Surviving Fay Disney Style - The DIS Discussion Forums

adisneymama · 08-23-2008, 08:27 PM

Hey everybody! We made it back. We survived Fay and had a great time. So here goes a trip report of sorts, hopefully with a lot of pictures. Here is the cast:

Me - I am the trip planner, the leader of the pack so to speak. I live for our Disney vacations and am very blessed that we get to go often.

DH - Loves golf and Disney. Goes with the flow and lets me do all the planning. Pretty much just shows up when and where I tell him to.

DD - Aubrey 6 yo princess all the way. Loves all the thrill rides the scarier the better.

DS - Ashton 18 mos. Loves Mickey and his Mama. Actually he is just our little lover dover.

Now for just a little bit of background info:

Last year DD was diagnosed with Epilepsy. She does not have convulsive seizures and should outgrow them by the time she reaches puberty. We had some issues with the first two medications she was placed on but so far the third one is the charm. She is doing much better, but still has seizures on a daily basis. The seizures cause balance issues as well as stamina issues as well. We went to Disney Dec 2007 and it was a very difficult trip for us. We had a good time, but it was trying to say the least. She just wasn't able to handle the waits and all the walking etc.

So I did some research here on the Dis and found out about the GAC and the ability to use the stroller as a wheelchair. Let me just tell you it made a world of difference. This trip was night and day from the December trip. Of course there were those that snubbed their noses and whispered things as we went past them, simply because dd doesn't have an outwardly noticable disability. Most people however, were all smiles and the majority of the CM's were great and really made us feel like royalty rather than embarrased for using the GAC.

So there you have it. All caught up and ready to go.

Up next Day 1...Planes, trains and automobiles!

adisneymama · 08-23-2008, 08:51 PM

Woohoo finally it is time to go to Disney!!! We wake the kids, dh loads the van up and we feed the kids breakfast before we leave. The main reason we did this is to get Aubrey's seizure meds in before we hit the airport. They are sprinkles that we place in her food which really helps to get the medicine in easily. Ok, everyone is all set and off we go..

The drive wasn't overly exiting, as soon as the van was started "Alice" (our navigation system) announced to the kids that it was time to go to Disney!

Then we began playing the High School Musical soundtrack which ironically had been qued up to play "What Time is It?"

LOL can't figure out how that happened. So we listened to the cd and Aubrey and I were singing along when dh started with the "I forgots". The conversation went something like:

dh: I forgot to pack tylenol.
Me: I packed it.
Dh: I forgot to pack chapstick.
Me: I packed it.
DH: I forgot to pack..
Me: I packed it. Aren't you glad you're married to me?

By now we have made it to the offsite parking lot and loaded onto the shuttle bus. About 5 mins later we were being dropped off at the terminal. We checked our bags and headed thru security. When all of a sudden I couldn't find the ginormous ziplock bag of all our prescriptions!

It had been in the diaper bag I was using as my personal item. We thought maybe it fell out on the shuttle bus, so we stopped and called the lot. They checked with the driver who said no it wasn't on the bus. That meant it could only be in the van. So they sent the shuttle back to pick up dh. I armed him with his boarding pass and his passport (Yes, I know we didn't have to have passports but it is faster thru security and yes, I do keep control of his boarding pass as well. LOL) So dh checked the van and sure enough the bag had fallen out in the van. WHEW!

In the meantime, I took the carryon bag, both kids and their backpacks, my bag and the stroller for the longest flippin walk in history to our gate. Dh finally made it back with the ziplock in tow to which I replied...."Aren't you glad you are married to me?"

We got a bite for ourselves, Aubrey and I made a bathroom stop and we boarded the plane headed to Orlando!

Only to go no where!

For some reason we sat on the runway for almost 45 mins! Ok so anyone who has flown with small children knows I'm not kidding when I say this is what we looked like when we finally took off!

We finally took off and the pilot made up for a little bit of the lost time. We jumped off the plane, grabbed the stroller and headed straight to the ME bus via the fake monorail to get us to the terminal. We were on our way to POR in no time. So for a recap, we have driven our van, rode a bus, flew on a plane, rode a train and then another bus just to get to our hotel. And then things really went downhill.

Here are a few pics of the kids in the Orlando airport as we waited for the stroller to be delivered.

Trentmom · 08-23-2008, 08:58 PM

I'm In

Really sounds like the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I am glad your discovered the GAC Card and were able to have a better trip than last year

Now what is next?

adisneymama · 08-23-2008, 09:00 PM

Up next is our nightmare check in experience. But that will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm still on eastern time and I'm wiped! Thanks for reading and welcome aboard!

letthewookiewin · 08-23-2008, 09:02 PM

What is a GAC Card?

Trentmom · 08-23-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adisneymama

Up next is our nightmare check in experience. But that will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm still on eastern time and I'm wiped! Thanks for reading and welcome aboard!

That is right you are an hour behind me and your system needs time to adjust for sure.

Thanks....I will look forward to more tomorrow

Good Night

shoppgirl · 08-23-2008, 09:34 PM

Great start...I can't wait to hear how Fay treated you! I had to chuckle when you referred to your Nav system in the car as "Alice"! We call ours SAL, because DH thinks she sounds like the female version of HAL from the movie 2001:A Space Odyssey!!!!

KYCruiseCrazy · 08-24-2008, 07:15 AM

Glad you made it back safely!! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story. So far it is hilarious.

It couldn't have been that bad an experience. Remember, a bad day at Disney is always better than a great day at home/work.

adisneymama · 08-24-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letthewookiewin

What is a GAC Card?

The GAC stands for Guest Assistance Card. It is designed so that you can get the extra assistance you may need while visiting Disney. Things like waiting in a shady area, stopping the moving platform on rides like PP if necessary. I'll go into more details as the report goes on. HTH

I'll try to get an update later today. Need to finish unpacking first and I have to get all of Aubrey's things ready for the 1st day of school tomorrow. Welcome to everyone that has joined.

John you have no idea....don't get me wrong we didn't let it get to us!

peacelovemickey · 08-24-2008, 09:12 AM

I am in! Hello neighbor! We start school tomorrow too!

jmskinner · 08-24-2008, 09:14 AM

I'm here for the ride!

Happy to hear the GAC helped you have a wonderful trip!

GymboAddict · 08-24-2008, 09:21 AM

I'm in......can't wait for check-in story!

Wendy

MomsOf2boys · 08-24-2008, 09:44 AM

I'm in as well.

mtmbyck · 08-24-2008, 09:50 AM

Are you up? Are you Up? Canadians are up and ready to hear all of the excitement.

letthewookiewin · 08-24-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adisneymama

The GAC stands for Guest Assistance Card. It is designed so that you can get the extra assistance you may need while visiting Disney. Things like waiting in a shady area, stopping the moving platform on rides like PP if necessary. I'll go into more details as the report goes on. HTH

I'll try to get an update later today. Need to finish unpacking first and I have to get all of Aubrey's things ready for the 1st day of school tomorrow. Welcome to everyone that has joined.

John you have no idea....don't get me wrong we didn't let it get to us!

Yeah, after reading this I did more research on it. I may have to look into getting one for John. I'm glad that Fay didn't spoil your trip. Now that you guys are home, I can't wait to hear how Aubrey liked the new Toy Story ride. Joey and John are in Memphis and Arkansas with their grandparents until late tomorrow, so I'll have to let them know on Tuesday.

08-23-2008, 08:27 PM	#1
adisneymama DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,758	Surviving Fay Disney Style Hey everybody! We made it back. We survived Fay and had a great time. So here goes a trip report of sorts, hopefully with a lot of pictures. Here is the cast: Me - I am the trip planner, the leader of the pack so to speak. I live for our Disney vacations and am very blessed that we get to go often. DH - Loves golf and Disney. Goes with the flow and lets me do all the planning. Pretty much just shows up when and where I tell him to. DD - Aubrey 6 yo princess all the way. Loves all the thrill rides the scarier the better. DS - Ashton 18 mos. Loves Mickey and his Mama. Actually he is just our little lover dover. Now for just a little bit of background info: Last year DD was diagnosed with Epilepsy. She does not have convulsive seizures and should outgrow them by the time she reaches puberty. We had some issues with the first two medications she was placed on but so far the third one is the charm. She is doing much better, but still has seizures on a daily basis. The seizures cause balance issues as well as stamina issues as well. We went to Disney Dec 2007 and it was a very difficult trip for us. We had a good time, but it was trying to say the least. She just wasn't able to handle the waits and all the walking etc. So I did some research here on the Dis and found out about the GAC and the ability to use the stroller as a wheelchair. Let me just tell you it made a world of difference. This trip was night and day from the December trip. Of course there were those that snubbed their noses and whispered things as we went past them, simply because dd doesn't have an outwardly noticable disability. Most people however, were all smiles and the majority of the CM's were great and really made us feel like royalty rather than embarrased for using the GAC. So there you have it. All caught up and ready to go. Up next Day 1...Planes, trains and automobiles! __________________

08-23-2008, 08:51 PM	#2
adisneymama DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,758	Planes, trains and Automobiles Woohoo finally it is time to go to Disney!!! We wake the kids, dh loads the van up and we feed the kids breakfast before we leave. The main reason we did this is to get Aubrey's seizure meds in before we hit the airport. They are sprinkles that we place in her food which really helps to get the medicine in easily. Ok, everyone is all set and off we go.. The drive wasn't overly exiting, as soon as the van was started "Alice" (our navigation system) announced to the kids that it was time to go to Disney! Then we began playing the High School Musical soundtrack which ironically had been qued up to play "What Time is It?" LOL can't figure out how that happened. So we listened to the cd and Aubrey and I were singing along when dh started with the "I forgots". The conversation went something like: dh: I forgot to pack tylenol. Me: I packed it. Dh: I forgot to pack chapstick. Me: I packed it. DH: I forgot to pack.. Me: I packed it. Aren't you glad you're married to me? By now we have made it to the offsite parking lot and loaded onto the shuttle bus. About 5 mins later we were being dropped off at the terminal. We checked our bags and headed thru security. When all of a sudden I couldn't find the ginormous ziplock bag of all our prescriptions! It had been in the diaper bag I was using as my personal item. We thought maybe it fell out on the shuttle bus, so we stopped and called the lot. They checked with the driver who said no it wasn't on the bus. That meant it could only be in the van. So they sent the shuttle back to pick up dh. I armed him with his boarding pass and his passport (Yes, I know we didn't have to have passports but it is faster thru security and yes, I do keep control of his boarding pass as well. LOL) So dh checked the van and sure enough the bag had fallen out in the van. WHEW! In the meantime, I took the carryon bag, both kids and their backpacks, my bag and the stroller for the longest flippin walk in history to our gate. Dh finally made it back with the ziplock in tow to which I replied...."Aren't you glad you are married to me?" We got a bite for ourselves, Aubrey and I made a bathroom stop and we boarded the plane headed to Orlando! Only to go no where! For some reason we sat on the runway for almost 45 mins! Ok so anyone who has flown with small children knows I'm not kidding when I say this is what we looked like when we finally took off! We finally took off and the pilot made up for a little bit of the lost time. We jumped off the plane, grabbed the stroller and headed straight to the ME bus via the fake monorail to get us to the terminal. We were on our way to POR in no time. So for a recap, we have driven our van, rode a bus, flew on a plane, rode a train and then another bus just to get to our hotel. And then things really went downhill. Here are a few pics of the kids in the Orlando airport as we waited for the stroller to be delivered. __________________ Last edited by adisneymama; 08-23-2008 at 08:57 PM.

08-23-2008, 08:58 PM	#3
Trentmom A Christmas"y" tag for a Christmas Freak! Talk to you Sharky People Later!!! Has a high Poodar Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 31,902	I'm In Really sounds like the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles I am glad your discovered the GAC Card and were able to have a better trip than last year Now what is next? __________________ "Sharky", RESIDENT LIFER Crossing Fingers for a Trip Next Year. No Trip this year is killing me

08-23-2008, 09:00 PM	#4
adisneymama DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,758	Up next is our nightmare check in experience. But that will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm still on eastern time and I'm wiped! Thanks for reading and welcome aboard! __________________

08-23-2008, 09:02 PM	#5
letthewookiewin "That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."-Han Solo "I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, R2: let the Wookiee win."-C-3PO Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Keller, Texas Posts: 4,172	What is a GAC Card? __________________ Me(37)DH(37) DS15 DS14 Bug R.I.P. 8/20/11 1981-OS/w parents March1994-OS/w HS band & met future DH July2000-OS,5th wedding anny March2004-CBR,DS's 1st trip Oct.2006-WL,MNSSHP June 2012-PC Sept.2013-AKL PV,MNSSHP "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

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08-23-2008, 09:34 PM	#7
shoppgirl DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 593	Great start...I can't wait to hear how Fay treated you! I had to chuckle when you referred to your Nav system in the car as "Alice"! We call ours SAL, because DH thinks she sounds like the female version of HAL from the movie 2001:A Space Odyssey!!!! __________________ Grand Floridian Sugar Loaf August 2008 Grand Floridian Sugar Loaf August 2009 Disney Dream Cruise July 2011 Disney Dream Cruise July 2012 Animal Kingdom Lodge May 2013

08-24-2008, 07:15 AM	#8
KYCruiseCrazy I'll be drooling and dreaming Never know how the pixie dust will fall Keep a look out for a white kia with a DCL antenna topper Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mt Washington Ky Posts: 4,486	Glad you made it back safely!! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story. So far it is hilarious. It couldn't have been that bad an experience. Remember, a bad day at Disney is always better than a great day at home/work.

08-24-2008, 09:12 AM	#10
peacelovemickey I followed the directions step by step Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: League City, TX Posts: 287	I am in! Hello neighbor! We start school tomorrow too! __________________ DH Me DD12 DS10 ]June 1990 Offsite 1 day trip Nov 1998 Port Orleans Before Kids Nov 2000 Coronado Springs DD 1st b-day Nov 2004 Fort Wilderness DS 1st trip June 2006 POFQ Just Mom, Kids and Me July 2007 Anniversary Trip to Boardwalk Concierge Nov 2007 Ft. Wilderness in the 5th Wheel! AKL June '09 AKL/DCL July '10 Boardwalk Inn Nov. '11 In Memory of Bob Varley 4/28/08 Who now lives in the most Magical Kingdom of all! Miss you Bob!

08-24-2008, 09:14 AM	#11
jmskinner DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: No longer an hour away. Posts: 4,137	I'm here for the ride! Happy to hear the GAC helped you have a wonderful trip! __________________ POR July 2006;POR June 13-21 2008;ASM Sept 26-28 2008;RPR July 14-16, 2009;POR July 16-21 2009;CBR Sept 4-7, 2009, POFQ Thanksgiving 2009, AKKV June 5-6, 2010, POFQ July 2010, AS Sports Sept 2010, POFQ Jan 2011, BLT Feb 2011, POP Apr 2011, SoG May 2011, POR July 2011, POR and POP Aug 2012, CSR Oct 2012 900 Miles, 5 Parks, 2 Resorts, 6 ADR's, and 3 days of Celebration!!! August 2012 TR I love SWW and SW Celebrations...does that mean I am a geek? A PTR of a SW family August 2012. Adventures of a DisneyWORLDholic! That's it...we moved to Florida to be close to Mickey TR with daily TR's and other Florida Fun! My DSD came to visit and didn't want to go to WDW with us??? My July 14-21st TR with Busch Gardens, Universal, and of course, WDW.

08-24-2008, 09:21 AM	#12
GymboAddict Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 2nd star to the right Posts: 112	I'm in......can't wait for check-in story! Wendy __________________ "The world is an open book: those who do not travel read only a page." Our FAMILY: Me: DH: DD (13): DS (7) CoCo

08-24-2008, 09:44 AM	#13
MomsOf2boys Has obsessive finger chatter disorder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,832	I'm in as well. __________________ Susan If you can DREAM it... Oct 14, 2012 I'll Tweet to that! Follow me on Twitter Grew up at Disneyland...Raised my kids at Disney World...Had a little Wonder in Oct 04, Had a Magical week with a great group of DISers in Oct 07! Now we are dreaming about the DREAM in '12!

08-24-2008, 09:50 AM	#14
mtmbyck I AM Canadian eh! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,652	Are you up? Are you Up? Canadians are up and ready to hear all of the excitement.

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