Disneyworld trip with a broken foot - do it or cancel the vaca?

[DarthVader]

So I have an extended weekend trip in November (Saturday -> Tuesday) planned for the family. Its a surprise trip that my kids do not know about and we'll be heading there to see the Christmas lights and as a birthday gift for them.

With that said, my daughter broke her foot yesterday (two bones), and she's now on crutches and will in all likelihood still be in a cast when the trip comes around in 3 weeks.

I'm contemplating cancelling the trip but first I'm looking for wisdom and advise about going to WDW with someone with a broken foot. She's 9 years old if that makes a difference.

 

[Nemo14]

So I have an extended weekend trip in November (Saturday -> Tuesday) planned for the family. Its a surprise trip that my kids do not know about and we'll be heading there to see the Christmas lights and as a birthday gift for them.

With that said, my daughter broke her foot yesterday (two bones), and she's now on crutches and will in all likelihood still be in a cast when the trip comes around in 3 weeks.

I'm contemplating cancelling the trip but first I'm looking for wisdom and advise about going to WDW with someone with a broken foot. She's 9 years old if that makes a difference.

Don't cancel - but plan to rent a wheelchair for her. I'm sure a trip to WDW would be just what she needs to lift her spirits.

 

[DarthVader]

Don't cancel - but plan to rent a wheelchair for her. I'm sure a trip to WDW would be just what she needs to lift her spirits.

I'm torn, I agree with you on that aspect, but then given the money we're paying and the fact she'll be prevented from doing things as she's used too I worry that she'll not have as good of a time.

 

[Nemo14]

I'm torn, I agree with you on that aspect, but then given the money we're paying and the fact she'll be prevented from doing things as she's used too I worry that she'll not have as good of a time.

It will be different for sure but it could still be a great trip. I did a weekend getaway in an orthopaedic boot a few years ago and I still had a great time. She won't be the only kid there in a cast.

 

[sophie_the_pooh]

But wouldn't she be even more disappointed to miss the trip? I would rent a wheelchair and go, you can still have a great trip!

 

[DarthVader]

But wouldn't she be even more disappointed to miss the trip? I would rent a wheelchair and go, you can still have a great trip!

She doesn't know about it. This is a surprise. What we'd be doing is deferring until another month.

 

[J_Krafty24]

Will she be back to 100% a month later out of the cast or will she still be recovering ? Disney is a lot of walking on that foot. If a month later she is still be below 100% a day at disney on her foot could be pretty painful. If that is the case I would stick with the original plan so that she could enjoy the park from a wheelchair. I dont know anything about foot injuries though. Maybe you should ask her doctor about this. Make sure he would clear her for walking the miles a day disney requires so soon after the cast comes off.

 

[Sabrina D]

If she doesn't know about the trip she can't be disappointed if the plan changes. It sounds like it's not a huge problem to just put it off for another month or so. I think that would be my choice if my daughter had a similar injury.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Since your daughter doesn't know, and you would only be pushing it back one month, it sounds like you should definitely cancel. The only thing that might change things for me was if I would be on the hook for a big deposit or something like that from the cancelled trip.

 

[DarthVader]

Thanks for the input and suggestions I think we're going to roll the dice and go for our November trip. If it was a full week, then there's more reason to defer the trip but being a long weekend in November she'll still enjoy it. We'll rent a wheelchair and go that route.

We'll see what the doctor's say but a conservative estimate will be 4 to 6 weeks in a cast and we're shipping off to Disney in 3 weeks.

At this point even if they were to remove the cast, I think she'd be better off with the cast then walking around in DW with a recently decasted foot that will be weaker and stiff (from being in a cast).

 

[Disneyhead'71]

When she's 30, this will be one of the few trips that she will have distinct memories from.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I can think of nowhere on Earth I'd rather be with a broken foot than Disney World! I think she'll have a wonderful time. I'm not sure what things she wouldn't be able to do other than "wet" rides, although I would suggest bringing a plastic garbage bag or extra poncho that she can tuck around her cast to protect it from incidental splashing on things like Splash Mountain and POTC.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I just visited Disney in late August after two knee surgeries, one in February and one in June. I am still walking with a cane. I debated canceling or not but I finally bite the bullet and rented an ECV. I had a great time and the cast members and air line people were great in giving assistance when needed. I say go for it.

 

[LAKid53]

A week before our trip to that other theme park in Orlando, my daughter tore the meniscus in her knee while working out at the gym. We rented an EVC for her and she was able to ride most of the attractions. We discovered, though, how much better WDW can accommodate someone with limited mobility. But then a leg in a cast and crutches is more restricting than a knee in a brace and a cane.

If you think she will be okay with it, then I would rent an EVC and go. Just make sure to gauge your time in the parks by her energy level - my daughter tired quicker than normal. And CMs will be there to assist, along with other parents when they see the cast on her leg. My daughter's first trip to WDW was with a purple cast on her broken wrist. In August. During the 25th birthday celebration. Her only complaint (besides how stinking hot it was, lol)? She couldn't swim in the pool with Mickey in the bottom.

 

[rucifee]

I'm torn, I agree with you on that aspect, but then given the money we're paying and the fact she'll be prevented from doing things as she's used too I worry that she'll not have as good of a time.

I would cancel, even if you rent a scooter she won't have a positive memory of the vacation because she'll be in pain and miserable that she can't do what she wants to do. If you reschedule rather than cancelling you shouldn't have any fees for doing so, especially if you explain the situation.

 

[LAKid53]

I would cancel, even if you rent a scooter she won't have a positive memory of the vacation because she'll be in pain and miserable that she can't do what she wants to do. If you reschedule rather than cancelling you shouldn't have any fees for doing so, especially if you explain the situation.

If he purchased a package, there's a $50 change fee that will be applied if the total cost of the rescheduled trip is less, which is highly unlikely. And since they want to see the Christmas lights, he's now looking at a trip in December - hopefully there is resort availability.

 

[rucifee]

If he purchased a package, there's a $50 change fee that will be applied if the total cost of the rescheduled trip is less, which is highly unlikely. And since they want to see the Christmas lights, he's now looking at a trip in December - hopefully there is resort availability.

Yeah, but I'm sure Disney will waive it for a broken foot if it is less. I get wanting to see the lights, especially for the last time. Hopefully there is availability.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I would cancel, even if you rent a scooter she won't have a positive memory of the vacation because she'll be in pain and miserable that she can't do what she wants to do. If you reschedule rather than cancelling you shouldn't have any fees for doing so, especially if you explain the situation.

The problem is she isn't likely to be at full strength a month later. I know people that had leg injuries as a adults and I had a fracture hip when I was a teenager. There no WDW trip planned when I fractured my hip. Lets say that I had a severe fracture that got lucky that I didn't need hip replacement surgery.

I said full strength because while a fracture Leg is different than a Fractured hip I had years ago, you can't just walk the amount of miles after just taking off a cast.

 

[rucifee]

The problem is she isn't likely to be at full strength a month later. I know people that had leg injuries as a adults and I had a fracture hip when I was a teenager. There no WDW trip planned when I fractured my hip. Lets say that I had a severe fracture that got lucky that I didn't need hip replacement surgery.

I said full strength because while a fracture Leg is different than a Fractured hip I had years ago, you can't just walk the amount of miles after just taking off a cast.

Oh I get it, broke my foot before too. 8 weeks of bad times.

 

[jlsHouston]

OMG, I feel for you. I BADLY sprained my ankle in late July 2 years ago and our trip was from Aug 13th until the 24th. I was pretty cranky and annoyed for most of the trip because my ankle was killing me every day after about 5 hours of walking the park and even though I would rest in the afternoons, it just wore me out being in pain. Pain tires you. So then I would get cranky that everything I would plan for the evening hours, I wouldn't do because I just didn't feel up to it. Basically I would say, never cancel a trip to WDW, but if you are going partially crippled then don't plan on long park days or bouncing around the resorts alot. I mean I was in agony after walking around the world once at EPCOT. Being in pain severely affected my activity level.