Questions for almost seniors

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Hi,

We will be traveling to WDW in a couple weeks with my parents and mother in law. They are all late 50's early 60's. Which rides will be too rough? I know they will not want to ride any of the rollercoasters, but how about other rides I have not thought of? I don't want to give them any false information, I want them to have a good time and not worry about any rides that would be too rough.

For instance, how about Test Track. They way I remember it, it was very smooth and the thrill was really just going fast at the end. My then four year old loved it. But, I may not be remembering well since it was two years ago.

Thanks for any advice~!

 

[jctwizzer]

Well, we're older than anyone you mentioned and we go on all the rides, every trip. Let them decide on their own.

 

[webmomom]

both my DH and my self are in the age group you mentioned the older group and we go on all of the rides. It is up to the person hemselves what they will like or not. My MIL would never get on a rollercoaster, but we will. Leave it up to them, they might be older but they are not dead.

 

[Dan Murphy]

60 here and I go on them all, at WDW, not all at Universal. It really depends on their own mental state, fear and all, as well as physical condition. Big Thunder and Space can be a bit jerky, Tower of T makes me a bit light-headed as I walk off through the shop at the end, Mission Space is fine for most, no jerks or anything, but possible motion illness, Body Wars bothers some, motion wise. Even Safari can be pretty rocky at times. it really depends on their make-up, mental and physical. I do KNOW though, they will have a wonderful time, being kids again. Enjoy.

 

[Trish5768]

My Mom is 58 and she rides everything. As a matter of fact, she puts me to shame when it comes to ToT, RnR, Hulk, Dueling Dragons etc. I've only rode ToT twice and the rest I haven't even tried. (well I got as far as the chicken exit on RnR) They will have a blast and like Dan said they know their limitations.

 

[Bill From PA]

We took my 78 yr. old Mom on the Tower of Terror this March, and she needed one of those motorized scooters to get around the parks. Some 18 year olds are afraid of Dumbo and some 80 year olds sky dive.

Bill From PA

 

[harold burns]

I am 69 and Have been going for the last 10 years. If it moves I ride it. Probably because I was a Thud driver in VietNam

 

[spiceycat]

mother is 82 - she rides everything that doesn't jerk her back - so no RR and I didn't think she would appreciate test track.

I am definitely doing Mission to Space with her - next week!!! She loves T o T, I hate Dumbo and that other ride outside - big time -she loves them - would do them more often if I would.

(I don't like heights) Space Mountain is in a building - ThunderRR is outside but only do that one at night - Splash Mountain is probably the worst - but I just don't look.....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My sister is older than your parents and she goes on everything. She usually just does RnR once since it's not her favorite ride, but she rides Dueling Dragons multiple times. She didn't feel real well after Mission:Space and may not ride that this next trip, but I think she'd be fine after taking a ginger capsule.

spiceycat, I'm going with my 81yo mom in a couple weeks and am planning to do basically what you said. RnR is out, as is Space MT, Test Track (she's had hip replacements and it would be hard for her to get in and out of the cars), Big Thunder. Any other hints?

I think she'll enjoy Tower of Terror and as long as I don't think she's prone to motion sickness, M:S.

T&B

 

[ILUVDXL]

DH and I are in that age group. He goes on everything. I don't, not because of age but because I'm so low-tech and a bit clostophobic. Even as a kid I didn't like dark rides or rollercoasters. But we did go horseback riding a couple of weeks ago.

 

[spiceycat]

mother does like the dark rides - Pirates of Carrbiean because of the dark tunnel - of course that was before she got her eyes fixed - might try it this time!!!

Mother has a good time at WDW and wants to do everything she can!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm in that age group, and one ride that's too rough for me is Goofy's Barnstormer. Go figure! It just seems too "jerky". But I love Test Track.

 

[foxfire]

My mom & dad went on Star Tours with us and the jerkiness really bothered their necks. From then on, any jerky ride was one they didn't want to risk.

 

[antmaril]

I'm 53 and I do everything except Mission Space and Body Wars. My aunt was with us last year - 85 at the time - she rode Test Track and loved it.

I do all the rides at Universal including Hulk and Dueling Dragons.

You are as young as you feel.

 

[Chuck S]

My Mom is 80, she is not fond of drops or inversions, so no Tower of Terror of Rocking Roller Coaster. Because the cars at Space Mtn are difficult for her to get into at WDW (the Disneyland version she rode) she doesn;t do that at WDW, either. Pretty much everything else she rides and enjoys, including Mission Space, Big Thunder and Primevil Whirl.

I agree, unless your folks are to the point they need special assistance due to other health problems, let them go and have a good time and make their own decisions. Now I'm picturing in my mind a WDW commercial in the making...

Family of multiple generatons visiting WDW, the grandparents dutifully looking after the kids and riding the "kiddie" rides, returning to the rooms in the evening.

The Grandkids and their parents turn in for the noght...grandparents "sneeking" out, saying "Boy, I thought they'd never go to sleep!" then the picture changes to the Tower of Terror, the elevator full of Senior Citizens with big smiles.

 

[BarbaraK]

My two sisters and myself do almost all the rides at WDW. The only ones we stay clear of are Mission: Space and Space Mountain. The reason we don't ride Space Mountain is because all three of us have bad knees and it's very difficult to get in and out of the cars.
We ride test track every time we visit WDW and love it. My oldest sister is 73 and my youngest sister is 65, so I guess we qualify for seniors.
By the way my oldest sister and my youngest sister love rock n' roller coaster.
We leave is 2 weeks for our annual visit and we're very excited. I'm sure you will have a magical time at WDW.

Barbarak

 

[Scrappymags]

If your folks don't have any health issues, then I don't see any reason why they can't ride everything!! I'm going with my folks, 65 & 63 in Dec. I'm glad I've ridden most everything cause they do have health stuff. Dad has a bad back and some heart issues. Mom has a bum hip. So Test Track, as I recall was a bit "herky jerky" so I won't recommend it for either of them. But I see no reason why both of them can't go on Splash Mountain. That drop is really not that big. So if it's health issues, then use your best judgement, but otherwise - they should be fine!

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Thanks for all the great responses. I should have been a bit more specific. My mother wouldn't go on Thunder Mountain when I was just a kid, so I know she won't now. It is not so much an age thing - I know 60 isn't ancient, sorry if I sounded that way - LOL!

So, Test Track does have some jerky parts? I just want to be able to inform them correctly. My Mom has had some back problems, so anything too jerky would be out.

And Chuck - I LOVE your idea for a commercial! I think you should pitch it to Disney advertising!

Thanks again - I'm finally in the teens!

 

[goofyernmost]

Unless they have some major health problem, nothing is out of range. I am 57 and go on everything and I mean everything. Compared to 20's and 30's it sounds old but things haven't started to fall off at this point, at least not today.

It's tough enough growing older...please don't rush it. I am still young enough to embarrass my grown children by my giddy childish behavior in the parks.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

goofyernmost, with a name like yours I bet you do embarrass your grown children. That's a good thing, BTW.

I know that my sister can even embarrass me (there was a certain incident with magnetic flashing "buttons" that I'd gotten at Oriental Trading...people are still talking about that!). Together my sister and I are pretty wacky and we might just embarrass our mother at WDW next month. hehehe

T&B