Disney with "Old Folks" - need advice! (m)

[queenmum2]

We'll be in the World the 3rd week of October. My Dad and SM will be in Orlando that week and will join us for two days in the parks to celebrate Dad's 75th. They'll be with us at MK one day and one day at EPCOT. My Dad's never been (went to Disneyland about 30 years ago) and there is so much I want to show him! Buuuuut...he's about 60 lb overweight and doesn't exercise like he should. So I know we'll have to take frequent breaks for him to rest. Also SM has some problems with her leg (bursitis, i think) so, while she's generally in better health, she'll appreciate some breaks as well.

The one thing I have really worried about lately is the parades/fireworks/light-shows, etc. I just CANNOT see them sitting down on a curb for 45 minutes. Where are the best places to park - with a seat - for parades and shows. I have heard that there are CS places where you could sit and see the Dream Come True parade (Columbia Harbor House, maybe?). But what about Spectro and Wishes? What about Illuminations (my FAVORITE! but I know I'm in the minority)?

Should we plan on bringing camp-chairs and stowing them at guest services? Surely Disney has accomodations for the older folks...right?

Tracie

 

[rlovew]

I don't think you can stow anything like chairs at guest services. For illuminations there are plenty of benches that offer fine viewing and if you have been going all day they may be ready for a long break- you can also try to get a reservation at the Rose and Crown in England.

I have found that wishes can be viewed well throughout the park and only once have i ever viewed it from Main Street- I actually like the view from right outside the back enterance of Cosmic Rays, that area is rarely crowded we just walk up to it a few minutes before Wishes begins, you can see Tinkerbell from here), also if the Noodle Station buffett is still going on you may be able to get a seat there with a good view, since this restraunt doesn't take ADR you have to see that morning.

 

[queenmum2]

We'll be eating an early dinner at Le Cellier (4:00 - we had limited choices), so we won't be needing to eat at R&C... but I do remember last time our best view of Illuminations was at a table in Germany, right on the lagoon. WE saw it again from around China and it wasn't nearly as good.

What about the parades, I wonder?

Thanks, again!

Tracie

 

[emma'smom]

We sat at tables by Dumbo to watch Wishes. This was especially fun because we were able to see the fireworks launched from different directions.....and we just sat to watch!

Have you thought about renting wheel chairs or a scooter for them? Also, my mother has a rollator (sort of like a rolling walker with seat) that she wheels around sometimes. It is a great "seat" when she needs to stop and rest and good to lean on when she is walking/standing.

 

[disnut8]

We've toured with my dad who had double knee replacements. He didn't want a wheelchair but quickly changed his mind after a few days at the parks. All of the parents in our family are 70+. Some are go-getters, some aren't.

First thing I would ask them is if they even want to see the parades and if they are going to be willing to stay late for the night time stuff. My dad and stepmother are sleeping by 10:00, my mother-in-law will only stay up if there are fireworks. No one likes the parades so we avoid them.

There are lots of benches all around Disney World. If your father needs one, take the time to just sit and relax. We have a lot of fun that way. We people watch and talk and have lots of quality time together. Yeah, you can do that at your local mall but there's just something about having a great sit down at Disney World.

 

[Bev J]

Another place we watched wishes from was in Tomorrowland by Space Mountian, there are some stone benches and planters. Maybe not the most outstanding view, but we were sitting and enjoyed it.
A previous poster brought up a good point, the parades, fireworks may be important to you but alot of older folks are worn out by then and are more interested in going back to the hotel to relax.
I know my inlaws rarley stay in the parks for the evening. maybe your party can split up for the evening.

Bev

 

[Simba's Mom]

We sat at tables by Dumbo to watch Wishes. This was especially fun because we were able to see the fireworks launched from different directions.....and we just sat to watch!

Are there lots of people who sit back there, or can you pretty much just wander over there and sit shortly before Wishes? DH and I used to get an ice cream from Mrs. Potts Cupboard and sit back there during the previous fireworks show, it was a tradition for us. But we thought no one was allowed back there during Wishes, and that's been a real disappointment to DH. He's love to know we could sit back there again.

 

[Gabkatt]

We take our 80 year old grandmother with us every year and she'll be with us again in about 3 weeks! We have a big van so we usually take her scooter but we have just rented them their. She has had both her hips & knees replaced and can still barely walk. But she is such a Disney Trooper. We use the handycap option on the rides she likes or she just cruses around in the gift shops while we ride something she doesn't like. As far as fireworks and parades, she is already sitting in her scooter which is a very nice feature! In Epcot, we always get the bench along the fence out side of 'China'. There is a tree that barely blocks Illuminations off to the right, we sit on the bench and my grandmother pulls up along side for a front row seat! If its at all possible I would go the scooter or wheelchair option!

 

[makinorlando]

I think about his a lot with my mother as well. She is 82 and when she comes to visit I like to take trips to the parks with her.

I am going to look into one of these for her before Christmas. We have rented a wheelchair for times that we were going to be in the park for hours, she used it more for stability when walking when she would get weary, but it was also good for sitting when waiting for parades, etc. She was here in July, and I was most concerned about her when we had to stand in long queue lines.

You can view the parades from the train station in MK, but you have to get there early to get the seats.

MGM has benches along the parade routes as well as AK in some places.

 

[Smooshdog]

I've sat at Sleepy Hollow and watched Spectromagic while having a snack and a drink. The view is a bit obstructed, but not bad and you can sit.

 

[Eeyore2003]

There are allot of nice benches for Illuminations by Norway and China, right along the fence. Get there early, but I don't think they'd mind just relaxing and people watching. Two could also "save" and the others go off and then switch. etc.

When we met my aunts and uncles there in April they rented a wheelchair for all of them. That way if anyone needed to sit they could. One aunt had just had knee surgery and my SM was going through chemo. All in their mid-late 60's and early 70's.

If you rented one, they could switch off. The only downside is that someone would have to push it. Or you could rent an ECV that they could share off and on.

 

[TikiGoddess]

Can't you sit up on the benches at the train station on Main Street? I've heard that's a good place to sit. It seems like it would be a good people watching spot as well.

 

[mmmears]

Just realize how big Epcot really is! It's not easy for seniors to walk all around that park in a day. My Mother works out at the local YMCA every day, and still had trouble walking all over WDW, but especially Epcot.

 

[emma'smom]

Are there lots of people who sit back there, or can you pretty much just wander over there and sit shortly before Wishes? DH and I used to get an ice cream from Mrs. Potts Cupboard and sit back there during the previous fireworks show, it was a tradition for us. But we thought no one was allowed back there during Wishes, and that's been a real disappointment to DH. He's love to know we could sit back there again.

It wasn't really crowded. We actually hadn't intended to watch from there...but they did close of the pathways through Cinderella Castle about 20 minutes before Wishes began, so we just went with it. So, I would say that we found seat on benches about 20 minutes before the show began on a June evening without any problem. It did make it a much longer walk out to exit though.

 

[emma'smom]

My mother also says she likes her rollator because it just serves as a bit of a "warning" to others that she might be moving a bit slower and people tend not to jump right in front of her and bump her as much in a crowd. The other thing she likes to do is push the stroller because it gives her something to lean on and also protects her a bit from head on foot traffic which might make her unsteady if someone bumps into her.

I think about his a lot with my mother as well. She is 82 and when she comes to visit I like to take trips to the parks with her.

I am going to look into one of these for her before Christmas. We have rented a wheelchair for times that we were going to be in the park for hours, she used it more for stability when walking when she would get weary, but it was also good for sitting when waiting for parades, etc. She was here in July, and I was most concerned about her when we had to stand in long queue lines.

You can view the parades from the train station in MK, but you have to get there early to get the seats.

MGM has benches along the parade routes as well as AK in some places.

 

[ainmama2001]

I just got back with my four year old, and I went with my Dad who is 78 and my mom who is 74. Dad is about 70 pounds overweight and mom has severe arthritis in her legs and back. We rented a wheelchair for my mom. This got us on and off rides with less hassle (and less line! ). For parades, since they need to rest anyway, we usually get a hotdog at Casey's early (about an hour before) and sit right in front of Casey's eating. It's easy then to get on to Main Street before it gets too crowded.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Check out the DISabilities boards, they have some great ideas.

When we went as a family a few years ago I had this conversation with my Mom. Mom has some mobility issues and tires easily. We talked about it a few times so she could be comfortable with the idea of renting a scooter. (a wheelchair is not a practical option for us, I could just picture my Dad at the top of EVERY incline saying oh, I hope I don't let go )

The scooter worked out quite well. Mo was able to be independent, was able to spend so much more time in the parks each day and really enjoyed herself. Now it is not even a question, first thing we get to a park, I head over and grab her a chair

 

[disneyheaven]

My mom and dad just got back from Disney (My husband and I were just married there about 2 weeks ago) and they were in charge of getting my elderly grandparents just about everywhere in the world. It was tricky!! For one, my grandmother was in a wheelchair so that added to the complications, but my advise? Just leave yourself enough time for transportation. Its harder when you have older people with you. My parents found that everything they did, everywhere they went, just took much much longer! Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[queenmum2]

My dad and stepmother are sleeping by 10:00, my mother-in-law will only stay up if there are fireworks.

My Dad is a real night-owl. He'll often be up until 1 or 2 am - surfing the 'net. His wife is not so much - but I know she'll be fine for the night-time stuff. My DSM's issue is mostly going to be some of the other attractions. For example, I know she won't go into Philharmagic or any of the other 3-d attractions because she'll get nauseated. She can't even watch home movies without getting nauseated. As much as I hate to, though, I'm going to have to park her somewhere and take Dad because I KNOW he'll get a kick out of Philharmagic, especially! He's the creative/artistic type...

There are lots of benches all around Disney World. If your father needs one, take the time to just sit and relax. We have a lot of fun that way. We people watch and talk and have lots of quality time together. Yeah, you can do that at your local mall but there's just something about having a great sit down at Disney World.

I do know that we'll be taking lots of peoplewatching breaks. Dad has told me that his "mobility" issue is mostly in the standing around - not the walking. He could walk for hours without a problem, but standing around hurts his sciatica. He's getting a shot before we go, though, so that should help.

Thanks for the info!

Tracie

 

[queenmum2]

We sat at tables by Dumbo to watch Wishes. This was especially fun because we were able to see the fireworks launched from different directions.....and we just sat to watch!

Thanks for the viewing tip - I'll keep that in mind.

Have you thought about renting wheel chairs or a scooter for them? Also, my mother has a rollator (sort of like a rolling walker with seat) that she wheels around sometimes. It is a great "seat" when she needs to stop and rest and good to lean on when she is walking/standing.

I'm not sure they'll need anything like that - but I'll keep it in mind.


Tracie