Originally Posted By Rider 1 My son just broke his ankle and we're heading to Disneyland early August. I don't think he can take 15 hours of crutching around the parks. Nor can he avail of an afternoon dip in the pool to cool down. We're visiting from Ireland so heat is something we are not used to - and we're visiting Southern California in August... Any advice or suggestions to help my son, and our family, would be most welcome! Thanks!
Originally Posted By TP2000 You can rent a push wheelchair at the main entrance to the park each day, I think they charge 15 dollars per day. You could also contact your hotel and ask about renting a wheelchair through a non-Disney business for the length of your hotel stay. There are plenty of such services in Anaheim; you can rent anything from a Mustang convertible to a wheelchair, and it might be a bit cheaper than renting one of Disneyland's wheelchairs each morning.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Definitely get a wheelchair! Trying to hobble around the parks all day would be miserable, and probably slow down the rest of the group too Another advantage to renting one from another company for the length of your stay is that you'll be able to use it getting to and from the parks each day. If you rent from Disney each day, he'll have to get to the park on crutches, and then you'll have to carry the crutches around with you all day You should also check in at Guest Services at the beginning of your first day in the parks. They'll give you all the information you'll need about how to navigate attraction queues, including their new-ish system where you bypass certain queues depending on their accessibility
Originally Posted By Tikiduck If your son is a teenager you may have a time getting him into a wheelchair. You know, stuff like "what would the girls think" and so on. I assume you have the basics covered, such as sunscreen, hats, snacks, afternoon breaks, fastpass and such.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL Depends on how old your son is. I was just fine working crutches around DisneyWorld, SeaWorld and Universal/IOA for 6 days. Actually rented a wheelchair for one day at IOA and hated it, used it for less than thirty minutes. Also, if it wasn't a compound fracture, ask his Ortho if he can have a waterproof cast or a boot for the trip so he can go into the pool for short periods of time.
Originally Posted By Rider 1 Thanks to all for the help! My son is 17 and I don't think he would be too embarrassed to take to a wheelchair if it was the right thing to do. It's not a compound fracture but a bad break; according to the doctor. I like the idea of renting a chair from a non Disney firm. The Disney web site states their chairs don't leave the parks. So much for lunch in Downtown Disney. I hate to say it but we may cancel/postpone our visit to America until after Christmas. The doctor put the scare in about deep vein thrombosis on 16 hour travel blocks (13 hours in the air on one leg). Big financial hit if we cancel or change... But... Whatever is best for the family. Cheers!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <The Disney web site states their chairs don't leave the parks. So much for lunch in Downtown Disney.> I'm sure chairs you rent at DL itself don't leave the park, but it's worth mentioning that we rented one once at the DLH, and it could go back and forth (even on the monorail!) I don't know if you have to be staying there to rent one there, though.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL >>>The doctor put the scare in about deep vein thrombosis on 16 hour travel blocks (13 hours in the air on one leg)<<< That is an issue of concern, yes. And one in where you would rather be better safe than sorry with your son's health. Also, call your airline, if you didn't go thru a travel agent or have travel insurance Most carriers will waive certain fees when it comes to a medical condition restricting flight or needing to change dates. Just explain his condition and the doctors concern, and ask if there's any way they can work with you on your issue. The worst they can say is sorry, no.
Originally Posted By Rider 1 Update: Doctor gave the all clear and signed the airline forms saying he's fine to travel. Prescription for Aspirin 3 days before & after each leg for safety. Had to get ~$6 million extra in health insurance to meet American health pricing. Funny... My standard European health insurance provides full world-wide coverage - except for America. For America, I'm advised to get at least $5 million extended coverage. There's something seriously wrong with your health care system where I need 5 times my world-wide insurance coverage level to meet American doctors bills... Seriously wrong... But, best to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Had to get ~$6 million extra in health insurance to meet American health pricing. Funny... My standard European health insurance provides full world-wide coverage - except for America. For America, I'm advised to get at least $5 million extended coverage. There's something seriously wrong with your health care system where I need 5 times my world-wide insurance coverage level to meet American doctors bills...<<< Yes it's totally wrong. I spent a semester at an US university and it was just crazy what I had to go through to get health insurance. Not only did they force us to get an US insurance, which was much more expensive than extending our Austrian insurance for the US, but also it didn't cover everything. I'm so glad that we have another system that covers nearly everything. My wife had to go to the dentist back then and despite having insurance we had to pay 400 Dollars extra. Back at home I can go as often as I want to the doctor and everything is covered. Each time we travel to the US I get another policy that covers everything and it inlcudes medical airtransport back to Austria.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>My wife had to go to the dentist back then and despite having insurance we had to pay 400 Dollars extra.<< Wow, that's insane! I think most plans that cover dental work typically have a copay in the $20 range. I wonder if you had really high rates since they knew you would only be here for a limited time, and figured that added some extra risk
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Wow, that's insane! I think most plans that cover dental work typically have a copay in the $20 range. I wonder if you had really high rates since they knew you would only be here for a limited time, and figured that added some extra risk<<< Time was the problem. The dentist was afraid that he wouldn't get the money, because we were only there for eight months. He thought that the insurance company wouldn't process the case quick enough and so he treated her only after we paid first. Lucily we got 50 % back from our state run health insurance.
Originally Posted By Tikiduck When he said 6 million I thought he was kidding. Yep, America has some serious "ketchin" up to do. But it's tough when half your country consists of backward thinking Neanderthals.
Originally Posted By mhartman47 Get a chair from a business outside the park. Even getting to the parking trams/hotel shuttle can be a exhausting after a day in the park. Also invest in glo sticks ($1 store ones are fine) or flashing necklace. Makes wheelchair more visible at night. You can not take the cairs past security. You can go between Disneyland and California Adventure, but if on monorail you must leave the chair at tomorrow land station. If at Disney hotel, they will all those chairs on monorail. Was wheelchair bound for about 18 months and had wonderful times with family still at Disney.
