Taking 75 YO mom to Disney. Help!

[JennyMominRI]

I know I could ask this on the theme parks board,but I'd rather talk to ople I know..I am planning to take my mother to WDW next May...She will be 75 then. A little info on my mom. Her health is pretty good. She walks a lot.. She is a bit of a hypochondriac though.She doesn't like crowds or heat ,which is why I thought very early May was good..Touring plans gives it 6's for crowd levels..She is also clausterphobic...She can be a bit of a, well, a handful sometimes. She only lasted a half a day at DL a few years back and called Pirates a stupid boat ride, lol.
She is really excited though. She loves the idea of the WL and POR..I am not sure about POR because she would *die* if she had to stand on the bus..I'm hoping that it won't be standing room only on the buses in Mayn.. She can be pretty adventurous ,depending on her mood..She used to love amusement parks.
I plan to take it easy..Nice meals, 4 -5 hours a day in the parks..Nice and slow...Does anyone have any advice? Can any of the older posters tell me how they do at Disney..Do you avoid certain rides etc.. What do you really like to do while there?. Has anyone taking older parents? How did they do?

 

[ead79]

We took my grandmother several years ago, and she had a great time. She was apprehensive when riding attractions because she was scared that we would try to trick her into getting onto a thrill ride. I finally explained that if I would ride it, she could too (I'm a MAJOR ride weenie). She enjoyed all the slow moving rides, and she loved the Living with the Land boat ride. She has mobility issues, so she did have an ECV for the parks, and that helped tremendously. If she doesn't like heat, you could always tour the parks early in the mornings, then go back to the resort in the middle of the day for a break, then tour again at night. I've been in mid-May several times, and the crowds were quite manageable. You might avoid rides that might make her claustrophobic--I know that the beginning of Spaceship Earth does that to my mom a bit. I also think your idea of having sit down meals is a good one. It's nice to get a longer break off your feet than you do when eating counter service. Be sure she stays hydrated too--I always get cranky when I'm dehydrated, and it's easy to do at WDW.

 

[Laura]

We went to WDW this year at the end of April/early May. We stayed in POFQ and I'm sorry to say but there were plenty of times when it was standing room only on the bus. Being POFQ guests, we were able to get on and off first. Also, it was hot; it seemed that the "summer weather" first kicked in when we were there. Hopefully that means next year will be cooler.

I'd probably avoid the "wet" rides like Splash and Kali and anything really bouncy like Dinosaur.

 

[JennyMominRI]

We went to WDW this year at the end of April/early May. We stayed in POFQ and I'm sorry to say but there were plenty of times when it was standing room only on the bus. Being POFQ guests, we were able to get on and off first. Also, it was hot; it seemed that the "summer weather" first kicked in when we were there. Hopefully that means next year will be cooler.

I'd probably avoid the "wet" rides like Splash and Kali and anything really bouncy like Dinosaur.

I'm hoping that if the money is right I can maybe do 2 deluxes like Poly/WL of BC/WL...

 

[AuntieM03]

I went in December w/extended family including my SIL's 88 year old mother. She was amazing! She walked all day and even went on Space Mountain. My SIL was so worried, and was trying to talk her out of it. Her mom said if she was going to die she might as well die happy. She is from El Salvador originally and she does not speak English, but she managed to order a Miller Lite in perfect English. It was hilarious.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'd just say be really careful. Don't let anyone bump into her. Old people, even sturdy ones, fall easily and the damage (at worst) can end up killing them.

Help her on and off the rides.

I know you don't need to be told all this, you're pretty sharp, but had to say it anyway.

You know the place and the rides, which ones she can and can't do.

Have fun!

 

[JennyMominRI]

I'd just say be really careful. Don't let anyone bump into her. Old people, even sturdy ones, fall easily and the damage (at worst) can end up killing them.

Help her on and off the rides.

I know you don't need to be told all this, you're pretty sharp, but had to say it anyway.

You know the place and the rides, which ones she can and can't do.

Have fun!

I already had a chat with DS who will be 12 about this...The only mobility issue she has is her knees,which makes her slow to get on and off things.. DS sad he already had decided he would be helping her on and off rides... The only one I saw that really might cause problems is Splash Mountain,because the seats are so low down.. We will probably skip that one

 

[minkydog]

Jenny,
I think May is a great time to go. It's hot, but not sweltering like August. The pools are nice and the days are long. Not much rain yet.

Three years ago we took my mother(73) to WDW in early May and stayed in our pop-up (she loves to camp, thank goodness!) She was game for pretty much everything, but she did get tired and I wasn't as saavy to that as I should have been. Now that DH is dealing with chronic lung disease, I have a whole new outlook. So I'll tell you how we deal with him.

When DH goes, we have to take it easy--lots of water, lots of breaks, w/c when necessary, naps every day. About 4hrs is his limit, so while he's napping for 2hrs I get to explore It's a different way of seeing Disney World, I'll tell ya. I've learned to pick the right resort for me.

Everything we do costs DH energy so we are choosy about where we spend it. We sit & people watch--this is especially great in Epcot. There is so much going on there. We spend more time enjoying our sit-down meals, instead of watching the clock. Fast Pass helps us ride the things that are "musts" for us. I don't do spin-ny rides(vertigo) so DH either rides alone or skips it. We get up early and we park hop; one park in the a.m., long rest break, eat dinner, then a different park to finish the day if he's up to it. Instead of going out for breakfast, we bring muffins or bagels up to the room or order one large room service breakfast and split it. Lunch is likely to be table service--tea at GF or lunch in the Castle. We take one day to visit other resorts--we pick up sandwiches while we're there and have a little picnic. We always like to stroll around DTD at least once, and somehow we end up at AKL enjoying the rockers.

 

[pumba]

we took MIL in 2002 and she was 85. We did have a wheel chair rented for us and it was good to use some of the time. We stayed at the Dolphin and I do believe that she liked that place because it was not crowded at all. Also the atmosphere at the Dolphin was more low key. The bus system was not crowded and we took a boat to MGM or Epcot. She was not a ride person but enjoyed a few of them and just people watching. MIL is a diabetic with insulin and heart problems and she still had a great time.

 

[JennyMominRI]

we took MIL in 2002 and she was 85. We did have a wheel chair rented for us and it was good to use some of the time. We stayed at the Dolphin and I do believe that she liked that place because it was not crowded at all. Also the atmosphere at the Dolphin was more low key. The bus system was not crowded and we took a boat to MGM or Epcot. She was not a ride person but enjoyed a few of them and just people watching. MIL is a diabetic with insulin and heart problems and she still had a great time.

I can't imagine my mother getting an ECV or wheelchair no matter how tired she got..She is pretty spry...She plays football and Basketball with my sons..She's just very dramatic and likes to get attention,sometimes in not so good ways..It will be just Me, Her and DS so hopefully we can give her lots of the attention she needs...My brother took her on a cruise and it was awful for all of them. There were 6 of them though and so she didn't get to be the center of attention,which is when the dramatics start...She's had a tough life. She raised 4 kids on her own and now has nothing. She can't afford to do anything so I really hope this will be a good experienece for her.

 

[janette]

We took my MIL on our last trip and I'm hoping to take my mom someday. My MIL had limited days on her tickets so we were trying to do lots each day and the walking just got to be too much. After the 1st full day we got a wheelchair for the next times we planned on spending the entire day going and it worked much better.

If my mom goes I'd get a wheelchair for the entire trip. She's asthmatic and just can't do the walking required although she does walk or swim daily at home. The other helpful part of having the wheel chair is that she'd have a place to sit for parades / shows etc. I just wouldn't want her sitting on the curb. She wouldn't be comfortable with an ECV.

With my MIL we did the slow stuff, she's has a few health conditions but was able to ride some of the more intense ones. The girls talked her into Everest and she didn't like that much My mom has osteoporosis pretty bad and I'd try to steer clear of any rides that jerk at all so that will limit those but I know she'd like the shows. I'd also like to make sure she sees all the gardens at Epcot, they are very nice all year.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Twice with my parents --- ages in siggy below.

I knew it would be SLOW going, I just didn't think it would be that slow. They are active enough, but it's alot of walking & any hot days did them in.

They really enjoyed the parades. Mom wanted to look at all the flowers. We did POTC, Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, TimeKeeper, People Mover, Jungle Cruise. Dad did Test Track with DH. Universe of Energy. Mom loved the movie in France. We did O'Canada. They loved Illuminations & Fantasmic & Wishes. We did AK's Safari. And my dad said "Legend of the Lion King" was the best thing he saw. It surprised me because lets just say he hadn't been REALLY excited about anything, but he gave 2 thumps up to that show. LOL I kept teasing him after that. Osbourne Xmas Lights AMAZED them!! And they thought the snow on Main St USA & at Osbourne Lights was funny, since we are from MA.

Just remembered, I got them into the front of the monorail for a loop around the lake. They got their certificates. lol (There was no room for us. But DH & I have done it twice before.)

We also toured the hotels & Xmas decorations. My mom gets into that. She's huge into landscaping & flowers. Dad runs his own 38' sports fishing charter boat...and I could tell he was interested in the Captains on the ferries & Friendship launches. He was asking them if they needed Captn's license & stuff like that. (He has his.) I told him he could apply for a job while here if he wanted to.

I'm glad we took them. It was definetly a different trip than normal. We even did Crystal Palace dinner with Pooh & Friends!!! (we don't have kids...so just us 4 adults) They got a kick out of it...and dad loves buffets.

We picked up the tab on alot of stuff, because I think they would have fallen over at the price of things. Ya know at their age, that stuff is expensive...and they are used to the early bird dinner special prices. We wanted them to have fun, not worry about costs.

They never go on vacation together because of dad's fishing business. So, we had to go in December both times.....and convince him the first year. It wasn't as hard to convince him the 2nd year though.

We didn't spend too many days at WDW however, since I knew it would be alot for them to take in. So the rest of the week, we visited my DMIL's condo on New Smyrna Beach for all those early bird dinner specials...and $2 breakfasts at the Elks Lounge. We let dad pick up the tab on one of THOSE meals.

Mom is so used to taking bus tours with senior groups, without dad. (Paris, Canadian Rocky Mtn, Europe) She was concerned at first. But she says I'm the BEST tour organizer. She just was worried about loosing me & not knowing where she was. She also couldn't believe at how cheaply I had gotten our accomodations & how BEAUTIFUL they were.

I know my mother would LOVE LOVE LOVE the Flower & Garden Festival in May. I've seen it myself. HOWEVER, lets just say I don't think I could handle being with my mother for more than 1 day & listening to her go ON & ON & ON & ON about flowers. Sorry, mom....that's ONE trip I can't do with you.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

I am taking my grandma to Disneyland for her 90th birthday in October. Her real birthday is in May but, it will be too hot at the time. Last time we took her she wanted a wheel chair. She loved it.
My mom is going also and she is 70 years old. Now she is another story, We get hit with whatever she can reach if we ask her to get in a wheelchair. She can outwalk any of us any day.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Oh, I thought of something funny / strange. Older peoples body thermostats are out of whack ya know. Both trips in December, but coming from MA, we did get some warm / hot days. Dad kept wearing these thin turtlenecks he has. I mean, it got WARM & I was dying looking at him.

One day, it was gonna get near 85. He FINALLY asked for us to find a store where he could buy one of those Florida floral print bottom down shirts. We found him a nice one with fish on it.

 

[FreshTressa]

I'm going through the same thing. My mom is a bit younger (67), but is a big scaredy cat.

She has never been, and I really want her to experience it before mobility becomes an issue. We are actually going to disneyLAND, not the world as it is closer, but the same rules apply.

DH keeps reminding me that showing her is MY dream...not hers. I know...but I still have to share it as it means so much to me.

I'm hoping she'll go on stuff, after all I have to pay to get us there.

We are actually going in November, so I'm hoping the crowds will be reasonable.

 

[Syrreal]

Hi Jenny, My mom is a bit younger than yours (65) but she has some health issues that keep her from doing things. She LOVES going to WDW and even when she gets tired she refuses a wheelchair (which since she used to have a heart problem, and still has stints in some of her veins, she should have used one at times). She loves walking around the parks no matter what the weather is. We just go slower than my usual "Gotta beat the tourists" walk. We also usually do table service atleast once a day and just take it easy. We take breaks in the parks (my mom refuses to go back to the hotel when there is a perfectly good ride to go on) and make it more about being together than having to go on one ride or another and we see every parade and show since my Mom loves them too (especially illuminations).

She can't do any of the roller coaster rides but she does do test track. Her response is that it's worse driving around Miami than it is on that ride! She loves Soarin and her fave ride is IASW!!!

When your mom gets claustrophobic, you can show her how even when you are on pirates, peter pan, or IASW the room you are actually in is huge. You can also ask to the CM to give you the front row to yourselves so that she can feel less closed in. If you explain the situation (and most of the time even if you don't) they will be more than happy to oblige.