Tips for a Friend with Cancer Going to Disney?

[WaltD4Me]

A friend of mine is going to Disney mid-November. She is going through a
second round of breast cancer that has gone into her bones and they recently found a spot on her lung.

Her last trip was 2 years ago when she was still able to get around relatively well, although she did rent at ECV from WDW because she tired easily.

For this trip though, she is getting an motorized wheelchair from an outside company to have all the time because she really can't walk any amount of distance anymore, she said going to the mailbox does her in right now.

I'd appreciate any advice or tips you can give me, she is going with her mom, her 14 year old son and her 7 year niece and is SO excited about the trip, it's been her dream to take her niece to Disney, but she is really worried about getting around because last trip, she remembers having to leave the ECV outside of attractions, but at that time she was able to walk further and had more stamina. Sadly, the same is not true this time.

She has told me that she knows this will be her last trip to Disney and I want to help make it as easy and enjoyable as possible, so I appreciate any advice.
I can pass along to her.

 

[SherylR]

I'm so sorry to read that. My father was recently diagnosed with colon, stomach and liver cancer. Like your friend, he is giving it his all but he's also realistic. It's such a horrible disease.
We were at Disney a few weeks ago and there were many many scooters there. I didn't see too many going into the attractions however there did seem to be special parking places for them near the strollers.
Is it possible for her to contact the concierge in her resort (I'm assuming she's staying on-site here) to arrange some sort of pass so she can get in using the wheelchair accesses?
The busses were also very scooter friendly, although the passenger had to sit in a seat rather than on the scooter.
I hope she has a wonderful trip full of uplifting memories. I'll be thinking of her and her courage.

 

[zumbergc]

I'm not sure why you left the ecv outside of the attractions. Most rides you can bring the ecv into the attraction, only a few exceptions for access over in fantasy land at MK. (some discussion about peter pan in another thread).

You pretty much just follow the regular guest queue, and they direct you to the appropriate seating if your going to a show, or generally allow you to drive up the the ride car, and then sometimes a CM will move the chair back to the return area of the ride. A family member can go get the chair, so the aunt doesn't have to walk very far.

I would expect your friend will need to take lots of breaks at the park, and possibly go back and take naps in the afternoon. All depends on how tired she is.

If your friend hasn't found breastcancer.org site she might want to check it out. There is a discussion board there. Click on support and community, and then pick Community Knowledge Exchange (its the first option and the discussion board now). I can't remember if you can just read without becomming a member.

One thing that is super aboout the site is it has a section of discussion w/ those who have BC mets. The mets section of the board is called Recurrence and Metastatic Disease. Many of the other sites I found didn't have a mets section. My mom has BC mets too, and I've found it very helpful.

 

[PigletGurl]

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend . I think that some of the rides permits the ECV. I hope she will have a trip she will never forget for as long as she lives . I'm so angry that she has breast cancer. I mean, she has a son .Have a nice trip!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm not sure why you left the ecv outside of the attractions. Most rides you can bring the ecv into the attraction, only a few exceptions for access over in fantasy land at MK. (some discussion about peter pan in another thread).

You pretty much just follow the regular guest queue, and they direct you to the appropriate seating if your going to a show, or generally allow you to drive up the the ride car, and then sometimes a CM will move the chair back to the return area of the ride. A family member can go get the chair, so the aunt doesn't have to walk very far..

The last time she went with the WDW rented ECV she was in better shape than now and really just got the ECV so she wouldn't get worn out with all the walking, but she was able to get out of it and walk some and wait in lines at that time...when I talked to her today, she said she knew she wouldn't be able to stand for very long at a time so that is why she asked about bringing the motorized wheelchair into the que. She also wanted to know if she needed to bring a doctor's note to bring the chair into the line?

As much as I know about WDW, I don't know much about this aspect of it.

 

[Vijoge]

No, she does not need a Doctors note to use the w/c entrance or to bring it in line. Most times she will be able to wheel right up to the ride and on some rides she will be able to stay in the w/c while on the ride itself. I use an ECV and getting around WDW is surprisingly easy.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Does anyone know if there is anything she won't be able to go on because of the wheelchair? She can transfer herself into a ride vehicle herself, I'm just picturing some of the ques in my head, trying to think of any that she wouldn't be able to manuever or whatever.

For instance...is she able to take her wheelchair into the stretching room
in HM? And if so, then what happens after she gets in the Doom Buggy, someone in her party needs to take the wheelchair to the exit?
(sorry if this is really dumb question)

 

[Vijoge]

For instance...is she able to take her wheelchair into the stretching room
in HM? And if so, then what happens after she gets in the Doom Buggy, someone in her party needs to take the wheelchair to the exit?
(sorry if this is really dumb question)

I had to enter HM through a different door and then wait a couple of minutes in a hallway for my group to catch up. The I joined them in the stretching room. My ECV was at thee exit when I came out. I'm not positive if this is the same for w/c's or not. Bill Sears will know, I'm sure.

 

[zumbergc]

At the HM, you enter towards the exit area. A CM comes and gets you. There are 2 options then. If you are able to walk some, and stand some, you park the wheelcair by the exit, and you enter a special door w/ the CM. Then you can do the stretching room, and then over to the doom buggies. However this is all walking, I've never seen a scooter/ecv/wheelchair in the stretching room. I suspect its because when the door open people mad dash to get to the ride, and the wheelchair can't go thru some of the line, and would have to go where the chain is.

I've never done the non-walking way. Someone else would have to comment.

Connie

 

[missypie]

I assume she's got her ADRs and a touring plan? Those are essential if one has a diminished energy level.

How heartbreaking to pretty much know it's your last Disney trip. Even when I don't have one scheduled, I always tell myself I'll be back.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I assume she's got her ADRs and a touring plan? Those are essential if one has a diminished energy level.

How heartbreaking to pretty much know it's your last Disney trip. Even when I don't have one scheduled, I always tell myself I'll be back.

I called and made her ADR's for her and we are working on a touring plan, she is planning on skipping Animal Kingdom, the kids and her sister are going to just go themselves on an EMH night for a few hours.

So far they are doing a day at MK with a nice afternoon break.

Then Epcot, then MGM, then MK just for the evening on their last night,
mainly to see Wishes. (I get tears in my eyes just typing that...Wishes for the last time.... )

 

[DisneyMim]

I am so sorry for your friend. Yes, cancer sucks. My husband is living with it. I would like to give you a little piece of advice that someone on the Dis gave me while I was planning a trip to WDW after my husband's surgery. I was concerned for my husband (and yes the rest of us too) and wanted him to get the best rest he could at night so he could enjoy WDW during the day. I told the CM at check-in about my husband and she was wonderful about finding us a "quiet" room (is there really any in Disney!!) at WL. The room really was quiet and we were able to get a much needed night's rest. I have fibromyalgia so this helped me too! The CMS are great, they will try to do everything they can to make guests' stay as comfy as possible.

I hope your friend has a great time and never give up hope. My mother is a forty year breast cancer survivor. There is always hope.

 

[bopper]

Another thing to consider is where they will be staying. A Monorail hotel (i.e., Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian) would make it quite easy for her to go back and rest if the rest of the family didn't want to or for them to take her back and then return to the park.

 

[dclfun]

Another thing she can do if she tires during the day and doesn't want to go back to her resort is to rest at First Aid. They have cots for guests who just need a break and I've often napped there. First Aid is staffed by nurses who really do care.---Kathy

 

[mechurchlady]

Basically her trip will be similar to the last one as far as using the wheelchair for rides and attractions. She will do the same thing she did last time while in an ECV except now it will in some ways be easier. Wheelchairs take up less space, are more maneuverable, are allowed on more rides, and for me I can easily lift the rear a bit and drag the wheelchair around the tightest corners. My mom is in a wheelchair and she has had less problems in places than with an ECV.

If you read the FAQs and board you will have probably seen lots of ideas for heat sensitivity, fatigue, GACs, allergies/sensitivities, and most important the nurses station. Also since this will be her last trip why not go all out with t-shirts, decorate the chair and buy a balloon for her. Take pictures but not too many so that it gets in the way of that last fun time.
Have fun and good luck.
hugs
Laurie