Wheelchair question

[tperkins71]

I tried searching but to no avail. My DD (12) broke her leg 3 weeks ago while rollerblading.. We are slated to head down on a family vacation in May and if all goes well she will be in a short (below the knee) cast versus the full leg cast she is in now....and days before we leave to head down.....

Can anyone tell me if the wheelchairs at the parks are the junior size and if they have the leg extensions for supporting the leg from underneath?

Thanks for your help!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Just how big is your DD12? My DD10 was around 4'9" and 80-85lb when she had a broken ankle in time a WDW trip. The 16" wheelchair was a perfect size for her. The chair at the parks are 18". We rented a 16" chair offsite and verified that the foot support could be lifted and had a support behind the calf. We used an airline wheelchair at the airport and those ones I believe are the standard 18" chairs. She was swimming in it. That would have been very uncomfortable to use through the whole trip.

Keep in mind that if you rent every day at the parks then she'll have to make her way from your room to the bus stop (or parking lot if you're driving) and then from the bus stop (or parking lot if you're driving) to the entrance of the park. Reverse that at the end of the day. That's a lot of walking on that cast.

How does she get around right now? If you already have a chair then I'd suggest you use that one so you'll have it in the airports as well rather than having to use the ill fitting airline chairs.

 

[tperkins71]

She is 5'2 and about 110 lbs. I believe that she has a 16" currently at the house. Thanks for the information- I think we will just bring the one she has now. We are driving down and was thinking it might be better to rent instead of bring hers but with your information I can see bringing it would be better.

Thanks so much for the help!

Just how big is your DD12? My DD10 was around 4'9" and 80-85lb when she had a broken ankle in time a WDW trip. The 16" wheelchair was a perfect size for her. The chair at the parks are 18". We rented a 16" chair offsite and verified that the foot support could be lifted and had a support behind the calf. We used an airline wheelchair at the airport and those ones I believe are the standard 18" chairs. She was swimming in it. That would have been very uncomfortable to use through the whole trip.

Keep in mind that if you rent every day at the parks then she'll have to make her way from your room to the bus stop (or parking lot if you're driving) and then from the bus stop (or parking lot if you're driving) to the entrance of the park. Reverse that at the end of the day. That's a lot of walking on that cast.

How does she get around right now? If you already have a chair then I'd suggest you use that one so you'll have it in the airports as well rather than having to use the ill fitting airline chairs.

 

[KPeveler]

The onsite ones do not have elevating leg rests, nor do the ones in airports. Also, I have seen some very large wheelchairs in the parks, (at least 18 inches wide) and ALL of them are very uncomfortable. They are made of mesh and have NO support or padding of any kind.

I am the same size as your daughter and I have found park wheelchairs to be terribly uncomfortable! I would definitely bring your own or rent off-site.