Wheelchair/crutches question

[Corwin]

On Wednesday, just a few days before our scheduled departure on our next trip, our son had unexpected, emergency surgery on his hip. The surgery went well. However, he is totally non-weight bearing on his left leg for the next six weeks.

Despite the surgery, my son's doctor has told us that there is absolutely no reason that he can't still go to WDW. My son is dead-set on going. He has no problem with being in a wheelchair.

He has no restrictions for any rides, so long as he can safely transfer from a wheelchair to the ride. The only thing he can't do is go into the water or a pool for 7 days, but this isn't much of an issue, considering that it's late December.

We have a wheelchair for him for extended distances, and crutches for going up and down stairs, moving around a room or the house, etc.

I'm trying to figure out the logistics of bringing a 14 year-old on a plane and to WDW in a wheelchair. We leave tomorrow.

For the plane, I'm planning on bringing him to the gate in the wheelchair, gate-checking the wheelchair, and having him use crutches to get him to his seat. The same thing should work for the Magical Express bus.

For transportation to the parks, I know that many (all?) of the buses have wheelchair ramps. What about the boats from WL?

In the parks, we'll have his wheelchair. I'm trying to figure out if we also need his crutches in the parks. I think he can probably pivot and transfer from the wheelchair to the rides without them. Does anyone have any experience or guidance with this sort of thing?

Any advice or tips would greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[jmkjr72]

depending upon the size of the chair you may even be able to wheel him all the way to your seats on the airplane
as for the boats i dont think the ones at ft wilderness are set up for them
if i remeber right you ahve to setep into those boats(i have only been over that way a couple of times)
the pontoon style boats you see over at po ssr okw and dtd are set up for them
the boats that run from dhs to epcot and the hotels there can be wheened on too

just about all the rides you can wheel up to and transfer or wait for a specail car that they can stay in there chair
except for things like haunted mansion and the clam mobiles at the seas and even those would be a big pia on crutches

test track they will hold the ride to transfer
the rapids in ak they have a special area
the safari they have special trucks if he doesnt want to transfer

 

[disney david]

On Wednesday, just a few days before our scheduled departure on our next trip, our son had unexpected, emergency surgery on his hip. The surgery went well. However, he is totally non-weight bearing on his left leg for the next six weeks.

Despite the surgery, my son's doctor has told us that there is absolutely no reason that he can't still go to WDW. My son is dead-set on going. He has no problem with being in a wheelchair.

He has no restrictions for any rides, so long as he can safely transfer from a wheelchair to the ride. The only thing he can't do is go into the water or a pool for 7 days, but this



In the parks, we'll have his wheelchair. I'm trying to figure out if we also need his crutches in the parks. I think he can probably pivot and transfer from the wheelchair to the rides without them. Does anyone have any experience or guidance with this sort of thing?

Any advice or tips would greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Yes all the buses have a ramp or lift the new ones which to will see more of are low floor buses. Meaning that a ramp comes out and he can ride up and the old bus has a lift. If he decree to use the crutches they can still bring the ramp out. But the new buses don't have steps to enter but not plush with ground a little step up. The driver will be more then happy to load you in the back door where the ramp is the want you to get on safe and to have a safe trip.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I would suggest bringing bungee cords or some other method to temporarily attach the crutches to the wheelchair. This way if he needs them in a park they are immediately available, and do not get in the way otherwise.

Almost all lines for attractions are mainstreamed, so you will be able to bring the wc directly to the boarding area. For many he will not even have to transfer. If a line is not mainstreamed, you will see or be given instructions to an alternate entrance.

All the buses are equipped with ramps or lifts; the older buses which are being phased out use lifts. Some of the smaller boats he may have to transfer and then the wc carried over the gunwales.

One thing to be aware of. Even if you ask, Cast Members are not permitted to touch a Guest to assist them. A CM may hold a wheelchair from moving, and take it to park it and bring it back. But that is the only contact permitted. So any transfer have to be done by you.

 

[ILuvMulan]

My son (13) is a bi-lateral amputee and he very rarely uses his wheelchair... except at disney and if there is a prosthesis issue that requires he use it. You will have no problem using the wheelchair for any ride, bus, or resort as long as your son can transfer safely. As for the airplane my only advice is to make sure that you take the chair all the way to the plane and make sure that the flight attendants know that it is yours and it is going with you. On our last trip we had it tagged, so we did not say anything to the attendants and it was left behind!!. They got it to us the same night, but it was a little tense. Even though my son can walk with his prosthesis all the walking at Disney really takes it toll and that was a little stress we could have gone without.