Traveling with my mother

[Mousema]

OK - fairly new to the boards. I'll be traveling with my 86 year old mom in September. Should I get her a wheelchair for the parks? She's mobile but tires out easily. We were thinking have her go in the AM when it's cooler, then back to the resort until dinner. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Definatly get her one if she tires easy. If you are staying onsite sometimes the resort has one to use. It is free from the resort & you can take it to the parks. If you get one at the parks, you have to pay for it. Just a money saving tip

 

[julie t]

On property resorts will provide a wheelchair for free to use during your entire stay. I would definitely get one for your Mom at checkin

 

[Eljay]

Your other option is an ECV, electric scooter. She would be able to drive it herself if you think she's up to it, saving you all the pushing.

 

[Mousema]

Thanks for the input....Think we'll go with a wheelchair from the resort. I don't want to think about her driving.

 

[mouseketeerwannabe]

Thanks for the input....Think we'll go with a wheelchair from the resort. I don't want to think about her driving.

Just a heads up: We took my husband's mother when she was 80 and also got a wheelchair. Like your mother she was mobile, but unable to do that much walking. After the first day we gave up on the wheelchair and rented an electric scooter. She's a small woman, but pushing a wheelchair all day is more tiring than I ever realized. By the end of a morning, every small incline felt like a mountain. She also felt guilty and felt like she was burden, so it diminished her enjoyment of the day. There was a learning curve for her with the scooter, but we still laugh about that ten years later. For the first half hour she kept running into the curb and then would be "stuck". We'd then have to get on it and "unstick it". It was hilarious. After she got the hang of it, it really saved the whole trip! Good luck.

 

[Mary Anne]

I just returned with two 90 year olds: Here are my tips:

1) Get the wheelchair at the hotel if possible. If not, when you get to the park tell them there were no chairs at the hotel and they will waive the wheelchair fee. However you cannot take this chair out of the parks.

2) Does your mom have a handicap parking license? If so, take it with you. That in itself proved invaluable. You get free valet parking and makes it so much easier to park if you are driving to the parks.

3) I don't care how HOT it is in Florida. Make she she takes some warm sweaters and be sure to carry them around. MY MIL did nothing but say how cold she was even outside in the heat.

4) Be prepared to see every sitdown show there is. We found with Nana in the chiar we didn't wait on any lines and were shown right in these shows. Really make her day and made our life a lot easier. 90 year olds don't wait any easier on a line then a 2 year old.

4) If you are staying anywhere there are steps make sure you get a ground floor room.

I just thought of something else:

5) I really would think long and hard about the Park Hoppers. We got her one because that is the way we normally tour. We did not park hop once with her. Only if you know you are actually going to do it and have ADR's planned that way would I pay the extra money, otherwise, just get the base tickets.

I'm sure I'll think of other things as I go along.

 

[jennymouse]

I would advise you to get the ECV too. I take my 82yo father and my aunt & uncle who are in their late 70's and they love those ECVs and say they couldn't do it without them. It's too hot to push someone around the parks in a wheelchair in my opinion. If you look on the disabilities board, there are several offsite places you can rent the ECV for the entire week. It's a bit cheaper that way and they have the ECV to get to the parks too.

 

[Mary Anne]

Oh yeah, most important lay down the law that she will be in the chair BEFORE you leave, no if, ands or buts. Our other 90 year old didn't want to use it. Said they didn't need it. Yes he did!!! and made our life a PITB when he wouldn't get in it.

 

[kda]

We've been there 3 times at the end of September, and it's always over 90, so AM touring is a great idea. Also, be prepared for quick rain showers that often don't last long. That time of year is still very important to drink plenty of fluids, plan on rest breaks in air conditioned buildings, and go slow.

My Mom is your Mom's age, and I'm 57 ...... it would be very difficult for me to push her around in hot weather (and she weights ~ 110 lbs), but I really don't like the heat. It can be a walk from the resort room to the bus or boat and is certainly a walk from the busses to the front entrance of most of the parks. She could easily be tired before she's even gotten a chance to enjoy the parks. Epcot and MGM seem flatter to me, but AK and MK definitely have some areas with inclines.

If there are several of you taking turns pushing the w/c, it would be easier. You can always try it and then rent a scooter. Since she's mobile, you could drive the scooter on and off and in and out of tighter spaces and let her navigate when it's straight and easier.

There are many, many people enjoying Disney every day with more limited mobility than your mother. There's plenty of sit-down attractions that will provide a nice break with air conditioning, and CMs are very accomodating. Hope you have a very special trip!