Rides for Grandma

[Wish_I'd_known_Walt]

We are taking 80 yr old grandma on our trip to DW. She will be humming around on a ECV. Darling Wife has plans for grandma to ride many different rides (that is if she's not too stubborn to refuse). I'm just not too optimistic that grandma will do well with certain rides. Grandma is not handicapped, just slow about getting around.
Here is a list of some of the rides DW wants her to ride:

IASW - (my concern is, will she need to be able to step down into the boats.)
Peter Pan
HM - don't both of these have conveyor belts upon which to step to get on ride?
Soarin - I don't remember seeing a senior citizen actually ride this one
POTC - another step into boats concern

Any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

Soarin shouldn't be a problem. We had someone on a ECV in front of us last time we rode it. It's easy to get on and off the Soarin ride. I can see where you would have concerns about the other rides. Haunted Mansion & PP do have a conveyor belts. She could ride the train around Magic Kingdom and the River Boat Ride.

 

[kmb584]

My grandmother is 81, will turn 82 right before our trip next month, and only has trouble with IASW, PoTC, and the 3 Caballeros because the step down into the boats and the low seats are too much for her knees to bear, HM because of how dark it is in the interior queue, and Nemo because, again, the long walk to the boarding area is too dark for her eyes to handle. Soarin' is her absolute favorite ride throughout all of the parks and she has no trouble with Pan. Conveyor belts aren't an issue for her.

 

[sb127]

Haunted mansion should not be any trouble as they actually take you into the exit before you board the ride and will ask if you have trouble with moving walkway. They often stop the ride to load. IASW has boats that are easier to enter just go to the handicapped entrance and they will assist you. Soarin' is easy to get on with an ECV.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

They will not slow down the ride when you are boarding Peter Pan. Pretty sure they cannot more than will not, because every other ride they will. My parents have not had trouble with the others. The step into the boats isn't too drastic. I always take their hand and help them both get in and get out. Other favorites of my parents are the peoplemover, Winnie the Pooh, Spaceship Earth, Jungle Cruise. Both IASW and JC, can board the scooter, if that would be easier. You have to wait longer sometimes though, because there are only a couple boats that can do that,

 

[Wish_I'd_known_Walt]

Ok, great! Thanks for everyone's input. I appreciate it.

 

[maryj11]

I know I have trouble stepping in and out of the HM it goes pretty fast. Soarin should be fine.

 

[disnut8]

We are taking 80 yr old grandma on our trip to DW. She will be humming around on a ECV. Darling Wife has plans for grandma to ride many different rides (that is if she's not too stubborn to refuse). I'm just not too optimistic that grandma will do well with certain rides. Grandma is not handicapped, just slow about getting around.
Here is a list of some of the rides DW wants her to ride:

IASW - (my concern is, will she need to be able to step down into the boats.)
Peter Pan
HM - don't both of these have conveyor belts upon which to step to get on ride?
Soarin - I don't remember seeing a senior citizen actually ride this one
POTC - another step into boats concern

Any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

Last time we were at Disney World with my Dad, he was 82 and in a wheelchair. He couldn't walk very well at all (he had MAS) but, he did the best he could. My stepmother helped him by stepping down in the boats first and he would stand the best he could and she would help him step down. Having an extra adult helps quite a bit so you should be fine. My dad was handicapped - he could not walk without wobbling. And that last trip to Disney World still brings a smile to my face because he was doing what he could do when he knew his life was limited.

 

[minnie mum]

IASW - (my concern is, will she need to be able to step down into the boats.)
Peter Pan
HM - don't both of these have conveyor belts upon which to step to get on ride?
Soarin - I don't remember seeing a senior citizen actually ride this one
POTC - another step into boats concern

As a senior with mobility problems of my own, I'll share my experiences with these rides.

IASW, POTC ,JC, LWTL are all boat rides requiring 2 steps down ( and back up again). All I needed was a steadying strong hand. D H would go first and give me his hand. If you have an adult on either side of her, she should be able to manage, if she can do 2 stair steps at home. If she can't do steps at all, there are HA boats that she can use on IASW and JC. LWTL, too, I think.

Peter Pan, HM, and Nemo, and SSE are all omnimover type rides where you board from a moving conveyor belt. All but PP can have the belt stopped for boarding or exiting if she needs a lot of time. Maybe try one of the others before attempting PP.

Soarin shouldn't be a problem. She would just need to take 1-2 steps from her ecv to the ride seat, and strap herself in. You or the CM would then move the ecv aside.

You should spend some time on the disABILITIES board. There is a FAQ sticky with excellent information about all accessibility questions regarding the parks, resorts and transportation at WDW.

 

[Wish_I'd_known_Walt]

N

As a senior with mobility problems of my own, I'll share my experiences with these rides.

IASW, POTC ,JC, LWTL are all boat rides requiring 2 steps down ( and back up again). All I needed was a steadying strong hand. D H would go first and give me his hand. If you have an adult on either side of her, she should be able to manage, if she can do 2 stair steps at home. If she can't do steps at all, there are HA boats that she can use on IASW and JC. LWTL, too, I think.

Peter Pan, HM, and Nemo, and SSE are all omnimover type rides where you board from a moving conveyor belt. All but PP can have the belt stopped for boarding or exiting if she needs a lot of time. Maybe try one of the others before attempting PP.

Soarin shouldn't be a problem. She would just need to take 1-2 steps from her ecv to the ride seat, and strap herself in. You or the CM would then move the ecv aside.

You should spend some time on the disABILITIES board. There is a FAQ sticky with excellent information about all accessibility questions regarding the parks, resorts and transportation at WDW.

Thank you Minnie mum. I appreciate the input.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Sorry I'm not laughing at you or anyone but when I saw the title of this thread it just made me laugh!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

as older person using ECV Soarin had me sit I an end of row seat and had ECV just clear so ride could go up and back down. I ride everything but spinning rides even the Merry go round and Dumbo do me in but can ride Tower of Terror with the best of them. as others have said the steps down in the boats is the hardest, having adult member of your party who can help her in first then her and if you have another adult behind her, the best way to handle. just remember that she will have to change to wheelchair at Pirates and a few other rides. Ps does she use a cane to help with balance at hoe?

 

[Julylady]

My Mom is 80 and does all the rides you mentioned. She just needs a steadying hand to help her balance.

 

[Simba's Mom]

My Dad was 80 at WDW and he especially loved Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land. Mom loved Pangani Forest Trail in Animal Kingdom and the Meerkats.

 

[sharadoc]

Check for handicap entrances where the CMs can help with boarding issues. I have very bad knees and I skip IASW, POTC, and Mexico boats for the tight leg room. Not worth the spectacle.

 

[ttintagel]

For HM and SSE - tell every Cast Member, starting with the very first one that you meet, that you will need to have the moving walkway slowed down. Don't wait until you actually get to the moving walkway. They may need to radio ahead or reroute you another way.