What can 82 year od MIL do while we are at Waterparks????

[tinkerbell1967]

I have no idea! She will not go to the waterparks, does not like the water but she will not want to just sit in the room while we are there. Any ideas? I thought if we could find her something to do while we are there and then we could meet up with her later. We will probably stay in the waterpark at the most 3 hours, no longer.

 

[INDISMOM]

Maybe go to DTD to do some shopping? Or possibly the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot?

 

[scanmom]

which resort will you be staying at? Most, if not all of the disney resorts have enough to see and do to fill 3 hours easily. I would love to have 3 hours to myself just to see and explore the resort. The only ones I would not really be interested in doing that would be the value resorts. They just don't appeal to me, and I would think that they probably won't appeal to an 82 y/o woman either.... but you never know!!!

 

[photobob]

You could just leave your Pennsylvania home as quietly as possible careful not to wake your MIL...just kidding...mostly..

 

[tinkerbell1967]

which resort will you be staying at? Most, if not all of the disney resorts have enough to see and do to fill 3 hours easily. I would love to have 3 hours to myself just to see and explore the resort. The only ones I would not really be interested in doing that would be the value resorts. They just don't appeal to me, and I would think that they probably won't appeal to an 82 y/o woman either.... but you never know!!!

I am not quite sure yet, we were thinking maybe CBR, have never stayed there. she loves to talk to people, see where they are from, etc. when we would go on some of the attractions that she could not ride she was always in a converstation with someone when we were done! I'm sure she probably could find something to do at one of the resorts

 

[tinkerbell1967]

You could just leave your Pennsylvania home as quietly as possible careful not to wake your MIL...just kidding...mostly..

LOL!! Yes, sometimes I think most of us feel this way!! For the most part I can't complain, she is a pretty good MIL!!

 

[mickeysaver]

Send her to a movie at the AMC theater at DTD?

Send her to the Afternoon Tea at the GF.

Send her to a park.

Let her have some time alone in her room away from the family and kids to read or knit or relax by the pool.

Send her to a Spa.

Send her to a cooking class.....they offer them somewhere at least during part of the year....I think. (don't quote me on that)

I am out of ideas. Maggie

 

[princess22]

I agree on the spa, what woman doesn't enjoy a visit to the spa, regardless of age.

If she is into the tours, Disney has plenty of them, see which backstage tours appeal to her. Then, she will be in a group atmosphere, and won't feel so alone!

 

[diannaneglia]

I actually have a simular situation. My MIL is taking a bus up to orlando our last day of our Disney vacation and riding back to KY with us and staying with us in our home for abour three weeks before taking a bus back home again.
Heres the thing...the last day is also our last day with a ticket. We will pick her up at the bus station at 5p and have dinner with her but...we will want to go back to a park I am guessing...after dinner. Well MIL won't have a ticket and I am sure doesn't want to pay money to go to one for that short of time. What should I do...I feel as though I can't leave her alone in the room or to go shopping and we run away to someplace different. Any suggestions?? Do they offer discounted tickets depending on when you arrive? How much is a one day ticket for a park?? Please tell me what to do?

 

[Deb & Bill]

One day ticket, one park, no hopping, runs about $67 for Guest 10+. No discount on that ticket, even if you only use it for an hour or two.

 

[Ozymoe]

If this was my 82 year old MIL, I would drive to the MK (or take Disney transportation if you have no car), arriving at the MK parking lot (or bus lot) approximately one hour before I planned to be at the waterpark. I would then accompany DMIL to the resort monorail (it is the one on the far left side, nearest the ferry to MK). I would then see she was seated up front with the monorail driver with instructions to stay on for one complete round of the resorts...and then to disembark at whichever resort(s) she wished to visit...perhaps tea at the GF (or just walking/sitting in the lobby people watching/talking), visiting the shops at the Poly or perhaps a light lunch there at the Kona Cafe. Maybe she'd like to have lunch or visit the shops at the Contemporary...or have a cocktail at the Outer Rim, depending on the time of day.

If she likes people, she will probably have a tale or two to share when you all meet back up. If she is independent and adventurous she could take a small launch from the dock at the Contemporary (complimentary) and visit the Wilderness Lodge...or just enjoy this as a round trip boat ride during the day.

This boat ride and/or having a monorail ride up front is usually a wonderful way to share a companiable time with others...so is the GF afternoon tea. Be sure to make reservations for this, or for anything that involves dining that you might choose. DMIL might have more adventures than you on that day!

If she has a cell, you can check in with her...she may not be ready to go back when you are...or if she does wish to go back to the resort before meeting up with you, any CM can advise her on the easiest way.

I just thought of something else...if you are going to BB...AK lodge is fairly close. You could take her there. Mara is their counter service place and they have Zebra Domes as well as many other very nice food choices. DMIL could easily find something to her taste after she walked around seeing the animals. Some of this can be done indoors at viewing stations also! Ask at the front desk. They have written information/"maps". I believe they even have binoculars at some of the viewing stations...actually, if you do this, bring your own binoculars from home and arm DMIL with them...when you meet up later, she can "conduct her own tour" for you...or perhaps do that on another day. AK lodge is always a fun place to explore...they have a very interesting gift shop there as well. Anyway, indoors and/or outdoors there is more than enough to keep DMIL occupied for more than 3 hours...and lovely, comfy chairs in the lobby in which to relax if she wishes.

 

[Jrabbit910]

Hi Tink,
The only thing that I could really think of for someone of your MIL age would be to go to the Floridian and get a wonderful manicure and some tea. I think she would love it. The GF is a beautiful hotel to set someone up for 3 hours and while she is drinking her tea (which they specialize in) she can talk and chat with everyone else there. I dont know how mobile she is (if she walks around) but if you ask you can pay for someone to babysit her (Its not just for kids) they will walk her around either on the resort property or in a park and just be w/ her for the 3 hours, this way she doesnt feel lonely or by herself.
I hope this helps.

 

[RumpleMom]

Some of the resorts have a guided tour of the landscaping, for example Old Key West has a tour.

The monorail ride is a good idea. She can get off and on at any hotel. Be sure to give her a note listing the name of the hotels on the route, your own hotel, your cell number?, and a definite meeting place at the end of the time.

The written information would help to avoid confusion, be comforting for everyone, and could be shown to a CM, if needed. I know my in-laws would need the written paper to feel comfortable.

 

[liquid]

tb1967 - you've received some great advice, so I'm going to use your thread to respond to Dianna - I hope that's ok!!

Dianna -

If my MIL were still alive, I know that she would enjoy an evening with her son (my husband) giving her his full attention. So, I would ask him to spend the evening with her doing something she would enjoy - swimming, shopping, resort hopping, listening to her complain ( ) or whatever she would like! I would take the kids out for their last evening, enjoying myself, as I would be getting ready to entertain her for the next few weeks while my husband was at work.

IOW, considering it's your last night and her first night, I think it would be the right thing for one of you to spend the evening with her.

 

[diannaneglia]

tb1967 - you've received some great advice, so I'm going to use your thread to respond to Dianna - I hope that's ok!!

Dianna -

If my MIL were still alive, I know that she would enjoy an evening with her son (my husband) giving her his full attention. So, I would ask him to spend the evening with her doing something she would enjoy - swimming, shopping, resort hopping, listening to her complain ( ) or whatever she would like! I would take the kids out for their last evening, enjoying myself, as I would be getting ready to entertain her for the next few weeks while my husband was at work.

IOW, considering it's your last night and her first night, I think it would be the right thing for one of you to spend the evening with her.

As much as this is a great idea...unfortunately my husband isn't taking the trip to Disney with us...he will be at home waiting our return. That is why I am not sure what to do. Any other suggestions?? Thanks!

 

[grinningghost]

I vote for the Grand Floridian for the day. Get her hair done, nails done, massage, pedicure - the works! I hope when I'm 82, my family will do it for me!

 

[wdwholic1206]

I took my 80yo DGM w/ us on our last 3 trips. On the most recent she did not want to go w/ us to the water park so I sent her over to the GF Spa (okay I actually took the monarail w/ her over there and checked her in). She got a face mask thing, her hair done, makeup, a foot massage and pedicure. They also brought her a nice little fruit snack and a glass of champange. It was great I picked her up about 5 hours later. When she was all done she proudly sat in the lobby showing off her new look and talking up a storm. Then we headed over to MK for the night.

As for what to do w/ your MIL for the evening if you could why not splurge for the ticket and have dinner in a park? I'm sure she would love to see the look on her grandkids faces when they are actually in WDW. I know you show them pictures but nothing captures the "MAGIC" as really seeing it!
Otherwise there is really no other way then to let her go off on her own to DTD or roam a resort for the evening while you are at the park.

 

[daisax]

I love the tea and spa idea at the Grand Floridian for the family going to the water park -- accompany her there and pick her up. The 82 year olds I've known wouldn't have been too keen on solo adventuring, but you know her best.

Another cool feature of the Grand Floridian is that they have a piano player playing in the lobby (you might want to check the hours), and wonderfully comfortable seating areas to sit and enjoy it and people watch.

And, frankly, depending on how long you've been there and what you have planned for the evening she might just like to have the hotel room to herself to stretch out, read, and nap!

 

[loriandmatt]

totally agreeing with daisax on this one. the piano player in the GF lobby is just devine. generally plays classics from her era. (have walked thru the lobby while this was going on once or twice.) i belive you can have your tea there too, if not there is a small resort coffee/snack place just outside the lobby area (i think i recall this) and you could certainly get something there and then bring it into the lobby to enjoy while listening to the piano.

i am only 36 and would love to take the time to do this someday. for now though, i am running after my kids who would not find the charm in having tea and listening to the piano player and chatting it up with perfect strangers in the GF lobby.

- lori

 

[tinkerbell1967]

Hi Tink,
The only thing that I could really think of for someone of your MIL age would be to go to the Floridian and get a wonderful manicure and some tea. I think she would love it. The GF is a beautiful hotel to set someone up for 3 hours and while she is drinking her tea (which they specialize in) she can talk and chat with everyone else there. I dont know how mobile she is (if she walks around) but if you ask you can pay for someone to babysit her (Its not just for kids) they will walk her around either on the resort property or in a park and just be w/ her for the 3 hours, this way she doesnt feel lonely or by herself.
I hope this helps.

This is a great idea! I think we will have to check into the tea or the tour at one of the resorts. She is quite mobile for 82 years old and always keeps up with us. She does like to take a break now and then but only to sit for a few minutes. Yes, she would definately love the atmosphere in any of the hotels and enjoy chatting with people! thank you all so much for your ideas, they are wonderful!!