[linda2]

my son is seven and paraplegic. he really wants to go to disneyland so of course what he wants he neally always gets. we are planning on going at christmas 2007. my husband and i have never flown and are really nervous about everything.

[georgie]

linda2, on Aug 14 2006, 11:09 PM, said:

my son is seven and paraplegic. he really wants to go to disneyland so of course what he wants he neally always gets. we are planning on going at christmas 2007. my husband and i have never flown and are really nervous about everything.

Hello

We went abroad this year for the first time since my hubby became an incomplete paraplegic. Before you book your flights contact the tour operator or whoever you book with to ask about individuals with special needs for some advice. We did this, booked and then rang again to confirm our booking reference and requested airport assistance. It was fantastic! I didn't have to pay for the extra leg room and we got to board the plane first which the kids were delighted with. When we landed, we were last off the plane but they helped me get the suitcases etc as with two children (aged 7 and 4) and hubby in the wheelchair it was a bit of a struggle.

I would like to visit euro disney next year. We went years ago with my daughter (pre hubby's SCI) and would be interested to hear how you get on and whether it is wheelchair-friendly.

Enjoy the trip and have fun!




Georgie

[linda2]

georgie, on Aug 15 2006, 08:08 PM, said:

linda2, on Aug 14 2006, 11:09 PM, said:

my son is seven and paraplegic. he really wants to go to disneyland so of course what he wants he neally always gets. we are planning on going at christmas 2007. my husband and i have never flown and are really nervous about everything.

Hello

We went abroad this year for the first time since my hubby became an incomplete paraplegic. Before you book your flights contact the tour operator or whoever you book with to ask about individuals with special needs for some advice. We did this, booked and then rang again to confirm our booking reference and requested airport assistance. It was fantastic! I didn't have to pay for the extra leg room and we got to board the plane first which the kids were delighted with. When we landed, we were last off the plane but they helped me get the suitcases etc as with two children (aged 7 and 4) and hubby in the wheelchair it was a bit of a struggle.

I would like to visit euro disney next year. We went years ago with my daughter (pre hubby's SCI) and would be interested to hear how you get on and whether it is wheelchair-friendly.

Enjoy the trip and have fun!




Georgie

[linda2]

thanks 4 replying. nothing seems easy these days maybe at 26 am knackered.my little man has hydrocephalus and 2 very tempremental shunts so we nervous about that, we nervous if he were to take ill abroad. we nervous about making sure we have enough meds catherters how we will manage with out his commode and the things we have at home that make things easier.

[Gary Anderson]

Linda

Good luck with the Euro Disney. Best advice you got was to book in advance and keep telling them that your son is in a wheelchair.

A bit of advice you perhaps do not want, however, I feel you should be aware. My best mate in USA has just been to Disneyland with 4 x kids aged 8-16. My mate has a calliper on one leg and uses a wheelchair sometimes. Anyroads, after getting to Disneyland he was horrified to discover that a lot of the rides they would not let disabled folks on; also there were height restrictions.

I am only an anaesthetist, however, had to become a doctor to do that and prior to my accident was training to be a surgeon, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST. It may be that due to the shunts in your son's head he will not be allowed on the rides. Also, check the flying.

I know it sounds like a "wet blaknet" but better to do that now than have disappointment on the day you go out.

Best of luck.

[georgie]

Hi Linda

Another tip! Buy travel insurance for your son that covers pre-existing medical conditions. I think we got my hubby's through Freedom Insurance for just under £50.



Georgie

[ruth]

Dont know if its just me, but I hate flying. Well, not the flying bit, thats OK - its the porters trying to lift me into a chair that looks like something out of an ambulance, even though I am quite capable of transferring myself, complete strangers pushing me (even my husband asks before he pushes me - and only up really big hills). Not having my chair (or any chair for that matter!) on the aeroplane if I need to go to the loo. Also the row that invariably occurs at the other end as I watch my chair make its way to the baggage handlers, and not be brought up to the plane...

The only flight I didnt end up having a huge row with someone was when I flew to Canada - as it was long hawl, it had a chair onboard, so I could go to the loo. Also they seemed to appredciate that I wanted MY chair, and it was brought up to the aeroplane as soon as it was taken out of the hold.

The worst experience was last year when I went to Athens, Greece - 4 hours or so, and no chair (plus the getting on first, and getting off last)!!! I'm an sci - I cant hold on that long!! I'm a grown woman, so I'm certainly not going to be carried to the toilet by an air steward. It felt like the whole experience was actually designed to humiliate me - put it another way, I cant think of a worse situation I could have been in .

OK rant over!

Anyone have any tips on how to make flying a more pleasurable experience?

Linda - if I was going to Eurodisney, I would drive - stops are about every 30 - 40 mins if you need them that often, and ferries ARE wheelchair friendly, unlike aeroplanes (plus you will have your car in Paris, so if you cant do many of the rides at Eurodisney, at least you could take in some of the sights - the Palace of Versaille is great!!) Or you could go by train - you get a massive discount on the Eurostar (and get to go in First Class). Thats all wheelchair friendly too. I guess you could take your car on the Eurostar as well - not tried that one yet.