WDW with new ankle sprain and ligament and tendon damage in foot.

[disneymidwife]

I am heading to WDW on Friday and have been looking forward to the trip which I have planned out to the t. THEN last week I took a nasty fall and am in a walking boot for at least a month. At least I can walk enough to get through the day at home I am not sure how much walking I will be able to tolerate in WDW d/t pain and swelling. Does anyone have any suggestions....or a list of rides that have stairs that I should avoid? Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[DisneyNutinNJ]

Subbing... I sprained mine bad on 7/30 and we're flying out next Friday. Not in a boot, just a brace and lots of ice, but I still am not sure how much walking I will be able to do and would love to hear the suggestions too!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

If you're in a boot, you should avoid walking too much, otherwise you can mess up your back. You should get a wheelchair for the park, and just get out for the rides.

Also, you might want to try to see an osteopathic doctor who does manipulative medicine. They can do a lot to excelerate the healing, and may have other sugestions for you (this is for both of you with the ankles).

 

[plucky]

Our DD (11 at the time) fell a week before our February '09 week long WDW vacation. She had a hairline fracture and was in a boot with crutches. We opted to rent a wheelchair, had it delivered and picked up right at our resort (POP), and are we ever glad we did! There was no way she could have crutched her way through a week at Disney. And at many rides, we were given great seating, or could enter through the handicapped entrance.

But be forewarned. Each park seems to have different guidelines as to what a boot and wheelchair gets you. And we found that each CM had their own interpretations of those guidelines. Epcot was the worst! I left that park crying out of frustration! If you want to see O Canada, don't push the wheelchair up all those ramps at the main entrance. Enter the path to the restaurant Le Cellier for handicapped access to the movie.

We had a great time with our DD. Hope you have a blast!

 

[J3nn78]

I would recommend a wheelchair or ECV

I had a complete rupture of my achilles last year about 8 weeks before our trip. I was actually still hard casted at the time of the trip so I had an ECV. I still rode everything. I figured I would hop down stairs if I needed to.

I was in a walking boot for another 8 weeks after I got home from the trip. THere is no way I could have walked around Disney with it. It is really hard on your back and hips from being misaligned.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the disABILITIES! board. The people here should be able to give you more great advice.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available will increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

Once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is more than 1¼ miles; most people tend to average 8 - 12 miles per day at WDW.

The majority of attraction lines in WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that a wheelchair or ECV will use the regular entrance and line all the way to either a show seating or ride load area. If a line is not mainstreamed there will be signs and/or Cast Members to direct you where to go.

If a show, normally there will be spaces to park a chair or ECV and there will be seats next to the space for other members of the group.

If a ride, usually you will have to transfer to a ride vehicle, although some rides will allow a person in a wheelchair to remain in their chair. If you have to transfer to a ride, and unload is not at the same location as load, your ECV will magically appear at the unload area.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Note that Post #2 discusses mobility and equipment. Post #3 had a wide variety of information and links; it might be a good idea to look at the various park "Guidebook For Persons With Disabilities" for more detailed information.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

subbing as well...just fell down my stairs wednesday nite...im swollen like a grapefruit on my ankle....doc's visit tomorrow....i've got 7 weeks to get in shape.

 

[KPeveler]

ECVs are your friends! In Disney, you walk between 6 and 10 miles a day - most people can barely do this without a hurt foot!

I would suggest an ECV or wheelchair for all of you! If you are uncomfortable using them in line, you can always park them and walk in the line, though I would keep the ECV with me. Almost every line is mainstreamed (except a few in MK), so you will not be skipping lines.

You can also park an ECV at shows and sit in a regular seat, so you are not taking up a wheelchair spot...

Basically there is a difference between surviving Disney and enjoying it!

Get a GAC to allow you to go around stairs if you do not use a wc/ECV.

Please be aware that the GAC will not allow you to skip lines at any point. Disney's policy if you have stamina or mobility issues is to use a wc/ECV.

Check out the FAQs for places to rent them, and more info on the GAC.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

As everyone else has said, getting a set of wheels is the best idea for all of you! I'd suggest an ECV, rather than a wheelchair, as you don't need anybody to push you in an ECV (as a long-term wheelchair user, trust me when I say that nobody new to wheels wants to push themselves all the way around the parks!). If you rent from an external supplier (see disABILITIES FAQ), it tends to work out cheaper, and you have it for the whole trip.

Oops! Got to run, more later!

 

[Dissy]

Are you flying? Notify your airline now or when you check in that you'll need a wheelchair. They will accomodate you very well. Limping though airports on a walking boot is tiring. And they may change your seats so you have more leg room.

Make sure your "other" shoe is the same height as the boot. This helps with back problems. Learn to walk/roll with the boot.

You may want to slip in some cooling gelpacks inside the boot as long as they aren't directly on the skin. The boot is hot!

Re-think your luggage. Pack as light as you can. Place an order with garden grocer etc. for delivery to your hotel/resort.

Bring ziplocks for ice packs.

And definately rent an ECV.

A litle history:

Fractured fibula (near ankle) 2007 - 1 month before Disney trip. Non-weight bearing and in wheelchair. Stayed off property.

Surgery on same injury 2008 - 3 months before Disney trip. Used ankle velcro brace and good tennis shoes. Also used a cane. Stayed on property.

Still limping, Feb 2009 - stayed off property.

Sprained the same ankle one week ago and am in walking boot for 3 weeks. We leave in 6 weeks for Disney with the grandkids - on property. I may rent an ECV if needed.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

 

[disneymidwife]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I definetely think I need a set of wheels for the trip, but I am afraid I would kill someone in the ECV--i'm a little scared of them esp with me behind the wheel We are driving and I found a scooter that I can keep my leg up on, but it is pretty hard to drive. I will be bringing alot of anti-inflammatories!!!

 

[Dissy]

You can go to Target or WalMart and practice on an ECV. My mom was afraid of the ECV so I just drove it slowly and it was the right height for her to just hang on while walking for extra support. I thought the ECV's were great, especially at EPCOT where there are wide open spaces. AK was more frustrating and I wished we would have done a push wheelchair there.

As far as using leg extenders (on wheelchairs) in the parks, forget it. Someone is going to bump into you, without a doubt.

 

[Twende]

You should really get wheels! It will make your trip so much more enjoyable!

Practicing at Walmart is a great idea. Just pick a quiet time so you can feel comfortable learning without running someone over!

As a side, are you are CN Midwife? If you are from the Cincy area I may know you from some birthing I did there as a doula.