Quadriplegia: The Ultimate Disney Fast Pass

Most of Our Group - Ready to Ride Like Mad!

We went to Disneyland for Thanksgiving this year with my family and today I wanted to give you a glimpse of what life is like traveling with a quadriplegic.  With me pregnant and Jason’s wheelchair a factor, we didn’t think we would do much more than watch the riders, enjoy the atmosphere, eat from various vendors and hang out with our family.  We did eat – sampling everything from the frozen bananas and Adventureland’s pineapple sherbet to the corn dogs and Turkey Legs (which were a little much for this pregnant girl!).  We also definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and did some people watching in the process.

But we should have known that my brothers and brother-in-law would dive right in and make sure Jason rode every ride his heart desired.  After going on the Jungle Cruise (which is totally wheelchair accessible, by the way) with the whole family, the men decided that we needed to take things up a notch and commenced to pitch in wherever and whenever to haul Jason in and out of the fastest, wettest rides in the parks.

The Guys on Space Mountain - Jason, wet from Splash Mountain, is hanging onto Kory for balance and giving the thumbs up approval

Jason is a quadriplegic.  This can mean a lot of things to each individual depending on where their break in their neck is and their movement.  Officially it means that he doesn’t have use of all four of his extremities.  This is true to a certain extent.  He has no use of his legs and no use of his hands but he does have partial use of his arms.  He basically doesn’t have the right muscles to move a manual wheelchair, using a power wheelchair instead and he has to be lifted in and out of his chair each day.  He has no use of his hands, meaning he can’t grip things but fakes it quite well by being able to partially move his arms.  This allows him to drive his handicap-accessible van from his wheelchair using hand controls.

When Jason first broke his neck, his therapists taught him the necessity of good posture even though he lacks trunk muscle support.  His wheelchair has special side pads that help him stay upright but most of his ability to sit straight in his chair is because he taught himself to do so 20 years ago.  His good posture makes more difference than you might realize as he is able to breath more efficiently and even looks better sitting up straight in his chair versus slouching.  His therapists were brilliant all those years ago.

So, to make Disneyland happen we had to take all of these things into consideration.  When we travel we rent handicap-accessible vans if possible.  I am the driver because they lack his special hand controls or lock-down device but they all have automatic ramps and space for Jason in the passenger side of the car.  Someone also has to take care of getting him in and out of bed and dressed each day.  Being pregnant, me as the lifter was not an option but instead of bringing our aide with us we decided to take our family up on their offer to do the lifting.

I use body mechanics to lift Jason – he is 6′3″ and about 180 lbs. but doing what is called a “pivot lift,” I can get him in and out of his chair quite easily.  In this case, I guided the lift but my brothers took turns doing the real work to get Jason in and out of his chair each day.  I handled the rest of his care – that part is not as strenuous.  I am grateful we have people who help Jason each day with his care but I loved the freedom that not having an aide with us gave to our vacation.

Uncle Jason and Our Nephew Jason on the Train

These same principles applied to each ride that Jason went on at Disneyland and California Adventure – except complicated greatly by the fact that the guys were moving him in and out of tight spaces, down into cars, over armrests, between railings  and up steps.  Each ride required a new plan, a new strategy as to what was the best way to get him in and out in the fastest possible time.

By the time our trip was over, they had learned that “legs first” was the way to go and that the Indiana Jones ride wasn’t worth the effort.  My job was to move his wheelchair out of the way while the men dealt with maneuvering and strapping him in.  Then the chair and I would wait the 30 seconds (Tower of Terror) to 3 minutes (Space Mountain) that it took to finish the ride before I would move the chair back in “ready” position for them to lift him back into.

Jason & I with Our Buddy Buzz Lightyear

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed role.  My brothers are awesome and I loved seeing Jason’s face at the end of each ride – knowing that he hadn’t ridden rides like that in over 20 years.

And we found out very quickly that the hauling and lifting was well worth the effort – Jason was the instant Fast Pass to all the rides.  So, that just made it even more fun for everyone to stick with him!  Our nieces and nephews loved heading past all the long lines, knowing that if they were with Uncle Jason, they could ride everything twice as many times.

Jason’s favorite ride?  California Screamin’ roller coaster, of course!  Who doesn’t love those Mickey Mouse ear loops?  That one got multiple rides from everyone – including the quadriplegic who is really a kid at heart.

Jason was excited to for our baby's first trip to Disneyland!

What’s not to love about “the happiest place on earth?”

Mild-Mannered Cousins or Intergalactic Space Rangers?

Belle, Me & My Niece Brynne

Our Niece Kenlee, My Mom & Nephew Ryan

Our Nieces Having a Churro Feast