I'm scared to go to Disney World...!!

[GrampaG]

I'M SCARED TO GO TO DISNEY WORLD...!!

You read that right....I'm SCARED...!!
I'm a 70-year-old male and my family is taking me to visit WDW.
We're arriving on September 8 for an 8-day visit.

From what I've heard and read on various Forums, August and early September are the hottest and most humid times to be in Florida. In fact, I've seen it described as "brutal".

I live in the Northeast and don't do well with hot weather. I perspire profusely and stay inside most of the Summer.

In addition, I have some medical issues including high blood pressure and shortness of breath for which I take several pills a day to control.

As the date approaches, I'm getting stressed about what to expect in Florida. The last thing I want to do is spoil my family's vacation by having to stay in my air-conditioned resort room all week. Or even worse, become ill and need medical care.

This should be a happy time for me, and yet I'm stressing about this.

My question to the Forum members who live in Florida is: Should I be concerned about the 'brutal' weather in September..?? And what tips can you pass along for keeping cool and safe..?

Thanks...!!

THIS IS NOT A JOKE...!!!

<>

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I'm 72 with multiple medical conditions. I work at Disney two days a week. I use an ECV to get around.

 

[consumermonkey]

I HATE hot weather with a passion. This "summer" I have even worked night shifts from June to Sept to avoid it (British "summer" no where remotely close to Orlando summer, and this year has apparently been lousy - I don't know as I have slept through most of it ).

We visited late Sept in 2009 and although near the end of our holiday, they were experiencing record highs for the time of year, I happily managed.

Just drink plenty, seek shade whenever you can, WEAR A HAT (being a baldy myself, that is one of the more important things for me). ENJOY.

 

[skissugar]

I will pass onto you what I told my father when he "almost" went on a trip with us .. (he didnt go due to couldn't get off work) ..

1. rent one of those electric wheel chairs, and if it doesnt have a top to it.. we can get one of those beach chair umbrellas (the ones that attach to chairs or strollers) and attach it for some shade
2. carry a camelback backpack with water in it.. you can add ice in the morning and just keep refilling it with water to stay hydrated (you can attach it onto the chair so you dont have to actually wear it all day)
3. wear a hat
4. take a break back at the hotel when you need to, use a cell phone to locate us when you head back
5. have fun!

 

[sehandiph]

we are from the UK and my mum (who is used to UK temperatures) loves going - she last went when she was 80+
Mum is also High BP and heart condition with many tablets a day.

The ECV was a must for her - a great idea - there are long walks in the heat but sitting down and finding spots to cool down was easy.
There are plenty of places to cool down - innoventions in Epcot or the Land
The indoor shows ; some of the large shops, the rides, the restaurants .....

I also hear that you can ask at most places that serve fountain drinks for iced water for free - not tried this yet - they can only say no if they don't serve it.
Drink plenty and have a few snacks with you.

We also left mum in some restaurants in the cool when we went on some of the scarier rides - so take a book or a crossword if you don't enjoy people watching

We also had some down days or busy mornings with quiet afternoons

Most of all enjoy it mum loves it and would go back tomorrow but the insurance is now way too high to consider it

Hope you have a really great time - let us all know how it goes

Shezzy

 

[Barbydoll8]

I live in central west FL and am an annual pass holder at WDW.
I won't lie. It will be hot. Some where in the 90 degree temp range. It's humid but I use to live in SE PA and I still think it's more humid there when it's hot due to lack of a breeze. There is usually some kind of breeze blowing here in FL...most of the time.

At that time of they year, ctrl FL experiences afternoon thunderstorms which help cool it down. The evenings are pleasant.

I would recommend this. If you are staying on property have a plan of attack that starts early, takes a break mid afternoon and then goes back for night. Go back to the resort and swim in the afternoon. It's a good break and gets you out of the hottest part of the day.

ECV is a must and so is water.

There are a lot of AC places through out the park. I have a friend here that does 2 rides and then does something indoors. Even if it's just visiting a few shops to cool down. The lines for the rides do have air but most are outside.

Take it slow. Rest often. Drink lots of water. Wear cool clothes (shorts, T-shirts) and a hat. Get into AC every hour at least for 10 min (you can do this easily in all the parks) and remember to eat well.

 

[Dopey420]

Disney World has AWESOME air conditioning! You can find plenty to do inside.

 

[KashaKasha]

Have you spoken with your family about this? That would be my first concern.

I'll be taking my Grandmother who is in her 80s down next year. That is the main reason we're planning so far out for our vacation. We want a certain type of room so that she can get around easily with her walker. We also want a monorail hotel so that we can bring her to and from the hotel and parks easily. Also, if she only wants to spend a partial day out it is much simpler to bring her back and forth that way.

Even though we're going at a cooler time of year (Nov/Dec) I've already ordered or will order a sturdy umbrella holder for her wheelchair so that she'll stay dry and/or out of the sun, a hat for her, those baby UV stickers, special foam wedges for the bed, a new extra comfy wheelchair with leg lifts, water holder for the wheelchair, extra hooks to hold bags for the wheelchair, etc. I'm not taking this lightly and I know that with her age and medical needs it isn't going to be an easy trip. The disabilities section here has a *lot* of helpful information.

Will you be in an ECV?

 

[aubriee]

My mom will turn 79 y/o Sept 9th. I'm taking her for a mother-daughter trip Sept 1st-8th. Yay, just five more days! She is a very brittle diabetic, has high blood pressure, very bad knees (needs both knees replaced, but refuses to do so), hypothryoidism, frequent shortness of breath, and several other health isssues. She also doesn't do well in the heat. I already have an ECV reserved for her through Apple Scooters. It's $135.00 for the week. I also bought her a collapsible cane the other day. She doesn't use anything at home, but knows she will have to have both at WDW. I took her down there for her first trip several years ago. She was worried about the heat and walking, but I still had to talk her into using an ECV. She was so glad I did. She had an absoulte ball. She also gets dehydrated very easily, so is constantly drinking water. We always pack her huge mug, fill it with ice every morning from the ice machine, and put it in the basked of the ECV so she has ice water all day. You can also get free ice water at any CS restaurant. You may be warm, but you will have a small breeze riding the ECV. Take frequent breaks. My mom and I plan on making every rope drop, spending a few hours in the park, then taking a break back at the hotel to swim and nap, then will go out later in the evening when it cools down some.

 

[DakotaRose]

My dear mother is a fearful traveller, too. She has avoided several nice trips, and even snowbirding, fearing she might get ill. Every one of us is different. Visit with your family about it. Perhaps they can reassure you.

Here are my tips for dealing with heat with Mom who can't handle it well at all. Making it worse, some of her meds make her a bit dehydrated and very sensitive to the sun.
1. Drink twice what you do at home, even if you're not thirsty. We don't care how many bathroom breaks we take. Getting dehydrated is no joke.
2. Be active in the morning and get into air conditioning for the hottest part of the afternoon. When she needs to be indoors, we don't mind. We can all play cards in the lounge or, if she wants to nap, we can shop or swim and go get her later for supper.
3. We carry an instant cold pack, the kind you buy for a sprained ankle. They only cost a few bucks and can save the day if she starts to feel overheated. They also work well if someone starts to feel motion sickness. (Having something ice cold on my throat takes care of nausea instantly.)
4. Get a Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad at WalMart (camping section, about $15) or a sporting goods store. You can put any temperature water on them and within seconds they become a lovely, cool, damp towel. Much more effective than a bandanna or other cloth. Our football players use them at practice.
5. Wear light colors, and a few pieces of the new active wear will help. Columbia, Nike and many other brands make workout Tshirts and even underwear that wick away sweat and dry quickly. So much more comfortable than cotton which stays damp!!
6. Sunscreen - put it on before you get dressed in the morning and reapply every few hours, especially after wiping sweat off your face and neck.
7. Have a list with you of your meds and their dosages, and your medical conditions for the last five years. In the unlikely event that you do get sick and need medical attention, it will make things much simpler and quicker. This advice is from my good friend who's a doctor.

 

[Sparkly]

We've been in late August in 2006 and it was HOT. Quiet- we often did two parks in one day, but we were a family of two adults and a 12 year old, but hot. Definitely spend a generous amount of time enjoying the air con and drinking loads!

 

[ZoZo]

Lots of good advice here already!

I agree with the idea of renting an electric scooter (you can rent them for your entire stay off-site, and it's much less expensive than renting them day-by-day from WDW). You can go on the DISabilities thread to find out more about renting them. Especially if you suffer from shortness of breath, this will be a lifesaver for you. And the tip about getting a small beach-chair type umbrella to attach to the scooter is genius! You'll be much more comfortable being in the shade.

Also, let your family know that you'll want to take an afternoon break from the parks to avoid the heat, but they can continue on to the parks without you while you rest back at the hotel. They might think they need to stay with you (and that's great if they want to!), but it would be nice to give them the option of going without you while you take a break (if you're comfortable with that).

As someone else said, it will definitely be hot in early September, but if you heed the advice listed in these posts (avoid the afternoon heat by taking a break, lots of water, light-colored moisture-wicking clothes) you should be okay. Don't let it stop you from going!

 

[pooh2001]

Ditto -"You can also get free ice water at any CS restaurant"
Plus free ice at any place in WDW (which serves food) - some snack carts if they sell drinks, all TS - just walk up to the podium and ask kindly for a plastic glass of ice water for Grandpa.

Also when you enter the park, find out where the medical area is. Every park has one. You can rest there with A/C, have your blood pressure taken, or get some minor medical help.

Not just for us older folks.
Our stubborn DS young adult thought he was cool not drinking a lot of water when we went to WDW this past summer - Wrong. We found the medical place in AK. They gave him a cool compress, we bought about 5 water bottles for him - a slight case of heat stoke. Our DS rested for about an hour in A/C, drank water and was able to go back to the resort. He learned his lesson about drinking water and staying hydrated.

 

[Akrobby]

I am at WDW NOW, and it is hot and humid. Someone earlier mentioned the Frog Toggs chilly pad, that is no joke, get one of those. Some of the other ideas above are good. Drink lots, have fun, and don't take any pressure to operate any faster than your own pace. You set your level of activity.

 

[GrampaG]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to answer my post. I'm amazed at the speed, amount and quality of the replies in less than 3 days. Disney fans are truly what makes WDW 'The Most Magical Place On Earth'.

I've taken each of your tips and have begun putting them into action. For example:

I purchased a white, mesh-top cap along with several light-colored shirts.

I picked up a Frogg Togg towel and cut it into handkerchief-sized pieces: one will go around my neck under my shirt collar, and the other I'll fold and put inside the top of the cap to keep my dome cool.

I bought a Brita water bottle with the charcoal filter. (I've heard that Florida water has a unique 'flavor'). I checked the park maps and know where all the drinking fountains are located so I can keep the bottle full and ready. Although not all of the water fountains provide refrigerated water, the idea of asking for a cup of ice will take care of that. I'm sure none of the vendors will deny this old Grampa some ice in order to "take my medications".

Upon entering each Park, we'll scope out the location of the Medical Units 'just in case'.

Renting an ECV is an interesting idea. Although I'm still able to motivate quite well on my own, the 'scooter' sounds intriguing. But I'm afraid we'll all end up fighting over who's 'turn' it is to ride it...!!
;-)

Taking a mid-day break may end up being a daily rule for me. I could always leave the 'kids' to keep playing while I take the bus back to our Resort (on property) for a dip in the pool and a quick nap.

I've got a full head of hair which is a mixed blessing. I'm glad I still have my silver mane and I'm not complaining, but at times it's like wearing a wool cap..!! So, the week before the trip, I'll be getting it cut very short.

Thank you again for your expertise and I'll be sure to leave a note here when I get back to let you know how I fared. I can honestly say that after reading your posts, I'm anxious to get going, but no longer anxious about being there. (I think you know what I mean).

Thanks...!!!!

GrampaG
<>

 

[Toulouse]

I love this thread...

Best wishes to you GrampaG - hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Hootch]

in Memphis where it hits around 100 much of the summer with high humidity. Orlando often has lower temperatures and we still take midday breaks to cool down. If nothing else I feel better in the evening after a short swim and a shower.

One thing that might make the break a little shorter is to take advantage of some of the air conditioned rides late morning early evening. Each park has some and several do not usually have much of a wait.

MK - Mickey's Philharmagic, Carousel of Progress, Monsters' Inc Laugh Floor, Tiki Room, It's a Small World, Pirate's of the Caribbean

Epcot - Spaceship Earth, Soarin' (there will be a wait but maybe time a fastpass correctly), Grand Fiesta Tour, films in Canada, France and China

DHS - Beauty and the Beast, Great Movie Ride, Voyage of the Little Mermaid - if you can get a shady spot, I really enjoy watching the street chracaters.

DAK - is a little harder - It's Tough to Be a Bug, The Lion King and Nemo shows could work.

I doubt your group will want to do all of these but adding in one or two each day could extend your time in the parks with comfort.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I have a frogg togg towel and love it. Simply wet it and it will stay cold up to 4 hours. I carry mine in a ziplock bag to keep from getting other things in my bag wet. Simply rewet it to make it cold again. They sell them at Bed Bath and Beyond. Others will be jealous of you!

http://www.froggtoggs.com/#cooling/

At night I would hang it over the shower rod to dry out and prevent it from getting moldy. By morning it will be stiff as a board but simply wet it and you are good as new.

If you are not able to get one in time for your trip I would take some ziplock bags with me and ask for a cup of ice at any of the quick service food counters. Put the ice in the ziplock bag to make your own ice pack. Drink plenty of water. You might want to take with you some Propel drink packets to replenish your electrolytes you will loose by being in the heat. Ask for a large glass of ice water and then added the packet and stir it up and drink. Propel comes in many different flavors and you can find it in just about all the grocery stores.

http://www.propelzero.com/#

 

[hfuellgraf]

Find shade and AC. Shopping areas and Restaurants will be your friend. Once the Family decides where they are going tell them you will be at the X at this time they can meet your there. You can wonder around, people watch and rest.

HAVE a magical time!

 

[sehandiph]

GrampaG - glad you are now looking forward to your trip.

have a smashing time and enjoy every second - it will be over too quickly.

Shezzy