Planning a Disney Trip for Family w/Seniors--HELP!!!

[VolvoManiac850]

I am currently in the initial planning stages of a Disney trip. My grandparents are getting quite old and want to take one more trip, but they're not sure if they can do it, so I figure I'll go here for advice.

Both last visited Disney in 2000 and got around OK, but they were younger and healthier at the time. My mom will also be going, and there's about a 95% chance I will be coming as well.

Here's a breakdown of who's coming along...

Grandpa--84 years old, had a stroke over a year ago. He can't drive anymore, walks very slowly, processes things much slower than he did just a few years ago (he was an engineer and, even just a few years ago, was very sharp). On his previous trip (14 years ago), he was very adventurous and actually rode Tower of Terror with me--and enjoyed it immensely!! He's too proud to ever own his own wheelchair but is fall-prone. We will almost certainly get him one for the parks. He suffers from mild dementia.

Grandma--will be 83 next month, has Type II Diabetes and vision issues (but can still drive). Has a lot of trouble getting around and has a cane, but is too proud to use it. She will almost certainly need a wheelchair for the parks as well (do they make doubles like they do strollers?) and hopes to get out more than she did in 2000 (she spent a good portion of the day in a hotel room--she tends to sleep late). Worth noting--she's a lifelong Disney fanatic who still remembers seeing Snow White in the theater in the 30s!! She also suffers from mild dementia.

Mom--age 59, in good health. No health issues to speak of, but does get stressed taking care of her aging parents. Last went to Disney in 2008 with me for a Mother's Day trip.

Me--age 27, in good health. Also last in Disney in 2008. One sidenote--I have given up beef (except for steak) and chicken since my last trip and don't eat many processed foods, so dining may be a bit harder.

There is a possibility my 64 year old uncle (in good health) may come. However, we cannot bank on that happening because of his always changing work schedules.

Although I would like to take my best friends along (and, if things go well with this girl I've been seeing, a significant other), I am thinking of keeping this a family trip and going with my friends at a later time (or in place of this trip if the family decides not to go).


Now, on to what we absolutely want to do...

--Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios (which I admittedly call MGM out of habit) are the three parks we care most about. Although I love Blizzard Beach, I realize I'll probably have to fly solo there if I'm with the family (I'm the only hydrophilic one in the family). We don't really care about Animal Kingdom (although I do love the Everest coaster) since the Pittsburgh Zoo (where we are from) is every bit as good in terms of animals.

--We want to stay at a good hotel. Grandma has mentioned Grand Floridian, I've brought up Yacht Club. We have stayed at both before, but this was a while ago (1989 for GF, 1995 for YC). The value resorts are out of the question if Grandma is coming along.

--In terms of meals, we would want a few good ones. The restaurants I have on our "must" list are Yachtsman Steakhouse, Flying Fish Cafe, and Biergarten. I think Spoodles changed names; it's another highly-regarded one on my list. I don't particularly want to eat at the fast food counters and will likely be bringing along some stuff to eat in a hotel room (shredded wheat cereal, rye bread, peanut butter, fresh veggies, fruit, etc--hoping I can buy a gallon of milk somewhere around WDW).

--One of my favorite areas is the Boardwalk, and I know that's a place my grandparents would want to visit as well. (I'd bring up Boardwalk as a hotel, but we stayed there last time they went in 2000 and want to change things up--that being said, I did like the hotel and still have my Boardwalk bellhop Mickey on my nightstand--no shame in admitting that as a 27 year old dude on a Disney board). My question--how is it for accessibility?

--If I do bring friends and/or girlfriend, I would like to go to Jelly Rolls--is it still there? Is it bad if I can't dance well? (I'd be going more for the music).

DURATION--I'm thinking 4 total days for exploring the parks. This would give one day for each of the major parks and one to fill in blanks/use as a rain day. My thought is to get park hopper passes. This would amount to five nights, since the night we arrive would likely just be unpacking, dinner, and maybe catching a firework show or something.

OK--now for the big question--COST.

--Everyone in my family is a member of AAA. We have used them before to plan Disney trips but I can't find much on the regional website for packages or the like. I'm self-employed and my schedule often prohibits me from making lengthy stops at places like AAA.

--Grandma doesn't fly. Therefore, we will be driving from Pittsburgh. We will spend a night in Charlotte, NC and then make it to Orlando on the next day, probably arriving sometime in the late afternoon or early evening.

--For wheelchairs, is it better to bring your own or rent from Disney? We don't own any but may need them in the coming years. Should we make the investment or just rent?

--As stated, a meal plan would be a huge waste of money for some of us (particularly me). Is it possible to get it for some people in the party and not others?

--Along the same line--are some restaurants still "two points" on the meal plan? I remember Yachtsman was two points last go-round in 2008.

Finally, ACCESSIBILITY...

--How good is the Disney transit system for wheelchairs? We have relied heavily on the boats at Yacht Club/Beach Club/Boardwalk on past trips and usually take the bus or drive elsewhere. I am currently thinking of driving everywhere and just keeping the wheelchairs stored in our SUV, but if we "hop" between a park given days and have them, would the boats and/or buses be conducive to these?

--We don't need any special accommodations in the hotel rooms. Currently, I'm thinking my mom and I will each room with one grandparent so we can be there in case anything happens.

--What attractions are off-limits to people who are in wheelchairs or have limited accessibility? Grandma and Grandpa should experience Disney to its fullest; I don't think they will be able to make a trip for much longer.


OK--that's a lot of questions--so hopefully there are some good answers here!!!

 

[kpgriswold]

Good on you for being your family planner! It sounds like your family will have a great time together. I also have traveled with seniors, though not as old as your grandparents, and I love watching them have fun.

If you plan to spend most of your time in MK and Epcot, the Grand Floridian is a great choice, as are the Poly and the Comtemporary. The monorail is very wheelchair friendly! Be careful with any of the resorts that rely on boats, as these are sometimes difficult to navigate with a chair.

All of the parks offer wheelchairs and EVCs (electric scooters) for rent. I think it's about $10/day and $50/ day respectively. If your grandparents can do some walking, I think this is a better choice than having to haul your own from PA, esp if they don't already own one.

Restuarant portions tend to be huge. If your mom and grandparents are light eaters, a meal plan doesn't make economic sense. Even with my mob of hungry teenagers, we sometimes only break even. And yes, if you buy one, everyone in the room needs to be on it.

You didn't ask, but if you can, plan your trip for the late fall or winter. Summer heat and humidity is too much for many seniors, and spring is mobbed by students. Having lower crowd levels will make it easier to get around and provide a more enjoyable time for your family.

And one more hint: if you can swing it, send your mom to the spa at the
Grand Floridian for an afternoon by herself. Being a caregiver is incredibly stressful, and she could use some pampering and time to herself.

 

[brymolmom]

My best advice for traveling with older people:

If possible to have 2 more-able-bodied adults present, do it. Then rent manual wheelchairs for the older ones if mobility is a potential issue. This makes waiting in lines easy (they can sit). This also removes the potential issue of being able to handle ECV's (they are actually tough if you're not used to it).

If they are able to ge to the bus and ride to the park to meet you. You and your mom (especially after the first day or two) might want to head to the park earlier and have them meet you. That way you can do more thrill rides (if they aren't able to do them) and also gives them a more leisurely morning and they can take their time and just call you when they get to the park. That's what we did with the grandparents on last visit. On day 3 they decided they didn't want to get up as early as we did - so they came to the park by 10- 11. We younger ones did all the thrill rides when we got there and then did all the shows when the grandparents showed up.

 

[VolvoManiac850]

A big thanks to both of you for the replies!!!

Kpgrisworld--to follow up to your post...

1. Sounds like it's Grand Floridian for the hotel. I wouldn't mind either Polynesian or Contemporary, but Grandma wants to live like a queen (and drain our wallets...)

2. Everyone in my family is a light eater, especially me. I tried to talk my mom out of the meal plan last time, but she wanted to get it. I actually got sick from the last Disney breakfast I ate in 2008 so I'm going to stay away from those anyway.

3. We will be going the second week of June. I do like the fall for going, but my job is pretty inflexible (I build in only three vacation weeks--second week of June, last week of August, and Christmas week). Self-employment has its perks, but time off isn't one of them. We have taken two trips this week in the past (1995 and 2000) and both were OK weather-wise, so I'm hoping for a three-peat. (FWIW, I'm an educational consultant and private tutor/enrichment facilitator).

4. I love the spa idea!! I could drop my mom off there and then go to Blizzard Beach, so it would work for both of us (plus my grandparents could get their afternoon nap in).

Brymolmom--to follow up to your post...

I like this idea and hopefully it would be an incentive for my uncle to come. He actually lives in Miami but, as I said before, I'm not sure of his schedule yet (I don't think he knows either). My mom isn't big into thrill rides, so I could go ahead and ride them solo (the singles line worked well in 08 and got me a few front seats) so I think we could do this with only one extra adult. Now I've got to run this past my uncle and hope he has some money on him for the trip.

We have a very small family so it's tough--I don't have any siblings and both my mom and uncle are divorced. Hopefully that last sentence wasn't depressing because this is a board about Disney, and Disney is supposed to cure that stuff!!


Any other ideas are greatly appreciated. This will be my seventh Disney trip and third as a stakeholder in the planning process, but this is the first time I've been the primary planner, so any help with the little things is welcome.

 

[RumpleMom]

I suggest renting 2 wheelchairs from Best Price Mobility. They are a company that Disney allows to delivery to Bell Services without you having to be physically there. Disney wheelchairs are very large. If the grandparents aren't pooh--sized, then these chairs are easier to use.

You won't have room for 2 wheelchairs and luggage driving from PA.

You will need someone to push each chair, the grandparents won't be able to do it themselves.

Look into DVC at the Grand Floridian- you will have a kitchen which might help for different eating schedules.

DVC at Bay Lake Tower would allow you to walk to the Magic Kingdom.