Disclaimer: I know this is called "can it get any worse" but we still had an amazing time, and looking back, it was the crazy, unexpected things that we talk about most. The vacation was still a miracle to us, even if some things happened we wished hadn't
I woke up and just knew it was going to be one of those days. I could feel something off. Mike was already up and making coffee, so I got out of bed and went around waking up kids. When I got to Dakotas room, I knew immediately what was wrong. His room smelled like sick. I went over and touched his head, and he was on fire. He woke up when he felt my hand on his forehead and told me hed been vomiting all night. He was too sick to join us today.
My heart broke. I know this is James wish trip, but it isnt the same when were not all together enjoying it. I was so sad a big part of me just wanted to stay at the village all day, and I think we wouldve had we not found the note slipped under our door. Basically it let us know that the entire village, even the Gingerbread house was still closed due to the illness. Katies Kitchen was open for delivery, and so was pizza. As for breakfast, they came around soon after with pastries, oatmeal, bagels and juice, and a few snacks. Now was the moment of truth. Do I leave Dakota in the villa while we go to the Animal Kingdom and Epcot, and biggest of all, the closing ceremony at MK, something I desperately wanted to do as a family, or make the whole clan stay at GKTW, which would mean staying the villa all day watching TV, since the entire village was closed? Even though I hated to leave him on our last day at WDW, Dakota is 17, and he assured us he wanted us to go. I mean, as far as being sick goes, he was in heaven. He had his own room, with a TV and cable. Reluctantly we headed out for our last day in the Disney parks. This time the leaving had none of the usually jolliness that we had become use to. No big breakfast at the Gingerbread House, no Ice Cream at 9am, followed by our carousel ride. It was all business. We just got in the van and left.
The line getting into AK was the longest line we encountered the whole trip. It took us about 15 minutes to get in the gate. But once we cleared the gate we were in for a surprise! There were several characters and photographers and we began to walk towards them when of the handlers almost ran up to us and with all kinds of pomp and circumstance paraded through to each character. The entire thing took us about 5 minutes, and of course everyone who was waiting in line couldnt figure out why we were so special. Macylea taught us the first day dont make eye contact with the insulted line-waiters. I admit I was excited about the photo ops, but pretty sad that none of them were going to have Dakota in the picture.
My DH reminded me that it was James time, and this was the park James was most excited to go to, especially the Safari, so I pulled myself together and made the best of it. Besides, I was pretty excited about the safari myself!
Once in AK we saw the Tree of Life, and went straight away to Dino Land. We had read about the Dinosaur Ride and couldnt wait to give it a go. Even scaredy- cat Mackenzie rode it, and then went on the other Dino Land rides. We were about to get on the Triceratops Spin when Caelan (second oldest) announces he doesnt want to ride it. That is strange because we ride all the rides, lame or not, as a family. Im wondering if my melancholy at Dakota not being with us is rubbing off on my emotionally tuned in teen-ager. So we decide the little four will ride, Mike will video tape, I will take pictures and Caelan will
.PUKE! (sorry for the graphics) Yup, right there in front of the Triceratops Spin.
Im taking this picture while Caelan is getting sick
of course none of the kids are looking at the camera
There was only one thing to do, take him back to the village.
Here is Caelan, feeling pretty green, and James and Mackenzie, who just hurt her finger.
First though, I made a little stop. I went to the guest service counter at AK and told them that we were a wish family, and this was the last day of our WDW tickets, and how Dakota was back at the villa sick, and now we had another one down, and is there anyway we could just give back our tickets and get a re-do for tomorrow? I figured that by the next day surely the boys would be better, a bug never lasts long in our house, and then we could breeze though AK and the remainder of Epcot, and see the closing ceremony at MK as a family. I figured it was worth a shot at least. We could just go pick up a few games at Wal-Mart, go back to the villa and hang out. The guest service guy took about two minutes and handed us 8 brand new tickets, then told us if we wanted to come back that night with the kids that we not sick our tickets would still work. OMG did we seriously just get a fourth day at WDW!!!!!????? I was so happy I wanted to hug him, and for the first time that day I wasnt gloomy.
The trip is about 30 minutes each way, so we thought we would go back to the villa, eat some lunch, get Caelan settled into bed, and go back to Epcot with the littlest four. We figured by the next day, the teenagers would be better and we could all do the original plan together as a family. Wed already seen a little of Epcot, so we thought we would take the little 4 on the rides Dakota and Caelan wouldnt care about, like Finding Nemo.
After lunch, (thank goodness Katies Kitchen had a wonderful chicken noodle soup and fresh fruit for my sick kiddos) and a quick trip to Wal-Mart for Tylenol and juice for the villa-bound, we headed back to Epcot. We went on Finding Nemo
The little ones in Finding Nemo
James being attacked by a shark
and then we discovered the Character Room, I dont know what its called, but basically there are about 6 characters and you go from one to the other. For some reason, knowing that we were down by two kids was different than knowing one was being excluded. I did still feel a pang of sadness over not having them there, but it felt better knowing they had each other to commiserate with.
I would recommend this to everyone. It is very quick and you get great Photo pass Pictures.
It was getting to be about 6pm by now, and the kids really wanted to go on Test Track. James asked if we could stop for popcorn first, and watch the dancing fountain. He really loved this fountain. It was here the dreaded evil struck again, this time Elijah got sick right in front of the fountain. Im picturing in my head a huge room in some back corridor of WDW filled with surveillance cameras, and a guy going, what the heck lady, dont your kids know how to vomit in trash cans? On a happy note, our DNA is embedded in the cement, from Epcot to Animal Kingdom! Okay, looks like Test Track is now out too, and again we leave for the villa, this time for the night. Before we left Epcot though we gave James a special treat. We told each one of the kids that we would buy them one souvenir with the expenses check money. During our going away dinner James told the wish people that when he first made his wish he either wanted $200 or a trip to Disney World! We laughed and told them we were pretty glad they chose to give us the trip! Well we were still doing pretty darn well on money, so we gave James his $200 to pick out whatever he wanted in the gift store.
He had been eyeing this monorail, he is a HUGE toy train fan, and thats what he got, with some extra accessories. DH and I even bought a souvenir, a Mickey and Minnie throw for our bed.
Just before Elijah went downhill
The three well kids were hoping against hope that the village would be open by the time we got back, especially because it was Candy Land Party night. Their hopes were soon dashed when we reached the gate. Everything was still closed. This time there was a note on the table informing us that for a nice change of pace, all GKTW families we invited for dinner at the Golden Corral down the road. Only 5 of us were well enough to go to dinner, and one of the five doesnt eat food! Golden Corral got off cheap that night. The kids were so disappointed they cried, but the gift fairy had left us a GKTW Candy Land game, and that brightened everyones mood. We played the game for two hours, then crawled into bed. No way were we going to be able to do IOA, AK, Epcot and closing fireworks at MK in one day. And tomorrow really was our last day, at GKTW, and
Disneyland. But as always Id decided we would make it work, somehow.
DAY 6- part 1- are you kidding me?
Our wish org isn't MAW, and they don't have thier own buttons, so the only we had was the GKTW button. Maybe you're on the something?
: And though it's been said..how awesome Dakota was!
They certainly do have the Magic don't they
Disney took care of us pretty good. We loved all the magic of being there. We missed out on a few GKTW days, but will still ha a lovely trip. Anytime we're all together, you know? 
for the extra Disney day!
