Our Last Minute CANCER SUCKS Trip [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

RVGal

08-08-2008, 05:38 PM

The cast:

Me (Tricia) - the planner of most vacations
My young sons (Joshua & Daniel)
My sister (Carol) - the one with cancer
Her significant other (Deb)
My oldest sister (Susan)
Her husband (Paul)
Their teenage kids (Melanie & Aaron)
My brother (Darryl)
His wife (Karen)
My mom (Mom or Grandmom, depending on which generation is talking)

Still with me? Confused yet? Hang in there. I'll sort it out eventually.

I rallied this group of 12 and tossed this trip together in less than a week. Why? My sister, Carol, had some really bad news delivered on her last visit with her oncologist and because of that she asked if we could take one big trip together to her favorite place before things get bad.

I'll try not to dwell on the medical stuff, but it is there and I won't ignore it either. Carol was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma less than a year ago. She has been through surgery, chemo, etc, but it doesn't look good. She is facing more surgery and chemo to try and buy her some time, but they are anticipating that she has less than a year even with treatment.

So, she & I grabbed a calendar and looked at the longest stretch of days we had available between our various appointments and commitments and then let our other sister and our brother know. Mom just said to book whatever and she would be there. All of this took place Friday, July 25th. On Saturday, July 26th we called and booked our Grand Gathering to begin on Thursday, July 31st.

When I say last minute, I mean last minute.

We couldn't quite work out the same entire schedule for us all, so we weren't a group of 12 for all the days, but I'll get to that on the day by day report. We were booked in the All Star Sports, which was the only value resort that could accomodate all our rooms and nights. Doesn't matter. We aren't going to be spending that much time in the room anyway. Just give us a bed and and a bathroom and it's all good.

Let me take a minute to say that Vivian, the woman who took our call to book the reservations, was incredibly sweet. Carol started the call, but I took over when she tired out. Between us, we were on the phone for over 2 hours booking the 4 rooms we needed plus a couple of ADRs. I know it is her job and all, but still. That was a loooong call to book all those rooms last minute and she was never anything less than helpful and kind.

So, with reservations made and a plan in place, we all scattered to do laundry and pack since we only had 4 days to get ourselves ready to go. I should also mention that my husband was beside himself that he couldn't drop everything and go too. We own our own business and it just wasn't possible for us to both go last minute like this. He is the kind of guy that wanted to go, but didn't make me feel bad that we went without him. I could get real mushy about what a great guy he is, but I won't.

Most of us live in NE Georgia. Carol & Deb started the drive down early on Thursday morning. They wanted to be able to take their time, as the motion sometimes bothers Carol's shoulder and chest where the cancer is. Mom decided to tag along with me & the boys, which was fine because I needed the extra set of adult hands. I had to wait until after Joshua's (DS6) neurologist appointment to leave. He has epilepsy (yes, the medical drama never ends at my house) and I hate to reschedule his routine checkups because it usually means waiting 6-8 weeks for another appointment.

Susan, Paul, Melanie & Aaron live in south Georgia. They started the drive down Thursday afternoon after Aaron's football practice. Darryl & Karen live in New Jersey. They flew down on Friday morning.

Now, because Joshua's appt wasn't until 11:30am on Thursday and I was anticipating a 9 hour drive, I didn't know how far we would actually make it on that day. I expected us to stop part of the way down, spend the night, and finish the drive early on Friday. I didn't book the package room for me, the boys, and Mom until Friday. Guess what? We were out of the doctor's office at 12:15pm and pulled into the gates at All Stars at 9:15pm. :cool1: Who knew? We took a room just for the night in Bldg 1 Surfs Up on the pool side.

I opened the door to this:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Arrival1.jpg

I guess that must be the standard greeting these days for check in because it was in the room we moved to for the next night. I was so glad we moved to the outside of the building for the remainder of our stay. That first night we were third floor right above the surfboard bay pool. Pool side on the main pool in July? Yeah, it was noisy. I couldn't sleep until they closed the pool at midnight, but that's the way it goes. I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

The next morning I snapped a shot of the view from our room:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Arrival3.jpg

And a quick pic of my boys:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Arrival2-1.jpg

I always try to remember to get a picture first thing in the morning so I have one with them and the outfits they are in and all that. I don't want to think about what would happen if they got lost or worse, but I take the picture anyway just in case. I also dress them in similar very bright colors so I can see them easier. In this case, they had matching shirts. That is rare, but I can usually get them in the same color.

Next up: the check out/check in from hell, kissing our butt fast passes, and AK in the rain!

reyasmommy

08-08-2008, 05:59 PM

I am so sorry to hear about your sister. We took my husbands best friend to WDW when he was given 6 months to live. I will always remember and cherish the time we had together there. It truely was a magical trip!:love:

I hope your vacation was all that you hoped for. Can't wait to hear more.

BTW your boys are very handsome. :goodvibes

irky416

08-08-2008, 06:53 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. I hope you had a great trip. I can't wait to hear more about it.

scotlass

08-08-2008, 07:03 PM

Hey youse....:grouphug:

Now tell me about THE MAGIC..!! ;)

serendipity

08-08-2008, 07:07 PM

Jumping on board for the magical trip of a lifetime

JoanieS

08-08-2008, 07:07 PM

I am so sorry about your sister - I can't wait to hear how MAGICAL your trip was!

LaraK

08-08-2008, 07:32 PM

Oh Tricia....I'm so glad you were able to pull this together. My heart cries for you. I know how important this was to your sister. My prayers are with your family.

SHAYMARAYSMOM

08-08-2008, 07:32 PM

Tricia,
I am so sorry about your sister. I am will be a here for you if you need anything.:hug:

macraven

08-08-2008, 07:59 PM

:hug:

babytrees

08-08-2008, 08:06 PM

Wonderful start to the report.

I hope the trip was full of wonderful memories. :hug:

keishashadow

08-08-2008, 08:32 PM

i marvel as to how soon u were able to start ur report!

Carol's spirit dealing with this is an inspiration to me:goodvibes she must be a remarkable woman.

MAJ RN

08-08-2008, 08:35 PM

Sorry to hear about your sister. Sounds like she has a wonderful support system. I hope your trip was a magical one. Also have to say that your boys are adorable. Can't wait to read more.

Melissa:flower3:

Chris

08-08-2008, 08:36 PM

I'm in for the trip report. I hope you had a magical time and hugs to you and your family.

KStarfish82

08-08-2008, 08:48 PM

Great start Tricia! Can't wait to hear more!

Tizzy_Meliss

08-08-2008, 09:04 PM

Sounds like the beginnings of an awesome trip! I am so happy for you that you are getting to spend this time with your sister, I am actually tearing up reading right now. My sister was diagnosed 2 years ago with cervical cancer, and died in less than a year. I wish she would have felt up to a trip to Orlando. Cherish every moment. :hug:

Thank you for sharing this with us all, I can't wait to read more about your trip! :goodvibes

MousekaMaddi

08-08-2008, 09:17 PM

waiting for more reports!!(hugs to your sis and all your loved ones!!):lovestruc

tink1957

08-08-2008, 09:37 PM

:goodvibes What a wonderful thing to do for your sister. I can't imagine having to put a trip together in 4 days, it usually takes me 4 months & there's only 3 of us. I hope you made lots of magical memories & I can't wait to read more.

jackdis

08-08-2008, 09:39 PM

I've got the goose bumps knowing that all of you are going on this trip together. Life is too short....these are the important moments and the things that matter. I hope you have a wonderful trip and look forward to reading your report.
:grouphug: :grouphug:

loribell

08-08-2008, 11:06 PM

Tricia I can't wait to read more. I am so amazed you were able to pull this all together and be gone in just a few days.

It's A Happy Day

08-08-2008, 11:34 PM

You know we're around to lean on when/if you need it hon :hug: I'm soooo glad you were able to pull off the trip with such short notice and you will cherish those days as you move forward. Keeping your family in my prayers for peace and dignity.

RVGal

08-09-2008, 07:49 AM

Thanks for all the kind words everybody. They mean more than I can possibly express. Carol is much more than just my sister. She's my friend too, in every sense of the word. We laugh together at things that nobody else gets. It's a special relationship. It wasn't hard to drop everything and plan and then go because it was for Carol. She asked (and she never asks for anything) and I did it. We all did. That's what loved ones do, right?

I'm spending most of today with Carol and some of the family. Her operation is fast approaching and with recovery and chemo after that, well, we're trying to get in all the time we can now.

I'll be back with an update soon!

TraceyDisney2008

08-09-2008, 07:57 AM

I am so glad you all could drop everything and do this for your sister.

tlinus

08-09-2008, 08:51 AM

Tricia,

Just letting you know that you are a wonderful sister/friend to Carol. You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I am so happy that the trip worked out - will wait for more.

Hug Carol for us today, okay??

bubba's mom

08-09-2008, 09:26 AM

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/greet013.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org) I'm here too!

You know I wouldn't miss this!

:hug:

pawn626

08-09-2008, 09:52 AM

sorry to hear of your bad news, i just lost my baby brother (37) to cancer also on july 12th. god i miss him so. this is incredible that you and your family are doing this for her, it is all that matters now believe me. and i don't like to talk about this , but here goes, if in the end you are able to be with your sister, be there the whole way through, it matters to her and you may not realize it now, and it is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do but it matters to you too, you are in my prayers.

GoofTroop

08-09-2008, 12:42 PM

I'm looking forward to reading your report. You have two handsome little boys!

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. What an awesome thing you have all done to make things "better". can't wait to read all about it.

You and your family will be in my prayers.

Elizabeth

CHEK

08-09-2008, 01:32 PM

Wow what a great family and what a fantastic support you must all be to your sister :grouphug: , I really hope your trip was soooo special for all of you :flower3:
Your DS's look so cute and adorable :goodvibes

FreFam5

08-09-2008, 01:53 PM

what a wonderful sister you are. I cannot wait to hear all about your trip. My heart goes out to you and your entire family while you travel this road with your sister. My thoughts and prayers are with her as she faces her surgery.

Disney Spaz

08-09-2008, 02:27 PM

Add me to the list of those who are sending out prayers for your sister and family. So far this sounds like a magical trip.:hug:

madcoco

08-09-2008, 02:56 PM

Wow was just visiting the message boards to take my mind off a things and came across this thread Nothing like feeling happy and crying a river at the same time. RollerCoaster of Emotions. Have never posted anything like this before but just feel the need to open up

Lost my father one year ago this week to lung cancer. He went much quicker than expected. Could not talk to nor did I make it to the hospital in time to say I love you one last time. Now just had a bombshell dropped on me last night that my Mom(65) has inoperable abdominal carcinomotosis. She had a clear CT scan in April She has been losing alot of weight and little appetite due to abdominal pain that she has been complaining about for quite a while. Tests earlier this summer again negative for any cancer but was diagnosed with colitus. She was going to be fine Spirits lifted. She was so worried she had cancer. Sounded great and was planning on coming to FL to stay with us for the fall. She loves visiting WDW.
She had another CT scan earlier this week and I get a phone call from her while being two thousand miles away on a trip. She is scared. They found a mass(es) in the abdominal region. Rollercoaster of Emotions. Now they just did a PET scan Thursday and a biopsy yesterday. The PET scan came back with the grim diagnosis of carcinomotosis(they don't know the source yet) Can't get a flight out until tomorrow. My brother is keeping me posted. She is having a port put in for chemo/meds in the AM and hoping here to see the oncologist tomorrow evening with hopefully the results of the biopsy and the treatment plan. Why didn't it show up earlier. Why didn't they do the "better" PET scan earlier. Why this? Why that? Why? Why? Why? Stop the second guessing.
Go back a couple of years
Spent the last week around the clock with my grandmother in a hospice The last words I heard her mouth were to "take care of your Mom" and "false teeth." She wanted them in before my grandfather got there. It was one of the sadest yet most wonderful experiences. Events happened there that you just can't explain.

RollerCoaster of emotions She's my mom. Everyone goes through this They say it's life but it doesn't make it any easier. Sorry for overtaking the thread with my issues Hope is this is curable. Reality is,no it is not. There is no cure. Try not to take your loved ones for granted and never hesitate to say I Love you. Trying to prepare for the worst and hoping for the best. Maybe she will be strong enough after some treatment to come see our favorite mouse once more.

Thoughts and prayers are with the OP. Again sorry to steal your thread. Cherish your time left together. Have a wonderful trip and looking forward to reading updates For those of you here who have recently lost love ones my deepest sympathies in dealing with your loss.You will see them again. Mike

RVGal

08-09-2008, 03:24 PM

Friday, August 1st -

We were up and about at a decent time. Everyone met in the food court for breakfast.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay1.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay2.jpg

Your first views of Carol. She is the one in the pink baseball cap over her sparse hair that has barely grown back since chemo.

Darryl & Karen were expecting to arrive at the hotel around noon, so they said they would call and meet up with us wherever we were at that time.

Which park today? That's all up to Carol. She picked AK. So, everyone herded into the lobby to wait while I checked Mom & I out of our one night only room and into our package room so that we would have our room keys that are also park tickets. I have no idea what the girl at check in did, but boy did we have a mess on our hands. I told her our room number for check out and then told her that we needed to check in on our package. I offered her our reservation number, the printout of the confirmation I got from the link in the email they sent, and our Grand Gathering number. She just kept looking more and more confused. "You're part of a Grand Gathering?" "Yes." Then she would tap-tap at her computer some more. Finally she asked me for the ages of my sons. "Joshua is 6 and Daniel is 3. Why?" "I'm having to re-book your room." :eek: :headache:

Hold the phone. We booked last minute. The entire package was charged to the credit card at the time we booked. Guess what is going to happen if you re-book? It's going to get charged again! She looked confused again and went into the back room. She was gone quite awhile. I hated making everyone in the group wait for us and I kept trying to tell them they could go on without us, but they said they would stick it out. What should have taken minutes was now creeping dangerously close to an hour.

She comes back out and tells me that the ticketing system is down and she can't attach the tickets to our room that she JUST BOOKED. Geez. If she had found the original reservation and used that, the tickets were already attached. :mad:

I am a very patient person and I don't get upset with anyone easily or needlessly, but this was heading into ridiculous territory. I think she realized that I was at my breaking point because she headed back into the room behind the desk again. When she came back, two men were with her. One was the manager. I don't know who the other guy was. The manager started apologizing immediately, took my documentation, looked at the computer screen, frowned, and then started apologizing more. There was a mix up, this should never have happened, blah, blah. Ya think?

Within minutes he gave us contingency tickets to get us into the parks that day and printed room keys that he said would be good for park admission starting the next day. He also promised to personally handle the credit card charges to make sure that there was no double billing (I have his name and phone number just in case). The last thing he did was give us Fast Passes. I dubbed them the "we're kissing your butt because we screwed up" Fast Passes. They were good for our entire party for any 2 rides that day. I've never seen anything like it. It was a yellow piece of paper that he signed and dated and all that. Let me tell you, CMs hop to attention when they see that at the FP lines, but I'll get to that later.

I've stayed onsite at Disney dozens of times over the years and never experienced anything like that. All I can say is that once the manager was involved, he did everything he could to get us out quickly and to make up for lost time.

So, with tickets finally in hand, we head out to the bus stop.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day1.jpg

I spent a few hours researching our options after we had our trip booked and I asked a few people here on the DIS for help. Carol tires very, very quickly and she is in some pain all the time. I knew she would need an ECV for the trip. One very good friend here on the DIS pointed me to a company in Orlando called Walker Mobility. They provide a great service. You can reserve an ECV from them. They deliver it directly to your hotel so that it is waiting for you when you check in. When you are done, you call and they come pick it up from your hotel. The bonus is that it is cheaper to rent from them and have the ECV all the time, than it is to rent from Disney and only have it at the parks.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day5.jpg

We've never traveled with an ECV before, so I asked the CM on the sidewalks where we should wait for the bus. He told us to go around the chains and put the ECV right up in front of the sign so that the bus driver can see that he needs to load it in first. If you ever see a wheelchair or ECV heading to the sidewalk in front of the line, please please understand that they are doing what they are supposed to do. They want them where the bus driver can see them. We were told that repeatedly. I kept asking because we would get that look from some of the people in line. You know... that look. The one that says they think that we are breaking in line or something. :rolleyes:

The bus came and Carol was loaded on for the trip to AK.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay3.jpg

Our first stop after arriving at AK was the stroller and wheelchair rentals. Mom is 76, so she needs to get off her feet often. I'm sure we were a nightmare herd for some of the people out there with *ahem* issues about strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVs. ;) Our group had all three! :laughing:

We decided to have a group picture made right inside the park.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day2.jpg

In the very front are my two sons, Joshua and Daniel. Middle row, left to right are: Mom, Melanie (in sunglasses), Me (holding Daniel), and Deb (with sun visor). Back row, left to right are: Paul, Susan, Aaron, and Carol (with baseball hat).

Carol wanted to head to the Safari first.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day3.jpg

I showed our yellow paper Fast Pass at the FP entrance. The CM said, "Follow me" and we were escorted to the front of the line. :confused: Okay, I was expecting a standard Fast Pass, but this works!

We parked our assorted wheeled devices and boarded our truck.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day6.jpg

First up, "Look Mommy! That deer is peeing!"

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day7.jpg

It's not a deer, but yes it was answering the call of nature. :lmao:

Daniel was really funny on this ride. You know how they have the pictures of the animals posted above your head so you have some idea of what you are looking for? I pointed it out to him when we first got on to try and give him some idea of what to expect. As we saw each animal, he would look up at the board and call out, "Giraffe. Check!" "Elephant. Check!" Like he was checking them off the list. :laughing:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day8.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day9.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day10.jpg

Next up: Rain at AK and The Herd Splits Up.

kaysmommie

08-09-2008, 03:54 PM

Love your trip report so far. Way to go planning 4 days before you arrived. So sorry about your sister's :hug: cancer. Thoughts and prayers to your family. I lost my brother 13 years ago, he was only 26 when he passed away. It was sudden though and of course he was the sibling I was very close to since we were little. Alot different from your situation but still very painful. It has gotten easier but took a long time. So glad you are able to enjoy some good quality Disney time together. What a great supportive you are :) . Your doing a great job enjoying every moment. Sending prayers Carol's way because they sure can't hurt. looking forward to more of your trippie. Your boys are so cute. The alike outfits is a good idea. Enjoyed your safari pics too.

RVGal

08-09-2008, 03:58 PM

nascarcheshirecat

08-09-2008, 05:23 PM

:surfweb:

RVGal

08-09-2008, 05:24 PM

I just wanted to add that I am using pictures that I took and ones that Deb took. The ones with the date stamped on them are Deb's. She has never figured out how to change the AM/PM setting on her camera, so it is always 12 hours behind the current time.

So, when you see the 7/31/08 date on those pictures above, don't think I'm crazy when I said it was August 1st. It was. I swear. :upsidedow :teeth:

LITTLEKID58

08-09-2008, 05:39 PM

TFS:grouphug: :hug:

irky416

08-09-2008, 05:46 PM

Sorry to hear you had such a hard time checking in. It was nice of them to give you the FP's though. I like the picture of your whole group in front of the tree. It's very cute.

MAJ RN

08-09-2008, 06:29 PM

Wonderful update!! Can't wait to see how you day at AK turns out. Sorry to hear about the difficulty checking in, that can be so frustrating. I am glad to hear that they did compensate you in some way, Disney is awesome that way. Can't wait for another update.

Melissa:flower3:

loribell

08-09-2008, 06:33 PM

Wow a magic FP! Sorry you got hung up checking in. I wonder what in the world that cm did to screw it up.

bubba's mom

08-09-2008, 08:59 PM

That's awful to have a res missing :confused3 ....sounds like they tried to make up for it tho with those FPs :thumbsup2

also....sorry to hear you got "the look" from other people....when will people just myob? :sad2:

mdrob214

08-09-2008, 09:16 PM

:hug: :hug: :hug:

Tricia, you are a great friend for your sister! I'm glad you all got to share this time together.

annie1995

08-09-2008, 09:19 PM

Just found your report, and what a wonderful chance this was for all of you to go together! Your sister is in my prayers:hug: . Can't wait for more:goodvibes

noodleknitter

08-09-2008, 10:10 PM

Cancer does suck. I'm on for the ride.

God bless.

Jules76126

08-09-2008, 10:25 PM

I just wanted to that I am really enjoying your report so far and I am so sorry to hear about your sister. Also those magic yellow fastpasses are called "No strings attached cards" and only managers and supervisors have them so when we see those cards we know that its someone special and we hop to it.

cheriemek

08-09-2008, 11:18 PM

I'm enjoying your report, and I feel your pain. My mom passed away in May of 2005. Three weeks later we learned that my sister had cancer. She passed away in January of 2006. I miss her!

it's kelly

08-10-2008, 12:16 AM

burly

08-10-2008, 01:32 AM

Im here too. Love to hear more. :grouphug:

ProudMommyof2

08-10-2008, 07:23 AM

It sounds like you have an amazing family!! Hoping you get a miracle- even if that just means more time!!!:lovestruc

Puccaw

08-10-2008, 07:50 AM

:grouphug: You are a wonderful sister!! Hugs to you all

LUVMYTINK

08-10-2008, 10:32 AM

:hug: I'm here too Tricia :hug:

stba2006

08-10-2008, 02:11 PM

My thoughts & prayers are with you all.

My mum died from cancer in Sept 2004. She was in and out of hospital for about 5 months but they couldn't find what was wrong with her. By the time they eventually did find out it was too late to do anything and she died a few weeks later.

Unfortunatley we didn't have time to do anything so special together and whilst it is a sad/difficult time for you all this trip, spending that time together will be in your memory forever

xxxx

sherreis

08-10-2008, 06:11 PM

Just found your TR. I'm impressed you all could pull this off in 4 days. What a wonderful way to celebrate LIFE with your family and I'm looking forward to hearing about the rest. Our trip in October is to celebrate life - my mother died in March 2007 and DH was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the end of August 2007. Our trip is to celebrate and be thankful - luckily, DH is OK except for a 13 inch scar.

Best wishes to you and your family. BTW - your boys are adorable.

DisneyObsession

08-10-2008, 06:59 PM

This is one of those TR's that you pray for LOTS of pixiedust to fall on your group! Hope it did! :goodvibes

Prayers and Hugs to you and your family. :hug:

buckeyebill1995

08-11-2008, 01:02 PM

Tricia -- thank you so much for doing this TR! We are taking my in-laws to WDW in October for a 'you're done with chemo and hopefully the breast cancer is gone' trip! And I just found out that I might have MS. So this TR will have special significance for me as I plan our trip. I hope your trip was magical!

Mike -- I am so sorry. I lost 4 people in a little over 2 years. It never gets any easier. Don't beat yourself up over not getting to say I love you one last time. They know.

My thoughts and prayers are with you both! :grouphug:

MainStMandy

08-11-2008, 01:13 PM

I just wanted to say that I am sorry to hear about your sister. When I was a teenager my dad lost his baby sister to ovarian cancer and before things got bad, she took her 2 sons and husband to Disney. It was an amazing trip for all them. Your trip sounds likes like a blast and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Picabo

08-11-2008, 01:59 PM

It sounds like you have an amazing family. I'm glad Carol has you as her sister...so sweet of you to have organized all this so quickly for her. I lost my mom and MIL to cancer a month before DD#1 was born. I always regretted that I never got to do any big last "hip hoorah" trip with my mom b/c she Loved to travel. So reading this trip report is very touching!

Disneyfan1977

08-11-2008, 02:35 PM

It is a rollercoaster of emotions and it can't be explained, fully, to anyone that hasn't gone through it. My father passed away almost 2 years ago. Heart attack. He was just gone. I can't even begin to imagine what my mother must be going through having just lost her husband and now knowing that her daughter is dying. We're all hurting, but we're making the best of the time we have.

Carol has said more than once: I'm not giving up. I'm still fighting. I still have hope. BUT, I'm not living in denial either.

I think that sums it up pretty well.

Hugs and prayers to you and yours Mike. Hugs and prayers.

I agree...don't live in denial, but never lose hope. My sister was 30 at diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer 3 years ago. She was in pretty bad shape when the cancer was finally diagnosed (the kept telling her it wasn't cancer without even checking the lump...I guess because she was so young). She did chemo, radiation, and had a double mastectomy and was giving the all clear only to have it come back again in a small part of her sternum and lymph system. She did chemo and radiation again and is currently in remission. I WILL PRAY FOR YOUR SISTER. I understand first hand what you are going through.

:grouphug: You rock for planning this trip and making it happen. :thumbsup2 I applaud you. I think if nothing else Disney can certainly lift someones spirit! We all went as a family back in may of 07 in between her bouts of cancer.

just4today

08-11-2008, 03:08 PM

I am enjoying reading your trip report so far. I know your sis is having surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with you :hug:

Mkrop

08-11-2008, 07:14 PM

Tricia I am so gald that your family got to be together for this special trip. We are here for you!:hug:

MousekaMaddi

08-11-2008, 07:43 PM

great report, were thinking of u all!! Go Carol! xoxo:thumbsup2

RVGal

08-11-2008, 07:58 PM

Because we had such a late start getting to the parks, it was approaching lunch time when we got off the Safari. Carol's phone rang and Darryl & Karen had just arrived at the hotel. We told them we were heading to the Dinoland, USA area for lunch and to meet us there. We all arrived at Restaurantosaurus and dove into the masses at peak lunch hour. It wasn't too terribly bad. Only had to wander with the trays of food for a few minutes before we snagged a couple of tables.

Now, under normal circumstances, I would have food pictures to insert along with critiques and whatnot. This was not normal circumstances. I do not have a single food picture. At all. From the whole trip. However, we are primarily CS folks, so I'm not sure we would have anything all that interesting anyway. I recall a mammoth cheeseburger that I split with Mom and Joshua having chicken nuggets in a Mickey plate with carrots and grapes. That's about all I remember from the meal. Sorry.

After we finished eating, Carol wanted to play around in the Dinoland area a bit. Fine. Of course, we stepped outside to find a lovely little rain shower. Yes, we had the rain ponchos, but I couldn't decide which was worse... getting wet with a little rain, or getting hot by draping myself in plastic in Florida in August. I decided I'd rather get wet.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day11.jpg

We trooped to the Triceratop Spin and boarded our dinosaurs.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day12.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day13.jpg

Then Carol wanted to play some of the games, so I let the boys try too.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day14.jpg

Here they are showing off the dinosaur (I think?) and snake that Carol won for them.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day15.jpg

Carol decided that since everyone was wet anyway, she wanted to do Kali River Rapids. Okee dokee. After that, however, they were going to Expedition Everest and then head back to the hotel to shower and change. Carol wanted to see the Blue Man Group and everyone had tickets except me, Mom & the boys. With Joshua's epilepsy, we have to keep him on a pretty strict bedtime. Sleep deprevation is his single biggest seizure trigger, so I am the sleep police. Anyway, Mom decided to hang with us instead of going with them.

Here is where our group divides. They went to EE and caught the parade.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay4.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay5.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay6.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay7.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay8.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1aDay9.jpg

We caught a bus and hopped to the Magic Kingdom.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day16.jpg

Daniel almost fell asleep on the ride...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day17.jpg

... but managed to perk back up when he saw the castle.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day18.jpg

I took them on Buzz Lightyear, which they loved. Then we rode TTA, which I figured was completely safe. Daniel hated it. Those long pitch dark tunnels, he clung to me and screamed to GET HIM OUTTA THERE. Of all the rides in all the parks, he picks TTA to be afraid of. :rolleyes:

I saw that Buzz and Stitch were doing the character greeting, so I asked the boys if they wanted to meet either one of them. Daniel wanted to meet Buzz and Joshua said fine, so we waited in a short line.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day.jpg

The Carousel of Progress was open, which thrilled me as it hasn't been running the last few trips I've made. Of course, it broke down when we were halfway between the last two rooms and we got stuck listening to that song (you know what one I'm talking about) for a little while before they got us moving again. I'm still glad we got to see it.

Mom was tiring out since we had to do without a wheelchair (I couldn't push her and the boys), so we started heading back toward Main St. Somebody hit the Grandmom button and Mom insisted that we take the boys through the gift shops on the way out "so that they could pick out a little souvenir". Yeah. Like the hats she bought them at AK weren't enough. Oh, no. :rolleyes: They each picked out a playset of figures and those Mickey rice krispie treats. Oh, and they just HAD to have a Mickey balloon, each, before we left for the bus. She was in grandmom heaven and the boys loved it, so I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

I called and found out our room number. I was nervous after our check in snafu, but the printed card keys worked fine.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day19.jpg

The view from our room.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day20.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day21.jpg

Thank goodness, no pool noise!

We grabbed dinner at the food court and then let the boys get wet in the pool for a little while.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day22.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day23.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day27.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day25.jpg

When they tired out, I called for bath and bedtime. They were asleep by 9pm, which was a very good thing. Carol and the rest of the group LOVED the Blue Man Group show and said it was absolutely worth the ticket price.

It was an all around good day.

annie1995

08-11-2008, 08:16 PM

Sounds like a great day you all had!!! Can't wait for more:goodvibes

froglover2

08-11-2008, 08:21 PM

Just joining I am glad you, your sister and you family had a wonderful trip!!:grouphug:

KStarfish82

08-11-2008, 08:35 PM

Great update Tricia! What do you mean, no food pictures?!?! :rotfl:

The boys are adorable in their little hats! Can't wait for the next update!

TwinkieMama

08-11-2008, 09:49 PM

I decided to read this report because I have first hand knowledge that CANCER SUCKS and because I have enjoyed posts by the OP for a long time now. I am glad I did because this report is very well written.

Kudos to you Tricia for planning a Grand Gathering in less than 4 days, for being there in so many ways for your sister and dear friend, for not losing your cool with the major check in snafu, for being the sleep police and for not complaining. Much. ;)

loribell

08-11-2008, 10:51 PM

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/1day25.jpg

This is my favorite pic. They look like they are having so much fun! Great installment Tricia.

freckles and boo

08-12-2008, 08:25 AM

Great job putting this all together. :goodvibes

MAJ RN

08-12-2008, 10:04 AM

Wonderful update!! Sounds like you all had a awesome, fun-filled day. Can't wait to read more about your trip.

Melissa:flower3:

Bloodhound

08-12-2008, 10:42 AM

Hi, twiniemama told us to come over an read an excellant report. My mom passed away a couple years ago from pancreatic cancer and can relate to what your family is going threw...Now to go get caught up.

Mickey'sMainMami

08-12-2008, 11:54 AM

I loved reading your TR so far! I just wanted to say that your sister has the right attitude. My mother passed away over 13 years ago to breast cancer when I was 17. At the time she was diagnosed, it was already in her bones. They gave her six months, but she laughed at them. She lasted for 2.5 years on just prayer and a great attitude! I still run into people who couldn't believe how sick my mom was, yet how upbeat she was and she always had a smile. We had a plaque made for my mom that said PACE, Positive Attitude Changes Everything. I honestly believe that her will to live was much stronger than the cancer and her attitude had everything to do with prolonging her life, so tell your sister to keep up her fighting attitude, it does work!!

God bless you and your family and I can't wait to her more.

NOVATraveler

08-12-2008, 07:56 PM

Your report is such a wonderful tribute to your sister and your entire family. You all are blessed to have each other.:grouphug:

nascarcheshirecat

08-12-2008, 08:06 PM

It's a great big beautifull tomorrow!

Now i am singing it.
:goodvibes

RVGal

08-12-2008, 08:29 PM

Carol's surgery is tomorrow at 12:30pm (east coast time). If you feel inclined, she can use all the prayer and positive vibes we can send her way.

I'm worrying and can't sleep, so I guess I'll get started on the next installment.

Saturday, August 2nd -

Woke up about our usual time and got everyone ready. Can I take a minute to say that I shooed my mom into the bathroom before I got anyone else up, she showered first and then continued her morning routine (that seems to involve a lot of steps :confused: ), and I still managed to get myself and the boys ready to head out before she was done. What is up with that? But I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

I snapped the first pic of the day of my boys...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day1.jpg

... and we headed down to the food court to grab breakfast. I ran our refillable mugs back to our room and discovered that mousekeeping had already cleaned our room. My boys things that had been scattered on the floor (ooops!) were now arranged on the bed.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day2.jpg

I finally thought to take a picture of our building.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day3.jpg

Then we headed out to wait for a bus to Epcot. Carol wanted to do Soarin'. That was her main goal for Epcot. We got off the bus and started the walk to the gates. I decided to take a picture of the YOAMD flag...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day4.jpg

... and my brother decided to make fun of me for taking a picture of a flag.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day5.jpg

Can you imagine his reaction if I had remembered to take food pics? :laughing:

We continued to herd ourselves toward the gates. When I say we were a herd, I mean it.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day6.jpg

I'm surprised we weren't mooing by the end of the day.

We went to the gates and I put my room key in the slot and... red light. Remember the promise that our room keys would be our tickets starting today? Yeah, that didn't happen. I took our 4 key cards and went back to Guest Relations right outside the gates at Epcot, explained the situation, and the nice lady printed me all new key cards that did have the tickets attached. Minorly annoying, but not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

A quick stop for a stroller and TWO wheelchairs this time. Karen decided she needed one too. I could go into a long involved discussion about my SIL, but I won't. Let's just say that she has a hard time being in a situation where she isn't the center of attention and leave it at that, shall we?

Our group trudged and rolled over to get Fast Passes for Soarin'.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day7.jpg

The time on the FPs wasn't too far away, so we decided to do the boat ride while we were waiting. For some reason, this sign made me giggle.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day8.jpg

It struck me like it was saying "The Land of Wheelchairs is this way", but I'm a little odd so I may be the only one who got a laugh out of it.

After that, we decided to grab a snack/early lunch at the food court there. We had ADRs for dinner at 4:20pm, so we knew we wouldn't want a big lunch. The boys had a lunchbox with a PB&J (one of those Smucker's Uncrustable things) and were happy.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day9.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay1.jpg

Then it was time for the FP line.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day10.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay2.jpg

Daniel is just a tiny bit too short to ride Soarin', so he and I wandered around and enjoyed the scenery while everyone else was on the ride.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day11.jpg

RVGal

08-12-2008, 08:30 PM

After the rest of the gang was done on Soarin', we headed over to Imagination.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day12.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day13.jpg

I let the boys play with the water for a minute.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day14.jpg

Then we headed to ride Figment.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day15.jpg

Not only was there no line, our group of 12 were alone in the group of 4 cars that travels along the ride together.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay3.jpg

Since I wouldn't be bothering strangers (only family, and I'm allowed to bug them all I want :teeth: ), I snapped a bunch of pictures.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day16.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day17.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day18.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day19.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day20.jpg

We played around in the exhibits for awhile.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day21.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day22.jpg

Then decided it was time to head to the Studios. Our ADRs were at Hollywood & Vine (a Fantasmic dinner package), so we didn't want to wait until the last minute to head that way. We made a last minute bathroom break on the way out of Epcot and Paul decided to have fun on Carol's ECV while she was in the facilities.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay4.jpg

He wasn't actually driving it. Just sitting on it and making motorcycle noises. Yes, we really are a bunch of big kids. Even if we are in our 40s and 50s. :p

Next up: I can't stop calling it MGM! and Why didn't somebody warn me that Toy Story Mania was worth the 90 min wait?

KStarfish82

08-12-2008, 08:43 PM

Great update Tricia! I will be thinking on Carol and sending positive vibes your way :hug:

It's A Happy Day

08-12-2008, 08:55 PM

Great TR and I can't help but have a smile yet cry a little when I read each installment. You have this LOSER in your corner praying up a storm not only tomorrow but everyday for your family! :thumbsup2

princessjv

08-12-2008, 09:05 PM

I'm jumping in too! CANCER SUCKS!

What a wonderful gift to give your sister... the gift of all of your presence in her life.

I lost my mom last year to a very aggressive lung cancer. Cancer truly sucks! Stay strong for her. :hug:

loribell

08-12-2008, 09:11 PM

You know I will be praying hard for Carol tomorrow.

Great installment by the way!

sherreis

08-12-2008, 09:54 PM

I'll be thinking about your family tomorrow. Best wishes and thinking positively!, and a little pixie dust...pixiedust:

burly

08-13-2008, 01:15 AM

Prayers, Prayers, and more Prayers out to your sister, and your family. Why isn't there a prayer smilie???:wizard: :grouphug: pixiedust: :flower1:

kidsister

08-13-2008, 01:49 AM

Enjoying your report and sending big HUGS.

:wizard: Hope that surgery went well today and that pixie dust surrounded Carol!

Bloodhound

08-13-2008, 07:09 AM

Sending positive vibes and prayers to your sister an family.

KadysMom

08-13-2008, 08:08 AM

Prayers are on the way!!!

snoopybabe

08-13-2008, 08:09 AM

Thoughts and prayers are with your sister and family today. :hug:

God bless:goodvibes

Mkrop

08-13-2008, 08:54 AM

Prayers today for Carol's surgery:flower3:

jackdis

08-13-2008, 09:09 AM

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family!!
:grouphug:

Picabo

08-13-2008, 09:19 AM

I'm completely enjoying being a part of your family's trip! I feel like I'm right there with you!

I will be praying for Carol today. Please let us know how things go once you get the opportunity!

Melanie

mdrob214

08-13-2008, 09:57 AM

Sending thoughts and prayers today for the surrgery:hug:

scotlass

08-13-2008, 01:10 PM

Hey youse....

Lovin your TP,great pics of Figment.

Thinking of youse and yours today !! :hug:

whogirl'smom

08-13-2008, 01:40 PM

Your sister is so lucky to have you in her life--you are amazing being able to plan this trip for everyone. I am enjoying reading your exploits very much!

Sending prayers to your sister today for the surgery! :angel:

annie1995

08-13-2008, 02:29 PM

Thoughts and prayers coming Carol's way for surgery today. I hope everything goes smoothly for her:goodvibes :flower3:

RVGal

08-13-2008, 02:32 PM

Mom called about an hour ago. Carol made it through surgery fine. The head surgeon (there was a team of them) was "pleased" with the way things went. He refused to discuss her prognosis at all, but said they would reevaluate things after her recovery and chemo. This cancer is so rare, they really don't know what will happen. I'm still praying for that miracle.

Thank you to everyone for all of your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. They really mean more to me than I can possibly say.

I'll be back with more updates, on both the trip report and on how Carol is doing, when I can.

crashbb

08-13-2008, 02:47 PM

I'll join the "cancer sucks" club.

I'm so glad to read that the surgery went well. Hopefully you'll get encouraging news when the surgeon and oncologists talk to your family.

KStarfish82

08-13-2008, 03:27 PM

So happy to hear Carol's surgery went smoothly! Hopeful for a speedy recovery and better days ahead!

Bloodhound

08-13-2008, 07:33 PM

Hi. Im so glad things went well....I will be praying for a speedy treatment recovery and your family

it's kelly

08-13-2008, 07:36 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on this cancer journey. I know all too well the effects of cancer on a family. :grouphug:

Picabo

08-13-2008, 07:52 PM

So happy to hear that her surgery went well. Here's hoping her recovery is smooth and the chemo does it's job! :flower3:

SHAYMARAYSMOM

08-13-2008, 08:15 PM

Tricia
I am so glad Carol did great today. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. If you need anything please let me know. Tell Carol we have added her to our treatment prayer chart.

sherreis

08-13-2008, 08:37 PM

Glad to hear that the surgery went well and I hope she has a quick recovery from the surgery and deals well with the chemotherapy.

RVGal

08-14-2008, 09:46 AM

I checked in with Carol this morning. She is awake and hurting, but said that she is okay. Her words were, "It feels like a somebody cut a big hunk out of me. Which they did. So I guess that is normal."

Her surgeon was in to see her and said that if she does okay today, he'll probably release her tomorrow.

Now, where was I in the trip report. Oh, yeah, we were hopping to MGM.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day23.jpg

Okay, okay. It's Disney Hollywood Studios now. It took me years to stop saying EPCOT Center, so forgive me if I can't drop the MGM right away.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day24.jpg

We headed straight for the brand-new-so-everybody-wants-to-ride-it Toy Story Midway Mania.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day25.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day26.jpg

Yes, the wait time is listed as 80 minutes. So what. It's new and Carol wants to ride it. I snapped a million pictures, so if you don't want spoilers about what to expect in the que line, scroll through the rest of the post quickly.

Across the street from the Toy Story ride is a character greeting area.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day27.jpg

When you first cross into the building to wait in line, it becomes obvious that you are supposed to be a toy in Andy's room.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day28.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day29.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day30.jpg

We waited and moved through the line.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay5.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day31.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay6.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day32.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day47.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day34.jpg

And we finally approached the area with Mr. Potato Head, who moves, talks, sings, and tells jokes.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day35.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day36.jpg

It's funny because sometimes, Mr. Potato Head is actually talking to the people in line. He talks to people that are standing in the area of the que line directly in front of him. Not everyone catches on to the fact that he is talking to them, but when they do it is really funny.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay7.jpg

After we passed Mr. Potato Head, there is the area to pick up the 3-D glasses. Then we finally made it to the loading area.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day37.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day38.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day39.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day40.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day41.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day42.jpg

The signs didn't lie. It took us about an hour and a half from the time we got in line until the time we got on the ride. There was lots of cool stuff to look at while we were waiting, so I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

It was a great ride. Totally worth the wait. Even Joshua got off the ride asking if we could do it again... and that was a loooong wait for a 6 year old. I told him we would try to come back and do it again, but right then we had to head to the restaurant to make our ADRs.

KStarfish82

08-14-2008, 09:54 AM

Great update Tricia! Toy Story looks awesome! I love the theming....makes me wish I was going to DHS this time!

nana2tots

08-14-2008, 10:01 AM

So So Sorry, You know i lost my Dearest Friend, my Dear Daughter Sandi, Nov'4th 2007, It is all i can do to get myself going anymore, I miss her so much, she was an only child. I wish you all the Best and will be saying Prayers.Oh , my Sandi's trip w/ the gang was June 06, I am so happy we all got to go 2-gether to her most Magical place in the world. WDW:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

sherreis

08-14-2008, 10:01 AM

Thanks for the update and I hope Carol has a good day so she can come home. "There's no place like home" and hospitals are not nice places (I'm a nurse).

Thanks for the latest update. TSM looks awesome and I can't wait for our chance on 10/17. My kids are going to love it because they love watching Toy Story.

tlinus

08-14-2008, 10:13 AM

Still here - awesome update.

Toy Story was an awesome ride :thumbsup2

glad to hear that you talked to Carol - she is still in our prayers.

Bloodhound

08-14-2008, 10:37 AM

Hi, Im glad your she is doing as well as can be expected...The Toy Story ride looks awesome and I cant wait to ride it in Oct at Disneyland :woohoo:

snowbell

08-14-2008, 11:38 AM

I am sorry I am a day late on finding this trip report or I would have been saying prayers for Carol during her surgery. I am glad that things went well.
I lost my father to cancer three years ago... it is definitely a tough road. you are a good sister. We just found out yesterday that my good friend has cancer. We don't know if it is lung or lymphoma... we find out tomorrow. Keep him in prayers as well.. he is only 39...
as for happier things -- I still call it Epcot center sometimes. I am so used to it. TSM was great. I had to go on it solo b/c my family was getting ready to go to another park and I had a dismeet to get to.
I cannot wait to hear about the rest of your trip :grouphug: to you and your family.

loribell

08-14-2008, 11:51 AM

Great update Tricia. Toy Story Mania looks great!

Blessed_wth_Triplets

08-14-2008, 12:01 PM

Just found your TR...love it and want you to know I have added Carol to my prayer list! ALL things are possible!...I am praying for a MIRACLE!!

Can't wait to read more!:thumbsup2

Mickeefan

08-14-2008, 12:04 PM

Isn't TSMM great? We were lucky enough to be able to get onto it 10 times over 2 days during the first week of June. I can't wait to get back, in 27 days, to ride it again! And, I'm so much better at it than Buzz Lightyear!

I'm glad to hear Carol made it through surgery.

RVGal

08-14-2008, 12:15 PM

Our ADRs were at Hollywood & Vine for 4:20pm. It was about 3pm when we got in line for TSM... and that took about an hour and a half... yeah, we were running late. :eek:

We hoofed it to H&V as fast as our various wheeled devices would allow and checked in at the podium, not entirely sure if they would tell us that we were too late or not. We got a pager no problem and the nice CM said it would only be a few minutes. I'm guessing that the fact that we were at an off peak time between lunch and dinner helped tremendously.

We sat down to wait...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day43.jpg

... and it really was only a few minutes until our pager went off and we were seated at a table.

We all enjoyed the buffet very much. The only complaint from anyone was Daniel (my 3 year old) didn't like the macaroni & cheese. Come to think of it, neither of my boys liked the mac & cheese at any of the Disney restaurants this trip. I tasted it and the only way I can describe it is that the cheese tasted like the nacho cheese they serve with chips in a clear plastic tray at stadiums. Not bad, if you like that flavor. My boys just don't happen to be among those that do. Other than that, we all stuffed ourselves. There was a wide variety of food and I thought it was a step up from the usual buffet offerings.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day44.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day45.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay8.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2aDay9.jpg

Let's see. After dinner, most of the group rode Star Tours. Daniel is a little too small for that yet, so he and I waited in the store. There was some Star Wars shopping before we moved on.

We saw the Muppet Vision 3-D, which I've always loved.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day46.jpg

And we played some games in the Pizza Planet arcade. Carol wanted to do the Backlot Tour, which I haven't done in years, so we headed that way. We managed to catch the last tour of the day.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day48.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day49.jpg

Catastrophe Canyon:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day50.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day51.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day52.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day53.jpg

I tried to get a few pictures of the props and costumes on the way out, but with them behind glass I didn't do a very good job.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/2day54.jpg

It was time for the rest of the herd to head to Fantasmic. The boys and I called it a day so that I could get them to bed on time. It stinks to have to miss out on the night time activities, but if Joshua has a seizure it takes him a long time to recover. So, better to miss out on some of the good stuff than have an entire day shot because of his condition.

Next up: The Magic Kingdom. Finally.

Picabo

08-14-2008, 03:35 PM

RVGal

08-14-2008, 05:29 PM

Tricia...I am loving your TR! Thanks for making it so fun to read and including all the wonderful pix! Your boys are adorable!

Where did you all find the Minnie Mouse ears wtih polka dots? I KNOW my DD#1 would LOVE those! Can you still have your name put on the back?

What is Toy Story Mania? It's a 3D ride??? Looks FUN!

How did you 3yr old like Fantasmic? Is it scary for little ones? (My girls will be 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 when we go...)

melanie

First, thanks. I'm enjoying going through the pictures and reliving the trip. :goodvibes

Second, the baseball cap style Minnie Mouse ears that I'm wearing in some of the pictures (and Carol and Aaron are playing around and wearing in some of the pictures), I bought at the first souvenir stand inside Disney Hollywood Studios because my head and face were hot.

The traditional style Minnie Mouse ears that my niece, Melanie, is wearing in most of the pictures, she bought at the Animal Kingdom. They stopped somewhere on the walk from the entrance of AK to the Safari to buy that and, yes, her name was stitched on the back.

Third, yes Toy Story Midway Mania is a 3-D ride. It is like a ride thru video game. Each rider gets a cannon with a pull string and you try to hit targets as you ride. I won't go into more detail than that, but it is a lot of fun.

And fourth, the boys and I didn't do Fantasmic this year. I have to keep Joshua on a strict bedtime and with the show not starting until 9pm, it just didn't work this time. I have seen it many times in the past and I will say that it is probably my favorite show that Disney puts on at any of the parks.

As for scary, that depends on your kids. The show is about Mickey having a bad dream and all the villians show up, but there are recognizable segments acted out from different movies and really pretty stuff too. We went when Joshua was 4 and Daniel was a baby and Joshua loved it, but the villians have never really bothered him. I heard some kids crying when the villian sequences would play out, so I know that it scared them. If the villians scare your kids, I'd say it would be iffy for this trip. If not, go for it!

sherreis

08-14-2008, 10:00 PM

That back lot tour looks interesting- I've never done that before. I think I'm going to try and include that on our DHS day in October. How do the boys like that one?

Disney_Angel

08-15-2008, 12:36 AM

sub...

RVGal

08-15-2008, 08:16 AM

That back lot tour looks interesting- I've never done that before. I think I'm going to try and include that on our DHS day in October. How do the boys like that one?

The Backlot Tour starts out in a small stadium setting where they pull a few people from the audience to act out a scene. Then you move to trams for a driving tour that shows you a bunch of props (I'll be honest, mostly from movies that I've never heard of or didn't care about) and you stop in Catastrophe Canyon where you see the action sequence like I show in my pics. They do this bit where they make it seem that you've driven onto a live set by accident and ooops, fire is erupting, water is rushing toward you, etc. Then they drive you around to the back side of the canyon where you can see that the whole thing is a set and they point out how they do the special effects. When you leave the tour, you walk through a building that has lots of costumes on display (Darth Vader, Darth Maul, some Narnia ones, etc.).

My boys thought the "talking parts" were dull, but they loved the movie set at the beginning and the Catastrophe Canyon section and seeing the costumes as we left. It isn't a long tour and I think it is really worth doing at least once.

FreFam5

08-15-2008, 08:19 AM

Picabo

08-15-2008, 08:37 AM

You do have to tell more about your must be the center of attention SIL. I have quite a few family members like that - the kind that try to "one up" everyone no matter what is going on!!!!!

.

Yup, I know a few like that as well! haha

bubba's mom

08-15-2008, 10:35 AM

I'm sorry I'm late :( , but I did read and ketchup to here.

I can't believe your room key/ticket didn't work...what a pain :mad: Glad to hear it was fixed promptly tho...you are a much more patient person than I (or DH).... :rolleyes:

Looks like Toy Story WAS worth the wait! Glad you all had a blast at it...guess I know the first attraction you're hitting when you go back in a couple months :rolleyes1

Despite being a bit short, seems Daniel had a blast anyhows...good for him! :thumbsup2 Some day soon, he'll be tall enough for everything, Joshua will be better with the 'tired' thing....life will be normal again!

The important thing is it looks like Carol is having the bestest time....exactly what she needed. I'm sorry I missed her surgery, but I always think about her and when I'm sending a prayer, she is always in them! :hug:

Just wanted to let you know, I was here and finally caught up....I'm LOVING your report and especially the pictures. (Don't know why, but Daniel's in particular for some reason....maybe his expressions?)

oh, and ps...you look "hot" in that hat ;)

RVGal

08-15-2008, 10:44 AM

I'm glad that the surgery went well. I hope that Carol is home now and feeling better.

You do have to tell more about your must be the center of attention SIL. I have quite a few family members like that - the kind that try to "one up" everyone no matter what is going on!!!!!

I'm looking forward to reading more of your trip.

Carol's surgeon gave the green light for her to go home this morning. They are in the process of getting her released and then she'll be on her way home. :goodvibes

SIL is... unique. My brother her loves her, so that automatically makes her a part of the family KWIM? You don't have to worry about being accepted or earning a spot in our family. I don't think she has figured that out yet. I could get all analytical about what my brother sees in her and what is bizarre about it and all that, but it isn't my life to live. It's theirs. And it seems to be working for them, so it's all good.

Let's just say that the last time I saw her was my father's funeral almost 2 years ago. She somehow tried to make that day about her and that didn't fly. She was... miffed, I guess, about that. This was the first time she decided to join Darryl on a trip since then.

aldisneygrl

08-15-2008, 10:45 AM

Twinkiemama sent me over here to read your TR. I am so impressed that you could plan a trip for that many people in that SHORT amount of time.

Glad to hear you sister came through her surgery. I hope she gets to go home today. Count me in on the prayer brigade. *We must have been posting at the same time, so congrats to Carol for getting to go home. *

I have loved your TR so far. That Toy Story ride looks amazing. There is so much to look at that 80 minutes must have flown by! ;) :rotfl:

Can't wait to read more.

RVGal

08-15-2008, 11:03 AM

Just wanted to let you know, I was here and finally caught up....I'm LOVING your report and especially the pictures. (Don't know why, but Daniel's in particular for some reason....maybe his expressions?)

oh, and ps...you look "hot" in that hat ;)

I know you've been busy too. The Minnie hat is better than the Mother's Day hat, right? :lmao:

I think Daniel really had a great time. He has been asking, regularly, if we can go back. "Mommy's car! Need go Disney World! See pirates! Okay?"

Like it is just a ride across town... and free. :rotfl:

Twinkiemama sent me over here to read your TR. I am so impressed that you could plan a trip for that many people in that SHORT amount of time.

Glad to hear you sister came through her surgery. I hope she gets to go home today. Count me in on the prayer brigade. *We must have been posting at the same time, so congrats to Carol for getting to go home. *

I have loved your TR so far. That Toy Story ride looks amazing. There is so much to look at that 80 minutes must have flown by! ;) :rotfl:

Can't wait to read more.

Twinkie is a sweetie. :laughing: Yes, that 80 minutes was like a snap of the fingers. Especially with a 6 and 3 year old. :rolleyes:

RVGal

08-15-2008, 11:41 AM

Sunday, August 3rd -

Got Mom up and into the bathroom. Joshua was awake quickly after that and ready to go. I got him a snack to keep him busy while I got ready.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day1.jpg

Daniel, however, took some convincing that it was time to get up.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day2.jpg

We were all ready early and there was a knock on the door. Carol was there checking to see how long before we could head down. I guess we were all early birds that day!

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day3.jpg

A quick bite of breakfast in the food court and then off to the bus for Magic Kingdom.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day4.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day5.jpg

There is a thrill for many of us when you first catch site of it. I'm one of those that gets all goosebumpy.

We herded in toward the gates. My boys grabbed various hands for the walk. I thought this was cute.

Joshua with Darryl & Karen:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day6.jpg

Daniel with Susan & Paul:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day7.jpg

We stopped for a group picture in front of the castle.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day8.jpg

There we all are. Joshua & Daniel are in the stroller, which I now realize I should have parked it and gotten them out. Oh, well. Left to right: Carol, Deb, Aaron, Melanie, Mom, Me, Paul, Susan, Darryl, Karen. The whole herd.

I saw this group performing on the way down Main St...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day9.jpg

... but we were on a mission. If there is one thing I've learned from my many, many trips to the Magic Kingdom, it is that you want to hit Fantasyland early and then run away as fast as you can. By mid-morning and until early evening, Fantasyland is a mass of bodies and strollers as far as the eye can see. Get in, get out. That's our plan.

First up is the Pooh ride.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day10.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day11.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay1.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day12.jpg

Next, I insisted that if anyone wanted to ride Dumbo, it was now or never. I can't stress enough that the Dumbo line moves slowly and it grows to monstrous size quickly. Oh, and the line is mostly in the sun and even under the canopy it is still hot. Freaking hot. Florida in August HOT. If you want to ride Dumbo (and if you have a small child, c'mon, you probably have to ride it) go there as early as you possibly can. It won't ever get better, only worse, during the day.

Everyone but Darryl & Karen wanted to ride, so I handed him my camera.

Carol & Joshua:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day13.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day14.jpg

Aaron & Deb:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day15.jpg

Mom & Melanie:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day16.jpg

And a seriously bad picture of Me & Daniel:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day17.jpg

I guess he missed Susan & Paul somehow. Anyway, our spin on Dumbo done, we headed to Peter Pan. I saw the sky writer plane up in the sky before we got in line.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day18.jpg

Peter Pan is one of those memory-from-childhood rides for me. I don't know if my boys enjoy it half as much as I do. I caught a shot of Carol & Aaron as we were exiting.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day19.jpg

Next, dammit, we're right there so I guess we have to do It's A Small World. I mean no offense to those that love the ride. I can understand the appeal. I think. I just don't happen to enjoy watching the round headed kids sing the most annoying song ever over and over and over. My boys love it. I think that is payback for something I did. I'm not sure what I did, but it must have been bad.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day21.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day22.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day23.jpg

One of my favorite pictures, Carol & Daniel on IASW.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day24.jpg

Next, we did the Snow White ride.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay13.jpg

After that, we hit the Carousel and Mickey's Philharmagic. Fantasyland, done. We had ADRs at the Crystal palace for an early lunch at 11:30am, so it was time to head that way.

mdrob214

08-15-2008, 12:12 PM

Tricia:lmao: I made my kids go on IASW last year. I guess I was paying them back for all the stuff I do/ put up with for them every day! Then I sing that annoyingly sweet song whenever they start to get pouty or grumpy!:rotfl:

Mkrop

08-15-2008, 12:19 PM

I am weird I LOVE IASW!!!

Carol looks so happy!:goodvibes

Like the yellow mouse ear hats too!

whogirl'smom

08-15-2008, 01:24 PM

Good job getting all of Fantasyland done so quickly! I think the boys' ears are adorable, too. I've decided, as I get older, that I would enjoy "It's A Small Hemisphere" much more. I love IASW, but it seems so looooonnnggg hearing that song each time we go! Half the length would be perfect. :rotfl:

Picabo

08-15-2008, 02:26 PM

I LOOOOVE the group shot! Absolutely a perfect family picture!

And I must know where those mouse ears hats came from! (Yellow ones) Back in the days they were all solid colors! Do they sell cool ones like that everywhere??? Must have. Must have!

LOVE all the pix! Keep 'em coming!

melanie

RVGal

08-15-2008, 02:49 PM

And I must know where those mouse ears hats came from! (Yellow ones) Back in the days they were all solid colors! Do they sell cool ones like that everywhere??? Must have. Must have!

The yellow mouse ears came from MouseGear at Epcot (Future World, Innoventions). They had a HUGE selection of mouse ears there. Pink ones with princesses, straw looking ones with Mickey & Donald in safari outfits, black ones with them in pirate outfits. I can't even remember them all, but the kids had a hard time choosing which kind of ears they wanted.

noodleknitter

08-15-2008, 02:59 PM

I love the mouse ears! How do you get such good ride pics without a flash? I don't know if my camera is too slow, or what.

RVGal

08-15-2008, 03:08 PM

I love the mouse ears! How do you get such good ride pics without a flash? I don't know if my camera is too slow, or what.

Honestly, I don't know. My camera has a Sports/Action setting on the dial, which is where I had it for the rides. It also has a Low Light setting on the menu, which I also selected for the rides. I guess that combination works well sometimes? I have dozens of crappy shots that are just a blur, but I did manage to get some that came out really clear too. Luck of the draw? Or just snapping often enough that something eventually worked? I wish I knew. :laughing:

Nothing came out clear in some of the rides. Like Peter Pan and Snow White. I have several pictures of colored streaks on a black background from those rides. :rolleyes: I guess those are darker and my camera can't pick up anything. Nothing worked on Pirates of the Caribbean either and I thought it would. :confused3

RVGal

08-15-2008, 03:49 PM

This post will be entirely about our lunch at CP. That's all. Lots and lots of pictures of my family with Pooh & Friends. You have been warned. No yawning or whining about being bored. I get enough of that at home. ;)

We headed from Fantasyland back around the castle to CP.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day25.jpg

We checked in (on time this time around) and it was only a few minutes before our party of 12 was called.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay3.jpg

Who are we here to see? Oh, yeah. Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood pals!

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day26.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day27.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day28.jpg

We were seated at two tables for six right next to each other. That was nice. We got in line for the buffet. The food was good. Really good. I do, however, have a complaint about how the food was arranged. They have the kids station up front with little plates (chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, and... green beans, I think?). Fine. That makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that the ketchup and mustard (like for dunking the chicken nuggets in) was at the end of the next section of the buffet. Or there is a nice selection of bread (sliced, crusty rolls, etc) at the beginning of a section of the buffet, followed by cut fruit, salads, etc. Fine. Oh, but at the end of that section is sliced meat, cheese & those condiments I discussed earlier. Well, heck. I would have grabbed some bread had I known I could have made a sandwich, but I'm not going to get back in line to get the bread now! It just seemed to be grouped oddly. Things that should have been next to, or at least within sight of, each other weren't. Other than that, it was a great meal. I particularly enjoyed the mediterranian chicken. Yum!

We finished eating and the characters hadn't made it to our table yet.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day29.jpg

Daniel kept calling them. "Pooh! Tigger! Where are you?!?" After one of those exclaimations, Tigger tapped him on the shoulder. "OH Tigger! You here!" :rotfl:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day30.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay4.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay5.jpg

Next up was Pooh.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day31.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day32.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay6.jpg

There was a lull between characters and some of us took the opportunity to grab another dessert. Or two. Whose counting, it's a buffet.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day33.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day34.jpg

Eeyore was the next to arrive.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day35.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day36.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay7.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay8.jpg

Last, but not least, Piglet.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day37.jpg

Melanie absolutely LOVES Piglet. She had a stuffed Piglet toy that she brought and when she showed it to Piglet, he made quite a fuss over it.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day38.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay9.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay10.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay11.jpg

We had a really, really good time.

Mkrop

08-15-2008, 04:01 PM

I'm Grumpy bc you Are Dopey! :lmao:

I love his shirt

sherreis

08-15-2008, 05:14 PM

IASW - oh my. I used to love it. But, now that I'm older that song can get on your nerves after awhile. When I called CRO yesterday morning at 7:05 AM to book under the new code, that was the first song I had when I was on hold for 35 minutes. Can you imagine - listening to that and you haven't had your morning coffee yet? :scared1:

CP looked like fun for everyone. It's nice to see adults getting into the pics with the characters. I'm making a note for our trip for us to make sure that it's just not the kids this time in those pics. I love CP and can't wait to get back there.

Looking forward to hearing more...

loribell

08-15-2008, 05:25 PM

Great installments Tricia. It really looks like you guys are having a great time.

scotlass

08-15-2008, 06:38 PM

Hey youse....

youse look like you had soooo much funny !!

nascarcheshirecat

08-15-2008, 06:43 PM

I just roared with laughter over the caption of the photo
of you and Daniel saying bad pic.

I am so glad all of you had a great time.

:goodvibes

ps- eating mutiple desserts at Disney only counts as one.
you are in the Mickey zone.:goodvibes
that is the rule.

MAJ RN

08-15-2008, 06:49 PM

Just catching up on your report and all of your great pics. Your family looks like you are having a great time. I like to see that your sister Carol is smiling and having a great trip. Hope all is well with your sister.

Melissa:flower3:

LaraK

08-15-2008, 07:04 PM

Playing catchup on your report...and yes, the Catsup should be near the nuggets.

SHAYMARAYSMOM

08-15-2008, 07:07 PM

I love the report. I hate the reason you took the trip.

I am so glad Carol is home. I will keep her in my prayers

bubba's mom

08-15-2008, 08:28 PM

I just roared with laughter over the caption of the photo
of you and Daniel saying bad pic.

[/B]

:laughing: i did too....LOVE Daniel's face in that shot!!

Looks like a great (long) lunch....but, everyone having a great time! Lots of great pix of Carol! :goodvibes

btw....when we were at MK in '04....IASW was under it's major rehab...we didn't get to do it :sad2: Bubba has never been on it!

RVGal

08-16-2008, 10:51 AM

I just roared with laughter over the caption of the photo
of you and Daniel saying bad pic.

:laughing: i did too....LOVE Daniel's face in that shot!!

Well, you've gotta admit. It is a bad picture. I'm doing a blink-squint combo and Daniel looks like he smells something nasty. :rotfl:

just4today

08-16-2008, 11:04 AM

Great trip report Tricia! Your pictures are beautiful :goodvibes

proteus

08-16-2008, 11:06 AM

My prayers are with you.

3princesses+aprince

08-16-2008, 12:01 PM

Oh I love your trip report, just found it and read it up to date, can't wait to read the rest.
your boys are adorable!!

Your story has put tears in my eyes a few times, and I wish Carol and your family the best of luck dealing with this!!:wizard:

Picabo

08-16-2008, 12:06 PM

MORE MORE MORE! I'm loving every minute of the TR and all the pix. Infact (just like being on vacation for real) I am already dreading when your TR is over!!! Loved all the CP pix....not bored at ALL! MORE please!

Carol looks soooo happy in all the pix. She is so blessed to have such a wonderful, supportive family! That's half the battle some of the time!:love:

melanie

madcoco

08-16-2008, 12:21 PM

sherreis

08-16-2008, 01:03 PM

madcoco - best wishes for your mother. Hoping things go well with chemo.

FreFam5

08-16-2008, 01:48 PM

Oh - I love IASW!! My kids were very young the last time we went to Disney (1, 3, 4) - I can just imagine that at least my oldest (who will be 9 when we go this year) won't like it as much!!!!!

LittlePurplePumpkin

08-16-2008, 02:09 PM

I am sitting here and can not stop crying. Please tell Carol she will be in my prayers along with my children's prayers. I am so happy you guys are having fun :)

RVGal

08-16-2008, 02:23 PM

RVGal Great to hear your sister is doing well and thanks again for sharing part of your life. It has been an almost over the edge emotional week. After arrving to where my Mom is, I got a call that DW's bestfriend was in an accident and in critical condition in Memphis(Harrah's Bus crash. The woman sitting next to her perished) They were just at our house the week before visiting WDW. Your thread has really helped here. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures. My mother had her first chemo session yesterday. Her cancer of unknown primary source(CUPS) has been now narrowed down to Ovarian Cancer which makes its a bit "easier" to treat than pancreatic or unknown. She supposedly had her Ovaries removed years ago with a ,hysterectomy however her Oncologist feels they were not removed but atrophied which now has led to this. :mad: :sad2:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

I guess the positive is that they have named your mom's cancer. It is always easier to fight a known beast.

I don't understand why life seems to send us a pile of these things to deal with all at once sometimes. I tend to play the Scarlett O'Hara card and "think about that tomorrow" if I feel overwhelmed.

Your family and DW's friend are in our thoughts and prayers as well.

I went to see Carol briefly this afternoon. She is sitting up and watching tv. She looks pretty good for someone who just had surgery. Her appetite is coming back and she is able to walk for short distances.

Knowing that chemo is on the horizon for her when she recovers from this is a terrible feeling. I want her to heal from the surgery, but when she does, the chemo will make her so sick that she'll be out of it for days at a time.

Did I say cancer sucks yet? I did? Okay, I'll shut up now.

RVGal

08-16-2008, 02:33 PM

I am sitting here and can not stop crying. Please tell Carol she will be in my prayers along with my children's prayers. I am so happy you guys are having fun :)

Awww... don't cry. This was a special, wonderful trip for all of us.

Thanks to you and to everyone for all the prayers and kind words. :goodvibes

alebisi

08-16-2008, 07:22 PM

love your trip report! I read it by case, I'm so glad it popped out, glad that carol is getting better she and your family have to be strong you'll get through this! keep us update, sending you lots of pixie dust!
BTW your kids are sooooo cute :goodvibes

RVGal

08-18-2008, 11:31 AM

Where was I? Oh, yeah. The long lunch at CP. Let me just say that we did the Pooh breakfast at CP on our last trip (May, 2007). I liked the breakfast better than the lunch. The food selections on the buffet for breakfast were more of the kind that I like. Also, the characters were spaced out more on the breakfast visit. On this trip, we were completely done with our meal and then had to sit and wait before the characters got there. I'm sure timing has something to do with it. Peak breakfast hour vs. early lunch. Anyway, I'm sure that there are plenty of people who prefer the lunch/dinner choices and all that. I'm just tossing my opinions out there for anyone who cares.

So, with lunch done, we headed toward Frontierland/Liberty Square. Carol wanted to ride Haunted Mansion. Oh, boy. So did I. However, Joshua is convinced that "haunted" means "scary" and he refuses to ride it. I've tried telling him that it is more funny or silly than scary. Nothing on it is real. Blah, blah, yadda, yadda. He's not buying it. Well, I'm not going to force him. He'll ride when he's ready. So, the herd went to HM while the boys and I tried to find something cool to do. Did I mention that it was hot that day? Florida in August hot. Freaking hot. This is why we don't come in the summer anymore hot. Even prescription strength deoderant can't touch it hot. But I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

I decided to try the Riverboat. Hey, it moves. There must be a breeze created by that, right? Wrong. Here is a picture I snapped before I melted into a puddle on the deck.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day39.jpg

After that, we re-joined the herd and decided to seek air conditioning. First stop, the Country Bear Jamboree.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day40.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day41.jpg

Next was Splash Mountain. I can't seem to find any pictures of that turned out on that ride.

Then we headed into Adventureland and rode the Magic Carpets. Holy schmoly was it hot. I think I left a layer of my skin on the seat. We were once again desperate for a/c. So desperate that we turned to...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day42.jpg

... The Enchanted Tiki Room. :eek: Once again, no offense intended to those that love the show. I thought it was great when I was a kid, but I could care less if we see it now. It was just sheer need for cool air that drove our decision this time.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day43.jpg

After that was Pirates of the Caribbean. Daniel & Joshua both love that ride. They sing the "yo ho ho ho, a pirates life for me" part all the time. None of my attemts to get pictures on the ride turned out, but we did meet Capt Hook and Mr Smee after we finished riding.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day44.jpg

We crossed over in front of the castle...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3aDay12.jpg

... and into Tomorrowland. We all did Buzz Lightyear.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/3day45.jpg

Then some of the group wanted to do Space Mtn. Rollercoasters are a no-no for Joshua, so we did the Indy Speedway instead. We re-grouped and did the Astro Orbiter.

Carol was tiring out and so were the boys, so we called it a day. We told Susan, Paul & Aaron goodbye, as they were driving home after closing down the park. We headed back on the bus to grab some dinner at the food court. I let the boys splash around in the pool and then called for bath & bedtime.

Next up: Our last day we head back to the Studios (told you TSM was worth it!).

Bloodhound

08-18-2008, 11:37 AM

another great update...thanks for all the pics.

scotlass

08-18-2008, 11:39 AM

Hey Youse.....

Lovin your trippie and so glad Carol is getting stronger.

More love over the water to youse......:hug:

MAJ RN

08-18-2008, 12:47 PM

Great update!! I do not think I could tolerate WDW in August:scared: We went in July one year and were too exausted by evening to do anything at night. Can't wait to read about your last day. Hope all is well with Carol.

Melissa:flower3:

kimbo0569

08-18-2008, 02:42 PM

Tricia, Love reading your TR - wish your trip was under more positive circumstances but it was awesome that you all could do that for your sister :hug:

Cancer does suck BIG TIME! When I was 13, my grandmother died of liver cancer. I was very close to her and it was a very difficult time for me. She was diagnosed in November 1982 and passed in March 1983, right before my confirmation. My mother lost her best friend just last year to pancreatic cancer.

Keeping prayers and positive thoughts for your sister, you and your family.

PEANUT1

08-18-2008, 03:04 PM

you are a very special lady and you have a lovely family. this report reminds us what is really important in life. Thank you.:flower3:

celerystalker

08-18-2008, 05:07 PM

Next, dammit, we're right there so I guess we have to do It's A Small World. I mean no offense to those that love the ride. I can understand the appeal. I think. I just don't happen to enjoy watching the round headed kids sing the most annoying song ever over and over and over. My boys love it. I think that is payback for something I did. I'm not sure what I did, but it must have been bad.

:rotfl2:
I make it a rule to do IASW once a year. Since my next trip might not be for a few years :sad: , I'm kinda feeling nostalgic for it.
But still laughing at you.
(or with you, whichever.)
:rotfl:

Pgh janie

08-18-2008, 05:51 PM

LOVE your report, it's fantastic! :thumbsup2

LOVE your pictures! Your boys are soooooo cute!

Lots of prayers to Carol and your entire family,
everyone should be so lucky to have a sister like you.

your Pittsburgh amiga,
janie

dogodisney

08-18-2008, 06:29 PM

YES! Cancer Sucks! I know first hand. In a span of 8 months, we lost my mom, MIL, and FIL all to cancer. My heart goes out to all of you.

Your story has really touched my heart. I am so happy for all of you. It is wonderful that you all could get together on such short notice to go on a family trip. The memories you all will have is priceless. It must be so rewarding to your sister to know that she has such a loving, caring, and supportive family.

May God Bless you all and heal your sister so you all can make a another trip to Disney, and it be a celebration of her being cancer free. :hug:

Minnie_Moo

08-18-2008, 08:45 PM

I'm another who was sent over here by TwinkieMama to read Cancer Sucks trippie.

Cancer unfortunately touches so many of us.

Glad to hear that your sister made it through her surgery OK and am sending prayers and pixie dust for her recovery! :hug:

Bloodhound

08-18-2008, 09:24 PM

I just found out today that the Owner of my Antique Mall has bone caner and it has spread all over his body...they found it when he had hip replacement surgery last week.....he is almost 80yo.

momminnie

08-19-2008, 10:58 AM

I read the whole TR thus far this morning. It looks like a good time was had by all 12 of you. My prayers go out to you and especially your sister. I hope that she feels better soon.

vdarrell

08-19-2008, 03:57 PM

My prayers and condolences to all on this post.
I know from personal experience what cancer can do and how precious time is with our loved ones.
I know that Disney was a magical place for me when I didn't know what tomorrow held for me.Through many prayers, a little pixie dust I am still here 5 years later to enjoy Disney let again this year in Dec.It will be a celebration of life for me.
So enjoy today and tell your loved ones they are loved.
Where there is God there is Hope.

bubba's mom

08-20-2008, 08:07 AM

Hmmmm....we need to think of an incentive for little man to ride HM? :scratchin

Maybe tell him they changed it? It's different now? Meh...either way, he'll ride it in due time :teeth: What's Daniel's take on it?

Sounds like a wonderful day (after lunch anyhows). A shame Paul & family had to leave so soon...BUT, great that they could make it in the first place! I think that's a great pic of BTMRR from the Riverboat! I've never seen it from that view....awesome!

Too bad it was so hot...but, like ya said...Florida in August! The important thing here were the 'players'....nothing else :hug:

whogirl'smom

08-20-2008, 10:10 AM

Great update and pics! I can't imagine how hot you guys were, it's hot here and this certainly isn't Florida! It's sounds like you all had a very full day and a good time. I'm glad to hear Carol is perking up after the surgery.

We are going to brave the Tiki Room in Oct.! I haven't been in it since the one in DL when I was about 18. Maybe even longer.

loribell

08-20-2008, 11:24 AM

Ally & I love the Tiki room. I can't stand the Country Bears.

princessjv

08-21-2008, 08:29 AM

I would catch a few of the not so favorites for some cool air too. I haven't been in TIKI room since I was a child. I better get my kids in there next trip, just so they can say they've done it. :)

What special memories you all made. :cloud9:

RVGal

08-21-2008, 02:16 PM

Monday, August 4th -

Another standard morning. Me with the cattle prod moving everyone along, breakfast at the food court, then out for the bus. Carol decided that she wanted to go back to DHS.

At this point, Darryl & Karen started giving everyone hugs. :confused: He said they had decided not to go into the park that day. The were just going to relax until it was time to head to the airport for their flight. Mmmm-kay. Their flight wasn't until 6:30pm, but whatever works for them. I guess they had tired out.

Anyway, we caught a bus for DHS.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day1.jpg

We didn't get there right at park opening, but it wasn't much after. We went straight to TSM. We could have gotten a Fast Pass, but the return time would have been 7pm to 8pm. Everyone that knows about TSM goes straight there first thing in the morning. I have another friend who just returned from a trip. She said they were there at opening, ran to TSM and got in line for FPs (along with everyone else who ran to TSM). They got their FPs at 9:08 on a day that the park opened at 9am. Their FPs were for 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

This is another time that I can't stress enough how important it is to get to TSM early. The lines only get worse. And worse.

The standby wait time was listed at 30 mins, so we got in line. Before we took more than a couple of steps, Joshua said, "LOOK!"

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day2.jpg

Pretty cool. He signed Joshua's autograph book "Green Army Man."

Here are some more random shots from the standby line of TSM.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day3.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day4.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day5.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day6.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day7.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day8.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day9.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day10.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day11.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day12.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day13.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day14.jpg

You can tell it's new, right? Other rides and shows, I have pictures from over the years, so I don't snap every detail. Since this is the first year for TSM, I took pictures of everything!

We grabbed Fast Passes to do Voyage of the Little Mermaid and then decided to see Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day15.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day16.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day17.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day18.jpg

The rest of the group wanted to do the Great Movie Ride. I love that ride, but the section with Aliens is too intense for the boys, so we played around in the Pizza Planet arcade while they rode it.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/WDW08.jpg

For $5, you'd think they could change the ink in the photo booth. But I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

After we reconnected with the group, Carol said she was hungry. It was 12:15pm. Can you say crowded? I put my foot down for the one and only time of the trip (unless you count insisting that we ride Dumbo early...). I have waited through peak lunch hour crowds at Pizza Planet for mediocre pizza. Uh-uh. Not again. Carol suggested ABC Commissary, so we trooped in that direction.

Really, for a lunch hour crowd, it wasn't too bad. I think we were 3rd or 4th in line to place our order. We were waiting at the counter for our food when suddenly I heard, "AND IF YOU DON'T GET SOMEONE OUT HERE RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO GET VERY LOUD. NOW DO IT!"

Carol & I were the ones at the counter, with the others having headed to the condiment stand to get napkins, straws, ketchup, etc. We turned around and there was the dude all red in the face screaming at this tiny female CM. She went into the kitchen door. Carol & I looked at each other and started giggling. We always find that kind of behavior amusing. I said, "He must have gone to that school where the loudest boy on the playground wins." She laughed even harder and the CMs behind the counter started smiling too.

Loud Dude didn't like that fact that we weren't impressed with his display. He turned positively purple in the face. His wife (I guess) said something to him and he screamed, "THEN I'M GOING TO JAIL. GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Nice. The woman took a young child by the hand and left. He waited all of 30 more seconds and then shoved open the kitchen door. You know, the one clearly marked "Cast Members Only. No Admittance." He shouted (I'm beginning to think he didn't have volume control over his voice), "GET THE MANAGER OUT HERE NOW!" A very large cook (think actor Ving Rhames and you'll be close) planted himself in the doorway. Loud Dude said, in a surprisingly now subdued voice, "I've got nothing to say to you." Of course you don't. This isn't a tiny woman, but a man who could break you in half. :rolleyes:

I look back over the counter to the CMs and said, "Has somebody notified security?" Two of the girls nodded.

About that time the manager (I guess) appeared at the kitchen door. It was a woman. Loud Dude starts in again with the shouting, "CAN YOU HELP ME? IS SOMEBODY GOING TO FIX THIS? I WANT SERVICE AND I WANT IT NOW!"

By the time he was done screaming, the Mickey Police showed up. They popped out of the floor and surrounded him. I'm kidding. They rushed in from the main door, but they did surround him. There were 4 uniformed WDW Security guys and three were standing with their backs to Loud Dude forming a semi-circle around him. They talked into their shoulders a lot. The fourth security guy planted himself face to face with Loud Dude and didn't move.

From the first shout until the Mickey Police showed up was about 3 minutes, tops. I didn't hear any more shouting from Loud Dude after that. We got our food and headed to find a table. It appeared that Loud Dude's visit to DHS was about to come to an end, as we saw him being escorted from the building.

All I can say is that we were at a CS restaurant at Disney World at peak lunch hour. I'm not sure what went down, but c'mon. I've never understood the theory that if you don't get your way, get loud until somebody gives you what you want. Even my 3 year old has learned better than that.

Mkrop

08-21-2008, 02:23 PM

Ugh what a jerk Loud Dude was.

bubba's mom

08-21-2008, 02:34 PM

Well, a 30 minute wait at TSM is way better than the 90 you did before! :thumbsup2 LOVED all the pictures...they did a great job with the details there.

We loved Lights! Motors! Action! We thought it was a great show and great way to incorporate beloved Herbie into Disney World :teeth: Altho, we missed the fire finale because somebody put the camera away...thought that was all to it :headache:

And, as for Loud Dude....c'mon...give your family and the rest of us within earshot a break! ... :rolleyes2 What does being loud like that get you...besides your family embarrassed and you thrown out of the park you paid a lot of money to get into? :confused3

Picabo

08-21-2008, 03:13 PM

I had to laugh (outloud, ) at the story about Loud Dude. What a moron! He's at Disney World, in the SUMMER, at PEAK lunch hour. DUH! What did he expect? And what kind of man causes a scene like that in the presence of so many young ones? Idiot. I think I'd have laughed too....what else can you do, really? It's impressive how fast the security got there and that the escorted him outta there. Good for them!

OK so you mentioned the Great Movie Ride is too scary for the boys? Guess too scary for a 2 1/2 and 4 yr old? Oh darn. I was hoping I could take them on that but if you think it's scary for your kids then I'm sure it would be for mine. Poop. oh well.

OK keep it up...I'm enjoying! :3dglasses

Bloodhound

08-21-2008, 04:07 PM

The TSM ride looks awesome...Im so looking forward to it at DLR in October...thanks for the gret pics.

sherreis

08-21-2008, 04:28 PM

TSM looks awesome! Thanks for all the pics and I can't wait to see it when we go in October. I hope the stampede (oops- I mean the orderly line of people) at RD will behave. We'll have DH in the ECV trying to get through with us. Does he have a chance?

As for the LOUD dude - I feel bad for his children. It doesn't get anything accomplished. Everyone knows that you can attract more flies with honey! Did your boys say anything about his rotten behavior?

And, your pics of LMA came out great!!

loribell

08-21-2008, 05:38 PM

Heck the Alien sequence in the GMR is too much for me. I hated that movie! Close my eyes every time I go through that section.

Loud dude is an idiot. Glad they escorted him out! I would have clapped.

CoP Luv

08-22-2008, 08:04 AM

I think someone (Loud Dude) has had too much vacation. :lmao:

That's the line I always got from my parents when we saw a screaming baby/child making a fuss about nothing.

mdrob214

08-22-2008, 09:43 AM

Loud Dude--he's like those people you hear all the time telling their kids (or some poor CM when they want special treatment) "I paid a lot of money for this vaction! You'd better____________" Like we all didn't pay a lot of money for our vaction and we all arren't stuck in this hot, sweaty line, etc.:rolleyes:

I can't wait to see TSM, either.

loribell

08-22-2008, 09:14 PM

macraven

08-23-2008, 01:09 PM

i love reading about the loud dude.
it really spiced up the report.

i wish i could have been there.
i could have out shouted him on telling him to keep his yap shut....

and, your report is real kewl!
i'm on the edge of my seat reading it.

i just love how you tell the story and show the pictures.
give me more or i will get loud and yell......
isn't that how we are supposed to be to get our way? :laughing:

jjjmranch

08-23-2008, 01:49 PM

Great TR! Your sister is in our prayers! :grouphug:

I love your description of Loud Guy. What a polite name for such a person!

RVGal

08-23-2008, 01:53 PM

OK so you mentioned the Great Movie Ride is too scary for the boys? Guess too scary for a 2 1/2 and 4 yr old? Oh darn. I was hoping I could take them on that but if you think it's scary for your kids then I'm sure it would be for mine. Poop. oh well.

There are several intense sections to the GMR. One area is dedicated to ganster movies, another westerns, so the shoot 'em up scenes might bother little ones. The parts that would bother my boys are the Aliens scene (theatrical smoke with the alien creatures popping out of the walls and ceiling) and the Wizard of Oz (the Wicked Witch of the West is very realistic). I don't know if you've checked YouTube, but most of the rides have videos of them posted there. You can get a good idea of what your kids can handle from that.

TSM looks awesome! Thanks for all the pics and I can't wait to see it when we go in October. I hope the stampede (oops- I mean the orderly line of people) at RD will behave. We'll have DH in the ECV trying to get through with us. Does he have a chance?

The people at RD are usually reasonably well behaved. They will herd, immediately and quickly, for TSM. If you go straight there, even with an ECV, you will get a Fast Pass. It might not be until later in the afternoon, but you will get one.

I don't know if it is an option, but we always hand all of our park tickets to one person and let them get FPs for all of us. No reason to send the whole herd in to choke up the line.

FreFam5

08-23-2008, 02:29 PM

Wow - I can't believe that guy in the restaurant - and I absolutely love how he got all quiet when the big cook came out. Nothing like being big and brave when it's a little woman but not so much when it's a big guy!!!!

i'm glad security handled it very quickly and quietly (well of course anything is quiet after that guy!!!!)

sherreis

08-23-2008, 07:56 PM

The people at RD are usually reasonably well behaved. They will herd, immediately and quickly, for TSM. If you go straight there, even with an ECV, you will get a Fast Pass. It might not be until later in the afternoon, but you will get one.

I don't know if it is an option, but we always hand all of our park tickets to one person and let them get FPs for all of us. No reason to send the whole herd in to choke up the line.

Thank you. I am usually the Fastpass person - the problem with this is DH is so direction challenged that I worry that he's not going to make it to where we are going. Luckily, this time DS12 will know his way around and he is very good with direction.

RVGal

08-25-2008, 11:14 AM

After lunch, we headed to Voyage of the Little Mermaid with our Fast Passes. That is a cute show if you know the movie. If you don't know the movie, I think you'll be lost. They sing Under the Sea, Part of Your World, Poor Unfortunate Soul and then do a fast montage of scenes from the movie. They end with a quick bit of Ariel and Eric doing the happily ever after thing. It's a really good show, but I don't think anyone could follow the storyline if they haven't seen the movie. I could be wrong. It's been known to happen.

Most of the group wanted to head to the thrill rides. You know, Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. I, of course, couldn't take the boys on those. I love them and look forward to the years when I can ride them again. But for now, I'll stick with things that the boys can enjoy. I decided to do the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage.

You sit on the floor for this show. They have walkways marked and you have to sit on the floor, but not in the walkways. A hard carpeted floor for the length of the show. My tush was not happy, but I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

The stage is set and anyone with a kid that watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will recognize the scene.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day19.jpg

The show starts with our energetic hostess. When Mickey makes his first appearance, the kids lose their ever lovin' minds.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day20.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day21.jpg

Then, when the rest of the gang joins in, you'd think it was the Beatles.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day22.jpg

Am I dating myself? How about you'd think it was the Jonas Bros.

We call Toodles ("Oh Toodles!") and move to the next section of the story, which is Handy Manny.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day23.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day24.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day25.jpg

Then on to Little Einsteins.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day26.jpg

And My Friends Tigger and Pooh.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day27.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day28.jpg

Last we head back to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Minnie's birthday party.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day29.jpg

The rest of the gang wasn't done with the thrill rides yet, so I took the boys over to the character greeting area across from TSM. They have a cute setup there. You wait in line in an air conditioned building and there are photo ops all along the way.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day30.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day31.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day32.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day33.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day34.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day35.jpg

Finally we arrive at Andy's Room to meet Buzz & Woody.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day36.jpg

Yeah, dammit, the Disney PhotoPass pictures are better than mine. I might just have to break down and order a couple. :headache:

After that, we had a snack.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day37.jpg

And then Daniel spotted "Kitty" (Sully) and we just had to have a picture, right? Let me tell you, they have hidden Mike & Sulley. If we hadn't stumbled upon them by accident, I never would have known they were there.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day38.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day39.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/4day40.jpg

We joined the rest of the group and did the Indiana Jones Stunt Show and Muppet Vision 3-D. Carol was tiring out and so were we.

We called it a day and headed back to the hotel for dinner and so the boys could get a last splash in the pool. After they were in bed, I packed us up and got ready for the drive home the next day. The boys traveled like real troopers. We made the trip home in the same record time, right at 9 hours.

Up next: A look at Carol's last day in the parks and her trip home.

Bloodhound

08-25-2008, 11:18 AM

Thanks for the great update and pics...I hope and pray your sister is doing well

RVGal

08-25-2008, 03:30 PM

Carol is back in the hospital. She was admitted yesterday. She is running a high fever and they aren't quite sure what is going on. They have drained her surgical area and have her on 3 different antibiotics, so hopefully something will start working soon.

KStarfish82

08-25-2008, 03:32 PM

Great update Tricia!

The pictures of the boys are adorable!

How is Carol doing?

scotlass

08-25-2008, 03:50 PM

Hey youse....

great update.

sendin good vibes oor the water for Carol !!

Mkrop

08-25-2008, 04:26 PM

aldisneygrl

08-25-2008, 04:40 PM

Thanks for sharing the pics of Playhouse Disney. My kids are too old (10 and 15)for that, so that is a show I would never get to see.

Sorry to hear that Carol is back in the hospital. I'll be saying a prayer for all of you. I hope that the Dr.'s can figure out what is going on, and treat her. :hug:

loribell

08-25-2008, 04:58 PM

What a great photo op area for the TS characters, and a couple of cute little hams too!

Prayers for Carol.

FreFam5

08-25-2008, 05:10 PM

Your sister - and your entire family - continues to be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope she can get home soon.

ilovediznee2

08-25-2008, 06:41 PM

I hope your sister is doing okay. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I do have to agree- CANCER SUCKS! I lost both of my parents to it...

snoopybabe

08-25-2008, 08:02 PM

I hope Carol is feeling better. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.:grouphug:
Your boys are adorable. :goodvibes

Cancer does suck. Everytime DH thinks he will stay in remission, melanoma comes back. This time its in his lungs. Scheduled for surgery Sept 12th. Wish someday all cancer could be gone.

sherreis

08-25-2008, 09:27 PM

I hope Carol is doing better and the antibiotics are kicking in.

Thanks for the lastest update and Playhouse Disney pics. I've never been there - my boys are too old. I feel for you on the sitting on the floor thing.

Picabo

08-26-2008, 06:43 AM

bubba's mom

08-26-2008, 07:47 AM

Yippee :yay: more trippie!

Actually, your afternoon sounds very peaceful (i know vs. all those 'thrill' rides!) :laughing:

We'd never see Playhouse either...well, maybe in the future with my grandkids :lmao: ...looks like a cool show...they incorporated a lot of characters! You would think they'd cushion the flooring if peeps were gonna be sittin' on their butts that long? :confused3 What do they do w/ the folks who can't get down on the floor to sit? Then what? :scared:

Glad the boys got some quiet time...the photos are great! Lots of great photo opportunities :thumbsup2 And, you can break down and buy some...what the heck? Kids are only young once ;)

Hope there are better things for Carol today :hug:

RVGal

08-26-2008, 08:00 AM

Do you think a 2 1/2 yr old and 4 yr old would "sit still" for playhouse Disney? They are NOT fans of Little Einsteins.....so I keepthinking that maybe they'd loose interest during that part of the show. And, not a huge fan of sitting on my tushy for any length of time, either. LOL

To be honest, this is pretty much the only show in all the Disney parks that is completely geared toward the preschoolers. The little ones love it. My boys were 2 and 5 on our last trip and they loved it. Still loved it this trip, even though they don't watch Handy Manny. I don't know why, but they've never developed an interest in that show.

The host/hostess is very energetic. They engage the little ones and encourage them to clap along, sing along, call for Toodles, etc. A couple of times during the show, they ask the kids to stand up and hop along with Tigger or dance or whatever. Each segment is short and the whole show is fast paced. They know their audience and the short attention span that goes with that age group. I have seen nothing but a sea of happy little faces at that show and I've been 4 times now.

I hate the sitting on the floor part, but the kids love it. There is always a collective groan from the adults as we try to haul our older bodies off the ground at the end of the show, but it is totally worth it.

RVGal

08-26-2008, 08:09 AM

What do they do w/ the folks who can't get down on the floor to sit? Then what? :scared:

There is a row of benches along the back wall of the little theater for those who can't sit on the floor. Mom used that. The kids want to be down on the floor and closer to the stage, of course. So, at least one parent/grown up is stuck having to plop down on with the kids.

I've said many times, they make that springy, cushioned flooring in the indoor playgrounds at McDonalds and other spots. Why not use that for the show? I don't know that it would make a difference, but it might be a little softer.

It's A Happy Day

08-26-2008, 08:31 AM

There is a row of benches along the back wall of the little theater for those who can't sit on the floor. Mom used that. The kids want to be down on the floor and closer to the stage, of course. So, at least one parent/grown up is stuck having to plop down on with the kids.

I've said many times, they make that springy, cushioned flooring in the indoor playgrounds at McDonalds and other spots. Why not use that for the show? I don't know that it would make a difference, but it might be a little softer.

1st I am loving your trip report :love: You have done a great job telling us your tale.

I totally agree about the flooring in there...also my 2 loved it and they were 3 & 4 when we saw it. No problem entertaining there. I think the issue with that type of flooring is keeping it clean and not absorbing what some ofl those toddlers/preschoolers are sitting on in the 1st place :scared:

Picabo

08-26-2008, 07:21 PM

To be honest, this is pretty much the only show in all the Disney parks that is completely geared toward the preschoolers. The little ones love it. My boys were 2 and 5 on our last trip and they loved it. Still loved it this trip, even though they don't watch Handy Manny. I don't know why, but they've never developed an interest in that show.

The host/hostess is very energetic. They engage the little ones and encourage them to clap along, sing along, call for Toodles, etc. A couple of times during the show, they ask the kids to stand up and hop along with Tigger or dance or whatever. Each segment is short and the whole show is fast paced. They know their audience and the short attention span that goes with that age group. I have seen nothing but a sea of happy little faces at that show and I've been 4 times now.

I hate the sitting on the floor part, but the kids love it. There is always a collective groan from the adults as we try to haul our older bodies off the ground at the end of the show, but it is totally worth it.

AWSOME! Great to know. DH will be thrilled! haha My older daughter LOVES Handy Manny (I think she has a crush on him...haha) but for whatever reason Little Einsteins bores the heck out of her. Guess to each his own...but I'd assume being a LIVE show, they'd enjoy it even if it's not their fave on TV...THANKS again!

sherreis

08-27-2008, 07:06 AM

How's Carol doing?

mdrob214

08-27-2008, 10:22 AM

How's Carol doing?

I was gonna ask the same thing.:angel: :grouphug:

RVGal

08-27-2008, 03:17 PM

I totally agree about the flooring in there...also my 2 loved it and they were 3 & 4 when we saw it. No problem entertaining there. I think the issue with that type of flooring is keeping it clean and not absorbing what some ofl those toddlers/preschoolers are sitting on in the 1st place :scared:

That is probably true. I'm sure the carpet has to be *ahem* cleaned quite frequently. I really don't want to think about it. :eek:

How's Carol doing?

Not great. Over the past 2 days she has been diagnosed with cellulitis (infection of the skin tissue) and sepsis (infection of the blood), and just this afternoon also with MRSA (antibiotic resistent staph). She is on IV antibiotics and will most likely be in the hospital for a couple of weeks.

This adds a new challenge to the already difficult path she is facing. Sigh.

She sounded good when I spoke with her earlier today. Her spirits remain positive. I just wish there was something more I could do.

It's A Happy Day

08-27-2008, 03:20 PM

Prayers to you and your family. I am saddened to hear of the setbacks she is now facing.

vdarrell

08-27-2008, 04:21 PM

Sorry to hear Carol has had some set backs.

As for doing more, you are doing just what she needs most and that is being there for her.

She and your family still remain in my prayers.
Is there any way we could send her cards to let her know we care?

RVGal

08-27-2008, 05:12 PM

Right now she is under the infectious diseases banner in her room. Nothing from outside the hospital goes in or out.

Picabo

08-27-2008, 06:56 PM

Oh gosh, Tricia, I'm so sorry to hear about Carol's setbacks. I am happy to hear, however, that her spirits are still up. I'm sorry but I don't remember what type of cancer she has and what her surgery was....so I apologize for not remembering the details.

But it brings back many memories of my mom giong through Ovarian Cancer. She had many setbacks as well and I know how disappointing it can be when something like this happens. I hope they are able to clear up her infections -and keep her in the clear from any new contaminations while she's in such a weakened state.

My prayers are with her.....and her DP and your entire family right now.

Ellester

08-27-2008, 07:45 PM

Big prayers going out for Carol and your family. You are doing the most you can for her just by praying, loving, and caring.

I am so glad you were able to pull the trip together so quickly. I'm sure Carol is thinking about the fun times while she's going through all this.

Your boys are adorable. I noticed Daniel's Wiggles shirt in a few of the pics. Do you remember where you got it? My ds4 has a Wiggles fetish. Their stuff is so hard to find lately.

Please keep us posted on Carol. How's your mom holding up through all this?

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

kimbo0569

08-27-2008, 07:58 PM

Keeping Carol, you and your family in good thoughts. I hope she is doing better really soon.

SHAYMARAYSMOM

08-27-2008, 08:05 PM

Right now she is under the infectious diseases banner in her room. Nothing from outside the hospital goes in or out.

I will keep you all in my prayers.

sherreis

08-27-2008, 08:54 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about Carol's setbacks. I know she has a positive attitude and hope she is able to keep that up now!

mdrob214

08-28-2008, 07:36 AM

Tricia--want you to know that thoughts and prayers are with you, Carol, and your entire family:hug:

aldisneygrl

08-28-2008, 07:57 AM

Sending prayers and pixiedust: Carol's way. And a :hug: for you.

Mickey'sMainMami

08-28-2008, 08:13 AM

I also just said a prayer for Carol. I hope she starts feeling better soon!!

just4today

08-28-2008, 09:03 AM

That is probably true. I'm sure the carpet has to be *ahem* cleaned quite frequently. I really don't want to think about it. :eek:

Not great. Over the past 2 days she has been diagnosed with cellulitis (infection of the skin tissue) and sepsis (infection of the blood), and just this afternoon also with MRSA (antibiotic resistent staph). She is on IV antibiotics and will most likely be in the hospital for a couple of weeks.

This adds a new challenge to the already difficult path she is facing. Sigh.

She sounded good when I spoke with her earlier today. Her spirits remain positive. I just wish there was something more I could do.

:hug: Hang in there. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

whogirl'smom

08-28-2008, 09:26 AM

Thoughts and prayers coming from me, too. :goodvibes I'm so sorry to hear about Carol's infections; that's just not fair with everything else she's facing.

aPiratesLife4Me

08-29-2008, 11:03 AM

I am SO enjoying your trip report! Very sorry to hear of Carol's setback. Sending prayers her way.

RVGal

08-29-2008, 06:39 PM

The only ones left for the last day were Carol, Deb and Melanie, so the following pics were from Deb's camera.

Tuesday, August 5th -

Carol said that mousekeeping in her room did a really great job. They even made little wash cloth shapes to put the soaps in.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay1.jpg

They decided to split the last day between Epcot and MK. First stop, The Seas with Nemo.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay2.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay3.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay4.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay5.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay6.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay7.jpg

I'm sure there was more that happened, but the next pics are from lunch at the Mexico pavilion.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay8.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay9.jpg

The grass roof at the Norway pavilion was in full bloom.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay10.jpg

The next pics are after they hopped to the MK. Carol said a really nasty looking storm was coming and it made the castle look wild.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay11.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay12.jpg

The main reason for visiting MK that evening was to see SpectroMagic.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay13.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay14.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay15.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay16.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay17.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay18.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/5aDay19.jpg

That ends our entire herds' visit to the parks. Next up, shopping and the trip home.

SHAYMARAYSMOM

08-29-2008, 06:50 PM

Tricia
How is Carol doing?

FreFam5

08-29-2008, 07:57 PM

The storm did make the castle look crazy!!! Very cool.

I am sorry to hear about Carol's set back- I hope that she is feeling better soon.

burly

08-30-2008, 01:09 AM

Prayers and hopes and dreams to you and Carol. :hug:

RVGal

09-03-2008, 07:19 PM

I gave up and ordered just 3 of the Disney PhotoPass pictures. Here they are.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/GroupatCastle.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/BoysandSulley.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/BoysandBuzzWoody.jpg

It was mainly because the pic they took of the boys with Buzz and Woody was so darn cute (and better than the ones I got). Since I was getting that one, what the heck, I got a couple more. Damn Mickey and his clever ways to part us with our money. ;)

Carol is home. She has a nurse visit 3 times per day to check her wound for infection, get her vitals, and to administer her IV meds. She is weak, but happy to be home. She has at least 2 more weeks of meds. Her next appointments are with her surgeon (post op checkup) and with the infectious disease doc. Both of those are on Friday.

Thank you so very much to everyone for your thoughts, words, prayers, good wishes, positive vibes, and everything else. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can get Carol strong soon. The quicker she can take chemo, the better chance she has.

I'll be back with the Disney shopping and their trip home when I can. Life is just a tiny bit busy around here right now.

Bloodhound

09-03-2008, 08:37 PM

Hi...thanks for the great pics and update on Carol....we are praying for her recovery

dalstitch45

09-04-2008, 08:04 PM

I can't believe I missed this post! I totally enjoyed your trip reports. Tricia, I want you to know my family just said a prayer for Carol and your family.:angel: With GOD's help, all things are possible.

I am a two (2) time breast cancer survivor. I have learned that life is so precious, and I try not to waste a moment of it. You learn to cherish every minute you have.

Now, if I want to do something, or go on a trip, I do. One of my favorite things is WDW. I go several times every year. As a matter of fact, just got back yesterday. Well, that is another thread soon to come.

To Carol: Hang in there. Tricia, I understand how hard it is on your family, and what you are going through.:grouphug:

KStarfish82

09-04-2008, 08:32 PM

We are thinking of you and Carol! I hope she is recovering quickly and that she feels better soon!

:grouphug:

Picabo

09-04-2008, 09:29 PM

Still enjoying the pix...and wow that pix of the storm behind the castle is WILD! Very cool! Great shots!

Glad to hear Carol is home...I'm sure she prefers it there over the hospital. Here's hoping she gets the all clear to start up on chemo!! My prayers are still wtih all of you!

Melanie
PS can't wait to see the shopping pix!!!

julezdisney

09-04-2008, 10:30 PM

I've really enjoyed this TR and am keeping Carol in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for sharing!

mdrob214

09-05-2008, 06:48 AM

Glad to hear Carol is home. She and all of you are still in my thoughts and prayers.:hug:

Hawkeye314

09-06-2008, 08:11 AM

There is nothing better for the recovery -- or the soul -- than the time you spent as a family in Disney. I know. Five years ago, my then 3 year old daughter was recovering from open heart surgery and we used a trip to Disney as a reward for her and for the whole family.

Two years ago, my wife was in remission from breast cancer and had a hysterectomy that caused major complications (5 more surgeries and a number of other really inconvenient issues). We went to Disney anyways (my wife with a catheter bag coming directly out of her kidney) and the laughter and fun distracted us from our worries for 10 days or so. She had a major surgery later that fall and the Disney magic really relaxed her. We spent some time in the hospital going over the photos and reliving the trip.

We just came back from a trip and I'm happy to report that we had no health issues to prepare for/recover from. Everyone was 100% healthy and we had a great time.

Here's hoping and praying that you and your family have a trip just like that in the very near future.

RVGal

09-08-2008, 02:19 PM

My brother emailed me some of the pictures that he took on our vacation. It's funny when you compare the same event from different perspectives. We each take pictures of different things, or of the same things but different angles.

Anyway, I picked out a few that I thought were worth revisiting.

Here is a lovely shot of me standing in line for TSM.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl1.jpg

This would be from the first, 90 minute wait, line for TSM. :laughing:

Another shot of part of our caravan in line for TSM. Karen in a wheelchair, Aaron holding Daniel (bless him), and you can see the back of Carol in her ECV.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl2.jpg

Here's a couple of pics from the loading area of TSM. You can get a better idea of how the part you ride looks from these shots.

Susan and Paul:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl3.jpg

Carol and Aaron:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl4.jpg

We have a bunch of duplicate type shots from the character meal at CP, but here are three that I thought were cute/funny enough to share.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl5.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl6.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl7.jpg

And this last one is mostly because my BIL is once again being silly and making us laugh.

Melanie, Paul and Aaron:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/Darryl8.jpg

My goal is to try and finish this report up before we take our next trip. I have just over a month, so I hope that is doable. My next trip (in October) is one that DH & I have had planned for a long time. We picked the dates so that we could take the boys near Halloween, which is a time of the year that I've never been to Disney World. I'm kinda looking forward to a trip without the herd. Being able to move at our own pace and all that. :goodvibes

bubba's mom

09-08-2008, 02:36 PM

I love the pictures.....You are such the fashion icon in your polka dot hat & striped shirt :cool1:

We do the same things in our family...Bubba has taken some very interesting pictures of things at angles that I would not think of taking! Different strokes for different folks :confused3

Thanks for sharing...they are some great pictures! :goodvibes

I can't wait for your report on the next trip!! :yay:

RVGal

09-08-2008, 02:48 PM

Picabo

09-08-2008, 03:16 PM

Ohh goody more pix! Your familiy looks liek a lot of fun!!!

And now, I will eagerly be waiting for the NEXT trip report!!!! You'er so lucky to go back again so soon!!!

Melanie

SHAYMARAYSMOM

09-08-2008, 04:21 PM

How is Carol doing? I hope things are looking better for her

vdarrell

09-09-2008, 05:26 PM

I too am wondering how Carol is doing.

You are in my thoughts daily as I read the posts.:flower3:

RVGal

09-10-2008, 09:55 AM

You guys are so sweet! :hug:

Carol is doing okay. She is starting to look more like herself. When she first came home from the hospital, she was a pale, pasty white color. She looks more normal now. She is still on the IV antibiotics. I think she has over a week of that left. She has a checkup tomorrow and we are hoping her numbers have improved. Last week, her red blood count was low. All in all, she is able to get around more and doesn't tire quite as quickly. She walks around the house and sometimes out in the yard. She is trying to regain her strength as best she can. It's still rough, but she's doing a lot better.

Bloodhound

09-10-2008, 10:54 AM

Hi, we are praying for Carol.....I hope you have a wonderful Halloween Party with Mickey...our group is going to DLR for the Trick or Treat party as well :goodvibes:

Ellester

09-10-2008, 11:35 AM

I keep forgetting!

Somebody, somewhere along the way, asked about Daniel's Wiggles shirt. It is a hand-me-down from Joshua. We got the shirt when we went to see the Wiggles Live show. I think that was about 3 years ago. I have no idea where you can find Wiggles shirts now. If anyone has one, they might list it on eBay. You are welcome to this (well worn) shirt if you want to PM me an address, I'd be happy to send it on after our trip in October.

That was me! I figured it was acquired long ago. My son has one from a concert and two we have made from the computer. He's big for a little guy, so Daniel's shirt is probably too small. But I do really appreciate the offer! I'm glad Carol is doing better, I'm sure it is a relief to have her home. I know the hospital (St. Joe's in Atlanta) almost killed my FIL the last time he was in. A two day stay became a four day stay because of errors in his care. No wonder they want to discharge people so quickly!

RVGal

09-10-2008, 11:44 AM

That was me! I figured it was acquired long ago. My son has one from a concert and two we have made from the computer. He's big for a little guy, so Daniel's shirt is probably too small. But I do really appreciate the offer! I'm glad Carol is doing better, I'm sure it is a relief to have her home. I know the hospital (St. Joe's in Atlanta) almost killed my FIL the last time he was in. A two day stay became a four day stay because of errors in his care. No wonder they want to discharge people so quickly!

Daniel was 95% for both height and weight at his 3 year checkup. He is my chunky monkey. He turned 3 in July and now weighs almost 40 pounds. The doctor assures me that because the percentage numbers are the same for both height and weight we have nothing to worry about. He said, "He's big, but he's proportionate. If he was 50% for height and 95% for weight, then we'd worry."

There are many hospitals in and around Atlanta that I wouldn't want to stick around in. Of course, I hope to avoid hospitals in general.

My parents are from Columbus, GA so I know your area somewhat. I still miss the old Kinnett Dairy. Having the cow in the middle of a parking lot just isn't the same. :rolleyes:

vdarrell

09-13-2008, 09:29 PM

It's nice to hear Carol is home and doing well.
Tell her to take it easy and just enjoy letting all of you spoiling her(which I know you ALL are doing right).:thumbsup2

havinfun

09-13-2008, 10:13 PM

I just took my cancer sucks vacation. I am a cancer survivor of one year of an aggresive form of breast cancer. I have been through chemo, radiation and surgery. Your sister is in my prayers, I am praying her treatments do more than buy her time. I hope her Disney trip made her feel wonderful. Hang in there!

Jillpie

09-14-2008, 12:15 AM

Fantastic report, I just finished the whole thing in the last hour or so. Loved it, you are so funny. I will pray for Carol and your whole family through this time. Please keep us updated on her condition, ok?

RVGal

09-15-2008, 12:12 PM

Carol is doing okay. Her red blood cell count is still low, but we think they will be taking her off the IV meds next week. They hope to start chemo in 4 weeks, if her blood count comes up. I'll keep you posted.

I'm not looking at a calendar, so I don't remember what date they left Disney. August, 6th... I think...

They had breakfast at the McDonalds (if you have driven/taken a bus to the All Star or Coronado Springs, you know the one I'm talking about).

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay1.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay2.jpg

And then went to Downtown Disney to shop before driving Melanie home.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay3.jpg

After dropping Melanie off in south Georgia, Carol & Deb headed east to Tybee Island. Carol wanted to spend a few hours on the beach before coming home.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay4.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay5.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay6.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay7.jpg

Carol in the surf:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay8.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay9.jpg

She said there was a storm overnight and the next day the beach was full of starfish.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay10.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff248/MooMonsters/WDW0808/6aDay11.jpg

They had an uneventful drive home and arrived tired, but happy.

I'm glad we had this time. I really means a lot that the family was able, and willing, to put our individual lives on hold and be together for a few days. It was mostly a fun time. There were a few snags and it was difficult for me to corral the boys while the rest of the herd did stuff that they can't, but nothing worth complaining about. Much. ;)

I hope everyone has enjoyed this trek with me. I have read and appreciate all the responses along the way. Things are incredibly hectic as the school year started and we gear up for our next trip, but I did want to say that all the comments, thoughts, prayer, shared stories, and general good vibes have really meant a lot more than I can say.

I'm sure this will get moved to the completed trip reports section now, since... well... it's a completed trip report. However, if I'm still able to post to it (this is my first report since they created the separate board for completed TRs), I'll continue to update with Carol's condition.