suggestions needed for older parents

[snoopy352]

We are planning a trip for June. Two days in the parks. Travel/MK/day off/epcot/travel to other side of florida

myself
wife
DD8
parents are 87 and 84

my dad is healthy but walks slow
my mom has temporary sciatic nerve pain that is causing her great discomfort. she is in PT now and has noticed some improvement.

If the trip were next week, no brainer that she needs ECV. but unsure of what to do for june. obviously we can wait until the week of to see how everyone is doing.

Questions:

1.) if we get one for one parent, should we get one for the other parent? i am thinking yes but not sure if someone who is just older and slow would qualify.

2.) if we rent from Disney, which i want to do i think, do we have to do it after the park opens inside the park? my family is used to RD and while I know it won't be the same with my parents, it seems crazy to think we would have to spend the first 45 minutes or so in the park renting an ECV.

(If we do have to give up time to rent the ECV, should we consider renting elsewhere first?)

Any other pieces of info or advice are greatly appreciated!

TIA

 

[Gracie09]

Hi -
there is no "qualifying" for an ECV as long as you are at least 18. So I, a relatively healthy 30 something, can walk up and rent an ecv.

I would probably rent for both of them, unless your mother is substantially improved. We walked around 10 miles a day our last trip and I was tired at the end of the day. The ECV would allow them to keep up with everyone and not feel like they were dragging people behind. That said they don't have to stay in it all the time. They can park it and walk around a bit and then use it to get to the next section etc.

I would look at renting off site because 1) its cheaper and 2) its yours for the entire time you are there. You can take it back to your room (and the walk to and from the buses can be long).

But if you do get two be warned that some buses can only carry two, so if someone is ahead of you on line, you may have to split up or take the next bus.

 

[JennyDrake]

I have been 3x as a traveling companion to a senior w/ mobility issues. Take my (free) advice and RENT TWO ECVs FROM AN OFF SITE VENDOR. ( Love Walker Mobility.)

Even if all the one parent does is walk slowly, the sheer amount of walking at WDW can do in a person without any issues. Just walking from the resort or parking to the park entrance can be exhausting-- and never mind The Heat. If things are going well, they can always park the ECV and walk for as long as tolerated. In June, one a of busiest months, there is a chance that WDW will run out of ECV before you get one--OR if you decide to park hop. If you opt for eating at a resort, you will not have transportation if you are using a park ECV.

Renting off site, they can meet you at your resort the night before so you are all set to go in the morning.

 

[Bete]

A couple of things you need to know. It still would be cheaper renting offsite for a scooter or scooters but there is usually a 3 day minimum. I would absolutely do scooters for both parents. Your parents will last much longer with scooters.

If you plan to drive to the parks having two scooters can be tough; unless, you have a large van. Using Disney transportation may cause an issue of not getting both scooters on at the same time. You may have to wait for an additional bus or whatever to get both of them on at the same time.

I would have both of them practice on scooters, too. You can use the grocery store scooters to get free practice. Those scooters are actually harder to use, but it's still good to practice. You may want to consider a local zoo where you can rent a scooter for a day and get good practice that way.

Think about helping the parents with the scooters if it gets to be too much for them to get it on and off the bus. That's probably the hardest part. Monorails are easier to board on and off and the ferries are not too hard with scooters, either.

Plan your day to mix up rides and shows and don't try to do ride after ride after ride. The shows are a way to rest.

 

[SueM in MN]

Besides. What the others have posted, I've got some questions to ask yourself and some other things to think about

If you are planning on getting there at rope drop, you should not run into the problem of not having ECVs and you should not have to use up 45 minutes renting one.

How is their vision, hearing and reaction time?
The ECV driver needs to be alert at all times and ready to stop. People veer or wander into your path very quickly and it is up to the ECV driver to stop in time and avoid them.
Most older people have some changes in vision, hearing, reaction time that will affect their ability to maneuver quickly.

How do they feel about using a scooter?
If they no longer drive a car, or just drive in their own familiar little area, they may feel very uncomfortable driving a motorized vehicle in an area with almost no 'rules of the road', no lane markers and pedestrians all over.

Even if they are OK with using a scooter, how would they feel about using it in MK?
That is one place my FIL refused to use one, even though he was experienced and was OK using it in the other parks. MK is very busy, very congested and lots of children. There is more chance for people getting into your path.
If they have not used an ECV before, MK is a harder place to start since it is more busy and tighter spaces.

How would they feel about being pushed instead of being independent in an ECV. Some people really don't like anyone else pushing them and would rather drive.
Others feel they don't get a chance to see anything if they are driving cn ECV becsuse they are having to spend all their attention on driving (think about how it is to be a passenger in a car on a trip, rather than the driver).

Using an ECV doesn't necessarily mean they will be able to stay longer or fo more. The mental alertness and being ready to stop at any time can be exhausting. So, even though they may be physically less tired, they may be more fatigued because of the constant alert state.
Even though they may say they don't nap during the day, a lot of older people in their 70s and 80s take some down time where they are just sort of relaxing.
If you do get ECVs for them, take that into account - they may not be able to maintain the alertness to use an ECV for the entire time you are out.

They may not feel comfortable telling you how they really feel about using one because they don't want to be a burden or have someone needing to push them. My mom was very clear that 'under no circumstances' was she using one, but I know of people who felt they 'should' use one because it would be 'better for the family' so they did it even though it made them very uncomfortable.

The last thing I've thought of - with a wheelchair, you can sit in it and be pushed, come people propel with their feet or you can stand behind it and use it as a support for walking. If the bus already has the wheelchair/ECV spots full, you can choose to fold a wheelchair.
With an ECV, your only choices are to either drive it or park to walk. If the bus wheelchair area is full, you have the choice to split up or all wait for the next bus. It's also important to get up and walk sometimes to avoid getting stiff.

Another alternative is a rollator - which is a walker with wheels and a fold down seat. Those give the advantage of having a seat when you need one and having support/something to lean on when walking. Talk to her therapist to see if it would he.
It may help with slow walking too because of the support for balance it gives.

 

[snoopy352]

What fantastic help you all have been, thank you! I will talk to my parents soon and as we get a little closer to the trip I may ask another question or two as a follow up. Either way I will report back here and lyk what we decide. Thanks again for the help!