Christmas Wish - Trip with an 80 year old man - Advice Needed!

[englanddg]

So, I got back from the family Christmas. It was wonderful to see my family. We had an enjoyable day, but since I have to work tomorrow, as well as my sister's fiance (we are both in retail industries)...we came back to ATL early.

So, a bit of backstory. My family gave my grandparents a few gifts last year...first, we spent a LOT of money to have their slide / picture / video collections converted and polished professionally. It cost quite a mint.

(me at age 10 working out something in wordstar)

Second, we got my grandfather a mac (BEST decision we've ever made)...and taught him how to use it. We then asked them to make a presentation collection of their photos and videos as they remembered them. They are both in good heath (so far) thankfully, but, we wanted to catalogue this...

(me in all my late 80s glory...with a butt pack...at my uncles and father's promotions. The other kids are my sister and my cousin.)

Today he pulled me aside...

This is the man who loved Disney his whole life. Worshiped the man, worshiped the parks, loved everything about Disney and instilled it in all of us...down to his grandchildren. The man who gave our family all we have (through raising my father and my uncle), his guidance, his wisdom, his praise...

A wonderful man...

He is worried about (not to be morbid) the future...4 heart attacks, two surgeries...he's not sure how much longer he is going to be around.

He pulled me aside today during our festivities, and said...he wants to go back to Disneyworld. He hasn't been back in about 4 years...and his mobility is severely restricted (as is his health and stamina). Anyway, he says...no one will take him...except me, and I owe him! (I do) He's relying on me.

So, here's the reason for my post...

On the trip back to Atlanta with my sister and her fiance, we discussed this in more detail. They are open to helping me out. I will cover the trip financially (though I'll toss in a few things for him so he feels he's "participating", like a limo from the airport...the man LOVES to impress! I'll let him "surprise" us.

We are not sure he's going to be around more than a year or two, given his medical conditions. Hopefully more, but this is a man who cries during Wishes, and loves to meet Mickey! I'd love to make a "last trip" come true.

So, again, back on point...

For those whom have traveled with elder people, what would you recommend? I have no idea what I'm doing in this respect. I plan for a kid and myself, but I'd really like to make this a memorable trip for him.

We are thinking a 3 or 4 day trip in spring (off season, probably mid to late may).

So, thoughts, insight is sought. Especially from anyone who has traveled with someone who will probably need to be in a wheelchair most of the time. Advice, tips, anything really is welcome!

I really want to make his Christmas Wish come true...and I hope, I truly do, that this isn't my last trip to the world with the strong man who raised our family...

 

[LucyK]

Mom was 71 years old on her first trip. She'll turn 73 on our next one. She's quite healthy and active and do not have a huge mobility issue aside from a bad knee that not once flared up when we're there (I had all her meds with me, bought some ice/cold packs to use if she needed and the sucker never once gave her trouble), not quite the same as your grandfather, but here's what worked with us:

The biggest advice I can give is to go at his pace; walk when he wants to walk, scout the parks for some cool places to sit at the shade and just people watch for a while, leave when he wants to leave. We took mid-day breaks all days except on our AK days, were there for rope-drop and would leave around noon/1pm to rest. She slept for a couple of hours and that really brought her stamina back. We would go back to the parks around 5 or 6pm and she was a ball of energy again.

@Gabe1 talked about monorail resorts and I agree. The less he has to walk to get to a park, the more stamina he'll have to enjoy the parks.

Your idea of offseason is a great one. We went in February and the mild to cold weather was perfect for her and the crowds were very manageable (all but those two days of Mardi Gras) which made touring the parks very simple. We did encounter some lines with 60-80 minutes wait but we just turned around and looked for other things to do.

Meeting the characters was a great experience for her and she had a blast. Since your grandfather loves Mickey, how about an evening dedicated to meet all different Mickey's? I know you said He's only interested in EPCOT and MK but how about a quick hop to AK and DHS just for Mickey pictures? My mom was extremely excited to meet them all and would ask me if there were more she could visit.

I'll added more as I think of it.

 

[englanddg]

I sent this to him...



His response?

That ;was awesome and I want to go with you, Kaylee, Erin and Tyler. Grandfather

I must make this happen...

 

[englanddg]

Another resposnse...

You and the #1 Grandson, you know you have always been and always will be my #1 Grandson and I will always do what i can for you. I am definitely wanting to go one last time with you and I don't mind at all having your sister (she is only #2) Tyler and your little one come along for the fun!!!! Plan it all and book it up etc. If you want me to we can get the Shades of Green on my Lt Col rank but we must book it early. I definitely will get the limo and then some. I know they have electric chairs or carts for me to get around in. So get the planning done and if Grandmother wants to come along we will let her, otherwise she can stay home. Love grandfather.

 

[englanddg]

Anyone renting DVC points?

 

[englanddg]

Ok, it's on...it's on. April trip!

 

[englanddg]

I am debating paying for Contemporary club level.

 

[LucyK]

That's great! I hope you and your family have the most amazing time.

Club level will help cut back on some of the meals and the walk to MK will save a lot of time.

Keep us posted!

 

[Tiggerish]

Ok, it's on...it's on. April trip!

Wonderful!! Love grandfather's responses, too, he's clearly excited for the trip.

I'm not sure I'd recommend Bay Lake Towers, though, because there are no services there--everything is in the CR itself; dining, sundries, transportation--and so you have to either walk/scoot across the parking lot or use the skybridge on the 5th floor. Not sure I'd want to try to maneuver a scooter on that skybridge, and depending on where your room is, having to get to the fifth floor to get across could be a hassle. Of course, you may decide that the coolness factor of BLT outweighs any hassle about having to negotiate the distance between the two buildings.

This is for April 2014, is that right? If you want to rent DVC points, you should look into it right away, as you're inside the 7 month window. I have no points to rent you, but if you want to let me know what dates you're looking at, I can at least tell you what's available.

 

[JohnD]

I'm taking my parents who are 73 (or they're taking me, depending on your point of view) in early April. We're going to Epcot for 2 days and AK for one. Those parks are more their style--slower pace--which I anticipate doing with them. I've been enough times before that I really won't need to rush from one thing to the next. Dad did say he wants to ride Soarin', so I'll have to do FP+ for that. Mom won't understand going at slow pace then making a reservation for ride, so I'll have to explain it's either that or waiting in line a long time.

But you said you grandfather wants to "go back to Disneyworld". For all you know, he may want to revisit his childhood in MK. Find out what he likes then investigate ADA access, etc. As for resorts, we're staying at CBR, although parents will be in a preferred room in the Martinique section on the 1st floor, facing the lake, and near dining and bus. But monorail resorts may work best for you but that's a higher price range.

 

[luv]

Do it now. You don't want him to die before you get this done. Just go. It doesn't have to be the best planned trip ever with meals in the popular restaurants. Just Go.

Don't go when it is hot. That's a lot for healthy young people and just too much for older ones.

Keep to your dad's schedule. If he gets up early, hit the parks early. If he sleeps late, you do, too.

Rent an ECV.

Worry less about HOW you do it and more about when. Sooner is always better than later.

If he wants to go, take him and take him now. That's my advice.

 

[Weather_Lady]

My advice would be: book now for May 2014 (the earlier in May you go, the better! By mid-May you've got Star Wars Weekends and a general increase in crowds AND heat, both of which only get worse as the month goes on.) Better yet, book for early February 2014 -- yes, it's 2 months away, but why not!??!

Set up a general itinerary, ADRs and FP+, but go with the attitude that you're going to "go with the flow." If he's an early riser, tour for a couple of hours at rope drop, head back to the hotel for naps, and come back to a park in the evening. Go slow. Tour in a simple clockwise or counterclockwise fashion. Make sure he has frequent breaks to get hydrated, use the restroom, or just take a load off and enjoy the view. If he's amenable to a wheelchair or ECV and might need one when he gets tired, have phone numbers at the ready so you can set up a rental.

Most of all, love and enjoy him all you can, while you can!

 

[englanddg]

His response...

Your grandfather has never had a problem with Kaylee and I would love to have her with us. i would personally prefer we are able to leave Grandmother, Your Mom and Dad in Evans etc. It would be great if Erin and Tyler could go with us. Love Grandfather P.S. It is a shame G, M & D do not feel the Magic as we do. They try to stay grownup too much especially G who somehow miss out as a Girl and has never learned to let her hair down and live.

Nope, not getting involved (he's talking about his wife, my Grandmother, who is a wonderful woman, but also a worry wart...)

So, here's what I hear from him...right now...in music...



And I fear he may be correct. A man (or woman) knows his body...

He wants one last trip, one last hurrah. And, me and my sister owe this to him as he gave us his all when we were younger.

So, I have booked Poly...it will break my bank. But it's done. My sister is a bit upset because I want 1500 from them to cover a portion of their part of the trip (I don't think that's unreasonable for a 10k trip)...

I'm still working out details, but as has been pointed out, renting DVC points is not really an option this close...

Pushed the trip to the first week of May though...I really can't afford a Jan or Feb trip at a monorail resort. I could...but I shouldn't...

One last run Papa...one last run. We'll do Spaceship Earth (he'll gripe about Judy Dench) and eat at the Living Seas (remember the mickey shaped butters?) and ride Peter Pan (our favorite ride)...one last run...

One last...run...

 

[englanddg]

My response...

"Don't worry, Grandfather. They are not invited.

This is our trip. I just want to make it the best I can for you!"

 

[englanddg]

"Ok, so I booked Polynesian for us, Theme Park view Club level.

Thoughts?

I really think this would work well for us, as we can see the fireworks from the hotel if you get tired, and it's also easy for transportation. I know that Shades of Green is a great value, but it also has transportation and dining issues.

Let me treat you Grandfather...I owe you so much..."

He'll still want to stay at Shades of Green.

 

[englanddg]

Stubborn old man...

 

[luv]

I'm not a Randy Newman fan and I didn't like it when they added his theme song to the show, but that final Monk song is very pretty...and very touching.

Stop worrying about a dumb room and just go.

Stay somewhere cheaper. The stupid room is the least important part. The important thing is to go.

If you put it off and he dies, you'll regret it!!

 

[LucyK]

If he really wants SoG, give it to him. How about a split stay? Let him help with his military discount and then book another two days at Poly as your gift to him but don't let him know before hand. With an EVC he won't have to walk so the walk from SoG to EPCOT won't be tiresome to him.

 

[englanddg]

I'm not a Randy Newman fan and I didn't like it when they added his theme song to the show, but that final Monk song is very pretty...and very touching.

Stop worrying about a dumb room and just go.

Stay somewhere cheaper. The stupid room is the least important part. The important thing is to go.

If you put it off and he dies, you'll regret it!!

You are right...so very right...stark, but correct.

I think part of my issue is that I don't want to come to terms with what he is saying...even though I hear it loud and clear.

He wants a "farewell tour"...and, by god, I want to give him the best "farewell tour" I can, and that's why I'm overthinking this!

 

[luv]

You are right...so very right...stark, but correct.

I think part of my issue is that I don't want to come to terms with what he is saying...even though I hear it loud and clear.

He wants a "farewell tour"...and, by god, I want to give him the best "farewell tour" I can, and that's why I'm overthinking this!

When the truth is told - when you cut through all that Disney Enthusiasm and "bubble" BS - the important thing is being with each other.

At the heart of everything, the only thing that matters in the end is people and love. Everything else is just fluff.

The Poly won't make it better...because it can't. Being there with you is all he cares about because it's all that REALLY matters. He's reached the point where he can separate what is important and what isn't, so he doesn't give a rat's what room he sleeps in. Going with you is what he cares about.

If you give him what he really wants (even if it isn't all that you want to give him), you won't live to regret that.

 

[englanddg]

His response, regarding Poly.

No Problem, That was great when I first stayed there 50+ years ago. They had a Hawaiian Luau then at night with dances, food on the ground etc. As of now Grandmother will not go with us but told me to go on. She might change her mind later etc. but I told her I was going with or without and I was not yet ready to become an invalid. Love Grandfather

His math may be a bit off about Poly (though, it's pretty close), but it's amusing because I knew he's done a lot of Disney, but didn't know he'd stayed at Poly (I shouldn't have been surprised by this...)

Makes it even better.

So, Poly Theme Park View, Club Level 5/1 through 5/5...

Sister and Fiance have reviewed their finances and are now fine with their contribution to the trip (I think it was just sticker shock that got my sister, I understand that, it would get me as well!)

So, it's booked. I'm in the process, before I head to bed, of linking all of our accounts (I created emails under a domain I control)...

Here was my response to him...

Done and Done.

Tentative reservations are made, and down payments done. You will get an email invite from me to link your profile to their system. If you call me sometime tomorrow, I can help you get all that set up (they've made a lot of changes to the parks!)

<edit, my sister> and <her fiance> are in right now. <her fiance> needs to check his work schedule. KK is handled, her mom will put in the requests once we all finalize the dates. She's coming. Her mother (tenatively) is going to fly her down to Orlando to meet us or I'll fly up and pick her up from DC and meet you all in Orlando.

I went ahead and made some Dining Reservations. We don't have to keep them, but it's best to lay stake on the restaurants early! <grin>

All dining reservations note your requirement for sugar free desserts (gotta have them sweets), and I know for a fact they have them at all these venues (I've had a few of them myself even!). Also, any of these can be changed, and if you have any special requests, please let me know! I guessed you'd want to do Coral Seas and Crystal Palace...

5/1 Cindy's Royal Table dinner at 4p

This is eating in the Castle. Quite good. We get to meet all the Princesses. It's a first day tradition for me and KK every trip. We can change this if you like.

5/1 Dessert Party for Wishes Fireworks
This gets us reserved private seating, so we are up out of the crowds, plus coffee and desserts...and yes, I confirmed, they have no-sugar sweet treat options for you!

5/2 - Coral Reef at Noon
This is the aquarium restaurant you and I enjoy so much. I already placed requests for bottom tier views for us.

5/2 - Jiko 5.30p
This is hands down my favorite restaurant on property, and the fanciest place I reserved (it's not uber fancy, but still fine dining). It's at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Afterwards we can go do the Savannah Walk and roast some marshmallows or chill out by the outdoor fire as we digest the food. This would be a perfect night for the limo you talked about! We can all get fancy and after dinner head back to the hotel and watch the fireworks from the room (and promptly pass out asleep!) <grin>

5/3 - Mama Melrose - 5p
Italian restaurant at Hollywood Studios. This comes with reserved seating for the 8:30 Fantasmic show. I can also change this to Brown Derby, if you like, but I thought you might like some Italian food!

5/4 - Rose and Crown - 7:35p
Ok, this is the pub at the UK pavilion in EPCOT. This is a trick I've done before. Late reservation, but then you request outdoor seating. I understand the meal may be a bit late for your needs, so we can easily eat somewhere earlier was what I was thinking. BUT, the advantage here is we can get some great seats to watch Illuminations from!

5/5 - Crystal Palace - 8a
Farewell breakfast at the Magic Kingdom. We make an early day of it, head back to the hotel and then back to the park to catch the 3p parade before waving goodbye and heading to the airport.

Again, I stress, these plans are PRELIMINARY. Changes in dates and details can be made at any time. Cancellations / changes to the room reservations can be made anywhere outside of 45 days without penalty.

I just did this to get the trip going. So...lets get this rolling!