It has gotten too hard to go to Disney, now; how about you?

[Bete]

Sad to say, I think I've come to a time were I need to stop going to Disney World.

I have a situation where I have two people to contend with at the same time and it's just too difficult, now. I'm an only child without children myself and I have no one else to really rely on for help. Hubby needs a scooter and mom needs a wheelchair. Hubby has diabetes and mom has Alzheimer's disease, she's incontinent and has COPD. My mom doesn't take to strangers; so, many avenues of caretaking services are not really available to me there, either. My mom can be aggressive; so, it's just not possible; believe me.

Anyway, we had 15 days in Florida. We stayed at Disney the whole time, but we did our first week with other parks like Sea World and Busch.

I think the Disney POP Century blowers did them in; because, both got sick enough that I had to go to a clinic with them and each got a different antibiotic and some other meds, too. This was about 9 days into the trip. We did not get H1N1. The table which is very close to the blower we used for breakfast and the blower forcing cold air created a draft, etc. I realized too late that this was not a good set up. Also, I sanitized like crazy, but it didn't help, I guess.

Well, it's hard enough without being sick with our clan and this just put me over the top. We did not have long days anywhere. Some days were a wash out due to heavy rain or illness. I can't push a wheelchair for 12 hour days, etc; so, our days are never long. I purposely made the trip longer; so, we could do it leisurely. I was well prepared for the trip with ADRs, etc. We rested well at home before the trip.

We did a trip last year for 10 days and that seemed to go alright. It wasn't perfect, but we managed a lot better than this year. One year later and it seems to have taken all the joy out of going there for me. I was up at 6 am most days and went to bed usually around midnight. I did it to keep up with the needs of my clan.

I just want to know if anyone else has come to the same conclusions about their special needs and going to Disney. It just doesn't seem to be worth the effort for me anymore. Now, if I had a child that may have made a difference in going there again; because, that would certainly be worth the effort. All the problems seemed too much for me with my clan. No one was happy.

We were able to see and do many special events like seeing the fireworks from Narcoosee's restaurant, having dinner at Cinderella's castle and the Candlelight Processional dinner package. We took in the Riverboat jubilee showboat show and The Joyful Celebration at Epcot. It still seemed to be not enough of a good time. I was always worried about something.

So, in conclusion, I just want to know if others feel the same way? I would like to think we just had one bad apple experience this time, but I think vacationing has to change for me, now . I have some new ideas, but I truly think I need to give up on Disney at least for now.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I can feel your pain. Our last trip in August was anything but relaxing for me as my autistic daughter was really acting up. Tantrums at Downtown Disney, running off, sleeping because of meds because of tantrums, bizzare behavior in resort room ie she wanted to put the laptop in a Disney plastic bag and threw a fit. Screaming at the resort. I was so stressed and afraid to be alone with her so this put a strain on her dad that we all had to be together 24/7. Maybe just all bad luck....
Lucky we were at the Boardwalk so did have dining options/ boats/ walk around lake. After we got home I was so stressed I stayed locked in the house with her for 6 weeks straight except work for me and school for her.

I have totally given up the water parks with her.

I canceled my December trip and June trip to WDW. Husband insists we can do DL for spring break and I am worried about that and we will try WDW again in August. I have decided that the Contemporary is the best for us with her and will just pay the high price.

Life is tough, hang in there.

 

[Bete]

I'm sorry for your woes at Disney World.

I feel so caged in staying home all the time that I really look forward to a vacation and getting away once a year, but I'm exhausted to the point I won't catch up with it all for a month or so now that I'm home.

I'm also suprised there are not more of us feeling the same way. Well, thanks for sharing your story. Maybe, I'll feel better in a while but I know I have to try a different vacation next year.

 

[LindaBabe]

Bete, I'm sorry you had such a difficult time at disney - and me thinks it's a ton of responsibility in your everyday life too. We've had to make some tough choices in our family - for the safety of our elder and self preservation for us. It's a really hard decision, but do you think perhaps the time may have come for your mom to go in assisted living? Sending you a bucket of hugs, hon. It sounds like you could use them!

 

[KirstenB]

We had a bad trip to Orlando back in June. We've been DVC owners since 1994, but our younger dd has autism. We are trying to go again in June. If this doesn't work, I'll lobby dh to sell our DVC.

We had a fabulous trip to Va Beach with the kids in September. Sometimes you have to try again, and sometimes, you have to acknowledge it no longer works. We're blessed, if WDW doesn't work out, we have Va. Beach.

Our older dd is easy either way. We spoil her rotten on vacation, because she's so kind to her sister. DH and I love WDW, but love our younger dd more, so we'll see what happens.

OP, you really have your hands full. My heart goes out to you.

 

[Schmeck]

We haven't taken a complete family WDW trip in years - my dad now has stage 4 lung cancer (had hoped to talk him into one trip, but he never wanted to go with us) and my mom won't rent a scooter to help her get around, so she won't want to go either. Hubby's not a big Disney fan, and he didn't even mind when we went without him years ago. That leaves DD16 and me without a family trip in over 4 years. The crazy school trip I chaperoned doesn't count, as we were very limited in what we were allowed to do. Trip before that was only half the family, and was kind of rough, don't want to do that again. We just reminisce about past trips, look at the photos, etc. And hang out on the Dis, of course!

 

[dougsmom98]

I can feel your pain. Our last trip in August was anything but relaxing for me as my autistic daughter was really acting up. Tantrums at Downtown Disney, running off, sleeping because of meds because of tantrums, bizzare behavior in resort room ie she wanted to put the laptop in a Disney plastic bag and threw a fit. Screaming at the resort. I was so stressed and afraid to be alone with her so this put a strain on her dad that we all had to be together 24/7. Maybe just all bad luck....
Lucky we were at the Boardwalk so did have dining options/ boats/ walk around lake. After we got home I was so stressed I stayed locked in the house with her for 6 weeks straight except work for me and school for her.

I have totally given up the water parks with her.

I canceled my December trip and June trip to WDW. Husband insists we can do DL for spring break and I am worried about that and we will try WDW again in August. I have decided that the Contemporary is the best for us with her and will just pay the high price.

Life is tough, hang in there.

I'm sorry that some of you are at the point that you might not go to Disney anymore because of disabilities. I just wanted to suggest that some of you may want to try renting a villa off site for a week and that may take some of the stress caused by the resort off of you. I know it is not the same, but on my first trip to Disney we stayed in a hotel. It was an off site, but a hotel. My kids were 2,2, and 4. I was so stressed out and paranoid about noise the entire time. It wasn't relaxing because I had to do all the running to get breakfast, coffee... Since that trip, we rent a villa from www.vrbo.com. It was the best decision we have ever made. We don't worry about noise because we rent free standing homes. It took pressure off me in the mornings because we buy groceries and stock the fridge for the week, so the kids can help themselves in the kitchen. This year we are renting a home with my in-laws and my parents. My mother-in-law is disabled and both of my parents are disabled. We were able to find a 5 bedroom home with 4 out of 5 bedrooms on the first floor so those with disabilities don't have to climb stairs. Everyone has their own space, so if someone is having a rough day, they have a place to go and decompress a bit.
I just thought I would throw this it out there as a possibility.

 

[Bete]

I'm sorry that some of you are at the point that you might not go to Disney anymore because of disabilities. I just wanted to suggest that some of you may want to try renting a villa off site for a week and that may take some of the stress caused by the resort off of you. I know it is not the same, but on my first trip to Disney we stayed in a hotel. It was an off site, but a hotel. My kids were 2,2, and 4. I was so stressed out and paranoid about noise the entire time. It wasn't relaxing because I had to do all the running to get breakfast, coffee... Since that trip, we rent a villa from www.vrbo.com. It was the best decision we have ever made. We don't worry about noise because we rent free standing homes. It took pressure off me in the mornings because we buy groceries and stock the fridge for the week, so the kids can help themselves in the kitchen. This year we are renting a home with my in-laws and my parents. My mother-in-law is disabled and both of my parents are disabled. We were able to find a 5 bedroom home with 4 out of 5 bedrooms on the first floor so those with disabilities don't have to climb stairs. Everyone has their own space, so if someone is having a rough day, they have a place to go and decompress a bit.
I just thought I would throw this it out there as a possibility.

I think having a place more like home can help; I agree. I'll be doing this with a trip to Dollywood next year. This trip will be more doable for us; I believe. We can get there quicker; we can have a modern cabin to ourselves; we will probably alternate our days with going out and staying in for an easier pace; we will do easier activities like riding in the car around the Smoky Mtn Park. With only one park to go to it will be easier on that count, too. I still would rather be in Disney, but I will try this out before venturing there, again.

With this said it does make the vacation more expensive to rent a villa even outside of Disney proper compared to places like Disney's POP resort. We are only 3 adults; I think the other poster is the same in count as us. It is worth a try and it's better than not doing any vacation. Having more space can be a deficit though; because, you have to keep better track of the individuals with special needs moreso. I don't think there's any perfect solution, but we all have to keep trying.

The biggest issue for me is I think both of my people would rather stay home and not go anywhere anymore; so, it's hard to get out and go anywhere with those attitudes. It's even getting hard to just do doctor appointments and such. I probably want the trip; so, I make it happen. We're so much homebodies that I need an outlet at least once a year. In my case, it's taking them with on vacation or no vacation. I won't get into that part of the story.

 

[ckdsnynt]

I think having a place more like home can help; I agree. I'll be doing this with a trip to Dollywood next year. This trip will be more doable for us; I believe. We can get there quicker; we can have a modern cabin to ourselves; we will probably alternate our days with going out and staying in for an easier pace; we will do easier activities like riding in the car around the Smoky Mtn Park. With only one park to go to it will be easier on that count, too. I still would rather be in Disney, but I will try this out before venturing there, again.

With this said it does make the vacation more expensive to rent a villa even outside of Disney proper compared to places like Disney's POP resort. We are only 3 adults; I think the other poster is the same in count as us. It is worth a try and it's better than not doing any vacation. Having more space can be a deficit though; because, you have to keep better track of the individuals with special needs moreso. I don't think there's any perfect solution, but we all have to keep trying.

The biggest issue for me is I think both of my people would rather stay home and not go anywhere anymore; so, it's hard to get out and go anywhere with those attitudes. It's even getting hard to just do doctor appointments and such. I probably want the trip; so, I make it happen. We're so much homebodies that I need an outlet at least once a year. In my case, it's taking them with on vacation or no vacation. I won't get into that part of the story.

The first sentence sums it up I think. For me, this last trip was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime: our 38th anniversary, staying at the Poly, MK view, six nights, what could be better? But my disabilities (nothing major, but back, hip and knee problems - and now carpal tunnel in both hands) made things difficult for me and my situation is nothing like yours. I felt so bad for my family. They didn't get to do as much because they were constantly waiting on me to load up on a bus, wait for a crowd to pass, look for a way to get somewhere, etc. I swore it was my last trip, no more, because the magic was gone. The difference in our situations I believe, is that my family insists that it is the family being together that makes the magic, not doing everything we used to do together. They made me feel like they were glad I had finally slowed down to their speed instead of racing everywhere like I used to do! Gotta love em! SO I guess we will continue to go and I will hope for the best.

My prayer is that you can find a way where you can continue to go and recapture the magic. If you love it as much as I think you do (or you wouldn't hang out on here, right?)there has to be a way!
Pixie dust to you

 

[Bete]

I'm starting to have a more positive attitude about trips again. I'll still give Disney a rest, but I'll be back again someday. I'm thinking 2012 perhaps.

I just have to find a better answer to our needs on vacation and I will keep trying to get a good solution to satisfy all those concerned.

This last trip at Disney was rougher; because, we met up with an older couple (younger 70s) for half the trip. They were too needy for me. I didn't expect this situation; because, 2 years ago they seemed to be much better mentally and physically. Two years can make a big difference at those ages; I guess. It was way too much for me to handle four needy people at the same time. I won't make that mistake again.

 

[Elana]

We are a group of seniors who just returned from Disney, 60-90 years old. I am the coordinator of the trip and the only one without disabilities/medical needs. We do stay at OKW. There were 6 of us. One blind (Dad who I get a W/C to assist him), Mom who is deaf, Husband, Sister and Brother in law all use EVCs due to various orthopedic issues, two food allergies and one diabetic. We planned short days in the park. We had ADRs.

We took a 10 day trip in Feb where 5 out of 6 got the flu. And just returned from a 6 day trip with no problems.

Although it is more expensive, do consider renting a house off site or renting DVC points to stay at a villa. You can eat breakfast in the room. You have more space.

You might want to consider taking a cousin, niece/nephew or friend to assist you. They can help with the W/C. I did all of the pushing for Dad. But we only stayed in the parks maybe 6-7 hours with a dinner stop. It is expensive to bring someone along. But if you are upfront as to what you expect them to do, it should work out. Also, it can give you some quiet time with you husband. My parents can stay alone. So, we did go out on our own one afternoon.

Will we go again? Not for a few years. But we will go again. I hope my parents will be with us to take them again. If I need to do two wheelchairs, I will take someone else with me to help. The look on my parents faces. The experiences are well worth it to me. But we are not dealing with Alzheimer's disease. So, I realize that puts a lot of things into a different perspective. So, even though you may not be able to go with Mom again, in the future, you can go with your husband.

I wish you well.