Best Resort for limited mobility

[szymcl]

I want to take my elderly mother to WDW with my family. She has never been interested in parks, but she likes hotels and shopping. She uses a walker and still has to stop often to rest. I am looking for the best place to go that she could wander around during the day. I guess things like automatic doors and elevators are important. She used to love the Polynesian, do those individual longhouses have auto doors and elevators? I am a DVC member, but I don't have to stay in a DVC resort. I'd love an accessible concierge floor that she could snack in. Any suggestions?

 

[SueM in MN]

I want to take my elderly mother to WDW with my family. She has never been interested in parks, but she likes hotels and shopping. She uses a walker and still has to stop often to rest. I am looking for the best place to go that she could wander around during the day. I guess things like automatic doors and elevators are important. She used to love the Polynesian, do those individual longhouses have auto doors and elevators? I am a DVC member, but I don't have to stay in a DVC resort. I'd love an accessible concierge floor that she could snack in. Any suggestions?

Bumping for more replies.
tikiman (a DIS Boards poster) has a really wonderful site about the Polynesian.

 

[arminnie]

My dad is 85. I had planned for us to stay at AKL last fall. I had to cancel the trip because he had to have surgery (he's fine).

AKL has so much to offer if she might be at all interested in the animals. Lots of viewing areas and educational activities.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you stay in the Contemporary Tower everything is only an elevator ride away. There is an extra advantage if you are in a park and she is alone and wants to wander she can take toe monorail to either GF or Poly and wander around their main buildings (with plenty of shops and places to rest).

I would think AKL is also a good choice, but without using a bus she would be restricted to the hotel.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would think AKL is also a good choice, but without using a bus she would be restricted to the hotel.

that's a disadvantage for sure.
Another place to consider would be one of the Epcot area reports. The Beach Club, Yaght Club (I always have a hard time spelling that), and Boardwalk are right on a lovely walkway around the water and to MGM and Epcot. A wheelchair or ECV would be best because the walkway is pretty far and has some rather large hills. But, with an ECV, she could go by herself to EPcot or MGM. There are also restaurants and shops on the BW side of the water and a nice beach along the BC side.

 

[CastMemberDWA]

I agree that AKL would be great....but also consider the GF. The shoppes there are quite nice, the spa is nearby and she could probably request a golf cart ride to get there. Plus the lobby there is fantastic. I have often seen grandmotherly types just sitting there knitting while someone was playing the piano or the big band was playing. Great view of fireworks there too!


If animals are more interesting then get a preferred view at AKL where she can sit on the balcony and look at zebras, giraffes and such.

 

[arminnie]

...also consider the GF. The shoppes there are quite nice, the spa is nearby and she could probably request a golf cart ride to get there. Plus the lobby there is fantastic. I have often seen grandmotherly types just sitting there knitting while someone was playing the piano or the big band was playing.

Plus she might also enjoy the tea at the GF.

 

[bumpysheep]

I want to take my elderly mother to WDW with my family. She has never been interested in parks, but she likes hotels and shopping. She uses a walker and still has to stop often to rest. I am looking for the best place to go that she could wander around during the day. I guess things like automatic doors and elevators are important. She used to love the Polynesian, do those individual longhouses have auto doors and elevators? I am a DVC member, but I don't have to stay in a DVC resort. I'd love an accessible concierge floor that she could snack in. Any suggestions?

I use a combination of scooter, powerchair, and manaul chair depending on the day. Sometimes I just walk with my service dog that provides balance and momentum. So I am definately a SLOW walker. I like WL, ground floor villa side because I like quiet. I also do not like to shop, though I like shopping at Disney more than anywhere else

The poly sounds like a good idea if she like to do things at hotels and shop. That way you are right on the monorail and she'll have easy access to GF and contemporary as well.

 

[SueM in MN]

The poly sounds like a good idea if she like to do things at hotels and shop. That way you are right on the monorail and she'll have easy access to GF and contemporary as well.

That's a good point. If she is at one of the hotels on the monorail, she can easily go to any of the other resorts on the monorail line.

 

[ducklite]

RPC at the GF is going to be the very best bet. Ask for a room close to the lounge. The lounge is wonderful even if they aren't "serving" anything, coffee and tea are always available.

She'll be able to sit in the lounge and enjoy the GF Society Orchestra--I would imagine taht would be lovely for her!

The elevator is right off the lounge and all the shops, plus the salon and afternoon tea are all in the main building.

Anne

 

[szymcl]

Thanks for all the ideas! Are all the GF concierge rooms in the main building and on the same floor? A concierge lounge sounds good, because she is living in an assisted living facility now that has a lounge with food all day long. She would be used to that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

GF has rooms in the main building, all of which are concierge. However, there is also another building (Sugar Loaf) which is also all-concierge. The ones in the main building are more expensive. Here is a link for information about GF and rates.