Advice I hope I don't need to follow.... picking different dates to go

[J. Galt]

Soooooo..... yesterday, my DD came home from school and one hour later spiked a 102 degree fever.... coughing, runny nose, chills, headache, upset stomach (mercifully no vomiting).... yep.....the dreaded flu. We are supposed to leave in a week. I'm assuming she will be over it, but there are the rest of us to think about. As I'm sitting here toggling between H1N1 symptom sites and checking the cancellation policies on our trip I thought it might be a good idea to come up with a "Plan B".

If we had to reschedule, what would be a good time to go? We really liked going the first week in Nov. last year because the crowds were soooooo low. I don't think we would want to go when it is really crowded. We would go over a weekend, so hopefully would see fireworks, F!, etc.... We couldn't fit it in until after Christmas/New Years. When would you go?

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Soap, soap, soap, and, yes, more soap! Think positive and keep everyone's hands washed. You'll most likely make it through. It is too late to get everyone in your family vaccinated?

 

[J. Galt]

The vaccine is just rolling out here... lots of people lining up for just a few available mists and they are struggling to prioritize. Even if I could get my kids done, there is no way my hubby and I will get one (we aren't on the risk list). My ped has no idea when they are going to get an allotment. The cat is kind of out of the bag already. We are either going to get it, or we aren't ... and this will probably be the week. Not much I can do at this point except pray and lysol. Kids are dropping like flies at DD's school. I'm just thinking I need a backup vaca plan if we have to cancel.

 

[JustAKid]

Purchase surgical masks for the household, quarentine her and push her meals through a doggy door!!!


I'm kidding, of course.

 

[Lights_Out]

Soooooo..... yesterday, my DD came home from school and one hour later spiked a 102 degree fever.... coughing, runny nose, chills, headache, upset stomach (mercifully no vomiting).... yep.....the dreaded flu. We are supposed to leave in a week. I'm assuming she will be over it, but there are the rest of us to think about. As I'm sitting here toggling between H1N1 symptom sites and checking the cancellation policies on our trip I thought it might be a good idea to come up with a "Plan B".

If we had to reschedule, what would be a good time to go? We really liked going the first week in Nov. last year because the crowds were soooooo low. I don't think we would want to go when it is really crowded. We would go over a weekend, so hopefully would see fireworks, F!, etc.... We couldn't fit it in until after Christmas/New Years. When would you go?

Aw I had similar symptoms... coughing, sore throat, runny nose, chills, headache... but I was over it within a week. I'm sure she will too! Clean the house, give her a nice hot bath asap, and eat lots of healthy foods and vitamins!

If she's still sick... why don't you guys just go the second week of November? I'm sure the flu won't last that long... if not, first week of December should be pretty good as well.

Hope everything goes well

 

[J. Galt]

Guys... I appreciate the flu advice and support, I really do. I do think she will be over it before we have to go.... my worry is more that my other kid will get it later this week, or I will get it... or hubby will get it and then we will have to cancel. But... that actually isn't my concern for this post. There isn't much we can do about it right now... if we get it, we get it, if we don't, we don't. However, if we do have to cancel, then I want to reschedule and I need some ideas on a good time to go. We really don't like crowds (which is why we chose early Nov. to begin with). I can't really just go the second week in Nov. or even early Dec. My hubby's job isn't that flexible for travel. We wouldn't be able to reschedule until after the holidays. Any suggestions?

 

[todzwife]

Soap, soap, soap, and, yes, more soap! Think positive and keep everyone's hands washed. You'll most likely make it through. It is too late to get everyone in your family vaccinated?

Don't bother with the vaccine if you've already been exposed. It takes a month to build up the antibodies.

As far as when to go, I've heard the week AFTER thanksgiving is good. Last week of January (don't go MLK weekend) or early early Feb.
We went late Feb and ran into a "winter break" or something because it was crowded!

 

[Lights_Out]

It's usually really slow after New Years.
First week might be a little busy due to some late holiday vacationers... I'd say the second or third week of January to early February would be very slow. Watch out for those 3 days weekends though.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

From what I've been reading, the first week in January is still somewhat crowded, but will then start to settle down by the second week. February and March (except for President's Day week crowds in Feb) are considered low season and not quite as crowded. They will be draining Rivers of America, though, so take that into account if this will impact your enjoyment of DLR. WOC is supposed to be opening in March, so that could impact crowds if it opens on time. Have you read HydroGuy's thread on High Season/Off Season Trade offs: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852. Another one to read would be HydroGuy's "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889.

If it were my trip that I were rescheduling, I would probably plan for the week right after New Year's when I could still catch the last couple of days of Christmas decorations. Just keep in mind that they will be closing IASW and HM to take down the overlays right around January 4th. If not the week after New Year's, I would try to find out when exactly the RoA would be drained and try to go before that happend. It just wouldn't be the same with no water and/or high walls along that section of the park. If I couldn't make it before the draining occurred, I would probably plan to go in May or June so I could try to see the new WoC entertainment at DCA and just plan on there being some extra crowds (but perhaps fewer crowds at DL because of it!).

 

[J. Galt]

That would actually be kind of funny if we went early Feb. My kids don't know we are going (thankfully we held off telling them...now it won't be so hard to reschedule if we have to). My little one keeps telling us that she is going to spend her next birthday at DL (she is 3). Her b-day is Feb 1st... maybe that should be our back up plan! Certainly wouldn't be a "let down".

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I didn't have time to read the entire thread, but did the doctor give her Tamiflu? My two girls got the flu 2 weeks ago, the doctor prescribed ALL of us Tamiflu (called DH and mine a preventative dose). Both my girls were feeling 100% better after 2 days and DH and I never got it.

 

[GrandBob]

WOC is supposed to be opening in March, so that could impact crowds if it opens on time.

The current target date for WOC is April 24.

My sympathies to the OP. Hope your family is OK. I agree with the others -- Jan & Feb should be good if you avoid the 1st week of Jan and President's weekend. Feb. 1 sounds like a wonderful plan for your daughter.

-Bob

 

[todzwife]

That would actually be kind of funny if we went early Feb. My kids don't know we are going (thankfully we held off telling them...now it won't be so hard to reschedule if we have to). My little one keeps telling us that she is going to spend her next birthday at DL (she is 3). Her b-day is Feb 1st... maybe that should be our back up plan! Certainly wouldn't be a "let down".

I think that would be an excellent plan B!

 

[HappieMommie]

We're arriving Jan 6! We've never been, but from what I've read, it sounds like a decent time to go. Although its Disney - always Magical!

Feel better soon. We just had this - I got it first on Thanksgiving Monday (15th, I think) and I am still dealing with chest pain and residual sinus issues. My kids got it then, too, but not as severe. Then dh got it, and he is still also dealing with headaches and chest pains. Worst flu ever, but there's light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck!

 

[Ariel224]

J. Galt....not much to add, just want to offer my support. You're right, with a small child in the house, there isn't much you can do except sit back and wait....the little ones just have a hard time grasping the spreading germs concept. If I recall correctly, you were planning to be at HOJO the same time as our family.

We are actually in a similar situation. Two of my kids and I had the flu earlier this week, the youngest DD has it now, and we are waiting to see what will become of DH. I have pretty much kicked him out of the house this weekend to minimize any further exposure for him. Hopefully all will be well for both of our families and we will run into each other in a week.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

The current target date for WOC is April 24. -Bob

Oops. Thanks for catching my error on the opening of WOC.

J. Galt, how's your little one feeling? Keep us updated.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Good luck with the sickness and hope everyone else stays WELL!!

We will be in DLR next week - Nov. 1-7 and staying at HoJo.

For other times to go - we have been the first week of Dec. and I found it to be crowded and a little frustrating. We were there for Candlelight Proc. and CM parties and DL closed early on that Mon. and Tues. and Main Street was very crowded on the Sat. and Sun. before. I don't know if later that week would have been better or not. The nice thing about later Nov. and Dec. are Christmas decorations.

We have also been in March - the very first week and it was pretty good. It got more crowded the closer to the weekend we got. Thurs. was more crowded than Wed., etc. and forget about Fri. late afternoon and night.

We went the few days after Memorial Day this year and it was crowded, too. We've been in Sept. before - right after Labor Day and it was Fab! but we chose not to go again this year at that time because of all the HM Anniversary and D23 and stuff.

And don't get me started on Oct. Tooooo many schools in AZ and UT have fall break and then with all the cute Halloweentime stuff - OY!!!

So, we chose the first week of Nov. - hoping we would have lower crowds and making our stay longer. If I had to reschedule we would probably choose Feb. since HM and IASW would be open again and we like those rides. But, watch out for Pres. Day the weekend before can be REALLY crowded.

Hope everyone is feeling better soon and you don't have to make a Plan B!!

 

[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

If we had to reschedule, what would be a good time to go? We really liked going the first week in Nov. last year because the crowds were soooooo low. I don't think we would want to go when it is really crowded. We would go over a weekend, so hopefully would see fireworks, F!, etc.... We couldn't fit it in until after Christmas/New Years. When would you go?

we have gone the week following Thanksgiving and it was great! Do check the dates of the candlelight processional though because that could get very busy! of course the weekend is very busy but if you are there during the week you get to ride whatever you want and then on the weekend you will be able to stake out a good spot for fireworks and relax.

Good luck, hope everything is good for your family!

 

[J. Galt]

OMGosh! I woke up this morning and all these supportive messages from the DIS. You guys rock!

ROUGH night last night. My DD was prone to croup as a youngster.... hasn't had it in a while, but it kicked in last night. We almost headed over to the e.r. Normally, I can handle croup, but this flu has me freaked out. The on- call pediatrician talked us off the ledge last night and we tried an expectorant (sp? sorry... up all night). That has worked well and she is MUCH more comfortable now. We are monitoring this morning to see if we should bring her in. I have two DD's and this is the one I was most worried about getting this thing I just wasn't sure how her body was going to handle this.

Kayla's Mom --- nice that you guys got Tamiflu. None given over here... we were told that the recommendation was not to give to kids over 2 who are otherwise healthy. My girlfriend's DD has the flu and they were all given Tamiflu, but she is pregnant, so there was a risk factor in the family. I wish we would have gotten it... would have put my mind more at ease. My reg. ped. hasn't been in this weekend, so I might try calling her M to see if I could get a "preventative" spray for my other DD. She's pretty reasonable and she knows we have this trip coming up.

Long story short... DD is in much better spirits today... but still has fever (lower, though) and now she needs to cough all this junk out. No symptoms in other DD, and DH and I are too tired to figure out if we are sick or not.

I'm trying to engage the DH in a discussion about "Plan B", but he is still hopeful we are going. I think we could swing time in late Jan/early Feb, but we are just going to wait it out a bit. Checked all out cancellation policies (soooooo glad I actually bought trip insurance this time) and we wouldn't be out much, so that helps.

Thanks again you guys!