Traveling with the Elderly

[burnetta696]

So, I haven't posted much on here but I am an avid thread stalker. Hoping y'all might have some insight for me. I Have been to WDW a few times as an adult and done every Disney park except Tokyo in the last 3 years. But I am a 27 yr old adult with no real limitations.

This June my aunt and I are taking my grandmother to WDW in celebration of her 80th birthday. We're staying at GF to give her a great experience. But I was wondering if anyone had experience with taking an elderly parent/grandparent to the parks in the summer. We were hoping for April originally but things didn't work out.

I'm looking for advice on dealing with the heat as well as what attractions she will be able to handle. What problems and situations have you encountered. We will be renting her an ECV as well.

She's also flying for the first time in her life so it's a pretty big deal and I want to make this super magical for her. She hasn't been to WDW in over 20 years.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sammie]

It is really hard to say as only you know your Grandmother's stamina. I took my 84 year old Mom and she ran circles around me.

Rode everything, including coasters and Tower, walked the entire parks and was up early and stayed up late.

As to June, precautions apply to everyone, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and that means water, not soda, etc.

Plan to see things inside during the heat of the day or better yet take a break and go back to your hotel for a mid day rest.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I would consult her doctor. Without knowing her health status, history, preferences, etc., it would be really hard for anyone here to offer soecific advice.

In general, go slow, don't plan on doing alot, drink LOTS of water, make sure she eats, bring snacks, drink LOTS of water, wear wicking (non cotton) clothing, drink LOTS of water, have patience, plan your ADRs and FP+ well in advance, take mid day breaks or only plan to do parks 1/2 a day (mornings or evenings, but not both), enjoy the pool, do some resort hopping and exploring, try new places and new things NOT in the parks, etc.

 

[JillyBean1899]

If you're going to be renting an ECV for her, I highly recommend getting her a Camelbak-type water reservoir backpack. She'll need both hands to drive it, so trying to open a water bottle will be a pain. Plus I've found that when I've got water on my back and all I have to do is grab the straw hanging over my shoulder to get a drink, I drink more and more often. I know you can get cups of water at pretty much any drink stand, but those are little cups, and stopping frequently can be annoying.

See if the rental company has ECVs with sunshades. If not, have her wear a hat/visor to keep the sun off her face. You'll just have to see how she handles it while she's there, so if you're going to make plans in advance, make sure you have contingency plans in case she goes slower (or faster) than you were expecting.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Oh, and drink LOTS of water

 

[BuckeyeBama]

At least she is willing to use the ECV. We spent a week in WDW last April with my in laws, both of whom are elderly and have mobility issues - and neither would use an ECV or wheelchair. My son told his grandfather that he couldn't watch him limp around in obvious pain any longer and went to get him a wheelchair. The old geezer still refused to ride.

As for the rides - this is too individual to be of much help, but everyone in our group rode Soarin'. Have a great trip!

 

[Rose23]

http://goflorida.about.com/od/whatyouneedtoknow/a/Disney-World-For-Senior-Adults.htm

The summer heat can be rough. My best advice is get to the parks at rope drop, dress the elderly in light colors, leave at lunch time, return in the early evening (6pm), and make sure plenty of water is being consumed. Don't forget a lot of seniors are also on medications that can make them even more dehydrated than most. Wouldn't hurt, if you're using a scooter, to get one with a canopy top to provide plenty of shade.

You may be able to get assistance at the Guest Services counter with some type of pass if it gets too hot so your senior is not waiting in long lines in 95 degree heat.

 

[JennyDrake]

NOT the same as your situation, but for what it is worth....

I'm going to ramble for a bit and you can extract any info that may help you on your trip. As I said before, my circumstances were different.

I went to WDW 3 times over 18 months as a traveling companion to an 85/86 yo lady w/ mobility issues (broken hip) and mild to moderate dementia. Her son is a friend and he needed same sex help with mom. My input in planning, etc was somewhat minimal and that's OK!

Because of Miss M's loss of short term memory, getting her up, dressed, and out the door (on an ECV that she had never driven) was a good hour or more; then to the food court and another 30-45 min for breakfast, then wait for bus and enter park- another 30-45 min. So you can see that by the time we got *into* a park, she had already been up for 2-3 hours.

[Just my opinion - I think it would have been preferable for someone to go get breakfast and bring it to the room, bypassing the schlepp to the food court and the change in surroundings for her.]

So we would arrive at a park about 10 a.m. By 3 p.m. she would start "sundowning" and by 4 she was pretty done in. Back at the resort by 5 and she was too spent to focus to eat.

An Epcot resort would have been a good option, but it was not affordable. Although _I_ am a STRONG proponent of midday breaks, in this particular case I think that if we had taken her back for a midday rest, we could not have gotten her out and about again. We sorta tried on Trip #2 for her to see Illuminations, but she didn't want to go and I don't think she would have gotten much out of it except more fatigue.

While the ECV was a good option--it was not a great option in HER case. She had never driven a car. The ECV required a lot of concentration on her part and she made a lot of mistakes, most of them harmless to herself and others. The most memorable was semi climbing the walls at the Country Bear Jamboree....

[Just my opinion - after the first trip I REALLY wanted a push wheelchair.]

The third trip her son discovered HE could pilot the chair while walking alongside. This was easier on both her sanity and mine.

She enjoyed all of the shows and LOVED Beauty and The Beast. American Idol also ranked high. Country Bears was rather lost on her and she found the Tiki Room "weird" LOL!

Other than FotLK, AK was pretty much a loss for her She LOVED the daytime parade at AK and we would have liked to try evening parades but it was just too much for her. MK was "too much." And while DHS is my least favorite park--it was her favorite

We did well keeping her hydrated by putting frozen water bottles in the basket and back of the ECV.

Again, everyone is in a different situation so certainly YMMV!

Also as PPers have suggested--rent an ECV from an offsite source so you can have use to/from the parks and for summer be sure to get one with a shade canopy.

 

[bedogged]

So, I haven't posted much on here but I am an avid thread stalker. Hoping y'all might have some insight for me. I Have been to WDW a few times as an adult and done every Disney park except Tokyo in the last 3 years. But I am a 27 yr old adult with no real limitations.

This June my aunt and I are taking my grandmother to WDW in celebration of her 80th birthday. We're staying at GF to give her a great experience. But I was wondering if anyone had experience with taking an elderly parent/grandparent to the parks in the summer. We were hoping for April originally but things didn't work out.

I'm looking for advice on dealing with the heat as well as what attractions she will be able to handle. What problems and situations have you encountered. We will be renting her an ECV as well.

She's also flying for the first time in her life so it's a pretty big deal and I want to make this super magical for her. She hasn't been to WDW in over 20 years.

Thanks in advance.

Be sure she wears a wide brim hat to protect her from some of the sun.

 

[Raenstoirm]

If you look at my sig, there is the "last trip with Gram". We went the second week of September (so yeah really hot). We kept her covered from head to toe in thin loose clothing and parked her in the shade whenever possible. She never complained about being hot (the rest of us were dying ). She wasn't into riding a lot of things, but was very happy to people watch while we rode. We only spent 6 hours or so a day in the parks, but it was a great trip. You'll have a blast if you slow down and smell the roses a bit.

 

[JillyBean1899]

Oh, and get one of those spray mister fans from Walmart/Target/Dollar Tree before you go. Even just a spray bottle if you can't find a fan one would be a huge help. I usually wear light khaki/cargo type pants (and by light, I mean light, they're thin but not see-through) and spray my legs with water. The cloth holds water longer than just my skin does, and if I do it right before I go into a building with A/C, it's like I have a wearable cool pack.

Sunscreen, too.

 

[minnie mum]

I noticed that the OP stated that her grandmother would be using an ECV. My question would be if she has any experience using one at home. If yes, then there should be no problem. But if she hasn't, I would suggest that a crowded theme park is no place for an elderly lady to start. In this case you might really want to consider a wheelchair instead. Yes, it means a lot more work for the OP. But driving an ECV in the parks requires constant awareness and concentration, not to forget skill. It an be exhausting and frustrating.

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

I found that frog tog chilly pads or the equivalent works wonders at keeping you cool. You can get them at Walmart for about $10. I cut ours lengthwise and kept them in zip lock bags. I would also suggest a hydration pack filled with lots of ice.

 

[burnetta696]

Thanks for the tips guys. I hadn't even thought about a canopy for the ecv. Do any of you know what company has those. I've looked at all the sponsored links and don't remember seeing the option. Is it more of a call and ask situation?

She doesn't have an ecv at home, but she has used them before. And she's still very aware, she's got her drivers license still and lives on her own. She has had heart issues though so that's the biggest worry. But her doctor has already said she should be fine with flying and my aunt is an RN and will be with us.

She's excited to go, and I have been trying to make this happen for the last five years, just getting it together and following through have been the struggle. I think I've anticipated a lot, I just wanted others opinions and experiences to see if I'd missed anything. Y'all have been a big help already.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I second the tip about the Frogg Toggs Cooling Pads. You can sort of wrap them around your neck like a scarf, they can really help.

I think touring plans are really important when it's hot...try to alternate in those attractions with AC where you get to sit for a bit (Hall of the Presidents, COP, etc)

Good for her flying for the first time at age 80! I hope you all have a wonderful time

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the tips guys. I hadn't even thought about a canopy for the ecv. Do any of you know what company has those. I've looked at all the sponsored links and don't remember seeing the option. Is it more of a call and ask situation?

She doesn't have an ecv at home, but she has used them before. And she's still very aware, she's got her drivers license still and lives on her own. She has had heart issues though so that's the biggest worry. But her doctor has already said she should be fine with flying and my aunt is an RN and will be with us.

She's excited to go, and I have been trying to make this happen for the last five years, just getting it together and following through have been the struggle. I think I've anticipated a lot, I just wanted others opinions and experiences to see if I'd missed anything. Y'all have been a big help already.

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Post 1 of that thread is an index and will tell you which post to find which information. I would suggest checking out posts 18-22 on the second page, which are about touring with an ECV and transfers to attractions. There is also a post about attractions with warnings.

Post 2 of that thread is about wheelchairs and ECVs, with weblinks and information about the different companies that rent them.

Regarding canopies, some people find them helpful and some find them to be a pain to use. Because they are directly overhead, they protect from the sun most when the sun is directly overhead. At other times, they may not be blocking the sun at all.
Some people find they block their vision in an annoying way and make it difficult to see, especially things to the back or side and makes it hard to converse with the people they are with. These things can especially be an issue getting on buses.
I know of more than one person who removed the canopy after the first day because it was too much of a pain. So, if you get one, make sure it can be removed easily in case she doesn't like it.

Even though she still drives, it is different driving a car than driving an ECV. People driving cars are generally following the rules of the road, but when driving an ECV, everything is the road - people are coming from all directions, coming out in front of you from either side without warning and stopping suddenly without warning. Using an ECV will be physically less titling, but be prepared that she may still be exhausted from all the concentration and attention needed to drive one in a busy theme park.

 

[KodakFigment]

As most others have said, planning is very individualized. Here's our experience. Last year was MIL's first visit. She's 89 and has "mobility" issues. Really means she walks with a cane and moves stiffly and slowly. Both hips and both knees have been replaced. Would NOT use a wheelchair or power chair. Since we live in Orlando now, we only did a few days at the parks. She had flown down by herself. Make sure to give a good day rest after the flight. No parks the day of arrival!

She felt Disney was very accommodating of "old folks". We did not use a GAC pass, but her cane let CM's know she had some issues. She rode everything in MK except the mountains. Surprisingly, Pirates was the most difficult because of the deep step in and out of the boat and the moving walkway leaving the unloading area. She liked the shows and attractions at HS and found she was less tired because the park is so much smaller.

This year we did Epcot and AK. We bought a Rollator (one of those walkers with wheels and a seat). It worked great for AK because there was a lot less walking. We didn't even venture to the Dinosaur part of the park nor did we walk the trails.

I knew Epcot was going to be a challenge. I insisted on a wheelchair. The compromise was that she could push it in front of her like a walker until she was tired, then I would push. What a difference for her. We were able to do 7 hours in the park. She pushed about 1/3 of the time and I wheeled her the other 2/3. Now she says that's the way to go! As she watched others with the ECV's she kept saying how happy she was that she didn't have to navigate with them. I'm not saying they are bad, but to her they were intimidating, even though she does use them at home in the grocery store.

Rode everything at EP except for TT and Mission Space. Hardest ride was the boat at Mexico, high step in and out and NO handrail to help. Favorite of all four parks was the American Adventure. She said it was fun reliving her life there on the screen. We had to see it twice!

Best advice - let her set the pace and let her decide on what assistance she needs (with some guidance of course). Take a lot of people watching breaks where she can eat a small snack and hydrate. Better to stay a shorter amount of time each day if you are planning on more than 3 or 4 days in the parks. Don't plan on seeing everything. Pick the highlights and really enjoy them!

Have a blast - what fun and memories you and your grandmother will have!!

 

[DakotaRose]

Every 80 year old is different, but here are some things we have to be sensitive about when traveling with Mom.
1. Some of her prescriptions are dehydrating.
2. Some of her prescriptions make her sun-sensitive.
3. Sometimes her prescription meds make her nauseated, especially if she is tired.
4. She handles heat as well as an infant...not well at all, and her cardiologist advises against being out when it's 85+ degrees.
5. The older she has gotten, the more motion sickness and lots of loud noise bothers her. We go for dining that's air conditioned and quiet if possible, and that recharges her batteries, so to speak.
6. She really loves to look around and enjoy the details as much as doing attractions.
7. Mom loves live entertainment - Main St. Philharmonic, World Showcase Players, Voices of Liberty, etc.

 

[AThrillingChase]

At least she is willing to use the ECV. We spent a week in WDW last April with my in laws, both of whom are elderly and have mobility issues - and neither would use an ECV or wheelchair. My son told his grandfather that he couldn't watch him limp around in obvious pain any longer and went to get him a wheelchair. The old geezer still refused to ride.

As for the rides - this is too individual to be of much help, but everyone in our group rode Soarin'. Have a great trip!

My grandmother also kept refusing, she is in her late 70's and still walks quite fast! (we actually lost her on multiple occasions because she walked ahead!) But after a couple of days, her knees did start hurting. We finally convinced her to do a wheelchair, but she was very embarrassed and that is why she was refusing. It was her having to admit she was getting old

If you look at my sig, there is the "last trip with Gram". We went the second week of September (so yeah really hot). We kept her covered from head to toe in thin loose clothing and parked her in the shade whenever possible. She never complained about being hot (the rest of us were dying ). She wasn't into riding a lot of things, but was very happy to people watch while we rode. We only spent 6 hours or so a day in the parks, but it was a great trip. You'll have a blast if you slow down and smell the roses a bit.

My grandparents also never complained about the heat, when the rest of us did! How funny. We went in mid-late May.

I planned our trip, so I purposely planned a lot of shows between walking or outdoor rides to give an AC break. We also had trouble getting my grandma into JC and POTC because you have to step so far down into the boat as PP have suggested. For what it's worth though, they LOVED it! Especially brunch at the Grand Floridian Café and Sci Fi Drive In for dinner, and spaceship earth! The only ride my grandma kept talking about haha.

 

[JillyBean1899]

We finally convinced her to do a wheelchair, but she was very embarrassed and that is why she was refusing. It was her having to admit she was getting old

Just tell her she's not getting old, everyone else is too young.