Best Resort for Grandma?

[NYMomof4]

I'm planning a 12 day trip at the end of August that would include 2 different resorts (one of which will be SSR). My Grandmother is going to visit for 5 days of the trip and I'm wondering what experiences others have had with selecting a resort with an older person (84). She is limited on walking more than short distances and not really interested in the parks (maybe one day for her). It'll be kids and adults for the trip and we plan to take turns hanging out at the resort or doing non-park things with her.

Any suggestions or experiences? Thanks!

 

[Caskbill]

I would guess a lot depends on just how ambulatory she is and how much she wants to get out and about. Will you by chance be getting a wheelchair or ECV? In that case I'd suggest either BWV or BCV. There's a lot to do around the lake, and getting to Epcot or MGM via the walkways could be 'fun'. This way you avoid busses or boats.

If she's planning on staying 'indoors' all the time, then OKW would be best because of the larger villas (assuming you're getting a 1-B/R or larger.) but be sure you get ground floor or one of the villas with an elevator.

Several years ago we took Grandma (DW's mom) and stayed at OKW. We had our car so drove to the parks and she was OK with the trams. At each park we got her a wheelchair. She was in her late 70's at the time.

 

[NYMomof4]

Thanks- my Grandma still has a lot of spunk, just not enough for the amount of Disney walking. We have considered a wheelchair and that would probably work great for her, since she does like to do stuff. I would guess that she would spend some time in the room but not all. The Boardwalk might be a really good location for all it has to offer too. Thanks

 

[tothebeach9]

seems like you would want a resort with many nice interior spaces for her to enjoy, in case it is hot. I would think okw would be limiting. wlv has nice lobbies, areas to hang out. bc has nice interior spaces. lobby in bwi is nice. boat to mgm very easy to get on and off. haven't seen ssr interior spaces.

 

[robinb]

Are you looking for a DVC resort only? My favorite resort to just "hang out" at is AKL. There always seems to be something going on. If you're set on DVC resorts, then BWV has a nice Community Center to help pass the time away and you could also wheel Grandma into Epcot for dinner and fireworks a couple times the trip once it cools off a bit. Most of the resorts have wheelchairs that you can borrow for free.

 

[spiceycat]

she will want to be with YOU.

so if you are at SSR than book her a studio there.

now if you are asking for your entire family for the other resort - then which is your favorite park.

Epcot - BCv
Studio - BWV
MK - VWL - this is my mother favorite park

no parks either SSR or OKW.

besides OKW is cheaper point wise....

 

[bobbiwoz]

My mother who is 86 has enjoyed VWL and BWV, and I imagine that she will love BCV which we're taking her to in May.

I don't know if GF has music/piano player in the lobby at all times of the year,
our last 2 visits with her have been in December, and we've always set an afternoon aside to go to the GF. We've enjoyed the character meal, it is a delicious buffet, but if that's not to your grandmother's liking, perhaps the afternoon tea would be.

Mom was thrilled with the whirlpool spa area, she doesn't go in all the way, but sits on the side, and we chat and relax.

I agree that anyplace her family is spending special time with her will be a great place to be.

Bobbi

 

[DaveT1]

I would guess a lot depends on just how ambulatory she is and how much she wants to get out and about. Will you by chance be getting a wheelchair or ECV? In that case I'd suggest either BWV or BCV. There's a lot to do around the lake, and getting to Epcot or MGM via the walkways could be 'fun'. This way you avoid busses or boats.

I will second all the above. We rent an ECV for my father and it gives him the freedom to be part of the group if he wants. The Epcot area resorts are very nice to get around, lots to see and close by, even cutting through Epcot and take the monorail to MK if need be. The boats and monorail are fairly easy with an ECV if need be.

 

[spiceycat]

kept in mind some elder can not use the ECV - mother likes a manual wheelchair better.

the manual wheelchairs are free - just ask at the front desk.

 

[blacklily]

We took my wife's grandparents (83 and 87) in November and stayed at the BWV 4th floor. They both had ECV's we rented from Walker (great service) and were using them for the first time. The convenience to Epcot and MGM was great. We also walked through Epcot to take the monorail to MK rather than the bus. It is much easier to load into the monorail than the buses especially with two ECV's. One day we left them to relax at the resort for a day. They called the front desk and had someone come to the 4th floor elevators to help them onto and off of the elevators. They then spent the rest of the day around the boardwalk. They even went into ESPN Zone to have a few beers at the bar. Imagine the look on the bartenders face Even though they aren't park people they went into Epcot almost every day to eat and drink. Being near Epcot and MGM at the end of the day is a real blessing with an ECV.

 

[NYMomof4]

I really appreciate all the feedback. I am going to show her the book and explain some of the mentioned perks of each resort and get her opinion. We will be getting a 2bdrm for both locations so she will be with us. My mother and aunt are both going to-it's just a mix of us from age 4-84 The kids, of course are happy with a pool!LOL I did not know that the wheelchairs might be free and that will be very helpful. It will be her 1st Disney trip.

Robin

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

It sounds like "Grandma" is more like my mother (77). Unless you know it for certain don't assume she wont want to be in the parks with you. My mother loved the parks as long as she had an ECV to help her avoid extensive walking. If you've got adults who are willing to hang with her for the day then maybe they can go with her into EPCOT & MK. And if she can still drive she can probably handle the ECV.

I would stay at BWV . Why? Because there is plenty to see within a short distance. If I were limited to walking on safer surfaces (carpet, tile, concrete) I'd pick the Boardwalk over any other hotel. VWL is actually pretty hilly just getting from the villas up to the main lobby of the hotel. And for five days there isn't THAT much to see there without getting on a boat and hitting another hotel. SSR everything is stretched out and you'd have to take transportation to get to DTD under your circumstances anyway. OKW ditto. BCV could be an okay choice if she likes to hang out by the pool but again walking in/on sand is fatiguing.

My other suggestion is to get a room on a floor where she won't need to use the elevator much. Why? Because when we stayed at HHI I selected the main lodge because of the elevator. Don't you know it was broken most of the stay and Mom had to walk up the stairs far too often (there were a couple people in wheel chairs...I'm not sure how they managed their stay). On the plus side I think that was the start of her recovery towards near normal endurance for an adult.

 

[Hef4545]

I am so happy to find this thread. My Mom and Dad are 83 and 86. I would love to take them to Disney but I am afraid to tire them out.
My mother is the one that has problems walking. She is also stubborn about using a walker. She prefers to hang on my Dad. I keep telling her it is no different than refusing to wear a hearing aid.
These ECVs you keep referrring too...Are these the electric wheelchairs? Are they difficult to maneuver? Did Walker deliver these to the resort for you? Do you reserve them in advance?
Where do you park them?
Sorry for all the silly questions.
I would love to see them enjoy themselves.

 

[DaveT1]

I am so happy to find this thread. My Mom and Dad are 83 and 86. I would love to take them to Disney but I am afraid to tire them out.
My mother is the one that has problems walking. She is also stubborn about using a walker. She prefers to hang on my Dad. I keep telling her it is no different than refusing to wear a hearing aid.
These ECVs you keep referrring too...Are these the electric wheelchairs? Are they difficult to maneuver? Did Walker deliver these to the resort for you? Do you reserve them in advance?
Where do you park them?
Sorry for all the silly questions.
I would love to see them enjoy themselves.

Take a look at http://www.scootarama.com/ for an idea. We have used this comany and it has worked out well. I have read good things about Walker also, and i'm sure there are others.

Read the FAQ sticky on the disability board. Disney does rent their own, but you can not take them out of the parks and they do sometimes run out of them. Also they are not as nice as the off property rental ones, and those you have access to all the time. The smaller ones do fit rather easily in the villas we have stayed in.

There are a few companies that rent them in Orlando. The ones i have dealt with will drop them off at the front of the hotel and pick them up there also free of charge. As someone said if a person can still drive they should be able to use one and you can turn the speed dial down so it doesn't take off. Don't get me wrong, people can be dangerous on them but after a few hours most people get the hang of it.

My father HATES wheelchairs, would rather stay in the room than use one. Having to depend on and burden a person is not his cup of tea. The ECV allows him to be independant yet be part of the group.

 

[CarolMN]

I am so happy to find this thread. My Mom and Dad are 83 and 86. I would love to take them to Disney but I am afraid to tire them out.
My mother is the one that has problems walking. She is also stubborn about using a walker. She prefers to hang on my Dad. I keep telling her it is no different than refusing to wear a hearing aid.
These ECVs you keep referrring too...Are these the electric wheelchairs? Are they difficult to maneuver? Did Walker deliver these to the resort for you? Do you reserve them in advance?
Where do you park them?
Sorry for all the silly questions.
I would love to see them enjoy themselves.

Post your questions about ECVs over on the DisAbilities Forum - there are lots of posters with experience who can answer all your questions, even the ones you won't think to ask, LOL.

Best wishes -

 

[DaveT1]

Some one mentioned OKW, it's been ages since i stayed there and i have not stayed at SSR ( unless the Institute counts )

but... can you get a guarantee on a ground floor unit and/or what is the status of elevators for any units can those be guaranteed 100%? I honestly don't remember, other than humping my luggage up stairs to the highest floor. Don't think granny would take to kindly to stairs either.

Call me modern but (luggage and/or elderly) + stairs = bad

 

[OneMoreTry]

I don't know if GF has music/piano player in the lobby at all times of the year,
our last 2 visits with her have been in December, and we've always set an afternoon aside to go to the GF. We've enjoyed the character meal, it is a delicious buffet, but if that's not to your grandmother's liking, perhaps the afternoon tea would be.


Bobbi

This is a great idea. If I make it to 86 (my DVC will have expired) I would love to spend an afternoon listening to the live music at GF and eating a meal there. I guess I better start increasing my retirement savings.

 

[blacklily]

I am so happy to find this thread. My Mom and Dad are 83 and 86. I would love to take them to Disney but I am afraid to tire them out.
My mother is the one that has problems walking. She is also stubborn about using a walker. She prefers to hang on my Dad. I keep telling her it is no different than refusing to wear a hearing aid.
These ECVs you keep referrring too...Are these the electric wheelchairs? Are they difficult to maneuver? Did Walker deliver these to the resort for you? Do you reserve them in advance?
Where do you park them?
Sorry for all the silly questions.
I would love to see them enjoy themselves.

We reserved them in advance and they were at the BW front desk when we arrived. When we left we left them with the Bell Captain. It was very easy. Also, be sure to turn down the speed control because at full speed they are very fast. We also used magical express since it was Me, Wife, Daughter (1 year), Wife's Parents and Wife's Grandparents having the luggage delivered at the hotel and checking it at BW for the return flight was extremely helpful. Their was no way we could have done it another way. Also, we rented a Sienna minivan which is an extremely large minivan. Even so we couldn't fit both scooters in it at the same time without folding the 3rd row of seats down and even then 1 had to be disassembled. Even though the websites say it is easy to assemble and disassemble them I wouldn't plan on doing it very often. Take the Disney busses as much as possible.

 

[Montana Minnies]

I'm planning a 12 day trip at the end of August that would include 2 different resorts (one of which will be SSR). My Grandmother is going to visit for 5 days of the trip and I'm wondering what experiences others have had with selecting a resort with an older person (84). She is limited on walking more than short distances and not really interested in the parks (maybe one day for her). It'll be kids and adults for the trip and we plan to take turns hanging out at the resort or doing non-park things with her.

Any suggestions or experiences? Thanks!

Hi
Since you ask to share either suggestions or experiences I will share our experience traveling with Mom (84) at the time we vacationed with 7 other family members for 10 days in Aug. 2004. We chose OKW mainly because we had heard of it's spacious 2bdrm villas. Surprisingly enough the steps did not bother Mom, who has arthritis in her knees.(We had a room on the second floor in building 23). We were given rides to our room checking in and leaving, the bell person carried the luggage for us.
Mom used a wheelchair when we went to Fantasimic and to view Spectromagic & Wishes. When walking we took it at a slower pace and if she wanted to she just stayed at the resort. She commented on how well she enjoyed the boat ride from OKW to Downtown Disney, Olivia's ( where the CM,"Jerry" made sure she had her oatmeal with brown sugar. ) and the courteousy of the CM's driving the busses. We truly made wonderful memories and had a Magical vacation.
Enjoy yourselves and treasure the moments you have together.
Montana Minnies

 

[Hef4545]

It sounds easy enough.

Thank you all for you responses. I will definitely check out the Disabilities Board.

Have a great day!