Wise DISer's critique my plans

[burnetta696]

O, I'm traveling with my aunt, my 17yo cousin and my almost 80 yo grandmother. The trip is in celebration of my grandmothers 80th which is in July, but we are going the first week of June for a shorter trip, 2nd-7th. We've allotted only 1 day for each park, sort of- because we have hoppers but I don't really see the reason to hop when it's such a short trip, but I'm using CM comp tickets so they are automatically hoppers. We also have 1 day tickets through our package and we r at the Grand Floridian to take advantage of the monorail because my gramma asked to.

Anyway, I had tried linking my comp tickets to MDE- afterwards, or rather after I'd successfully linked 2, is when I saw that we aren't really supposed to link them, but what's done is done. My fp+ window opens on wed. And it remains to be seen how many days I will get to prebook, but I felt it a good idea to have a plan anyway.

Due to the current glitch I have already booked one day of fp+ for Epcot but here are the plans. I look forward to any advice.

Monday, 6/2:
Arrive, check in- possibly blizzard beach or DTD but plan to watch electrical boat parade and fireworks from GF beach

Tuesday, 6/3:
Animal Kingdom in AM- close to rd as possible.
FP+ for Safari 930- if it's a walk on I might try to swap it to KRR in afternoon maybe but might not be possible. If not we will just ride safari twice. Gramma loves animals.
FP+ for EE at 1245ish
FP+ for Dinosaur at 230ish
Head to resort after dinosaur. Gramma won't ride EE or Dinosaur- but I want to limit the time she has to wait for us on those rides that she can't do.

Evening at MK after 1-2 hr break at hotel. No plans, just hitting what we can and maybe electrical parade or fireworks.

(On a note- she will have an ecv- is there a designated area for watching either of those things and how does that work exactly? ))

Wed, 6/4:
Hitting as much of future world as possible in the am
Fp+ for spaceship earth at 1130
Fp+ for soarin at 1
Fp+ for Seas at 2
Planning to QS lunch at sunshine seasons while we are at land pavilion,

Break at resort from 3-5ish then back to Epcot for dinner in Japan, leisurely touring world showcase for the evening
,watching illuminations and will maybe stick it out to park close at 11, maybe not. Again- is there a wheelchair/ecv area for this? I'd imagine not because so many people rent ecvs now but idk- never travels with one before.

Thurs. 6/5
1900 PF breakfast at 830- aunt is a BIG mad hatter fan- it's the only character she cares about seeing. We don't really have plans to meet characters, and will just try to squeeze it in wherever if plausible. Just Mickey and I want to meet gaston perhaps. But that's besides the point. Anyway..

Then to HS-
Fp+ for GMR at 12
TSMM at 130/145 ish
Grab a snack somewhere
Break maybe if she (gramma) needs it in mid afternoon - though HS is a lot of shows and stuff so it might not be too rough for her.

Back to HS Dinner about 530
Fp+ for ToT at 7 ish
Fantasmic at 9

Friday 6/6 Magic Kingdom
I'm used to touring MK counter clockwise starting with adventure land.
Fp+ for HM at 1215
Lunch at BOG when we can get it.
Splash FP+ for 2pm

Break at resort for a couple hours, then dinner wherever, gf is easy transport to MK
Thinking about ETWB because it's new and none of us have seen it, so might fp that for 615 ish but the only other must do ride ps for us at MK are Pirates, and Little Mermaid.

Sat 6/7- Maybe BB in AM and/or DTD before heading to airport for evening flights (7pm)

We aren't in a hurry and will do what gramma wants for the most part, I've been to WDW, DL, dl- Paris and DL- Hong Kong in the last 3 yrs so I have no problems chilling with gramma if my aunt and cousin want to do something else. But the hope is to just keep it all relaxed. We aren't to concerned with waiting in lines- if something is over and hour we would skip it, but 30-40 mins doesn't bother us.

I've thought long and hard on this, so I'm hoping it's solid. Thoughts please! And thanks for reading this, as I'm sure it's long!!

 

[POOHsie]

Let me say, first, that I use an ECV full-time and have had many WDW visits. There are park maps for the disabled at the entry to each theme park. They show info about handicap entry to rides, family restrooms, and handicap viewing areas for parades and fireworks. There are different ways to enter rides, and they are symbolized on regular maps, more detail on the maps for disabled. You can also pick up schedules for live shows, fireworks, etc, at the front of the parks, and at the resort concierge desk.

Here on the Disboards there is a Forum for Disabilities. A great Sticky at the very top of the Forum is "disABILITIES FAQs - temporary & permanent disabled, 1st trip, next trip, Wish trip." It has descriptions of many things you may be wondering about, including ride info. Here's a link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

My first question would be, does your grandmother have experience using an ECV? I wonder how well she can handle an ECV vs renting a wheelchair. Second question, would your grandmother park the ECV and walk thru the ride queue? This makes a difference on rides such as Spaceship Earth at Epcot.

At Epcot. If she's bringing her ECV with her to SSE, you enter the bldg thru a separate side door, into a waiting area. There you park the ECV and grab a wheelchair to get to the ride vehicles. A CM will put you on a list, and you enter when you are called. There is a moving ramp at the ride vehicle entry, but it can be shut off. If you use the handicap accessible entrance, there's no need for FP+.

There are handicap viewing areas for Illuminations at Epcot. Down by the entry to world showcase, near Canada, and by Germany. Try to get there about 1 hr before the fireworks, parade, etc. at any park if going to the accessible viewing area. It fills up. You can get your grandmother settled in, and exit the HA area to grab a snack or a souvenir. Tell the CM that your grandmother is already there and they will let you back in the area. You may have to watch the show towards the rear of the area, while she views from up front. If you sit/crouch down, you can be near her, but not standing up.

Your schedule of SSE at 11:30 and Soarin' at 1 is OK. (Try to get to SSE earlier, as noted, you won't need the FP+. ) When you enter The Land for Soarin' you go up an inclined path, enter the bldg, then down again either right or left. (Stupid design) Go left. At the bottom of the descent, around the corner on the left, is the elevator to take you down to the lower level where Soarin', Sunshine Seasons and Living With The Land are. You didn't mention Living With The Land but it's quite worth it and usually a very tiny line. You can park the ECV and board with a wheelchair, if needed. You enter a boat and follow a path where food is being grown using latest methods and water conservation. Really cool ride. By the time you're done with your visit to the Land, you will be way past your time for the The Seas ride. Maybe reschedule for 3. If grandmother needs to keep the ECV at The Seas, they will park you, switch you to a wheelchair, and you wait for the next accessible ride vehicle. To me, the ride is meh, but the visit through the live aquarium is awesome!

You mention staying at Epcot later than Illuminations. It's an EMH evening? There are rides open late, usually lines are not bad at all. You could send your young cousin in for things you and grandmother might not be interested in. If she rides things in Future World, you could go over to Club Cool for sample international sodas (must try Beverly), or watch the big fountain. Here's a list of what's open for EMH. (sorry if it's not completely up-to-date)

Future World: Captain EO, Journey Into Imagination With Figment, Soarin', Living with the Land, The Circle of Life, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, Spaceship Earth, Epcot Character Spot, Mission: SPACE, Test Track
World Showcase: Mexico-Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, Norway-Maelstrom, The American Adventure, O Canada!
​

At AK. Safari ride with handicap access is a separate path that breaks off from the main line. At the end of the separate path is a separate stopping place for the ride vehicle and a place to park the ECV before entering the ride vehicle. I wonder about the need for FP+ here, too. Kali River Rapids also has a separate path to a separate dock for handicap access. The good thing about the separate dock is, if no new disabled folks are waiting at the dock to board, you can ask to go around again. We do it every time. Thinking about your grandmother, you might consider a cheap, throw-away poncho for her to protect against getting soaked thru.

Try to do at least one or two of the trails. Flights of Wonder is a short, live bird show. It's very nice. We also love It's Tough To Be a Bug. Not sure about waiting area for EE. Find some place with shade. There's lots of shady areas outside Dinosaur. Think about a hat with a brim for your grandmother. And a few cheap ponchos for sudden rains, and to keep the ECV dry.

At DHS. Have you considered the Fantasmic! Dinner package? You get separate entry into Fantasmic! in a much shorter line. With the ECV, you will be seated at the very top row of seats. No getting any closer, but it's been OK for our family.

At MK. HM at 12:15 and Splash at 2:00 won't leave time for BOG in-between. There's the question of your grandmother taking her ECV thru the HM queue or not. If she brings the ECV, you are brought to the ride exit and there's a moving ramp. They can turn it off if necessary. How about planning for a light grab of food, then BOG after Splash. Splash is also questionable for FP+. At a point in the line, those with ECVs go to a separate path that takes you to the ride exit. You park and step down into the boat.

Big Thunder has a separate handicap line altogether, and the wait is small. POC you switch to a wheelchair to enter. Exit is separate from regular exit.

 

[burnetta696]

My first question would be, does your grandmother have experience using an ECV? I wonder how well she can handle an ECV vs renting a wheelchair. Second question, would your grandmother park the ECV and walk thru the ride queue? This makes a difference on rides such as Spaceship Earth at Epcot. At Epcot. If she's bringing her ECV with her to SSE, you enter the bldg thru a separate side door, into a waiting area. There you park the ECV and grab a wheelchair to get to the ride vehicles. A CM will put you on a list, and you enter when you are called. There is a moving ramp at the ride vehicle entry, but it can be shut off. If you use the handicap accessible entrance, there's no need for FP+.

First, thank you so much for such a detailed and thoughtful response, it's a great help. Yes, my grams has used an ecv before, and she feels quite confident to use it at disney. She can walk, and I suppose she could walk through some of the queues but she has arthritis and low stamina so we will only have her walk if she feels totally comfortable. That being said, thank you for the insight on the entry to SSE I might rethink that fp+

There are handicap viewing areas for Illuminations at Epcot. Down by the entry to world showcase, near Canada, and by Germany. Try to get there about 1 hr before the fireworks, parade, etc. at any park if going to the accessible viewing area. It fills up. You can get your grandmother settled in, and exit the HA area to grab a snack or a souvenir. Tell the CM that your grandmother is already there and they will let you back in the area. You may have to watch the show towards the rear of the area, while she views from up front. If you sit/crouch down, you can be near her, but not standing up.

Thanks for the tips, will definitely aim for that.

You didn't mention Living With The Land but it's quite worth it and usually a very tiny line. You can park the ECV and board with a wheelchair, if needed. You enter a boat and follow a path where food is being grown using latest methods and water conservation. Really cool ride. By the time you're done with your visit to the Land, you will be way past your time for the The Seas ride. Maybe reschedule for 3. If grandmother needs to keep the ECV at The Seas, they will park you, switch you to a wheelchair, and you wait for the next accessible ride vehicle. To me, the ride is meh, but the visit through the live aquarium is awesome!

We do want to do Living with the Land, I think my gram will love it, and I really like it too. And I think she is more excited for the aquarium then the ride, but my aunt wants a picture of her in the seashell soooo... Ride we will. Also, it is not EmH- originally we were going to EC on an EMH day, but I swapped them and forgot to change that. That's a good catch.

At AK. Safari ride with handicap access is a separate path that breaks off from the main line. At the end of the separate path is a separate stopping place for the ride vehicle and a place to park the ECV before entering the ride vehicle. I wonder about the need for FP+ here, too. Kali River Rapids also has a separate path to a separate dock for handicap access. The good thing about the separate dock is, if no new disabled folks are waiting at the dock to board, you can ask to go around again. We do it every time.
Thinking about your grandmother, you might consider a cheap, throw-away poncho for her to protect against getting soaked thru. Try to do at least one or two of the trails. Flights of Wonder is a short, live bird show. It's very nice. We also love It's Tough To Be a Bug. Not sure about waiting area for EE. Find some place with shade. There's lots of shady areas outside Dinosaur. Think about a hat with a brim for your grandmother. And a few cheap ponchos for sudden rains, and to keep the ECV dry.

Good thing to know again about the accessible lines, we will prolly fp+ KRR then, because she won't be riding that with us. I don't think, I'm thinking it might be too stressful. She has had a couple minor heart surgeries in the past year. We will def. check out some trails and the bird show. She loves birds. And I already planned on grabbing ponchos.

At MK. HM at 12:15 and Splash at 2:00 won't leave time for BOG in-between. There's the question of your grandmother taking her ECV thru the HM queue or not. If she brings the ECV, you are brought to the ride exit and there's a moving ramp. They can turn it off if necessary. How about planning for a light grab of food, then BOG after Splash. Splash is also questionable for FP+. At a point in the line, those with ECVs go to a separate path that takes you to the ride exit. You park and step down into the boat. Big Thunder has a separate handicap line altogether, and the wait is small. POC you switch to a wheelchair to enter. Exit is separate from regular exit.

I might move splsh a little later then. We want to be able to head back to hotel immediately after in case we are soaked. I've wandered the park soaked before and it's not pleasant. Big thunder, and space mtn, is something the rest of us will do between 10-12 at night when gramma is back at the hotel for the night. Thanks for your insight!! So very helpful!!

 

[POOHsie]

You could put your grandmother in a poncho for Splash. There's usually a big flume of water at the bottom of the drop. Or carry a separate change of clothes for her in a plastic bag.

Seems like you've thought out your trip quite a bit. Good luck to you for a great visit!