? about Senior Citizen walking long distances

[RayRing]

My Mother-In-Law has traveled with us on our annual WDW vacation for the last several years.

She is in relatively good health, but this year she has expressed concerns about being able to walk long distances (for instance, from BWV to EPCOT and back), in addition to a day in the park.

Does anyone have any suggestions.

I assume you can rent wheelchairs at the Park Entrances. That would help reduce the amount of walking, but not assist with the long walks to and from the parks.

She also feels that an ECV and Wheelchair would save her a bunch of steps, but is not very convenient in crowds, and with WDW Bus travel.

If anyone has found a solution for their own family members, I would appreciate the information.

Thanks.

Ray

 

[pepe of ohio]

We used to take my mother a few ago, and it was easier for me and her, to go to the parks and just rent her a wheelchair for the day and push her around. Mind you, you may think Disney is basically flat, it isn't. The times I pushed her around the parks, my legs were real sore and developed blisters on the balls of my feet, and I'm no wimp. She could move along quite well but not for a whole day, was in her last 70's, and one day we got her an EVC, that was a bust, her being late 70's had no concept on how to use one, never having seen one before and returned it back at rental for a push type, she wanted to make it easier on me for one day but the skill needed to operate was beyond her and not too safe. The walking to the buses and around the resort was all she could do in a day, and depending on when you're going, the heat could make that tiresome for them also. I know the deluxe resorts have a few wheel chairs for resort usuage but putting them on the transportation was too much of a pain and she wanted to walk on that portion of the trip.

This was a few years ago and the chair rented for 5 bucks a day and they gave you, I believe, the same back upon return, in disney dollars. She is now in her late 80's, though willing, Disney is way too much for her now.

 

[maine_jennifer]

Well, instead of walking to BWV, take the boat, that would save on some steps. But my thought is, if she wants it, get it. You wouldn't have to use it every day, but she'd have it if she needed it.

When I took my parents a few years ago this was a concern I had for my mother. She had both knees replaced 18 mos before our trip and a double-bypass many years ago, as well. We stayed at CSR and were near the main building. That was fine. In the parks, there were times she was fine, but there were also times, I wished she'd have let me get her an ECV. She'd end up going to sit somewhere while my dad and I took off across the park to do somehing. She missed out on some of the little things I know she'd have loved to see because she was too tired.

Cheers!

 

[scootert]

We took DMIL several years ago -- she was in her mid 80's and in good health, but there's no way she could have made it through the parks on her own power. This was many years ago and we stayed at the townhomes associated with the Disney Institute. The walk to the bus stops was very long and we ended up renting a golf cart to get her to and from the unit.

Renting a wheelchair for the parks is a great solution. I believe there are also wheel chairs available at the resorts. You might want to call the resort directly and ask.

 

[kaytieeldr]

To familiarize herself with operating an ECV, she should be able to visit any discount store or large supermarket (Target, Walmart, Albertson's, etc) and use the motorized shopping carts available there.
If she can walk up and down a few steps, she can walk onto the bus and you can fold up the wheelchair and carry it on (ditto for boats). With an ECV, if someone else in your party is more adept at maneuvering it, again your MIL could get on and off the bus on her own, and you, your husband, anyone over eighteen, could ride the ECV on and off the bus. Ignore rude comments.

 

[SueM in MN]

Besides what is already posted, you can follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES Board. Once you are there, look for the disABILITIES FAQs thread, near the top of the board. It has information about the various ways to get wheelchairs/ECVs and also information about transportation.

 

[RayRing]

Many thanks to everyone for their suggestions. It is very helpful.

I will read the FAQ you suggested.

I will then talk with my MIL, and see what she would like to do.

 

[RayRing]

Edited Duplicate Post