Traveling for 1st time with 70 yr old semi-handicapped dad (chemo)

swissamy

swissamy

Well-Known Member
Hi all! We are blessed to be able to bring my parents with us to AKL (Kidani) this year for a week in May because in the fall, my 70 yr old father had a stem cell transplant for Myeloma and thankfully is here and able to join us. However, the chemo has really affected his ability to walk due to nerve damage (neuropathy)in both his right hand and foot. He can walk short distances but struggles with balance. We will have a car and have encouraged him to rent an electric scooter. As this is our first trip with someone that will have a few more challenges, I wondered if anyone could offer tips on best things to do or avoid to make this a satisfying trip for him as well as everyone else involved!! Blessings!!

I forgot to say that he gets super tired so will probably need to either start late or come back to rest...my 70 yr old mom would be the one to deal with the scooter in that instance...
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
L

ladydi

Active Member
My dad joined us in between chemo rounds a few years ago. We rented a scooter for him and it was the best decision. We got looks from people who couldn't understand why a seemingly healthy looking man was using a scooter but I ignored it. We rented offsite and our scooter could be broken down and put into the hatchback of the car we rented to go to universal. It was heavy though and my mom wouldn't have been able to handle it. Let your dad set his pace and youll be fine. My dad was able to handle most rides. We avoided some of the real shaky ones like dinosaur but everything else was ok. Enjoy your trip making special memories that will never be forgotten. I'm so happy that your dad is doing well.
 
Upvote 0
BigRedDad

BigRedDad

Well-Known Member
Not much to offer on the advice. However, good for you to be able to go. I fought for a while with my dad to take a trip to WDW March of 2008. He finally pushed me to do it. Turns out he had cancer and died later that year. I think he knew at the time but wasn't telling anyone. Spend that time together as much as possible. I would give anything to be able to do it again.
 
Upvote 0
CaptainAmerica

CaptainAmerica

Well-Known Member
A lot of the advice is similar to that of going with small children, as strange as that sounds. Don't feel forced to do EVERYTHING because that's not what this trip is about. Tour at a comfortable pace. Take breaks. Avoid the heat of mid-afternoon. Given the choice between starting late or starting early and resting in the afternoons, definitely start early and rest in the afternoon. You get the best of both the crowds and the weather.
 
Upvote 0
BuzzKillington

BuzzKillington

Active Member
Get a DAS (Disability Access Service) card from GS which will allow your dad and your immediate family (up to 6) to get a return time and wait in the shade or AC outside of the standard queue. Keep in mind that Disney no longer considers mobility issues a disability so you will need to be specific with your dad's needs (not diagnosis) and why he can't wait in the standard queue (heat intolerant; cognitive issues). Use the DAS in conjunction with FP+ and you will be able to cover a lot more ground which your dad needs to do since he can only handle so many hours in the park.
 
Upvote 0
Nemo14

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
I'm curious about why you started 2 separate threads about this, but I wish you and your family well. Enjoy your time together and don't push it too hard.
 
Upvote 0
swissamy

swissamy

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Nemo14 said:
I'm curious about why you started 2 separate threads about this, but I wish you and your family well. Enjoy your time together and don't push it too hard.
Click to expand...
I started 2 separate threads as I didn't know which thread to post under - I looked at the parks forum category and there were lots of questions related to planning and then I found the other category so I thought I better try there too - Sorry If I bothered you with the double post...just really was in need of wiser people's experiences so I can make this successful, my dad has spent the past week crying over so many parts of his life that he can no longer do - I don't want to add to his list of things that are too hard...
 
Upvote 0
Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
swissamy said:
I started 2 separate threads as I didn't know which thread to post under - I looked at the parks forum category and there were lots of questions related to planning and then I found the other category so I thought I better try there too - Sorry If I bothered you with the double post...just really was in need of wiser people's experiences so I can make this successful, my dad has spent the past week crying over so many parts of his life that he can no longer do - I don't want to add to his list of things that are too hard...
Click to expand...

No worries -- in the future you can just post wherever you think your thread belongs, and if the moderators feel otherwise, they'll move it. :)
 
Upvote 0
G

GrammieBee

Well-Known Member
Since my husband and I are both elderly handicapped scooter users, the best advice I can offer is to rent an offsite scooter for the week and have it delivered to your resort where your father can practice driving it before you get to the crowded parks.
A week's scooter rental is much less expensive than daily rental in the parks. Plus, in some parks it is a LONG walk from the park entrance to the scooter rentals.
Definitely let your Dad decide what he wants to do and how much he thinks he can handle. If he is anything like my husband he may try to do more than he should, so watch his body language and take lots of breaks.
 
Upvote 0
JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Can't tell you which is better: scooter or wheelchair. I went with my parents a year ago and, my Mom, who is also dealing with multiple myeloma was having foot issues and couldn't possibly do all that walking. My parents were insistent on a wheelchair. They didn't want to deal with the hassle of maneuvering a scooter everywhere. My Dad was perfectly content on wheeling my Mom everywhere. Easier for them to move around the parks quicker, make tight turns, etc. They had the collapsable kind that could fold up when boarding a bus. Most of the time, my Mom was determined to get out of the wheelchair and board the bus from the front because she didn't want to hold everyone up. However, we did board from the back from time to time for necessity, mostly because the bus driver insisted on it.
 
Upvote 0
J

jbird327

Member
It is important to have the correct mindset on the trip, with yourself and the others who may be traveling with you. On all my trips since 2000, I have been traveling with some combination of my mother (81), youngest daughter (22) who is special needs, and a friend who was suffering with early to mid stages of ALS. Obviously, their needs and schedules really dictated the pace of the trips. It also helps to have someone along who can help and allow you some time to visit some things you really want to do. On some trips my GF and I rarely went on an attraction at the same time, and some of the longer attractions in EPCOT became out of the question.
I did a few trips with a wheelchair, one with a large motorized wheelchair and another with a scooter that could be disassembled for travel. I had a car for each trip. The scooter, once apart, would require two people (or one strong one!) to put it in the trunk. Although the most convenient, the wheelchair can get tiring depending on the weight of the person being pushed.
Although I have had a large number of people on each trip (6-14), traveling as a group quickly fell apart due to the slow pace, with the younger ones just going off on their own.
Another consideration is how quickly or not everyone can get out of the rooms and off to the parks. We almost never make rope drop or stay late in the parks unless someone decides to stay back for the late ones or leave early to go back to the rooms.
So these trips have been very different than the ones I took prior to 2000. At times, very tiring and sometimes frustrating (but even rewarding!).
The next trip will be the end of October, six of us including my youngest daughter. My mom has since 'retired' from Disney trips and my friend with ALS has passed away.
 
Upvote 0
Theresonly1

Theresonly1

Member
GrammieBee said:
Since my husband and I are both elderly handicapped scooter users, the best advice I can offer is to rent an offsite scooter for the week and have it delivered to your resort where your father can practice driving it before you get to the crowded parks.
A week's scooter rental is much less expensive than daily rental in the parks. Plus, in some parks it is a LONG walk from the park entrance to the scooter rentals.
Definitely let your Dad decide what he wants to do and how much he thinks he can handle. If he is anything like my husband he may try to do more than he should, so watch his body language and take lots of breaks.
Click to expand...
I have a family friend considering getting scooter, this is the advice I gave her also but was curious about which company is the best? Any suggestions I could pass along would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Upvote 0
NonnaT

NonnaT

Well-Known Member
swissamy said:
I started 2 separate threads as I didn't know which thread to post under - I looked at the parks forum category and there were lots of questions related to planning and then I found the other category so I thought I better try there too - Sorry If I bothered you with the double post...just really was in need of wiser people's experiences so I can make this successful, my dad has spent the past week crying over so many parts of his life that he can no longer do - I don't want to add to his list of things that are too hard...
Click to expand...
Not a problem!!! You can (and should) post wherever you feel you can get the answers you need! I'm certainly not the forum police and I actually missed your other post, so am glad you posted here... I agree with all the other excellent advice. Take your time, get the disability card (I would have a letter from dad's MD-generalized, non-specific) I would also make sure you have a copy of all current meds and his pharmacy (at home) phone number. Keep meds on you, not in stowed luggage. If an Rx gets misplaced you have info on hand. Thank heavens for smart phones! Also, have your dad's MDs phone number as well as treatment center number so if need be you can contact them-Again bless those smart phones! I am happy that you will have this time with your dad and mom, it is a true gift! And Very Important, get loads of family pics. (Easy with photo pass spots!). You will never regret it. I would give up almost anything to be able to spend another minute in Disney with my parents!
 
Upvote 0
ninjaprincesst

ninjaprincesst

Well-Known Member
I would go with a scooter over a wheelchair. The wheelchair becomes exhausting for the person who has to push it. As others have mentioned I would rent a scooter offsite, it is cheaper and you can have it with you all the time. My Dad prefers to go with one of the Disney approved scooter rental companies so that the scooter is waiting for him at the hotel when we arrive and when you return it on your last day all you have to do is leave it at the bell desk, also the approved companies have park access and if something doe go wrong they will bring a new scooter to you wherever in the park you are and you don't have to find a way to get a broken scooter pushed to the front of the park. Many of the rides will let you stay on the scooter in the line so that you just have to walk a few steps onto the ride, and those who don't let you have park wheelchairs you can use to get through the line. We don't bother getting the DAS card for my Dada we find that it is just not necessary, the DAS is really geared more toward Autistic children and those who have a tough time with the wait in line.
 
Upvote 0
KikoKea

KikoKea

Well-Known Member
We took our moms last Sept (aged 86 and 90) and they enjoyed it thoroughly and we all have great memories. We, DH, 22yo son, and I, agreed it was their trip, not ours, so focused on what they would enjoy. We rented wheelchairs since neither of them could handle a scooter, but pushing a wheelchair can get tiring so if your dad can handle one, have a scooter delivered. We used Scooterbug- the wheelchairs were waiting for us at the Bell Capt's desk; when we left, we simply dropped them off at the desk and kept going. That way, we didn't have to worry if the park was out of wc for the day.

If your mom and dad can be on their own and you have a free evening, you might want to suggest they have dinner at the resort so you and your husband can take a few hours for yourselves- maybe go to DTD. Your parents might like the time together, too. After dinner one night, we left our moms at the resort (Shades of Green) after making sure they had our phone numbers, writing down how to call the desk for help, and telling the desk help they were there alone. They watched Undercover Boss (favorite TV show they cannot miss), had a snack, and went to bed early, happy as clams. Meanwhile, DH, DS, and I hot-footed it back to the MK for a few hours and were able to ride SM and other rides our moms couldn't.

One thing I did learn was not to underestimate my mom. She got one look at the Seven Dwarfs MT and insisted she was going to ride it. So, I pushed her through the line- she had to try the mine game, check out the water chimes, and turn the barrels- and I hoped for the best when it took off. At the end of the ride, she said, "Well, that was pretty good! Should have been longer, though." :happy:
 
Upvote 0
Baldy

Baldy

Well-Known Member
I'm so glad to hear that your father made it through treatments and is able to join you.:)
Just speaking from personal experience, I would say to take it day by day and follow your dad's lead. You may find he overdoes it on one day because he feels okay and then is a complete wreck the next. As others have said, make sure you get a scooter or wheelchair even if he thinks he won't need one. Take breaks, make sure he (and everyone else) stays hydrated and gets lots of rest. Decide on a few must-do activities ahead of time (a special ride, a favourite restaurant) and take it slow anything you do above and beyond that is a bonus. Make sure you have a record of all his treatments and all his medication with you at all times. Let his medical team know you will be going. They may have suggestions (e.g. his immune systems is probably compromised, he may be more sensitive to the sun and heat, increased risk of fractures...). If you can, try to make sure your mom gets some special attention as well. All of this must have taken a toll on her too. Maybe a special breakfast with her on a day that your dad is getting a little extra sleep. I wish you and your family a magical time together. Make some memories and take lots of pictures.
 
Upvote 0

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom