How to keep the pace manageable

[starshine514]

So, we're planning a trip to Disneyland in May. My husband (has MS), me, my girls (4 and 6), my dad (69 yrs old, fit as a fiddle), my mom (68 yrs old, diabetic, high blood pressure, low thyroid function, TMDD - and who has been have mini-strokes the past 2 months and has very little stamina), my sister and her boyfriend are all going.

Now, we've done WDW with DH and my girls last year. He did ok; we rented a scooter and took a stroller. He'll have a scooter again and we'll have a stroller, so I'm not concerned about that.

My big worry is my mom. She's a big Disney fan and hasn't been since I was a kid. She has a wheelchair, and my dad will push her around (she's scared to use an ECV). However, I'm concerned about how much of the parks she'll be able to take at a time. We'll be staying offsite, at a hotel w/n walking distance (one of the closest ones), so I'm hoping if she starts to get overexerted, she'll be willing to head back... I'm planning on doing RideMax and planning out the chunks of time, especially in the morning. I was thinking about being there at rope drop, touring for 3 hours, sending my folks back to the hotel, meeting a few characters at the parks with the girls or maybe do the Jedi Training Academy, then heading back to the hotel as well. Then, hopefully, returning to the parks around 5 and stay until closing at 8... On our last night, we'd push the return time a little to plan on seeing Fantasmic and Fireworks (it'll be a Friday, probably the only night that those will be offered during our stay and the only night they'll be open very late).

Do you think that's too ambitious a plan for my mom? I'm pretty sure my hubbie can handle it, but I'm just not sure about her. I want to make this trip really, really good for her...

 

[Disney4us2]

You should be fine. Don't forget Disneyland is much smaller than WDW. Last October I took my father(90) to Disneyland. He used my scooter and I went back on my walker. He did fine and was there all day long. My DD and I are always there so it is second nature to us.

When we are there I also make use of the train to get around the park with out so much "walking" or in my case riding. Taking time out at DCA to see the Aladdin show is also a good rest while waiting in line. At Finding Nemo sub attraction, there is a wheelchair friendly viewing area called the "outback". It is a room that takes you through the whole ride experience without going up/down stairs into the sub. I love that it is air conditioned.

Have a good trip.

 

[Bete]

I would hope your sister and her boyfriend would push the wheelchair instead of your dad for your mom. Your mom may get stressed out just knowing her hubby is doing all the pushing. I think you will have your hands full with your family. If your sis doesn't want to stay with all of you all the time then your father will end up doing some pushing, too.

I agree with the other poster that the 2 parks are smaller at DL. Also, I agree if your parents need to take a rest then let them do so.

Maybe, you could let your mom drive your hubby's scooter to try it out. He could wait on a bench while she did so. Maybe, she would get a scooter for DL.

You can try out scooters in your local area free like with grocery stores and such. If your mom drives it may not be bad for her to do a scooter. Going to a local zoo and using a scooter there would be ideal practice for your mom to do a scooter at Disneyland. It's worth a try. This could be the start of something better for your mom to get around and do more for herself.

 

[KPeveler]

I would hope your sister and her boyfriend would push the wheelchair instead of your dad for your mom. Your mom may get stressed out just knowing her hubby is doing all the pushing. I think you will have your hands full with your family. If your sis doesn't want to stay with all of you all the time then your father will end up doing some pushing, too.

I agree with the other poster that the 2 parks are smaller at DL. Also, I agree if your parents need to take a rest then let them do so.

Maybe, you could let your mom drive your hubby's scooter to try it out. He could wait on a bench while she did so. Maybe, she would get a scooter for DL.

You can try out scooters in your local area free like with grocery stores and such. If your mom drives it may not be bad for her to do a scooter. Going to a local zoo and using a scooter there would be ideal practice for your mom to do a scooter at Disneyland. It's worth a try. This could be the start of something better for your mom to get around and do more for herself.

Please keep in mind that DL is MUCH smaller, which means there can be very narrow pathways at times. It is not uncommon to have to go single file in places. This may be too stressful on your Mom in a scooter. I am a full time wc user and I don't like using my powerchair in DL when it is crowded! It is hard to drive.

Also, a lot of rides in DL require only one wheelchair user to ride at a time, so there may be times when your party has to split up. This includes Fantasyland rides.

I suggest your DH go to guest relations and get a GAC which will allow him to use the wheelchair accessible entrances to rides, even if he is not in his scooter. Most lines are mainstreamed, so there would be no difference for those, but the GAC would allow him to park the scooter and walk short distances into a ride without having to do the stairs that are very common.

Also, he may want to talk to Guest Relations anyway - unlike WDW, most queues are NOT covered for their entirety, and you will spend a good deal of time standing in the sun while waiting. If this is not something you can do, then speak to Guest Relations and see what can be done.

 

[starshine514]

Thanks for all the replies. My mom is very timid about using a scooter. My DH now owns one, but we haven't been able to talk her into trying it. Like I said, her health has been fragile lately, so I haven't tried (very hard) to get her to go to the zoo with us and try it out. She's had a few of eye surgeries within the past year (including a cataract surgery, which didn't go well and required another surgery - and she still can't see with that eye!) and has only gotten her new glasses last week...She's driven maybe 3 times in the past 2 years.

My dad does let us take turns pushing the wheelchair, but he is normally the primary pusher. Like I said, he's in very good shape (he's stronger and has more stamina than my sister and I, who have our own minor sets of health problems). This will be our first real outing with my sister's BF and my mom along, but I'm sure he'll be willing to be brought into the rotation (especially if it's my sister's turn to push - I can't see him letting her do that).

I will definitely look into the GAC for my husband. There was only one time at WDW when we were asked for it - and the CM was rather rude about it when we didn't have it (I didn't even know what they were). However, I don't want that to happen again.