Need Advice on Taking Parents to WDW

[IlovemythreeC's]

I would LOVE for my parents to spend some time in WDW with us. They are in their mid 60's. My dad has had a heart bypass. He is a manager at a car delarship and can work outside gardening from dawn to dusk. My mother is very active. I do not know if it is something that I should encourage or not.

We started talking about it last night and they seem a little open to it. I think the basic problem is that they just don't get what WDW is all about. My dad (in a very hilarious way) said, "What am I going to do there? Say, look there's Mickey Mouse, hi!" I have shared pics, videos, etc. with them and they are really happy for us. No matter how we describe it they still see it like Six Flags or something.

These are my concerns:
1. Traveling is not very important to my parents. We took one vacation while growing up to the beach. They won a couple of trips through my fathers work (Bermuda and a cruise) and they seemed to enjoy that.
2. My dad does not like standing in line.
3. I can see them gettting there and being REALLY BORED or I have this DREAM of them going there and being able to have fun. I think they would be AMAZED by EPCOT and that they would LOVE to see the grandchildren having so much fun.

Does anyone have any experience taking parents that they were unsure about?

 

[Rylee]

If you think they would be open to the idea, I would encourage it.

How about having them come in for a few days, either at the beginning or end of your trip. (If you are staying at a Disney Resort, they could use Magical Express, so traveling alone to or from Disney wouldn't be a hassle.) If they aren't there as long, maybe they wouldn't get bored, and also, you and your family will be able concentrate on showing them attractions you think they would enjoy, and then when they leave, "do Disney" the way you like to.

When we travel to Disney with others families, we build what we call "FREE TIME," right into the schedule. We sometimes separate by interest, activities or by family. We start our day together with a meeting time, head to the parks, then right before or after lunch, we split up for a few hours. Some return to the resort for a break, nap, swim. Others choose to stay in the parks... spliting up by age or interest. We always have an ADR for dinner and plan to meet at the restaurant and spend the rest of the evening together, watching the nightly shows.

If you schedule free time, your parents may feel more free to do things that interest them or just take a break and relax. Of course, if everyone wants to, you can always stay together for the entire day.

My Dad loved Disney... he felt the magic, but as for my Mom, she appreciated many things about Disney... how well it is run, the cleanliness, the flowers, etc., but I don't think she ever caught that magical feeling. I would give anything to take them back to Disney, one last time, but sadly, they are in their 80's and their health isn't up to it.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Just one question about their abilities to do Disney. Disney is a LOT of walking. Is your dad's health up to it? I wear a pedometer so I know that we typically walk about 10 miles a day (one day we did 16!!!). Will your dad be able to do this or be willing to ride a scooter?

 

[disneysuncat]

Take them. They'll either love it or like it. I can't imagine anyone hating it. They'll get to see their grandchildren experience the magic, and that in itself is something very special. Plus, your children will always remember when their grandparents joined them in the happiest place on earth.

Back in 1994, I took my then mid 50's parents. I knew my Mom would love it, but I wasn't sure about my grouchy father. He LOVED it, every bit of it.

Last year was the first time that I could return, I have a daughter now, and my parents are separated so my mother joined my daughter and I. Mom's birthday (66th) fell during our trip, and WOW did she have a blast. (it was also Halloween week, we did the MNSSHP, etc.) Mom loved every single second of everything, with the exception of when I got her to sit in the front on Splash Mountain and she got soaked. (hee!) We're booked there for Halloween/her birthday this fall as well, and she's every bit as excited as my daughter is, maybe more!

That said, my Mom looooves Mickey, Disney, magic, seeing my daughter light up over everything, the food, etc. We're even moving to Florida (an hour away from Disney) the first of the year and can't wait to go more often. I would think that for someone her age that has never been and isn't Disney crazy, that Epcot alone would be truly stunning.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I say if you really want them to go, go in the winter (december/jan) where it wont be to hot for them, and make sure to take breaks (together and alone). If they want to stay back at the hotel one day and just chill at the pool and have a nice meal, that let them, they will probally need the break.
We too are going to disney with two sets of grandparents spanning from 60-67. One is in pretty good shape but is very lazy, and the other three are not in good shape at all. FIL has lupus, but refuses to miss out on anything, and no, a scooter is NOT AN OPTION!!! We are just going to make sure we don't kill them with the walking - maybe meet up once or twice a day after their breaks - and the great thing is, they can take the kids back to the hotel so YOU and DH can have some alone-time in the parks!!

 

[Taja]

If you can convince them to go to WDW with you, do it! Depending on the length of your stay, it might be better to have them join you for part of the visit, as a PP suggested.

My parents were very active until about age 80. They slowed down a bit in their late 70s, but they could out-walk me until that point! *LOL* My mother had a congenital heart condition and my father was in constant pain due to back injuries (surgery partially alleviated the pain, but not entirely), but they were determined not to be sidelined from life.

Plan the portion of their visit around them. You think they will love EPCOT--make that their first park. And plan from there, with time for break and to smell the roses. It's a lot to take in the first visit!

And don't be disappointed if they don't absolutely love it and want to return. You want them to share the experience with your family. That's what they will be doing.

 

[disneyandme]

My parents have joined us for almost every trip since our kids were born. Disney is not really my Dad's idea of vacation-- he's more an Amazon Jungle, China, Iran, Israel, etc kind of traveler, but my Mom loves it (she doesn't travel to those other places with him when he goes. She only goes to places with "real facilities/hotels/transportation" as she says). Despite our worries about Dad, he loves it and comes back every time we go. His only request was a real sit down dinner every day. We don't mind and he's willing to pay for it to get a good meal instead of fast food. He rides the rides with the kids- granted no one does thrill rides yet, but he's the one most likely to take them on one when they are ready to go. We always have a blast and anyone who wants to go off and do other things alone can. My mom has mobility issues and had to be convinced about an ECV the first time, but she loves it now and always asks if I have arranged for it.