Water Park & Prosthesis Question

[docv]

Greetings to all,

I just had my right leg amputated (below the knee) this past July. Just received my prosthetic leg this past week and life is good. Now I'm not anticipating many issues but I did notice that there are restrictions in the water parks for guests with a prosthetic limb. Anyone know or have any experience with this. I'm assuming Disney is concerned about damage to the slides or injury to other guests. I'm hoping I can adjust for the concern as I love to visit the water parks.

 

[Mary976]

I also wonder if they are worried the leg could "catch" on the slide and injure you? For example, they don't allow aqua socks (water shoes) to be worn on the body slide. The lifeguard said it was because the rubber could catch on the slide and then you could injure yourself. If that is a concern, it may only be for the body slides and not for the tube slides or lazy river. Hopefully someone here will have first hand experience and can give you a better idea of what's possible,

Good luck!
Mary

 

[POOHsie]

I have a prosthetic leg for an above the knee amputation. I discussed the prosthetic for water use with the prosthetic company. Basically I was told it would subject the prosthetic to damage to use it in water. Since my insurance paid for the prosthetic, I feel obligated to use it properly or risk ruining it and not getting a replacement paid for. I believe there are special prosthetics that can be acquired for water use, but just not your regular one. You need to discuss this with your prosthetic provider. From the standpoint of a slide at Disney or elsewhere, even a waterproof prosthetic couldn't be used, because it could catch on the sides of the slide and injure you worse that you already are (knee injury, broken bones).

If you cannot wear your prosthetic, this will severely limit you to the lazy river using the bump steps, or the wave pool with a water-wheelchair. Here is a picture of bump step access to the pool at Old Key West Resort. My resort, Port Orleans Riverside, also has bump step access to their pool.

Here is a picture of a water wheelchair at SSR. This is a zero-entry pool.

I think Blizzard Beach has a handicap accessible slide, but it involves having a second person from your party at the bottom of the slide to assist you at the end of the slide. And someone would have to fetch your wheelchair from the top of the ride.

That's pretty much it for water parks and amputated legs. Not much there, but better than nothing. I believe the water parks have wheelchairs available for those who need them, first come-first served. Same with your resort. If your resort has bump step access to the pool at no charge, it is questionable spending $50 for a day at the water park with a leg amputation, unless you are there to enjoy yourself with a group of friends/family.

 

[carj]

My son has worn a prosthethic leg since the day befor his first birthday. He's 9 now. I definitely want to encourage you to get out there and enjoy everything you can.

The previous poster is right about water damage. My son wears his "old" leg when we go to waterparks. I think that you should definitely consult your prosthetist about wearing it in the water. My son outgrows his legs about every 9-18 months so we always have an old one that fits but isn't a good fit. It is very hard on the feet. We lose toes every summer!

With that said, he does everything he wants at waterparks. We haven't visited the WDW waterparks but many others here in Texas.

The only time I have seen ride restrictions for him are in situations where he might dangle and the prosthesis can come off. At this point, he has decided that removing the prosthesis to ride those attractions is not worth it.

Are you interested in athletic events for disabled athletes? There is an organization that offers assistance in obtaining specialized equipment for disabled athletes. (like a swimming leg) You don't have to be a world classs competitor, just someone with the desire to be involved in athletic activities.

I don't want to discourage you AT ALL from having fun in the waterparks, but I would hate for you to damage your prosthesis and then be stuck with it for a while.

Please feel free to PM with any questions!

 

[SueM in MN]

If you are interested in going to a resort with a zero entry pool, post #17 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has information about those pools. Most of the resorts have at least one pool with bump steps.

Post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has links to the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for each of the WDW water parks. There is not much specific information, for example, it says, "Certain restrictions apply to Guests using a prosthesis on some of the water slides at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park. A separate information sheet is available at Guest Services to provide information specific to these needs."
(It says the same thing for Typhoon Lagoon).
I have not seen the information sheet, so can't help you with what the restrictions are, but I agree with the other posters that in some cases, restrictions will be to protect the slide from damage, in some it may be to protect you or other guests from injury and in some cases, it will be all those reasons.

Blizzard Beach is a little more accessible, since the lazy river has accessible entrances in several places, not just one like Typhoon Lagoon. But, both parks have water slides that are not accessible by wheelchair since they include stairs (and if you can't wear the prosthesis, you may not be able to get there even if you can move around without the wheelchair).

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

DH recently (July) had to have his left leg amputated (above the knee) so we are new to dealing with a prosthetic (though he hasn't gotten one yet due to the fact that he fell and reopened his incision and we're waiting for that to heal). He plain ol' forgot he didn't have a leg one day and as he held onto his walker turned, let go (to walk) and bam! fell over. At least the area did not get infected!

Anyway, he should have a leg by Christmas (we hope) and we're planning on going to WDW in April. We talked about going to the pool (we're not waterpark type of folks) and I saw this thread and started to read it - it dawned on me - we hadn't thought about the prosthetic and the pool! So thank you for bringing that to my/our attention! We'll definitely talk to our prosthetic guy (or as he refers to himself as "the leg man").

Thanks!

 

[POOHsie]

DH recently (July) had to have his left leg amputated (above the knee) so we are new to dealing with a prosthetic (though he hasn't gotten one yet due to the fact that he fell and reopened his incision and we're waiting for that to heal). He plain ol' forgot he didn't have a leg one day and as he held onto his walker turned, let go (to walk) and bam! fell over. At least the area did not get infected!

Anyway, he should have a leg by Christmas (we hope) and we're planning on going to WDW in April. We talked about going to the pool (we're not waterpark type of folks) and I saw this thread and started to read it - it dawned on me - we hadn't thought about the prosthetic and the pool! So thank you for bringing that to my/our attention! We'll definitely talk to our prosthetic guy (or as he refers to himself as "the leg man").

Thanks!

I fell for the same reason soon after my amputation. It takes some adjustment to life without one of your legs. If he gets a C-leg prosthetic with a tiny computer in it, there's no taking it in the water. My starter prosthetic, before my C-leg, had lots of metal parts and was not built for water use (will rust). The bump steps I have pictured above, which is a platform at wheelchair height, with steps down into the water, will enable your DH to "walk his butt" in and out of the resort pool, if your resort pool has this. Not every pool does. That is something to consider when choosing a resort. The swimming pool will do your DH much good, as sometimes amputees don't exercise much and get soft. Of course, you are yet to know how DH will take to walking. I could never get my balance, and usually use a mobility scooter, or my walker for quick walks. You may have to consider renting a mobility scooter, too. WDW is miles of walking. Also, you should ask for a handicap room with a roll-in shower. It has a bigger bathroom with much easier access to the shower with a wheelchair or scooter. Also, the shower has a seat and a personal sprayer shower head. Write back as your trip approaches. Good luck.

 

[carj]

DH recently (July) had to have his left leg amputated (above the knee) so we are new to dealing with a prosthetic (though he hasn't gotten one yet due to the fact that he fell and reopened his incision and we're waiting for that to heal). He plain ol' forgot he didn't have a leg one day and as he held onto his walker turned, let go (to walk) and bam! fell over. At least the area did not get infected!

Anyway, he should have a leg by Christmas (we hope) and we're planning on going to WDW in April. We talked about going to the pool (we're not waterpark type of folks) and I saw this thread and started to read it - it dawned on me - we hadn't thought about the prosthetic and the pool! So thank you for bringing that to my/our attention! We'll definitely talk to our prosthetic guy (or as he refers to himself as "the leg man").

Thanks!

An above the knee prosthesis usually has more moving and metal parts and I think swimming with it would be out.

Also, my 9 year old can swim while wearing his old prosthesis, but it isn't great for that. It's heavy!

For the pool, he wears it until we get there and then swims without it. He can weight bear very well on his residual limb. He can enter and exit the pool without any trouble.

The original question was for a below the knee amputee at the waterparks. He wears his leg and does every ride that he chooses. We have not been to the WDW waterparks but to local large parks and Great Wolf Lodge. He has never been denied access. He isn't too adventurous in water though so there may be some out there!

Another problem that we have after swimming is that it is hard to put the prosthesis on a wet limb. It seems like even when it feels dry, he drips water from his swimsuit and then the sock is hard to put on. For that reason, I think that taking it off and then putting it back on for a slide would be inconvenient.

I have wondered about swimming with the sharks at WDW with a prosthesis. It seems like I read something that made me wonder if he would have to remove it to do that. I'm going to follow this thread and see what some of you all discover too!

 

[docv]

Thanks for the feedback. I love the water so that was one of my first questions for prosthetic tech. My leg is titanium and carbon fiber and I use a sleeve suspension system instead of the pin system. This provides a water tight fit so there are no problems with getting it wet. My biggest concern (if it is a concern) was being aloud to go down the water slides. I love the water parks so I guess I'll have to wait and see what the rules are for slides. I guess I could always use the crutches to the top then have someone bring them to the bottom but that's no fun for the person who has to run the crutches back and forth. It will be fun regardless.