Limitations for Senior Citizens

[ShoopingGurl]

What are some safe rides for senior citizens? Also, what are some of the ride limitations? Are there any rides we should stay away from?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

The majority of rides I would consider safe for seniors. Seniors is such a broad category it reall can be hard to make recommendation. Each ride has ride rules posted at the begining and depending on the health of the senior they may want to avoid the ride. Some are hard to get in/out of (like Space Mtn you step down into) but really it will again depend on the health of the senior. My MIL is a senior citizen but goes on everything at WDW and has never had an issue, now on the other hand my father is 10 years younger than her barely a senior and can't go on many the rides b/c of mobility and heart issues.

Some big ones that may cause issues in seniors with heart issues are: Mission Space, Rock N ROller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, and Space Mtn.

Rough/bumpy rides that have alot of jarring are: Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur, and sometimes Kilomanjaro Safari. I wouldn' skip KS though.

 

[huge mickey fan]

I took my MIL in December and she is in very good health. The only rides she really had a problem with were the moving sidewalks to enter the vehicles. Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Nemo, Buzz Lightyear

 

[Meriweather]

What's a senior citizen?
Health problems?

Whatever they want and feel okay doing would seem okay with me.

 

[tallen429]

I took my MIL in December and she is in very good health. The only rides she really had a problem with were the moving sidewalks to enter the vehicles. Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Nemo, Buzz Lightyear

I was just going to post the same thing almost verbatim.
My Mom is 76 (and very spry and healthy!) and in December she only had a very few issues as mentioned in the quote above. There were a couple of times that entering/exiting a ride was a bit quicker than she was comfortable with but overall no biggie. We didn't ride any of the big coasters though.

 

[RabFlmom]

What rides a senior can ride on depends on your health, the amount of weight you carry, the meds you take, and probably whether you rode rides all your life. Some people can't handle spins, going upside down, going fast......it just depends on you...

One thing that you have to take into account is the extended time you will spend in the sun and heat . During the day, most of us spend time mostly going from our air conditioned houses, to the air conditioned car, to the air conditioned places we go like work, church, stores, movies etc. Being in a theme park is a lot more time out in the sun than I spend outside during the heat of the day ( and I live in Florida). If you take meds, check to see if it carries a being out in the sun and heat warning. Either my blood pressure or cholesterol one does and yesterday after sitting in the handicap seating at the lights, motor, speed show in H. S. meaning first bleacher which got full sun, and then walking out, . and to a place to get more water, they hit me for awhile and I sat inside air conditioned place for a couple hours. Here I thought it would be my older sister having problems with the heat and it was me with the sun,,,,and possibly the greasy yucky hamburger I ate at the commissary.

 

[RabFlmom]

What rides a senior can ride on depends on your health, the meds you take, and probably whether you rode rides all your life. Some people can't handle spins, going upside down, going fast......it just depends on you...

One thing that you have to take into account is the extended time you will spend in the sun sun and heat . During the day, most of us spend time mostly going from our air conditioned houses, to the air conditioned car, to the air conditioned places we go like work, church, stores, movies etc. Being in a theme park is a lot more time out in the sun than I spend outside during the heat of the day ( and I live in Florida). If you take meds check to see if it carries a being out in the sun and heat warning. Either my blood pressure or cholesterol one does and yesterday after sitting in the handicap seating at the lights, motor, speed show in H. S. meaning first bleacher which got full sun, and then walking out, . and to a place to get more water, they hit me for awhile and I sat inside air conditioned place for a couple hours.

 

[kaligal]

How senior? 56 or 86? Big difference.

My biggest worries with the elderly are always falls and dehydration. It is hard to protect against falls with all the children who are allowed to run around like lunatics. Dehydration is easier, if someone is keeping an eye on dear old mom (or dad.)

Still, heat is an issue for all of us.

I certainly wouldn't talk an elderly person into going to WDW, but if it were some old lady's dream to go and she'd never been and wanted to do it before she died, I'd go with her. But not in the crowded, hot summer...not if she weren't in a chair or an ECV!!

 

[lucas]

How senior? 56 or 86? Big difference.

My biggest worries with the elderly are always falls and dehydration. It is hard to protect against falls with all the children who are allowed to run around like lunatics. Dehydration is easier, if someone is keeping an eye on dear old mom (or dad.)

Still, heat is an issue for all of us.

I certainly wouldn't talk an elderly person into going to WDW, but if it were some old lady's dream to go and she'd never been and wanted to do it before she died, I'd go with her. But not in the crowded, hot summer...not if she weren't in a chair or an ECV!!

56 is senior? I'm in big trouble!

 

[Lynne M]

There are no age restrictions on any ride at WDW....as in "people over X years of age can't ride this".

For a few rides, Disney recommends that people (of any age) with certain health conditions (pregnancy, heart/BP problems, back/neck problems) may want to pass.

But there's no reason that a healthy senior citizen shouldn't be able to ride anything at WDW.

 

[kaytieeldr]

56 is senior? I'm in big trouble!

Perspective, m'dear. Someone posted a couple of years ago about being concerned that her parents couldn't handle a trip to Disney World because they were " getting on in years". Turns out they were in their mid-forties

 

[snykymom]

56 is senior? I'm in big trouble!

AARP thinks so! They're sending out stuff when you hit 50 now!

 

[goofyernmost]

56 is senior? I'm in big trouble!

You??? I don't even want to think about it.

AARP thinks so! They're sending out stuff when you hit 50 now!

OK, class number 2....AARP = Retired People. Not necessarily Seniors. Yes, mostly all of us do fall into that category, but it's not just old. It is amazing just how people look at older folk. By older folk I mean, anyone over 30. When I was just 50 people started to ask me what I could still ride since I was going so often. I was totally taken by surprise. I didn't feel old, I didn't look old, (older then I should for that age), I didn't act old or walk feebly or hang on to the railings. I was just a little long in the tooth. I honestly couldn't understand why anyone would think that I was now having to restrict my life, for no reason other then age.

I also remember that thread where it was made to sound like they had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. What was even worse was after we were told that they were the ripe old age of about 45, the number of responses saying how they were sure that being able to see the smile on their grandkids faces would be all the fun that they would want.

Bull...(sorry), When I cannot ride the rides, go to the shows, and be a part of it...I will no longer go. I love my grandkids but watching them live while I can't just will not cut it.

Go ahead have your field day with me. Just go easy...you know how brittle these 63 year old bones can be.

 

[disnut8]

The OP has posted before and it appears she and her husband are the senior citizens. I would recommend you talk to your doctor(s) before you leave but also check out the ride restrictions for all the attractions (just google "Disney Wolrd ride restrictions) BUT, and this is a big BUT - look at youtube and see what the attraction is all about.

I have a broken neck so there are warnings on a lot of attractions about not riding. However, because I had my accident after I had ridden a lot of the rides, I know which ones are OK. I still do Kali River Rapids, the Safari, Mission:Space orange, Test Track, Splash Mountain. My husband has high blood pressure that is controlled by meds and he can do everything.

And don't forget that you can go through ANY queue line, look at what the ride has to offer and if you want to pass, you just tell the seater person and you will be shown to an exit. It's very simple to do that.

 

[Eeyore2003]

My MIL did Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain at age 80 and absolutely loved it.I sure hope you don't mean mid 50's YIKES, I'm doomed!!! LOL We also took my inlaws when they were in their 60's and they did everything and loved it. All depends on their health and what they want to do.

 

[snykymom]

OK, class number 2....AARP = Retired People. Not necessarily Seniors. Yes, mostly all of us do fall into that category, but it's not just old.

Yes, I know it says "Retired Persons." But, discounting the internet millionaires, I know very few people who could afford retirement at 50. And those that could weren't as concerned about Medicare & Social Security as AARP is.

 

[bobbiwoz]

It even takes me longer to get out of Small World! I'm finished with Thunder Mountain RR, but I wouldn't miss a trip to WDW with the DGC ever!

I have a DF who can't do Toy Story because how much the car shakes.

I walk slowly because I can walk, and want to while I can. All seniors are different!

Bobbi

 

[goofyernmost]

Yes, I know it says "Retired Persons." But, discounting the internet millionaires, I know very few people who could afford retirement at 50. And those that could weren't as concerned about Medicare & Social Security as AARP is.

Please let me justify my membership with something besides...I'm old! Other than that no bad intentions were on my mind.

You would not believe the flack that I took when I was about 56 and I went to my first AARP convention. But, really, it was in Vegas. It was at the Venetian. It had headliners such as James Taylor. Believe me I didn't go because I was old. Then my second one was in Orlando...nuff said. (in all fairness I was 61 then) My second was supposed to be in New Orleans but that was scheduled to be held just after Katrina. So change of plans and I went to Disneyland during it's 50 year anniversary instead. AARP has been very, very good to me. You would not believe how much I save in car insurance through them. Seriously!