Looking for some advice for my temporary disability

jpm1st

Mouseketeer
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Hi
My name is James and I will be traveling Disney World for the first time in a manual wheel chair.

A little back ground on my recent condition. I went into the local hospital on December the 24th then was rushed to another hospital due to a rare pneumonia triggered by something other than bacteria that the doctors never could figure out. I was in a induced coma from the 26th until January 9th when heavy steroids finally started getting rid of the pneumonia. Two days later I had an abdominal muscle tear that caused me to almost bleed to death. So I was bedridden until late January.
This all lead to me being so weak I spent 2 months learning to walk again in a rehab hospital.

I am now out and can walk but it will take time for my strength and endurance to build back up.
After about a 100 feet I get tired and my legs hurt.
But am just glad to still be here and going as this is my daughters high school graduation trip. We are leaving in a little over a week.

So I will just travel by wheel chair and transfer to rides. My understanding from reading the FAQs is that I won't need the DAS as most rides lines will let me stay in the chair until close to loading on the rides or some rides let the wheel chair on.
Is this correct?

Also I would welcome any advice for traveling in a wheel chair.

Thanks
 
First off, it is good to hear that they got to the bottom of it and glad to hear you are recovering well.

That is correct; however, going to Disney isn't like going elsewhere, there is a lot more walking (well, rolling) involved there, I would strongly suggest considering an ECV rental from an offsite company (Gold Mobility is prefered by many,m myself included) as you may find it too tiring to be powering a wheelchair through the parks all day or if someone is pushing you, it may become too much for them.

There will be some attractions where you would need to transfer to a Disney provided chair for the queues, but that is a far cry better than trying to do it all day, every day. Depending on the model you want to go with, the price can be as low as $150 for a week from Gold Mobility and about $10 a day for each additional day, so not too costly to help have what would probably be a much better experience for all in the party.

I am suggesting this, as you mentioned stamina is an issue when walking and many don't think about it being an issue when pushing or powering a wheelchair. Also, just sitting in a wheelchair can get pretty uncomfortable after 10+ hours a day, the ECVs usually have a more padded and comfortable seat. But ultimately you need to do what is best for you and your party, just mentioning some lessons learned the hard way so others don't need to learn them that way.

Also, congratulations to your daughter on graduating.
 
Just a suggestion:) consider renting a power scooter it will be a lot for someone to push you the whole trip let alone for you to wheel yourself
 
First off, it is good to hear that they got to the bottom of it and glad to hear you are recovering well.

That is correct; however, going to Disney isn't like going elsewhere, there is a lot more walking (well, rolling) involved there, I would strongly suggest considering an ECV rental from an offsite company (Gold Mobility is prefered by many,m myself included) as you may find it too tiring to be powering a wheelchair through the parks all day or if someone is pushing you, it may become too much for them.

There will be some attractions where you would need to transfer to a Disney provided chair for the queues, but that is a far cry better than trying to do it all day, every day. Depending on the model you want to go with, the price can be as low as $150 for a week from Gold Mobility and about $10 a day for each additional day, so not too costly to help have what would probably be a much better experience for all in the party.

I am suggesting this, as you mentioned stamina is an issue when walking and many don't think about it being an issue when pushing or powering a wheelchair. Also, just sitting in a wheelchair can get pretty uncomfortable after 10+ hours a day, the ECVs usually have a more padded and comfortable seat. But ultimately you need to do what is best for you and your party, just mentioning some lessons learned the hard way so others don't need to learn them that way.

Also, congratulations to your daughter on graduating.
I second this. I'm not in a wheel chair, but I've been the pusher through zoos and museums and various other activities. It is tough doing for an entire day places that don't require the level of walking that disney does and also are not as hot as disney is. I would seriously consider getting an ECV. Considering your recent health scare, I'm sure your family is just happy that you're alive and well enough to go along so they may just suck it up even though it's uncomfortable and they have blisters etc. I think everyone will have a better time if you get an ECV and it will give you a little more freedom.
 
I am so glade you are doing better and hope your trip to Disney is wonderful.

I would rent an ECV going to Disney in a wheelchair can be just of not more Exhausting Then walking.

You are correct that you will not need a DAS just about all lines are wheelchair / ECV accessible those that are not will have there own accommodation for you.

Even using s wheelchair ECV all day can leave you tired so take breaks when need be weather that be a show a stop in first aid ( they are great place to lie down for a bit) or going back to your hotel. But rest before you over do it.

Go get a bandanna or something bright colorful to tie on your mobility device so that you can find it easer

Make sure to put sunscreen on the top of your leg.
Bring a towel to cover the set ( black sets in the hot Florida sun is not fun. ) so you do not burn your self.

If you feel like walking you can park your mobility device and walk some.

And most of all enjoy your trip
 
I'd also say an ECV. My DH uses a wheelchair at disney, but he can walk some (like a grocery store but that wears him out). There are some hills, ramps, whatever you want to call, that I can't push him, so he walks those. You don't want to be in a spot, that you want to get from here to there but noway to get there.
 


Thanks for the advice. My daughter and her friend will probably go all day but my wife and I will go in mornings and evenings.
So we won't push ourselves to hard.

Does anyone know how they do wheel seating at the Garden rocks concerts?
 
Thanks for the advice. My daughter and her friend will probably go all day but my wife and I will go in mornings and evenings.
So we won't push ourselves to hard.

Does anyone know how they do wheel seating at the Garden rocks concerts?
For the garden rock concert, it is first come first served if needing to stay in your mobile device otherwise you can pull it close to where you are going to sit and transfer to your set then have someone park it. So if you can not transfer you might want to get there early if you need to stay in it. not sure how popular they are
 
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Thanks for the advice. My daughter and her friend will probably go all day but my wife and I will go in mornings and evenings.
So we won't push ourselves to hard.

Does anyone know how they do wheel seating at the Garden rocks concerts?
Even not pushing yourselves hard, it can be a bit more than you think, but really just a heads up.

As for seating, there is a wheelchair area behind the first section of seating that rarely fills up in my experience, but if it does, there is another section further back and there are benches where people can sit next to you.
 
I will also say rent a scooter. My mother has bad legs and she thought Disney wouldn't be so big (even after I warned her) 2nd day in at Epcot she rented a wheelchair and guess who had to push. Now Epcot is pretty flat but boy when there is a hill it's is rough. I pulled alot of muscles in my back taking care of her (going up the life ramp). Just get a scooter and have a good time. I am sure you don't want to be a burden and unless you an Olympic weightlifter there is no way u can move your self around Disney unassisted.
 
I'd also say an ECV. My DH uses a wheelchair at disney, but he can walk some (like a grocery store but that wears him out). There are some hills, ramps, whatever you want to call, that I can't push him, so he walks those. You don't want to be in a spot, that you want to get from here to there but noway to get there.

Yes; I started out one trip in a manual wheelchair, and I was completely taken by surprise at how many hills, ramps, and uneven surfaces there are in the parks. The ramp to get into Soarin', for example is ridiculously steep. I ended up calling the company I rented the manual chair from and having them drop off an ECV for the next day.
 
Hi
Thanks for all the great info and advice.
Since I haven't been able to work from last December certain things just aren't in the finances right now.
While I would love an electric scooter we are going to try without first.
I have pushed both my Mother and Uncle in wheel chairs at Disney years ago so we have some experience in that area.
Will try to update you when we get back.
Thanks
James
 
Thanks for the advice. My daughter and her friend will probably go all day but my wife and I will go in mornings and evenings.
So we won't push ourselves to hard.

Does anyone know how they do wheel seating at the Garden rocks concerts?
don't forget the distance to and from bus stops or parking lots as most you can not take wheelchair on tram even folded plus the distance from back of park to gate on trip back. another who would suggest an ECV instead of wheelchair. also I may have missed but when are you going hot weather can make pushing wheelchair rough even on short days. if nothing else have a number for offsite rentals on your phone in case you change your mind
 
Hi
Thanks for all the great info and advice.
Since I haven't been able to work from last December certain things just aren't in the finances right now.
While I would love an electric scooter we are going to try without first.
I have pushed both my Mother and Uncle in wheel chairs at Disney years ago so we have some experience in that area.
Will try to update you when we get back.
Thanks
James
Are you bringing your own wheelchair? if not the cost of the EVC vs a rented chair is not much if you do it from an outside sorce. Renting from the parks will cost way more if you have to tansfer on a day.
 
Little off topic, but - I had pneumonia, complicated by Sjogrens in December 2017. While I did not have the severe complications you had; I was unable to get rid of the stuff in my lungs. The Sjogrens had gelled the stuff in my lungs and I had to have a bronchoscopy to remove it. The only thing they found was a parainfluenza "type 3"?? I think as the cause. The Sjogrens, though, made it so much worse. Could that have been a factor in your pneumonia? Just a thought.
 
We will be bringing a wheel chair so we won’t have to rent any, thank goodness

My lungs did totally clear up, which I am so thankful for. They rest of my body is coming back but slowly just like the doctors said.

Thanks
 

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