travelling with friend with a physical disability

[PoohHappens]

Hi, I came here before with a question and you were all very helpful. I have another trip planned. I am travelling with 2 other friends, so 3 adults total. One of the gals going has a hip dislocation problem. She does use a cane currently and will on the trip. She has talked to her PT about the trip and was told she should do fine walking as long as she uses the cane, but she cannot stand for long periods of time. This presents a problem with lines. I was wanting to inquire about how we obtain one, what documentation we need etc.... I also was wondering if she decides she needs a wheel chair can we rent one there. I am feeling bad about this as we are not wanting to 'skip' lines, but she just cannot stand for long periods. We also would like to still ride with her as well. She has no ride restrictions just the standing issue. Do some rides have a place where she can sit and then join us when we get through the line? I am leaving after a few days and her mother and daughter are joining her, does she need to get a new pass at that time, will still total 3 people, but one will now be a child instead of 3 adults. If this does mean we bypass some lines or use an alternate entrance should I just let it go what others may think and enjoy the trip. She really does NEED to not stand even though she looks healthy and gets around well. I promise you she would exchange her current situation for standing in a 3 hour line anyday.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, a GAC is generally not issued for a person with mbility or stamina problems; it is suggested to them that they rent a wheelchair or ECV. We tend to suggest here that an ECV rental from off-site would be the best bet.

You might want to click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs and more detail about GACs.

Note that at AK and MGM all queue lines are mainstreamed, as well as almost all at Epcot. It is only at MK where many of the lines have alternate entrances. So using a wheelchair or ECV will not cut down at all on the waiting time. Actually, for some attractions us of an alternate entrance may even add to the wait time.

 

[PoohHappens]

I guess I don't understand. This is not a stamina problem, she is not permitted to stand. She can walk fine with her cane and walking is actually part of her therapy to strengthen the ligaments etc so her hips stop dislocating. So she does not need a GAC? Would it be suggested then that she have a wheelchair for the week. There is no way she will use and ECV. Should she walk and then sit in the chair to go through the line? Will a wheelchair go through most of the lines? Thanks for the reply. Also are there wheelchairs availible at disney and how does one aquire one? Adding, we are not looking to shorten wait time, we need to shorten standing time. I had asked if there was some way she can sit and then join when we get through the line.

 

[dawnball]

If you're staying onsite, she may be able to get a complimentary wheelchair from your resort. Otherwise she can rent them at the parks for $10/day. It may be cheaper to rent one from an offsite company. Pushing a manual wheelchair will be a fair amount of work if she's riding in it. If you use it to hold your belongings most of the time and push it empty it will be easier. I don't know how well she would do pushing a wheelchair vs having a cane, she'd want to discuss that with her PT.

A lot of the standing isn't in attraction lines. It's waiting for transportation, waiting to order your food or for your table at a restaurant. It would be difficult in many of those situations for her to have a place to sit that's nearby enough to work well. A wheelchair might be helpful there.

A cane chair (a cane that folds out into a chair) may be easier all around if she walks well and just needs a place to sit in lines. Either the line will move quickly enough that she's walking or she can sit and move forward intermittently.

If you find that your solution isn't working well, you can ask at Guest Services if they have any suggestions - but for most attractions there really isn't a good place that she can sit and wait for you to come to the front of the queue and then join you. For most of the adult rides she can stay in her wheelchair all the way through the attraction. There are some (BTMRR comes to mind) where there's an alternate entrance for wheelchairs.

 

[LindaDVC]

Disney is more walking than any where else. Normally I have no problems but often at Disney my plantar fascitis flares up and feet ache!

Only she knows if her need to walk out weighs the distance required.
One idea is a cane or walker with an attached seat-- so she could rest when lines , etc occur. Besides the attraction lines waits occur at lots of locations.
Bus stops, food spots, evening shows, etc

Hope you all have a great trip! We depart in a few hours for Florida with a 5 night stay at OKW and the remainder of the time at Daytona!

Linda

 

[PoohHappens]

I read the FAQ and that helped some, and I was able to find the details about the wheel chairs there. I do not know if I can get her to agree to this. I think her PT was hoping there was some kind of alternate entrance where she could sit and wait etc....We travelled with our friends earlier this year whose child has a disability and they had a GAC for him. I do not think meals and transportation will be as much an issue as there is usually somewhere to sit or she can just walk around until there is. Most lines for rides if long are not continually moving from my experience. I guess we don't know how it will go until we give it a try. Thanks for the info everyone and if there are any more suggestions we are open. jenn

 

[PoohHappens]

I forgot to mention too that I think she weighs about 95-100lbs so pushing a wheel chair won't be a problem if that is what we need to do. Where this may be an issue is later in the week when she has her mom and daughter as her companions. Her mom is tiny like her and her daughter is 3. THis may be more comlicated. Maybe the lines will be nice and short after the labor day weekend is over and it will not be so much trouble for them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I read the FAQ and that helped some, and I was able to find the details about the wheel chairs there. I do not know if I can get her to agree to this. I think her PT was hoping there was some kind of alternate entrance where she could sit and wait etc....

Rarely. Also, many, many attractions have constantly-moving lines, so she wouldn't be standing, but rather walking. Is her PT aware that the average Disney Guest walks four to six MILES a day?
Also, when CheshireFigment says

First of all, a GAC is generally not issued for a person with mbility or stamina problems; it is suggested to them that they rent a wheelchair or ECV.

that suggestion is made by Disney and its CMs, not just the people on this board.

 

[PoohHappens]

Rarely. Also, many, many attractions have constantly-moving lines, so she wouldn't be standing, but rather walking. Is her PT aware that the average Disney Guest walks four to six MILES a day?
Also, when CheshireFigment says that suggestion is made by Disney and its CMs, not just the people on this board.

Yes they do know she will walk a lot. I did also read that suggestion in the FAQ information from Disney. It is more a matter of convincing her to use a wheelchair at this point I think. I can't be specific about her problems on here due to her needed privacy, but she is a perfectly healthy person, she has these problems due to the unfortunate actions of another individual. She is doing really well and has been working to retrain the ligaments in her hips, standing just gives her some issues and the cane is more to make sure she is walking properly and straight than support. Her PT just did not want her standing in line for long periods of time--which we all realize is a little crazy as that is part of a Disney trip. I was just trying to help figure out the best thing to do for her.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Please ask her the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[PoohHappens]

OK so here is what I am thinking per your suggestions, I think she should consider having a wheel chair while she is with us adults. Would it be odd to have one and her to use it only as she needs it. Like if we were in Epcot to use it for the major travel and to assure that she always has a place to sit for waits, but then for her to get out and walk around the shops in each country. I know it is most important to do what is best for her, but I don't want to upset anyone. I get so frustrated by people who complain when they don't even know an individuals situation. Also, last time I was at WDW I saw a couple people in a wheel chair that looked kind of like a lawn chair--I think they folded like one too. Does anyone know anything about these, maybe this would be something that would work in her situation as it looks light weight. I would have no idea where to find something like that and no experience with it--ya know like it doesn't rool worth....etc..... Thank you again all for your input. I appreciate it greatly.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The only way to get a lightweight chair is to rent one from an outside vendor for the length of stay. The ones Disney rents are fairly solid and heavy.