Suggestions for an 88 year old

[ChereeCA]

Hi we are going to WDW in January with my mother in law. Its her first time at Disney and she is 88. She is mobile but we will be transporting her around in a wheelchair. I'm thinking she will be able to ride small rides like Its a Small World... but do you have any other suggestions for me? I'm so excited to watch her take it all in. Her first pair of ears at 88! How great is that!

Thanks!!

 

[mulan1123]

There is Living with the Land (I think that's the correct name), Spaceship Earth, and maybe Find Nemo (there are couple quick spins but generally nice paced (if not there is the aquarium there for her to look at) at Epcot are nice slow rides.

The Safari at Animal Kingdom.

Jungle Cruise, the People Mover, and maybe the Little Mermaid ride at MK.

Don't forget the shows and the character meet and greets!

I'm sure she'll like the World Showcase at Epcot.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

^^^^these plus the train at MK and AK, walking trails at AK, etc

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Several years ago I brought my mother (who was only 91 at the time). She really loved Epcot, and was able to see why I and my late wife loved Figment so much. Since she was still driving, and I needed an ECV for myself, I "forced" her to use an ECV. When we left the Park she said without the ECV should could not have lasted an hour.

I would suggest taking her to the shows. Any rides that do not have a minimum height requirement would probably be comfortable for her.

 

[tazgirl1981]

Dont forget Carousel of progress at MK She should enjoy that one We are also bringing our grandfather who is 88 and never been to Disney to Disney in January!! So we are on the same planning track as you are We are excited for him to have his first trip to Disney.

 

[ErinTwinmom]

There are more "small" rides at mk than thrill rides. She will have a great time. Do the big musicals at Ak and Hs. At Ak do the safari and maybe the river, its gentle but wet. She will probably want a poncho and shower cap. Old ladies hate getting there hair wet. At hs make sure to do the movie ride and the back lot tour, my grandma loves those. And epcot is very grandma friendly. If she is like mine she will want to skip mission space, test track, and sum of all fears and love everything else.

 

[fairy8i8]

If you can get ahold of a park map, they have all sorts of warnings for each of the rides - heart, beck, pregnant, etc. I suspect that anything a pregnant woman can ride would be alright for for her. The nice thing about Disney is that it was designed so adults could ride with small children, so most of the rides are pretty tame. It's almost easier to say what NOT to do...

 

[Katelly]

My mom and dad are seniors (78 and 82) and at MK they like It's a Small World, Jungle Cruise, People Mover, Carousel of Progress and the parade and shows. Plus, they like to walk around just taking in the sights.

At DHS they like The Great Movie Ride, the Backstage Tour, Indiana Jones and the Streetmosphere people (or whatever they're called) and One Man's Dream. They get a kick out of 50's Prime Time and Sci-Fi.

At Epcot, they always go on The Land ride and my dad loves Test Track. The last time my mom went on Spaceship Earth, the part where you go backwards hurt her back a bit so I don't think she'll do that next trip.

They like just walking around AK and they find it relaxing.

For dinner, they really like the signature restaurants as they tend to be less noisy.

I think it's fantastic when senior citizens go to Disney World and can be kids again. I hope I'm healthy enough at that age to still be going!

I've warned my mom and dad to be careful walking around. On our most recent trip I saw at least three elderly people fall, mostly when they didn't see a curb. I saw someone else fall off their seat on the Disney bus.

Just take it slow and have fun!

 

[snoopy352]

definitely soarin' at epcot.
wouldn't recommend kali river rapids at AK; of all the "thrill" rides i'd put splash mountain as the best option.
POTC at MK too

 

[CarolynFH]

I agree she should also ride Soarin' at Epcot. Both my parents enjoyed it into their 80s, even after my mom needed a wheelchair (because she couldn't walk long distances).

 

[lugnut33]

I realize she might not be able do this, but I love seeing senior citizens heading on to Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Mission Space, & etc. I think that's awesome and I want to be just like them when I get that age.

 

[Thumper_Man]

MK:
Country Bear Jamboree.
Enchanted Tiki Room
The Hall of Presidents
Haunted Mansion
It's A Small World
PhilharMagic
Monster's Inc Laugh Floor
Jungle Cruise
Liberty Square River Boat
Pirates of the Caribbean.
Buzz Light Year. Keep the spinning to a minimum.

Epcot:
I guess the not to do's would be Test Track, Mission Space, Sum of All Thrills and possibly Soarin'. Not ruling out Soarin', just saying a possible maybe.

DHS:
Great Movie Ride
Muppet Vision 3D
Backlot Tour
Toy Story Mania.

AK:
All the animal exhibits
Kilimanjaro Safari
Wildlife Express Train.

All shows like Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, Indiana Jones. are always fun and would be easy on her.

I'm sure she would have fun at character dining meals.

Have fun.

 

[Skywise]

Don't forget Tower of Terror or Aerosmith's Rockit Rollercoaster at DHS!
Expedition Everest?!


Seriously the above posters are correct most of the MK rides should be doable along with any and all of the shows (I'd recommend doing a Wishes cruise or at least the Tomorrowland Terrace dessert party, DHS dinner + Fantasmic, etc).

Some of the rides like the Little Mermaid Ride should be doable too. (There's a moving walkway to get onboard the rides but they can stop those for her).

 

[aebeauregard]

Just want to add a bit of caution about the safari at AK. It can be quite bumpy and rough. I think it's not advised if pregnant, so just a warning. I always forget how rough it can be until I go on it and I'm bouncing around it my seat.

I love this post. My Grandma will be going with my family in March and I want to make sure she has a good time and doesn't feel like she's holding up the rest of the group. It's great to see lists of what we can all do together.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Don't forget Tower of Terror or Aerosmith's Rockit Rollercoaster at DHS!
Expedition Everest?!


Seriously the above posters are correct most of the MK rides should be doable along with any and all of the shows (I'd recommend doing a Wishes cruise or at least the Tomorrowland Terrace dessert party, DHS dinner + Fantasmic, etc).

Some of the rides like the Little Mermaid Ride should be doable too. (There's a moving walkway to get onboard the rides but they can stop those for her).

Ah yes Skywise. How could I forget about the Dessert Party. This would be a good way for her to watch Wishes without being in the crowds.

 

[ZoZo]

Just want to add a bit of caution about the safari at AK. It can be quite bumpy and rough. I think it's not advised if pregnant, so just a warning. I always forget how rough it can be until I go on it and I'm bouncing around it my seat.

This is what I was thinking. You might want to skip it, although it would be a shame not to see the animals. But it really is sort of rough and jerky. I can't imagine either of my parents (82 and 84) going on it. Depends on how frail they are.

Hopefully she could see all of the other animal exhibits outside the safari ride.

 

[conniehar90]

We took my mom when she was 85. She definitely needed the wheelchair even though she didn't need one at home.

She pretty much went on everything that wasn't a thrill ride. There is tons to do!

She LOVED Soarin! She did go on Mission Space on the green side and loved it (my sisters and I tested it out first and decided it was tame enough for her). We thought that Test Track was also probably tame enough but that she would never be able to get out of the low to the ground car so we skipped that.

We also took her to Hoop Dee Doo one night - everyone had a great time!!

 

[PeterPanic]

MK:
Country Bear Jamboree.
Enchanted Tiki Room
The Hall of Presidents
Haunted Mansion
It's A Small World
PhilharMagic
Monster's Inc Laugh Floor
Jungle Cruise
Liberty Square River Boat
Pirates of the Caribbean.
Buzz Light Year. Keep the spinning to a minimum.

Epcot:
I guess the not to do's would be Test Track, Mission Space, Sum of All Thrills and possibly Soarin'. Not ruling out Soarin', just saying a possible maybe.

DHS:
Great Movie Ride
Muppet Vision 3D
Backlot Tour
Toy Story Mania.

AK:
All the animal exhibits
Kilimanjaro Safari
Wildlife Express Train.

All shows like Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, Indiana Jones. are always fun and would be easy on her.

I'm sure she would have fun at character dining meals.

Have fun.

Good list...I would just add.

MK
Actually subtract Buzz
Someone else mentioned People Mover. That belt ramp can be difficult for older folk who tend to have balance problems, but doable if balance is not a problem.
Peter Pan
Little Mermaid
Carousel of Progress
Winnie the Pooh

Epcot
Space Ship Earth
Energy
The Seas with Nemo
The land with Soarin and Living with the land.
The Movie in Canada
The Movie in France
American Adventure
Norway
Mexico
I am only listing the ones with rides, but, of course, all the Pavilions.

DHS add

I'd question Toy Story
The Walt Disney Story
Little Mermaid Show
Indiana Jones Stunt Show
and maybe even Lights, Motors, Action

DAK add

It's tough to be a Bug
The Nemo Show

 

[whitepicketfence]

We brought my husband's grandmother (mid 80"s) for a day trip to Epcot years ago. Kids were little but we lived locally so it was all about Grammy.

She was mobile and refused a wheelchair. If I did it again, I would just get one. She was wiped at the end but a real trooper! We focused on WS and I don't even think we did a ride. She loved the train in Germany, the movies in Canada and France (she was French Canadian) and sitting on a bench and people watching. She cleaned her plate at Rose and Crown and just had a smile on her face all day that still makes me and my husband smile.

I am sure you will have a memorable trip. I am glad we slowed down and need to remember that when we go next time. It was only a day trip and I have so many wonderful memories of watching the boys with their great grandmother just being together. Enjoy your time!

 

[MichiganKris]

We just brought my parents who are 78 and 76. My Dad did a lot of rides, he actually surprised me with how many he road. My Mom loved Buzz Lightyear. That was the only ride she wanted to go on more then once and she is still talking about it six weeks later, we did keep spinning down. She did not like toy story because it was to jerky.