Originally Posted By dllovinrn Hi, I would like to take my folks (82 & 87 when we go)to Dl one more time, in early March. Anyone have any tips or hints for us? Both parents are in good, dare I say great, health; no real issues to speak of, except age! Mom swears she won't use an electric cart "People will think I'm OLD!"...though Dad will. Mom is "training" by walking daily, though i doubt she remembers how much walking is invloved. When I hatched this idea, I was thinking of taking them on Pirates, Small World, some Fantasyland rides but Dad is determined to go on the Matterhorn & Space Mountain, his fave. Will they let him on? I talked about strokes & aneurysms with him (who knows what connections could be shaken loose!) but he says, "hey, ya gotta die sometime, at least I'll be havin' fun!" Also, they are mobile, but can't wait in long lines; does anyone know if accomodations could be made, and if so, what kind & how? They will be slow to load & unload; will the castmembers be patient? Will all the patrons hate us? Is it possible to stop the conveyances (like the doom buggy's) to allow them to get in & out in a more stable manner? Thanks for all your help...I haven't been able to find much at all about this topic!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo welcome aboard, I am sure there will be some with more recent experiences to chime in, but I can never forget when we took my great grandmother on her 1st trip at the age of 79, we couldn't keep up with her. Now to help with planning, I have taken my 3 year old and I have taken an 84 year old on the Matterhorn. If they are healthy and want to do it, I am in the why not camp. I have also seen elders ride INdy and tower of Terror too. But I think it would be good to hear from some of the locals on this one. As for stopping the ramps etc, yep they do it all the time. When people talk about "breakdowns" on HM or Buzz, it is often not a breakdown, but the fact they stopped the attraction to let elderly/disabled people on, or in my case, where my 5 y o once fell out getting of HM. Also, it is worth going to city hall. There are special assistance passes (I am not fully sure of the eligibility requirements). But the cast members there can talk to you about your needs and advise you from there. And if your mom doesn't want an ECV and gets tired, there are rental wheelchairs if push comes to shove. The beauty about DL (and why I fell in love) is there is something for everyone. And with attractions like the Tiki Room and Aladdin, there are some great opportunities to sit down and enjoy yourself at the same time (though perhaps not as much as there once was in the days of America Sings, People Mover etc.). But there is a huge rosta of attractions you can enjoy if you want to play it safe: Train Vehicle of Main Street Tiki Room Jungle Cruise PotC HM Winnie the Pooh Mark Twain Billy Hill FL and Toontown dark rides Storybookland Canal boats Buzz HISTA And at DCA - Animation, Monsters, Muppetvision3D, Aladdin, the factory tours, It's tough to be a bug. Be sure to factor in some nice sit down meals to break up the day, take plenty of fluids and make time to sit down on some of the great benches in the park.
Originally Posted By dllovinrn Davewasbaloo, thanks so much for the welcome & the info...I tear up everytime I go on Small World because I have such great memories of being on it with my folks. I'm glad I've convinced them to go again, to relive those precious moments. If you're there in March, and see a blubbering woman in a boat with 2 oldsters, it's us! Thanks alot, I appreciate the good advice-and I feel better that you don't seem to think I'm crazy for attempting this!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Quite the opposite. I love the fact that Disney parks are for everyone. Except for Tivoli Gardens and the Sea World Parks, there are not many that are. I cannot wait to hear how it goes for you. My favorite memories as a child were going with the elders. They taught me to enjoy more than just the attractions.
Originally Posted By cinderella143also Last Nov (07) my 91 year old grandmother was on Splash!! It is one of her favorites! She goes on everything!
Originally Posted By ssturgeo Hope you all have a wonderful time...I think it is super you want to share this trip with them, will be anxious to read all about it. Stopping happens all the time, CM's are wonderful, and guests understand. And...let them go on whatever they feel up to...I personally have to agree with your dad!!! I took my granddaughter this year the first week of March, and we had hardly any lines to wait in...great time to go. Sharon Next Trip Nov. 16-22
Originally Posted By csgoofygirl Love this information. My 82 year old mom will be joining us for 2 days in early December. She is in good health and very mobile, but we will be sure and take it a little easier than our normal speed. Thanks for all the suggestions. My goal is to get a picture of all of us: mom, me, hubby, son, and girlfriend in our Mickey ears!
Originally Posted By ssturgeo Be sure to take advantage of the PhotoPass opportunities!! Sharon Next Trip Nov. 16-22
Originally Posted By csgoofygirl Don't worry. I hunt down the photographers. My family gets annoyed with me, but I don't care. They also don't like for me to ask strangers to take our pictures.
Originally Posted By dlkozy My DM who is in her nineties has gone to DL multiple times a year with our family for as long as I can remember. CMs are very kind and patient. Make sure that you have the HM CM sloooow down the boarding and unloading or your parents might just skip off the rockway like a rock of water! :0) If you can talk your DM into a wheelchair (she just might be afraid of operating a scooter-mine was) and remind her that this way she is saving up her energy to really be able to enjoy her day! If they decide on scooters/wheelchairs I have some hints about using those too with Seniors-let me know. Seniors dyhydrate differently than younger people so be on the look-out that they are staying hydrated!
Originally Posted By csgoofygirl Also, my mom hates to be called "elderly", she doesn't mind being called "old" though. She is lots of fun and we are looking forward to a great time. She went with us 10 years ago and hasn't been back since.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM My sisters and I took my 72 year old parents to Disneyland last summer for their 50th anniversary. It was thier first visit. I think they had as much fun as their grandchildren. The rode on EVERY ride, except Screamin'. My mom has mobility issues and tires easily, so she used a wheelchair. The cutest part, was when we pushed her up to the entrance to BTMRR and the CM looked twice...I suppose wondering about the old lady in a wheelchair going on THAT ride. We went on the ride, mom screaming the whole time. When we got off the ride and led mom back to her wheelchair, the CM looked at mom, said "Good job" and gave her a high-five. It was great. We got soaked on Splash, and drowned on Grizzley...twice...but my parents loved every second of it. My parents heve already asked if they can come with us on our next trip, so we're bringing them along! They used to think I was a bit nuts for my love of Disneyland, but now they understand, and are no longer planning an intervention for me. When all I have of my parents are memories, our trip to Disneyland will be the fondest. Especially glancing at my mom during the fireworks and seeing tears in her eyes. The only advice I have for you is this...soak in every moment, cherish every second, and have a joyous time.
Originally Posted By dllovinrn Hey everyone, thanks alot! I've never joined anything like this before & I'm so glad I did! DLKOZY, I'm embarassed to say, being a nurse, the hydration thing was something I hadn't considered yet!!! (All the older people I encountered as a surgical nurse were hooked up to iv fluids!!) I think that one tip alone is so invaluable; we will be taking the train (ugh) for about 33 hours to get there, and that's a great tip for the traveling as well. My Dad is being reasonable & is willing to rent an electric chair, so any other tips are appreciated, thank you!!
Originally Posted By dlkozy We rent my DH's ECV from Deckert's Medical Supply-we have tried others but we are happiest with them. They deliver to your hotel and it will be there waiting for you and then they will pick it up when you leave. They also rent wheelchairs. With both ECVs and wheelchairs-mark them with a ribbon tied in a knot (sadly we have found that people will and do take the ribbons if not knotted) and make it a really wild ribbon so that you can pick it out of a crowd. I always carry an extra ribbon in my purse just in case it does "disappear". My DM is most comfortable when we bring a chairpad from home for the wheelchair-when we fold up the chair we enclose the pad inside and so far it has not disappeared. When you are using an ECV-ALWAYS take your key with you! Even for a short-gotta look at something in that store real quick-because people sadly WILL try and take it! We had ours parked outside of the Gibson Girl having ice cream and watched as MULTIPLE ADULTS jumped on OUR ECV and tried to take it-we just stared-and showed them our key! You should have seen their faces! I don't know where you are going to stay but if you ride ART they have special buses for wheelchairs/ECV-check with the front desk on how to arrange for that. It might have changed since the last time that we used ART.
Originally Posted By dlkozy Also, don't leave ANYTHING in either "vehicles". Sad to say, some people will take ANYTHING! We have had even balloons that we tied on to our wheelchair stolen. :0(
Originally Posted By dllovinrn Thanks for the advice....it never occurred to me that people would try to take the ecv; especially at DL for crying out loud! I'm trying VERY hard to convince Mom that she needs one; she's so proud to be up to a 10 blk. walk with the dog! I told her that might get her to the castle. I love the idea (and never would have thought of it) of geting an ecv elsewhere. Mom thought she'd walk, then if need be, later in the day, rent an ecv. I told her that they were all gone very early in the day. She is wonderful, but SO stubborn!! Thanks again!
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 We took my 80 year old grandmother last April. She keep saying that she didn't want a wheelchair so on day one she walked. She was a lot more tired on day two so we talked her into a wheelchair. She feel in love with that thing! And it allowed her to do more. So I would do your best to talk her into it because most likely she will be very glad she got one.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I don't think this has been mentioned, but the ECV's and wheel chairs rented in Disneyland can be taken into DCA but not DTD or to the hotels. If you are staying on property I have heard that they can provide a wheelchair for you, I have seen the "Disney Hotels" insignia on some of the wheelchairs. Perhaps they are for people who have been injured on property, just something you may want to check into. Just thinking here of your mom who may go for the wheel chair on the 2nd day Last trip it was sad watching a grandmother or likely a great grandmother walking trying to keep up with a young family. The guy turned to his wife and said "we ARE getting her a wheelchair"........ They would have been so much better off to have planned ahead like you are or maybe she was being stubborn and they had had it? Again, great to plan ahead and you are getting wonderful advice.
