Wheelchair at Animal Kingdom

[karenwwu]

In need of advice and encouragement for a one day trip to AK. I'm 47yrs 145lb and of course, strained but didn't tear the hamstring behind my knee a few weeks back. Still sore to walk on it and while I have crutches and will use a brace I have decided to rent a wheelchair for our 2 night stay at the AKV and for the park day. I'm worried b/c I have been reading how hard it is for a wheelchair for both pusher and if I were to self propel due to all the hills and bumps and I really want to see the Gorilla Trail and cool non rides. Not interested in an ECV, my two day wheelchair is only $31.95. Should I bring crutches as well so I can use those when it gets to hard to navigate on the wheelchair (like the Gorilla Trail?). I also feel silly being in a wheelchair for everything when I could limp around on crutches and I can certainly transfer onto rides when needed. Finally, will it be frowned upon if I choose to leave the wheelchair on the platform before every ride I do? What to do? I leave Friday and am hoping a wheelchair will not kill my husband in the process of making it easier for me. Thanks in advance for sage advice from all you posters!

 

[mindy lou]

We rented a wheelchair for my son (10) last year due to multiple injuries and some other medical conditions. When he felt up to it he walked/hobbled in line or in an area. When he didn't, he took the wheelchair in line. Sometimes he transferred out of the chair for rides, sometimes he chose to remain in it. It was never an issue, whatever he decided to do. And I was impressed with how respectful and kind all CMs were when asking him if he could transfer etc.

I think it is exhausting walking on crutches a normal day, I can't imagine trying to do AK (or any park on them), especially in the heat and humidity!

I found it a little harder to push him at AK, but it wasn't too difficult. Granted he was 10 and in a smaller wheelchair, but we did (pre) rope drop to midnight EMH for Pandora in August and I managed it without a problem.

Enjoy your trip! I hope you have a speedy recovery

 

[karenwwu]

We rented a wheelchair for my son (10) last year due to multiple injuries and some other medical conditions. When he felt up to it he walked/hobbled in line or in an area. When he didn't, he took the wheelchair in line. Sometimes he transferred out of the chair for rides, sometimes he chose to remain in it. It was never an issue, whatever he decided to do. And I was impressed with how respectful and kind all CMs were when asking him if he could transfer etc.

I think it is exhausting walking on crutches a normal day, I can't imagine trying to do AK (or any park on them), especially in the heat and humidity!

I found it a little harder to push him at AK, but it wasn't too difficult. Granted he was 10 and in a smaller wheelchair, but we did (pre) rope drop to midnight EMH for Pandora in August and I managed it without a problem.

Enjoy your trip! I hope you have a speedy recovery

Ah, just the positive encouragement I was looking for from an experienced DISer! Thank you for the information. I'm glad to have the wheelchair at my disposal but will have my crutches for when I get irritated with the wheelchair or my family gets tired of pushing me around. I'm thinking I can handle just hobbling on crutches for some of the ride lines every once in a while. Can't wait to go and maybe I'm just overthinking things at this point! I'm going to try to just enjoy like you say! THANK YOU

 

[gillep]

You both should be fine. We took my husband's grandmother a few years ago and she weighed a little less than twice as much as me, and I was able to get along just fine in all of the parks as I was the primary pusher and I am pretty small at ~120lbs (my husband was too busy wrangling the rest of his family and everyone else was too wiped out from all the walking to even attempt it). The roughness of AK wasn't as much of a problem as the quick stops and abrupt turns in crowds, or having to very quickly stop when on a downhill and someone crossed in front of us, and even then the biggest issue was the wheelchair handles on my hands, if he can find some bike gloves that he finds comfortable you may think about packing those for him to protect his hands, I wish I had some when we went, but we were there for a week so things were cumulative. She did not attempt to self-propel anywhere so I don't know how difficult that would be. Now if you were in anything like a knee walker/scooter then I would advise against having it in AK, my husband broke his foot at Disney a couple years ago and the terrain of AK was not conducive to using that thing at all.

 

[tinka-belle]

Get a couple of pairs of bicycle gloves at your local Wal Mart for about $15 each. No need to spend $$$ at a cycle store. Both self propelling and pushing a chair can be tough on sweaty hands. Your hands will thank you.

Paths at AK are a little rougher than at other parks, but doable at a slower pace in a wheelchair. At a fast pace you feel every bump and pebble.

 

[KidaniZen]

How about renting a knee scooter? IDK how it would work out if at all with your injury but just wanted to put the idea out there.

 

[jo-jo]

I pushed my DH in a wheelchair for a good bit of AK. He weighs about 250. If the slope was too great for me, DH would walk pushing the wheelchair. Having something to hold onto helps him. So I think you'll be fine. We are 15 and 20 years old than you.

I would take the wheelchair in the lines. I've never used crutches, but I would think they would be very tiring.

Have you been on FOP? We had gone twice using FP line. First time I pushed him, second time DH walked. The queue is just to hard for us to manage. The path is about 50 miles long at a 90 angle. Yes, I know that's not true, but that's how it felt. When the CM says good luck with the path, that says something. Just wanted you to be aware.

 

[karenwwu]

You both should be fine. The roughness of AK wasn't as much of a problem as the quick stops and abrupt turns in crowds, or having to very quickly stop when on a downhill and someone crossed in front of us, and even then the biggest issue was the wheelchair handles on my hands, if he can find some bike gloves that he finds comfortable you may think about packing those for him to protect his hands, terrain of AK was not conducive to using that thing at all.

Thank you for this positive reply! You've helped destress me on this upcoming day at the park! So excited to see this place!

 

[karenwwu]

Get a couple of pairs of bicycle gloves at your local Wal Mart for about $15 each. No need to spend $$$ at a cycle store. Both self propelling and pushing a chair can be tough on sweaty hands. Your hands will thank you.

Paths at AK are a little rougher than at other parks, but doable at a slower pace in a wheelchair. At a fast pace you feel every bump and pebble.

Thank you! Headed to Wallyworld on my lunch break!

 

[karenwwu]

How about renting a knee scooter? IDK how it would work out if at all with your injury but just wanted to put the idea out there.

I was debating this but my knee doesn't bend too well with fluid build up in my kneecap. I'm falling apart but still going to try to enjoy the trip! Thanks for the suggestion though....!

 

[karenwwu]

I pushed my DH in a wheelchair for a good bit of AK. He weighs about 250. If the slope was too great for me, DH would walk pushing the wheelchair. Having something to hold onto helps him. So I think you'll be fine. We are 15 and 20 years old than you.

I would take the wheelchair in the lines. I've never used crutches, but I would think they would be very tiring.

Have you been on FOP? We had gone twice using FP line. First time I pushed him, second time DH walked. The queue is just to hard for us to manage. The path is about 50 miles long at a 90 angle. Yes, I know that's not true, but that's how it felt. When the CM says good luck with the path, that says something. Just wanted you to be aware.

Thankyou for the FOP warning and advice. I tried to FP+ but was outta luck so maybe we can still get on the ride later in the day. Can't wait!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would really look into renting a scooter. AK has a lot of hills to go up and a scooter would be best. They are not that expensive either.

 

[SueM in MN]

All the trails - like the Gorilla area are wheelchair accessible.
Whether you choose to use it in lines is up to you, but many of the lines are very long distance.

A lot of attractions require a transfer, so leaving a wheelchair at the platform for those would be the ‘normal’.
The ones that do have a wheelchair ride car will ask if you can transfer. There is no requirement to use that ride car just because of using a wheelchair - the majority of people transfer and the ones who use it are usually not able to transfer or have difficulty transferring.

 

[karenwwu]

I would really look into renting a scooter. AK has a lot of hills to go up and a scooter would be best. They are not that expensive either.

All the trails - like the Gorilla area are wheelchair accessible.
Whether you choose to use it in lines is up to you, but many of the lines are very long distance.

A lot of attractions require a transfer, so leaving a wheelchair at the platform for those would be the ‘normal’.
The ones that do have a wheelchair ride car will ask if you can transfer. There is no requirement to use that ride car just because of using a wheelchair - the majority of people transfer and the ones who use it are usually not able to transfer or have difficulty transferring.

Thank you all for the advice on tackling this park with a wheelchair. I'm prepared, ready and at ease because of you all!

 

[gillep]

I was debating this but my knee doesn't bend too well with fluid build up in my kneecap. I'm falling apart but still going to try to enjoy the trip! Thanks for the suggestion though....!

Stick with the wheelchair, do not do the knee scooter. My husband is a marathon runner and triathlete and he told us to abandon him at a random QS restaurant at AK because he could not navigate AK well using the knee scooter. The other parks were fine, but AK was horrible, he was in pain from all of the bumps and completely worn out from exertion, the wheelchair with his grandmother was so much more successful at AK than that knee scooter. I think you will have a great time, just take it slow when you need to, which is super easy to do at AK since there is so much to look at around you. Have a fantastic trip!!!

 

[geek+nerd]

I wouldn’t plan on too much self-propelling either unless you are an experienced wheelchair user. Self-propelling is a lot more demanding than most people think, particularly if you are not in a chair that is made for it. Your standard rental chair is not.

I pretty much self-propel all around WDW in a custom chair except at AK. DH has to take over after a while because the constant inclines and bumps take a toll.

Definitely take your crutches and do what you can.

 

[cmwade77]

Just keep in mind that there are a lot more hills that you think in the parks, especially at Animal Kingdom, so take lots of rests. An alternative would be an ECV rental from an offsite provider, that will make sure no one is exhausted at the end of the trip.

 

[karenwwu]

All the trails - like the Gorilla area are wheelchair accessible. Whether you choose to use it in lines is up to you, but many of the lines are very long distance. A lot of attractions require a transfer, so leaving a wheelchair at the platform for those would be the ‘normal’. There is no requirement to use that ride car just because of using a wheelchair .

Thank you for the added info on once I actually make it from the line to the ride!!

Stick with the wheelchair, do not do the knee scooter. I think you will have a great time, just take it slow when you need to, which is super easy to do at AK since there is so much to look at around you. Have a fantastic trip!!!

Thank you!!!! Yeah, no knee scooter for me....

I wouldn’t plan on too much self-propelling either unless you are an experienced wheelchair user. I pretty much self-propel all around WDW in a custom chair except at AK. DH has to take over after a while because the constant inclines and bumps take a toll. Definitely take your crutches and do what you can.

Great advice and wisdom on self-propelling. I've warned my husband to start doing some pushups for Tuesday's adventure!

Just keep in mind that there are a lot more hills that you think in the parks, especially at Animal Kingdom, so take lots of rests. An alternative would be an ECV rental from an offsite provider, that will make sure no one is exhausted at the end of the trip.

I've been reading about these hills and yes, plenty of rests will be taken! Thank you and to all posters on helping me out!

 

[geek+nerd]

One more piece of advice: when entering Pandora, use the entrance and exit by Tiffins. I recommend staying away from the bridge into/out of Pandora near the restrooms by FOTLK; it so uncomfortable to ride on that bridge in a chair.

 

[BillSears]

So how bad is the FOP hill to get into the ride? Is it ToT steep? Magic Kingdom Monorail steep? Or just pretty steep? I'll be doing it next month solo and I get around fairly well but I do avoid the Monorail hill because it's just too steep, I'd rather walk to the Contemporary and catch the monorail there.

BTW, for the ToT I almost always have a FP and I'm usually traveling solo. The CM there at the FP line suggested that I take the chicken elevator up to the ride instead of pushing myself up that hill. When I'm solo and with a FP I now ask if it's OK to use the chicken elevator so I can skip the hill and it works much better for me. Do they have somethign similar at FOP?

One more piece of advice: when entering Pandora, use the entrance and exit by Tiffins. I recommend staying away from the bridge into/out of Pandora near the restrooms by FOTLK; it so uncomfortable to ride on that bridge in a chair.

What? You don't like the bump, bump, bump, bump, every 4 inches? ROFL They really should have placed those boards long way in the direction of traffic instead of sideways.