I finally decided to fly with my 90 year old mom and go to WDW ourselves

[Bete]

I've been hearing about a possible free dining promo coming up next week, early August for the end of the year. Anyway, I decided to call Disney this week and check for any pincodes under our names. Voila! I had a free QS dining code under my name, already for our right dates. I said all along that I wouldn't go; unless, there was free dining. I took it as a sign to go. I upgraded to the regular DP.

In addition, I figured I could get all my dinner reservations set up before the masses start up next week if the rumored code is released to the public. This worked out well for our dinner reservations; we are going everywhere I would like to go and we have good slots times for our meals. We are doing the Fantasmic package and the CP package.

A good chunk of the trip will be paid off with Disney Visa reward dollars.

I'm still really scared taking this trip without hubby, who will stay behind with the dog. I haven't been through the airport process in 8 years; so, I'm panicked about the security screenings (mom has Alzheimer's and a rod in her arm and she's not mobile) and doing a wheelchair for mom all over and making the connections for ME, too.

Many of you helped in making me feel comfortable about doing this on my own in a previous post. Your encouraging words made me feel I could try it. Once doing it may be enough for me, but I will give it a shot.

 

[peemagg]

Just take a deep breath and relax. It will all go fine. Have fun planning.

 

[Twende]

Bete, Good for you! Go and enjoy every second. It is not easy but it is well worth it.

I had been the caretaker for my Mother for years. She too was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I took her to her Happy place, Disney, at least once a year. It took a lot of planning and getting a GAC but we did it and she always had a great time.

A few things we learned over the years:

Do not book rooms on the first floor. My mom could walk and as I would bring things in one door she would be out the patio door and gone. She scared to to death one time in BCV when she did this. Before we knew she was gone she was well on her way to catching a boat byt the lighthouse dock.

I always took a set of bells and hung them on the exit door knob in hopes that I would hear the bells before she escaped again.

We always used a wheel chair as it was easier to keep track of Mom and allowed her to save her energy to ride ToT and the roller coaster that she so loved.

I used the companion restrooms in the park and always carried a change of clothes in case of accidents.

I carried extra fleece blankets on the seat of her wheelchair for extra padding for her and in case she got cold. We could all be sweating and she would be cold.

I always had hard candy in my butt pack. It was a great distraction for her when she was restless in lines.

I normally asked to wait in places away from the main lines. She was not normally aggressive but could become so and it was just better for all involved if she had her own space.

I took little toys like plastic puzzles to keep her hands busy.

I used bubbles as a last resort to keep her from having melt downs. I know many people do not like bubbles or have children who are evidently allergic to the corn in the corn syrup in the solution, but bubbles always made my mom happy and she would chill out and forget whatever was bothering her. It was also amazing to see how many adults and kids around us came over and played int eh bubbles with my mom. I can not tell you the number of time other parents came over and thanked me for helping to soothe and entertain their children as well.

I tried very hard to keep her meal schedule as close to the one she had at home. I did this by making ADR's way ahead of time.

We talked about the trip ahead of time but never gave her exact timing, like tell her that we were going tomorrow. It was too stressful for her. We told her where we were going as we were leaving and not before that. I packed her clothing when she was not looking. Our physician recommended this as my mom would freak out and stress about having everything ready. She was a great mom and had always taken care of all of us. It was hard for her to remember that she could not remember to do this anymore. When we arrived I only placed two outfits in her Resort closet. More than two choices were confusing for her and she would stress.

This is all I can remember now but for us these things and planning made the trips seamless for my mom.

Enjoy every second of your mom. I know it is a tough disease. I lost my "Mom" years ago to the disease and found a different "Mama" in her place. I even noticed that I called her "Mama" instead of Mom.

My dad recently died, very suddenly at 94 years old. He was healthy and robust one second and gone the next. My siblings decided against my fathers and my wishes to take my mom away. It has been devastating as they placed her in an institution far away from me. There are no words to express my grief. I miss her so very much!

 

[Bete]

First, Twende, I'm sorry for your losses.

I really like the blowing bubbles tip to relieve stress.

I'll be well prepared for our solo trip. I even have a portable flash drive with all her medical information and mine, too. In addition, I have hard copy printed of our medical circumstances that I will carry with me at all times. I use portable motion sensors on trips; so, I will know if she is trying to get out of bed or the door and so forth. I've taken her to Disney World before, but I always had the help of my husband. It will be tougher one me in that sense.

I'm looking forward to doting on my mom and her alone; I want to make it magical for her. Basically, I won't have any other distractions; so, hopefully, I can make her feel real special.

We won't be in a rush for anything and we will try to enjoy what we can.

 

[Twende]

Thanks Bete. It has been a real shock. I would have never expected my brothers to violate my fathers will or go against what was already planned for my mom. You just never really know what people are going to do.

Having the medical records at your finger tips like that is a great idea. I had my moms pertinent medical stuff on paper but having it on a flash drive is brilliant!

I never had the chance to fly with my mom, or at least since all the new security stuff but hopefully when you explain her condition the TSA people will understand and work with you to make it painless. I would mention it at ticketing and maybe an employee could help you push the wheel chair and help you through the process of security. I know some airlines like SW have people around to help in such situations.

Don't forget to empty any foil wrapped gum sticks out of your pockets. I was stopped in security because I had a piece of gum in my pants pocket. I never dreamed it would set off the sensors! DH and my adult kids thought it was hysterical to see me searched!

Have a great trip. You can do this!