Little concerned for Mum & Nan

[baylie666]

OK, we are all going to WDW in October this year, but my Mum and 80 year old Grandmother will be going for a week before us.
Now my mum has arthritis in all joints on her body including her spine, so walks with a stick on very good days. My Grandmother is 80 years old and has parkinsons (not advanced but shaking has started a while ago) and she also has arthritis in her leg joints. They will both be using ECVs for the entire trip.

My question is this.....
They are staying at the LM AoA resort and I am worried as to how they will be able to carry their meal trays in LoF? Will someone be around to help them take the tray to the table? or will they have to somehow balance or go in several trips from counter to table??

They will probably eat at LoF most nights, give or take the couple they have ADRs for.

When my sister and I join them it isn't an issue but as this is both their first and will be their only time going to the world I want to have thought of everything so the stress levels are at a minimum for them.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Bete]

If they will be in the parks, then I strongly suggest eating at table service restaurants. Then, they don't have to worry about carrying anything. Also, I suggest getting reservations for it. Lunch is cheaper.

I've never seen any Disney CM around the food courts to help with bringing food to the tables. This is not to say it couldn't occur, but I don't think you can count on it.

If you insist on the food court then you may have to get a few items at a time to the table and go back and forth until you have everything you want. One can watch the tray while the other goes back and forth to the tables.

You may get a kind hearted individual to help with a tray, but again you can't count on it.

 

[Smile&Nod]

Most ECVs can be driven with one hand - and they usually have a basket on the front - so chances are good they can put drinks and stuff in the basket and just carry the plate of food in one hand and drive with the other....I also think if they just ask they can probably get help - Disney is very conscious of being accessible for folks.

 

[baylie666]

Thank you guys for your help and advice. I am thinking that my Nan might be able to do the walking round the counters and just deliver struff off in smaller amounts to the table. She is shaky but much more stable on her feet than my Mum.
They didn't book TS as they have the QSDP so having TS every day would use up too many credits (hope that made sense).

I am sure they will get by but it is just something that i thought of randomly.

 

[Tiggerish]

I have driven the ECV into most of the quick service restaurants with out any problems and in the food courts at the AllStars Music and Sports. When I am alone, most times a cast member would offer to carry my tray. I usually handled it myself anyway. However, one time the person carrying my tray mentioned that he liked to carry the trays because it gave him a little break from his regular stuff. After that I said yes a bit more often.

If no one offers, just ask. A cast member will help if they are made aware of the need.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Practice and creativity are keywords. It has been mentioned before; start with using the basket in front. It can store LOADS. Just like one that can bend down enough can store LOADS on the footplate. Grabbing a tray does wonders for when wanting to store/transport in other ways. One hand only needed for stearing. Tray on ones lap. One hand left to grab food/drink and put it on the tray. Tray can even be held onto if uncertain while driving from one spot to the next.

Still not enough? A simple bag can also do wonders. Starting off thinking along the lines of what one CAN do, that's the key to success.


I'm a fulltime powerchair user. Can't reach further than the normal range of underarm extended out from chest, so quite limited in range. Yet never ever had problems I could not manage getting myself a QS. Whether at whatever foodcourt or park QS. Because I'm alone most of the times, CM's tend to jump out of the woodworks to repeatedly offer help, but norm is that they are kindly turned down. Well........... unless it happens to be a too attractive male CM, that is. I do tend to hit locations outside of rushhours though.


Oh and just a small thing but you are aware that with the qsdp they can't do table services unless paying out of pocket for that right? You mentioned it taking too many credits, but with the qsdp you only have 2 credits for qs meals a day, a snack a day and a refillable mug per stay. No tableservice credits in the qsdp.