Bella’s Very Merry WISH-mas Party ~ 10 Days of Dreams Come True MAW/GKTW Dec 3-10

[StefaniLyn]

Sorry for the lack of updates. It's been a rough week. Calvin is still hanging in there. I can't decide if no news is good news as he remains alive with the assistance of machines or if we should be praying for Calvin to be at peace and go with God now. My mind just won't allow me to pray for it to be over and I don't want AJ's heart to break all over again when it happens.

Bella is having a rough week too. Meals are not going well, glucose levels are all over the place, and we put her on the scale the other day - she's lost 10% of her previous body weight. She didn't have it to lose in the first place. We have appointments coming up in the next couple of weeks. I hate to consider a g-tube again, but she is miserable and her health is deteriorating.

Anyhow, I'm hoping a little walk down Wish Trip memory lane will lift my spirits. I have missed chatting with you all so tomorrow I am going to try and put the finishing touches on Epcot part I inbetween a lunch date with DH and volunteering at school. Have a good night everyone!

 

[yinyanggirls]

Oh Stephanie, I'm so sorry it's been a crummy week. I hope the memories will bring some much needed smiles to your face.

 

[Momofwishkid]

Stephanie, Im so sorry it's been such a tough week and Bella isnt doing well. I hope your upcoming appointments give her some relief and your revisiting your trip will bring you some needed happiness.

 

[pacrosby]

Thinking of you Stephanie . Looking forward to reading your update when you get a chance!



Pamela
Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607
Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

 

[praisehisname]

I hope your lunch date will lift your spirits and give you the boost you need to get through today.

Denise

 

[shannn]

Oh Stefani! I've been behind and just read your update. My heart hurts for you and for that family. I teach 10 year olds and the thought of losing one of these little lives that has just begun to come into its own just breaks my heart.

I love that your girls got to experience and become a part of the Disney magic, especially AJ.

I hope Bella recovers and is able to be more comfortable.

Please know that I'm thinking of you and praying for you.

 

[ladybugmom]

Oh Stephanie--I'm so sorry to hear that you've been having a bad week. I'm praying specifically for Calvin and for Bella!!

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Prayers for you and the girls. Praying that you get some answers for Bella.
Praying for Calvin and his family during this most difficult time.

Praying for peace for AJ. Such a hard age to lose a friend.

 

[All7OfUs]

Oh my heart is just breaking for this family! What an awful and difficult thing to have to go through. We had some friends that lost their 5 year old to degenerative kidney disease (not able to have a transplant), and it was so very, very hard.

I'm really praying for Bella too! I really don't want to see that tube have to go back in!! Poor thing! By the way, did she ever get her hearing aids?? Does she want to model them for us?? How is she coping with that??

 

[StefaniLyn]

I must be completely honest here. I am finding myself seriously lacking inspiration to begin this portion of my trip report. The third day of our trip report begins the official “Lack of Supporting Evidence” part of the trip. This would be the 4 day segment that was almost completely erased in the infamous Flash Drive Fiasco of '09, and not uploaded to Facebook. I have a trifling 21 photos taken with my digital camera from our day at Epcot.

But all is not quite lost! Thanks to the generosity of fellow DISers, there will be well over 21 photos for you to enjoy! DISers kdzbear and Chelley00 have generously shared their own Disney photos from recent trips with me. Thanks ladies!! I will be using some of those to fill in a few gaps. Additionally, knowing DISer Maroo had arranged for Wish Trip families to receive a discounted Photopass CD, we stopped for dozens of Photopass photographers throughout our Disney days and I will include those pictures as well. Alas, as I am trying to move on and not dwell too much on the past, I will do my best to continue to verbalize any details that I cannot illustrate with pictures.

At the suggestion of yet another DISer (aren’t DISers the greatest?), All7ofUs, Day 3’s trip report will begin with a recap of the plans we made for this day. As I review our day, I enjoyed contrasting the plans to what actually occurred, and I hope you will as well. You will see a consistent theme here which reflects the title of this portion of my TR.

Here was our anticipated schedule for day 3
7:30AM - Breakfast at GKTW
8:00AM - GKTW Horseback Riding at Keaton's Korral
9:00AM - Rope Drop at Epcot. Morning at Future World
12:00ish -World Showcase
1:45PM – Lunch at Nine Dragons – WS China
5:00PM – Candlelight Processional Concert – America Gardens Theater
7:00PM – Dinner at GKTW
7:45PM – 8:30PM – Mayor Clayton’s Birthday at GKTW Avenue of Angels
9:30PM – Return to Epcot for Illuminations: Reflections on Earth in WS

Some of our “Do Not Miss” Epcot activities included:

In Future World – Explore Innoventions East and West (specifically the Great Piggy Bank Adventure, Club Cool, and the Plastics Council), Free Disney Visa Character Meet and Greet, Soarin’ the ride, Photopass special Soarin’ picture, Living with the Land, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, Test Track, finding talking water fountains and an upside down waterfall, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, and Journey into the Imagination with Figment.

In World Showcase - Kim Possible Mission, KidCots and Trading Cards, the Hedge Maze in UK, Malestrom, Mexico boatride, O’Canada movie, Rare characters in World Showcase , Mayuki (candy artist in Japan), Christmas in every country and the Chinese acrobats show.

And our most anticipated event for our day at Epcot was the Candlelight Processional starring guest narrator Steven Curtis Chapman!!

So do you think we made it to everything? Did we even make a dent in our ambitious list? I’ll repost this same list at the end and highlight the items that we were able to enjoy.

And now, on with the show!

Despite our attempt at ‘early to bed, early to rise’ we still found it difficult to wake up at 6:30 when the alarm sounded Saturday morning. The snooze button was pressed a couple of times, and we eventually rolled out of bed around 7. We rushed the girls into the shower, dressed them, fed Bella a difficult breakfast, and were ready to head out the door around 8:30. Yep, behind schedule already.

In keeping with the theme for the week, the rain continued although it was at an acceptable light sprinkle level. We called the GKTW front desk to confirm that Keaton’s Koral was still open for horseback riding. Unfortunately, it was not. Despite it being covered, it was closed due to the weather.

We were slightly disappointed, but knew there would be another opportunity to ride on Wednesday morning. We ate a quick breakfast, jumped in the mini-van, and set our GPS to take us to Epcot!

By the time we arrived, parked, and made it to the main gate via the tram, it was nearing 10:00. So much for the rope drop! Seriuosly – will I EVER make it to a single rope drop? The rain continued.

DGMa was considered an “add on” and therefore did not receive tickets from GKTW as the rest of our family did. So while we proceeded through the bag check, DGMa heded over to the ticket window to purchase a 3 day parkhopper that would allow her to join us. Do you know how much a 3 day Park Hopper is these days???? $271!! Sheesh! Bless Disney for their generous contribution to Wish Families.

With a total of 6 tickets now in hand, we proceeded through the turnstiles and into our first Disney park of this vacation – EPCOT!

We took the mandatory (yes, this is a requirement in my family, )family Photopass pictures in front of the Spaceship Earth

and began our touring.

Our first stop was Innoventions West. We entered and to our immediate left saw a Team Possible Mission Recruitment Center! Knowing we definitely wanted to complete a mission today, we approached a friendly CM and inquired. She asked for one of our park tickets and quickly scanned it, punched in some numbers and handed us a receipt that read “11:00 – China.” Oops – my bad, I neglected to tell her BEFORE she put all that information in that we didn’t want to start our mission until 12:30 or 1. “Um, is it possible to start later?” I ask. I then explained that we had ressies in China for 1:45. The CM asked if we would like to do a mission that ended in China. I told her that would be great, so we tried it again – scan card, type in information, print out ticket. Our KP mission would start in Norway at 1:00 and end in China. She assured us that it would take less than 45 minutes and we would have plenty of time to make it to our ADR!

We headed left in a clockwise direction in Innoventions west. The first activity we saw didn’t look very interesting. In fact, I don’t even remember what it was. AJ moved on ahead of the rest of the troop. She rounded the corner and ran back to report she had found the Great Piggy Bank Adventure.

We quickly jumped in line behind one family and waited our turn.

We began by making teams. DH paired up with Kennedy

DGma with Bella,

and AJ and I were a team.

When it was our turn, the kids each began by selecting a goal. Ironically, all three chose a dream bedroom makeover. Little did Bella know, but at that very moment, her own bedroom back in Wisconsin was being transformed into a Princess Castle bedroom!

After choosing our goals, we opened a drawer and discovered a piggy bank. We then took the bank to the second station. Upon putting our piggy bank into the machine, we faced a large screen and, in video game fashion, directed falling coins into savings or spending using a touch screen.

AJ and I saved a lot. With piggy bank in hand, we moved on to station #3 where we had to use a lever to ride on an air current and capture falling coins before an evil wolf and his inflation machine reduced their value.
Seriously folks, I’m not making this up! Bella struggled with this portion. The lever was hard to control.

The 4th station was another video game with a touch screen and this time we had to diversify our money (hide it in different areas of a room) and hopefully avoid the wolf again.

Finally, we took our piggy banks to the last station where we discovered whether or not we had been successful.

Kennedy and AJ both achieved their goals, but Bella fell a little bit short. At the end, AJ was able to input her email address and she was sent a link so she is now able to play the Great Piggy Bank adventure on her computer.

We enjoyed the Great Piggy Bank Adventure and I think the girls gained a little bit of new knowledge too. Bella didn’t quite understand the concept and the lever game was hard for her, but she still had fun. The themeing is adorable, with portraits of pigs everywhere and lots of piggy accessories.

I only wish the kids had been able to either keep or purchase a piggy bank at the end.

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure had taken up quite a bit of our time in Future World. Knowing we had to be in World Showcase by 1:00, I hurried the kids out of Innoventions and towards The Land. Our first stop – SOARIN! Bella proudly presented her Wish Badge/GAC to the first CM she saw and we were quickly directed to the Fast Pass line. Within minutes, we were watching the pre-flight safety spiel and then headed into the theater.

We received royal treatment for Bella’s first ride on Soarin’. In addition to the quick line, we were also given our choice of seats. Front and center, of course!

And as usual, Soarin’ didn’t disappoint. The girls loved it. With front row seats, we felt like we were within inches of the screen. AJ remarked at the orange smell as we soared over the groves. Kennedy pretended to splash her feet in the water as we zoomed down the rapidly rushing river. And Bella, well Bella was just in awe. I enjoyed watching Bella’s expressions more than the ride itself. Soarin’ was, of course, incredible – just like I remembered. Flying over the castle always sends chills down my spine.

As we exited, Kennedy and Bella both pretended they were still Soarin.

They stretched their arms wide and banked left, then right, all the while describing a beautiful scene below. Their Soarin continued as we exited the ride and headed towards Living with the Land.

Bella’s GAC once again sent us through the handicapped accessible line. We waited patiently while several wheelchair bound guests boarded their boats and then hopped aboard. This is always one of my favorite rides in Epcot. Unfortunately, every single one of my photos from LWTL was erased. I even captured a great photo of a hidden Mickey in the shrimp tanks (I think it was shrimp in those long, cylindrical ones tanks) AJ was so excited – it was our first hidden Mickey sighting of this trip!

We were a little disappointed that there were no Mickey pumpkins this time. Is that a seasonal thing? I always think those are the cutest!

After a pleasant boatride, we disembarked and headed back upstairs. I was hoping to pick up a KidCot lanyard, but the station near Garden Grill had no CM. Instead we quickly stopped at the restrooms and then headed out towards The Living Seas!

Act 3: Scene 2: Seeing Seas, Club Ceeeeewwwl and Crash Test Dummies meet Vikings!

 

[Chelley00]

I have pictures of Living with the Land if you want. I don't know that I included them in the batches I sent. Riley loves it and made me ride it, I dunno, 4 or 5 times

 

[yinyanggirls]

Hmmm, I bet you guys made it to half of the list but with some extras that weren't on it....

 

[Momofwishkid]

Great update, I cant wait to do Soarin!! The girls were so cute flying around after the ride.

 

[StefaniLyn]

I have pictures of Living with the Land if you want. I don't know that I included them in the batches I sent. Riley loves it and made me ride it, I dunno, 4 or 5 times

I did get those Shelly! Thank you so much. I actually tried linking them into my TR but they showed up as red X boxes. I will be printing them for my scrapbook though. Thanks!!

Hmmm, I bet you guys made it to half of the list but with some extras that weren't on it....

hmmmm . . . . you don't have a lot of confidence in me do you??? Kidding. I haven't actually tallied it up yet. I will be interested to see what we accomplished too!

Great update, I cant wait to do Soarin!! The girls were so cute flying around after the ride.

Soarin is incredible! you will love it!!!

 

[ladybugmom]

I love your PP pics!!! Sooo cute! The Great Piggy Bank Adventure looks like a lot of fun! And Soarin' is my favorite ride!! I just LOVE it!!

 

[kimmylaj]

i am hoping that you are going to tell me you make it to rope drop on mk day. oh how i love mk rope drop. it makes me cry every time. please tell me you made it. epcot rope drop. not much exciting in my opinion but that may have been because all the cm's were wearing foul weather gear and telling us that the park may get closed mid day due to hurricane warnings. i have to tell you the lack of pictures doesnt bother me , you do such a good job writing and most of your readers are kinda disney obsessed and we have perfect pictures in our heads of pumpkins shaped like mickey although if you want to throw in random pics of those adorable children of yours that would be fine too, cause they are just too cute. you know maybe you could photoshop your kids right in. i did that once with my grandma she had never met one of her great grandkids (lived far away) and i put him on her lap in the picture she loved it and brought it to her senior citizen center and everyone wanted to know when she had traveled to georgia . it was too funny, she thought it was hysterical that none of her friends could figure it out

 

[All7OfUs]

OK, here's the score as I got it:

Rope Drop- NO
Horsie Rides- NO
Piggy Fun- YES
Visa Pix- ??
Soarin'- YES
Dream Farms- YES

I'd say you're doing ok, for having quite an amitious schedule laid out! I think by the time all's said and done, you'll have checked off quite a few! Your GAC is really helping you get some things done. With the late start (probably somewhat due to Bella's difficult breakfast) you really needed it!

You have just the right amount of photos!!! Seriously, I wouldn't need anymore- and if there were, I might be tempted to scroll quickly through them. So really, in a way, the ones are posting will get extra attention. Love the ones of them Soarin' through the halls.

I also have tons of Land pix. PM me your e-mail address if you want some. I even have a HM pumpkin, but that's at home, and you'd have to wait until Sept. for it. I have the tomato vines, alligators, hydroponics, all that jazz.

I love the look back at plans vs. reality! It's working out well.

 

[praisehisname]

We were a little disappointed that there were no Mickey pumpkins this time. Is that a seasonal thing?

I was wondering the same thing. We were in Epcot on 12/11, and we didn't get to see any Mickey pumpkins, either.

 

[maroo]

Awesome update!



That piggy bank game looks fun! Is it just for the kids? I wanna play that!

I can't wait to see what else you guys accomplish!

 

[StefaniLyn]

The whole school was in assembly and the head teacher was talking about a fundraiser for Cancer and he asked everyone to take part - in this he said it was highly unlikely that anyone in the room would know anyone with childhood cancer - My ds stood up in front of the whole school and he is only in the first year and said that his brother has cancer and that he has had for many years !! He then told them all that life changes and money and THINGS dont matter anymore all you want is for everyone to be well !!

Amazing statement from an 11 yr old and just shows that yes they have grown up far too quick but they have a nice rounded view on life x x x

What an incredible story! Sometimes it's difficult to look on the bright side of things when a child has medical challenges but clearly it has taught your son,

I'm really praying for Bella too! I really don't want to see that tube have to go back in!! Poor thing! By the way, did she ever get her hearing aids?? Does she want to model them for us?? How is she coping with that??

Thank you for your prayers. I would hate to see the tube go back in too, but I just can't stand watching her discomfort after each meal - 5 times a day. And clearly her health is being affected as well. The weight loss is very worrysome.

Bella did get her hearing aids in September. They are purple, and she loves the color but doesn't love wearing them. She has grown more tolerant though. One of them is in the hearing aid hospital right now as it stopped working three days ago. Apparently they break often - this is the 2nd time it has had to be sent in. When we get it back, I'll have to try and get her to model them for a photo one of these days!

I love your PP pics!!! Sooo cute! The Great Piggy Bank Adventure looks like a lot of fun! And Soarin' is my favorite ride!! I just LOVE it!!

It was a LOT of fun. The Piggy Bank adventure erased a bit of my guilt over taking them out of school for 7 days!

Soarin is definitely one of my favorites too! I was teary eyed watching the girls pretend to be Soarin after the ride. They were just so joyful and carefree.

i am hoping that you are going to tell me you make it to rope drop on mk day. oh how i love mk rope drop. it makes me cry every time. please tell me you made it. epcot rope drop. not much exciting in my opinion but that may have been because all the cm's were wearing foul weather gear and telling us that the park may get closed mid day due to hurricane warnings. i have to tell you the lack of pictures doesnt bother me , you do such a good job writing and most of your readers are kinda disney obsessed and we have perfect pictures in our heads of pumpkins shaped like mickey although if you want to throw in random pics of those adorable children of yours that would be fine too, cause they are just too cute. you know maybe you could photoshop your kids right in. i did that once with my grandma she had never met one of her great grandkids (lived far away) and i put him on her lap in the picture she loved it and brought it to her senior citizen center and everyone wanted to know when she had traveled to georgia . it was too funny, she thought it was hysterical that none of her friends could figure it out

I can't tell you NOW if we made it to MK rope drop. I'm going to force you to continue reading until we get to day 7! That's my sinister way of retaining my readers!

OMGosh about the hurricane warnings on your Epcot day! Did the park end up closing?

I am so glad to hear the lack of pictures isn't bothering you. Sometimes I tend to go on and on and on in my writing and I even bore myself without a picture or two sometimes! Thank you so much for sticking with me!

I love taking pictures of my girls, especially all together, so you will continue to see a few of those since most were printed before the flash drive fiasco.

That's amazing about grandma and her grandson. Maybe I could photoshop AJ's head onto onto a Mickey Pumpkin head?

OK, here's the score as I got it:

Rope Drop- NO
Horsie Rides- NO
Piggy Fun- YES
Visa Pix- ??
Soarin'- YES
Dream Farms- YES

I'd say you're doing ok, for having quite an amitious schedule laid out! I think by the time all's said and done, you'll have checked off quite a few! Your GAC is really helping you get some things done. With the late start (probably somewhat due to Bella's difficult breakfast) you really needed it!

You have just the right amount of photos!!! Seriously, I wouldn't need anymore- and if there were, I might be tempted to scroll quickly through them. So really, in a way, the ones are posting will get extra attention. Love the ones of them Soarin' through the halls.

I also have tons of Land pix. PM me your e-mail address if you want some. I even have a HM pumpkin, but that's at home, and you'd have to wait until Sept. for it. I have the tomato vines, alligators, hydroponics, all that jazz.

I love the look back at plans vs. reality! It's working out well.

Oh geez - you're keeping score??? No pressure for me, right?

I was confused about the Dream Farms, but now I get it. Nice, perfect description!

The GAC was invaluable and I don't know how we'll ever survive Disney without it again! The late start was due to breakfast and I don't specifically recall the details other than throwing her nightgown into the washer before running out the door because it had food on it. Ugh.

The Soarin in the halls pics melt my heart I actually had a series of 5 or 10, but the two remaining ones were the best. I am happy to hear you are content with the photo amount as well.

I will send you a PM with my email address. Any chance you have a pic of the hidden Mickey in the shrimp tanks? AJ is missing that one. She wanted it for her scrapbook. But even if you don't, a few more of the ride iteself would be great to add to my scrapbook page! Thanks

I was wondering the same thing. We were in Epcot on 12/11, and we didn't get to see any Mickey pumpkins, either.

Right? Where are those Mickey Pumpkins. I think I have seen them on every Disney trip since childhood except this one!

Awesome update!



That piggy bank game looks fun! Is it just for the kids? I wanna play that!

I can't wait to see what else you guys accomplish!

Definitely not just for kids! I think you would enjoy it.

How are you feeling today? I hope you are kicking that pneumonia's butt!