Help taking my 91-year old grandmother to Disney

[barbaraann]

A few years back my friend and I went to WDW together, and after a few miserable days of my friend not being able to walk more than a few hours, we finally looked into the scooters. My friend could not operate one successfully. We finally got a wheelchair. It was just her and I. That was heaven compared to the first days of our trip. I wish we had rented one from the start. She missed out on a lot. She had bad ankles from broken bones, and surgeries, and the Florida weather made her feet/ankles very painful.

So I highly recommend the practice idea. Or definitely talk about this, and decide who will push her. Take turns. The cast members in the parks were great. The lines are all different for scooters, and wheelchairs, but the cast members were great in directing us the right way and explaining things to us. My friend did minor walking, but not walking all day. It was way too much for her.

 

[JennyDrake]

I went to WDW (as a traveling companion) with a 91 yo with some mobility issues and cognitive issues and hr adult son. Her son INSISTED on and ECV all 3 trips. It was a nightmare. I know your Grandma is different; as you are with a large group, I would highly advise the WC option. ECVs are a challenge in WDW foot traffic even for experienced users. I know you have a large group but rope drop and hence lower crowds is your best friend as well as midday breaks.

I'll second what another poster said about getting in/out of some of the rides was an (unexpected) ordeal for us. Miss M could get "down" into a ride ok-ish. Holy Cow getting out was a job.... Surprisingly the worst for our situation was having to go single file DOWN to get off a ride (ex; railroad.)

I hope your family has a great trip!

 

[beccasmom]

My mom will turn 90 during our August trip. She is a WDW veteran and had always been very spry until the past year or so. We’ve used a wheelchair for her on our last few trips and it has worked out well. She was recently diagnosed with an eye issue, so a scooter would not be an option. We’re always prepared for at least one of us to leave a park early if she tires out or the weather is just too warm. We usually plan one big meal a day and eat lightly the rest of the day especially in the summer. Hydration is key - for all of us really - preferably water or, in my mom’s case, Gatorade.