Is doing DL with MS doable?

[sftnslky]

We are taking the family to Disneyland the end of June.. We live in central valley Ca so I am already aware of the heat... I am REALLY concerned about not being able to wait in long [more then 10 minute] lines, and healthy food to eat etc....Thinking I will probably just end up staying in the hotel , but would love to hear any thoughts/advise/opinions please

 

[Malcon10t]

We are taking the family to Disneyland the end of June.. We live in central valley Ca so I am already aware of the heat... I am REALLY concerned about not being able to wait in long [more then 10 minute] lines, and healthy food to eat etc....Thinking I will probably just end up staying in the hotel , but would love to hear any thoughts/advise/opinions please

You might consider a wheelchair or an ECV, so you can wait seated instead of standing.

As far as healthy foods, what in particular are you looking for?

 

[sftnslky]

You might consider a wheelchair or an ECV, so you can wait seated instead of standing.

As far as healthy foods, what in particular are you looking for?

Salads, fruits, veggies, lean meats, etc...

As for the ECV I thought about it, but sitting for an hour waiting would be just has hard on me sometimes, and I really didn't want to be separated from my family..and how will I know when they are about ready to get on the ride?

 

[DznyPrnces]

Salads, fruits, veggies, lean meats, etc... As for the ECV I thought about it, but sitting for an hour waiting would be just has hard on me sometimes, and I really didn't want to be separated from my family..and how will I know when they are about ready to get on the ride?

You would not be separate from your family. A lot of the lines now accommodate ECVs and wheelchairs. The rides that don't have a separate line/waiting area and your whole group (I believe they limit groups to 6) stays together.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

My mom has Parkinson's Disease, and has been to the parks with us twice. Both times, she rented a scooter (Disney calls them an ECV) from Deckerts, an Anaheim medical supply place that delivers scooters to area hotels. She had a wonderful time both trips.

Frequently, she'd just park it in an area and walk to the nearby attractions, but there were plenty of times when she drove it right up to the loading area of rides. Being able to sit when she wanted and stand when she wanted was essential to her enjoyment. She also sat in the scooter to watch parades, fireworks and World of Color.

She's not a huge ride person, so when we were riding the thrill rides, she'd just find a nice shady spot and people watch, or shop, or have a snack, or take pictures, or whatever else she felt like doing. She also took an afternoon break, and she'd put her legs up and rest.

The ride CMs are great about making the loading and unloading process as easy as possible for those with mobility issues. We found them to be super helpful and accommodating on both trips,

The key with renting from an offsite place was the ability to drive the scooter to and from the parks. Made life much, much easier for her.

Honestly, I can't recommend renting a scooter enough. They're easy to ride, and my mom has just loved being able to experience the parks with her family, despite her mobility limitations. (and she really loves being able to zoom ahead of us for a change!)

Other people can chime in about healthy food. There are lots of salads on the menus, and you can search the menu section on this board to see what the various offerings are so you can know in advance where you'll be happy eating.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[Laurieloo1414]

Yes, it is completely doable!!! I am also from the Central Valley and living with MS. I have been to Disneyland with DH and DD twice since I was diagnosed in 2010. I recommend getting to the park early (so your waits are on the shorter side), taking LOTS of cold water (lunch box with ice packs-which I used to cool me down late in the day), a hand held fan and some of your own healthy snacks. I also made sure to study the park map to minimize our walking ( so we weren't wasting my limited supply of energy running back and forth across the park all day). We also saw a show (or parade) or rode the longer rides (like jungle cruise) when I got tired. As far as food goes, I brought healthy snacks from home and also enjoyed some of the fresh fruit from the stands in Adventureland. You can also find menus from the restaurants online to find some of the healthier alternatives. Finally, I rested when I needed to-even if it meant sitting down in the shade while my DH and DD rode something without me. Have fun and enjoy your trip!!!

 

[SplashMo]

You should be able to get a pass that will allow you to avoid lines. You still wait just not in line. Stop at city hall and ask. Also the French market: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/french-market-restaurant/ has healthy food and a shaded place to sit. There is the Aladin Show in in DCA. Monsters Inc ride in DCA. Avoid INDY and the small powered car ride in Disneyland.. Salads are available in most places and do a web search on Jamba Juice. It is available in Downtown Disney. You may like something there...

 

[SplashMo]

You should be able to get a pass that will allow you to avoid lines. You still wait just not in line. Stop at city hall and ask. Also the French market: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/french-market-restaurant/ has healthy food (including a salmon salad I believe) and a shaded place to sit. There is the Aladin Show in in DCA. Monsters Inc ride in DCA. Avoid INDY and the small powered car ride in Disneyland, the Matehorn.. Salads are available in most places and do a web search on Jamba Juice. It is available in Downtown Disney. You may like something there...

 

[Escape2Disney]

I've had AS for quite a while, which is sort of a second cousin to MS. We go to the parks at least once a year. When it was early in my disease, I'd rent a scooter (Deckerts), and drive it to each area. Then I'd park and walk when possible so I could stretch a bit. Now I stay in my chair most of the time when traveling. In both cases, I've been able to enjoy a lot, even with my limitations.

As for the healthy food, it is there if you know where to look. There are fruit carts in both parks, jamba juice in DTT, and salads in most restaurants. We've actually had the best luck with table service restaurants. You can look at the menus on this site and find the item that most closely meets your needs, then ask for substitutions as necessary.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

If you have a scooter or wheelchair, you do not need the DAS card. The scooter/wheelchair functions as the DAS. The general stance of Disney seems to be that if your primary issue is stamina, endurance, or inability to stand for long periods of time, you will be advised to rent a scooter or wheelchair. If you can walk but need other accommodations (like no stairs), then a DAS may be issued.

In California Adventure, all of the lines are wheelchair/scooter accessible, so you would just stay with your family in line. My mom often just parked the scooter outside an attraction and walked in the standby line with us when lines were short and her legs were feeling good. Other times, she drive the scooter up to the loading area and picked it up when we exited the ride. In Disneyland, most of the lines are not wheelchair accessible. There, you can either walk in the standby line or use the alternate procedure. You used to be able to enter through the exit of most rides with a wheelchair/scooter, but now I believe many rides issue a wheelchair return time, where you and your party come back after a certain amount of time. We never got the wheelchair return time, but we knew it was available if necessary.

Having the ability to choose to use the scooter or walk was key for my mom. Plenty of people use them to drive between lands, and then park and walk around for a while. She did that quite a bit. It's having the option that made the vacation enjoyable for her. When her legs were killing her when she was walking, she could choose to drive. And when sitting got uncomfortable, she could park it and walk around.

She gets around in her daily life just fine without a scooter (I'd consider her VERY active for a 70-year old with Parkinson's!), but her daily life doesn't involve standing in multiple lines and walking 5 miles or more. Without the scooter, I know she'd be exhausted after the first day. It allows her to conserve her energy and get the maximum enjoyment out of the parks.

 

[sftnslky]

Thank you everyone you have given me lot's to think about. I was talking to hubby and we did decide to rent the ECV..is it cheaper to rent off site? And do the shuttles/bus's allow scooters to be brought on board? I think as long as I take lot's of breaks, and as one of the dd's said "Mom if you have to just ride the train 2 complete times around the whole park that's about 45 minutes and you can ride & rest" will help.

I do have another question....I really don't do stairs well, are there any rides with stairs for the line Que? And in CA the big water one... Grizzly I think.. I would have a hard time getting into the boat without falling can they slow it down for a sec or??? Thank you again for all your help.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thank you everyone you have given me lot's to think about. I was talking to hubby and we did decide to rent the ECV..is it cheaper to rent off site? And do the shuttles/bus's allow scooters to be brought on board? I think as long as I take lot's of breaks, and as one of the dd's said "Mom if you have to just ride the train 2 complete times around the whole park that's about 45 minutes and you can ride & rest" will help.

I do have another question....I really don't do stairs well, are there any rides with stairs for the line Que? And in CA the big water one... Grizzly I think.. I would have a hard time getting into the boat without falling can they slow it down for a sec or??? Thank you again for all your help.

There are rides with stairs in the queue. You will need to let the CM know you cannot do stairs. They will have you bypass the stairs. AT Grizzly, they will have you go to the HA line. They will pull 1 raft over there to load you. You can take your time getting situated. Once all is good, they will place the raft back in line. When the ride ends, you will go past the rest of the rafts and they will pull you back into the HA area. You may wait a little longer than the standby line. They usually only have 1 raft (sometimes 2) pulling in as they do give extended time to load. They can't have the second raft come in if the first raft is still loading. We've waited 30 mins after we had waited through the regular line just in the HA area while they ran 1 raft, but I can see why as it does take some guests a long time to be moved from the wheelchair to the raft. I usually skip the ride so my kids don't have to wait as long.

 

[Malcon10t]

RIdes I can think of with stairs - Space Mountain, Autopia, Indy,the Main Stret RR station, and Jungle Cruise in DL. In DCA, ToT, Screamin', Grizzly, RSR, Swings, and TSMM are the ones I can think of.

 

[SplashMo]

You should be able to get a DAS card even with an ECV.

 

[Malcon10t]

They don't usually offer that. In fact, if you tell them that standing for long periods in the lines causes problems, they will recommend a wheelchair or ECV for you. And will tell you it will work as your access.

 

[SplashMo]

I think it would be worth asking though as each circumstance is different. It is probably best to ask here: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

 

[SplashMo]

Below are some tips for the parks. If you follow these you will have a lot of fast passes and waiting in line will not be much of an issue at all...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3282457

Below are some Disneyland / DCA Tips (suggestions/additions/updates welcome, Thanks Figment_Jii for the suggestions).

This is meant to be a one page print of things that can be taken with you on vacation. You could also email it to your phone. There are some links at the bottom of the post that are worth reading before heading out. In particular HydroGuy's excellent tips.


Disneyland (DL)


Arrive 30 minutes early. If you have an Early Admission day arrive 1:15 before official park open (Early admission is on certain days and is a one shot deal for most 3 or more day tickets as well as onsite hotel guests can do this as often as they like during their stay on days that it is offered. ). There are two gates behind trees (I think they are 14 and 17) that do not form lines as folks do not see them/use them.


Top Priority Rides: Peter Pan and Dumbo (Ride first and in this order, assuming you were early to the gate).

Exception to above is Anna and Elsa if you want to see them and their line opens around park opening . Ask a CM (Disney Employees that are roaming the parks). Hard to say if you would want to use an Early admission day for this to wait in line. I would pick a day where Early Admission is at DCA to do this if you have the option.

Jedi Training Academy. To have your child picked bring a small blank paper and pen to make a sign. Signs are not allowed into the gates but are tolerated at the Jedi Training Academy. Sign can say Pick Me or Use the Force, etc…

FastPass (FP). Once everyone has entered either one of the parks with their ticket a runner can be sent to any ride in either park with all of the tickets to collect fast passes for the entire party. FP have a time stamped on them when the next FP is available (anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours).

Rides to fast pass first are Big Thunder, Splash, Space and Indy. (normally Big Thunder does not need a FP but currently it is helpful).


Disney California Adventure (DCA)

Arrive 45 minutes early. If you have an Early Admission day (onsite Hotel guests only) arrive 1:20 before official park open at the Main Gate. Do not use the Hotel entrance for Early Admission unless you are 2 hours before official park open. If you do not have early Admission the right hand gate is often best as they will sometimes will open additional gates to the right just as the park opens.

Top Priority Ride: Radiator Springs Raceway (RSR) in Cars Land. Toy Story Midway Mania(TSMM) under the SCREAMIN roller coaster (There is not FP available for TSMM).

If you do not have early admission the fastpass runner should get inline with everyone’s ticket for Radiator Springs Raceway (RSR) Fastpasses. Line starts near a Spanish/Mission style looking building. The others should get in line for RSR and stay to the right. Once the FP runner has FP they can jump in the single rider line and likely catch up with their party (but ride separately). If you party is all old enough the single rider line for RSR works great (Also Indy in DisneyLand).

Hotel Guests can jump into the FP line near the end of early admission (10-15 minutes before official park open). UPDATE: Hotel guests may be asked to jump into standby line to ride actual ride instead of being allowed to get in the FP line.

FastPass (FP). Once everyone has entered one of the parks with their ticket a runner can be sent with all of the tickets to collect fast passes for the entire party. FP have a time stamped on them when the next FP is available (anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours).

Rides to fast pass first are RSR, SOARIN, TOT, SCREAMIN, Grizzly River Run. Also Goofy's Sky School has FP.

After visiting Carsland grab a FP for World of Color (WOC).

Also disconnected FP machines in DCA are RSR, WOC and SCREAMIN.

Which means you can get an additional FP on a different ride immediately. And for SCREAMIN you can collect a lot of FP for this and ride it 5-6 times (You can generally pull an additional SCREAMIN FP every 40 minutes on average without impacting your other FP eligibility.

I highly recommend HYDROGUY'S SUPER THREAD TIPS:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Extra Magic Hour: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/gue...rly-admission/
Magic Mornings: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/gue...rly-admission/
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