A Must Do List for Seniors

[Amy&Dan]

We took my parents in October and DH's dad and aunt earlier this month. I really second the moving sidewalks concern. When I took my parents (81 and 70) in October we rode Buzz during MNSSHP. As my mom and I got off, she turned around to tell me she didn't like the ride and before I knew it the sidewalk was ending. A cm caught her thank goodness. So I get her moved over to the side, start yelling to my dad who is hard of hearing and struggling to get his backpack on and he went down, hard. They didn't like the ride, didn't really get the whole thing so what a disaster that was! They did fine on Peter Pan, its not as dark unloading and loading which was helpful. My parents as well as my fil and aunt (68 and 69) seemed to get around better during the day. The parks, especially Epcot and MK are really dark at night. Both sets of parents loved the nighttime displays, parades (day and night), shows and 3D shows, especially Mickey's Philharmagic. I think both sets enjoyed Epcot and AK the most. WDW is great for people of all ages, there was more they enjoyed and could do than they couldn't. I am sure this group the op mentions will have a great time!

 

[eleanor]

Oh dear, I am 71 and I go on everything. It all depends on the mobility of the person.I walk every day and do pilates twice a week.Some will be happy just to be there and others will want to try most things.My 82 year old sister went on a 54 day trip around the pacific and climbed a small mt. in Fiji and had a balloon ride in Australia,went to Hong Kong and so on. Please ,age is relative.

 

[janette]

Oh dear, I am 71 and I go on everything. It all depends on the mobility of the person.I walk every day and do pilates twice a week.Some will be happy just to be there and others will want to try most things.My 82 year old sister went on a 54 day trip around the pacific and climbed a small mt. in Fiji and had a balloon ride in Australia,went to Hong Kong and so on. Please ,age is relative.

That's great, my Dad passed away last year at 81 and was very active up until a final illness. He'd climbed a mountain after he was 80 just to show us he still could I think

They will not be touring the parks as a group so those that want to and can will be doing the more intense things. I think those that are less active tend to think there isn't anything for them to do at WDW so I wanted to make the list more towards that group. There are many things for everyone no matter what age of body or spirit.

 

[TXTink]

I am so glad you posted this thread. I am taking my Mother in a few weeks, I have a list of rides I think she will enjoy, but I hadn't thought of the moving sidewalks! She can't see very well, so I think I will have to give some special thoughts to those.

Also, she is blind in one eye, so I'm not planning on taking her to any of the 3-D shows.... I am really sad she will have to miss those....

 

[webmomom]

I am so glad you posted this thread. I am taking my Mother in a few weeks, I have a list of rides I think she will enjoy, but I hadn't thought of the moving sidewalks! She can't see very well, so I think I will have to give some special thoughts to those.

Also, she is blind in one eye, so I'm not planning on taking her to any of the 3-D shows.... I am really sad she will have to miss those....

I am also blind on one eye, and I no problem with 3-D shows. I saw the 3-D effects as when I sight in both my eyes.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Oh dear, I am 71 and I go on everything. It all depends on the mobility of the person.I walk every day and do pilates twice a week.Some will be happy just to be there and others will want to try most things.My 82 year old sister went on a 54 day trip around the pacific and climbed a small mt. in Fiji and had a balloon ride in Australia,went to Hong Kong and so on. Please ,age is relative.

My stepdad is 81 and is completely blind in one eye and very impaired in the other. This had just happened due to a medical misdiagnosis one month before our WDW trip. My mother is 70 and has Alzheimers, Stage IV breast cancer and lymphademia. My Aunt is 68 and just got through treking around Greece and Turkey for two weeks. My two extended family experiences definitely showed me some people age differently. Age is definitely relative but for some not in a good way. I was merely recounting my experience and hopefully not giving anybody any ideas that the elderly can't do any and all things. Hope I didn't offend.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I am also blind on one eye, and I no problem with 3-D shows. I saw the 3-D effects as when I sight in both my eyes.

My dad is also blind in one eye and loved the 3D shows. I think with his lack of depth perception his experience might have been a bit different ( or so he said when he compared it to when he saw Bugs Life at Disneyland before he lost half his sight) but he really enjoyed them.

 

[TXTink]

I am also blind on one eye, and I no problem with 3-D shows. I saw the 3-D effects as when I sight in both my eyes.

Really?? Wow! Maybe I should try them then!

She is amblyopic in one eye, which it totally blind now, and has macular degeneration in the other..... She is very sensitive to light also, but will have her special sun glasses to deal with the Florida sun.

I would really love it if she could experience the 3-D shows

 

[TXTink]

My dad is also blind in one eye and loved the 3D shows. I think with his lack of depth perception his experience might have been a bit different ( or so he said when he compared it to when he saw Bugs Life at Disneyland before he lost half his sight) but he really enjoyed them.

So, the image wasn't blurry for him then? I was worried about it being blurry.......

 

[Amy&Dan]

So, the image wasn't blurry for him then? I was worried about it being blurry.......

I think it was more that some of the effects didn't look quite as 3D. Bear in mind he had just lost his sight one month before our trip so he was still adjusting to his new condition. Probably the biggest issue was he tripped over people several times. Since he can't see to that one side unless he turns his head, there were times in crowds he didn't realize how close somebody was to him. At night when it was dark it was just difficult for him. I think today, three months later he would probably do better with this. I just got where one member of my family would stand on his bad side so if he did bump or trip it was over us! I think 3D shows are great, Mickey's Philharmagic in particular. I wouldn't have let him miss that one and I would definitely take your mom on it. He loved it and is still talking about it.

 

[TXTink]

I think it was more that some of the effects didn't look quite as 3D. Bear in mind he had just lost his sight one month before our trip so he was still adjusting to his new condition. Probably the biggest issue was he tripped over people several times. Since he can't see to that one side unless he turns his head, there were times in crowds he didn't realize how close somebody was to him. At night when it was dark it was just difficult for him. I think today, three months later he would probably do better with this. I just got where one member of my family would stand on his bad side so if he did bump or trip it was over us! I think 3D shows are great, Mickey's Philharmagic in particular. I wouldn't have let him miss that one and I would definitely take your mom on it. He loved it and is still talking about it.

Thank you so much for posting this.... If I hadn't read this thread, I wouldn't have taken her to any of the 3-D shows. Now I will re-think our itinerary to include them. I really like these shows, especially Mickey's Philharmagic! I hope she will be able to experience some of the fun of them too.

She is very tiny and trips very easily too, so I have already thought about looking out for "road hazards" for her. Now I am also thinking about strategies for getting on the rides with moving sidewalks...

This thread has been a great help!

 

[remmy_7]

...they could also do a non-disney day like miniature golf (at the swan and dolphin & blizzard beach), or just golfing.