WDW on crutches?

[tink5697]

I sprained my foot yesterday in a stupid water park.
I am so mad and upset today, hopping all over like an idiot.

Has anyone ever conquered WDW with an injury?
Can you offer some advice/pointers?

This was supposed to be such a great princess trip, now I am going to be an enormous burden on my MIL.

 

[momandseandodisney]

I have seen lots of people do it.

I ended up dislocating my knee on Wednesday and we leave on the 22nd of Sept. - I have a "walking splint" on for the nextt 4 weeks.

 

[SueM in MN]

Come to the disABILITIES Board (link in my signature) and look around. You may want to rent a wheelchair or scooter (ECV) because walking all over the world with crutches is going to be very tiring. There is a disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board.

 

[Eponine1]

Last year, my cousin broke her foot while at Disney. We ended up having her in a wheelchair (GF gave us one to use) and when in the parks, she got the scooters that worked well.

I was impressed by the way Disney handles people in the wheelchairs. I was worried it was going to be a real hassle, but it wasn't. It was very convenient.

You might want to rent a scooter for the parks to make it easier to get around and a little less stressful on you.

 

[InstImpres]

Just got back and DD was on crutches. We ended up with a wheel chair as it is a lot of walking. I would recommend a scooter for you. (consider getting it from and offsite company so you have it all the time - resort halls can be long as can the walk from the MK bus to the entrance). I've done the park on a scooter, not even phenumonia could keep me away, and it is very duable.

Enjoy

 

[Gooofy-Blade]

definitely go with a wheelchair, at least, and make sure you keep your tag each time you parkhop- that way you will not have to pay multiple rental fees - simply the one fee will cover all parks if you keep the tag.

I learned from experience last year when my DW had to be in a chair during our visit.

 

[tink5697]

For those of you that used a wheelchair or scooter, can I ask how and where do you leave your wheelchair at a ride?
My MIL looked into a few companies, and we wondered what stopped people (Certainly not a DISer) from just walking or riding as the case may be..off with your scooter??

 

[VSL]

Depending on how bad the sprain is, you may be off crutches and able to walk fairly comfortably by the time you get there.
Either way, just remember to RICE it!

Is it bruising pretty bad or does it 'look' fine (apart from some swelling)?
The sprain will generally be of the more serious nature if bad bruising appears.

I'm talking from the experience of 15yrs of damaging the ligaments in both ankles, my wrists, and my left middle finger (my right ankle is particularly bad - they may suggest surgery if it happens a few more times.. my last sprain was my worst). And trust me, not ONE of those times have I been under the influence of alcohol! (Just really clumsy!)

 

[SueM in MN]

For those of you that used a wheelchair or scooter, can I ask how and where do you leave your wheelchair at a ride?
My MIL looked into a few companies, and we wondered what stopped people (Certainly not a DISer) from just walking or riding as the case may be..off with your scooter??

The scooters have a key. If you take the key with you, the CMs can put the scooter into a "free-wheeling" mode so it can be pushed to move it if needed, but it can't be driven because you have the key that turns the power on.
You can get more information on the disABILITIES Board.

 

[mhingher]

During my trip last June, I tripped while running (long story) in the DD parking lot. My foot immediately turned blue and swollen. Turns out I tore a ligament! This was mid afternoon on Wednesday, and we weren't leaving until Monday. DH spent the rest of our trip pushing my in a wheelchair. I was depressed at first... but the first day in the parks, we only waited on a line a few minutes before a CM came and brought us (and my whole group- 10 adults and 3 kids- to the FP line! The only downside is that I came home much heavier b/c I was still eating the yummy foods, but I couldn't walk!

 

[mhingher]

For those of you that used a wheelchair or scooter, can I ask how and where do you leave your wheelchair at a ride?
My MIL looked into a few companies, and we wondered what stopped people (Certainly not a DISer) from just walking or riding as the case may be..off with your scooter??

When I was in a WC, they let me stay in the WC up unbtil a certain point, when they asked me to hobble the rest of the way (usually only a few feet). When I got off the ride, my WC was magically waiting for me!

 

[tink5697]

VSL...I am going to hope you are right on.
This is my first accident of any kind. My dh has a genetic disorder with considerable pain in his ankles, we deal with pain here constantly, so I am trying not to be a big baby.
As of today, I am able to put a little more weight on it than yesterday, and it has very little bruising, and just some swelling. So, all in all I am hopeful.
Thank you so much everyone for your advice.

 

[seashoreCM]

Unfortunately those of us who can hobble short distances but should have a wheelchair for longer distancds get a lot of flak from bystanders. But I still suggest renting the wheelchair.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

"I can walk, but only to first base"

 

[goofy's friends]

Wow!! Can I sympathize with your pain!! See my thread on achilles tendonitis--I've gotten great advise!!

 

[dyna]

IMO No one not born using crutches should use them those things are DANGEROUS that aside

I've known several ppl who was dependant on crutches something no one has mentioned I don't think. Crutches are brutal on the arm pits. The pressure on the arm pits not only causes sore muscles but they rub you RAW. One lady I knew had been on crutches her whole life and summer she ALWAYS got rubbed raw in her arm pits even doing normal household activities nothing else NO pad she ever found NO towel on the crutches nothing helped the soreness she got in her arm pits every summer.

I can not imagine what using crutches in Disney heat by an inexperinced person could be like. 2 hours and you'll be so sore you can't stand it. Don't let crutches ruin your trip.

If you goin with a wheel chair I'd try to barrow one from a friend or family member before leaving home then you know you got a chair to use and not having to stand inline at disney waiting for one. WAIT not everyone like my parents with a garage full of wheelchairs walkers etc tho.

 

[SueM in MN]

I was depressed at first... but the first day in the parks, we only waited on a line a few minutes before a CM came and brought us (and my whole group- 10 adults and 3 kids- to the FP line! The only downside is that I came home much heavier b/c I was still eating the yummy foods, but I couldn't walk!

just wanted to point out, that's the exception rather than the rule. Most lines at WDW are wheelchair accessible and wheelchair or ecv users usually wait in the regular lines with everyone else (unless they have Fastpasses). For those few lines that do have a wheelchair entrance, usually the largest party they let thru is 6 (5 plus the person using a wheelchair or ecv). The rest of the party is usually sent thru the regular line.

 

[Redbudlover]

Just got back and DD was on crutches. We ended up with a wheel chair as it is a lot of walking. I would recommend a scooter for you. (consider getting it from and offsite company so you have it all the time - resort halls can be long as can the walk from the MK bus to the entrance). I've done the park on a scooter, not even phenumonia could keep me away, and it is very duable.

Enjoy

I have trouble walking very far or standing for very long because of a bad back. but I definitely don't need a wheelchair. I have wonderred about the scooters - are they like the motorized carts in grocery stores? Are they big and clunky? I feel funny about it because I can certainly get around fine - just not for very long or far....
Redbudlover

 

[SueM in MN]

I have trouble walking very far or standing for very long because of a bad back. but I definitely don't need a wheelchair. I have wonderred about the scooters - are they like the motorized carts in grocery stores? Are they big and clunky? I feel funny about it because I can certainly get around fine - just not for very long or far....
Redbudlover

The ones you rent at the parks from WDW are sort of big and clunky, but not as big and clunky as the ones in grocery stores usually are.
You can rent one from one of the off-site equipment rental companies. They are smaller, more manouverable and easier to use.
Here is a link to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. It has information about scooters, including links to off-site companies that rent them.

 

[philaround]

Unfortunately those of us who can hobble short distances but should have a wheelchair for longer distancds get a lot of flak from bystanders. But I still suggest renting the wheelchair.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

"I can walk, but only to first base"

I'm considering hanging a sign from the back of my ECV on our next trip that says

I'll gladly let you take my ECV if you will also take my MS.

 

[tink5697]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice!
My foot is doing remarkably better today and hopefully within the week before we leave I will be hobbling better!
Thank you again!