Taking my 66yo mom on her first-ever WDW trip

[ccgegg]

My 66yo mom is very excited to be making her first-ever trip to WDW with us (me, DW, DD5, DS2) this Dec. It may also be her last because the way we see it, our kids are still at the age where we go thru the parks at a leisurely pace (one my mom can handle). Who knows when our kids will start wanting to dart here and there! Anyway, we're approaching this trip as if it's my mom's first and only. I'd greatly appreciate advice from those who have travelled with someone of a similar age. What parks did they like and not like?

We're staying at BWV so we wanted to do a walking distance park (EP, MGM) on our arrival and departure days.

Here is our preliminary plan......

Sun, Dec 11 EP + Candle. Proc. dinner pkg -- flight arrives at 11am
Mon, Dec 12 MGM -- dinner at 50s PTC
Tue, Dec 13 MK + MVMCP -- brkfst at CRT, dinner at LTT
Wed, Dec 14 AK am / EP pm -- dinner somewhere at Epcot
Thu, Dec 15 MK / DTD eve -- dinner at Ohana's
Fri, Dec 16 EP -- lunch at PSB -- flight departs at 4:45pm

 

[Meezers]

Sounds great! I took my Mom for her 64 yoa birthday last November...not her first trip but she loved it.

Had her haircut at MK and they pixie dusted her! Special cake at 'Ohana.

The best thing she said was....not having to be responsible for planning anything (I am Logistics...my brother is Tactical). And having as much time as she wanted to wander and talk to people and look in the shops.

I bet you have a blast!

Don't forget your camera.....bet you will get some GREAT pictures!

PS....my Mom just doesn't DO rides....except the safari at AK...they make her sick....all of them! Well she did ride a boat to DTD

 

[jaysmom4285]

We took my mom when she was 68, and again when she was 74. She enjoyed just about everything in all the parks but chose to avoid attractions like roller coasters, ToT, etc. The second time she went, we got her a wheelchair every day, just because all the walking was so tiring for her. It really helped her to be able to keep up with us and enjoy herself. If she didn't want to go on an attraction, she's just sit outside and watch people. More often than not, we'd come out to find that a CM had struck up a conversation with her. Some of my mom's best memories are of those two trips to WDW with her grandchildren. Your mom will have a blast.

 

[Meezers]

Sounds great! I took my Mom for her 64 yoa birthday last November...not her first trip but she loved it.

Had her haircut at MK and they pixie dusted her! Special cake at 'Ohana.

The best thing she said was....not having to be responsible for planning anything (I am Logistics...my brother is Tactical). And having as much time as she wanted to wander and talk to people and look in the shops.

I bet you have a blast!

Don't forget your camera.....bet you will get some GREAT pictures!

PS....my Mom just doesn't DO rides....except the safari at AK...they make her sick....all of them! Well she did ride a boat to DTD

 

[Epcot Girl]

I go with my Grandparents all the time--I find that Epcot and Magic Kingdom are their favorites. If I had to pick one for older people, I would pick Epcot for the almost educational yet fun atmosphere--However, being the biggest of the parks, the walking could cause a problem later in the day. Magic Kingdom is small, and with the castle, a lovely expiriece. However, it has many childrens rides.

I would go with Magic Kingdom--But that is just my opinion.

It is a difficult question! I hope I helped...Im sure whatever you do will be fun for her, a great time. Just being with the family will be fun, none-the-less in the happiest place on earth.

Hope you have fun!!!!

 

[minkydog]

We took my mom for her first ever WDW trip 2yrs ago at age 69--in a pop-up camper! We did MK, MGM, & Epcot. She had a blast and kept up with the rest of us. she opted out of the coasters due to her vertigo, but she really enjoyed the trip.

In fact, we're going at Thanksgiving and she's going to fly down to join us at FW again. Her only request is that we get a golf cart so she can ride the kids around with her. This time we're going to MK, Epcot, & AK,plus a side trip to Homasassa Springs to visit the manatees. I expect mom will have her New Balance shoes and all the arthritis meds she can tote, but she'll be there.

Go for it!~Your mom will just love being there with you and seeing your kids' faces light up.

 

[*Susan*]

What a great trip you have planned!

One suggestion based on my trip with Mom who was 60 when we went: my Mom walks at home, but not long distances. I stressed to her repeatedly to increase the amount she was walking in the month or so before the trip. She didn't listen and was really unprepared for the amount of walking there is at WDW. So much so that we had to rest a lot more than we had planned and ended up skipping AK altogether since we hadn't seen the other parks in their entirety.

Let your Mom know she'll be walking 7-10 miles per day so she can prepare herself beforehand - she'll enjoy her trip a lot more.

 

[daannzzz]

My parents were in their late 60's on the first trip in 1996 and in their early 70's on the last trip in 2001 and are considering going again this December.
They have done Disneyland many times. Dad seems to like Epcot best while Mom enjoyed the Studios. They do good with the getting up early an heading to the parks but Dad doesn't fair as well staying out late. They both would normally nap in the afternoon so if we don't go back to our rooms for a rest he will sometimes leave the park at 4:00 - 5:00 and not come back. Both parents are in good shape though Ma has a bit of trouble after walking all day. I persuaded them to not ride the Rock 'n Roller coaster ecause I was being careful!!!!! I know Mom would love it. Both of them enjoy Tower of Terror. Mom actually handles everything really well including Star Tours and body Wars. I suspect she will love Mission Space if I don't talk her out of it. Dad has had small heart problems so doesn't ride things with too much G-forces.
If you Mom is in good shape and rides other kinds of rides at home she should be able to handle most everything at WDW. With your small kids along her schedule may be the same as theirs!

 

[ccgegg]

We did MK, MGM, & Epcot. This time we're going to MK, Epcot, & AK

I'm wondering if I'm allowing enough time at AK. My mom isn't a big animal lover, but I think she'd love the Safari and FOTLK. Other than that, I don't think there is much at AK for her. Is the Christmas version of the AK Jammin Jungle parade anything special? Not planning to see that at this time.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I think she'll do fine unless she has some kind of health problem prefenting them. My MIL and FIL went the first time when they were in their upper and mid 70's and did everything with no problem at all in August!!!

I think the thing they enjoyed the most is just watching our kids 6 and 12 at the time. And they had no problem "keeping up!!!"

My MIL went a second time with us in 2001 when she was 80, also August. Her favorites were Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, and Test Track!!! She loved it. Being August, it was warm, and this time she did need to sit down a few times, but then there was a 10 year difference between this and the last time.

The thing I don't see scheduled in your day is an afternoon break. Those two little kids are going to need that more than her, but everyone benefits from getting out of the park for at least an hour, if not two for pool, nap, or just sitting and relaxing. It really perks EVERYONE up again. We still do this even without the kids!!!

We went the first week in December the last two years. Two years ago it was warm enough to swim a couple day, this year we had the air conditioner on during the day everyday and got to go in the pool everyday too. We stayed at BWV also.

One more thing. Instead of "walking" to EPCOT, why not take the boat and save steps. I have very bad knees, so I make sure I save steps where ever I can knowing how much walking is involved in the parks. It can't hurt, and may actually help her allot.

If she's in good health, I wouldn't close the option at all of her coming again if you want and she also does. I'm sure she'd still be able to do allot, and if she does "poop out", she can always take a break in shady spot with a nice drink and people watch. I'm sure the most important thing to her is spending the time with her grandchildren. I know my MIL loved it at age 80 and at that time my youngest was 16, he has so many fond memories of doing all of those things with "brave Nana"!!!

We were also greatful because we like some of the character meals, but don't like the character coming without little kids, we're kind of shy that way, so we got to go to the character meals and they made a big deal of Nana, it was lots of fun.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Don't forget "It's Tough to be a Bug" at AK, unless you think the kids might get scared. Then I'd skip that too. I think she'd like that. My MIL and FIL really liked the 3D stuff too. My FIL really liked EPCOT, but mostly they liked doing whatever the kids wanted to do.

 

[bucky1023]

I have gone with my mom, in July, for the past three years (she is now 68). We take down my niece (6 yrs) and two nephews (10 and 6 yrs) and we all have a wonderful time. I make sure that we have plenty of rest time when we are at the parks (which is good for all of us).

This year her knees have been bothering her more often she we are thinking of getting her a ECV.