Oldies But Goodies – Seniors At Walt Disney World

Please note: some posts may contain affiliate links which means our team could earn money if you purchase products from our site

Oldies But Goodies – Seniors At Walt Disney World

First of all, I would like to thank Chip for allowing me to join his staff and to offer my thoughts and opinions on my favorite subject – Walt Disney World and everything it includes. I will avoid boring you with my background but if you are interested you can find it on the “staff” page of the site – http://www.chipandco.com/staff/.

Seniors visiting Walt Disney World is a subject that does not get a lot of attention. We are a slightly different species (oldius goodius) because of our age and experience and have certain requirements that many of our younger counterparts do not. What I would like to try to do in a short series of articles is tell those of you who love Disney as much as I do who we are and what we need, what would be the best places for us to go (resorts, attractions, etc.), and what are the places and things we might want to avoid.

Who are we? – We are your sisters and brothers, we are your Moms and Dads, we are your Grandmas and Grandpas and we are your friends. Some of us are healthy and robust and some of us not so much, but the one thing we have in common is an affinity for Disney. We visit Walt Disney World in several ways:


-As “empty nesters”

-As part of a group of seniors

-With adult children and their families

-With the grandchildren by ourselves

No matter “how” we visit, we would not be there if we did not want to. We want to accomplish and experience as much as we can subject to any limitations we may have so you may have to be just a little patient with us at certain times. Thank you.

What limitations might we have? – I do not think mobility issues need to be discussed here for three reasons 1- Seniors with mobility limitations generally know what they are and can deal with them or they would not travel to Walt Disney World for a vacation, 2- We all know and appreciate how well Disney deals with this type of limitation pretty much making it a non issue and 3- Any type of required equipment that can not be transported is available for rental in the Orlando area. Other types of issues (but not all by any means) are:

-Dietary limitations

-Stamina limitations

-Required medications

-Heart or other medical conditions

Seniors, themselves, generally have a pretty good grasp of any issues they may have but if you are traveling with them it would benefit everyone if you were aware also. The best source for the information would be the senior themselves and if there is an open relationship that would be the easiest way to go. Barring that, a conversation with their physician may accomplish the same thing. You do not really need to know what the specific issue is; you may just explain to the physician where you are going and ask what needs to be avoided. Remember this is Mom/ Dad, or Grandma/Grandpa and their privacy must be respected.

What should you not do when traveling to Walt Disney World with us? – There are some things you should not do when visiting Walt Disney World with us:

-Do not force us to do something or go somewhere when we do not want to. We have had many years to perfect both a stubborn streak and a pout that would rival that of a five year old. You really do not want to deal with that now, do you?

-If we have a physical complaint or issue, please do not ignore it. There are plenty of First Aid stations around the parks so utilize them. Prevention is the best cure.

-If we want to take a break during the day please do not ignore that request. If we are able, we will take ourselves back to the resort. If not, have someone in the travel party take us back for a nap. They can re join you after we settle in.

-Please do not keep us out in the hot sun all day. Alternate your attraction touring so we can get into an air conditioned venue on a regular basis. It is extremely important to make sure that we drink a lot of water so we can stay hydrated.

-We have a personal responsibility to take care of ourselves when traveling but fatigue and dehydration can impair our judgment (yours also). Please talk to us during the day to make sure we are on top of our personal needs.

That pretty much covers who we are and what our special needs might be. In future articles I will try to address the “best of” for us and some things we may want to avoid. Please take this information as it is meant, as a helpful tool for senior travelers and those folks who travel with us. It is not complete by any means but at least those who read it may develop an awareness of their personal responsibility as a senior traveler or cautions to be aware of when traveling with us.


D2T-1

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.

Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel

Name(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!


Written by:

This account is for Past Writers and Friends who love Disney and want to share that love with you.
View All Posts
Follow Me :

4 thoughts on “Oldies But Goodies – Seniors At Walt Disney World

  1. Great article! I'm a “pre-senior” (LOL!) 57 year old, but have severe degenerative disc disease in my lower spine. Two years ago we went in mid August and the ECV's saved me, especially at Epcot! It is well worth the rental price to be able to navigate everywhere with no pain. When the heat “got to me”, I just announced I was taking the bus back to our resort and was happy to go alone or have comany – no compaints by any of my peanut gallery!

  2. As someone who deals with lupus, these tips are so awesome for those of us with medical issues too. I really appreciate this article because it focuses on taking care of those you love so that they can enjoy Disney too, which is why you all came in the first place! Thanks so much!

  3. Welcome Ken! So glad to have you at Chip and Co. to talk about Disney World from the point of view of the senior population! As someone who works in a senior related business, I am thrilled to see a discussion of this topic, as it is not talked about much at all.

    We traveled the World with my parents, then both in their 70s, in 2000. It was a great trip and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Interestingly, one thing that came up regarding mobility, was that my mother….who did not particularly have huge mobility issues at the time…ended up in a wheelchair half-way through, due to the amount of walking. It was a tough issue as she didn't want to get one, but clearly just could not take the walking. Once we convinced her to get one, she was able to enjoy the parks so much more. And yes, Disney does “do this part right”.

    So for families traveling with seniors, absolutely keep an eye out for their needs, as they may require assistance that even they do not realize they need…..

    Thanks for posting Ken! Look forward to hearing more!

Comments are closed.