Dad's 50th and probable last trip ideas. Long Post. Sorry

[PHXscuba]

I believe the last few Food and Wine or other DCA events they have had you pay once at a (not busy) booth for everything you want, and then you can just go to the booths to redeem each item with your receipt. So if you can figure out what he wants (I think there are brochures) you could pay in advance and then redeem the items as you meandered through the parks.

I hope you and your dad have a great trip. Be flexible and enjoy your time together.

PHXscuba

 

[baozi]

Maybe moving the trip earlier to say, late February? Crowd situation is better then and the condition of your father is pretty much the same as today. From the several posts above, it is really about progressing. Well without knowing the specifics (and even if knowing the specifics), it is hard to predict.

 

[tsumgirl]

He has been very adamant about not wanting to use a wheelchair in park, meaning to include ECV. I think it's a maybe pride? thing about not wanting to finally admit defeat with his mobility. I will bring it up during the trip if I see he is getting tired or winded, but for now he is very adamant he wants to walk the park. Which is why we are planning on going to slow. I do imagine he might change his mind part way through day one, but for now he doesn't want to even think about wheelchair/ecv.

I also agree with SWGE, but I have heard there can be issues finding seats throughout the land unless you are in a dining area. So that was a concern but hopefully we will be able to find some seats where he can still enjoy the land and not be in a dining room but outside.

I completely understand...it was hard for me the first time I had to admit I needed a cane and ECV.

There are seats outdoors in SWGE, but it can be a challenge to score a seat if it's really busy. I was last there the week before Christmas though, and it was definitely possible to find seats at that time with a little patience.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I'm so sorry about your Father. I wish you and your family well during this difficult time.

As for quiet places, the opera house/gallery is usually pretty quiet and there are a few places to sit there. The former smoking area near Big Thunder still has a good amount of seating and usually isn't too crowded. I'd suggest Tom Sawyer's Island, but I'd be worried he wouldn't have anyone very close by in case he needs assistance.

DCA can be quiet in the Paradise Garden Grill & Boardwalk Pizza area in the morning hours (until the lunch hours kick in). The areas near Grizzly Peak have a few benches and can be quiet (especially the right side/former smoking area).

I'd also make note of the first aid/nurse stations in each park in case he needs to lay down or needs a completely quiet place. They are extremely kind there.

I hope your trip is wonderful. Take care.

 

[bethwc101]

I’m so sorry about your dad.

We love just hanging out in Galaxy’s Edge because the stormtroopers walk around and interact with the guests. It’s hilarious. Kylo Ren, Rey and Chewy do as well. My favorite drink at Oga’s is the Jedi Mind Trick. Also, meeting Darth Vader at Launch Bay is always a fantastic experience.

Thankfully, I have the disney cc, so we have special meet and greet times so we shouldn't have to wait too long. based on others' reports.

 

[bethwc101]

Maybe moving the trip earlier to say, late February? Crowd situation is better then and the condition of your father is pretty much the same as today. From the several posts above, it is really about progressing. Well without knowing the specifics (and even if with knowing the specifics), it is hard to predict.

He really wants to do another dapper day which is why we are doing April.

 

[MrsD.Duck]

You could always have breakfast at Catels in dtd up on the balcony and people watch as they head to the park in the morning. My husband and i did that and it was pretty quiet with the disney music in the back ground. Of course that is weather permitting and if you dad has no problems walking up some stairs.

 

[wowsmom]

You could always have breakfast at Catels in dtd up on the balcony and people watch as they head to the park in the morning. My husband and i did that and it was pretty quiet with the disney music in the back ground. Of course that is weather permitting and if you dad has no problems walking up some stairs.

There is actually an elevator to take up to the upstairs level at Catal. It's just to the left of the stairs.

 

[twodogs]

So sorry to hear about your father.

One note about Oga’s, they do sometimes enforce the 45 minute limit, especially if you are seated at a table (in my experiences there). We actually did feel really rushed the one time we were seated (we didn’t ask to be seated, but we did get a table), whereas the times we have stood, we were never rushed out. When we were at the table, the server literally came over and said “your 45 minutes is up”. I thought it was terribly rude.

One quiet place that I feel is very Disney is the Beast’s library and area around it when you walk down to it from the Animation Academy. I don’t recall if there is seating there, but you can draw a long drawing and spin it to make it “animate”. There is probably a technical term for this but I don’t know it. Animation Academy is another nice opportunity to sit down for a while in the AC. Since it doesn’t require physical strength, he might really enjoy it. You can see which characters are at which times on the board, if he has a favorite (it seems to change daily).

I have never been to Food and Wine, but during the Lunar New Year this year, they had added Mobile Order to many of the booths. I wonder if they will do this for Food and Wine? It would be great to avoid those long lines...

Best thoughts for you and your dad.

 

[VandVsmama]

My thoughts in no particular order:

First of all, I'm so sorry about your dad. This trip sounds like a wonderful idea. Some ideas to consider...

1. A lot can happen health-wise and stamina-wise between now and April. So while your dad may feel too stubborn and proud to accept a wheelchair right now, you should plan on budgeting for an ECV or wheelchair anyway. Your dad might find that he might "hit a wall" and can't take another step. So just be prepared to adjust accordingly and then you can go run and rent a wheelchair for the rest of the day...and just TELL your dad that he's using it whether he likes it or not. Later on, he will be grateful for it. I'm speaking from experience on this.
2. Fantasmic - Blue Bayou or River Belle Terrace - if you had to pick, I'd go for River Belle Terrace with the added cost of the seats at an actual table for Fantasmic because it might be really hard for your dad at that point to sit on the ground.
3. My favorite quiet spots to relax: sitting outside Flo's V-8 Cafe in Carsland watching the cars race by, on a park bench at the hub end of Main Street sort of near the Little Red Wagon, at a table near Coke Corner with a view of everyone walking by on Main Street (there's a ragtime piano player there several times a day & nobody will bug you about leaving after a certain period of time), at French Market preferably while one of the jazz bands are playing.
4. Your dad probably isn't aware of this, but 1 benefit of the wheelchair would be that for places like Fantasyland, he'll be able to get a wheelchair return time for attractions like Peter Pan. This mean that he won't have to stand in line AT ALL. You can rest and do something else while waiting for the wheelchair return time.
5. Carthay Circle - you probably won't be rushed there.
6. for all of your ADRs - CALL Disneyland BEFORE your trip and tell them what's going on with your dad, that this is a "last trip" for him and ask them to make a note of it on the ADR. Your server will probably bring out something like a special complementary dessert or something. But don't tell your dad this.
7. Stop at one of the guest services kiosks or at City Hall to get your dad an "I'm Celebrating!" button. If your dad doesn't want to make a big of himself, just ignore him and go up and get one for him anyway and tell the CM what it's for.
8. Oga's Cantina - DOES have a time limit. You won't be allowed to linger for hours there.
9. World of Color dessert party - totally worth it for somebody in your dad's declining health condition.
10. the train - nobody's going to kick you off, so you could do a couple of loops around the park in that and no one will care.
11. monorail - some time early in the day, go to the monorail station in Tomorrowland. Tell them about your dad. Ask if he could ride in the very front or very back of the train. They'll give you a time to return so you can do that.
12. Mark Twain River boat - early in the day, go over to the Mark Twain and do the same thing there. Tell them that your dad is dying and this is his last ever trip to Disneyland. Ask if he can captain the boat that day. If spots are available, they'll give you a time to return so he can do that. I'm pretty sure there's a guest book that he'll get to sign.
13. take some pics with him with photopass photographers.
14. Great moments with Mr Lincoln - this has lots of places to sit & interesting exhibits to look at
15. Silhouette studio on Main Street - you should get a silhouette of the 2 of you together. Only takes 5 min. Cost about $18 I think. It's a wonderful keepsake.
16. Plaza Inn - character breakfast is great way to meet lots of fun characters at one time. This is not the same as the parade viewing package ($40/adult)...that is for lunch or dinner.

 

[Pamela M]

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. I did the walk in walts step tour a few years ago. I was 5 months after losing my own dad. I bring this up cause I’m not sure the tour would be a good idea.
It’s fast paced and at the end they talk about Walts last days at the park. Which having just losing my father was tough- luckily a few other people had tears in their eyes as well.
The tour is fantastic and normally I would recommend it. But wanted to make you aware of that.

No matter what you do I’m sure you will have a memorable trip!

 

[azdisneylover]

(((Big hugs))) This is a hard time in your life. Having a parent terminally ill is very hard, especially on the heart.

You have gotten a lot of excellent ideas. I would suggest riding things after an hour or so in the park (if your dad is getting winded and needs a place to relax) ride the train around the park a couple of times, ride in both cones of the monorail, take a ride or two on the Mark Twain (snag the chairs in the front), get a snack and go to Tom Sawyer's Island, take in the shows/live entertainment. The GCH lobby can be very loud and not relaxing at all. I have been known to grab a beverage and relax in the hallway going towards the entrance to DTD in the DCH. There are chairs, and people watching there is very entertaining. For some reason, people tend to trip on the two stairs there.

Wishing you the best trip ever. Know we (everyone here on the boards) are here for you, day or night. This part of life isn't fun. My hubby and my parents are gone, so, we understand how you are feeling. Hang in there, sweetie.

 

[bethwc101]

(((Big hugs))) This is a hard time in your life. Having a parent terminally ill is very hard, especially on the heart.

You have gotten a lot of excellent ideas. I would suggest riding things after an hour or so in the park (if your dad is getting winded and needs a place to relax) ride the train around the park a couple of times, ride in both cones of the monorail, take a ride or two on the Mark Twain (snag the chairs in the front), get a snack and go to Tom Sawyer's Island, take in the shows/live entertainment. The GCH lobby can be very loud and not relaxing at all. I have been known to grab a beverage and relax in the hallway going towards the entrance to DTD in the DCH. There are chairs, and people watching there is very entertaining. For some reason, people tend to trip on the two stairs there.

Wishing you the best trip ever. Know we (everyone here on the boards) are here for you, day or night. This part of life isn't fun. My hubby and my parents are gone, so, we understand how you are feeling. Hang in there, sweetie.

I really like the train idea. A few laps at a time around the park would be fun for him.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

How does NR Chef Counter compare vs just regular menu. Is it that much more of an experience?

The Chef's counter seats 12 and you interact with the chef at the beginning of the meal and throughout. When we did it we were served some menu items with a couple specials from the chef added. it's a long seating with palate cleansers and wine pairings if you want them. we plan to do it again when we visit in August. You have to call the restaurant directly to book.

 

[Epicnemesis]

I would call up their guest services number and explain what this trip means. I’m sure they’ll have great and unique ideas that they can do for you that will really make the trip memorable.

 

[Malcon10t]

There is actually an elevator to take up to the upstairs level at Catal. It's just to the left of the stairs.

We love Catal. But my granddaughter calls the elevator the "Elevator of Doom". She runs up the stairs. It does make some noises and is funny to take people in who are scared of elevators to begin with.

As for finding places to sit, this is one more reason for the ECV. He would have a place to sit, even if the benches are full. He can use it to get to a land, then walk the land, and return to the ECV when moving to the next land, or when just needing to sit for a bit. I used to say "No, I will just walk", then I figured out how much I slowed others down and how much time I'd spend going back to the room because of pain. Much better for all using the ECV.

 

[bethwc101]

We love Catal. But my granddaughter calls the elevator the "Elevator of Doom". She runs up the stairs. It does make some noises and is funny to take people in who are scared of elevators to begin with.

As for finding places to sit, this is one more reason for the ECV. He would have a place to sit, even if the benches are full. He can use it to get to a land, then walk the land, and return to the ECV when moving to the next land, or when just needing to sit for a bit. I used to say "No, I will just walk", then I figured out how much I slowed others down and how much time I'd spend going back to the room because of pain. Much better for all using the ECV.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed he will end up using a wheelchair/ECV as I think it will make a better trip for him. BUT, it needs to happen on his terms, otherwise he will just be sour about the whole thing. I will casually bring it up if I see he is slowing down or starting to get tired. Hopefullly, he isn't too stubborn.

We will probably pass on the Catal then. I wouldn't say my dad is claustrophobic, but he does have a thing about elevators. Small elevators. He is fine with stuff like HM.

 

[wowsmom]

We love Catal. But my granddaughter calls the elevator the "Elevator of Doom". She runs up the stairs. It does make some noises and is funny to take people in who are scared of elevators to begin with.

That's a fitting name - I always wonder if the doors are going to open.

 

[KPeterso]

I am sorry for your dad's circumstances. But I would definitely be considering a wheelchair. If his prognosis is so poor, he is going to need one. And just because you have it, does not mean he must sit in it all the time!!! He can sit to rest for a bit as needed. And then walk as he wants. That is what I do with my Mom. She is free to ride it or walk and I push it around empty or she can push it empty which gives her more stability for walking. She does walk quite a bit, but she will also sit for a rest in a line if she has been walking a lot. It really does work well overall!

 

[hiroMYhero]

I’m also very sorry about your Dad.

I wouldn’t hesitate to consider a VIP Tour. With a VIP Tour, the CM Guide doesn’t have to stay with your group. They can situate your family at your first attraction and then they can head to the next attraction where you can meet up when your group arrives. If you need to change up anything, you can just text the CM.

It’ll save your Dad from excessive walking for random FPs and will eliminate long waits in lines. It’ll also give your group Priority/FP boarding for Millennium Falcon in SWGE. Your Dining Reservations will be set up for your group by VIP staff and that would include Oga’s.

The VIP CM would be very understanding in knowing that your meals will be for family-only. The CM will just eat elsewhere and will meet at the next designated attraction. I believe they can also provide a wheelchair if necessary.