*7/15 A Trip Report* The Year of a Thousand Trips! ~ PTR

[kent285]

Oh Shannon...I am so sorry. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.

 

[manntra]

Shannon- so very sorry about your Mom

Tracy

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hi Shannon, I know this has been so hard on you. We are all so sorry about your mom and will be here ready to listen, so when you are ready...

 

[shannn]

Thank you all so much for your sweet thoughts. When I'm not feeling empty, I'm trying to remember to appreciate everything. My father died at 52 of a massive coronary and my mom died at 63 of cancer. They may not have had many days but they absolutely packed a lot of life into those days. Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer 7 & 1/2 years ago. In that time she moved to Tennessee, helped create a home for all of us, went to the beach many many times, took her grandchildren to preschool/gymnastics/soccer/kindergarten, went to WDW twice, and absolutely showed her love to us every minute. I owe it to them to fill My life with just as much. Being with my family and showing love are THE most important things in the world, and I truly believe that spending money on experiences trumps anything else we can spend it on. (Did I tell you that I used my inheritance money from my grandmother on DVC & putting in a pool? Construction starts in November!)

~~~~

So onwards to my October trip I'm trying to move! (what a convoluted sentence). I think I left off on our last full day Saturday, October 16. We're going to start the day at the MK with an 11:00 lunch at the Plaza. We may hop over to AK at some point depending on what we feel like doing. We may even skip the MK if we feel like we've done it all after mnsshp. No matter where we start the day, we're ending it at Boma! I'm so excited to try Boma and to see AKL. I can't wait to visit that majestic lobby I've seen in so many pictures.

We may go somewhere after dinner (MK closes at 11 or Jellyrolls or maybe a late night swim?) or maybe go to bed early so we can hit just one more park in the morning before we get on the road...... I love that we have the freedom not to have to decide!

 

[charming23]

Shannon I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I have been reading all of your trip reports and she seemed like such a kind woman. I think your Disney trip next month will do you a world of good as it did for me after my father passed. Again I am so sorry.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I've been reading your PTR for the last two days.

I'm so very sorry about your Mom.

I know how hard recovering from surgery is, I've had two surgeries in a years time, recovery is no fun at all. But it will be worth it in the end!!

 

[manntra]

I knew about DVC woohoo but not about the pool

You will just love Boma....walking into the lobby just does it for me. Love the smell and everything about it.

Don't you fret about turning 40...I made it through just fine a few weeks ago It was a breeze

Tracy

 

[TarzansKat]

I'm here, and read your most recent post about your family.

I know the pain is so fresh, but what a blessing that you were able to get some time with her and to make those wonderful memories.

It took me (and is still taking me) a long time to get to the point where I am thinking of the happy memories instead of the sadness of the final days, but I am on the road, as I'm sure you are, too.

I'm happy to be here for you at any time, and I'm going to go back and officially read the pre trip report now.

 

[jenjolt]

Oh Shannon, I followed over from your post on TK's PTR, and I'm so sorry about the loss of your mother! I will say a prayer for you and your family during this time as your grieve and heal!!!

I'm going to go back and get all caught up with your PTR now! I'm excited to read your details!

 

[shannn]

Shann, I'm so very sorry for your and your family's loss. I hope memories of good times with your mom are a comfort to you now.

Oh Shannon...I am so sorry. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.

Shannon- so very sorry about your Mom
Tracy

Hi Shannon, I know this has been so hard on you. We are all so sorry about your mom and will be here ready to listen, so when you are ready...

Shannon............My condolences on the lost of your mother. May she rest in peace and may God bless you and your family.

Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope that your memories will help you through this difficult time and you may find peace.

Thank you all for these kind words. I am still having a difficult time, but I continue to push through. Being in my house is very hard right now because it's so empty. The most difficult thing is that the very places that have always been my safe havens are the most painful places to be.

 

[shannn]

Shannon I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I have been reading all of your trip reports and she seemed like such a kind woman. I think your Disney trip next month will do you a world of good as it did for me after my father passed. Again I am so sorry.

Thank you. I'm really hanging on to my October trip as a bright spot in the future!

I've been reading your PTR for the last two days.

I'm so very sorry about your Mom.

I know how hard recovering from surgery is, I've had two surgeries in a years time, recovery is no fun at all. But it will be worth it in the end!!

Thank you Leslie! The surgery recovery has been difficult and I still have eating issues that frustrate me. BUT I've lost 56 pounds in 14 weeks and you definitely can't beat that. I wore a D23 tshirt yesterday that I bought last year thinking that I'd fit into it eventually.

 

[shannn]

I'm here, and read your most recent post about your family.

I know the pain is so fresh, but what a blessing that you were able to get some time with her and to make those wonderful memories.

It took me (and is still taking me) a long time to get to the point where I am thinking of the happy memories instead of the sadness of the final days, but I am on the road, as I'm sure you are, too.

I'm happy to be here for you at any time, and I'm going to go back and officially read the pre trip report now.

Thank you Kat. I continue to work on focusing on the happy and knowing how much my mom loved us. She gave up everything for us and she wouldn't want us to give up on our lives to be sad. That would horrify her. So I have to push on for her sake!

 

[Native NYer]

Welcome back!
I am so sorry about your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
Now, I need to go back and catch up on the trip stuff.

 

[shannn]

If you're tired of the mom stuff, please feel free to skip down to the trip update.

Susan Hutton Amick
1947-2010
Grammie, Morgan, & Lily
October 2009 Epcot

Someone on TK's thread commented that you can't really ever prepare for losing a parent. I think that's true. Even though my mom had cancer for 7 years and we knew it would eventually kill her, you're never ready to let go. But I owe it to her to keep life going for my kids who were truly the loves of the second part of her life and the reason she fought so long. So onwards and upwards with Disney news.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are staying at our new home resort, the Boardwalk villas, in October. Our reservations for March were also at BWV. Thursday I got a letter from Disney that the slide at the pool was going to be closed in March. Usually that wouldn't be a big deal but we've really been talking about wanting to schedule in more down time and pool time was part of that. So we spent last night talking about switching resorts. We've cut out SSR & OKW & AKL because of location since it's a family trip. We really want to be close to the parks. BC is full during our week for 2 bedrooms(according to the boards). So that leaves VWL & BLT. I'm going to call tomorrow but we spent the evening reading about the two and I think we're going to end up going with BLT if there's availability. We loved being on the monorail last year and the slide & pool looks awesome. Does anyone have any opinions? Ever stayed in a 2br at BLT? I'm excited about the possibility.

 

[jenjolt]

Loved the picture of your mom with her grandkids!! So awesome they will have those special memories to hold on too!!!!

Hmmmm....BLT...I would LOVE to stay there someday!! I have not personally stayed there but all the reports from people who have is that it is AMAZING!!!

 

[shannn]

Oh Shannon, I followed over from your post on TK's PTR, and I'm so sorry about the loss of your mother! I will say a prayer for you and your family during this time as your grieve and heal!!!

I'm going to go back and get all caught up with your PTR now! I'm excited to read your details!

Loved the picture of your mom with her grandkids!! So awesome they will have those special memories to hold on too!!!!

Hmmmm....BLT...I would LOVE to stay there someday!! I have not personally stayed there but all the reports from people who have is that it is AMAZING!!!

Oh my gosh, Jen!! I quoted you and then didn't reply. So sorry.... I think you for your words. Everyone's words and prayers mean so very much at this time!! I'm super excited about my October trip. Sam and I really need a get away and his mom is incredibly amazing to take over the parenting duties and give it to us.

I'm kind of getting excited about the possibility of BLT. The theming of the Contemporary/BLT has never really done it for me. It seems kind of boring. But the location is freakin' awesome and the pool complex and the amenities look incredible. And the view, if we can get one, is as close to my beloved Poly as I can get. There's absolutely nothing like looking out the window at the castle!!! (I'm crossing my fingers that eventually there will be a DVC at the Poly. If BLT sells well, it and the GF are the only Deluxes left without villas. A DVC longhouse would be the BEST!!!)

 

[TarzansKat]

I love the picture of your mom! Note to self, must try on Goofy hat next time in Disney World. She looks like she's having a wonderful time with your children.

I'm in love with the Wilderness Lodge, as you know, but I really love the look of BLT. And being on the monorail is such a huge plus!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Shannon, have you called DVC?
If not call them. I suggest going on a wait list for Beach Club. This far out I think you will have good results.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

One more thing...

The picture of your mom with Lily and Morgan.
Simply wonderful
I hope you have that in a special spot in your home.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hey Shann- we stayed in a studio at BLT in Dec. The pool is really nice! There's the zero depth, a small slide (for my kids!) and a bigger slide. It was really not busy when we went (it was 80 degrees, but December!) and the laundry room we used was very close to the pool.
We liked being on the monorail and walking back and forth to MK. Can't beat that! It was an easy walk to the contemporary shops and food too.
We had a lake view, but were on the side so if we turned our head to the left we could see MK.
I think you'd like it there!
There's pictures on my Dec TR, just not of a 2BR.