any advise on walking aound disneyland?

[watergal]

my family has planned a trip to disneyland! which is one of my favorite places on earth! but since i started having the symptoms of IC, 5 years ago, walking, stading, and bumpy rides arent as easy or fun as they use to be! its the first family trip we have had in a while, and plus we get to take my neice for the first time which will be such a joy to see! but i dont know what to do. walking that much is just impossible, and if there is anything worse then walking, it is standing. i can hardly stand for 3 min, let alone 30-60min in a line! i was wondering has anyone done anything similar, and found anything to make the trip more enjoyable? and not so concentrated on bathrooms and pain? what seemed to work, and what should i avoid? and i feell weird about getting a wheel chair, because i have never had to use one before other then leaving the hospital after surgeries.... but my mom suggested asking about it, and it didnt sound like a bad idea, any thoughts on that! any advise is greatly appritiated!

[jaime15]

Why not one of the parks motorized scooters? This way you aren't depending on a family member to push you around. If you aren't sure about a certain ride, suggest to them you'll stay behind and wait with your niece....that is if she isn't tall enough for the ride.
I bet if you seek park personnel, they have ideas for you so you won't have to wait 30 min or an hour to ride something. I know if I waited that long I'd just have to pee and get out of line.
Also suggest to your uro about a one day handi-cap parking permit. This way you park up close and if you have to go first thing, it will be right there.

I sure hope you have fun on your trip!! And maybe others will have more helpful tips for ya! :)

[ICNDonna]

I was going to suggest a motorized scooter.

Donna

[watergal]

thank you so much for you advise. i didnt know they had the moterized ones! that would be great. i would never like to have to depend on someone to push me around! and i also didnt know there was a one handicap thing! thank you again so much!

[Annie2]

I remember reading posts about this before so you might want to check through some of the old travel posts. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I do believe if you let the park know you have a disability and need a chair or scooter, you will also be given permission (along with family members who are with you) to go to the head of the line and will not have to wait in long lines. Also, at Disney World (I would assume maybe at Disneyland, too) they now have something they call fast pass (or something like that). At the kiosk-like machine for this, you select a ride you want to take and select a time for that ride. Then a ticket is printed with the scheduled time and all you have to do is show up at the scheduled time, no waiting in line.

I would think communicating with the park office would give you answers to all the questions you have. They are quite accustomed to assisting those with disabilities and are known for being very helpful to those with special needs.

Hope you have a fun time!

Annie

[darkWillow]

Ah Disneyland, rest assured they have MANY bathrooms. I know because I have used every single one of them countless numbers of times. Definitely check on special access because of your wheel chair. I have seen many riders with disabilities able to board with all of their families so you should have no problem. Since there are quite a few rides that aren't exactly gentle, I usually hit the bathroom right before, and then right after the ride. The biggest test of my will power is the food. I swear that Disney has some sort of subliminal mind control on me and my friend that I always go with because the minute we walk through the gate we want to eat. The churros and Mickey pretzels are hard to resist. I recommend bringing some of your own IC friendly snacks. I'm not sure if Disney allows people to bring in their own food, probably not, but sneak it in anyway. Their food can be deadly. There are places where you can get things like plain burgers, and chicken. There is a restaurant over in tomorrow land near space mountain that I believe has pasta. However, I'm not sure what's on the pasta, but it might be worth checking. Let me again say that there are many bathrooms to be found so anyplace you end up in disneyland will be alright. Even Tom Sawyer's island has bathrooms on it. I know that the steam boat does not have a bathroom on it, and I assume that the columbia ship is the same, so watch out for that one. Well, I hope you and your family have a wonderful time, I am very envious! I want to go so bad for the 50th anniversary celebration, and especially for the reopening of space mountain. :)

[windwalker]

I carry one of those stick on heating pads just in case I start flaring, may not be a bad thing for you to do since its gonna be a longer day.

[SheriG]

In a word...DON'T...You will have a far better time rather than worrying about walking, getting knocked about by the millions of other fun seekers. Try to keep yourself hydrated, because even though you are riding, the sun can still get you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Enjoy! Sheri G :grouphug:


PS....I have kept travel johns in my car for emergencies, well, finally had to use one at my son's soccer game the other nite. I was very nervous, figuring I would be soaked and have to go home, buy to my surprise, they worked out very well, kept me very dry, and I sure was more comfortable thru the game!!!!! :woohoo:

[JenG]

Hi!

I just wanted to put my two cents in about the Disneyland trip. Just took my daughter and her friends there for her birthday on Monday. It was hot and crowded, and I thought about using the motorized scooter, but with the crowd it seemed impossible to get anywhere! One thing that really got me through was bringing ziplock bags, so that I could get ice at any of the vendors and sit with my ready made icepack in the shade. There really was no problem finding bathrooms.

Was I really exhausted at the end? Yes! Was it worth it? Yes! Even though it caused some pain and it took a few days to recover, it was great to share the time with my daughter. Good luck with your trip and try to enjoy yourself, and take care of yourself!

[Prinny Joy]

Oh, I highly recommend a wheelchair at Disney. You will have more energy to engy the rides and such if you aren't using all your strength on walking, lots of walking there we know. I had been to Disney in a wheelchair and they are the MOST accomodating to that! You won't even have to wait in line. You go to the Handicap enterance of the ride and you get (ride) on...: ) If you're uncomfy I understand but I did it and I had the best day as Disney was most wonderful about that! At times I do bring my handicap sticker w/ me when I go places as well as a med ID card for Interstem to show in the event someon questions if something is really wrong w/ me cause on a great day no one would ever know my sufferings. Also just something about this. If you need to do any drivers liscence things they do have handicap lines for those of us who can't stand and wait for three hours. But, you must request it and some give a hard time when you ask for the handicap number but just ask for a supv. hope that helps as I can't wait in ANY long line for a long period of time! Best wishes! PEACE and JOY JOY JOY

[Babs RN]

I used the motorized scooter when I was pregnant and went and it was the best decision I could have made. On the trips I to the Magic Kingdom that I have been on(including the trip where we left straight from my cysto)there are truly bathrooms everywhere. As far as the food, not very IC friendly as was already mentioned. Oh yeah and if you do have the motorized scooter they usually let your party go to the front of the line. I love the Indiana Jones ride, but consider it the worst for my bladder. Our family is full of Disney junkies and go frequently.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[watergal]

thank you all so much! i leave tomorrow :woohoo: , and i truely feel like i am prepared! i was so scared and was getting in that mood where i was starting to think i should'nt go! so thank you all again! i am finally excited about it! and am no longer having the anxiety of pain! i have the confidence i needed to go and not worry about anything, and to just have a GREAT time!


thanks you again! :grouphug:
watergal

P.S. i love the indiana jones ride too! but you are right! not very IC freindly AT ALL! lol! but once is enough for me! and now they have that ride at califonia adventure, soaring over california! wow thats a good one! and it is smooth and you get to sit! now thats a ride!!!