Disney4me Posted 2 hours ago Report Posted 2 hours ago My parents are 75. At home, neither uses a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair. At Disney World, I rented them each a scooter, skipped an entire land in Magic Kingdom, and called it a day around the time I’d usually be deciding where to get my second park snack. ©Pixar Disney World sells itself as a family vacation, but a lot of the planning advice seems to picture a family with a six-year-old and two adults willing to set an alarm on vacation. My family had two late risers from Houston, a knee and ankle that gave my dad trouble, and me, a woman who can turn a short walk through EPCOT into a three-hour snack detour. Here’s what I’d do differently the next time I take my parents. I’d Never Skip the Scooters The scooters did more for our trip than anything I booked in My Disney Experience. My parents are active at home. A Disney day asks for a different kind of stamina. There’s the walk from the bus stop, the standing in line, and the little trip across the park because someone spotted a snack on the other side. (It’s me, I am that someone.) ECV rental in Disney World We rented two electric conveyance vehicles, or ECVs, through Buena Vista Scooter Rentals. They dropped them off at Wilderness Lodge and picked them up there at the end of the trip. The rep showed each of my parents how to drive and charge their scooter, gave us a number to call for help, and even brought extras in case someone else in our group wanted one after seeing them. I’d build time into arrival day to practice turns and backing up somewhere quiet. Heading down Main Street Disney’s own ECV rentals are first come, first served, and the scooter stays at the park or other location where you rented it. Having ours at the hotel meant my parents could use them from the moment we left the room. If you book through a third party, confirm where and when you’ll meet the company for delivery and pickup. I’d Never Count on the Boat I love the boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom. With two scooters, we took the bus. The watercraft access can vary with the boat and water conditions, so ask at the dock if you have your heart set on sailing. I’d also leave time for the next bus in case the first one’s mobility spaces are full. Let’s sail over to Magic Kingdom! Dad got comfortable driving his scooter onto the bus. Mom would have preferred to parallel park on Main Street with a live audience about as much as she wanted to do it on the bus. Every driver offered to help and guided her scooter into place when she took them up on it. That made the whole business feel ordinary, which was exactly what she needed. Wilderness Lodge Bus stop Inside the parks, I learned to leave room for the kid watching YouTube who can change direction faster than I can say “ankles.” We skipped Fantasyland altogether. The mecca of every stroller in the Northern Hemisphere was not the place I wanted to impose toddler dodging on my parents. At EPCOT, we caught Voices of Liberty, paid our respects to Sam Eagle over barbecue at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, and parked the scooters to browse the UK shops. One pavilion we got to poke around in felt like a better use of our afternoon than a full lap spent watching for heels. I’d Never Assume Boarding Is Easy I knew we’d skip Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, and the like. I love the Muppets enough to give Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster a second go. My neck has filed a dissenting opinion. The ride that taught me the most about planning for Dad, though, was Pirates of the Caribbean. I watched him work out how to lower himself into the boat on a bad knee and ankle. After that, I took a few more boat rides off our list. Pirates of the Caribbean Boat The Cast Members are a great resource. Use them. At the entrance to each attraction we planned to experience (whether we had a Lightning Lane or were using the standby queue), I spoke with the Cast Member and let them know we had two scooters in our party. Then the Cast Member asked the same questions: Could they transition into the ride vehicle? Could they stand for a short period? Could they take a few steps (varied by ride/queue)? After that assessment, the Cast Member would then direct us on what to do. Some queues are scooter-accessible, some have a separate accessibility entrance, some don’t permit scooters at all, and they must be parked outside the attraction, and the individuals have to walk in, or a manual wheelchair is provided. Always ask a Cast Member. Disney’s mobility guide is a good place to start before the trip. Strollers in Disney World We made time for shows, too. An air-conditioned theater with a place to sit is a fine way to spend part of the afternoon, and we could often stay with the scooters in designated seating areas. Next time, I’d ask everyone for their two must-dos and plan around those. I’d Retire the Dawn Patrol My parents like a slow morning, so we got to the parks around noon and left around four or five. I bought Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios with that short window in mind. Getting our money’s worth meant spending less of the afternoon standing in line for the handful of rides we cared about. We knew that paying for this access wasn’t about doing the MOST attractions possible; it was about doing the ones we wanted without waiting. A 9 AM slot is worth exactly zero dollars to my family. We’re still working on coffee. Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane I was also the designated My Disney Experience wrangler. My parents’ phones are for calls and the occasional emoji of mysterious intent, so I handled dining reservations and ride plans. If that’s your family, too, pick your app person before the trip, link everyone through Family & Friends, and make sure their tickets show up. You’ll be glad you sorted it out at home when the alternative is doing it in the sun with a line forming behind you. Here’s our DFB guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass. I’d Leave July to Somebody Else Consider the climate. Florida is HOT. Crazy hot. Stupid hot. Sometimes surface-of-the-sun-if-the-sun-was-also-a-swamp hot. Luckily, my parents hail from Houston, the Lone Star sister city to Orlando’s heat and humidity. But like any native Houstonian, they don’t spend much time outside. They stay inside, where the air conditioning keeps everything suitable for human habitation. Being outside in the sun and humidity in Orlando in the middle of the day is A LOT. So, we planned our trip for the end of October. Yes, it’s still in the 80s every day, but a bit more manageable. We packed cooling towels, clip-on fans for the scooter handles, water, and sunscreen. It’s also a good idea to schedule an indoor lunch or show before anyone needs a break. Sukeen 4 Pack Cooling Towel And when we were done, we left. I am quite capable of spending the rest of the afternoon in Territory Lounge and calling that a full day at Disney World. I’d Take Them Again in a Heartbeat I plan Disney trips with friends around things like how many EPCOT booths we can hit before dinner. With kids, I’d make room for a favorite character or a second spin on Dumbo. With my parents, a good day started around noon and could be over by four. We could ride a couple of things, head back to Wilderness Lodge while everybody still had some energy, and sit down together over a flatbread at Territory Lounge. I’d take that trip again in a heartbeat. Territory Lounge It’s okay to ride fewer rides and spend less time in the parks. I love a snack tally and a drink around World Showcase as much as anybody, but ask me what I’d go back and do tomorrow, and I’ll tell you exactly where I’d sit at Territory Lounge. Some of the stories you’ll tell after a Disney trip start on Haunted Mansion. Some start with an iced tea in a hotel lobby. Give yourself enough room in the day for either one. Tons of People Make This Disney World App MISTAKE on Their Vacations – Don’t Be One of Them! Read More About Disney World Travel Tips What I Wish I’d Known Before Bringing My Grandma to Disney WorldYour Grandma Called. She Wants You To STOP Doing This in Disney World.I Am a Disney Grandma at Heart – These Are the Unspoken Rules I Follow in Magic KingdomThe T-Shirt Every Disney Grandma Will Be Wearing to Disney World this Fall Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you planning a trip with parents or grandparents? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article Quote
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