Hello from TN

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Joined: 01/06/2014
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Hello from TN

Hi everyone!

My husband and I have a big trip coming up at the end of April, and we are so excited!

My husband and his father have been to WDW in the past - my FIL with the military when WDW opened, and my DH with his HS marching band about 15 years ago.

My MIL and I have never been. (Crazy, I know.. I keep hearing, "HOW HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN TO DISNEY!?!") My DH and I decided that this was the perfect year to take the inlaws for a couple of reasons.. first, we don't have any kids to keep up with, so we can go at the inlaw's pace and do what interests them, second, my MIL is 60 and FIL is 69, and aren't in perfect health, so this may be one of the last time we can all get together and go, and the third reason, we'll already be in the area, because we are going on a Disney Cruise, with my DH's entire family for my brother-in-law's 40th birthday!

So, we'll arrive and take the inlaws to WDW for one day (I know it's not much, but we don't think they'd be up for a second day of walking and standing), then meet the rest of the family (4 more adults and 4 kids under the age of 10!) for a Disney Cruise, then when we get back, we'll hit up the Space Center! Talk about a whirlwind trip!

We are all really looking forward to it, and I stumbled across this site while looking for some information about traveling to WDW with Seniors.

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VelcroPooh

Welcome! I just had my first ever trip and I loved it! And yes, I kept hearing from everyone too how they didn't understand how I had never been.

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Hello and welcome to our forums, You will not be there long enough to even come close to see everything there is to see in one of the parks never mind all four. Just check out the many posts in this site and pick probably 5 or 6 of the most popular in a park, (and I would suggest Magic Kingdom) and go for it. there are wheelchairs and ECVs (scooters) for rent and that may be an option to see more of what the park offers.

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We know we won't even put a dent in it, but we aren't there to ride any rides, so that helps with the time. My mother in law wants to go to Epcot and she wants to see the castle at Magic Kingdom at night, and the parade, so we don't have a huge list to check off. awesome

I'm trying to figure out some things, that they'll enjoy, that are "can't miss" type things. Especially, since she may not get to go back.

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welcome to this awesome forum!

I was actually going to suggest EPCOT. It's larger, so more walking, but if you're not riding anything, you can avoid some of the "criss cross" walking pattern in the front section of the park. Also, if you aren't concerned about seeing absolutely every country in the World Showcase, you could use the boats across the World Showcase Lagoon to minimize walking. If anyone is using an ECV, this is the easiest park to navigate because it has very wide walkways and most places and it handles crowds remarkably well. At the end of April, you may run into some Easter break crowds depending on what day exactly you spend at Disney.

Also, consider whether or not they may want to do some rides. Most of the rides in EPCOT are really mild and are geared more toward making education fun and interesting than they are toward being super exciting rides. Ellen's Energy Adventure, the Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Journey into Imagination are no more intense than riding in a car and the cars glide along a level surface the entire time. They are all basically like riding through a show, so ride motion shouldn't be an issue. The Living with the Land boat ride is also very mild--same concept, just on a boat. Spaceship Earth is a very mild ride through, but it does go up very high (you're inside, so you don't actually realize it) and it moves backwards downhill (very slowly and under complete control) to return to the main level. If they have no fear of heights and can handle very mild rocking motion, Soarin' might even be a possibility. Skip Mission Space FOR SURE and probably Test Track. (Test Track is slower than the speed you would typically drive in your own car on many major highways--it tops out at 64.9mph, but the track is banked and and the test car is a convertible, so it feels more intense than it actually is. Plus, some of the motions are jerky and abrupt inside the ride. At almost 70, I would think that's a type of motion that might be unwelcome!)

Magic Kingdom is by far my favorite park, personally and it would be hard for me to take someone who had never been to Disney to a different park to the exclusion of Magic Kingdom because I would have felt like they missed SO much, but it sounds like you are planning to park hop on your one day, so you'll get the best of both worlds!

Good luck with your planning and feel free to ask any questions at all! We love to help muchlove

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

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Thanks for the help!! We'll be in the park on April 27th and getting on the cruise ship late afternoon on Monday the 28th. I'm hoping with it being a Sunday and during the school year, it won't be too bad!

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Hello and welcome

I'm sure you will love this forum as much as I do! Let us know if you have any planning questions. One of my biggest tips is to make ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) well before you go. There are a lot of GREAT restaurants in the World mickey

Where in TN are you? I moved to the Nashville area (Brentwood) 2 years ago and LOVE it!!

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We are near Memphis. I've been here my whole life. silly

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welcome from across the pond

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Welcome MrsABC to WDWFG! You say 60 & 69 like thats old or something? wheelchair biggrin I do hope you have parkhopper tickets or else you won't be able to see both EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom.

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Welcome MrsABC to our friendly forum. Sounds like you have a great trip planned.

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WELCOME!

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lol not old so much as not in great physical health.. They both have back problems, so back to back long days of walking and standing, chasing grandkids doesn't make for an enjoyable trip for them. So, we are going without any kiddos and just for one day and at whatever pace they are up for. biggrin

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Yes, we've got park hopper tickets, and we've got the flight booked, the cruise booked, the rental car.. etc etc etc lol Lots of planning!

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welcome

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MrsABC wrote:
lol not old so much as not in great physical health.. They both have back problems, so back to back long days of walking and standing, chasing grandkids doesn't make for an enjoyable trip for them. So, we are going without any kiddos and just for one day and at whatever pace they are up for. biggrin

Well Ill tell you what , get them a scooter each, and they will be running circles around you and you'll be the one wore out at the end of the day. Heck I lost 5 pounds on our last trip keeping up with the DW on her scooter, she doesn't like having to use it, but she shots around like a mouse on a mission!

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Welcome! your trip sounds fab Laughing out loud

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Hi and welcome! I think you will be just fine if you guys are planning on more of sightseeing then rides...its those line rides that take up so much time. It also helps you've focused around just two parks. Don't get me wrong, you'll still miss a lot trying to squeeze it all in to one day, but it sounds like you're aware/prepared for that, and one day will be just enough time to get bitten by the Disney bug so you can start planning a longer future trip to come back and see what you missed! mickey

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Welcome and I hope you enjoy your trip!! yay

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mrhub wrote:
MrsABC wrote:
lol not old so much as not in great physical health.. They both have back problems, so back to back long days of walking and standing, chasing grandkids doesn't make for an enjoyable trip for them. So, we are going without any kiddos and just for one day and at whatever pace they are up for. biggrin

Well Ill tell you what , get them a scooter each, and they will be running circles around you and you'll be the one wore out at the end of the day. Heck I lost 5 pounds on our last trip keeping up with the DW on her scooter, she doesn't like having to use it, but she shots around like a mouse on a mission!

LOL I think that's a great idea! Maybe scooters for EVERYONE!!! hahah!!

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Allie wrote:
Hi and welcome! I think you will be just fine if you guys are planning on more of sightseeing then rides...its those line rides that take up so much time. It also helps you've focused around just two parks. Don't get me wrong, you'll still miss a lot trying to squeeze it all in to one day, but it sounds like you're aware/prepared for that, and one day will be just enough time to get bitten by the Disney bug so you can start planning a longer future trip to come back and see what you missed! mickey

I'm sure that we'll be missing a lot, but it is more for sightseeing and more for the parents to say that they've been.. and ALSO ME! ha! (c: I'm sure the husband and I will plan another trip before too long, and maybe just for the two of us!

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Thank you all for the warm welcome!! muchlove muchlove

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yeah banana welcome banana yeah