Mom & Dad's first visit @ 70

[Cadiewampus]

I'm taking my parents for their first visit ever in December. I've been with my teenage daughter several times and I feel pretty good about navigating all the parks and the resorts, even in the Christmastime chaos (we're DVC, but there is always so much more to learn!). I wondered if you all would have any suggested must-dos or sleeper hits I could take my mom to. This is particularly for her 70th birthday and neither she nor my dad have ever been to Disney World.

We will attend MVMCP night as a family (I've never done this before, but I have done Jollywood Nights).
We are getting them 4 day base tickets - one park per day, so as not to overwhelm the senses with too much at once.

I bought us matching Star Wars flannel pajamas (mom is a big Star Wars fan and even saw the original at the drive-in movie theatre). Mom seems particularly excited about meeting the original characters, like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto. She also seems quite keen on meeting Mary Poppins. She is not a huge princess fan, but loves movies, and will likely enjoy riding SDMT. She keeps talking about "it's a small world" because she remembers seeing so much about it when she was a kid, so I'm thinking starting our MK day there and buying LLSP for SDMT.

What do you all think? Thanks for your suggestions and hard-won wisdom!

Edit to include your suggestions and the must dos I already have:

Meals / non-park days
-Top character meal option - Topolino's (my daughter thinks the art costumes are cool, and does not want monorail dust flying around while she's eating so no Chef Mickey's for this trip) - non-park day with Crescent Lake Christmas at the resorts, then monorail resorts or rest time depending on how much time we are taking at each.

HS
We'll have one meal option for Minnie's Seasonal Dine, but have Red Carpet Dreams as a backup if mom and dad like the menu for 50s Prime Time Diner better.

Sci-Fi Diner it is for one meal on HS day!

Star Tours
Rise of the Resistance
Millennium Falcon
Oga's Cantina (maybe)
Slinky Dog
Edna Mode Experience

Fantasmic (never experienced this one, but I hear good things so we've been waiting to experience it with mom as it sounds like something she would enjoy)

AK
Merry Menagerie
Festival of the Lion King (will be a new shared experience for everyone)
Dinosaur
Pandora (maybe)

MK
it's a small world
Country Bear Musical Jamboree
Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Philharmagic (we've been saving it to experience for the first time with my parents)

Epcot
Garden Grill breakfast
Candlelight Processional
All the Christmas experiences around the world that we can handle
Spaceship Earth
Living with the Land (after dark so there are lights)
Turtle Talk with Crush & the aquarium animals

I am 65 so just a few years behind mom. I turn into a big ole kid at Disney and your plans look good to me. We will be there first week in December with our son and our daughter in law having a big time.

 

[pjacobi]

When is the last time your parents have walked 5 miles in a day? Can you convince them to start "training" for WDW? This will result in a better time at WDW and improve their health.


-Paul

 

[ShannyMcB]

Topolinos for the win! Seriously it’s beautiful there and if you get the last breakfast seating it’s lunch time and that meal will carry your for awhile, plus makes for a nice mid-day break.
Have you looked into Fantasmic Dining packages? They are offered at a couple different spots and then you don’t have to wait in line for a long time before the show.

 

[sentimental13]

When is the last time your parents have walked 5 miles in a day? Can you convince them to start "training" for WDW? This will result in a better time at WDW and improve their health.


-Paul

I am trying to get mom to do this! Dad walks every day, but mom is hesitant and I cannot figure out an incentive beyond preparing to enjoy time with her granddaughter.

 

[sentimental13]

Topolinos for the win! Seriously it’s beautiful there and if you get the last breakfast seating it’s lunch time and that meal will carry your for awhile, plus makes for a nice mid-day break.
Have you looked into Fantasmic Dining packages? They are offered at a couple different spots and then you don’t have to wait in line for a long time before the show.

I have not looked into those yet. What’s your preferred restaurant with the package?

 

[KPeterso]

Some of my Mom's favorites. She is 86 and has been many times. Would consider a wheelchair or ECV rental. Or at least a rollator so someone can sit on it in lines as needed. We often do a ride or 2 and then a show for a little quieter activity. We also always have a ECV or wheelchair for her. These are some of her favorites. Sometimes she is hit or miss on rides even when they like them. Pirates is an example - needs to be in the right mood. She was pretty much always game until recently, but that is more due to her declining health now.

MK

• Peoplemover
• Carousel of Progress (she remembers from the World's Fair)
• Jungle Cruise
• Haunted Mansion
• Dumbo
• Train
• Parades
• For Food - we are not fans of the food at MK restaurants
  • Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary

Epcot

• Soaring
• Living with the Land
• Figment
• Test Track (she always liked it so assume she would like the updated one)
• Grand Fiesta boat in Mexico
• Spaceship Earth
• For Food:
  • Teppan Edo
  • Akershus (for the princesses) lunch or dinner - we actually love the food
  • Le Cellier
  • Chefs De France

Hollywood Studios

• Rise of the Resistance
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railyway
• Frozen Sing Along
• Beauty and the Beast show
• Indiana Jones show
• For Food:
  • 50s Prime Time Cafe

Animal Kingdom - this is actually her favorite park!

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Walking the gorilla falls and majarajah trek trails
• Wildlife Express train
• Festival of the Lion King
• Flight of Passage
• For Food:
  • Tusker House - lunch

Other things my mom enjoys, visiting characters. Pluto is our favorite and we often try to see him every day of our trips. Other Restaurants that we enjoy include Boma, Steakhouse 71 (as above), Beaches and Cream, and Rainforest Cafe.

 

[ShannyMcB]

I have not looked into those yet. What’s your preferred restaurant with the package?

It was mama melrose
We are trying Hollywood and vine. I have heard great things about the other spots that participate…all depends what kind of food you want. Sci-fi or Brown Debry might be nice for your crew. Plus then you don’t have to line up for fantasmic early and your meal doesn’t have to be dinner, we are doing a brunch seating ourselves.

 

[Summer2018]

I highly recommend a fireworks cruise following a dinner at Narcoossees.

Watching the fireworks while dining at California Grill is also a treat.