Best On-site Resort for Seniors with walking issues?

[Smartykat]

Hi Everyone,
I am planning a week long WDW trip which will be including two retired grandparents both who have terribly arthritic knees. One walks with a cane and the other uses a knee brace. Long distance walking is very hard on them. They will be renting scooters for the parks but resorts are another issue. They will be sharing a room and need easy access bathrooms and absolutely no stairs or long walks from the parking lot. They are both overweight and prefer a medium size room as well.
In your opinion:
-which onsite or offsite resorts offer the best handicapped rooms?
-which resorts have the least amount of walking from the parking lot to the room?
-which resort has the most accomodating staff for people with high-maintenance personalities (the grandmother is detailed oriented, if you get my drift )?
Thanks so much for any and all responses!

 

[KPeveler]

Do your grandparents need a roll-in shower, or do they want a tub with grab-bars? If they do not need a roll in shower, you will not need a handicapped room. A shower bench can be placed in any shower (i've done it!)

i would suggest one of the monorail resorts, specifically the contemporary or grand floridian... otherwise you will have to drive to the MK, walk a long distance, get on a monorail or boat, walk a long distance again (on ramps, there is no elevator) and then get a scooter... the other option is to rent scooters from off-site - much less expensive, and you would have them for resorts and shopping too.

 

[Earstou]

It really sounds like they need scooters for the whole time they are there, not just the parks. If you rent off-site, they can use them at the resorts and you won't have to worry about all the walking. That's what I did last trip, and I was so thankful I did, there is a lot of walking at all the resorts!

 

[lizziepooh]

It can be a very long walk from the bus stops or parking lots to the scooter rental places at the parks. The best thing to do would be to rent scooters off site. Sometimes the scooters at the parks are sold out, so none are available.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I would agree with the other responders comments that the ECVs whould be rented from off-site. They will be available full time, and are bothy better and less expensive than Disney's.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs on Page 2 and about riding buses and other WDW transportation in Post 4..

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

I would also suggest at least a Moderate resort for the needed space. If you use a Value resort then one of the ECVs should be stored (and recharged) in someone else's room as getting two ECVs in a Value room may be difficult.

 

[aubriee]

Please rent an ECV from offsite. My mom has really bad knees, but does not use an ECV (or even a cane at home). She has just recently been willing to admit that she needs one in the grocery store. However, there is no way she could do WDW without an ECV. The walks from the parks to the bus stops are extremely long and even at the resorts there would be alot of walking to the food courts and buses. Having an ECV available to use the entire time would make their trip so much more enjoyable We've always used Walkers and they have been great, but there are several other offsite rental places that also get good reviews. I already have an ECV reserved for my mom for our Sept trip through Walkers. They don't charge your credit card until the night before they deliver it to the resort luggage services, where it will be waiting on you, with your name on it, when you arrive. Another thing is what happens if all the park ECVs are already gone when you get to the parks? With their own off site ECV, you could stay at any of the resorts and the grandparents would be OK.

The first time I took my mom down there, she said she didn't need an ECV and insisted she would be fine with frequent rest stops and I had to talk her into renting an ECV. Now as soon as the trip planning starts, the first thing she wants me to do is reserve her ECV.

 

[Selket]

I don't have this issue to deal with but for a moderate I think POFQ is the best choice for its small size. There seems to be much less walking to do to get to the food courts, bus stops, parking lot, pool, etc. This is if you go with a moderate.

I really like the CR - if that is in the budget I'd do a monorail hotel.

 

[Smartykat]

Thanks for the good suggestions! Renting an EVC offsite does make alot of sense but these grandparents are fiercely independent and are the type that don't want to give up much of their freedom. For them, it would be humiliating to spend the whole time in an EVC. Maybe I can convince them to rent EVCs to have on hand just for park days and then they might use them for getting around the resorts as well. Like most arthritis sufferers they have good days and bad days. Most days they get around slow but steady. Bad days they are crying out in pain. They do need a walk -in shower because stepping over the side of the tub is very painful/ almost impossible.
Staying at a monorail resort of course would be ideal, but being the spendthrifts they are, it isn't likely that they will be willing to shell out the mega bucks for the convience that it would supply them. A Moderate resort is probably going to be their best option.

I've never used the onsite bus system- we always just drive to the parks even when we stay onsite. Do they have a way to transport the EVCs for them to the parks? Or will they have to wait for a specific bus that has the wheelchair lift?

 

[Selket]

I've never used the onsite bus system- we always just drive to the parks even when we stay onsite. Do they have a way to transport the EVCs for them to the parks? Or will they have to wait for a specific bus that has the wheelchair lift?

I wish I had more advice on that issue - sure others will. I just wanted to point you to page #4 of the DisAbilities FAQ that is stickied to the top of the board that speaks to riding the WDW bus with a ECV/wheelchair.

Good luck!

 

[Earstou]

For them, it would be humiliating to spend the whole time in an EVC. Maybe I can convince them to rent EVCs to have on hand just for park days and then they might use them for getting around the resorts as well. Like most arthritis sufferers they have good days and bad days. Most days they get around slow but steady...................
Do they have a way to transport the EVCs for them to the parks? Or will they have to wait for a specific bus that has the wheelchair lift?

They can use the evc to go the long distances, then park them and walk to all the attractions in that area, if they don't want to be in them all the time. For example, drive them to Fantasyland, park in some central location, and walk around the area, riding the rides, shopping and eating. When it's time to go to another land, return to the EVCs and move on!

The buses have space for two wheelchairs or EVCs. You may have to wait for another bus if the space is already occupied, especially traveling with two.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Thanks for the good suggestions! Renting an EVC offsite does make alot of sense but these grandparents are fiercely independent and are the type that don't want to give up much of their freedom. For them, it would be humiliating to spend the whole time in an EVC. Maybe I can convince them to rent EVCs to have on hand just for park days and then they might use them for getting around the resorts as well. Like most arthritis sufferers they have good days and bad days. Most days they get around slow but steady. Bad days they are crying out in pain. They do need a walk -in shower because stepping over the side of the tub is very painful/ almost impossible.

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

I've never used the onsite bus system- we always just drive to the parks even when we stay onsite. Do they have a way to transport the EVCs for them to the parks? Or will they have to wait for a specific bus that has the wheelchair lift?

All buses are equipped to handle two wheelchairs or ECVs. The older ones have lifts, the newer ones have ramps. Read Post #4 of the disABILITIES FAQs for more detailed information.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about the 2 types of handicapped accessible rooms.
What do they have at home?
If they have a roll in shower, they may want that, but you should be aware that the roll in showers also tend to have more splashing outside of the shower. This could create a slipping hazard if people are not aware of it.
Many people are able to get into a tub with a shower chair by sitting on the chair and then swinging the legs over the side when seated. If you have a handicapped room without a roll in shower, there will also be a handheld showerhead and grab bars in both the shower and toilet areas.

i would suggest one of the monorail resorts, specifically the contemporary or grand floridian... otherwise you will have to drive to the MK, walk a long distance, get on a monorail or boat, walk a long distance again (on ramps, there is no elevator) and then get a scooter... the other option is to rent scooters from off-site - much less expensive, and you would have them for resorts and shopping too.

I would not stay at an off-site resort because they will need to worry about transportation and if there are buses, those buses drop guests off much farther away than the WDW resort buses do.
The monorail resorts have express monorails that go directly to the MK.
The monorail stations are elevated up to 2nd floor level. This is not a problem at the monorail resort stations, where you just take an elevator to get to the appropriate floor to get on. It is a problem once you get to MK because there are no elevators. To get off the monorail and to get back on when you want to go back to your resort, you have to use very long, steep ramps. Without having ECVs, they will find the ramps to be very tiring/daunting.
If staying at one of the non-monorail resorts, taking the bus is the best option. As was already mentioned, the busses are wheelchair accessible and leave you off fairly close to the park entrance.

My suggestion is to find out which park(s) they are interested in spending the most time at. If it's MK, then the monorail resorts would be best. If they plan to spend the most time at Epcot and/or the Studio, consider the Yacht or Beach Club. Those resorts have boat access to both of those parks. If they do rent ECVs from an off-site place, they would be able to drive those right onto the boats or use the nice paths to drive to the parks. THat would give them a lot of independence. Getting to AK or MK requires a bus ride from those resorts.
If they don't know which park they plan on, then staying at one of the moderate resorts would be a good option. As was mentioned POFQ is a nice, compact resort.

I would also suggest at least a Moderate resort for the needed space. If you use a Value resort then one of the ECVs should be stored (and recharged) in someone else's room as getting two ECVs in a Value room may be difficult.

Also, keep in mind that the handicapped accessible rooms with roll in showers are no bigger than other rooms at that resort. The space inside the room is arranged differently; the bathroom uses more room and the bedroom area is smaller.

Thanks for the good suggestions! Renting an EVC offsite does make alot of sense but these grandparents are fiercely independent and are the type that don't want to give up much of their freedom.

Going along withe Cheshire Figment's questions - using ECVs will give them a lot more freedom.
My FIL had really bad knees and hips. He held off using an ECV for many years for some of the same reasons your grandparents are mentioning. When he finally did rent one, at the end of the day, he said he had the first painfree day at the parks in 15 years. He said he had let his pride get in the way of his good sense and he wished he had rented one years earlier. Instead of giving up, he finally saw the ECV as a tool of independence.
In the disABILITIES FAQs thread, in post #3, there is a link to a past thread by a poster named Ray Sharpton who had some of same worries and found how liberating an ECV can be.

I've never used the onsite bus system- we always just drive to the parks even when we stay onsite. Do they have a way to transport the EVCs for them to the parks? Or will they have to wait for a specific bus that has the wheelchair lift?

We use the wheelchair buses all the time because DD uses a wheelchair. They are very convenient and almost 100% of the buses have either lifts or ramps.

 

[bopper]

Actually, ironically, they will have more independence if they have the ECV. They can go anywhere, any time without having to stop. If they want to go back to the hotel, they can do it on their own. Nobody has to push them around.

Here are top 5 Reasons that people think they shouldn't get one when they should.

I can't drive one. Go to your local Costco/Walmart/Target or other large store. They probably have an electric cart type thing that you could use while shopping. Try it out. I bet you can drive it.

People might think I don't really need it because I can walk. Are these people going to share the pain with you at the end of the day? Do you care what they think? Save your walking energy between rides and use it for lines or getting on the rides. Enjoy your family and your vacation.

It will slow my family down. No, actually it will speed your family up. No more rests because grandma is tired. No more going back to the hotel because grandpa is in pain. No more cranky mommy because she tried to walk miles and miles in Disney instead of renting an ECV. You are completely mobile on your own (nobody pushing you in a wheelchair). What's the slow down here?

It's expensive. Um, how much are you spending on this vacation? Don't you want to enjoy it? If money is that tight, take a day off of your trip and spend that money on the ECV so you can enjoy it!

I don't want my kids/family to think I am disabled. You are either temporarily or permanently disabled in some way if you are even asking about this issue...once again, why not make it a better vacation by saving yourself from pain? Nobody is saying you have to confine yourself to a wheelchair permanently or you should not stop trying to get better. If somebody told you to go walk 4 miles, you would think they are crazy. But you are paying for the privilige when you go to Disney to do just that...why not use an ECV to make your family's vacation better?

If you stayed on a monorail hotel, they would be easier to deal with the ECVs as you would just roll on to the monorail. Also, the monorail hotels are deluxe hotels and would tend to deal with your high maintenance grandma better.

If cost is an issue, see the other posts above.