Elderly mom

[bubblesanderson]

My mother is elderly and has trouble walking for long periods of time, I was wondering if there are many benches at Disneyland? She can go for a bit but needs to sit often, we were reluctant to use a wheelchair due to crowds...any thoughts???

 

[ireland_nicole]

While there are benches, they are probably not going to be enough. There is a lot more walking involved than you would think, and you're also in the hot sun which can increase exhaustion and dehydration. I would strongly recommend some wheels. She can sit even in the lines (and they can be veeerrrrryyy long, esp. in the summer.) Trust me, ya'll will have a safer and much better time. Disney on wheels is really not as bad as you think. You have the option, depending on her abilities of getting an ECV or a manual wheelchair. Info on both is in the Disability FAQ's sticky at the top of the forum. HIH Nicole

 

[Earstou]

The California Adventures part of DL is very spread out, with benches hard to find. I had trouble one afternoon at that park, and remember struggling to find a bench.
I highly recommend a wheelchair. If crowds are a factor, she could also have trouble without a wheelchair, such as being shoved and jostled in the crowds.
Avoid the hub at DL around fireworks time. My (older) kids left the park before the fireworks started, and had to exit through the crowds. They were pushed and shoved, and were very upset by the experience.

 

[Mrsjvb]

as someone with arthritis and used to be at DL yearly.. either rent a wheelchair, or be prepared to walk a LONG time between sitting spots that are not already occupied.

 

[mechurchlady]

Get the chair as it is a long long long long long walk and the only way to get any place is hiking up the stairs to the train or walking to main street, taking something to the other end and then walk and walk. They have lots of spots to sit and park but sometimes with parades those seats are taken. I been going to DL since 1960 and can tell you that any amusement park or zoo is going to be lots of walking.

 

[Nicole721]

We did DL two years ago with grandma (God bless her, she's in her late 80s and still loves Disney!). She's had two back surgeries in the past ten years, a wrist surgery, and has arthritis.

Lots of places to sit, but because of the scope of the park and the lines for rides, we spent a lot of time sitting and resting.

She had a walker with a seat for our trip to WDW last year, and we used it for the first day we were there (in MK), but by mid-day, she was so exhausted that we had to push her in it for stretches of time. On our second day, we got her a wheelchair, and it was so much more relaxing for all involved.

We didn't have any problems with the crowds or anything (on many rides, we were taken through a separate entrance so she could have more time to be seated on the rides) and we didn't deal with any rudeness because it's obvious grandma is elderly and no one assumed she was using the wheelchair for any reason but the obvious.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[mechurchlady]

Generally DLR is fine as far as crowds and wheelchairs. The only problem I encountered was not being able to get out one door that was too narrow for an ECV. Many shops in DLR can at times get crowded with harried shoppers but that is when you leave the EC and do some walking if you can. DLR has brainless ninnies who do rude things. Of course they are the same people who after leaning on your wheelchair will leave their soda pop in the clothing piles, shove your kid, sneak a smoke, or get really loud on a ride. Thankfully most are very good mannered.

You will have little trouble if you use a wheelchair at DLR and let her do some walking when she is up to it.