A New Power Chair and a Vacay in Disneyland

We just got back from a week in the Happiest Place on Earth, and NSM delivered Jamey's new chair! It sure is a HUGE improvement over what he's been 'driving.' He sure wishes he had had it in Disneyland--would have made things a little easier.

So, this chair is so much more comfortable for him! It was made to fit him alone (too bad they couldn't put a seat on the back for me!).  The only thing he doesn't have is a way to recline it himself. The recline has to be done by a technician. That means we have to call for service, wait for an appointment, and then hope the change works for him. The good thing is that his doctor can recommend he have an additional recline device put on, so when we go to see the doc in October, we'll have him request it for Jamey. That way he'll be able to recline it whenever he wants to.

I mentioned we spent a week (well, actually 5 days) in Disneyland. While it was very challenging, it was worth the time. All our kids and grandkids (one in person and one on the way) were there to celebrate our 40th anniversary a year early. We felt we better do it when we could because of the uncertainty of life. It was so much fun, even though it was a lot of work. We will have wonderful memories for years to come.

If you are disabled and have an opportunity to go to Disneyland, don't stay home because the thought is too daunting. Here are some tips.

1. Stay at one of the Disneyland Hotels, in an ADA room (it is worth the extra money, I promise you). In order of least expensive to most: Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier, Grand Californian. The Grand empties out right into California Adventure Park or Downtown Disney, whichever you prefer on a given day.

Up from his chair and 'caning' it for pic!

2. Have them prep your room ahead of time. We had a hospital bed brought in from one of their suggested supply places and that made ALL the difference. It was already set up when we got there. Whatever other extras you need, Disney is happy to provide them for you. (Well, at a price, that is 😉.

3. Don't be embarrassed to ask for assistance. But, honestly, the cast members are so good at identifying issues, you probably won't even need to ask.

4. Stop in at City Hall when you first enter the park. They will be able to give you a detailed map of all the places that work best for disabled people. There are two places in the park that have Companion Restrooms. These are private restrooms where you and your caregiver can go together. No one else is around--just you, or you and your caregiver.

5. California Adventure rides are all ADA approved. So, you can ride your chair or scooter the entire way up to transferring onto the ride. In many of the rides, they will take you out of line and load you before you are all the way up to the front which shortens your wait. The nice thing is your entire party can go with you.

6. ADA requirements were not an issue when Disneyland was first built in 1955. However, they are working on getting all the rides handicap accessible. As long as you can transfer from your chair, you can still go on most of the rides. For instance, to get onto Pirates of the Caribbean, you need to go to the exit area of the ride and get a "come-back" time (it's usually about 20 minutes). Then you go in the exit and they take you from the opposite side of the river where the normals get off the ride (LOL). That means your wait is far less than average and they are very patient with you. Other rides do similar things, so check with a cast member for information, or ask while you're in City Hall.

7. If you're not yet in a wheelchair, but are afraid of all the walking, order a scooter rental. Go online to www.applescooter.com. You can order online and have the scooter waiting at your hotel (any hotel, not just Disney hotels) upon your arrival. The last day, just return it to the Bell Hop and you're on your way. It is far less expensive and more convenient than renting one from Disneyland. I parked the scooter where all the stroller parking was at each ride. Then I was able to stand in line with the rest of our party, all the way up to embarking the ride.

Flying is quite easy if you are in a wheelchair and can transfer out. With Southwest, we checked in at Full Service and received a clearance for security. So we didn't need to take off our shoes, or wait in line with everyone else. Jamey's chair had to be wiped down for possible chemicals but it wasn't that bad. Then we went all the way up to the plane's door and my son-in-law helped Jamey to his seat. They took the chair down to baggage and we were set to go. When the plane landed, they brought the chair back up to him. Everyone was very accommodating.

I don't know how it works if you are wheelchair-bound and cannot transfer, but call the airline ahead of time and arrange for someone to be there for you, to help you get through it. We were blessed to have both sons-in-law and a daughter who is a travel agent, so it was a pretty smooth trip for the most part.

But, I'm telling you from experience, don't miss out on something wonderful because you're afraid of the inconvenience.

It's worth the memory to give it a try!