Adult father & daughter...ideas?

[plumsiren]

I had been kinda-sorta planning a trip with myself and my parents for my 30th birthday (this coming October), but my mom passed away last month. I still want to go, but now, where I could have gone out and done things on my own and my not-really-interested-in-WDW parents could just be content to do something together, I don't want to abandon my dad. So I'm looking for slightly obscure ideas for things we can do together. Neither of us likes rollercoasters etc (he's afraid of heights; I get motion sick). I want to try every cocktail in the World; he doesn't drink. He's a casual golfer, but I have no interest unless I get to run people down with the little cart. We're more at home in museums than with a lot of the entertainment Disney offers. I'm starting to think we should just go to Europe instead.

Details: I'll be 30, he'll be 66. He has no health or mobility problems that affect his day-to-day life.

 

[DakotaRose]

Yes you could go to Europe. However, Disney World is a uniquely American thing, and Walt and Roy are a unique American success story. There are many things to do and to enjoy apart from rollercoasters. The live entertainment of all varieties is excellent. If you go, maybe plan a tour, and plan an afternoon where he can golf and you can do something you enjoy. I could happily spend half a day at DHS taking my time in One Man's Dream, the AFI showcase, enjoying the art in the Animation building and seeing Beauty and the Beast. Some people go to WDW not expecting to like it and leave impressed. But, it's not for everyone.

I commend you for trying to carry on and do something special with your Dad. I am sorry for you loss.

 

[JoWiJo]

I'm sorry for your loss. My last trip was originally to include my parents and myself as three adults going around WDW. I had a special idea of a photo to take of my father. But my father suddenly fell severely ill two months before the trip, and passed about 10 days later. After discussing it with my mom, we decided to go on and have the trip, but it was painful making the call for the necessary cancellations.

Much of our trip revolved around shows, parades, slow classic rides, and table meals. And we enjoyed being together. And that was the truly important thing, being together.

You just need to find what suits the two of you. You might have to alternate between things you like and things you are willing to put up with, but the important thing is that you'd be together with your dad. Have a nice table meal at EPCOT:get what drink you want, and he can have a soft drink. Later, grab a nice spot early enough where you can sit and chat while waiting on the fireworks when it's time for them. Or get to the park at opening, rent a scooter and run over -- no wait, forget that one.

If you like museums and such, you might consider a special tour. WDW has one where you can learn various stuff about the trains at the Magic Kingdom.

I can somewhat relate to the coaster issue. There is no way for my mother to handle the sudden and extreme G-forces. I actually like them, but I can't afford to have my eyeglasses fly off (I don't do contact lenses and can't read the giant E on the eye chart). I did ride Exploration Everest without them, unaware that the Yeti had been broken for years, and couldn't see enough to enjoy the ride. It was just a lot of blurs with strong forces pressing around my body. So I didn't enjoy it, though I know I would have if my eyesight wasn't so poor.

 

[Aeryn76]

I'm sorry for your lost. And like the others have said, just spending time together is important. 2 years ago it was me & my dad that went for his 70th birthday. It was our first time going too. We don't like rollercoasters or scary rides either. But we had fun doing haunted mansion, pirates, and other rides like that. We had a great lunch in Germany at Epcot and our favorite thing to do was people watch. I know when my dad will pass I will have the memory of a great trip with him. So I say go & make some good memories.

 

[Carirae]

I'm sorry for your loss. I'm 33 and my dad passed suddenly in May. We were not planning a trip before his passing, but we felt it important to do something as a family (mom, 28 yr old brother, and I) that would give us something to look forward to throughout the year as we dealt with things with my dad's passing. I had been to WDW for one day with friends in March and suggested we go as a family. My mom hadn't been since '77 as her and my dad honeymooned there and my brother had never been. I took over all of the planning, which let my mom focus on arrangements for things with my dad. We chose to go in the beginning of December so that we would have good memories of this holiday season, despite it being a difficult "first" without my dad. My mom and I do not ride roller coasters, so my brother would jump in single rider lines and we'd just people watch while waiting for him. I think it was really therapeutic for us, despite having moments of, "Dad would have really liked this." All of the parks have so much to do, even if you don't ride coasters. Make some ADRs for some nice restaurants, as I'm sure that will take up a lot of your time. In general, I think taking a trip together will be helpful to you and your dad. A friend who lost her dad a few years ago said she wished she had thought of the idea to plan some sort of family vacation shortly afterwards. It's hard to explain, but it was a good distraction for us. I really empathize with you and wish you the best for the next year, as I know it can be difficult.

 

[com_op_2000]

It depends on what you are into:
sports: golf, fishing, RPDE, marathon, bowling, ESPN Club, WWS/ESPN Zone, etc
shopping: DTD, area outlet malls, large scale malls
drinking: Jellyrolls, Raglan Road, monorail tour of resorts, walking tour of resorts in the Boardwalk area
movies: DTD 24 screen theater some with meals served by waiters
night clubbing: Jellyrolls, Atlantic Dance, Raglan Road, Citywalk
resort tours: monorail tour of resorts, Boardwalk around the lake tour of resorts, AKL/AKV
offsite: Gaylord Palms Resort, Citywalk, swamp tour

 

[DisneyLover0610]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I've taken multiple trips with my family, and even with just my mom. Despite the fact that we have not always had the best relationship and we like completely different things, we truly love being in disney together.
There are numerous tours that you can sign up for, that are pretty amazing. I typically do not enjoy anything of the sort, but have done them for my mom, and have had a great time. Going in October gives you the Food & Wine Festival - my favorite thing that disney has to offer. Even just relaxing and seeing the sights can be a great time for the two of you.

 

[Krista in MA]

I'm very sorry for your loss. *hug* My last two week long trips were with my sister and our parents. We're all adults. My mom went on some of the rides and dad went on just about all of them. I don't know if he enjoyed the roller coasters more or enjoyed my sister and I screaming on them

As has already been suggested, you could take one of the special tours? Is your dad interested in behind the scenes? Instead of doing drinks at Epcot, you could do desserts! Don't forget the mini golf courses! They're lots of fun! As a family, we had special t-shirts made for our trip. It was fun to be dorky and get some fun photos around the parks and with characters.

I think it really comes down to your dad. Do you think he'd enjoy spending his vacation at the parks, walking around, going on the less intense rides, eating some really good food, etc? Or would you both enjoy going to Europe or somewhere else that is an amazing place to visit museums, soak up the culture, amazing food, etc.?

 

[mydisneykids]

Sorry about your loss.

I agree with other posters that the tours are a great way to spend your time.

Being October are there any specialty dining or chef experiences for the Food and Wine fest that you both would be interested in doing? I have always wanted to go to one of the celebrity chef experiences.

You could go fishing. My husband and son left one time from the beach club and the other from the contemporary. They loved it, relaxing, and even caught some fish.

Hope that helps and hope you two make special memories whatever you plan.

 

[antmaril]

First, I want to say that I am very sorry for the loss of your mother. My condolences to you and your father. My husband passed away five years ago of cancer, so I know how painful it is.

My adult son (27) and I went to Washington, D.C. together in 2012. It was the perfect trip for us. Lots to do during the day and very nice restaurants for dining. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in downtown D.C, and took the metro all the around the city.

We considered Disney (we have been many times as a family), but decided on D.C. because it was different and a good fit for us to do together.

I hope that whatever you decide, you have an enjoyable trip.

 

[massmickeypal]

I am so sorry for your loss.

You don't mention where you might stay. Can I suggest you take a close look at Fort Wilderness Cabins? They are private and quiet as well as relaxing. Also the fort has some great entertainment in the park. You could watch a movie at night with Chip and Dale, go to the Hoop Dee Doo review, learn archery, sit by the pool, people watch on the rocking chairs by the lake where you can have a cocktail, watch the fireworks and the electric boat parade from the beach, take a carriage ride and even rent a golf cart but please don't run folks down.

WDW is huge and every form of entertainment is available from watching movies while eating diner, bowling to mini-golf. We have had entire days where we have never entered a park and just gone to see each hotel and resort. Even in the parks you could see the hall of presidents, shoot guns at the shooting gallery, take a quiet ride on the river boat, go on the carousel of progress. EPCOT would be fun. You can drink while touring the countries. It is like a giant museum staffed by actual residents of each land. Ellen's energy adventure, the land, spaceship earth are all very tame and interesting.

When we started going we were afraid that we were going to an amusement park but that is not what Disney is. Pick what you like and share those experiences you enjoy together. You should also feel comfortable setting an afternoon aside where you go in one direction and he in another and reunite for diner.

Best of luck.