Best Tips to minimize walking

[mad hatter fan]

This is a totally new concept to me. On past trips I have always focused on maximizing numbers of rides. Now I need to focus on reducing the walking for my DD because of a new health issue. She has joint pain that has so far been unexplained and our appointment with a rheumatologest isn't until after our trip. And using a wheelchair would increase her already bad anxiety, so that will only be a back up plan.

What tips can you give me on how to minimize her walking. DH or older DS will be the FP runner and I am trying to focus on just having a good time together instead of how much we can do. We have 5 day hoppers and plan on taking midday breaks. (staying at the new Homewood Suites and will use the buses from Toy Story.

 

[Angie 2016]

Take a piece of each park each day so you don't zip around chasing rides. Maybe start in fantasyland, go to toontown, send runner for fps in. Tomorrowland, ride those rides and then hotel for a break. Then maybe Adventureland and frintierland, riding jungle cruise and hanging in tiki room while waiting for fps to be ready.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

When I was a kid, and there were no fastpasses to be had (okay, I was really an adult), we would start at one end and make our way around the park. The idea of running from land to land seemed really wasteful to me... but then fastpasses came, and that's what we do now....

So, you might consider breaking up your trip so that you visit the park in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and minimize going back and forth.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This sounds like a good trip to enjoy the live entertainment in the parks. The pianist at Coke Corner is always a fun break, Jambalaya Jazz at the French Market (great for a beignet break!), the Disneyland Band, Dapper Dans, etc. In DCA, you can sit by FF&P with something from Starbucks or Clarabelle's and watch Five & Dime or find a closer spot to watch the Newsboys. These are really fun breaks that don't have that "missing out on rides" feeling. If you dd doesn't mind standing (vs. walking), there are always the games on the boardwalk.

 

[casagray]

When we took our family six (seven) years ago, it was right before my daughter got diagnosed with POTS - all we knew was it was hard for her to walk for long distances without feeling exhausted. I love the idea of concentrating on parts of the park, as you will have time to do so; we tried to figure in places to sit and rest too - like sitting for a performance, or just on a bench having popcorn - you might want to look at the areas and think about what offers those types of breaks. My daughter also hated the idea of a wheelchair - so I get that. Oh, and you might want to try to find Hidden Mickeys that are NOT on rides, or try to find a Disney cat - something to pass the time or lend more interest to staying in a smaller area for longer then you have in the past.
I hope your visit with the rheumatologist gives you some answers and help, it is truly frustrating to have a child in pain and no answers on how to help; my thoughts are with you.

 

[disneychrista]

Loop the park. Start at one end and work your way around. Avoid running around, bouncing back & forth from one area to another.

 

[Congo Queen]

You can also make maximum use of the rides that are also conveyances for visitors. Main Street has a whole selection (Omnibus, horse drawn carriage etc). Monorail of course can get you out to DtnD. Sadly, the DLRR is down until next June so you won't be able to use that for this trip. In DCA they have the Red Car Trolley which helps a bit getting you from BV St to ToT. This is an arena where I have always felt DCA could benefit from a major upgrade. They really need some fun conveyance to get you from Paradise Pier to BV St -- a train, a sky ride, a people mover - something!

 

[JKalai]

I know it's not a suggestion for minimizing the walking you're about to do, but getting the best pair of shoes really do help with walking stamina.

They are a but pricey, but the Adidas Ultra Boost ($120-180) are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. They feel like you're walking on clouds. My feet would usually ache mid day from walking with even running shoes. Ever since I bought a pair of the Ultra Boosts, my feet ache no more. I even bought a pair for my girlfriend, and she doesn't wear anything else to the parks but them.

Try them on at a local store if you can.

 

[Nevada Jen]

And really. A wheelchair is not the end of the world. My suggestion is that if she gets to the point where it is effecting her ability to tour longer suggest you try a wheel chair. My high aniety kid was adamant that he would never use a wheel chair when he was recovering rom a broken foot. THe first night he powered through. The next day he broke down and wore the uncool boot and by noon that day he was done for the day and we suggested that he could be done and just ride around in a wheelchair. You have to go outside the gate to get it. We sat on the planters and him in his wheelchair and had a drink because he was really a bit freaked about people staring at him and within 10 minutes he was fine with being pushed and we went back into the park. As completely unexpected benefit was that it almost completely alleviated his anxiety and the behavior that go with it. He could completely disengage and let someone else take over being in that chair. It ended up being the best trip we have taken with him. I really can't put into words how much it REDUCED anxiety (which really affects everyone in the group). So it really might be worth a try after the first day.

 

[smartlabelprint]

My DH said next trip were not running around different lands for FP. We're staying in one land. (We have babies. ) so it's more about calmness than walking for us but pp have good ideas!

 

[Realfoodfans]

My DH said next trip were not running around different lands for FP. We're staying in one land. (We have babies. ) so it's more about calmness than walking for us but pp have good ideas!

There's definitely a train of thought that taking it slowly and a little more "old school" is the way to go. On a trip with our DGS when he was 4 he had been unwell (and subsequently spent time in hospital on a number of occasions) and his mummy was suffering with HG so we made no pre-bookings but picked up a couple of FP's that were suitable as we went. We had a great trip. Chose at random to go to TL for a rest day and returned to MK just one evening when everyone had slept one afternoon.

 

[Epek]

5 days makes it much easier to take it slow! I agree with going land to land. One day, you absolutely have to do Disneyland counterclockwise. Start in Adventureland or New Orleans Square. So few people do this that you can walk on every ride and have it practically to yourself! May 31st, we did this. Started with beignets at the mint julep bar, then walked on Winnie the Pooh, had less than 30 people in the stretching room with us on Haunted Mansion (it's usually shoulder to shoulder), 5 min wait for Pirates and then 10 for Jungle Cruise! My kids are little, so we skipped Splash and IJ. I noticed that at the times we were by them, splash was 10mins and IJ was 45 (but fp's were only 45 mins ahead of real time). It was awesome!
Watch the app so you know when fast passes are at a good time for you to be in each land and send your runners. Or, you can start each day at an e-ticket ride since there aren't many whose fp's run out quickly.
Have so much fun! I wish good health for your dd. Hope you get some answers.