Visiting with Crutches...

[MagiKitty]

Morning everyone...

My boyfriend and I will be going to WDW in December. He has CP and uses crutches. We've discussed possibly renting a wheelchair or scooter, as so many have suggested on this site, but he really would rather not. My concern is his getting in and out of certain rides, and what do we do with the crutches? I've heard that Disney staff is prohibited from aiding persons onto rides.

I know some rides have separate areas that you get on the ride and where you get off, so will someone bring the crutches to the exit area? Will they crutches be safe to leave behind? Also, will there be someone outside certain attractions to speak to to spare my boyfriend any embarrassment or difficulties once inside? Any information/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[allie_to_you]

Morning everyone...

My boyfriend and I will be going to WDW in December. He has CP and uses crutches. We've discussed possibly renting a wheelchair or scooter, as so many have suggested on this site, but he really would rather not. My concern is his getting in and out of certain rides, and what do we do with the crutches? I've heard that Disney staff is prohibited from aiding persons onto rides.

I know some rides have separate areas that you get on the ride and where you get off, so will someone bring the crutches to the exit area? Will they crutches be safe to leave behind? Also, will there be someone outside certain attractions to speak to to spare my boyfriend any embarrassment or difficulties once inside? Any information/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

At pretty much any ride/attraction, ride vehicles can be stopped or slowed down to allow your bf easier access and while the cm's aren't allowed to physically help him on, you should be able to help him if he can walk at all. Once in the ride vehicle, just give your crutches to the cm (some rides you can take them on with you) and they will either hold them or else have them waiting at the end of the ride.

 

[MagiKitty]

Thanks Allie for your kind response. I was greatly discouraged when I received no information from other Disney-philes. We are both rather excited for our trip (he hasn't been there in over 15 years!) and want to make it go as smoothly as possible with the least amount of hassles. Thanks so much for your information, its eased my worries a bit. Now I can plan for more fun! Good day to you!

 

[RumpleMom]

Just sending you some pixie dust for a magical trip.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Is BF aware that most people walk 6-8 miles per day while at WDW? It can be very difficult with crutches.

Please ask 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!

It can be even rougher on you, as you will see him in difficulty/pain and he is trying to "tough it out". My late wife said one of the best things I had done for her was rent an ECV so she did not have to slow down for me to stop and rest all the time.

 

[MagiKitty]

Again, thank you both for your kind responses.

We've discussed the option of renting either a wheelchair or an ECV, and he seems rather set upon trying the parks with his crutches. Of course, he may change his mind! We're going to try our first day at MK, and hopefully it will go without incident and just be fun fun fun! He claims that he wouldn't want to take a chair from someone who may truly need it, and we have six days at the parks, so no need to rush anyway....we'll have to see. I don't think its about embarassment, its more his own ego! But we're one month away and the excitement is really building up!

Another question...if for a ride like Space Mountain where you have to climb into a "bucket type" ride, are there different "rockets" for handicapped members? Or will someone be waiting outside so we can ask questions before getting in line? My main concerns are for Space Mountain and Splash Mountain, not to be missed, but may prove difficult to get in/out of....Thanks!

 

[allie_to_you]

Again, thank you both for your kind responses.

We've discussed the option of renting either a wheelchair or an ECV, and he seems rather set upon trying the parks with his crutches. Of course, he may change his mind! We're going to try our first day at MK, and hopefully it will go without incident and just be fun fun fun! He claims that he wouldn't want to take a chair from someone who may truly need it, and we have six days at the parks, so no need to rush anyway....we'll have to see. I don't think its about embarassment, its more his own ego! But we're one month away and the excitement is really building up!

Another question...if for a ride like Space Mountain where you have to climb into a "bucket type" ride, are there different "rockets" for handicapped members? Or will someone be waiting outside so we can ask questions before getting in line? My main concerns are for Space Mountain and Splash Mountain, not to be missed, but may prove difficult to get in/out of....Thanks!

Hi MagiKitty

Yes, outside each attraction/ride, there are CM's who can answer questions about each ride. Also, with some attractions, there are "practice vehicles" so you can see if you will be able to get in/out. At attractions like Space Mountain or Splash Mountain and some others at Disney, they do not have special vehicles for those with disabilities and since the cast members can't help you physically, your boyfriend would either need to be able to maneuver himself into one of the ride vehicles by himself or with your help. As I stated earlier, they can stop or slow down any vehicle so that he can take his time getting in.

I hope you guys have a great time. Tell your boyfriend not to feel bad if he does end up having to get a wheelchair. I have plantar facscitis and it's hard for me to walk all day around Disney and I almost ended up having to get a wheelchair. I toughed it out, but it was definitely hard. One thing he doesn't want to do is try to do it all to the point where he's hurting or struggling so much that the remaining trip days seem more like a chore than fun. It almost got to that point with me.

 

[bopper]

Can't he rent an ECV to get from ride to ride, but then use his crutches in line? I bet he can take his crutches onto many of the rides. As others have said, talk to a CM at each ride for the best strategy.

 

[MagiKitty]

I do suppose that we could rent an ECV if he feels its necessary. Just for right now, he feels more comfortable and confident getting around the parks with his crutches. Sometimes what's easier for him isn't what he wants. I have to respect his choices and I do hope that he won't be so proud as to be in pain. I've heard great things about the parks for those with disabilities, so I have every confidence that this vacation will go wonderfully.

 

[Haley Whippet]

Bring the phone #'s of off site ECV rentals along, If you need one they can get it over to you the next morning...
Enjoy your trip!
Deb

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry I have not replied sooner, but I have been busy with other things and have not had time to respond much (we have had some mouse problems, and I'm not talking about the Mickey kind of mouse).
Anyway,
I know he wants to do it without a wheelchair or ECV, but unless he is walking many miles a day with his crutches, that may not be possible. Most people don't have a good concept of how far 6-8 miles is, but when they really think about it, they see how difficult it would be.
I'd suggest finding a place that is about 4-5 miles from where he lives (use your car odometer to measure) and ask him if he could walk there. When I've suggested people do that before, they have said their loved one really realized they needed a wheelchair or ECV.

Another way to think about it is to think of the energy involved in touring being like an energy checking account, you get a certain amount to start each day, but once the amount for the day is used, it's gone. If you get too close to a 'zero' balance, you won't be able to accumulate enough during the night to make it thru the next day.

If he has short arm crutches, he should be able to bring those with him on almost all rides; the exceptions might be the roller coaster rides. If he has long crutches, it will be more difficult to get them in some of the ride cars, but not impossible. As was already mentioned, the CMs will be able to take the crutches and bring them back to the ride car when he gets out. For most of the rides where you board in one place and exit at another, people with disabilities board at the exit (usually after waiting in the regular line until just before the regular boarding area). If he can bring the crutches in the ride car with him, it may not matter much where he boards.

If you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there are some useful things there. One is a list of the offsite places that rent ECVs and wheelchairs. There is also a link to the official WDW Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities for each park. They are kind of basic and don't have a lot of information, but do give general information like whether or not something is a thrill ride or a gentle ride. There are also some links to past threads - one especially helpful one would be the one about boarding rides.
Most of the rides with moving walkways can be stopped for boarding (but they can only be stopped if you are boarding at the exit). Most of the time, the CMs will only slow the moving walkway. If your boyfriend actually needs it totally stopped, he will need to ask. Two that can't be stopped are Pater Pan and Tomorrowland Transit Authority.

One ride that is not listed there is Soarin', which is a very easy transfer and a gentle ride. Here's a link to the DIS site page about Soarin' with some pictures. There are similar pages for each attraction. Some have pictures of the ride cars. There are also pictures of ride cars on Deb Will's site.

There is one attraction I would recommend not riding, or at least looking at very carefully before riding. The ride is Primeval Whirl and is in AK. It looks pretty tame from the ground, but it combines a roller coaser with a spinning ride. My DD, who has CP almost got spun out of that one. She has fairly good sitting balance, but doesn't have good control of her legs.

 

[MagiKitty]

Thanks so much for those great tips! I've been trying to get that Handbook for Diabilities, but its been kind of hard to find on the website...but I have a few weeks left so I'm sure I'll get it soon.

That post about the phone numbers was priceless. I'll be sure to do it (just in case, hint hint).

Yeah, we've been talking about just how much walking we're going to do, but he's says not to worry to much about maybes and just think about how fun its going to be!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks so much for those great tips! I've been trying to get that Handbook for Diabilities, but its been kind of hard to find on the website...but I have a few weeks left so I'm sure I'll get it soon.

That post about the phone numbers was priceless. I'll be sure to do it (just in case, hint hint).

Yeah, we've been talking about just how much walking we're going to do, but he's says not to worry to much about maybes and just think about how fun its going to be!

There is a link to the text of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities on the disABILITIES FAQs thread (in case I was not clear). The text is the same as in the printed copies you can get at the parks.