I’ve been to Disney many times, but this trip will be different, so I need some help
Several years ago, I took my parents to Disney for their first trip. Of course they loved it and have been bugging me to go back ever since. My sisters and my dad are going on a four day hiking trip in May, leaving my mom and me out since we have zero interest in that. My mom asked if I would do something with her on that weekend
We quickly decided on Disney and included my daughter, Bethany. We both still have AP’s, so it’s much cheaper for us. Here’s where it gets a little tricky for me. I’ve never actually been in charge of our trips other than the planning. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m a little hesitant about managing the airport, ubers etc…For some context, I live in a very rural area…basically Amish country! So I know I can do it, but I’m going to have some questions.
My mom is 79. She had kidney cancer a few years ago but recovered from that. She does get winded easily. I can’t remember what the MCO walk is like to the area where we will get picked up. (I booked Gear Fusion) Is it a long way?
I booked All Star Sports since it is such a quick trip. There wasn’t any availability for preferred rooms. Is there an area to try for that will limit walking to the buses for her? I would get her a scooter, but I think we will just be renting one in the parks. She doesn’t use on at home but will need it to limit some of the walking for her.
My mom’s birthday is in May. My grandpa died on her birthday two years ago this May, so her last few birthdays haven’t been great. I was planning on taking her to Cake Bake Shop to celebrate, but I’m wondering about the logistics of getting her there. My reservation is on our Epcot day. Is it a really long walk if we are taking it slowly? Am I better off going to the front of Epcot and taking an Uber? Or is it too much hassle to get her there on such a quick trip?
OK, that’s enough for now, but I know I’ll have more questions coming
Thanks for any help or advice! My mom is really excited, so I want to try and make sure these two days are special for her! I’m looking forward to a trip with just my mom and daughter
You can look up maps of the airport
Checking luggage adds more steps
When DH and I went to WDW for our 50th we also had a 16 yo and an 18 yo with us.
We leaned on their better internet/phone skills and their ability to move quickly. They would often go ahead to a restaurant to say “they’re on their way”
Several recent trips I’ve rested at almost every bench
Which is cool because then I could enjoy the WDW atmosphere
That anniversary trip DH rode two rides and I rode one and we had a super great time.
We also ate mostly an appetizer or ordered from the kids menu. DH wanted fish and chips at Rose and Crown which was also on the kids menu and the amount of food he wanted. No CM commented on our ordering. The 16 yo mostly ordered from the kids menu also.
Let everyone else deplane, or get off the bus or monorail and take your time.
I’d love for it to be a special occasion for your mom so she could get a button. She’d love to have folks wishing her well.
We will just have carry on luggage. We are flying Frontier for the first time. So hopefully that flight isn’t canceled or delayed or we are in trouble!!
My mom wants to ride everything! Is Guardians OK for 79 year olds?
DH rode it at 86. It’s very smooth. Doesn’t go upside down tho it does make tight turns. There are screens to look at which kinda gave DH a queasy feeling. If she’s at all prone to motion sickness she may want to keep her eyes closed. DH absolutely adored Flight of Passage. Soarin had always been his favorite but after FoP, he said he didn’t need to waste time on “that other ride”.
It’s possible to look up the gates Frontier uses at MCO. If you’re not used to using your phone to navigate, lean on your daughter for this. The 18 yo that was with us uses the phone navigation for everything, including how long the walk is from this parking garage to that building on campus.
Have your mother practice using a scooter at local stores, such as the grocery store, Walmart, or Lowes/Home Depot. This way WDW won’t be her first attempt.
She shared one with my dad last trip, so she has driven one. She probably ended up using it more than him. He has more health issues but does better in the heat than her.
Our anniversary trip was in late June. DH did fine but I struggled to cool down, even in the a.c.
I carry an unflavored electrolyte supplement that I add to my water if I feel it’s needed. Usually afternoons. That trip I learned to put some in my orange juice and water at breakfast. Much more comfortable in the heat.
The good thing about Sports is that it is small. I would put in a room request through Touring Plans. Mention someone in. Your party has limited mobility and that you would like to be near transportation. I would ask at check in the shortest route to your room because sometimes I mess that up!
Cake bake shop is not a really long walk, its on the closest side of Boardwalk Imn to the International Gateway. - closer from than Journey to the Imagination.
What a great trip!! I agree with @heathernoel about the room request idea. Sports is pretty small so you should be good no matter what.
For Cake Bake Shop you can always exit through the IG and take a friendship boat over to BWI which is the first stop. Then it’s a fairly short walk. I would 100% do that vs walk bc it is a bit of a hike and uphill too.
I could not imagine she would enjoy GotG if she’s not used to adrenaline rush evenrs. Is it safe for her to ride, sure, but will she disown you for making her ride it? Maybe
I truly thought DH would like Cosmic Rewind - no other Disney ride had ever bothered him. The leaded version of Mission Space was a null effect.
But he needed to have the teens escort* him back to the resort so he could have a rest. He was discombobulated in some way. Just felt off.
Too be sure, he hadn’t been on a Disney ride in 5 years. Definitely his cognition was not as good as it had been.
*I had to go to Coronado Springs to get the Kid signed in to the karate tournament. Very handy to have someone available to take DH back to the resort.
I will watch her carefully if it’s really hot and myself with my kidney issues!
I think at first she thought May would be decent temp wise like it is in PA. I had to break it to her that it could be very hot.
Thanks! I’ve been looking at some of the room requests on the room finder. I could also Uber if I have to since it’s only two days. I know those buses don’t have the benches to sit on while you wait, so I’ll need to think about that too.
That’s a helpful report about Cake Bake Shop, thanks! I did wonder if there was a boat. I’ll go ahead and keep that reservation because I think she will really like it.
She loves rides! Her last trip was 4 years ago, and her favorite rides were EE and FOP. She wants to ride all of the rides, including Space, which I don’t even ride anymore
She will absolutely want to ride it! I just was thinking I wonder if there is an age where maybe they shouldn’t. I guess it’s different for everyone. I think her health is well enough to handle it, but I will make sure she checks with her doctor.
Possibly ride EE first and see if that’s still ok with her. It’s been a while since she’s ridden.
My sister discovered that while riding once is fun, 3 times in a row isn’t fun any more.
Not that your mom was going to do that. Just we don’t always know how we’ve changed. I recall how sad it was when Space Mtn became too rough. But RnRC was sooo smooth.
We had DH check with his cardiologist - who hadn’t been to WDW - about riding rides. That gentleman said no one should ride; you never know when plaque will break loose. It could happen while changing a bicycle tire!
At which point he lost my opinion of his good logic.
It’s not close, but you can request a courtesy wheelchair for her
The offsite scooter rentals are more affordable and she would then have it for the whole trip and never have to be worried or limited by a long walk. The walk to the bus from the park entrances, where you’d have to leave the park-rented scooter, can feel interminable to even the most able-bodied person.
Yes, it’s a long walk. You could take the ferry and that would trim that down by a lot.
Sadly, we aren’t going to AK this time. I only have two personal days that I can take. We get in Friday evening and fly back on Monday. I thought about a hopper, but I felt like she wouldn’t move fast enough for it. Ultimately, I left it up to her. She said she was OK to just do Epcot and MK this trip. Bethany will hop around a little bit without us for sure. I know she will not miss EE.
We can get one just at MCO? I think she will be OK in Pittsburgh. She doesn’t need any special boarding or anything like that.
I mentioned renting a scooter. That’s what we did in the past for my dad. But she doesn’t want it. I don’t think she wants to worry about getting it on the bus. She does walk fine and gets around in every day life. She still works part time etc…I just know that heat bothers her, and she does get winded easily.
I’m happy to hear that there is a ferry!! We are used to walking to Beaches and Cream but have never gone to the Boardwalk area.
