Our son is 3yrs old and uses a walker to get around. What would you suggest we do in order for people to see him at WDW this fall? I thought of attaching a tall flag or something so adults can see it at their eye level. We just don't want him to get run over.
We will probably get a wheel chair part of the day, but he needs to walk the other part.
Thanks!
Jenny
I would be very cautious about using a flag on the walker.
Yes; it would make him more visible, but it would/could also be a poking-in-the-eye-hazard for anyone who does not notice the flag and walks into it. People really are not looking where they are going and could pretty easily walk into it because it is so busy and congested.
It's not the same as being on the back of a bike where people are more likely to see a bike.
Just to be aware, the wheelchairs for rent in the parks are adult wheelchairs, are heavy to push and would not be comfortable for a 3 yr old.
As was already pointed out, you will be able to take a stroller into lines with you the same as a wheelchair as long as you have a Guest Assistance Card and/or Stroller-as-wheelchair sticker that allows you to do so.
If you click the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find more information that might be helpful, including post #6, which is about Guest Assistance Cards.
There is also a post about transportation in that thread.
Most bus drivers will allow you to use the back door of the bus with a "stroller as wheelchair" sticker. You will need to take your child out of the stroller and fold it up once on the bus though. Wheelchairs are tied down with special straps, but a stroller frame is not designed for that and would not be safe to sit in during the trip (plus the frame could bend)
For the monorail and most boats, you would be able to roll the stroller right on without folding or removing your child from the stroller.
Excellent! Thanks for the suggestions. You're right, our stroller will be a lot better to use. I had no idea where to look for a flag. We have a Wal-Mart right across the street... woohoo!
I asked my parents about this but they weren't any help. They suggested we keep him in a wheel chair the whole time... which is not an option!
We've been there and done that with a small child using a walker and I would like to point out a few things that you might not have thought of.
1) The parks are busy and congested, which makes it harder for a child to use a walker than at home, school or out shopping. There are more chances of getting bumped than in 'normal life'.
2) Many of the surfaces are not smooth, and there are quiet a few ramps in lines and hills when you are getting from place to place.
3) Most people greatly underestimate the distance involved in a day at WDW. The average person walks at least 3 miles per day and most walk much more - many 9-12 miles.
There are links to a couple of threads about distance in the disABILITIES FAQs thread (I think some in post #2 and some in post #3).
You don't really notice it because it is spread out through the day, not all at once. If you can't visualize 3 miles, use your car odometer to measure the distance to some familiar place in your neighborhood.
3) Most parents of 3 yr olds find the distance is too far to walk and do keep them in the stroller for most of the day. For every step an adult takes, those short legs have to take at least 2. So, small kids do get tired.
I know when my DD had a gait study, she actually used 50% more energy to walk a distance than an average child her age. We decided that it was not possible for her to walk all (or even most) of the day, but we wanted her walker along so that she could stretch her legs.
We brought straps to attach her walker onto her wheelchair and then scheduled some times during our day for her to be out of the wheelchair walking. There are places in each park that are less busy where she was able to walk for a while safely without having to worry about anyone bumping into her. We never stored her walker at First Aid, but I know other people have.
If you are flying, you will be able to bring the stroller and walker to the gate of the plane and check them there. Ask when you check in and/or at the gate before boarding begins. Those items won't count toward your bag allowance and there is no charge for mobility devices.
