Travel to Disneyland with my dad , 82 years old and handicap. Need advice please

Disney51

Earning My Ears
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Aug 3, 2019
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Hi everyone,
We are planning to visit Disneyland California with my dad, who is 82 years old and half paralyzed. He is mobile , but to a very limited extent and would need to visit the parks on a wheel chair.
I’m having lots of concerns about going with him , such as mobility, too much excitement (I’ve heard sometime it’s too much for elderly and causes health issues) , what if I need a doctor, can he tolerate such long days in the park...and many more.

I was wondering if someone had the experience visiting the park with a person in this age and what was their experience with it.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

My dad was in Disney about 45 years ago...for 1 day...I don’t think he remembers anything from then and he has never experienced such excitement like he might in Disneyland.

Thank you so much.
 
I can't/won't comment about DL specifically, because I have not (yet) had the pleasure of visiting there (despite having tons of family in the Anaheim area!)

But I will say this about taking an elderly, disabled person to *any* theme park (or major outing):

The very thing you should do prior to planning is talk to his doctor, or have someone who goes with him to his appointments ask the doctor's opinion about a trip to DL. That way, if there is some "hidden" issue that you may not know about (that could cause an issue while you were visiting DL) it might be brought to everyone's attention prior to the trip, and it could be dealt with appropriately.

DL (just like WDW) has a First Aid station, but it is not intended to replace a physician's visit prior to going to the Park. Anything too much more serious than a bandage and/or Tylenol can fix will usually result in local EMS being called, and a "bonus" trip in an ambulance.

Otherwise, he will likely be most comfortable in his own wheelchair. Plan your transport accordingly - he will likely need a vehicle that is easy and comfortable for him to transfer into. Make sure you bring any transfer device that he will need to use to get from the chair into the car.

You will need to know how he plans on handling toileting. If he uses adult diapers, there are strategies for packing for a day in the Park (you will most likely need extra diapers, possibly wipes, and it's advisable to bring along a spare pair of pants or trousers, just in case)

It will be extremely important to keep him hydrated - not just with coffee or tea, but water, and plenty of it. Dehydration can wreak havoc with elders, and can cause UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections) that can mimic everything from a stroke to Alzheimers/Dementia in an otherwise healthy elder. (That's why if you have an elder who suddenly starts acting weird, the first thing a Geriatrician might do is to test their urine for a UTI)

Sunscreen will be very important - elderly skin can be very fragile, and you don't want him to get sunburned. Remember that places like the tops of his ears, back of his neck, arms (if exposed) backs of hands, tops of thighs/knees (if he is wearing shorts) and even the tops of his feet - all may be exposed to *much* more sunlight than he is used to. This is not the time to stingy with the sunscreen!

Last, but probably not least, is to be sure and keep his schedule for meals and meds as close to his regular daily home schedule as possible. It's easy to keep going and just snack here and there, but for someone who is medically fragile, sticking to their regular schedule can be very important.

Start by with talking to his doctor, and have fun planning! :)
 
Welcome to the DIS! Feel free to ask any questions on the Disneyland (California) forum -- you'll get more specific answers there from DISers who have lots of experience with DLR. Agree with the above advice. Also bring along any medical notes from your dad's physician, copies of Rx meds (in case something needs to be filled while you are at DLR -- there is a Walgreens and a CVS a block from the parks), and keep your dad involved as much as is comfortable for him in all this planning. What does he want to get out of this trip? Is he comfortable with a more laid back visit? Or are there certain things that he really wants to do/see? When are your trip dates? Certain times of year are busier than others at DLR -- and weather is a consideration, too.
With good organization and planning, you and your dad can have a wonderful trip and make magical memories together.
 
Thank you so much for both of you. Unfortunately we live in a different countries. He would need to take the flight by himself, accompanied by a flight attendant specifically for this purpose till we meet him in LA. That concerns me too since it’s anlong flight, 14 hours, and he hasn’t been flying in the past 40 years...my main concern is the too much excitement that might be generated from this trip all together (it’s going to be with the grandkids as well, so it adds to the excitement) and I’m concerned it might affects his health negatively , instead of the positive reaction we are looking for with this trip. After the trip he’ll go back to his country , while we go back to our country, and this might be a concern too.
Has anyone had any closer experience like this?
There won’t be an option for us to travel back with him to his country, and he won’t be able to travel back with us to our country. That might make the experience harder, I think.
 

Thank you so much for both of you. Unfortunately we live in a different countries. He would need to take the flight by himself, accompanied by a flight attendant specifically for this purpose till we meet him in LA. That concerns me too since it’s anlong flight, 14 hours, and he hasn’t been flying in the past 40 years...my main concern is the too much excitement that might be generated from this trip all together (it’s going to be with the grandkids as well, so it adds to the excitement) and I’m concerned it might affects his health negatively , instead of the positive reaction we are looking for with this trip. After the trip he’ll go back to his country , while we go back to our country, and this might be a concern too.
Has anyone had any closer experience like this?
There won’t be an option for us to travel back with him to his country, and he won’t be able to travel back with us to our country. That might make the experience harder, I think.

What does he want to do? People are so different at that age medically and mentally that it is hard to say what to do. I know that when my grandmother was that age, she was done with any travelling. It just stressed her out too much. She could not sleep even thinking about going somewhere. A lot of older people have issues with noise aggravating them also so a theme park is not the best place. I would speak with whomever is his primary care giver and see what they say. And talk to him, of course.
 
Is there someone who could travel with him? Airlines typically don't offer escort services for elderly or disabled passengers (just unaccompanied minors) but you can certainly call the airlines he might be using and ask. Could one adult from your party fly to where he is, and travel with him?

Which countries are you each in? Might it be easier to visit a Disney park in Europe or Asia?
 
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Is it his wish to visit DLR, your wish, or both? And is there a specific reason? The answer to these questions can be very important. DLR has changed dramatically since he was last at DL. It is very busy and crowded most of the time (especially when compared to conditions decades ago) and requires good organization and planning to have an enjoyable trip, especially when traveling with someone with special needs. It can be done, and many people do it, but it isn't easy. How many grandkids will be with you? How old are they? In other words, how much real help will you have with you or will you be split between helping younger kids and helping your dad?
 
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I travelled to Disney World this past June with my mom for 10 days. She is 78 but with health and dementia issues. This is my advice:

At their age they do not handle changes well - time, where they are sleeping, structure of their day. The first couple of days were a mess. I did not get to head to the parks in the morning with my family. She just could not handle it. Instead I stayed in the room and waiting for her to settle down.

That being said - plan for later in the morning/early afternoon for him to do things.

Late nights were out. It was too much for her. We had dinners about 6 and then she was done. I would bring her back tot he room and she would go to bed.

Wheel chair was HUGE! The crowds and pace were too much. Having the chair gave her a safety bubble that protected her and made her feel secure.

If there is any way possible to bring someone to help I would. I found myself upset at missing time in the parks with my children and husband. Half way through the trip I called my sister inlaw. Lucking there was a room available in the hotel and she was able to fly down for the last few days and help with my mom. It made a big difference. I could go and get time with my kids early and then late morning/early afternoon they would join us. It took off so much pressure.

We have our trip for next summer planned. If mom is able she will join us BUT I plan to bring a helper with me to spend mornings with her.
 
Every 82-yr-old is different. My dad had dementia and spent his last 2 years in a nursing home; he passed before his 82nd birthday. My mom is late 80s, healthy and still going strong -- full mental capacity, lives independently, follows a fairly "typical" schedule each day, etc. She may be slower than she was 30 years ago, but she's definitely nothing like the condition my father was in. My dad never would have been able to handle such a trip. My mom would simply need an ECV or wheelchair to help her get around, though she doesn't use one regularly; she might prefer scheduling quiet non-park days as well. So each individual is different even at the "elderly" age range.


I’m having lots of concerns about going with him , such as mobility, too much excitement (I’ve heard sometime it’s too much for elderly and causes health issues) , what if I need a doctor, can he tolerate such long days in the park...and many more.

Mobility -- he can certainly do the parks in a wheelchair. DLR has more older attractions that aren't as easily accessible, but he will receive a "wheelchair return time" if the queue isn't open to his wheelchair. That shouldn't be a significant concern. I suggest asking on the DLR Forum about which attractions can accommodate his chair without need to transfer, since that sounds like possibly the hardest aspect for him.

Too much excitement -- I'm not sure what this means exactly, especially as related to an elderly person. Maybe help him prepare by sharing YouTube videos. Get the grandkids to watch with him, either via online chat or phone, so he (and they) are familiar with what to expect. If you feel the trip may be more than he can handle (excitement or otherwise) it may be best to plan something more local or low-key for him. If there isn't a lot of contact already, maybe try to do some video chats or speaker-phone calls with him and your kids, so they can all visit a bit and be somewhat used to each other before the big trip.

Causes health issues -- well, I think that largely depends on the individual's personal health. Unless there are other specific concerns (heart problems, diabetes, etc.) I don't believe a Disney trip will "cause" health issues. I suggest he (or someone who may be caring for him now) speak with his current physician about the trip and any concerns. Stay hydrated, eat properly, try to stick to a somewhat normal schedule (awake, meals, bedtime, etc.) and get plenty of sleep.

If he needs a doctor -- what will you do if one of your kids gets sick or hurt and needs medical attention? Same for dad. There are local clinics and hospitals in the area, and pharmacies for meds. Bring your/his insurance info if it covers international travel, or have a credit card that can handle a medical bill if you/he either doesn't have coverage or the coverage requires pay-up-front for reimbursement later.

Can he tolerate such long days -- this is going to be very subjective and based on his personal needs. How does he feel about long days? Does he manage a fairly typical day at home? Or does he require a lot of extra time to get started in the morning and retires early evening after dinner? Does he get out and about at home -- to the stores, church, park, zoo, anything like that? If he's been housebound, you probably have a real concern and I would think twice about the trip. But if he's able to manage a day out at home, he should be ok at Disney. I do recommend trying to stick to a somewhat normal schedule though, making sure everyone gets plenty of sleep. If you have a late night, follow it with a morning in the hotel. Don't try to do early mornings and late nights on the same day.

Do you have other specific concerns regarding his health? You haven't mentioned that he has cognitive challenges, which might have greater impact than his partial paralysis. I would get him or his caregiver to discuss the trip with his medical provider. Maybe they can conference you in during the visit so you can share your concerns or hear the doctor's advice.

Enjoy your vacation!
 
It really does differ based on the person. My Mom is 80 (will be 81 next month) and she LOVES going to Disneyland and WDW. She has an AP and looks forward to going. We do get a wheelchair at DL and ECV at WDW as she has bad knees and can no longer walk the parks full time (although, she does quite a bit of walking since she is supposed to). She goes on the vast majority of the rides and the ones that she skips are ones she has always skipped (Guardians, Incredicoaster, swinging gondolas on Mickey's Death Wheel are a few I can think of off the top of my head). She has every intention that she will be at Disneyland's 75th birthday in 2030 so 90+ years old.

There are a few concerns. I would not ever let her do a WDW trip alone as that would be too much for her. And that includes the flights. We almost had an issue for our WDW trip next month as I have to go to CT on business the week we go to WDW, so now I have to fly across the country 3 times in the span of a week (CA to CT, CT to CA, and CA to WDW). Not optimal, but the best plan for going with Mom. But I really think LAX alone with the bags would just be too much for her and I could not take them all with me.

My Dad (who is 84), on the other hand, has not been to Disneyland in about 6-7 years and WDW since 2009. He cannot walk it and refuses a wheelchair or scooter (but he also refuses a cane that the doctor would like him to use when out and about)., so he does not go. But he likes that my Mom and I have something that we can do together, so I guess that is a positive.
 
With any old person and any event:
Who wants to do this? You or him?
Is he interested?
Are you willing to go at his pace?
Is taking him out of his known environment to do this worth the mental and physical stress for him?

Also are there other Disney Parks closer? Florida, Paris or Tokyo?

Also if he did have a health concern in the US...how would his healthcare be paid for?
 
Thank you everybody, I really appreciate it. He usually spend the days at home. He goes out with his care giver once a week to the grocery store for about 2 hours and he hates it...he gets really tired but he does it because we want him to go out of the house . I think he’ll love the Disney idea but I have not asked him yet because I don’t want him to be disappointed in case he’ll want it and we won’t be able to do it. So in the meantime I’m trying to find out info about it as much as possible. He hasn’t physically seen me or my kids (they are already adults ) for the past 10 years , but we Skype every day. We thought to make a kind of family reunion in Disney, to make it happy time. But I’m concerned about the initial excitement from the meeting, and then the huge disappointment from the splitting again. He goes back to his country, and we are going back to our country. I’m scared he’ll be too sad , and am debating what’s better. Is it better to leave it as it was till today , Skype and talk every day as he is used to, or start a physical meetings every few months , if possible. He is used to the current situation and happy as it is, and I’m not sure if the physical meeting followed by splitting again will benefit him or cause him sorrow.

His cognitive condition is ok, no issues there. He’s walking condition is not good though, walk with cane all the time, but no wheel chair. He is very independent in his house, cook, laundry, organize stuff, and deal with his bank account promptly.

He has no diapers but has ‘accidents’ here and there. He does need to go the bathroom every hour though...also during night time, few times.

As for meals, he is a picky one...all needs to be hot, as he likes it, no changes. But I think he’ll be ok with the food somehow.

Main concern is if it is a smart move or leave things as they are not to cause any potential damage?

His paralysis is due to brain stroke , 25 years ago. He has medications .

The problem, no one can fly with him to Disney, and that’s why I thought to hire a flight attendant like they do with kids. But someone here said they don’t do that with elderly, so I’m not sure if that’ll work.

He is from Israel, and will fly with El Al.

Thank you all for your time and input. I truly appreciate it. It opens my mind to thoughts I would not come to without reading it here.
 
The problem, no one can fly with him to Disney, and that’s why I thought to hire a flight attendant like they do with kids. But someone here said they don’t do that with elderly, so I’m not sure if that’ll work.
Could his care giver travel with him? You would likely have to get that person their own room, but it would be a travel companion he knows - and ideally trusts. Since he's in Israel, would you consider Disneyland Paris instead?
 
If his caregiver cannot travel with him, can you or one of the grandkids go to Israel and travel with him on the flight coming and going? I've flown on El Al, and it wasn't exactly a frills airline -- someone would need to be with him all the time checking on his needs. The attendants most likely will not do it. Agree with the pp that Disneyland Paris might be a better location -- closer for him is what you'd want, even if it would be farther for you.
 
An additional thought - although he doesn't currently use adult incontinence products, on the plane he may not be able to negotiate the bathroom, especially if he has to go every hour - he will spend all of his time just getting to and from the toilet. His wheelchair will be placed into storage during the flight - he will have to use a special "aisle chair" that is a skinny wheelchair that fits up and down the aircraft aisle. You will need to make sure that the airline knows he will require the use of the chair during the flight, not just to and from his seat. Some international airlines do not keep an aisle chair on the aircraft during flight unless it is specifically requested.

Some international carriers do have larger bathrooms, and some do have wheelchair accessible bathrooms. Some airlines have a special accessible bathroom that is actually just a partition removed from the neighboring bathroom to make more space. Given his toileting schedule, I can see a real issue there. Minimally, he will need a travel companion who can assist in wheeling him to/from the toilet to his seat. The chances of having an accessible bathroom are better on a wide-body aircraft, typically that has 2 aisles with at least 7 seats wide total.

Airplane travel is dehydrating as it is, and given his current schedule, I would be concerned with keeping him hydrated enough on the plane. A caregiver could help monitor his liquid intake, to make sure that he didn't get too dehydrated.

Frankly, it feels like airplane travel - especially a long flight like one from Isreal - might be difficult and uncomfortable for him at best.

I understand your desire to spend time with *all* of your family, and in DL which has happy memories for you - but maybe you should consider talking to him about it first? He may have no desire to travel - or may want you all to come and visit him, where he can be comfortable and (relatively) independent.
 
Another possibility: can your family create a virtual Disney trip for him and surprise him with it? You and the grandkids can visit Disneyland, create all kinds of photos and videos of the things he remembers and what is totally new to him, make a slide show/memory book/video/etc. and give it to him in person in Israel. Let him know that this gift was made especially for him. If it will be too much for him to go to Disneyland, then Disneyland can be brought to him.
 
From everything that you are saying about his lifestyle, it really sounds like a bad idea to put him through all of that. If he gets tired just from going to the store, there is no way he would be able to manage a trip like this. I have been caregiver to my grandmother for a decade and have seen her decline so I am familiar with how some older people handle these situations. I honestly think that this will be too much for him. Can your family plan a trip to go see him instead?
 














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