Need a little confidence/advice/tips from my DIS Pals

[zurekgirl]

Hey DISers-

I need a little advice that will help me convince my parents they should join my family on a trip to WDW in January 2011. Last time my family went, my parents oohhh and ahhhed and said how much they would like to have been there. So when we planned this trip, we asked them to join us. They're nervous about going.

My parents (both in their 60s) want to go but think they'll slow us down. My dad has his own non-motorized chair (and can't transfer) and Mom had difficulty with long distances. We'll be there during their wedding anniversary and I think there are plenty of things we can all do together and that they can still do on their own (lunch with an imagineer). Plus it will be a great experience for my boys to have a generational WDW trip.

So here's the help part~ Idea's on how to convince there (or should I ) links to helpful threads...

Also:

Is it true that Disney can't guarantee a disabled room?
Are there enough rides where you don't have to transfer for it to be "worth it"?
Is transportation (Disney boats and buses) "a hassle"?
(Hassle and worth it are part of their vocabulary)
Ideas, tips, etc..

Ultimately I think this is a confidence thing for my parents. I think they're worried about being a "burden" (which is the not even a factor for me) and not confident that they'll be able to go off on their own. Sigh...

THANKS!

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

Disney does guarantee Handicapped Rooms you need to make sure its not just a request but that the reservation agent talks to Special services, they will put you on hold while they call.

They only park that doesn't have many rides that non-transfer is MK but even at that there is enought to do and see that it would'nt be a hassle. My DW is in a WC and we do Monsters Inc laugh Floor, Buzz Lightyear, Carousel of Progress, Jungle Cruise,Country Bears,Philhamagic,Its a small World, Magic Carpets, Tiki Birds.



The transportation isn't a big deal in WC, most of the bus drivers are very good at handling the trasfers.

Check out the FAQ's in this board

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

It takes a little more time and planning but the trips are actually very enjoyable for us, it forced us to slow down a little but it has made us see WDW in a whole new way. We get to see things that we would normally have just blown right by, a chance to stop and smell the Pixie Dust if you will.

 

[zurekgirl]

Thank you so much Capt. Barbosa!

The room stuff was the source of a bit of a panic for my parents. I'm working with a travel agent. She must know this but I got the impression it wasn't guaranteed, guess I better follow back up....

Stop and enjoy the pixie dust...I love that! I'll share that with them. It's my idea is that we're spending time together at a magical place. I'm not interested in comando touring.

 

[dmccarty]

One of the mistakes I think people make is trying to hurry through WDW so they can DO everything. Unless you can stay for a month I do not see how you can do everything in one trip.

Slowing down and SEEING things makes a trip so much more enjoyable for us.

And I think you will be going slow because of the non motorized wheelchair. Which is good and bad. Our last trip I walked 6-10 miles a day and we only go to the parks for roughly half of the day. I think I could easily walk 15 miles a day at WDW if we stayed a full day in the parks.

Pushing a wheel chair 5-10 miles is hard work. In January you should not have hot weather so that is on your side. I am assuming your father cannot use a scooter. Can you rent a powered wheel chair?

The only real negative I can see is pushing the chair but that should not stop them from going. Even if they did not ride one ride a trip is well worth it with kids. My parents have had a great time spending one on one time with the kids. Even if it is just wondering off to buy an ice cream it gives the kids a memory of the grand parent.

My kids and a nephew we took on one trip were fighting to get a grandparent to go with them for one on one time. And the grandparents were not the grandparents of the nephew.

A good place to camp out in is Tomorrow Land at MK. There are lots of attractions there that can be used with a wheel chair. If the kids are "differing" over which ride to do it is easy to split up and meet after the attraction. With a wheel chair you would not have to push it very far even if your father went on all of the attractions. There are a couple of ice cream stands nearby and CS is just around the corner.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bete]

We take an 89 year old mom who has Alzheimer's and other issues, too and we do fine. We wheelchair her at Disney World. Anyway, we do just fine with activities at the parks without going on all the rides. If you can't do all your homework about which rides will work for you talk to the CMs when you get to certain attractions.

Make sure you get a handicap room with a roll in shower for your dad. Based on your comments I would consider renting a scooter for mom (Can be had for $150/week through Apple Scooter). It's too much for a person who can't handle long distances. You can practice a scooter for free at your local grocery stores and such. It's even great to have it for the resort area, as well as, the parks. She can park it for a while as you get to certain areas of the park, just in case, they go off on their own a little like with the Lunch with Imagineers (by the way, this is one my favorite experiences there). Most rides will allow you to take the scooter all the way through the line queues. You may have to help her at times with boarding a scooter onto a bus or boat or other situations like tight ride queues with a lot of zig zags, but it's a great tool for her not to get exhausted.

Mix up the activities; so, your parents don't get too tired. Go early and use your extra magic hour in the morning park and get fastpasses. Take turns with rides, shows, meals, parades, etc.; so, you can pace your day with them.

Under no circumstances should anyone make any negative comments to them about whatever. Don't make them feel slow and not wanted (especially true of kids who get all wound up at Disney). If the boys want to do a ride that's not suited for the grandparents let them go shopping or view another attraction near by or get a drink and rest, etc. Continually praise your parents while you are there. For example, going on a ride that you didn't think they would do so good, but they did do it. Also, staying at the parks for a long day should be complimented. Help your parents have an easier time; make it easy for them.

 

[wlake]

Maybe a guidebook for people with disabilities would help convince them. We have PassPorter's Open Mouse book and it has just about every piece of information you could ever want. Having that book made the trip so much better for my DS with sensory problems because we knew EXACTLY what to expect on each ride and in each place.

 

[KPeveler]

I second the Passporter's Open Mouse - it will give them an idea of EVERYTHING to expect.

I use a wheelchair (manual and powered), can very rarely transfer, and it is not a "hassle" and it is definitely "worth it." They will be able to do every show, many rides (there are cars which can handle the wheelchair, even Small World and Jungle Cruise!), watch all the parades and fireworks, wander all the countries in Epcot, etc. I spent an entire day not transferring in Epcot except Soarin (which is a REALLY easy transfer), and my day was completely full!

The FAQs at the top of forum gives lots of information. hope this helps!

 

[zurekgirl]

Thank you all so much. I've had some time to talk with my parents about everything. I think they're getting more comfortable and I'm going out today to get the guide book. Perfect idea!

I'm hopeful it will all work out. I told them that my youngest who will be 23 months will need a slow pace to not become overwhelmed and if they're there my 6 yr old can still do lots of "big kid" rides. Plus my 6 yr old loves it anywhere is grandparents are, they crack each other up. That seemed to make more excited.

I'll keep you all posted!

Thanks again!

 

[Schmeck]

Disney can only guarantee a HA room if they have one available - if they are all booked, they can't magically make one appear. I've never heard of them being completely booked, but you may have to be a bit flexible about which resort you will be staying at. We have friends who have had to be moved to a different resort at check-in because Disney overbooked HA at their resort. They got a nice upgrade and had a wonderful trip. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip too!