Which resort for my mom??

[NYDisneyMom]

Hi everyone...I'm trying to rent points for a November trip. it'll be me and my DH, my two boys and my mom. My mom is 82 years old, she's had hip replacement and back surgery recently but she's getting around much better now.

My question...we've stayed at BWV and OKW, but w/out my mom. Which DVC resort do you think is best laid out for my mom? She will probably have a scooter to use in the parks, but really won't need it to walk around the hotel, I don't think. I've never stayed at Beach Club or WL. How are those resorts as far as the layout, walking, etc.?? I would probably have to request a room near the elevators for her, right?

 

[colleen costello]

My Mom always rents a scooter now so she is more flexible. Before we always picked OKW because it got her closest to the room. I do think that OKW is still the easiest to access, but only if you'll have your own car. We drive down and meet my parents (they fly) and with our minivan it makes it very easy on Mom. She walks out the door of the OKW room and the van is right there. When we drive her to the parks my hubby drops her off right in front, then parks and meets us. Mom has a HC tag but even the HC spots can be far!

The rooms at OKW are roomy enough to park the scooter at night and recharge it easily. My Mom has a hard time getting the scooter onto elevators so whatever resort you choose, you might ask for ground floor.

 

[colleen costello]

PS; I re-read your post and I see you will only rent the scooter at parks. You'll have to get there early because they go fast! My Mom now rents one from Walker Medical in Orlando. It costs a little less per day and it is hers for the trip. They drop it off and pick it up for her, right at the resort. The scooter gives her a lot of freedom.

Beach Club and Boardwalk have a bit of a walk from the rooms to the pool and restaurants. I still think OKW is easiest on someone with limited mobility.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

PS; I re-read your post and I see you will only rent the scooter at parks. You'll have to get there early because they go fast! My Mom now rents one from Walker Medical in Orlando. It costs a little less per day and it is hers for the trip. They drop it off and pick it up for her, right at the resort. The scooter gives her a lot of freedom.

Beach Club and Boardwalk have a bit of a walk from the rooms to the pool and restaurants. I still think OKW is easiest on someone with limited mobility.

Thanks!! She may actually be bringing her own scooter...I'd have to check with the airlines to see how that would work. Did your mom ever use the scooter on the Disney buses?? I'd rather not have to drive to the parks every day, kinda defeats the purpose of staying on site.

 

[colleen costello]

Yes, Mom has used the buses with the scooter. There is a back entrance that "lifts" the scoooter up and they they secure it on the bus with straps. It takes a few minutes to do this. My Mom gets anxious if she feels she is holding everyone up (although I disagree here) so she prefers we drive her and the scooter. But sometimes we take the bus.

Mom thinks the monorail is the easiest to access. She dislikes the boats because there is no good place to "park" and she feels like she is in the way.

 

[WOW]

Our dear Aunt has traveled with us from NJ to OKW about 5 times-----she's a real disney fan!!!! We found OKW to be perfect for her, she was very comfortable in the 2 BR and they always honored our request for a ground floor or elevator. The CM's were all wonderful to her, made her feel like a princess. She always walked on her own. We were going to surprise her with another trip in April, but unfortunately she passed away 11 days ago and we are all so sad....she was 91.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

We were going to surprise her with another trip in April, but unfortunately she passed away 11 days ago and we are all so sad....she was 91.

Sorry to hear that!! I bet you're glad you have all those wonderful Disney memories with her! My mom will be 82 this summer and she's had a rough couple of years healthwise. I really want to make this trip special for her. Thanks for sharing! I think OKW may be the right choice for us.

 

[WOW]

Thank you. Yes you are right, there are so many wonderful memories of her there. She loved Spaceship Earth, Wishes, MGM (she was once in the hotspot at Millionaire).....she celebrated her 90th birthday there (about 8 celebrations in 10 days - we had a mini family reunion for her 90th). She absolutely loved the ice cream cones outside of France.

If I can give someone a bit of advice------If you have older realtives, ALWAYS take the time to be with them. I see so many children who have no time for their parents, aunts, uncles.........Since I have matured (now 58 YUK)
I have almost always taken the time to be good to them......and life has always been good to me and my family....What goes around comes around.

Hope you have a GREAT time with your Mom......(My Mom passed away 18 years ago and her and I never had the WDW memories of her to cherish)

Enjoy and God Bless!!!!!!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

WOW says : If I can give someone a bit of advice------If you have older realtives, ALWAYS take the time to be with them.

So true. My mil had 4 sons/dils, but we were the only ones who ever took her on vacation with us in the 18 years she was a widow and lived alone. She loved WDW---could never get enough of it----we lost her this past summer at age 69 to cancer. She even wanted to go with us when she was undergoing chemo and radiation. One time we arrived at OKW around 1 pm from our 17 hour drive and she felt very sick. The CM's at OKW were wonderful to her. They walked her into Olivia's and gave her some ginger ale and saltines to help settle her stomach and the server there even sat with her at the table until she felt better. OKW always accomodated our request of a ground floor due to medical condition so it was easier on my mil that way too.

So despite the great loss we feel, we'll always have those wonderful memories of having her share our vacations with us. I personally feel our children gained so much by having a close relationship with her. I'm sorry to hear about your aunt WOW, and I hope the memories will be there to comfort you and your family

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Thanks!! She may actually be bringing her own scooter...I'd have to check with the airlines to see how that would work. Did your mom ever use the scooter on the Disney buses?? I'd rather not have to drive to the parks every day, kinda defeats the purpose of staying on site.

you can take the busses but if that is any type of problem, dont worry much about driving, it wont defeat the purpose of staying on site. You get free parking at the parks and have the flexibilty of getting around to other places easier as well.

 

[MrTerrorChair]

Saratoga Springs Resort also has lots of parking near the rooms. If that's your main concern, OKW is probably best, but don't rule out SSR.

 

[jnrrt]

Anyone know how good the medical care is at Disney? My father is terminally ill, and we would like to take another trip with him, but my whole family is concerned if there were to be a problem. We would be concerned specifically with immediate emergency response. His problems are usually respiratory.

Anyone ever used emergency response and how did you feel about the hospitals etc.?

This has been a very helpful thread for me since his mobility is very limited - thanks for answering questions I hadn't asked yet!

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

I second the info re the car: with free parking, with being able to drop everyone off including scooter right in front of the entry and then parking...it will probably save lots of time to use your car, esp. if you stay at OKW or SSR where you park right in front of your door....sometimes the bus pick ups are kinda far from your room.

WOW: what you said is so true and so compelling that I think you should start a new thread. I am so glad that you have such wonderful Disney memories from past trips..a.nd please accept my condolences for your recent loss. I have photos and video memories of taking my mom to DIsney when my daughter was just a toddler...I am SO GLAD that we did that. She enjoyed herself so much and it made her passing so much easier on all of us.

NYDisney Mom: Your mom is lucky to have a daughter like you! I think OKW will be ideal for your mom too. Will you get a one bedroom? They are lovely!
But do consider using the car if the scooter can fit inside...Not sure, but I THINK you might be able to reserve one at the parks if you decide not to bring yours or use an offsite rental...Call and double check.

Hope you have an awesome trip and many,many more trips with your mom!

 

[WDWJWEB1]

NYDisneyMom

My choice would be the BWV, it's easy to get around and if your mom wants she could go down to the BW and just relax, the views are great, Epcot and MGM are jurt a ride away

I also think I would rent one for the whole trip, the World is very big and at 82 years young it is still going to be quite exhausting.

keep us posted on your final choice and enjoy your trip