Help, GAC card? Or any Advice Please

[Disney Spaz]

Okay so my family and I have a trip to WDW for Christmas planned. My parents are coming for 2 days. One resort day and one Epcot day. My mom is usually non stop going, going, going...

Well my mom had a heart abulation last month that found problems with her heart valves. In mid October she is having surgery to put bands around the two valves or possibly replace both valves if the doctor feels it in necessary during the surgery.

So this stuff is all new to me and I am trying to keep myself busy since I feel helpless in this whole situation so I figured I would try to find out what I can do to help her if she can still come to WDW.

Our current plans are;
12/27 Arrive and check in and relax at Pop.
12/28 We are doing a late brunch at the resort then we have a dinner at O'Hana's.
12/29 Epcot for lunch at Le'Celliar and the 5pm Candlelight Processional. I was thinking on this day we would get the GAC so she can possibly wait in a seated area if thatis available??? The only rides we would possibly do are Soarin', Spaceship Earth, and maybe Seas with Nemo. The biggest thing we want to do is to see that Christmas stuff because my mom loves Christmas.
12/30 They head home

So my question is what can I do to make things eaiser for her. Am I planning too much? Has anyone gone through this and can tell me how they felt 2 months post surgery? I realize they may not be able to go at all but if they still do I want her to be completely comfortable.

Thanks for any adivce/help.

 

[ccgirl]

Okay so my family and I have a trip to WDW for Christmas planned. My parents are coming for 2 days. One resort day and one Epcot day. My mom is usually non stop going, going, going...

Well my mom had a heart abulation last month that found problems with her heart valves. In mid October she is having surgery to put bands around the two valves or possibly replace both valves if the doctor feels it in necessary during the surgery.

So this stuff is all new to me and I am trying to keep myself busy since I feel helpless in this whole situation so I figured I would try to find out what I can do to help her if she can still come to WDW.

Our current plans are;
12/27 Arrive and check in and relax at Pop.
12/28 We are doing a late brunch at the resort then we have a dinner at O'Hana's.
12/29 Epcot for lunch at Le'Celliar and the 5pm Candlelight Processional. I was thinking on this day we would get the GAC so she can possibly wait in a seated area if thatis available??? The only rides we would possibly do are Soarin', Spaceship Earth, and maybe Seas with Nemo. The biggest thing we want to do is to see that Christmas stuff because my mom loves Christmas.
12/30 They head home

So my question is what can I do to make things eaiser for her. Am I planning too much? Has anyone gone through this and can tell me how they felt 2 months post surgery? I realize they may not be able to go at all but if they still do I want her to be completely comfortable.

Thanks for any adivce/help.

I would have her chat with her MD to get some medical advice. They may suggest walking would be too much and to rent a wheelchair. They may also suggest the rides would not be recommended. Please note that when requesting a GAC you request the provisions you need and not tell them the medical condition you suffer from.

Good luck and I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Talking Hands]

There is no seating in the lines for Candlelight. I would recommend getting a wheelchair so she can be seated in line. She does not have to stay in it for the show. Park it and have a seat on the benches. They do have backs

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[SueM in MN]

Okay so my family and I have a trip to WDW for Christmas planned. My parents are coming for 2 days. One resort day and one Epcot day. My mom is usually non stop going, going, going...

Well my mom had a heart abulation last month that found problems with her heart valves. In mid October she is having surgery to put bands around the two valves or possibly replace both valves if the doctor feels it in necessary during the surgery.

So this stuff is all new to me and I am trying to keep myself busy since I feel helpless in this whole situation so I figured I would try to find out what I can do to help her if she can still come to WDW.

Our current plans are;
12/27 Arrive and check in and relax at Pop.
12/28 We are doing a late brunch at the resort then we have a dinner at O'Hana's.
12/29 Epcot for lunch at Le'Celliar and the 5pm Candlelight Processional. I was thinking on this day we would get the GAC so she can possibly wait in a seated area if thatis available??? The only rides we would possibly do are Soarin', Spaceship Earth, and maybe Seas with Nemo. The biggest thing we want to do is to see that Christmas stuff because my mom loves Christmas.
12/30 They head home

So my question is what can I do to make things eaiser for her. Am I planning too much? Has anyone gone through this and can tell me how they felt 2 months post surgery? I realize they may not be able to go at all but if they still do I want her to be completely comfortable.

Thanks for any adivce/help.

I agree tht you/she will need to talk to the doctor about your plans.

Of the 3 attractions you mentioned, only one - Spaceship Earth - has a spot to sit while you wait if you don't have a wheelchair or ECV with you.

She is really likely to need a wheelchair because a GAC seldom provides a place to sit and almost never shortens the distance walked.
Many people only consider the distance in lines, but the distance between things is a large consideration too. Walking around World Showcase itself is over 1 mile!
Getting into the Land Pavilion involves walking up a fairly long, steep hill and then partway down a long ramp before taking either the elevator or ramp downstairs to get to Soarin'. The distance from the ride entrance to the boarding area for Soarin' is over 1/4 mile, with an equal distance getting from the unload area back to the Soarin' entrance. So, to get into the building, ride Soarin' and then get back out again to go in the Seas, could easily be 1 mile of walking.

The time you are going is very busy (stretch your arms out all the way and you will touch someone busy), which makes walking harder and makes it more likely that benches will be filled with other people who are stopping to rest. So, the only way you can count on having a place to sit is to have a wheelchair or ECV with you.
I would not recommend an ECV unless she is very familiar with driving one. Evenin unbusy times, the concentration to drive is tiring. It becomes much more difficult the more people there are and, she will be able to see more if he is not having to watch where she is going.

 

[Disney Spaz]

Thank you ccgirl, Talking Hands and SueM in MN.

I think you are all right about the wheelchair and that would keep us from needing a GAC. Plus between our two grown kids 21 & 23, plus my husband and I it would be nothing for us to push her around. Now I just have to get her to agree to let us push her around. My mom is a little stubborn aobut these things. Hopefully her doctor will back me up.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Are you SURE that it is OK for her to go on Soarin' & Spaceship Earth? The Seas with Nemo is not a problem, but I question the other two. Please ask the doctor. Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

Are you SURE that it is OK for her to go on Soarin' & Spaceship Earth? The Seas with Nemo is not a problem, but I question the other two. Please ask the doctor. Thanks!

I'm not sure what you consider the issues for those attractions to be.

Soarin' has a warning for fear of heights and motion sickness only and Spaceship Earth has no warnings.

I know some people think Soarin' has other warnings, but it does not. It moves very gently (simulating floating on air currents).
I wonder if you are confusing Spaceship Earth (a slow moving ride looking at the history of communication) with Mission Space (a turbulent ride with many warnings that simulates space travel to Mars)?

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'm not sure what you consider the issues for those attractions to be.

Soarin' has a warning for fear of heights and motion sickness only and Spaceship Earth has no warnings.

I know some people think Soarin' has other warnings, but it does not. It moves very gently (simulating floating on air currents).
I wonder if you are confusing Spaceship Earth (a slow moving ride looking at the history of communication) with Mission Space (a turbulent ride with many warnings that simulates space travel to Mars)?

I was thinking of the backwards motion of Spaceship Earth. Soarin' and movement also was a concern. The movements on each of these are not usual movements. I am hopefully very wrong. That is why I asked the OP to clear it with her doctor. Thanks!

 

[Disney Spaz]

I think what I am going to do is wait until about a month out from the trip and see where my mom is about going. If she still wants to try it I will go with her and my dad to a drs appointment and see what the doctors say. My plan is the wheelchair in non negotiable she has to have it. As for the rides I will discuss each one of them individually. Thank you guys for all your help.