WWYD? Injured while at Disney?

[newtodis]

On our last trip in July, we were at the Poly one evening to watch Wishes. We'd gotten their early to check out the resort as we're contemplating staying there in December. While walking outside on the sidewalk back towards the resort, I tripped (my croc sandal slid into a crack in the sidewalk) and scrapped up my hands and knees. The couple that saw me fall walked back into the resort with us. I, visably bleeding and hobbling as my ankle was hurting from twisting it (I kind of fell sideways instead of straight down), asked two CMs if they had a first aid kit or ice or anything. One went off "into the sunset" never to be seen again and the other flat out told me they didn't have one. The couple that walked in with us (saw the fall) also each asked someone for help with no one ever coming back. I went into the bathroom and cleaned myself up and hobbled around the resort a little bit more feeling a lot like Eeyore at this point - just pretty gloomy and a little miffed that not one CM offered to help! We watched Wishes and my ankle was a bit visably swollen (DH is an EMT and determined that he didn't think anything was broken and I honestly didn't either). The next day it seemed better - still sore but I expected that. I wasn't really able to turn my foot from side to side without some pain, but again expected that.

Well, here we are six weeks later and my foot STILL hurts every day. I cannot twist my foot without pain and some days, like today, it hurts while I'm just sitting here. My doctor unexpectedly quit practicing (that's another "issue" in and of itself) and several of my co-workers (all trained medical professionals) don't think anything's broken - it's a bad sprain or something was really pulled when I fell which makes sense. Should I go to the doctor at this point? I guess yes I'd like to know what happened but hate to pay for the x-rays when it's really nothing. Also, I haven't written Disney yet simply because I was still too upset to write anything to them and the week following the trip we were in MI for a wedding. Now that things have calmed down a bit, I'm ready to try and contact them but I'm thinking it's worthless at this point. I'm not expecting anything - I only want to make them aware of the situation simply so this doesn't happen to someone else.

So, do I contact Disney or just suck it up at this point? It's honestly affected how excited I am to stay at the Poly in Dec for sure - both the upkeep of the property and the conduct of the staff.

TIA for any helpful advice you could share.

 

[DawnM]

I would just go to the doctor with my own insurance.

 

[vicki_c]

I would go to the doctor. That seems to be the most important thing to do.

If you want to write to Disney, write to Disney and say you were disappointed in the attitude of the cast members who didn't offer assistance.

 

[BreezysMom]

I am sorry that you fell and I agree the CM's should have done more to help but I wonder what you feel Disney could do for you? Have you not seen a doctor at all since the fall?

No one really knows if it is a break or not unless you get an x-ray. If you are still having pain I suggest that you see a orthopedic physician asap and get an x-ray.

Other than that I would just move on and get yourself healed. I think the fact that you tripped at the Poly is just an unfortunate accident. Good Luck and get better soon.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Why would it be anyone else's issue at this point? You may very well have reinjured it over and over by not going to a doctor or staying off of it.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I would go to the doctor and although it's not Disney's fault that you hurt yourself (from the sounds of the accident...I've done the same thing several times) and not their financial responsibility to help you with your medical costs, I would email them and let them know about the fact that the cast members did not help you when you asked for help.

 

[princessmom29]

Go to the doctor and get better, but I wouldn't press the issue with Disney. Yes someone should have helped you, but you also should have addressed that issue while still on property. Six weeks later is a little late to do anything now.

 

[lustergirl]

Go to the doctor!!

 

[2trips06Mom]

My opinion - for what its worth. I think you need to email/write to Disney and explaine about the CM's not helping and their genuine lack of caring for a guest. I think Disney needs to make sure their CMs are trained on how to help guests and they shouldn't have left you standing there in pain when it was obvious you were hurt. However, I don't think you should be looking for any type of compensation, as accidents happen, etc. I also think you should go get it looked at to verify nothing is broken - sometimes those tiny hairline fractures can be quite painful!

As an FYI, I slipped on the wet bathroom floor in Epcot and tore my hamstring in 2006. I had to go for months of physical therapy. There wasn't anyone around in the rest room when I fell - so no one at Disney ever really knew (except my family who for the rest of the trip had to help me around). At the time, it never entered my mind to tell anyone, but now looking back, I should have warned the CMs about the slippery wet floor so that no one else got hurt.

I hope your foot gets better quickly!

 

[laceemouse]

I'm sorry that Disney didn't respond better but I have to say Crocs trip people! They are huge and clunky and the bottom is rubbery. I am always surprised when I see toddlers wearing them, they trip ME and I have been walking for a long time!
I hope you get to the doctor soon. A couple of my kids have had twisted ankles that hurt for months. X-rays showed nothing wrong, but we have had to use braces a couple of times.
Was it a normal crack in the sidewalk or something really huge?

 

[MHSweb79]

I have a trick ankle from 10 years of playing soccer. When I sprain it, it's usually a ligament tear. My worst one took a year to heal! (Not to scare you, just to let you know that ligaments can take a while).
Contacting Disney won't get you anything because you didn't fill out any accident report while you were there. Now, as the above PP said if you want to express your disappointment in the CM's lack of helpfulness, that's OK and perfectly valid.
Unfortunately, it's too late to hold Disney liable for anything because you have no proof that your injury happened on Disney property. We all believe you, but the Disney legal team will tell you that you don't have a leg to stand on. (Sorry)

 

[sabrecmc]

I'd definitely go see a doctor if you're still having pain. That seems like a no-brainer. I would think your EMT hubby would know better than we would...

If you want to contact Disney, I see no problem with letting them know that you didn't feel the CMs were well-trained on how to deal with an injured guest. Maybe the resort does not have a first aid kit (I can see not wanting legal liability for treating guests), but they could have directed you to the urgent care center and offered to call a cab for you or something along those lines.

 

[kappyfamily]

Sorry to hear you fell. My husband had a sprain once that took him forever to get it back to normal.

Just wanted to give you my two cents on the Poly. We stayed there last Halloween for a week and the last night before we left my daughter got the flu. Almost so sick that we were going to take her to the hospital. I at one point was so desperate for some saltine crackers for her and looked everywhere in all the stores but nothing. I then went and asked a CM in the gift shop who saw my desperation and closed down her section of the store and rushed me(she actually ran) over to Kona cafe and went back and grabbed handfuls for me. I asked her if I could pay her some money and she said "absolutely not! No one should get sick on their Disney vacation, hurry back to your daughter!"

So my guess is you may have gotten a couple crappy CM's. Just like sometimes you get a mushy apple in your bunch from the grocery store. Please know that the Poly is wonderful, it's just those CM's sucked..... Good luck!

 

[rgf207]

I would go to th doctor and have them X-Ray your foot

 

[pamjb]

Since no report was made when the injury occurred, it is doubtful that Disney will cover anything. I know Disney is usually very good when injuries occur on property, but it looks someone dropped the ball on this one.
You may have sprained it. When I sprained my ankle last year, the doctor told me that a sprain is worse than a break. Why? Because you just keep walking on it and never rest it.
I would definitely go to the doctor. Write a letter showing your disappointment in how you were treated. But at this point, they don't really have anyway of knowing if the injury really occurred on their property.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

So sorry you were hurt! Definitely go to the doctor. You may have torn a tendon or a muscle, or it might be a bad sprain. You might need physical therapy as a PP mentioned. At a minimum, you should be x-rayed to rule out a fracture. Good luck and quick healing!

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

Well, here we are six weeks later

So, do I contact Disney or just suck it up at this point?

You mean you have had pain for 6 weeks and have not gone to a doctor or Urgent Care Facility?.....if you felt Disney was somehow responsible why didn't you or someone you were with go to the front desk????...sorry Disney has no responsibility and you must have a great pain threshold to be in pain every day for 6 wks and not do anything about it.....

 

[TiggeRx]

Sue the makers of Crocs!


I'm kidding.


Not to be pessimistic, but unless you have documentation that includes very specific details (time of incident, location of incident, name and address of couple that helped you, name of cast members...etc.), there is absolutely nothing Disney would/should/could do.
You could voice your concern over the lack of urgency and care from the cast members, but since this happened a while back, don't expect an apology and/or follow up from Disney.

More importantly, if you are still in pain, there is something wrong with your foot. Most likely minor, but you should be checked immediately, in case it is a break.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I am sorry that you are hurting but it isn't Disney's fault. You tripped. People trip all the time...it's simple human error. I am surprised at the lack of assistance from the CMs, but other than that I don't see any wrong-doing on Disney's part.

I do hope you feel better soon. Definitely have your foot checked out. You want to make sure there's nothing seriously wrong with it.

 

[poohgirl6]

Unfortunately, the CM response you received is not uncommon. There have been posts about people falling or getting injured and having CMs turn their heads and walk away. My family has also experienced this firsthand....in Jan 1998 my 14 month old toddler fell into the indoor fountain in the WL lobby. He was leaning over the railing and got overbalanced and went over on his head before we could catch him. Thankfully, he was not hurt (except for a goose egg on his forehead) and our family was traveling with an extended family member that is a pediatrician so we handled things ourselves. However, CMs that had been talking, laughing and interacting with us at the time literally turned on their heels and walked away without asking us if we needed anything or seeing if they could help. Suddenly, all of the desk CMs looked down and started shuffling papers or intently reading their computer screeens. My husband tried to obtain at least a towel to dry him (and me, who had to jump down into the fountain to pick him up) off but could not get anyone to respond. I'm telling you, it was like a bad science fiction movie. My son was screaming his head off, visitors in the lobby all ran toward us to see how he was and asking if they could help us, and all of the CMs turned away. Finally, about 10 or 15 minutes afterwards, a janitor that was cleaning the restrooms gave my husband a towel and shook his head while muttering about the CMs and their "I didn't see a thing," policy???? I posted about this on a thread a few years ago (can't remember what the original thread was titled?) but several Disers responded and shared similar stories.

I am sorry this happened to you and that you were treated so coldly. It just adds insult to injury. Here's pixie dust that your ankle heals quickly and without incident.