Swim with sharks - after surgery

[palmtreelover08]

Hello everyone, after a softball accident I just had shoulder surgery to correct a dislocated shoulder- and broken arm with plate inserted and 9 screws. I won't be able to "swim"- use right arm for quite awhile. I am going late Aug to typhoon lagoon and want to swim with sharks. Is there a current or do you physically need to be swimming the distance across the pool? Not sure I could make it with one arm usable. TIA

 

[Kathryn777]

You have to swim. It isn't far but the bigger issue would be that you're not allowed to kick your feet. You have to pull yourself along with your arms. But I bet they would help you, if you asked for it

 

[palmtreelover08]

Oh- thanks for info- I didn't know about the no-kicking rule. I thought for some reasons they gave you flippers to help propel you or that there was a current to guide you across. I guess I'll have to see if they can assist in any way. Thanks again

 

[Hootch]

It is a short distance and you want to go slow to see the different creatures. If you are a decent swimmer, you should have no issue.

 

[shaneray]

and you could just ask for a kids life jacket where the hand out the masks and use it to help float you.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

sorry to hear of your injury.
We went to WDW many times before hitting a waterpark. The shark tank was a big part of the draw for us when we finally did go.

One, if you can't swim, you can go the viewing spots down below.
Two, the number of critters isn't all that impressive. You'll get a much better critter view in the Living Seas.
Three, part of what keeps everyone moving is the cool temp of the water! But also the CM's. We waited quite some time to enter, but the swimming part went rather quickly.
Four, your injury (from what you describe) will make much of the rest of the park a challenge as well.

 

[palmtreelover08]

Maybe I'll watch a bit first (provided you can see other people swimming across). Life vest would be a good idea probably just for support. I figured the rest of the day I would spend floating around the lazy river- but now that I think about it- that will probably out a lot of pressure in all the wrong areas of my shoulder. Maybe I need to look into a cabana instead. Thx for the well wishes

 

[Hootch]

We were eating outside Typhoon Lilly's when the swim with the sharks opened. When we left the line was still long.

I thought the attraction was interesting. I wouldn't wait 45 minutes.

 

[KristinU]

Didn't I hear that this was closing sometime soon? I'd love it to not be the case!

 

[BillSears]

...plate inserted and 9 screws.

Is this one of those outside of the body things that eventually get removed or is it all inside of you? I sounds like it's inside but if the metal is outside you would probably have a problem with most of the attractions at the water parks.

 

[Kathryn777]

No flippers when we went in Oct. there is a bridge to watch other people swim.

 

[palmtreelover08]

My bracket and screws are all permanent in my arm. Flippers would have def. made one arm swimming easier. I know the raft rides and slides and wave pool will be off limits as my fracture may still be "active". I'll just suck it up if necessary and watch from the bridge. Good thing this is the first year I added water parks to the plans :/ whomp whomp whomp

 

[Belle & Ariel]

They have bobbing waves every 1 and a half hours. I think 11:30, 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30. You might be able to do them.
You should be fine on Shark Reef. I go through slowly to see everything and no one has rushed me.

 

[larryz]

Clearly you will be mostly healed before you try this, but your thread title conjured images of shark feeding frenzy should your incision re-open while in the water...

 

[palmtreelover08]

Oh heaven forbid! My shoulder complex fracture will be mostly healed in 6-8 weeks. My full range of motion will not be back for many months and I was told by both surgeon and PT that full recovery is 8-10 months. I will watch from the bridge and see how my arm is at the time. Thank you all for tips and hints

 

[joe1946]

I wouldn't do anything more adventurous than mini donuts.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

LarryZ, that's what I was thinking when reading the thread title, too!

 

[palmtreelover08]

Update- went to Typhoon Lagoon yesterday- I was fairly easily able to swim across with just one arm (have "frozen shoulder and need a second surgery in sept). Thx for the replies. Tried the wave pool for a total of two waves- way too dangerous in my condition- you were all right on that one- thx for heads up. Ended up floating only in lazy river and one trip on family tube ride. Ps- you would think that the tubes would automatically come up a ramp and be ready for you on the family raft ride. Getting those huge tubes up the steps is no joke! (I could not do with one arm and DD 12 is not so much help). Luckily my sister was there and able to get the job done.