Visiting with broken ankle

[rocketal]

We are coming to Orlando next week for 2 weeks.my hubby has fractured his ankle and has a moonboot on (not a cast). Any tips on if we can get faster access to rides. And if hel be able to go on everything still. We're coming with a nearly 2 year old so will be lots of little rides too and general disney magic.

 

[catra121]

Best advice would be to get an ECV or wheelchair. If you will need one the whole trip it might be cheaper to rent one from an offsite provider and have it delivered to the resort.

I say this because there really isn't a way to wait less time except getting a FP for rides. With the wheelchair or ECV he will be able to at least sit while he is in line. Most queues are set up for ECVs and the ones that aren't have alternate entrances that will work. You won't need to get a GAC or anything like that if you have a wheelchair or ECV. You will also avoid stairs and stuff like that.

 

[Lynne M]

Absolutely, get an ECV. Check our disABILITIES board for suggestions of companies to rent from. Walking several miles a day on a crutches, or a walking boot with a busted ankle is going to be more than a little painful.

 

[LilyWDW]

Disney's answer to those with mobility concerns is to rent an ECV or wheelchair. They do not have ways to lessen wait times (unless you are with Make A Wish). The amount of walking done at Disney is mostly between attractions anyway and there is nothing one can do to lessen that.

 

[jade1]

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Having experienced WDW + an injured family member...

You should probably consider his endurance will not be what it normally is, even with a scooter. If he's normally healthy, admitting (the extent of his) weakness might pose an additional challenge. You might plan extra breaks or shorter days than normal.

In our case, a heating pad at night was a big help! It may not work for you, but it did for us. It's not just the injury, it the rest of the muscles trying to compensate.

Another thing I strongly suggest- before you go - if at all possible- have him go to any local big box store/grocery store- any place that lends scooters to disabled guests- and PRACTICE. Loading a scooter onto a bus/monorail for the first time can be a tricky task, especially if you are tired. Imagine someone with a new learner's permit trying to parallel park a mini-van in NYC! I exaggerate.

I was just at WDW a few weeks ago, and witnessed an older lady new to scooters. She struggled to load her scooter onto the monorail. I talked her through it a bit. It wasn't just the difficulty of the task, but also the experience of drawing unwanted attention of strangers. Our experience was similar, it's not all that easy to load a scooter! Her family also did not know, when you load a scooter onto the resort monorail, you need to tell the CM which stop you want. You can't unload at your destination until a staff member sets up a metal ramp.

I'm not at all trying to discourage you. Our trip to WDW was VERY therapeutic! It's just that we all had to slightly adjust our (normal) expectations.

 

[vdoucet78]

I went last year with a broken foot and an Aircast. We rented a wheelchair just in case and ended up using it a lot the last 3 days because my foot had swelled up 3x the normal size and I couldn't stand or walk much on it. When in the wheelchair, we did go through an alternate entrance for everything. I don't really know if we got thru the lines faster, as we went during the slow season and followed the easywdw plan of what to visit which day so we didn't wait more than a couple min in the regular lines.

 

[vdoucet78]

Also wanted to add I rode everything with the Aircast on. Space Mountain was a tight fit and pretty uncomfortable though.

 

[MinnieKitty]

I went to MK and Epcot back in Feb with a broken ankle, so I will try to tell you everything I can remember about my experience to help your DH's visit!

1. Get a wheelchair! I rented one once I got inside Epcot, but the walk from my car to the front of Epcot nearly killed me. It would help if you rented it from an outside company so you had it with you during your travels to the park. The monorail attendants were very helpful when I was getting on and off in a wheelchair.

2. This was just my experience, but, a lot of the rides took me to a separate entrance for the disabled/injured and I did not have to wait as long as the posted wait time. There was one exception to this, and it was Spaceship Earth. They kept us all waiting for so long, we thought they forgot about us. The regular wait time was 10 mins and it was at least half an hour before we got on.

3. Some rides are almost impossible to get into with an injured ankle. I had to hold back a yelp when I sat down on Space Mountain. But, this was my fault. I was determined to ride it no matter what. If your DH would rather sit out of rides, avoid rides like Space Mountain where you are having to get into a car/ship/boat that is very low.

4. I had the best luck at MK. There are so many slow moving rides there, so I didn't miss out on much at all. I had just injured my ankle two nights prior, so I had little time to prepare/think about my approach. I went into it thinking I was going to ride everything still. My ankle was not thanking me. Test Track jolted me a little too much. Also, my nature instinct on Splash Mountain is to stabilize myself by pressing into the floor of the boat with my feet, and that really hurt. Like I said, had I spent more time thinking this through, I would not have gotten hurt as much as I did.

As long as your DH has a wheelchair and avoids certain fast-moving rides, he should still have a magical time! Hope this helps!

 

[Katie In Wonderland]

Last October, I fell on the bus (I was standing and the driver braked quickly and I fell into the stairwell) and sprained my right foot and ankle. I sprained my left one a couple years ago while at theater school and living in NYC but this was worse than that time. I went to First Aid in Epcot to get a ACE band since I knew I needed one and the nurse was insistent on me being in a wheelchair because of the swelling and was ready to call and have someone bring one up from the front of the park for me (In case you didn't know this, and I didn't, the First Aid in Epcot is in the Odyssey building, by Mexico). I declined, no matter how swollen and sore my foot and ankle were. The nurse then told my mom I must have one the next day. She was right I needed one then. My foot and ankle were SO swollen. It was our Hollywood Studios day so my mom rented me a wheelchair. God love her, she pushed me around all day (a few times, I was able to wheel myself). Sometimes, like on the Backlot Tour, we went through the normal line and then was put in the wheelchair accessible first row of the tram. At Animation, they put us in the last row so it was easy to get out and for the Animation Academy, they put me at the end of the front row with a lap desk. On the Great Movie ride, thankfully, they didn't make us go in the snaking queue in the movie theater, they took us down the side and we waited up by the cast member. We weren't the only transfers on our ride and we road with a boy with a boot for a broken leg and his dad. They folded the wheelchairs and they road with us and then unfolded them when we got off. The only times I can recall I was put in a special line or row was for Voyage of the Little Mermaid (we had fastpasses and they sent us in the wheelchair line and we sat in the last row of the theater, my mom in a seat and me in my chair. Don't worry, you still get the water effects I was actually VERY worried about that ) and Toy Story Mania (again, we had fastpasses and were ready to go through the normal fastpass line but they put us in the wheelchair entrance. The CMs are AWESOME there with the wheelchairs. There was a girl, I WISH I got her name so I could've given her a complement but I know she was College Program and had a pretty hair color, who was just so happy to be there and to help. She asked how many "toys" were in our party and when my mom wheeled the chair up to the car, she actually offered to help me get in. I didn't need it to get in. It was out but she was right there and ready to help. She was a GODSEND. Without her, I would've been stuck in that vehicle ). All and all, it wasn't a bad day in the wheelchair. We actually got more done when I was in a wheelchair than when I was walking (says my mom but I think that's because I wasn't able to wander and distract her ) but it wasn't too bad and the park wheelchair rental people were very nice.

 

[disnut8]

We are coming to Orlando next week for 2 weeks.my hubby has fractured his ankle and has a moonboot on (not a cast). Any tips on if we can get faster access to rides. And if hel be able to go on everything still. We're coming with a nearly 2 year old so will be lots of little rides too and general Disney magic.

Don't count on this at all. Just came back from Labor Day weekend and I was in a manual wheelchair. Got shown the "special" handicapped entrance there. Where we camped out with a couple of other families until the cars were in correct sequences for us to board. Very magical how it's done, though. Same thing with the Safari - you get your own jeep but depending on how many can transfer into the jeep and how many have to stay in their wheelchairs depends on how fast you load.

We also had to slow down a lot and I would not encourage you husband to keep up with a two year old's energy all the time. Your husband will need breaks too.

 

[ttintagel]

I broke my foot on the first day of my WDW trip in 2011! I would absolutely advise renting an ECV from an offsite company. And keep on a schedule for your pain/anti-inflammatory medication; don't wait until it starts hurting to take it. You can get ice for ice packs from any QS restaurant.

As others have said, most lines, especially for newer rides, are mainstreamed. There's a CM outside each ride who will ask you if you can transfer into a ride vehicle; he or she will then direct you where to go. There may be times when it works out that the wait ends up being shorter or longer than it would have been otherwise, but you can't predict that or count on it. Some shows have wheelchair seating in the front and some in the back.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The lines for almost all attractions at WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that the queue is set up to allow wheelchairs and/or ECVs to go through the line just as a person without a mobility problem. As it was built prior to the ADA, the Magic Kingdom is most likely to have non-mainstreamed lines. Some attractions, such as Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion you will go part way through the regular queue and then be diverted. Other attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain or SpaceShip Earth you will initially be directed to an accessible entrance.

All the theaters are set up with seats (usually in the back row) removed so a wheelchair or ECV can pull into a space and there will be regular seating on either side of the space for the others in the party.

Where there are quantity limits on space, or other limitation involving accessibility, you may have to wait longer to see a show or ride an attraction than people without disabilities.

The normal (and official) response of Guest Relations to people with mobility and/or stamina issues is to recommend rental of a wheelchair or ECV. The Guest Assistance Card (GAC) is intended for "invisible" disabilities not related to mobility or stamina. A wheelchair or ECV is sufficient to notify Cast Members of special assistance normally needed. However, if a person has other issues, such as auditory or visual, they would probably also need a GAC.

Note that a GAC is not intended to allow bypassing of lines, and it so states on the card itself. The only people who will get the special Front Of The Line GAC are where a terminal or medically fragile child is traveling on a trip from Make A Wish or similar foundation.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the disABILITIES! board.

 

[savannie]

I fractured/sprained my foot at Animal Kingdom last year, and had to use a wheelchair for MK the next day. A couple of things I discovered were:

1. Cast members take wheelchairs VERY seriously. I could hobble through lines, but many of them tried to insist that I stay in the chair. They were really very helpful about it.

2. Other people are NOT nice about people in wheelchairs. I was kind of amazed by this. I felt like I was getting run over the entire trip, which was odd since I was in the chair. People kept running right in front of me, next to me, even pushing my chair sometimes when I was stationary. It was really bizarre.

3. My husband pushed my chair most of the day, and he said it was very tiring. He was a strong, healthy 29-year-old, but he still had trouble going up hills and such after awhile. If your husband can't push with his arms all day, and might need your assistance, then I would suggest a motorized one.

4. Cast members and/or other guests will move your chair when you go on rides, especially if you don't leave it in a designated wheelchair spot. These designated spots can change depending on the CM's whim, so if you don't see it when you get off the ride, ask someone. It's probably nearby. We rode HM three times, and each time we were told a different place to leave the wheelchair. It was moved twice.

That was the worst day of my fracture, thankfully. The other days I just wound my foot up really tightly, bought extra-supportive shoes, and hobbled. I hated the wheelchair that badly. If you can rent the scooter thing instead then I highly recommend it. I don't recommend just toughing it out like I did, because I ended up twisting my knee by hobbling so much. Another tip: epsom salt baths really help sore muscles. I hope it all goes well for you!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I would highly suggest renting an ECV from an offsite company. I'm assuming you'll be pushing the 2 year old in a stroller where possible and there's no way your husband is going to be able to get around the parks walking with the boot, on crutches, or using a manual wheelchair on his own. Even if there was a way to cut down the amount walked/waiting for attraction lines, the majority of walking and standing is between attractions, getting to/from parking lots, walking around your resort, etc. The offsite rental places will deliver/pick-up from your resort (or most places in the Orlando area, it seems, including hotels, condos, etc.). Renting offsite means that he'll have the ECV if needed at the resort and that he'll know he has access (the parks can run out of ECVs fairly early in the day). If you don't want to deal with the buses, you can rent a travel scooter that can break down and be put in the back of a car. Please note that when the ECV is on (even if stationary), it's not safe for the 2 y/o to be in his lap. It's not allowed by the rental agreements, but it's also just plain not safe because it's too easy for a kid to hit the controls by accident. If you do have him practice in a grocery store or box store first, know that their scooters are far harder to maneuver (and slower) than the scooters you rent from offsite companies for WDW.

ECVs generally go through the same queue as everyone else. Sometimes you'll be diverted partway through or go through another entrance, but that doesn't mean you're getting on faster. Sometimes it will be faster, sometimes it will be slower, and sometimes it will be the exact same amount of time. He can park the ECV (with stroller parking is usually a safe spot) and walk the queues, but for the Safari and if he tries Soarin' (which is the one ride where a WDW employee might think he wouldn't be safe with the boot, but I'm not sure) he'll want to take the ECV through the queues. Those two queues are 1/4 mile one way, there's no way to cut down that distance (the fastpass line is just as long), and you have to walk the 1/4 mile out again at the end as well.

Since he can transfer, he'll be able to go on the majority of rides. Peter Pan cannot be slowed or stopped for boarding, but if he can get on in the allotted amount of time, he can ride it. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority also cannot have it's moving walkway stopped or slowed (and has no wheelchair accessible entrance so he'd have to be able to balance on the walkway). Every other ride can be stopped or slowed.

I'd definitely suggest planning in breaks. Pain and healing from an injury do reduce your energy. You do not need to fit in everything into this trip. WDW will be there and quite honestly chances are your 2 y/o won't necessarily remember much. He's certainly not going to notice if you don't do everything because you all need breaks. Plus taking breaks for naps and stuff will also help keep everyone happy.

If he is resistant to the idea of an ECV, ask him if he can walk 6 miles a day, multiple days in a row. The average WDW guest walks at least that much and, as I said, the majority of that is not in queues. He can have a great trip. WDW is one of the best places to go on a vacation with mobility issues. As a family, you just need to re-adjust some of your expectations. And keep an eye on him. He probably will try to tough it out past his limits, but everyone will have more fun if you can manage to reduce that (especially if you can do it without making it sound like you're taking a break because of him; suggesting a snack in an air conditioned restaurant or naptime for the kid are both things that might help.)

 

[KPeveler]

Just saying again, rent a wheelchair, scooter, or knee scooter (which some companies are now renting). He will definitely not be able to walk all day, and there is no way to shorten the lines. Almost all lines are accessible, and those few times you encounter stairs or inaccessible queues, you can count on either waiting longer while standing in one spot or having to walk farther. Some posters have encountered times where they accessed a ride faster, but as Disney becomes more and more accessible (every time they redo a ride, the queue becomes party accessible), those times you wait a shorter time are fewer.

He may be happiest with a knee scooter or an ECV - this will allow him to have his independence.