Sternal precautions

[wiihoo888]

Hoping for some magical help here. I gave my mom a mother/daughter April trip to Disney for Christmas last year. She was soooo happy. Hasn’t stayed on property In over two decades, and this was her dream come true. Nothing is ever boring here, so we should have expected what happened next. She had open heart surgery on 1/30, and is just getting cleared to travel in time for our trip. Does anyone have any travel advice for those visiting Disney and still trying to adhere to sternal precautions? She will have an ECV and we will only be staying three nights. Thinking we should stay away from rides with low seating. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[kaytieeldr]

Her physician/medical professional would be best source for seat depth rides. Obviously no rides with warnings, though.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Yes I would not do pirates as she would have to use her arms to pull herself out of the boat. Small world she might be able to transfer to a regular wheelchair to ride (I don’t think a scooter can). Sorry I am too tired to think of much else right now

 

[wiihoo888]

Yes I would not do pirates as she would have to use her arms to pull herself out of the boat. Small world she might be able to transfer to a regular wheelchair to ride (I don’t think a scooter can). Sorry I am too tired to think of much else right now

Oh, that’s a really good thing to ask! I didn’t even think about transfer for Small World. She definitely wouldn’t be able to get out of the low seats. Pirates and Small World are two of her favorites, and it would be amazing if she got to ride at least one

I can’t recall....is the boat ride in Pandora just as difficult to raise up out of?

 

[wiihoo888]

Her physician/medical professional would be best source for seat depth rides. Obviously no rides with warnings, though.

It really is the seat depths that will get her. She has become like Wonder Woman getting up out of a regular chair without using her arms. Low boat rides are a completely different story. Wasn’t sure if there were other ones I may not be thinking of in the slow ride category. She has luckily never been a thrill ride kind of gal

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Oh, that’s a really good thing to ask! I didn’t even think about transfer for Small World. She definitely wouldn’t be able to get out of the low seats. Pirates and Small World are two of her favorites, and it would be amazing if she got to ride at least one

I can’t recall....is the boat ride in Pandora just as difficult to raise up out of?

you most likely have a wait for the wheelchair boat Small World and if I remember right she would have to transfer to a wheelchair if using ECV at the ride or at beginning of line

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh, that’s a really good thing to ask! I didn’t even think about transfer for Small World. She definitely wouldn’t be able to get out of the low seats. Pirates and Small World are two of her favorites, and it would be amazing if she got to ride at least one

I can’t recall....is the boat ride in Pandora just as difficult to raise up out of?

The boat in Pandora is not quite as low as Pirates, but is still low.

you most likely have a wait for the wheelchair boat Small World and if I remember right she would have to transfer to a wheelchair if using ECV at the ride or at beginning of line

Guests using wheelchairs or ECVs use a different boarding area, which is on the exit side of the boat.
ECVs can be ridden to the point just before getting onto the boat. The boat is wheelchair accessible, but not ECV accessible.

Guests using ECVs park it before entering the small waiting area before boarding. The point where she’s direçted to park would be when she needs to tell them she wants to borrow a wheelchair. There are attraction wheelchairs she can borrow.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I feel like Pandora is not as low but still might be a problem with aternal precautions. Haunted mansion and Peter Pan should be good ones for her to ride. Also if she can stand on the conveyer belt going up to people mover she should be good on that. Pooh and little mermaid will be good. Buzz would be fine if she cares for that. Splash would be a no climbing out would be an issue.
Epcot she could do soarin and spaceship earth should be ok. I’d say no to test track. It is both low and the seatbelt. I feel like the boat is low in the frozen ride. Another low boat in Mexico. I can’t remember if they have a wheelchair boat or not though. The land has a wheelchair boat I believe. Nemo into the aquarium should be fine.
Toy story mania whips you around but doesn’t have a low seat or bother your chest. Not sure how much she would want to pull the trigger though. The other toy story rises not good I would say for her. Oddly if she wanted tower of terror might be ok. I guess star tours would be too but might be too rough. Honestly she might want to stick to shows in studios.
AK - Safari is bumpy but she probably would be ok. Fop might not be good for her. Dinosaur would probably be way way too rough. Navi might be too low. Maybe try to find a video of it. She might have to stick to shows. They all should be ok.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

The boat in Pandora is not quite as low as Pirates, but is still low.


Guests using wheelchairs or ECVs use a different boarding area, which is on the exit side of the boat.
ECVs can be ridden to the point just before getting onto the boat. The boat is wheelchair accessible, but not ECV accessible.

Guests using ECVs park it before entering the small waiting area before boarding. The point where she’s direçted to park would be when she needs to tell them she wants to borrow a wheelchair. There are attraction wheelchairs she can borrow.

that is what I was remembering but wasn't sure

 

[PPFlight75]

She needs to be careful with pushing/pulling with her arms/upper body. I can't help with specific rides, but that is the general recommendation. So pulling herself up and out of a ride would be where she would need some assistance.

 

[wiihoo888]

I feel like Pandora is not as low but still might be a problem with aternal precautions. Haunted mansion and Peter Pan should be good ones for her to ride. Also if she can stand on the conveyer belt going up to people mover she should be good on that. Pooh and little mermaid will be good. Buzz would be fine if she cares for that. Splash would be a no climbing out would be an issue.
Epcot she could do soarin and spaceship earth should be ok. I’d say no to test track. It is both low and the seatbelt. I feel like the boat is low in the frozen ride. Another low boat in Mexico. I can’t remember if they have a wheelchair boat or not though. The land has a wheelchair boat I believe. Nemo into the aquarium should be fine.
Toy story mania whips you around but doesn’t have a low seat or bother your chest. Not sure how much she would want to pull the trigger though. The other toy story rises not good I would say for her. Oddly if she wanted tower of terror might be ok. I guess star tours would be too but might be too rough. Honestly she might want to stick to shows in studios.
AK - Safari is bumpy but she probably would be ok. Fop might not be good for her. Dinosaur would probably be way way too rough. Navi might be too low. Maybe try to find a video of it. She might have to stick to shows. They all should be ok.

Thank you! Agreed on the Frozen ride. I think showing her a video of Navi is a great idea. I seem to remember it being a bit higher than the others. I can help push her up from the boat if she thinks she wants to try it, but I don’t want her to fell forced or panicked to try anything. Thanks for breaking down all of the advice

 

[MinnieMSue]

Thank you! Agreed on the Frozen ride. I think showing her a video of Navi is a great idea. I seem to remember it being a bit higher than the others. I can help push her up from the boat if she thinks she wants to try it, but I don’t want her to fell forced or panicked to try anything. Thanks for breaking down all of the advice

Yes also she might be able to simply step up onto the seat and step out of the Navi boat if you are behind her to assist with that as needed.

 

[wiihoo888]

She needs to be careful with pushing/pulling with her arms/upper body. I can't help with specific rides, but that is the general recommendation. So pulling herself up and out of a ride would be where she would need some assistance.

It is really weird....it is the slower-type ride where this really become a problem. So many have that low seating. Already a pain on the knees, but even a bigger pain when you can’t use your arms to get up. Think we’ll be watching a lot of shows and doing just the attractions where she feels comfortable. Just so glad we can actually sill make this trip, and there is never any disappointments when it comes to Diensy shows

 

[wiihoo888]

Yes also she might be able to simply step up onto the seat and step out of the Navi boat if you are behind her to assist with that as needed.

Didn’t think about that. Think watching a video of the ride is the best idea all around. That was she will be completely prepared for boarding and getting off of the ride. Can even practice some here if she wants to give it a go. Fingers crossed

 

[PPFlight75]

It is really weird....it is the slower-type ride where this really become a problem. So many have that low seating. Already a pain on the knees, but even a bigger pain when you can’t use your arms to get up. Think we’ll be watching a lot of shows and doing just the attractions where she feels comfortable. Just so glad we can actually sill make this trip, and there is never any disappointments when it comes to Diensy shows

Absolutely! Disney is so fun and you will both have a fabulous time regardless of rides. Depending on the person, it can take a little while to recover fully so just go at her pace. But if you do decide to ride just make sure someone can help her in and out easily and she should be good. I wish you both a fabulous trip and her a speedy recovery

 

[wiihoo888]

Absolutely! Disney is so fun and you will both have a fabulous time regardless of rides. Depending on the person, it can take a little while to recover fully so just go at her pace. But if you do decide to ride just make sure someone can help her in and out easily and she should be good. I wish you both a fabulous trip and her a speedy recovery

Thank you so much

 

[SueM in MN]

I feel like Pandora is not as low but still might be a problem with aternal precautions. Haunted mansion and Peter Pan should be good ones for her to ride. Also if she can stand on the conveyer belt going up to people mover she should be good on that. Pooh and little mermaid will be good. Buzz would be fine if she cares for that. Splash would be a no climbing out would be an issue.
Epcot she could do soarin and spaceship earth should be ok. I’d say no to test track. It is both low and the seatbelt. I feel like the boat is low in the frozen ride.

Splash Mountain is a step over the side and down into the boat to get in and a big step over the side to get out. The boat is pretty tight too.
Test Track is both low and can jerk you around. The outer seats have shoulder harnesses. The middle seat doesn’t, but I still would not recommend it.

Another low boat in Mexico. I can’t remember if they have a wheelchair boat or not though. The land has a wheelchair boat I believe. Nemo into the aquarium should be fine.

Both Mexico and Living With the Land have wheelchair boats.
Mexico boat is similar to the boat in Small World. Ask the CM at the entrance about using one of the attraction wheelchairs.
The queue for Living With the Land is accessible for wheelchairs and ECVs thru the Fastpass line (if you don’t have a Fastpass, the CMs will give a return time roughly equal to the Standby Wait time). When you get to the front of the line where they assign which row to go into, let the CM know you want to borrow an attraction wheelchair to ride the accessible boat.

Toy story mania whips you around but doesn’t h ave a low seat or bother your chest. Not sure how much she would want to pull the trigger though. The other toy story rises not good I would say for her. Oddly if she wanted tower of terror might be ok. I guess star tours would be too but might be too rough. Honestly she might want to stick to shows in studios.
AK - Safari is bumpy but she probably would be ok. Fop might not be good for her. Dinosaur would probably be way way too rough. Navi might be too low. Maybe try to find a video of it. She might have to stick to shows. They all should be ok.

There is a thread near the top of the board with information about the Pandora attractions, including pictures of the ride vehicles.
The disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board has a post about attractions with warning along with a best guess about what caused the warning. There is also a post with attractions that may be difficult to get in/out of.
Post 1 of that thread is an index to which post number has which information.

 

[wiihoo888]

Splash Mountain is a step over the side and down into the boat to get in and a big step over the side to get out. The boat is pretty tight too.
Test Track is both low and can jerk you around. The outer seats have shoulder harnesses. The middle seat doesn’t, but I still would not recommend it.

Both Mexico and Living With the Land have wheelchair boats.
Mexico boat is similar to the boat in Small World. Ask the CM at the entrance about using one of the attraction wheelchairs.
The queue for Living With the Land is accessible for wheelchairs and ECVs thru the Fastpass line (if you don’t have a Fastpass, the CMs will give a return time roughly equal to the Standby Wait time). When you get to the front of the line where they assign which row to go into, let the CM know you want to borrow an attraction wheelchair to ride the accessible boat.


There is a thread near the top of the board with information about the Pandora attractions, including pictures of the ride vehicles.
The disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board has a post about attractions with warning along with a best guess about what caused the warning. There is also a post with attractions that may be difficult to get in/out of.
Post 1 of that thread is an index to which post number has which information.

Awesome! Thank you

 

[amycakes]

Just a word of caution, on a jerky ride, you react and “brace yourself” by holding onto things etc. This is similar to the pushing/pulling force that is contraindicated. Dinosaur, Test Track and the Safari come to mind... there may be others. Also Haunted Mansion and Spaceship Earth, you travel backwards and some people have the urge to ‘hang on’. Always good to run these specific situations by a physician and physio for suggestions.

She will find lots of ways to enjoy herself. Happy for you that your Mom is recovering... enjoy this special trip

 

[wiihoo888]

Just a word of caution, on a jerky ride, you react and “brace yourself” by holding onto things etc. This is similar to the pushing/pulling force that is contraindicated. Dinosaur, Test Track and the Safari come to mind... there may be others. Also Haunted Mansion and Spaceship Earth, you travel backwards and some people have the urge to ‘hang on’. Always good to run these specific situations by a physician and physio for suggestions.

She will find lots of ways to enjoy herself. Happy for you that your Mom is recovering... enjoy this special trip

Good thing to have her make sure to watch herself on. Thank you so much