WDW with my 92 year old MIL...any advice?

[Emcalma]

My 92 year old MIL has only one thing on her bucket list...to see WDW. I have decided to take her, along with my mother (she's 67), on a last-minute trip over Mother's Day. We are going for 4 nights and we are staying club level at the Grand Floridian. My MIL still has a sharp mind and for the most part gets around fine. I am a WDW vet (I usually go twice a year), but I always go with my two teenage daughters and we tour from rope drop to park close every day (somehow we never get tired at Disney!). We are also big riders. Obviously, this trip with my mothers will be totally different. We will not be rope dropping or staying all day and night at the parks. We also will not be riding everything. I anticipate a lot of sitting and people watching and leisurely strolls through the parks. I am trying to talk her into letting me push her in a wheelchair for part of the time because while she can normally walk fine, she does not have a lot of stamina and even sometimes loses her balance. She is really fighting me on this and claims that she feels better walking rather than sitting because of her new hip. I just can't imagine her walking from Future World to World Showcase, for example. I am hoping that I can talk her into letting me push her between pavilions and countries and letting her walk around in each of the pavilions and countries- with similar plans for our MK and AK days.

I have dinner ADRs for each day and FP+ all scheduled with times that will work well for us. However, as I've said, this is a completely new way of doing Disney for me. I would love any advice on things that my MIL might enjoy that I, as a ride-junky commando tourer, might never have considered before. Any extras or special things I should look into? I really want to make this a special trip for her. We lost her husband (my FIL) this year and it has been hard on her and this will most likely be the last big trip that she will ever take. Thanks in advance for any advice/tips!

 

[HappyHaunts999]

I think she would like the classic rides. Small world, Peter Pan, Carousel of Progress. The train will also be nice and you can use it to get around the park. Start slow let her set the pace, you can always go pick up a chair later if she is willing. Afternoon tea might be nice too.It might help to let her know how many miles it will take to walk around Epcot. I hope you have a great time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

What an amazing trip you have planned! I would definitely take advantage of the beautiful resort you have booked. Afternoon Tea is absolutely lovely. Have dinner at Narcoosee's or Citrico's or even V&A. If your room doesn't face the castle, you can see the fireworks from the marina just across from Gasparilla's Grill, which is a nice place to grab a drink and snack/dessert and enjoy while you are watching the fireworks. Would she be up for a Wishes fireworks cruise? That would also be a nice way to enjoy the fireworks without having to battle the MK crowds.

 

[Traveliz]

I wouldn't rule out rope drop because as an active 92 year old she might be up and ready to go early! And you know less crowds and more opportunities early on in the day. Also not as hot. If she is early to rise I would hit the parks first thing. I would also plan on going with the flow alot. I think it's awesome you are doing this!

Liz

 

[JoeA]

I have no input other than saying it's really cool what you're doing!

Well, I guess I do have a slight input...get a chair! We took our grandparents (80's) and even though they could walk, it was much more enjoyable for all of us having them in the wheel chair, at least for parts of the day.

As you know, WDW can be daunting with all the miles you'll likely walk and a chair will help lessen the load.

 

[Jewel3k]

We took my 88 year old grandmother in February. We only did Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. She walks, but not quickly or always sure footedly. We pushed her in a wheel chair except in restaurants. I think she would have loved to walk more, but we were worried about people running into her and it was just easier on all of us to push in a wheel chair. The wheel chair also made it possible for her to ride in some of the deeper boats because they could lower the wheel chair down into it with her in it. There are no places to sit in lines if she tired out standing. We did do rope drop one day. She had a hard time getting up, but the lack of people in the park made for a very enjoyable. We did not stay for the fireworks this evening. If we were going to stay for them a mid day nap would have worked great. Her favorite ride was The Hall of Presidents (we snuck in BTM twice). It made her cry. Other big hits were Its A Small World, Mickey's Philharmagic and Soarin'. She loved the 3PM parade and wanted to see every show. She also really enjoys shopping, so I had to slow down and let her check out all the gift stores after every ride. We stopped at every photographer we could.

 

[scrappymel]

Could you use the wheelchair (or a scooter) to go from land to land then let her walk some? This is what we did with my daughter when she was in the in-between stage of needing a stroller and being independent. We'd just park it at the entrance to Fantasyland (or whatever else) and let her walk from ride to ride, then she'd get back in the stroller for the longer walks. You can always rent one once you are on property after she realizes HOW MUCH walking there is.

I hope you have a great trip... what a fun way to spend mother's day! And, I agree with the others about the afternoon tea at GF. Don't miss that!

 

[minnie mum]

I think that what you are doing is a lovely, lovely thing. And I'd be willing to be that after her first morning in the park she'll be happy to have a wheelchair at hand. I agree with a PP that she may not need it all day. You could use it for moving from land to land, or whenever you are covering a bit of distance. And also for some of the longer queues. But she could walk from attraction to attraction when they are close, or through the shorter queues. You can park the wheelchair in any of the stroller areas. With balance issues, be conscious of her need for an assisting hand when she is boarding or exiting a ride vehicle. On rides that allow more than 2 people, perhaps ,"bookend" her between you and your mother.

I'll bet she'll enjoy just about all of the attractions that don't have warnings. If she does, you may not have as much "sit and just people watch" time as you think. If she rises and goes to bed early, like many elderly folk, you may find yourself rope dropping on some days. Bonus, since you can see quite a bit before the lines build. And if she wants to retire early, there's nothing wrong with you heading back to a park for a couple of hours ( and maybe hit sonpme of the mountains?).

I hope you will take advantage of Photo Pass as often as possible, so you can preserve some of your memories of this special trip.

 

[Lady Hiss]

I hope my daughters will take me to WDW when I'm 92! What a lovely and thoughtful idea!
I agree with others who said get the wheelchair so you'll have it when the reality of all the walking sets in. The heat may take its toll as well.
For EPCOT, I'd suggest the films in the pavilions of Canada, France, and China (nice AC, too); the quiet garden area of Britain; Spaceship Earth; Living with the Land; and maybe Illuminations.

Enjoy making the memories~

Lady Hiss

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

My 92 year old MIL has only one thing on her bucket list...to see WDW. I have decided to take her, along with my mother (she's 67), on a last-minute trip over Mother's Day. We are going for 4 nights and we are staying club level at the Grand Floridian. My MIL still has a sharp mind and for the most part gets around fine. I am a WDW vet (I usually go twice a year), but I always go with my two teenage daughters and we tour from rope drop to park close every day (somehow we never get tired at Disney!). We are also big riders. Obviously, this trip with my mothers will be totally different. We will not be rope dropping or staying all day and night at the parks. We also will not be riding everything. I anticipate a lot of sitting and people watching and leisurely strolls through the parks. I am trying to talk her into letting me push her in a wheelchair for part of the time because while she can normally walk fine, she does not have a lot of stamina and even sometimes loses her balance. She is really fighting me on this and claims that she feels better walking rather than sitting because of her new hip. I just can't imagine her walking from Future World to World Showcase, for example. I am hoping that I can talk her into letting me push her between pavilions and countries and letting her walk around in each of the pavilions and countries- with similar plans for our MK and AK days.

I have dinner ADRs for each day and FP+ all scheduled with times that will work well for us. However, as I've said, this is a completely new way of doing Disney for me. I would love any advice on things that my MIL might enjoy that I, as a ride-junky commando tourer, might never have considered before. Any extras or special things I should look into? I really want to make this a special trip for her. We lost her husband (my FIL) this year and it has been hard on her and this will most likely be the last big trip that she will ever take. Thanks in advance for any advice/tips!

That is so inspiring! So happy she can do something she has always wanted to do. I think you are doing this entirely the right way, by staying club level at GF. My mom is 73 and GF is her dream resort. When we go to WDW with her, the only request she ever has is to go to the GF and sit and listen to the pianist or the band in the lobby. Last fall I booked a her a Grand Floridian Afternoon Tea (have you booked this for her? She might enjoy it) and she went there when we went to the parks.

At the parks her favorite things are:
Admiring the flowers and architecture
Listening to music (like the Casey's Corner pianist and the Dapper Dans)
Riding Soarin'
Pirates of the Caribbean
It's a Small World
Hall of Presidents
Any and all live shows where she does not have to sit in the sun
Fireworks shows (Fantasmic is her favorite)


I have a very similar issue with my mom as you do with your MIL. She struggles with walking and gets tired and her legs and feet hurt (she has had knee replacement surgery), but she refuses to use a wheelchair. Absolutely refuses. If your MIL is as stubborn as my mom, then she won't give in. I would suggest moving slowly and giving her lots of time to sit and rest. One trip, my mom pushed herself so hard the first day that she could not walk at all and had to stay in bed the second day. Encourage her to go slowly and rest, but make it seem like it is for your benefit and not for hers. I know my mom spends a lot of time in the park worrying that she is slowing everyone else down. Really take this time to enjoy the details of the park yourself. You might even read a book about special details at the parks so you can point them out to her (and use that as an excuse to move slowly).

 

[tinkfan160]

We took my grandmas who is in her mid-70s in December. Similar to your situation, she can walk just fine, but does slow when she gets tired. We insisted on a wheelchair even though she didn't really want one and I don't think we would have done anything different. She didn't want to ride all of the time, but when she wasn't riding she pushed it. This gave her some stability and allowed her to walk a little quicker. If you think it would help your MIL to have a wheelchair I would just emphasis to her that you are going to get her one, but you aren't expecting her to live in it the entire time you are there. On a funny note, I was struggling with bad plantar fasciitis while we were there, so she pushed me for a bit, you get some strange looks when a grandma is pushing a seemingly healthy 22 year old in a wheelchair! The wheelchair will also help eliminate times standing in the line, you will get a pass for many rides that still require you to wait whatever the listed wait time is before you can return, but when you do come back you can get the ride right away. This was really nice because you could do that things quickly or just sit and people watch. You can also use the wheelchair boats for certain rides (we did IASW and JC). This eliminates having to step into and out of the boats which can be difficult for even those who are pretty agile. Other rides which require transfer can also be slowed if you ask. We didn't get to do Peter Pan, but I've heard that this is the only ride which can't be stopped or slowed for transfer.

I would suggest doing a mid-day break, especially since you are staying so close to MK and have easy access to the monorail. We did this because my grandma wanted to see the fireworks. We arrived shortly after the park opened and went back to the room for a couple hours after our BOG lunch. We got back right around 6:00 and stayed until the park closed. We watched Wishes and seen MSEP 2x (this ended up being one her favorite things).

Your trip sounds like it will be a magical opportunity for you and your family...mt grandma hadn't been to MK since the 70s and she hadn't seemed too excited to go, but the first thing we did was meet Mickey in the Town Square Theater and when we noticed she was crying, we realized that she was a little more excited than she led on! Enjoy your trip!

 

[SillyFamily]

I dont know if this has been suggested but they have sit stand walkers. It gives her stability while allowing her to walk and sit when she needs it.

 

[Dancemomof3]

I was just going to suggest this. My mother in law is in her mid 70's and had her hip replaced a few years ago. She says sitting too much bothers it just as much as walking too much does if not more so. A few years ago my sister in law, an orthopedic nurse, bought her one of these walkers to use at Disneyland. She loved it and has used it on many vacations since

I dont know if this has been suggested but they have sit stand walkers. It gives her stability while allowing her to walk and sit when she needs it.

 

[vicb]

Kudos to you, you are doing a wonderful thing and have such a great attitude about it.

I guess I would suggest considering making ADR's for lunch in the parks as well (unless you are doing breakfast ADR's). After a couple of hours in park, sitting down to rest, cool off, eat and rehydrate might help your ladies. In MK I would suggest the Plaza, in Epcot I would ask her which country she is most interested in as a meal helps experience each WS pavilion.

When my son was three he loved just sitting,riding and looking out the window on the monorail and boats. Maybe the older set would enjoy that too, easy sight seeing. Also they might enjoy the electric water parade at the Grand Floridian.

Be sure to report back after, we would all love hear how it goes. Best of luck.

 

[MooksterL1]

I took my elderly aunt to MNSSHP last year and she really didn't want the wheelchair, but we insisted. It worked out really well and I am not sure she would have enjoyed it as much otherwise. The things she loved the most were the little things like stopping for popcorn and ice cream, the Hall of Presidents, the fireworks and parade.

 

[CookiesNcream]

Bless your heart, it's so nice to hear about someone being so considerate. I don't know your dear mother in law or what her temperament might be but speaking from experience I can tell you that pride can be overpowering; I know I can walk a lot farther than I probably can, and it only makes me ornerier when somebody else realizes that. I think you would be smart to follow the suggestions about having aids ready but don't force them. You're so sweet to be including her in your plans, I'm sure you'll come back with the most precious memories ever. Good luck!

 

[uccats97]

What a magical opportunity to help fulfill her bucket list! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy touring WDW at a leisurely pace. I had to take it slow a few weeks a ago during spring break. My mom and I had both been sick at the beginning of our trip. We were really low on energy and tired easily. It was exhausting but I felt so much more relaxed than I do when we "go commando"!

 

[momof2n2]

I wouldn't rule out rope drop because as an active 92 year old she might be up and ready to go early! And you know less crowds and more opportunities early on in the day. Also not as hot. If she is early to rise I would hit the parks first thing. I would also plan on going with the flow alot. I think it's awesome you are doing this!

Liz

OP - you are awesome. I expect you will have a blast. I hope she agrees to the WC. I think it would help in getting from section to section.

I also wanted to chime in with PP Traveliz. If you all seem to be early risers the cooler temps and lower crowds may be a Godsend.

Have a great trip and please report back!!

 

[Claudia1]

Definitely take something for her to use to sit. Before my knee replacements, I preferred a walker with wheels. It has a seat and was easy to fold for trams, buses, etc.... I had the same issues with sitting all the time and getting stiff. In standby lines, she can sit and roll along slowly.

Sounds like an awesome trip by an awesome son!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

My 92 year old MIL has only one thing on her bucket list...to see WDW. I have decided to take her, along with my mother (she's 67), on a last-minute trip over Mother's Day. We are going for 4 nights and we are staying club level at the Grand Floridian. My MIL still has a sharp mind and for the most part gets around fine. I am a WDW vet (I usually go twice a year), but I always go with my two teenage daughters and we tour from rope drop to park close every day (somehow we never get tired at Disney!). We are also big riders. Obviously, this trip with my mothers will be totally different. We will not be rope dropping or staying all day and night at the parks. We also will not be riding everything. I anticipate a lot of sitting and people watching and leisurely strolls through the parks. I am trying to talk her into letting me push her in a wheelchair for part of the time because while she can normally walk fine, she does not have a lot of stamina and even sometimes loses her balance. She is really fighting me on this and claims that she feels better walking rather than sitting because of her new hip. I just can't imagine her walking from Future World to World Showcase, for example. I am hoping that I can talk her into letting me push her between pavilions and countries and letting her walk around in each of the pavilions and countries- with similar plans for our MK and AK days.

I have dinner ADRs for each day and FP+ all scheduled with times that will work well for us. However, as I've said, this is a completely new way of doing Disney for me. I would love any advice on things that my MIL might enjoy that I, as a ride-junky commando tourer, might never have considered before. Any extras or special things I should look into? I really want to make this a special trip for her. We lost her husband (my FIL) this year and it has been hard on her and this will most likely be the last big trip that she will ever take. Thanks in advance for any advice/tips!