Wheelchair question

[N&B'smom]

I am having major surgery 3 1/2 weeks prior to our Disney trip. (Our trip has planned for 10 months and we just found out 3 weeks ago that I HAVE to have this done.) Anyway, I am 33 years old and my fear is that IF I get a wheelchair (I would only do this as an absolute last resort) that people will look at me like I'm just doing it so I can get ahead in line. The surgery is in an area that to the naked eye I will look absolutely fine, not like a broken leg or something. What would you do??? I don't want people thinking I am getting the wheelchair for other reasons. Frankly, I don't even know if I'll need one but I have all these things going through my head about all the possible scenarios, I'm just looking for some advice.

Thanks so much in advance!

Shelby

 

[seashoreCM]

If you use a wheelchair, you can still walk a little of the time, some of the time, half of the time, or even most of the time.

If you do not get a wheelchair you must walk all of the time.

You could wrap a fake bandage somewhere on one leg if you want.

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

Suggested yellow diamond shaped sign to put on back of wheelchair: "I can walk ... Only to first base."

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I would go in a wheelchair and not worry about what other people may think. My mom was in a wheelchair this past trip because she can't walk long distances. She doesn't look like she needs a wheelchair, but there is no way she could have walked around the parks all day long for 8 days.

Part of the reason I say go in a wheelchair is because I know when I had surgery in spring it took a long time to recovery from it. If you don't go in a wheelchair, you may not be able to have the best time that you would be able to if you were in a chair. Don't worry about what other guests may think...obviously you need one and you have every right to use one.

Have a great trip and good luck with the surgery!

 

[BlindTyldak]

My DH is about 6 feet tall, very muscular, blonde hair down to his waist, goatee, and tattoos. When he stands up he is one scary looking *bleep*. But then he sits back down in his ECV, does his little Road Runner "meep meep" and goes on his way.

No matter how hale and hearty a person looks, you just never know. No one looking at my DH would ever guess he has multiple sclerosis and can't walk any farther than the handicapped spaces to the wheelchairs at Wal-Mart if he doesn't bring his scooter. And people stare at him all the time. His theory? They're jealous they didn't think of gett ing a ride first.

And if it makes you feel any better, you WON'T save time in lines. We found that we got on rides faster about 25% of the time, at the same time as people joining the line as us in the "normal" line 50% of the time, and waited LONGER 25% of the time, roughly. it all evened out.

 

[Msslaydbug]

Why worry about what others think ? If you need it , you need it. I have a heart condition too. Sometimes I am having a really off day. I look like a perfctly healthy 30 year old to the naked eye. I could care less what anyone thinks of me if for any given reason I feel like I can't make it around with a little help somedays. They aren't walking in my shoes !!

 

[Schmeck]

There is no 'front of the line' for wheechair users, so no one will see you doing that...

 

[SueM in MN]

I would not recommend anyone adding a fake bandage; that does look like faking it.
As was already mentioned, there is no 'front of the line' access with wheelchairs. Most of the lines are wheelchair accessible and the few that you might end up getting on faster than without a wheelchair will be balanced out by the many that you end up waiting the same time and the few that you will end up waiting even longer. So, the people who might think you are trying to get some advantage by using a wheelchair will be wrong.
This thread from the disABILITIES Board has some good points to think about regarding needing to use an ECV or wheelchair. I know your situation doesn't sound permanent, like the woman who wrote, but there is still a lot of good information.

 

[praisehim5]

My husband will be traveling with a wheelchair. He has 3 ruptured discs in his back and cant walk long distances. Other than that he looks healthy. He realy doesnt want to take the wheelchair but he has no choice. It's ride in the chair or be in pain all day and night. He would rather ride in the chair and enjoy our trip than to be in pain and on meds.

So that being said, I would use the chair when needed. That way your trip will be magical and your pain level very low.
Have a great trip!

 

[N&B'smom]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I just won't know how I feel until I get there so I'll judge it then. If I need one then I will get one.

Shelby

 

[Ardenne]

FWIW, we went with my dad in a wheelchair several years ago. He looked fine, but he couldn't walk for more than a very short distance without problems. No one gave us a rough time at all, as I recall.