Dan's Trip Reports revisited--Embryo II--Part 2

[Dan Murphy]

I am posting this 'old' trip report for the 3rd time. The previous ones were lost in board updates. Over the months, I have received emails to repost these, as well as I have seen references to them on the Community Board, requests to repost, and some folks don't know what they were. At the time, December, '99 and January, '00, they were somewhat unique. They were enjoyed then, hopefully they will again.

For those of you who have read my “Embryo, Part I" , you seem to have liked it, so I will not change my format.:D For those who have not read it, I am continuing to attempt to present my trip report in a somewhat different than normal fashion, since I think our trip developed somewhat differently than many trips do. In life, there is first an embryo, then fetal development, and then glorious birth of a baby. I am hoping to present my story along those lines, in 3 parts, (actually 4 because the Embryo wound up too big and grew, (appropriate), to 2 parts of its own.:D I have previously posted Embryo Part I. If you would like to visit, or revisit it, please see immediately below.

Click on Writer Mickey to read Dan's Embryo Part I

Today will continue with the Embryo, Part II, (didn’t think there would be a I and a II), how goofy! Actually this first part will sound like it belongs on “Inspiration Board”, but it really is “Trip.”

The Embryonic Stage Part II (didn’t call the other one “Part I” because I only thought there was going to be one Embryonic Stage Report, LOL)



As the kids were growing up, we always said, “We should go to Disney World.” It was always, “not enough time”, or “we don’t have the money to do it “this” year”. Well that changed in 1998/99.


The Crew:

A picture of the "crew" taken on what ultimately was our "Celebration Illuminations 2000 Cruise"



Dan Murphy—me, age 55, Financial Planner
Marie—my dear wife, a few years my younger, full time mom, spouse, and homemaker
Natalie—my dear daughter, turned 19 on our trip, first year college student
Vincent—my dear son, age 22, working towards becoming a firefighter

Our Magic Time:

Sunday, November 28th—Monday, December 6th

Marie continued with her chemo treatments through June. Anybody who has gone through this, or has had a loved one go through this, knows well the trials and tribulations, to use a cliché. It was tough! July brought a respite to the visits to the doctor’s office. Thank goodness!:D In August, 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments commenced.

Sometime in July, (’98, remember), I thought that when Marie finished her treatments, around mid September, it would be great to go sometime later to Disney World to celebrate her anticipated recovery. Well that set out to be my journey. I had purchased Birnbaum’s “Official Guide” when I had stayed at the Swan and read it, cover to cover. I did do some research on the “net”, but had not yet discovered DIS, (my loss). I can’t recall the actual initialization, where I started, but for purposes of this report, I think I stopped at a local travel agency in the nearby mall and picked up a WDW Travel booklet, the one with all the resorts and basic packages. I looked at it and was somewhat shocked at the prices, (mentally saying, “I guess this is why we had never gone before”, LOL). Based on what I could determine, since my DD, Natalie was still a high school senior, Thanksgiving week looked like the logical choice of time period so as to minimally disrupt her school. I also thought that the Polynesian looked very niceJ and had the added benefit of the transportation amenities that would be valuable to Marie in her condition.

After a thorough review of several days and after getting up the nerve, I somewhat hesitantly picked up the phone and called WDW, on the 407 #, (now 800, LOL). I talked to a nice person, (now I know is a CM), at the reservation office, (now I know is the CRO), and went about reserving a room at the Polynesian from the Sunday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This was at the then “standard” rate of $269 per day plus $25 for my DS, Vince, then 21. We were all set.:D As I sit here typing this report, I pulled out my first, of quite a few, yellow confirmation forms, and it is dated “08/08/98”, with a one-night deposit required of $326.34. Several days later, I came to the stark realization that we were going to be at Disney World on Thanksgiving, and I had better make some kind of a reservation somewhere for a turkey dinner or my name will be mud with Marie, LOL. (Come on, give me a break, I’m a guy).:D I called WDW again, (407), and asked, “What do I do about turkey dinner?” Well the CM suggested something in Epcot. I said, “Fine, what?” (I can’t believe I did this). LOL The CM suggested, after consulting her computer, Alfredo’s Italian restaurant in Epcot. I said, “Great” and she gave me a PS, #12563574, and I said, “What’s that?” She explained and I was now ALL set for a week at WDW as first timers during the week of Thanksgiving.:D Right!

But wait, I need to get to WDW, I better get airplane reservations. Yea. Right! I have used the Internet for quite a few years to make airline reservations and feel very comfortable with the task. But I never had tried to book airline tickets on August for Thanksgiving week to and from Orlando. Uh, uh!

As an aside at this point, but quite germane to the story, Marie had NO knowledge of what I was doing. I was going to surprise her when all was set and ready. Right! With that fact, I did have the sense to ask CRO, when I made ressies, if they were cancelable. They were, with 72 hours notice. Good!

After numerous searches on the Internet, using various search sites, I was able to get flights from O’Hare to Orlando on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, but could get none back from Orlando to O’Hare on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.:D What, there must be a lot of people going to be at Disney World that week, or at least coming home from there. LOL I then searched our 2nd airport, Midway, and was able to get a 4 seat round trip with Southwest Airlines through their “Vacation” site. Thank goodness I did it through the “Vacation” site, because I was able to get cancellation trip insurance, (for ANY reason), for an extra $20 per person. Again, with the tenuous nature of the situation, I purchased it and ultimately was glad I did.

Now, I started spending some serious time on the Internet, (like I already wasn’t), to see what there was to do at WDW. I went to numerous sites, (man, there are a lot them, but only 1 DIS), to see what was out there. I had not yet discovered DIS. I purchased the Sehlinger “Unofficial” and Rita Aero “for Adults”. I spent a lot of time doing my research.

Marie at this time was getting her radiation treatments on a daily basis. It was grueling. About the middle of September Marie finished her arduous 6-week radiation course of treatments. She was beat. I mean beat!
She had been a trooper since January. A very brave lady. A fighter in every respect of the word!:D

Finally, one night, Marie asked, “What the heck have you been doing? You are always at that computer and you got all these books and brochures. What’s going on?” The ruse was over. I had to come clean. “Marie, we’re going to Disney World! To celebrate your recovery.”:D “The hell we are”, was the response. “Are you nuts?” I tried to explain it was for her and the kids. She went on to say, “Dan, I am too exhausted to do ANYTHING, much less Disney World. We can’t go--I will not go.” I tried to explain the transportation concept, not ever having really been there, LOL. “You can go back to the room anytime you want.” I tried to say it would not be too taxing. Right! After a brief discussion, it was decided that we were not going to Disney World after all.

Well, as a closing to Embryo Part II, I called the CRO, (still didn’t know it had a name), on October 17, 1998 and, having that hope in my gut, did not cancel my ressie for a refund, but ever hopeful, asked them if they could apply my deposit to the Thanksgiving week one year later in 1999.:D My 2nd “yellow” has the addition of “prefer non-smoking room”; must have gotten bold with requests now that I was getting into the swing of things.:D The CM said, “Sure.” As I am now finishing this post, I am looking at that 2nd yellow confirmation I received from WDW, confirming Thanksgiving week, Sunday to Sunday, 1999, room rate $5 per night higher than 1998.:D We never did go on THIS trip either. Further explanation to follow. I called Southwest Airlines, cancelled our tickets and received a full refund less $80 for the insurance.

Disney World, for the moment, became a distant goal. Marie’s continuing health recovery remained the immediate and consummate goal. Thanksgiving, 1998, came, and we had much to be thankful for and we were. We just thanked God in Mt Prospect, IL rather than Orlando, FL.:D Christmas, 1998, came, and we continued to be thankful. 1999 came and we continued to be thankful.:D

That pretty much takes care of the primal, Embryo Stage, Parts I and II. Sometime in early ’99 I came by DIS; how, I don’t exactly recall, but I am happy, so happy I did.:D That led to the active, exciting fetal development stage and will dutifully be composed and posted in the coming days


See ya’all soon.





Click on Reading Group for Dan's Fetal Development, Part I

[pumba]

[Robin1116]

Okay you are making me nervous... I'm going to have to read some more to see when your family finally got to go...

[Beanie]

Wow...I am teary eyed...I loved reading this story...thanks so much for posting these again...I cannot believe that I didn't get a chance to read the rest of these...looking forward to the next one...thanks Dan!

[antnee]

I wait with excitement for the forthcoming chapters of development

[Patio]

Another great report...can't wait to read the next chapter.

[FairyGodfriend]

Thanks for sharing! I had to chuckle when Marie said "What the heck have you been doing? You are always at that computer..." :D and this was pre-DIS! Another moving trip report, what a difficult time that must have been

[nativetxn]

Thanks for posting these again, Dan. I enjoyed reading them.

Katholyn

[shamrock]

I love this !! I love the style. I love the writing. I love the story. Without knowing any of the 'characters', I love the family! And since I know ahead of time that it has a happy ending, I can love it even more Never was very good with surprise endings, or suspense stories . The hopeful optimism, and boyish plotting of a family surprise has me completely enthralled !

[tiggerjan]

Dan --
I'm enjoying your report, and how exciting that you're from Mt. Prospect -- Me too!! I looked at your pictures and I don't recognize any of you -- I thought M.P. was such a small town!

Glad your story has a happy ending!

Jan

[Minniespal]

Dan ~

Thanx for re-posting.

[tinkspark]

Thank you for reposting this. It is very moving and I can't stop the tears when I read it.