I know the feeling of being leary of what others are thinking of you.... that is one of my biggest fears as well...
When my mom suggested we save up for a trip to WDW I was pleasantly surprised, but knew it might be a problem. My mother is 61 years old and has several mobility issues (recently also diagnosed with CHF) and I told her unequivically that we would be
renting a scooter for her! (I pushed her in a wheelchair at the Indy zoo last summer and said never again)
Then a few months later, another damper, my Dr. informed me that my heel spurs were keeping my plantar faciitis from healing and I had 2 options.... have them surgically removed or live in pain. So in January of this year I had the heel spur on my left foot removed... as of now the insicion site is still tender but I can feel some improvement in the foot, just healing slower than I expected it to.... next January will have the other foot operated on (my job only allows up to 13 weeks paid medical leave a year and I was off for 10 with the first foot). I work at a job where I am constantly on my feet (cashier) and I know that I CAN do it, however most days I am in such severe pain by the time I go home that I can barely walk at all. As my mom already has handicap plates on the car we share, I have never bothered to inquire about it for myself so don't know if I would even qualify for a temp, but I have parked in handicap spots knowing that people will give me a funny look, but I really do need it.
Back to our trip.... we already are planning on paying for my mom to have a ECV, so I figured I would tough it out... but as my feet aren't improving as fast as I had hoped (right foot is actually getting worse as I favor the left). I keep thinking that maybe I should rent one too.... but if we can only afford one, she gets it... no bones about it!!!! I am afraid of both of us using one will be too inconveinent, especially in the room and on the buses.... besides that I absolutely hate the looks I know I will get.