Please help; pleasing elderly parents (88+)

[ems_mom]

My in-laws will be at their FL home during our upcoming trip. We do see them for at least 1-2 weeks in the summer and multiple weekends at their summer home in O.C., MD. My FIL has been part of my family for 27+ yrs. and my new MIL for 7 yrs. and I love them both.

The problem: We all want to get together at least one day on our upcoming trip to WDW. (I kind of put my foot down with my DH, they would be joining us rather than us sleeping for a night on an air mattress. We even offered to book them a night at a DVC resort with our points, as they don't drive at night, thank goodness. They turned down our offer.)

We are going during F&W and I have a hard and fast itinerary during the week. We have suggested having a "resort" day over the weekend...tour, boat rental, lunch, monorail tour, visit to BLT lounge, etc. But they have seasonal passes which they rarely use and feel our visit is the perfect time to use them.

BUT, we all know Epcot for sure and probably MK will be crazy busy over the weekend. If they really insist on a park I am going to push for DHS based on DISer's advice. I just wish they understood how crowded it will be and that I really can't guarantee DFIL will get his ECV. Ahh!!

 

[mommy2allgirls]

What about renting an ECV for that day? That way that stress is gone/

 

[DisneyWisher]

DHS on weekends is usually a bad idea. Saturday is usually EMH and possibly Fantasmic on Sunday. Epcot is usually a better bet. Also rent the scooter offsite if you can. A good way to get them to stay overnight is to book a breakfast and tell them you and I'm guessing grandkids want them there. (using eticket app and it doesn't show signatures or other info). Maybe that will help convince them to stay overnight.

 

[nytimez]

They're 88+. Let them do whatever they want. Seriously.

 

[ems_mom]

Good point...thanks for reminding me. They're just so full of "vim and vigor" I forget to cherish every moment. Thank you.

 

[cbg1027]

When exactly are you going? You mentioned F & W and that is not usually a very crowded time of year.

I was there during Halloween weekend last year and even though it was F & W, it seemed very low crowds to me. I never waited more than a few minutes at a food booth. We found places to sit most of the time too.

I think Epcot would the best bet since you can take it easy and meander around the WS and munch and nibble. I'm going to with my 81 year old Grandmother and that's her favorite thing to do at Disney!

Also, if you're worried about them running out of ECV's, go first thing in the morning when the park opens, then you will be sure to get one. Or you could rent from an off site vendor.

 

[DisneyWisher]

They're 88+. Let them do whatever they want. Seriously.

I agree except for them staying over, how far do they live from Disney?

 

[ems_mom]

Sorry, we are leaving 10/10 of Columbus day weekend and anticipate big crowds. I love my FIL almost more than my DH! He is super special to me and I want his visit to be as smooth as possible. We will rent him an ECV off site no problem. I just don't want him to get frustrated with the crowds.

 

[ems_mom]

They live winters in Winterhaven.

 

[nytimez]

Sorry, we are leaving 10/10 of Columbus day weekend and anticipate big crowds. I love my FIL almost more than my DH! He is super special to me and I want his visit to be as smooth as possible. We will rent him an ECV off site no problem. I just don't want him to get frustrated with the crowds.

I agree with cbg1027 -- I'm not picturing this is a major crowd period, even for F&W. Do you have a touring plans subscription?

I think with a mild amount of planning you can get them to where they want to go, and everyone can enjoy it.

 

[MelissathePooh]

If its F&W and you're thinking EPCOT for the weekend, reconsider. It will be packed. The touring plan guide things usually just consider attractions in the mix and F&W throws them for a loop. Locals, off duty CM's, general guests - its nuts at EPCOT on the weekends during F&W. At least around WS.

 

[dmccarty]

We were at F&W last year and it was busiest at night on Friday and Saturday. The crowds were not as bad during the day.

Rent the ECV offsite. Disney is $50 for a day plus $20 key fee that is refunded when you return the ECV with a key. The nonDisney ECV rental I just checked was $30 a day with a $5 charge to process the rental.

Later,
Dan

 

[SSR]

We were at F&W last year and it was busiest at night on Friday and Saturday. The crowds were not as bad during the day.

Rent the ECV offsite. Disney is $50 for a day plus $20 key fee that is refunded when you return the ECV with a key. The nonDisney ECV rental I just checked was $30 a day with a $5 charge to process the rental.

Later,
Dan

One point I'd like to throw in re: where to rent ECV's (as we're going through this issue right now). Our parents (high 80's) are relatively mobile/active. However, they can't walk for 10 miles/5 hours in the parks. Even though the on-site rentals are more expensive, we discussed and determined that it will be more of a pain/stress on them to have to use the ECVs on the buses (loading, unloading, waiting for another bus if there are no spots, etc.). If you rent offsite, they'll have to deal with buses. So, I just wanted to throw that out there in case they're mobile enough to get to the parks, and you don't want to have to deal with the bus/ECV issue. We determined that the extra cost was worth that freedom, for us.

 

[twocat]

If its F&W and you're thinking EPCOT for the weekend, reconsider. It will be packed. The touring plan guide things usually just consider attractions in the mix and F&W throws them for a loop. Locals, off duty CM's, general guests - its nuts at EPCOT on the weekends during F&W. At least around WS.

I completely agree with this. It will be a madhouse during the weekends for F and W. By 1 pm the lines for the food booths are very long. I did F and W on a weekend once and I will never do it again.

 

[kaligal]

They're 88+. Let them do whatever they want. Seriously.

I agree.

If it were me, I'd try to help them do what they wanted to do. I hope that when I'm 88+, someone will help me to do the thing I want to do...if I need the help.

What I would not do is tell them why I think their ideas are bad ones...or why I think they'll be happier doing something I thought up.

Most of the DIS will tell you to do what you want because it is your vacation and you (and your children) are the most important things on the planet. PLUS, you've done all this research and you know better.

I say help the old people to do what they want to do. I say it to the 1000th power if they happen to be the old people who once helped you to do the things you wanted to do while they put their own desires on the back burner. Time to bring their wishes to the front burner.

But you can be the super-smart uber-planner who knows what is best for everyone and pushes everyone fall in line with their plan.

Up to you.

 

[WDSearcher]

They're 88+. Let them do whatever they want. Seriously.

I would tend to agree with this. And really ... compromise a little! I know that you have a "hard and fast schedule" for during the week, but come on. If having them join you on, say, a Wednesday instead of on the weekend makes it a better experience for everyone, couldn't you deviate from your schedule just this once, for these octogenarians that you love? People get so caught up in their schedules and "must dos" and touring plans that they forget that life exists around the itinerary too.

 

[pensgirl10]

I didn't take the original post AT ALL as someone intent on micromanaging every moment of the day. But as someone concerned about the stamina and comfort of her elderly family members.

Our trip was way too much for my 69-year-old mom and I wish I'd kept things a little more low-key so I sympathize.