I need some help from my "Senior" DISer friends.

[jennymouse]

For those of you who didn't know, I lost my mother to cancer this May 3rd. I've now convenced my father to go to WDW with me at VWL this coming October. He's worried there won't be enough to do and can't see why we would stay over 3 days...he's also worried about getting the electric scooter. He thinks WDW is for kids. Can you seniors help convince him that he'll like WDW at his age..79?

Thanks, I'll print & give him this thread.

 

[philaround]

We took my DM to WDW when she was 70 for the first time. We got a push around wheelchair for her everywhere we went.
We were there for 10 days and mom was with us every minute. She was never bored and talked about that vacation for the rest of her life [seven more years]. I wish she was still here so we could take her again.
Tell your dad to relax and enjoy. He'll love every minute.

 

[Virgo10]

My late MIL went to WDW when she was 88. She was in a wheelchair but had a blast. It was one of her best senior memories.

Tell your dad he won't be at a loss for things to do.

Roberta

 

[eleanor]

I am 68 and DH is 77 ,we went for 2 weeks in March and had a great time. There is so much to see . Lots of flowers and architecture to look at.THere are lots of seniors in wheelchairs tooling around the parks. Everything is set up for people with wheelchairs,.he shouldn't have any trouble.

 

[Jaybrad]

I am 61 and next week we are headed back for two weeks. I don't ride the "wild" rides anymore but will be going back every year until I can't. We have been going to WDW since 1973 and every trip my favorite thing is stopping at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom and watching the excitement of the small children. My Mom (81) went with us a couple of years ago and had the time of her life just checking out the sites and people watching. She really enjoyed the World Showcase in Epcot. I am sure if he takes it easy he will have a great time.

1973 Holiday Inn - Maingate
1975 Howard Johnson
1977 Dutch Inn (Now Grosvenor)
1979 Dutch Inn (Now Grosvenor)
1982 Hotel Royal Plaza
1984 Hilton (Downtown Disney)
1986 Treehouse Villas
1988 Treehouse Villas
1990 Hilton (Downtown Disney)
1991 Dolphin
1992 Wyndham LBV
1994 Wyndham LBV
1996 Dolphin
1997 Yacht Club Resort
1998 Villas @ Disney Institute *
1999 Yacht Club Resort
1999 Ponce Deleon (St. Augustine) Jay (1 day)
2000 Hilton (Downtown Disney)
2001 Hilton (Downtown Disney)
2002 Grosvenor Resort
2003 Old Key West Resort (In June)

 

[Goofyposter]

Jenifer.....please tell your Dad this......

As Goofy...I'm over 70 years old.....Walt Disney....envisioned and designed his worlds to be all inclusive....to the young and to the old.

Walt Disney World in Florida is absolutely NOT designed purely for the young in age.....in fact....all of uncle Walt's visions were designed for the young at HEART.....ask you Dad if he still dreams at night? Does he still think that tomorrow can be better than 'today'?? Is his heart big enough to believe in magic??

If he answers 'yes' to any of the above....then he will be richly rewarded for his willingness to visit the most magical place on earth!!! The Electric chairs will not be a problem....the entire place is engineered to allow the easiest phyiscal access possible!

Please let us know....if...and when....you're going!!!....your Dad should be willing to share and experience the magic together with you....it will be a wonderful experience for you all!

 

[scottsalisbury]

Bravo goofyposter for gr8 insights on life

 

[JKLLady]

Jenny,
Tell your Dad he'll love it. We've brought my Dad with us a few times (he just turned 84 on 6/2), and he now gets bummed when we don't bring him with us! He has some mobility issues, but I rent a scooter for him from Walker Medical; they have it waiting in Baggage Services when you get to the hotel & you leave it back at Baggage Services at check-out. The scooter is not a problem, the Friendship Boat captains are great, as are all the bus drivers.

My Dad last went with us in 11/2002 & will be going again this December. His favorite ride is Test Track, he loves the parades, and all the fireworks shows. Jammin Jungle at AK, along with the Lion King show were big hits with him.

Oh, one other thing. Your Dad being on the scooter will give you some new perspectives on WDW; some of the CM's at the handicap entrances are amazing. The Haunted House handicap entrance was an attraction unto itself......the CM had us in stitches, he stayed in ghoulish character the whole time!!

Go and have a great time. I know it'll be rough at first; my Dad & I lost my Mom to cancer too. Sometimes it just seems hard to have fun without her, but she wouldn't want it any other way. Good Luck!

 

[jennymouse]

Thank you so much for the wonderful replys! Goofy, you brought a tear to my eye. I'm going to print this and let Dad read it. Thanks again!

 

[SueM in MN]

WDW is a great place for anyone of any age.
Even if he doesn't enjoy going on rides, there are plenty of things to see. My MIL and FIL are both 70+ and go to WDW once a year. Even without going on rides, they enjoy just sitting on a bench and watching the world go by. For someone who likes gardening, there are beautiful flowers. We took my mom (who was 70+ at the time) for her first WDW trip since the 1970s a few years ago. She had a great time and came back with us again this year. She is a very active lady and went on lots of rides - she went on TT, but drew the line on TOT and Space Mountain. She had a ball.
If he is worried about driving an electric scooter (ecv), many large grocery store or discount stores (like Target or Walmart) have ecvs for customers with mobility problems. They are much larger and bulkier to drive than the ones at WDW (or the off-site rental agencies like Walker, Care, etc.). If he can drive one of those, he'll do fine at WDW.

Here is a list of the companies that DIS posters have reported good experiences renting wheelchairs and ecvs from:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILTITIES Baord for more info about touring WDW with a wheelchair or ecv.

 

[goofy4tink]

In 1999 we visited with my mother who, at 70, had just had breast cancer surgery the week before. She had a ball! She had last been to WDW with her mother, some 20 years before. She and her friend took their mothers, both in wheelchairs. According to her, the first visit was more efficient since they didn't have to wait in long lines because they had the two wheelchairs!!!! She says now that one of her most cherished memories is watching her youngest granddaughter (my dd) see the castle for the first time. So.....tell Dad that you are never too old. Age matters only in wine and cheese. Go, have a terrific time, making memories!!!

 

[snuggles]

We took my mom to Disney a few months after loosing my dad. She had the best time! There were plenty of rides that she enjoyed and we found out she loved to eat at the countries in EPCOT. She insisted on walking. The main thing is to remember to rest and drink plenty of liquids. I will say that she drew the line on Splash, TOT, RnR and Test Track.
We took my dh's mom after his dad passed too. She used the wheel chair and had a great time too. She was much older (80) than my mom(74) and still loved it. We made time to take her into a lot of shows and some things that we often forget about. I know your dad will have a blast.