Special Accomodation

[kutchyone]

My husband has a mobility issue but thank God is not wheelchair bound. He suffers from degenerative disc disease and shattered his heel from a fall. Five surgeries later on his heel and too many to count on the back and he was declared permanently disabled five years ago. The last two trips we knew he would not be able to share with the family but our 16 year old daughter has requested this “family” trip and he is going to give it his best. I have built into our itinerary that every other day is a day of rest for him. Since my husband does not have an obvious disability can he receive any special accommodation in the theme parks, similar to those granted to guests with an obvious disability? A place for him to sit while waiting in line would be great, my daughter and I could wait in the line while he sat and waited and then when we got to the front of the line he could then join us. I am very grateful for any help or advice that anyone can provide.

 

[kilee]

Guest assistance passes are made available for these exact issues. Your husband still might find it beneficial to rent an ECV while there. It may help him enjoy the trip more. We did this for my MIL last spring (she doesn't require one at home, but it was too much walking and she would of never made it---she's only 48 but has had numerous back surgeries as well).

Also, the disabilities board has tons of info you may find useful. I found lots of great info and tips there when we took my MIL.

 

[Rachie0507]

Would he consider using a wheel chair? My mother was in a similar situation before her surgery and it made a huge difference. She went to WDW one year before she has double knee replacement. While she was able to walk and stand for short periods of time to do everyday activities, she knew walking around the parks would be a big challenge. She qualified for a wheelchair through her insurance company and decided to get one. She had to put aside her pride and admit she needed help and be in the chair while at parks. The CM's were very helpful in all areas of the parks even though she didn't have an obvious disability. I think she realized that being in a wheel chair at WDW with her family was better than not being in WDW at all.

 

[JoyMouse]

Yes, they will help you out! Most CM's are great. Be sure to get a GAC at one park, it will be good at all parks for the length of your stay. It was wonderful for us! My youngest DD is in a wheelchair for long distances so we found out that the GAC is the best route for us to take. Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions, also check with the disAbility board...it's great! Good Luck!

 

[civileng68]

HI there KutchyOne,

Maybe I can help. My dad suffers from the EXACT same problem. My dad has the degenerative disc problem and has a bad problem with drop foot. He just had an experimental back surgery that helped tons to relive the pain. However he still has drop foot and has hurt his foot/ankle from it also.

One thing to do is to definately get a wheelchair if he will do it. My dad is a prideful man but I really wanted him to go with us and not be in pain. It's one thing that he doesnt HAVE to be in a wheelchair, but remember, you want him to enjoy himself, which is hard with that problem. I rented my dad a wheelchair and he had a blast! He also had his doctor make him a lower leg brace. Basically they took a mold of his entire lower leg and gave him a clear brace that goes down the back of his calf and into his shoe under his foot. It basically keeps him from having drop foot. It keeps the foot from dropping while taking steps. This helped during areas where he needs to walk.

I would highly suggest getting a wheelchair though. It really will make life easier. Also, I dont know about your husband, but because of this problem, my dad tires easily, because of the extra work to get around, so be careful like you said, to give plenty of rest time.

Just so you know, my dad has the condition very badly (he had to have part of his vertabre removed in surgery) and even with this condition you can go and have fun.

 

[Lives4Disney]

I have a daughter with a retinal degeneration disease (RP). She cannot see in the dark, has severe peripheral vision loss and more - but she looks like a regular kid. This past trip we took over Thanksgiving she used her white cane - first trip ever with it - and boy did we discover how kind most of the CMs can be!! I think all you have to do is go and speak to the CMs at the attractions and explain a bit what the needs are. They will be very accomodating to your husband, I am sure of it. Also, at guest services you can get a "guest assistance card or pass" (I believe that is what they are called) You just explain the situation to the CM there, hopefully they can offer suggestions of accomodations, and they will give you this card that you can show to the attraction CMS. Good luck - I am sure you will have a terrific time. You should also check the DISabilities for more ideas. Just wanted to give you some assurance that most CMs will be flexible and kind!!

 

[kutchyone]

Thanks everyone, I have already suggested the wheelchair to him and he has vehemently refused. He does tire easily and I know that the patch that he wears for pain will run out much faster because of the heat and exercise. We would only require a little help, him sitting while my daughter and I stood in the line representing the family. Can you explain what a GAC is and how I can get one of them? The CM at Central Reservation had commented about what a nice long stay, 10 days, we were going to have and I then explained the reason why. She guaranteed us a ground floor at CSR and said someone from the Special Request Department would be in contact with me within 24 hours to discuss any other needs that they could assist us with concerning our resort room.

 

[LindaR]

I am 42 and have had two spinal surgeries. Deg. Disc Disease, nerve damage down right leg, etc...I was quite concerned how I would handle our first vacation post surgery (I'm a single mom). I got the GAC (useless). I did, however, find that it was absolutely necessary for me to take a break in the middle of the day to go back to the resort to lie down for about 2 hours. Your husband sounds like he really needs an ECV (or he may be the cause of a rather disappointing vacation for the rest of you). I didn't really find places for me to sit down while waiting in line in most places. There are "areas" for wheelchairs and EVC's to "park and wait" but not any seats. Last year, I averaged 10+ miles a day walking (wore pedometer).

From my own experience........he sounds "less able" than I am and I really advise you to convince him to rent an EVC. That way he won't feel like a "party pooper" and HE will get to enjoy the same things the rest of the family is enjoying!

 

[LindaR]

You'll also find LOTS of info over on the disABILITIES board!

 

[LindaR]

The Guest Assistance Card. Whatever the first park is that you go to on your first day.........long, wasn't that.......you go to Guest Services inside that park........I always have a brief note from my doctor.....and the CM will give you the card. You only have to do this once. The card is good for each park for the length of your stay and encompasses all in your party (so that dad is not waiting in a different area than the rest of your party).

 

[Lives4Disney]

The GAC or GAP (card or pass not sure) - you can get one in each park at Guest relations, I believe. You just go and explain the situation and your husband's needs. The CM should give you a card to show at each attraction. The CMs running the attractions may not even make you all wait in line at the attractions, but just take you through a back way to board the ride. That sounds like the best thing for you all. They offered it to us many times without our even showing the card or asking for anything. Lucy did have her cane, however, which is an obvious clue that she is vision impaired. Warning - some CMs may get a bit testy if you push for the skipping lines thing. Be careful how you put it. We never even suggested it, but at MGM it was brought it up by a French guest services lady and we almost found ourselves on the defensive. We just said we wanted to speak to someone else and we did. They were much kinder.


We had no problem waiting in line with our daughter, however, it was just sometimes a boarding issue (in the dark etc) But in your case, it may work out better for you all to just skip the lines and get into the hadicapped line for preferential boarding.

It's great someone is expected to phone you. You can definitely get more info from that source.

Good luck and have a great vacation!!

 

[kutchyone]

Thanks again. I will make sure that his doctor writes something up for him. It would be so much easier if he was willing to use an ECV or ECV (sorry). Just to have a place for him sit while we wait in line on his behalf would be great. I know he will just die if anyone would question his disability or say anything derogatory to him concerning any special treatment. We do plan on taking every other day off to give him a break and we may even decide to take a break in the middle of some days at the park. This is also our first trip in peak season having toured always in September and October. Between the heat, crowds, pain medication and his not being able to sleep this should be a great trip. Maybe I should rethink this whole thing.

 

[LindaR]

Well, I WILL warn you that you will ALWAYS encounter people who are ignorant and freely share their ignorance! You will get "looks" and "comments" because these people just don't have a clue. That's really THEIR problem. If you know that this is gonna happen, it won't be a surprise and you won't allow it to ruin your vacation.

Those scooters will be a godsend. There are lots and lots of people with all kinds of disabilities and WDW is a wonderful vacation for all of us. He may "feel" like he'll stand out, but once he looks around, he'll see that all kinds of people go to WDW!

A scooter will give him the ability to see and do most everything. He just parks it and gets on the attraction like the rest of you. It just "saves" the walking all day part!

 

[disneygoof]

Well, I WILL warn you that you will ALWAYS encounter people who are ignorant and freely share their ignorance! You will get "looks" and "comments" because these people just don't have a clue...

Probably so, but you will never see those people again so don't let it bother you.

I rented the chairs a few years back due to an invisible disability and thought I'd feel funny, but was quite comfortable within a short while. It really allowed me to make the days last. They gave me the gift of time.

 

[kidangel]

Get the wheelchair or ECV. My DH has an "invisible" disability with similar challenges, and one of the reasons WDW is a repeat destination for us is precisely because it is so easy to use a wheelchair there and still have us and our kids experience the vacation. Will there be looks from ignorant outsiders? Perhaps - we haven't encountered any, or perhaps we just weren't paying attention. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised to see how well-trained WDW CMs seem to be in interacting with people in wheelchairs.

We've never used the GAC, having the wheelchair was fine.

Nothing can mar a vacation for the entire family faster than a cranky dad who's tired and in pain. And I'd suggest getting a wheelchair for the entire trip, not just in the parks. At many of the resorts, just the hike to the food court is enough to put you down for a day.

 

[rascalmom]

I have degenerative disk disease and fibromyalgia. I look perfectly healthy & for the most part I am, except for reduced stamina & pain. We have made several WDW trips since my back surgery & I must say we all have a better time when I get an ECV. I did get a GAC one year, but did not find that they usually were able to do much for me (like your husband, I really just wanted to have a place to sit while we were waiting our turn).

I find if I use the ECV to cover the longer distances across the parks that I can usually park it & walk to the ride & wait in the lines just fine, which allows me to spend more time with my family. I just rent the ECV at the park each day. We used an offsite ECV for my dad a few years back & found that getting on & off the buses was not worth the hassle. We always have a car & drive to the parks now. The parking lot trams take you nearer to the front gate most of the time than the resort buses. (exception MK)

I would go to Guest Services your first day & tell them what you need. Then if the GAC isn't working well enough, please try to encourage your husband to get the ECV. (Besides, in the heat the basket gives you a place to carry your water bottles). I don't know if your husband spasms, but if I spasmed in a park I'm sure that I couldn't get back to the gate on my own power. The ECV provides some insurance there. I've never had anyone be unkind - but you do have to be a very careful driver because people will step right out in front of you. Good luck! I hope you have a magical trip.

 

[kutchyone]

Once again I would like to thank all of you for sharing your experiences with me. Last night a very nice lady did contact me from the Special Request Department concerning our hotel room and she also siad to retn the ECV. I spoke to my husband about it and he still insists that he won't need it. You are absolutely right when you say a crancky Dad will make for a terrible vacation. I hope he rethinks his decision he may even decide on the second, third......day that he needs one.

Thanks again.

 

[phorsenuf]

I too have back problems as well as fibromyalgia. We went one year in April and I didn't get an ECV. We were leaving epcot one night and I cried the whole way out because I could barely walk. I was in so much pain! It was not the trip I had hoped for.
Then we went again in July and I rented an ECV. It was the best. Yes, I felt strange being young and having an invisible disability, but I was pain free and having a blast!
Never ever again will I attempt to walk those parks.
What I would recommend is show him all these responses. Make a deal with him, Do 1 day on his own, if its too much than its an ECV for the rest of the trip.

My DH also has problems walking (shattered both feet many years ago in an accident). On the last trip he didn't have much fun because it was too much walking and he said it would be a long time before he went back. I just told him next time we go, he's getting an ECV too.
Now he seems more receptive to go. Good luck and have fun!

 

[SueM in MN]

First of all, if you follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES Board, you will find a lot of information about renting wheelchairs/ecvs (in a FAQs thread) and look around the board for information about Guest Assistance Cards.
One of the problems for people who want a place to sit and wait is that there are almost no rides that actually have places to sit and wait once you are in line. Most of the lines are constructed so that it is not easy to see the rest of your party once they get to the entrance. And to prevent people from just going ahead in line, there is often not a way to get to the front of the line easily without going thru the line. Some of the shows have a large room for the waiting area for the preshow. Most of those have a few benches, but they are first come, so if someone is already sitting there when you arrive, you are out of luck.

So, for someone with what WDW calls "Endurance Problems" (difficulty walking distances or standing), the CMs usually recommend renting an ecv or wheelchair. That is really a common sense solution when you consider that the average attraction does not have any place to sit and wait and the average guest to WDW walks between 3 and 9 miles per day (most of it going from attraction to attraction, not standing in line.) Many of the lines are a long distance to walk (even in the Fastpass line - Three I can think of offhand are Bug's Life and the Safari in AK and the Pirate ride in MK).

If he doesn't want any special treatment, it might be helpful for him to know that all of the Fastpass lines and most of the regular lines are wheelchair accessible and most are ecv accessible. He will probably feel more strange about getting special treatment with a Guest Assistance Card than he would just going thru the regular lines with a wheelchair or ecv.

Another way to avoid standing in line is to use Fastpass. depending on exactly when you are going, you may find that the lines are not really that long (at certain times of the day, quite a few lines are walk right on).

My FIL finally rented an ecv for the first time on the last day of our trip last March (after "thinking" about it for many, many years). At the end of the day, he said it was the first time in years that he had ended his day at Epcot without pain. He also said he realized how much he had missed over the years, how foolish he felt for not getting one years ago. If someone uses an ecv, he may not need to take every other day as a rest day because he will not be expending so much energy at just getting around.

One little substitution has helped some posters to the disABILITIES Board with looking at ecvs/wheelchairs in a different way.Think of glasses - people use them because they have difficulty seeing without them. Most people would not try to avoid using glasses if they need them or put off using them until they absolutely could not manage without them. Everyone understands that glasses are a tool that help if you have vision difficulties. If you need glasses and you choose not to wear them, your eyes will get tired faster and you will probably end the day with a headache.
For someone with endurance problems, a wheelchair or ecv is the same sort of tool for a different part of the body.

 

[kutchyone]

Thank you and I agree 100%. I'm not going to argue with him about it. I hope that he may come to his senses and will realize that he probably won't be able to do it comfortably on his own. Sooner better then later. I won't let it put a damper on the vacation for my daughter and I. He can sit it out and join in when possible. He always has the option to rent.

Thanks again all.