Old Folks at Disney

[Jayne]

My sister, my son and I are treating my parents to a Christmas trip to OKW on 14th December and we're all really looking forward to it. Just one niggle though - my Dad's 70 and not so nimble on the old feet, he thinks the walking will be a lot. We've planned to come and go from parks as we please and not stay too long, but there are times when you want to see all that's going on. Does anyone have any tips to make it easier on him as we all know a day at Disney can equate to a marathon walk!

 

[wasabi girl]

I am taking my parents in September, my Dad is 72 and has a blood disorder that really limits his walking...I plan to rent him one of the scooters...you may want to check into it, I think wheelchairs are also available. I expect my dad to complain a bit but he really isn't up to walking miles and miles each day, so this seemed like the best solution for us.

 

[mikki.young]

We took the inlaws a few years ago to OKW and they loved it. We all thought it would be too much for them but they often decided to do their own thing. They did wear themselves out a bit one day by going to all 4 parks in one day - we told them that even we didn't do that much!

I think we stuck to gether to start with and then they decided they could easily cope with the transport options and decided to go exploring. FiL was not a man to agree to a wheelchair even though it would have been a good idea!

 

[Ali and boyz]

we took my mum and dad this year who ar 73 and 75 and to be honest the walking was a bit to much for them and we didn't over do it. if he will allow it a wheelchair is a good idea to be honest there is loads of people in wheelchairs

 

[Hilary]

Welcome to the DIS boards, Jayne

we all know a day at Disney can equate to a marathon walk!

Yes, but it doesn't have to

The fact that you'll be onsite will make it easy for your dad to go back to the resort for a rest if he wants one, even if the rest of you are still pounding the parks.

If it's their first time (sounds as though it is), you'll probably all want to stick together for the first few days but, once they've got to know their way around a little, they might want to go at a different pace from the rest of you some of the time. You could always arrange to meet up for a meal later in the day to make sure you don't end up having completely separate holidays!

I think the key to cutting down on the mileage as much as possible is to plan your park strategy so that you try to take in everything you want to see without zig-zagging across the park any more than necessary - easier said than done, I know!

I took my mum when she was 76 and we had a great trip with lots of good memories. I hope you all do, too.

 

[daffy dill]

The scooters are a great idea and if you have any small children they will love getting a spin with grandad but whatever you decide to do i bet you have a ball

 

[Jayne]

I've been reading through your replies and think the scooters are a great idea also meeting as a group for dinner after a day of doing our own things. Thanks very much for all your help and I hope you all have fab holidays at Disney too.

 

[castanea1985]

Hi Jayne,
My mum is 68 next month and came with us last summer. She loved it!! She had a brain tumor out a couple of years and has no hearing/balance nerve on one side, and has a tendancy to dizziness etc.. but no holding her back!
She bought herself some crocs from Dillards as soon as we arrived, and did a lot of 'sitting' whilst the more 'daring' of us went on the bigger rides. It worked out very well!!
Just shows that a party aged from teens to 'oldies' can enjoy disney together!!
Enjoy!!
Tracy

 

[Jayne]

Hi Tracy,
Thanks for taking the time to reply with yet another option for my Dad. I'm so glad your Mum is fine now and sharing wonderful times with you all. (Memories are our greatest gift.)
I'm not sure what a croc is, so if you wouldn't mind posting again i'd be grateful to find out! It sound a really good idea.
By the way, my "little boy" looks similar to yours and towers over me at 14, and I have a twin sister called Tracy - great coincidences!
Thanks again
Jayne

 

[carolfoy]

When we went two years ago we had Reggie with us, who was 72 and couldn't walk very far at all, he hired an ECV for most of the days and a manual wheelchair the rest of the time, WDW is SO accessable and he didn't miss out on anything. He also had a couple of days where he stayed by the pool in the hotel and we went back and collected him for that evenings entertainment.

 

[castanea1985]

Hi Jayne

Here is the link for Crocs... they are so cumfy!!

http://www.crocs.com/


They are £30 here in the UK, but about $30 in Dillards (work out about £18/19).

With regards to my 'little boy' - can't keep him full- he eats for England!!

Tracy

 

[WDWfan uk]

Hi Jayne!

I'd recommend looking at the following page - you could use the offsite companies to rent an ECV and these will drop off and pick up at your resort.

Disney have a limited amount of ECVs so can run out.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disabmobility.htm#wchair

If you'd prefer just to hire from the parks, if and when your father finds it too much for him, arrive for opening to be sure of getting a rental. It is worthwhile as these parks are large - it's like renting the strollers for small children. When we first took the boys and had a very active 4 yr old, we never thought he wouldn't cope with the walking but it soon starts to get very frustrating trying to get round if it is too much and you are trying to go at the slow pace of the smaller/older person.