What a big bummer!

[DisneyMommy403]

So, our Disneyland trip is a few weeks away... aaaand my 4 year old broke her elbow.

Will she be able to ride the rides with a cast? I feel so terrible for her. Her sister will be able to do all kinds of things (like play around on the Redwood Creek Trail) while she just sits and watches. Also, she has a BBB reservation, and she wonʻt be able to wear a dress, OR even put on the tee shirt without damaging it.

Anyone experienced the park with a little bummed out beauty? She is my little adventurer, nothing scares her (except roaches)... she surfs, she swims, jumps, wrestles, and loves all things fast. She really wants to ride the "big rides" like Space Mountain and Big Thunder... will they let her on with a cast? (and of course, I or her Daddy will be holding onto her so she doesnʻt "slam" into anything and Materʻs is completely out of the story for her now).

 

[StyledSugar]

Awww that sucks. It's so tough for kids when they are in a cast, let alone being at DL in one. My son broke his wrist on the last day of school this year and the poor kid was in a cast almost all summer. He felt pretty sorry for himself the first couple of days and then he got over it and adjusted. I'm sure your daughter will be the same. You just need to be extra careful with certain things but I'm sure she'll still have a great time.

 

[mellers]

So, our Disneyland trip is a few weeks away... aaaand my 4 year old broke her elbow.

Will she be able to ride the rides with a cast? I feel so terrible for her. Her sister will be able to do all kinds of things (like play around on the Redwood Creek Trail) while she just sits and watches. Also, she has a BBB reservation, and she wonʻt be able to wear a dress, OR even put on the tee shirt without damaging it.

Anyone experienced the park with a little bummed out beauty? She is my little adventurer, nothing scares her (except roaches)... she surfs, she swims, jumps, wrestles, and loves all things fast. She really wants to ride the "big rides" like Space Mountain and Big Thunder... will they let her on with a cast? (and of course, I or her Daddy will be holding onto her so she doesnʻt "slam" into anything and Materʻs is completely out of the story for her now).

I have a suggestion--since Halloween is coming up soon, scope out a princess costume you think she will like at the local store, then go in November 1 and buy it cheap. Then, if you have to "pare it down" so she can fit it over the cast, it won't be expensive enough to cry over. Also, many halloween costumes have elastic in the sleeves that can really stretch a lot--you may even be able to pull it over the cast, if it's a short sleeve costume.

You also might get a costume for a larger child, so it will fit over the cast, and then cut off the hem. (Again, this only works for a cheap costume)

Also, if you can afford it, do a lot of character meals--that gives you a lot of Disney magic without a lot of jostling. Also, lots of shows.

Hugs to your angel!

 

[Geemo]

Check with the physician to see what her restrictions are.
You may find there aren't as many as you might think.

We've had fractured wrists, femur, arms, foot and many more.
For my family, once the cast was on they were pretty much good to go.

The only fracture that kept them sitting on the side lines was a fractured clavicle.

I hope it doesn't affect your plans too much.

Enjoy
Geemo

 

[jsebsirois]

Totally agree with checking with her doctor to know what she can do and what she can't.

With that being said, I'm sure she will have extra attention from Cast Members and Characters.

Maybe she could have her cast signed by characters!

But the most important thing is that she doesn't feel that you feel bad for her. If you make that situation funny, she will enjoy the moment!

 

[scrapshappen]

No experience with casts at Disneyland, but we had a kid on the baseball team my husband coached this spring who got clearance from his doctor to play baseball with the cast on his arm that went above his elbow. The doctor said it was impossible for him to make the break any worse with the cast on so go play.

So like others have said, check with your doctor. I'm guessing there will be less restrictions than you think.

 

[rewardsinlife]

Kids are pretty resilient...as long as you don't play up the role of 'over-caring' for her...which is easy to do as a parent, I think she will adjust in the next couple of weeks just fine and be running around with the rest of the kids. Having characters sign her cast is a good way to get her mood up if she is hurting by mid-day or feeling bummed...that is sure to raise anyone's spirit!

She should be able to go on any ride she chooses. You could still check out Mater's as well to see if they have added the padding to the sides by then...of course...that is if she feels up to it. The only thing I can think of that she might not be able to do is the rope swing across on the redwood trail and the rock climbing wall. Everything else is plank wood bridges and nets that she could easily climb up with one hand

Finally, make sure to bring some tylonel or something similar for her. Just getting in and out of rides differently with a cast can be painful after a while...and I am sure there will be instances where she might knock her arm a couple times. Take your time and everything should be great!

 

[HannaBelle]

Aw, OP I am so sorry for your DD!

My DD broke her arm when she was 5 and it did not slow her down a bit. I would have to imagine a broken elbow would be more painful though.

Take some sticky back velcro for her dress. If they have to open up a seam for her to get it on, you can use the velcro as a quickie fix. I bet the gals at BBB will have some ideas too! I would recommend calling them, I am sure they have dealt with this before.

 

[mydisneymoney]

She will do great and be able to do just about anything. You said you are going in a few weeks so does she have an orthopedic appointment between now and then? If so they may take her out of the cast she is now and put on something smaller. My son broke his humerous very bad and had to have surgery to have 3 pins put in. His initial cast was actually a heavy duty splent made of casting material and lots of padding and an ace wrap holding it all together. Then he was seen about 3 or 4 weeks later and they put him in an actual cast (which went above his elbw) but it was much smaller. He then had it taken off 2 weeks later. Kids heal so fast. You would not have known he had broke his elbow when it came to pain or activity especially after he had the real cast put on. I agree with checking with your physician about activity but a cast really does protect it very well. I don't see why she can't ride most of the rides she wants to.

 

[todzwife]

When DD2 broke her leg (3 weeks before her second birthday) I put a legwarmer over the cast so it didn't snag everything. Maybe you could do something like that if you are worried about the fiberglass snagging a dress?

Oh, and she'll be feeling fine in 4 weeks. Trust me. After 10 days my little stinker was WALKING on her broken leg. Once it's set and in a cast, it doesn't hurt much after the first 2-3 days.

I'd bring motrin in case it bothers her, but it probably won't. I went to DL and Knotts w/ a broken arm when I was 11 and it didn't stop me from doing anything. (And I had a full arm cast, up to my shoulder)

 

[madigraham]

Yep! she can ride everything with her cast!!!

 

[scoker]

I agree with the PP's that it is doubtful that her injury will slow her down much. She can probably go on almost any ride she wants as long as the cast doesn't interfere with safety. There is no way a ride could hurt a healing bone on a 4 year old 3 weeks from now. She should be able to get bounced around like everyone else and be fine. I had many a broken arm as a kid and I remember my younger brother breaking an elbow as a pre-schooler. I don't remember us having any activity restrictions and we were feeling fine within just a few days in the cast.

 

[julieheyer]

I'm sure that's a big disappointment to you guys. My dd (now 9) has broken both her arms (one at the elbow) and dislocated her shoulder. The day we got her elbow cast she was back at the monkey bars trying to go accross, complaining about the part of the cast that went accross her hand making it hard to grab the bars :laugh:. The 2nd break was 2 days before we left for a beach vacation to Mexico! :doh:

My point is, your dd will be just fine. She'll be able to do everything, I predict even the rope swing. Don't limit her, let her decide if she's up for things. Any pain will be minimal by then I'm sure, as she'll be nearly fully healed.

As for BBB-not sure why the costume won't fit over the cast? They're not nearly as bulky as they used to be. If it's pulling, like a PP suggested, cover it w. something. I'm sure the CMs will be great and give her extra attention too.

You're a thoughtful and smart mom. You'll find ways to compensate for any issues. You'll all have a magical time!!

 

[DisneyMommy403]

First, Iʻd like to say from the bottom of my heart - a tremendous THANK YOU to all of you for your thoughtful and compassionate responses.

She was in the ER yesterday for it, and oddly enough, she couldnʻt get into her actual cast until this morning. After the doctor checked how extensive her injury was and her range of motion, he was amazed! He said she actually is not too beat up, and her fracture appears more serious than it may be (given how well she could rotate her arm)...so he gave us some GREAT news... sheʻll be in a full arm hard cast for only 10 days! Afterward, theyʻll place her in a sling, and he predicts sheʻll have a full recovery by the time we fly out.
What a relief! I was so worried that sheʻd be limited to what she could experience, and have to watch as her sister got to do everything without limitation. I was worried about the bulk of the cast not being able to fit through the arm holes of her dress, or even her "Iʻm going to the Disneyland Resort" tee shirt I bought her in her surprise package (yup, its a complete surprise for the kids)!
I was so relieved after the stress of my son coming down with an infection the day before, to her broken arm, and skin rash, (geez, can a mom catch a break?) to hear sheʻll be just fine.

and to see such a wonderful amount of compassion, ideas, and nice words surely made my day. Thank You all, and I hope you all will be blessed!

 

[Eeee-va]

I'm so glad your daughter's prognosis is so positive!

 

[bumbershoot]

The only thing I can think of that she might not be able to do is the rope swing across on the redwood trail and the rock climbing wall.

But those have height restrictions that a 4 year old girl might not be able to get to anyway.

She was in the ER yesterday for it, and oddly enough, she couldnʻt get into her actual cast until this morning.

They have to wait for swelling to go down before casting it.



I think that's a good call on Mater, even with just a sling (especially with just a sling). It's a really swingy, slammy ride with hard forces that can surprise you (the surprise swing to the opposite side is what landed DS in First Aid with them checking for a cheek fracture), and even when they add padding (which will likely make the seating area even smaller and easier to hit the side) something that is *broken* probably won't be happy to hit the side.

Everything else, I bet, will be just fine.

 

[meandmygirl]

We have just returned from Disneyland. 1 week before we flew out from Australia, my DD broke her wrist and elbow. Not one CM questioned the fact she had a cast on. She rode everything.

 

[stargazertechie]

It's great news that she won't be in the full cast. I will say that I broke my elbow at the same age (I was 3.5) and was at WDW with my arm in the cast. I was able to wear clothes no problem- it just took some maneuvering. Put the arm with the cast through the arm-hole first, then the head, then the other arm last. It was a bit of gymnastics, but it happened.

Glad to hear your princess is on her way to being 100%