(long)Good and bad news now I have a whole new set of questions...

[XTinabell]

My dad was visiting with my grandparents over the weekend, telling them how we're meeting up at Disneyland in November. Now my grandparents want to come. This is bittersweet. I love my grandparents and haven't seen them since I moved to the UK, but they'll be visiting on a very busy weekend...November 16th. My grandpa doesn't get around well and isn't in the best health, he's also diabetic so here are my questions:

1. Tell me about renting the motorized cart thingys, how much do they cost? How difficult are they to go in and out of people? Would my grandpa be able to take it to the hotel? probably not. How do these work if you want to ride a ride? Do you go to the exit?

2. Which hotel would you recommend? We're all staying at Hojo's but i'm afraid that may be a bit too far for them to walk at the end of the day, and they will likely want to take a break and Hojo's is a bit far for a quick break.

3. Will I need to change my reservations to accomodate a diabetic: currently are eating at Blue Bayou and rainforest cafe. Non ressie places are places like bengal bbq, pacific warf, french market, pizza port and taste pilots grill. Lol, those will likely need to be changed darn it.

4. What are your experiences in dealing with elderly people at disneyland?

Thanks to whoever can help me, thank god for the dis!

 

[dbanzai]

I go often to DL with one of my best friends who is a diabetic and we actually should will be finishing our trip there on the 16th.

We always rent a wheelchair for him, but have never rented a motorized one. Getting them at the parks however doesn't seem like it should be an issue. It's the same line for regular wheelchairs and baby strollers, at the kiosk all the way to the right once you enter the turnstyles.

You cannot take the wheelchairs out past the promminade between the two parks: You cannot go to DTD with them. However, one thing we were told on our last that the DLR hotels have wheelchair rentals and you can ride those anywhere. I don't know about the motorized wheelchairs. I would suggest calling Hojo's and seeing if they have rentals. I'd be a little shocked if they can't even suggest an outside company to you.

I picutre Hojo's would be a bit long of a walk if you are looking for someplace to take a break at the end of the day. The closer to the park is obviously the better, especially when dealing with people who can't walk far. We've stayed at the Ramada Main Gate and he's had no problem there. Maybe the Fairfield would be best because unlike Ramada, I'm certain they have an elevator. Plus it's closer, if just a little bit, than Hojo's.

It's pricy I know and there may not be avialabilty anymore if it's that busy that time of year, but I'd suggest GCH or the DLH hotel. They are the closest by far and they should both offer wheelchairs. I understand you can take one of the DLH hotel wheelchairs on the monorail and they do have elevators. I believe a motorized wheelchair can also be taken onboard.

My friend is a diabetic and vegetarian. He has never had trouble finding at least something to eat on a menu. We've done the Blue Bayou and at least for breakfast the Rainforest Cafe. The counter service places you mention, I think we've only done Pacific Wharf.

I can't answer the elderly part of the question, we're still relatively spring chickens... And even younger once we hit the parks.

 

[samkj]

Renting a scooter off-site is the best option. This way he will have one he can take back to the hotel with him. Plus these rentals tend to be nicer models and less expensive. Here is a link to some rental agencies, just scroll down to the Anaheim list. Most will deliver right to the hotel. http://pixiedustinn.com/disabilitiesfaq/RentalWheelchairsandECVs.html

We'll be at Hojo that same week (Nov 16-21) and my daughter uses a wheelchair. It is not always easy getting around on crowded days, but it can be done. Also if they want to stay at the Hojo, ithe ART bus is always available for travel to/from the park.

 

[doombuggy]

I rented a scooter for my Grama when i took her to WDW in May, 2003. I rented it from an outside company in the orlando area (it's on the list in the link above). It was much better than the ones that are rentable in the park, as it was a 3 wheeler - easier to maneover. I rented a car, and it was easy to take the scooter apart to get into the car & drive to a park. You wouldn't need to do that, he could just ride the scooter over, and the rest of you could walk. It was about the same price, maybe a little bit cheaper than renting from Disney. I would do it again in a heart beat if Grama would come visit! Then again, she went home and bought her own, so that wouldn't be necessary! She has parkinsons and is 82 right now.

I agree about the food, you should have no problems in the resturants. You might have to change your ressies to enlarge the party, and you can ask at the time you call to make sure they have options for your grampa.

Have a great time!

 

[pixiewings71]

If you want to stay closer but not at the DL Hotels (I checked last week and they were booked) I recommend the Tropicana. We stayed there in July and we are going back (because the DLH's are full) next month for a long weekend. Also the Best Western Park Place Inn is right there....I'm sure they will be happy to help with disabled reservations.

Also, my diet is low sodium & my BFF is allergic to gluten and we've had no problems eating at DL. Just let the servers know that they are diabetic and they will help you! You may also want to call the Dining Plan number and let them know what the restrictions are, I've heard that the chef's have called visitors and gone over menus with them......

 

[Master Mason]

My dad went several times to both DL and WDW, he had his own scooter, but it was never a problem getting around anymore than it normally would be. He was also diabetic, and never had issues finding things that he could eat.

I agree with renting off site, you can't take the park ones out of the esplande, which means no dtd or to and from hotel.

 

[XTinabell]

thanks guys, as usual you helped me out alot. I think what we'll do is rent a cart offsite, and we'll have him get a room at Hojo's and he can either take the tram thing (which I think he'd like becaues he'd beat the rest of us to the park and get a kick out of that) or just ride his scooter all the way there.

As for dining, I'm glad it will work out that I wont' need to change my reservations. I am still wondering about how the scooters work on the rides though. Would he get off his scooter and then just walk through the queue with the rest of us I don't think he would want to leave his scooter unattended? He can walk, he's just slow which I don't think would be a problem in a queue, although he might get sore from standing for so long.

 

[dbanzai]

Most if not all rides have some form of accessability. Newer rides, he should be able to ride the scooter down the normal que. For others there will be an accessible entry: Usually at the exit. In some rides he will have to transfer out of the scooter, others, he can stay in the wheelchair, and either way they seem to usually ask whether one can transfer or not. For instance, IASW has special boats where s wheelchair can ride onto a platform, but they may ask if he can get up and get in and out of a boat... That way they don't always have to make people wait for one of the special boats.

My favorite accessible ride is Space Mountain. YOu have to transfer for this one, but they have a car waiting at a different part of the platform. They load it up while the ride is going and when it's spot in the rotation comes up, they move the car and the length of track its sitting on swap it into the ride track.

 

[Hound 109]

.......... I think what we'll do is rent a cart offsite, and we'll have him get a room at Hojo's and he can either take the tram thing (which I think he'd like becaues he'd beat the rest of us to the park and get a kick out of that) or just ride his scooter all the way there.

As for dining, I'm glad it will work out that I wont' need to change my reservations. ........

Regarding dad taking the bus (along with his scooter) & "beating the rest of you to the park".......I hope someone else comments, but I would suspect that riding the bus (ART?) would take longer (waiting/loading/unloading, etc.) than "scooting" along with the family to/from HOJO. A nice 8-10 min. safe walk.

Also, check out one of the recent trip reports from one of the recent trip reporters. (maybe jennifer?) She had special dietary requests & outlined many of her meals & who did what well & who did what deliciously....fwiw. She had some great pics too.

Finally, be aware that you'll be strolling by McDonalds (coming & going 2-4 times a day). Not that they are healthy... but with kids, (or for quick snacks) it came in handy for us. Seems like we picked up some chicken strips or ice creams etc. a couple of times a day.

Have fun.

 

[XTinabell]

Regarding dad taking the bus (along with his scooter) & "beating the rest of you to the park".......I hope someone else comments, but I would suspect that riding the bus (ART?) would take longer (waiting/loading/unloading, etc.) than "scooting" along with the family to/from HOJO. A nice 8-10 min. safe walk.

Also, check out one of the recent trip reports from one of the recent trip reporters. (maybe jennifer?) She had special dietary requests & outlined many of her meals & who did what well & who did what deliciously....fwiw. She had some great pics too.

Finally, be aware that you'll be strolling by McDonalds (coming & going 2-4 times a day). Not that they are healthy... but with kids, (or for quick snacks) it came in handy for us. Seems like we picked up some chicken strips or ice creams etc. a couple of times a day.

Have fun.

I've taken the tram from Hojo's to the park it gets to dl very quickly and he would beat us, not sure about taking his scooter along though, never really thought it all the way through. If he were to take the tram from DL to Hojo's it would take him longer than to scoot with the rest of us because it stops at other hotels first.

I just re-read your post, I think what you were saying is having to wait for the tram and then loading would take longer, I suppose it's possible but we'd probably just plan to be out there when the tram comes then he'll still beat us to the park. Anyways I'll check out the trip report you were suggesting.

 

[Master Mason]

thanks guys, as usual you helped me out alot. I think what we'll do is rent a cart offsite, and we'll have him get a room at Hojo's and he can either take the tram thing (which I think he'd like becaues he'd beat the rest of us to the park and get a kick out of that) or just ride his scooter all the way there.

As for dining, I'm glad it will work out that I wont' need to change my reservations. I am still wondering about how the scooters work on the rides though. Would he get off his scooter and then just walk through the queue with the rest of us I don't think he would want to leave his scooter unattended? He can walk, he's just slow which I don't think would be a problem in a queue, although he might get sore from standing for so long.

Most of the rides in DL you go into the exit with the scooter, the cast members will assist you on where to go and how to do it, you can take a party of 6 with you with the person in the scooter.

In DCA, because it was built after ADA, you get in line like normal, and at some point there is ususally a split where you go with the scooter. Again the CM will be able to assist.