i should bring a doctor's note for him to get a GAC card for the two weeks we're there...

but i don't know what it means for each attraction..

what happens for waiting in line?

for example - at the nemo musical....there is a long line....is there a place where he can sit down while we wait in line?
or at great movie ride...is there some place he can sit while we wait?
or any of the places where there are pre-shows....is there a place he can sit?
well i suppose he could sit down on the floor....though i don't know if that's comfortable for him..

i suppose we could take a wheelchair and then have him sit in it just for when we're waiting...

what should he ask his doctor to write on the note to disney?
he also has to have his doctor write a note to the airline - he has to carry this special bed with him, and it's a bit larger than a regular carry on....so i'm hoping that a note will get the bed on board with us....
it's too dangerous for it to go in the hold - if it gets lost with the luggage, he won't be able to sleep - he can't lie down without that special bed...

anyway, any information you can share would be very much appreciated!!!

 

[livndisney]

i don't even know where to begin - i have so many questions...

we'll be at WDW this summer, for 2 weeks (of fun in the sun )
it's always been the 4 of us - me, DH, DD and DS...

DD and DS got married (not to each other ) and this trip will be both couples' honeymoons...

so it's 6 of us on this trip...

DSIL was in a terrible accident 5 years ago (fell off a 40 foot cliff)...
long story - doctors were sure he wouldn't survive and if he did, were sure he would be paralyzed. After 25 hours in surgery, he miraculously survived and walks.

There is not really any outward sign of the fact that his back was broken in several places and that he's put together with pins and plates.
(the only sign is a long scar on his scalp)..

so if you look at him, you'll never know he has any physical issue....and he's a tough looking guy, so it's even less obvious..

he can't stand or walk for extended periods (in fact, even sitting can be an issue - we have to fly for 13 hours non-stop....the only way the doctor would permit him to fly for that length of time was in business class....so he'll be up in business class, while the rest of us are in economy)..

so....

i've been to WDW a gazillion times, but never with anyone needing assistance...

so i totally don't know what to do..

well....i do know that i should bring a doctor's note for him to get a GAC card for the two weeks we're there...

but i don't know what it means for each attraction..

what happens for waiting in line?

for example - at the nemo musical....there is a long line....is there a place where he can sit down while we wait in line?
or at great movie ride...is there some place he can sit while we wait?
or any of the places where there are pre-shows....is there a place he can sit?
well i suppose he could sit down on the floor....though i don't know if that's comfortable for him..

i suppose we could take a wheelchair and then have him sit in it just for when we're waiting...

what should he ask his doctor to write on the note to disney?
he also has to have his doctor write a note to the airline - he has to carry this special bed with him, and it's a bit larger than a regular carry on....so i'm hoping that a note will get the bed on board with us....
it's too dangerous for it to go in the hold - if it gets lost with the luggage, he won't be able to sleep - he can't lie down without that special bed...

anyway, any information you can share would be very much appreciated!!!

No note is required for Disney. Disney's answer to mobility issues such as standing in lines is to rent a wheelchair or ECV. This would give your SIL a place to sit when he needs to. For a 2 week rental you will want to rent offsite for a better price. If you look at the sticky at the start of this thread there is a list of companies to rent from.

The best way to not stand in line, is to use a good touring plan and good use of fastpass. There is not a GAC to not stand in line.

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks for the pointer!

i'm reading....

 

[LMC]

My DH rented a scooter from Apple Scooter last year. I would recommend them; they deliver and pick up from your resort. The scooter stay charged all day long. I would consider a ECV over a push wheelchair because I sometimes pushed my then 15yo, when his endurance ran out, in a regular wc and I think it would be tough pushing a larger person all day.
With a few minutes of practice, he will be zipping around.
I don't know about what you have to do for access in the lines with the ECV because my DH could not ride that trip due to his injury so he did not wait in the ride lines with us.

 

[disneyholic family]

My DH rented a scooter from Apple Scooter last year. I would recommend them; they deliver and pick up from your resort. The scooter stay charged all day long. I would consider a ECV over a push wheelchair because I sometimes pushed my then 15yo, when his endurance ran out, in a regular wc and I think it would be tough pushing a larger person all day.
With a few minutes of practice, he will be zipping around.
I don't know about what you have to do for access in the lines with the ECV because my DH could not ride that trip due to his injury so he did not wait in the ride lines with us.

it does sound like a good idea....all that walking between attractions will probably be too difficult for him after a while...
it's really a lot of walking..

i'll have a look

 

[livndisney]

My DH rented a scooter from Apple Scooter last year. I would recommend them; they deliver and pick up from your resort. The scooter stay charged all day long. I would consider a ECV over a push wheelchair because I sometimes pushed my then 15yo, when his endurance ran out, in a regular wc and I think it would be tough pushing a larger person all day.
With a few minutes of practice, he will be zipping around.
I don't know about what you have to do for access in the lines with the ECV because my DH could not ride that trip due to his injury so he did not wait in the ride lines with us.

Most lines have access for wheelchairs. The few that don't you will be directed what to do.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Because sitting for a long time is difficult for him, be prepared to have somebody who is able bodied have to drive the ECV at times. I know it may feel "wrong" because the person who'll be driving during that time doesn't need it, but the person with the mobility problem needs that at times so it's just what you need to do as a group. I put wrong in quotes because it's NOT wrong when it's what you have to do but it can be difficult to get past that feeling. If (big IF) you can't get comfortable with the idea of doing this then a manual wheelchair might be an idea. I think the ECV would be better so he has his independence and isn't relying on others to push him and he can face whatever direction he wants without having to constantly tell somebody where he wants to look but a manual wheelchair is an option. When he needs to sit he can and then when he needs to walk he can push the chair like a walker or somebody else can push it and just treat it like a cart that carries your stuff.

 

[livndisney]

Because sitting for a long time is difficult for him, be prepared to have somebody who is able bodied have to drive the ECV at times. I know it may feel "wrong" because the person who'll be driving during that time doesn't need it, but the person with the mobility problem needs that at times so it's just what you need to do as a group. I put wrong in quotes because it's NOT wrong when it's what you have to do but it can be difficult to get past that feeling. If (big IF) you can't get comfortable with the idea of doing this then a manual wheelchair might be an idea. I think the ECV would be better so he has his independence and isn't relying on others to push him and he can face whatever direction he wants without having to constantly tell somebody where he wants to look but a manual wheelchair is an option. When he needs to sit he can and then when he needs to walk he can push the chair like a walker or somebody else can push it and just treat it like a cart that carries your stuff.

There is also the option of parking the ecv (take the key with you) and he can walk awhile. Or you may discover that standing and stretching while taking a break helps break up the sitting.

 

[dclfun]

Just to address the issue of his bed on the plane. If it doesn't fit in the overhead or underneath the seat while he can gate-check it vs. putting it through with the luggage, there will be no place for you to bring it onboard with you. I'd call the airline, give measurements of the bag it's in, and see what they have to say. Many people have medical equipment that is extremely necessary, if not life-threatening if it's lost or broken, so you want to know ahead of time how it will be handled.---Kathy

 

[kchughes]

many people have handicaps that are not outwardly visible. I would still get a guest assistance card for your Son-in-Law. My DH has stomach issues and that card allowed him to rejoin us in line when he needed to make a "pitstop". We were offered no waiting, but we travel during value season, so don't know if they would do that during peak times. Not sure about the bed on the plane, but I would think that would need to be accomodated due to the disabilities act.

 

[disneyholic family]

oh wow!! so many good ideas and food for thought - things i didn't think about at all!!

Thanks so much. I so much want him to enjoy it and not feel as if he's causing any extra effort.

i have to remember to get DSIL to measure the carry on - i'm hoping the fact that he and DH are in business class for the transatlantic part of the trip and first class on the domestic portion will help with the carry on. ..sometimes they're willing to put oversized bags in the closet (together with the crew's oversized bags).....(DD and i will be in economy by the way -cursing the boys up front )

i was hoping that if DH carries it they won't notice it's too big (DH is 6'6" - as opposed to DSIL 5'6" )

 

[livndisney]

many people have handicaps that are not outwardly visible. I would still get a guest assistance card for your Son-in-Law. My DH has stomach issues and that card allowed him to rejoin us in line when he needed to make a "pitstop". We were offered no waiting, but we travel during value season, so don't know if they would do that during peak times. Not sure about the bed on the plane, but I would think that would need to be accomodated due to the disabilities act.

I would suggest to the op to read the sticky at the start of this thread for more information on the GAC as there is not really a way to "rejoin" the line. FOTL (no waiting) GAC are only given to MAW kids.

 

[disneyholic family]

I would suggest to the op to read the sticky at the start of this thread for more information on the GAC as there is not really a way to "rejoin" the line. FOTL (no waiting) GAC are only given to MAW kids.

i didn't even know there's such a thing as FOTL GAC...
well fortunately, we're not MAW, so if we have to wait, i would view that as a good thing

sort of digressing, but i had this issue last year with my sister...i took her to WDW last year...she has 3 different kinds of cancer - ovarian, breast and small cell lung...
i tried finding out from disney if there is anything i can do to avoid lines with her...she couldn't walk for too long, couldn't stand for too long, couldn't be in the sun, etc etc etc.
it was like talking to a wall.....i realized that if she's not MAW she's not anything (no matter how difficult her case is)..
so in the end i took her on a VIP tour....it cost me five arms and four legs, but it was the only way i could take her to the parks....

 

[Trekkie]

I'm with the other folks. Rent a wheelchair or ECV, and then you have the option of standing when you want, and sitting when you want.

You'll still have to wait in lines. (Although with the wheels, you'll actually get to skip a lot of those, depending on the ride.) And, when you are in line, he'll have his own chair.

And you can do things like restaurants by parking the vehicle and just walking.

In my experience, a lot of the people on various vehicles fall into the "I can walk, just not very far" category. My Mom and Dad were in that category, five years ago. (But not any more.)

 

[Piper]

i didn't even know there's such a thing as FOTL GAC...
well fortunately, we're not MAW, so if we have to wait, i would view that as a good thing

sort of digressing, but i had this issue last year with my sister...i took her to WDW last year...she has 3 different kinds of cancer - ovarian, breast and small cell lung...
i tried finding out from disney if there is anything i can do to avoid lines with her...she couldn't walk for too long, couldn't stand for too long, couldn't be in the sun, etc etc etc.
it was like talking to a wall.....i realized that if she's not MAW she's not anything (no matter how difficult her case is)..
so in the end i took her on a VIP tour....it cost me five arms and four legs, but it was the only way i could take her to the parks....

I can't walk or stand too long due to tumors on my spine--can't be in sun because of Lupus. Plus other issues that make things a tad complicated.

I use an ECV, fastpasses, and a good touring plan. I have a great time without doing a VIP tour (even though I can't ride the fast or jerky rides.) Disney does care about those with mobility issues--front of the line does nothing about how far you walk between attractions! If you have mobility problems, you need to rent or bring your own WC or ECV

 

[disneyholic family]

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