Help please

[milmom6]

We are taking my parents to WDW for Thanksgiving and as of right now we are staying at SSR in a 2BR lockoff. My dad cannot walk very far so I think we've convinced him to take his ECV or rent one. "For the grandkids to ride on in his lap".

When I made our reservations, the studio portion of the 2BR is supposed to be handicap accessible. Can anyone tell me what type things I should think of to make this stay good for my parents? My dad has diabetes and is in the advance stages with neuropathy and his blood pressure is hard to keep stable.

My boys know that since pappah is going, it will be a very laid back week cause usually we go like commandos. I was going to do the dining plan but maybe that isn't a good idea?

My dad loves to be with my boys and he is pretty laid back. He is only 57, but unfortunately his condition prohibits him from doing a lot and he has become one to want to just stay home so the family doesn't "see him like this". But he did agree on a trip to Disney!!

Anyone who can help with comments, I appreciate it. My parents have not been in 25 years, so the only thing they know is MK. We are treating for the vacation as I think it might be my dads last chance to go with his grandsons.

Thank you all so much!!

 

[stampin_fool]

I think the dining plan is a good idea that way you can plan ahead and also when making your reservations you can have them make a note that your dad is diabetic and will need accomodations made for his meal. If you do this I would also make sure that you call the day before to confirm the reservation and remind them of the special accomodations that you will be needing.

Make sure that you pack snacks for your dad to bring into the parks as well. I know that my dad has to make sure he has little snacks with him so his blood sugar won't go to low so my mom carries stuff in her purse for him.

Ronda

 

[livndisney]

We are taking my parents to WDW for Thanksgiving and as of right now we are staying at SSR in a 2BR lockoff. My dad cannot walk very far so I think we've convinced him to take his ECV or rent one. "For the grandkids to ride on in his lap".

When I made our reservations, the studio portion of the 2BR is supposed to be handicap accessible. Can anyone tell me what type things I should think of to make this stay good for my parents? My dad has diabetes and is in the advance stages with neuropathy and his blood pressure is hard to keep stable.

My boys know that since pappah is going, it will be a very laid back week cause usually we go like commandos. I was going to do the dining plan but maybe that isn't a good idea?

My dad loves to be with my boys and he is pretty laid back. He is only 57, but unfortunately his condition prohibits him from doing a lot and he has become one to want to just stay home so the family doesn't "see him like this". But he did agree on a trip to Disney!!

Anyone who can help with comments, I appreciate it. My parents have not been in 25 years, so the only thing they know is MK. We are treating for the vacation as I think it might be my dads last chance to go with his grandsons.

Thank you all so much!!

Oooh sounds like my dad LOL
My dad knew how big the parks are, but it did not fully register with him until he tried to walk it with medical issues. He missed so much-until HE had the idea to rent an ECV. He still worried about slowing us down-so I said "ok we are going to the 10 am Playhouse disney show. Meet us there." He could cruise up the street and not feel he was holding us back. He loved it!
I tried to have a plan for each day, he "choose" what he wanted to do with us. Once he knew which shows/parades were were going to try and do-he had a time frame and was happy. He would take his newspaper find a nice spot near the show/ride/meal we were meeting at and people watch while we were on a ride he did not want to ride.


FYI if you rent a ECV from the Park-they do not allow a 2nd rider or lap sitters. I have seen CM's in various parks ask the ECV driver to remove the child from their lap.

I would do the dining thing, if it were my dad, he loves food, he would be indoors (a/c) and he would still get to see his grankinds interacting with the characters. Also it is prepaid-so no arguments there. "It's already paid for-he will go and not worry about "holding the family back".

 

[bzzymom]

I think you have chosen a very good time of year for him to travel. We have gone several times (15 times at least) around Thanksgiving and have had nice experiences.

My mom loves going to WDW and she reached a point with her mobility/stamina issues about 5 years ago that she didn't want to go anymore. She doesn't have an ecv of her own, but she uses the ones at the grocery store, walmart, and target. If it weren't for those, she wouldn't be able to shop at all.

She finally agreed to go to rent ecv and it has been great. She has traveled with us several times and she has really enjoyed seeing DD at disney especiallly, with her love of princess and so on. She and my dad have gone to WDW without the kids/grandkids 2 times on their own during the Food and Wine Festival.

I think the dining plan is up to you, depending on what restaurants you want to go to. Disney is very good about dietary issues for diabetics, and people with food allergies. It is basically like pre-paying for your food so that you don't have to take money with you.

 

[milmom6]

Thanks to everyone so far! My dad really doesn't watch what he eats, just has to program his pump so that it gives him the right amount of insulin.

I am really excited and hoping that he doesn't change his mind. He is so worried about what others think and his pride is hurt, but I want him to get out and keep enjoying life while he can. Plus, it is hard on my mom being so reclusive but she cannot get out without worrying to death something will happen. We live 7 hours away.

 

[Ali and boyz]

We are taking my parents to WDW for Thanksgiving and as of right now we are staying at SSR in a 2BR lockoff. My dad cannot walk very far so I think we've convinced him to take his ECV or rent one. "For the grandkids to ride on in his lap".

When I made our reservations, the studio portion of the 2BR is supposed to be handicap accessible. Can anyone tell me what type things I should think of to make this stay good for my parents? My dad has diabetes and is in the advance stages with neuropathy and his blood pressure is hard to keep stable.

My boys know that since pappah is going, it will be a very laid back week cause usually we go like commandos. I was going to do the dining plan but maybe that isn't a good idea?

My dad loves to be with my boys and he is pretty laid back. He is only 57, but unfortunately his condition prohibits him from doing a lot and he has become one to want to just stay home so the family doesn't "see him like this". But he did agree on a trip to Disney!!

Anyone who can help with comments, I appreciate it. My parents have not been in 25 years, so the only thing they know is MK. We are treating for the vacation as I think it might be my dads last chance to go with his grandsons.

Thank you all so much!!

we had the 2 bedroom accessable and we were told it was the 1 bedroom part that was accessble

 

[KPeveler]

just to let you know, you are not allowed to have more than one person on a scooter. your father will not be allowed to have a grandkid on his lap, especially not on a rental scooter. it is a safety concern - not only when you are moving, but also when stopped. These scooters are driven at the touch of a button, and i watched a kid on a grandpa's lap hit the button and the scooter actually hit the person in front of them. also, there have been reports of scooters tipping when accidentally going off curbs, usually due to the inexperience of the adult (not accusing, just saying it happens). if your father does have someone on his lap, he will likely be asked to remove the child. I just say this so you can plan for it!

 

[SueM in MN]

As the others already mentioned, children are not allowed to ride on rental ECVs. The contract that you sign says you agree that only one person will be on the ECV (so no riders). This is from either from the parks or from one of the off-site places.
I have seen kids who were riding on the lap, got excited and bumped grandma's hand, which made the ECV vear off course.


Just to clarify a little about the resort ......
what does he need?
Roll in shower? Raised seat toilet? Grab bars?
Regular shower with a bath bench?

If he doesn't need those things, you would not need a handicapped room. I am just clarifying because some people want a handicapped room because they think it will be bigger and the ECV can move in it easier.
The rooms are actually the same size whether they are handicapped accessible or not. If the room has a roll in shower, the space will just be arranged a little differently to make room for the shower.

We have stayed in a fully accessible 1 bedroom with a roll in shower at SSR.
The rooms we were in were lockoffs (which makes sense since we only had the one bedroom part). I don't know if the studio attached to it also had a roll in shower, but they would need to have some accessible studios, as well as one bedrooms.

There is more information about room accomodations and what is a handicapped room vs a fully accessible room if you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[milmom6]

Thanks everyone so far. Just FYI, I don't really plan on grandkids on his lap, they are going to be 6 and 10... it just helps him mentally "ok" it by saying if they got tired they could.