Bunnies and mooses and groupies, Oh my!!! The Wilderness Lodge groupies thread. 4.0

[horselover]

Long story short - wife had an allergic reaction to something, trouble breathing, ambulance, trip to Celebration ER, pharmacy for drugs and we never made the dinner or a trip to the lodge. She is feeling better and looking forward to our next trip in April. As nice as the Celebration ER was we are hoping not to visit again.

Our friends were able to make it to the lodge and fell in love with the place. They are considering selling their off site timeshare to buy at VWL.

The good news is my daughter reminded me while I was driving her to school through the snow filled streets this morning, it is only 37 days till we leave for our next trip

Wow that certainly was an eventful trip, but not in a good way. So glad to hear your DW is feeling better.

Nice to hear your friends have become VWL converts! And your DD is right - 37 days is not very long to wait!

I almost put myself over at the ER last week too, Found out I'm extremely allergic to the Zebra Domes, or rather, the liquor there-in. Idiot that I am, even though the roof of my mouth was blistering after eating one and my asthma suddenly kicked in, I had to talk out loud to myself to keep myself from eating another (ok, I'm a chocoholic hehe) The kids thought I was going nuts, but if I didn't I would have been making friends with the ER staff. (btw - the next day DS had another one and I tried to sneak a minuscule piece of chocolate off the plate - bad idea)

You are a glutton for punishment Twinklebug! What is the liquor in those Zebra Domes? I've never been able to figure it out. I must admit I do love them. I think you either love them or hate them. For those that don't like them that's ok it just leaves more for me! I'll be having one (or 3 or 4!) in 17 days!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I almost put myself over at the ER last week too, Found out I'm extremely allergic to the Zebra Domes, or rather, the liquor there-in. Idiot that I am, even though the roof of my mouth was blistering after eating one and my asthma suddenly kicked in, I had to talk out loud to myself to keep myself from eating another (ok, I'm a chocoholic hehe) The kids thought I was going nuts, but if I didn't I would have been making friends with the ER staff. (btw - the next day DS had another one and I tried to sneak a minuscule piece of chocolate off the plate - bad idea)

Oh wow ! Glad you figured out what it was before things got worse ! Happy to hear you're ok twinklebug......NOW.....back away from the zebra domes........


Maria

 

[twinklebug]

You are a glutton for punishment Twinklebug! What is the liquor in those Zebra Domes? I've never been able to figure it out. I must admit I do love them. I think you either love them or hate them. For those that don't like them that's ok it just leaves more for me! I'll be having one (or 3 or 4!) in 17 days!!!

Glutton for punishment - hehe - My mom has told me the same thing since I can recall. I can't figure out what it means.
The liquor is called Amarula. It sounds so much like Amaretto I know I'll get the two confused.

Zebra Domes are wonderful. I found some "make your own zebra domes" recipies on the web that use Kahula liquor instead - If I were handy in the kitchen I might try making my own. But being that the only decent things I can make are of the frozen variety, I'm not

Oh wow ! Glad you figured out what it was before things got worse ! Happy to hear you're ok twinklebug......NOW.....back away from the zebra domes........

Thanks Maria. Backing off ... for now (I know I'll have to try them again next time - allergies change)

 

[stopher1]

DisneyNutzy, that's a scare and a half right there. So glad she came out of it fine. There's always another day at Disney, but you only have one life to do it with. Give her a hug for us.

I almost put myself over at the ER last week too, Found out I'm extremely allergic to the Zebra Domes, or rather, the liquor there-in. Idiot that I am, even though the roof of my mouth was blistering after eating one and my asthma suddenly kicked in, I had to talk out loud to myself to keep myself from eating another (ok, I'm a chocoholic hehe) The kids thought I was going nuts, but if I didn't I would have been making friends with the ER staff. (btw - the next day DS had another one and I tried to sneak a minuscule piece of chocolate off the plate - bad idea)

Cold visit last week. I have to say that Kidani was every bit as warm and welcoming as VWL after a chilling night out... it's inched even closer to VWL in my heart, but never fear, I doubt it will ever be equal. Really looking forward to some summer nights down there now.

Sorry about that twinklebug - but MMMMMMMMMMMMMM - we love Zebra Domes. Handy to know what's in them too... not that I know the difference, but in case we ever wanted to try and make them ourselves. They are good!

 

[Inkmahm]

I'll go ahead and chime in that my daughter once fainted and struck her head on a large rock. Disney CM's were right on top of it, and because it was a head injury they quickly called the EMT's who drove right up to the quiet pool at BWV with their vehicle and whisked her to the ER. Same story regarding them taking care of that transportation expense as well as my return cab to come back and get my car. We wrote a few letters on that one praising the various CM's who came to our assistance.

I wish I had a positive story to add, but maybe things have improved a lot since 2001. That was the year my mom fell in the handicap parking lot at MGM after we saw Fantasmic and we were leaving the park with everyone else. She tripped over one of those cement barriers at the front of the parking spot in the parking spot next to our car. There was no car there and the barrier lined up perfectly with the back door of my car.

The EMTs came and looked at mom's sore shoulder, asking her if she was alright. She said no. The EMTS thought she was fine and left.

My mom has had many surgeries in her life and has a pretty high pain tolerance. When the EMTS left and I asked her if she really was alright, she said no, it really really hurt. We drove her to Celebration emergency room, which as really hopping that night. As soon as she walked in the person at the desk got someone who looked at my mom and said she had a dislocated shoulder.

Mom sat there for hours, in pain, waiting for a doctor to come look at her shoulder. I sat in the waiting room with my 4 year old niece until about 2 am and then finally went back to the WL to sleep. We went back the next morning to pick up my dad. Mom had to go into surgery later that day to have her shoulder put back into place.

We lost the last day of our vacation. Disney sent me a balllon and a chocolate Mickey mouse sucker since it was my birthday, but that was it. I'd called to let them know we might not be able to leave the next morning depending on mom's release from the hospital.

When we got home, we contacted Disney about paying the medical bills for my mom. We believed the parking lot for the handicap section was not safe the way it was set up and that more people would be hurt. Eventually, Disney did pay the medical bills and also a couple thousand $ extra to reimburse part of the cost of the room we had at the WL. It was NOT easy to get Disney to cooperate.

I was not at all impressed with the EMTs and the ER at the Celebration hosptial just seemed overwhelmed the night we ere there. Mom suffered greatly.

 

[Inkmahm]

The liquor is called Amarula. It sounds so much like Amaretto I know I'll get the two confused.

I learned to love Amarula when we stayed concierge level at AKV. It was one of the bottles available each evening. I loved it so much we tracked it down back at home so I have a bottle of it here. I"m not a big drinker at all and this is one of the few alcohol drinks that I drink. Haven't had any since before Christmas, now that I think about it...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

... Long story short - wife had an allergic reaction to something, trouble breathing, ambulance, trip to Celebration ER, pharmacy for drugs and we never made the dinner or a trip to the lodge. She is feeling better and looking forward to our next trip in April. As nice as the Celebration ER was we are hoping not to visit again.

...

So glad to hear that your wife is ok DisneyNutzy! That must have been quite a scare!!

...
I almost put myself over at the ER last week too, Found out I'm extremely allergic to the Zebra Domes, or rather, the liquor there-in. Idiot that I am, even though the roof of my mouth was blistering after eating one and my asthma suddenly kicked in, I had to talk out loud to myself to keep myself from eating another (ok, I'm a chocoholic hehe) The kids thought I was going nuts, but if I didn't I would have been making friends with the ER staff. (btw - the next day DS had another one and I tried to sneak a minuscule piece of chocolate off the plate - bad idea)

Oh no twinklebug - not the Zebra Domes! Glad your ok too and avoided the ER trip.

...
The EMTs came and looked at mom's sore shoulder, asking her if she was alright. She said no. The EMTS thought she was fine and left.

...

This is just terrible Inkmahm. I would have been furious over the EMT's responding that way when their patient had said she wasn't ok. And to not recognize a dislocated shoulder?! That's would seem to be almost as bad. I just can't understand the leaving when things were not ok.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Hey DiznyDi! This trip will be a different kind of trip for us. We are bringing my parents (who don't share my disney passion), our teenagers, and possibly 1 adult child and maybe his girlfriend. I am not sure what my availability will be. I really hope this was a good idea to have us all in the treehouse together for 5 nights! . . . . . . . . . .

Whoa . . . . everybody needs to take their parents to The World . . once.

Our experience with my parents started out getting Dad out of the Crew line at Security in the Airport; continued through describing each morning how to use the gate turnstile / finger thingy; explaining why we should go inside since we haven't seen one attraction all day (no time don't you know); reminding them AGAIN which room we are in (hint - separate rooms!) and calming them down that indeed the ME will not leave 2 hrs early.

Don't get DiznyDi started . . . . .

 

[Granny]

Whoa . . . . everybody needs to take their parents to The World . . once.

Our experience with my parents started out getting Dad out of the Crew line at Security in the Airport; continued through describing each morning how to use the gate turnstile / finger thingy; explaining why we should go inside since we haven't seen one attraction all day (no time don't you know); reminding them AGAIN which room we are in (hint - separate rooms!) and calming them down that indeed the ME will not leave 2 hrs early.

Don't get DiznyDi started . . . . .

I'm sure that there were some pretty good parts of that trip as well. At least I hope so!

I would have loved to have had the chance to take my parents to DW at least once. Both had passed several years before we made our first trip to WDW.

And while I think I have the finger thingy and other WDW nuances down pat, I'm sure my daughters feel that I'm quite challenged in many other areas! My only goal is to avoid the "grumpy old man" syndrome. After all, I'm only in my 50's and life is such as blessing!!

 

[Inkmahm]

This is just terrible Inkmahm. I would have been furious over the EMT's responding that way when their patient had said she wasn't ok. And to not recognize a dislocated shoulder?! That's would seem to be almost as bad. I just can't understand the leaving when things were not ok.

I wasn't very happy with them, no. When mom was crying in pain, I knew I had to get her to the hospital. She said that shoulder hurt more than birthing any of her three kids and my brother was born butt first!

It turned out okay in the end with Disney paying for it but they still didn't acknowlege the parking lot was dangerous the way it was set up. I can't imagine that my mom was the only one to fall.

 

[Dizny Dad]

I'm sure that there were some pretty good parts of that trip as well. At least I hope so! . . . . . . . . . .

ABSOLUTELY there are good parts to the trip. I, too, wanted more than anything to take my parents to the one place DW and I found to be exciting and worthwhile. I am glad I did, and the memories are good to have.

The trip was to include my parents, my brother & wife, DD, neice & Husband, & wonderful MIL. The trip was planned 1 year in advance. DW said she could hear the whisle in the distance. I prayed that M & D would make it without some type of medical thing happening in there lives (both in their 80's). The trip was planned such that no one would feel the need to be responsible 100% of the time for M&D. Each couple could expect a little free time for themselves.

DW & I used all of our point available to make it happen. the following things occurred:

- Brother forgot his, wife's, and M&Ds park tickets at home, so initially he decided that none of them would go into the parks, they would all just hang around the pool every day.
- We managed to get duplicates issued for M&D, but Brother & his wife, along with niece & husband (and new baby) stayed at the pool each day.
- DW & I took M&D each and every day everywhere. For some reason, there was never enough time to see anything, or go into anything. We had to get back to the resort (somebody may have moved it).
- All restaurants were lousy; just ask M&D, Brother, SIL, N&H. Of course, all restaurants inside the parks were off limits for the daily family gatherings, as some just didn't need tickets when visiting The World (back to the pool).
- The end results were summed up by brother's wife: "we could have stayed home and had as much fun at a lot less cost for all we did at Disney".

REALLY, I have good memories and glad I had my M&D in The World with me. I love them so and appreciate all they have done and continue to do for me.

But DW reminded me again of why vacationing with my side of the family has always been a train wreck.

 

[stopher1]

But DW reminded me again of why vacationing with my side of the family has always been a train wreck.

Oh DiznyDad - all I can say is bless your heart. Even though you can't see it I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. Not at your predicament/experience, but the fact that your story is so sad and funny at the same time...AND SO VERY MUCH LIKE going ANYWHERE with my DW's family. And what your SIL said... oh my, I've heard that many times from both my SIL & my FIL... very not attempted WDW with them, and we're both very apprehensive to do so, depsite their repeated hints/requests to do so.

Those are the kind of stories/experiences for me that always end in a deep, heavy sigh.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

- The end results were summed up by brother's wife: "we could have stayed home and had as much fun at a lot less cost for all we did at Disney".

Too funny! After taking my Dsis and BIL I said "I could have sent them to the Holiday Inn down the road and they could have done that!" Sleeping 'til the afternoon, getting out for dinner and some shopping. Their kids are all grown but my nephew was along. He was the one that suffered most from that trip as he kept trying to get them out! DH, myself and Mom gave up on that a few years ago.

Still - I'll invite them again b/c we don't see them much and we did get to see them for a few hours when I managed to get them going to see the Space shuttle launch and also barely got them over for the safari at AKL. Whether they'll accept though I don't know. And if they don't - that's ok too. This just reminded me - DSis still owes me for the safari. Time for a call!

The most ironic was the complaints. About Coffee (um - didn't I tell you to bring your own?), about tickets (um - didn't I send the link for undercover tourist several weeks ahead of time - and then you ordered them the night before - for pick up - at the studios. Oh - Universal? Isn't that the same as Hollywood Studios?) Gotta love the family. Otherwise you'd strangle them!

 

[Muushka]

I have no family horror stories...well, maybe one. I invited my sister and she needed a wheel chair and invited her friend to join us, who also needed a wheelchair. Other than that...no complaints!

Now, back to the food discussions. A while back someone tried the grand marnier liquor slushie of sorts. I would love to know how to make that. We bought some on our last cruise and have yet to find something tasty to do with it. Anybody?

Never mind! I got un-lazy and looked it up

Grand Marnier Orange Slush
Drink Kiosk by France, Epcot

3 cups Grand Marnier
1 cup *Orange Fruit Smoothie from Florida Natural Flavours in Casselberry, FLA
Ice if making in a blender

Same instructions as for the Lemon Slush.
*If substituting the Orange Fruit Smoothie try for something with an orange dreamsicle taste.

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

I opened a can of worms of horror stories!

I think we will be glad we bring them. I am thankful they are healthy enough to travel and pray that continues. We will enjoy the resort and a slower pace. We have taken so many WDW trips starting when my twins were 5 that they don't care if they do everything each trip. When we still homeschooled, we went at least twice a year. They will turn 15 next month, so they are old enough to understand we will make the May trip about their grandparents. And the boys spend several hours a week with them, so they know what to expect.

 

[twinklebug]

Mmmmm... nevermind the zebra domes you teasers...

I'm all there with you on the Grand Marnier Orange Slushies Muushka, although admittedly I've never had one of these either... I'd better not be allergic to them too!

Well, bad news from the home front - I was RIF'd today. The company (I can say it now: HP) announced it's earnings for the 1st quarter yesterday and they were less than stellar. Their response? Cut good hardworking people to make the profits look better and so when they sell our division (ExcellerateHRO) they can get more money. I'm not angry - nor depressed, I've been through this before and it's just another wave to ride. I do feel awful for the good folk left behind who are already overwhelmed with work as now my projects will be tossed at them & they're pretty intense. My new full time job: to find a full time job. I refuse to sit idle and let myself go into a funk... but can't say the Disboards won't be a distraction

My summer trip in 5 months with the kids is still on for now... I'll reassess the trip weekly. I pray to have a new job soon. Anyone looking for a programmer in MA?

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Mmmmm... nevermind the zebra domes you teasers...

I'm all there with you on the Grand Marnier Orange Slushies Muushka, although admittedly I've never had one of these either... I'd better not be allergic to them too!

Well, bad news from the home front - I was RIF'd today. The company (I can say it now: HP) announced it's earnings for the 1st quarter yesterday and they were less than stellar. Their response? Cut good hardworking people to make the profits look better and so when they sell our division (ExcellerateHRO) they can get more money. I'm not angry - nor depressed, I've been through this before and it's just another wave to ride. I do feel awful for the good folk left behind who are already overwhelmed with work as now my projects will be tossed at them & they're pretty intense. My new full time job: to find a full time job. I refuse to sit idle and let myself go into a funk... but can't say the Disboards won't be a distraction

My summer trip in 5 months with the kids is still on for now... I'll reassess the trip weekly. I pray to have a new job soon. Anyone looking for a programmer in MA?

Sorry to hear about the job loss.

Prayers and pixie dust for you to find something soon that works well for you and that you can keep the summer trip!

 

[horselover]

Not a big fan of traveling with family. A trip with DH's family I shudder at the thought! I/we won't even go out to dinner with them anymore. We're told what we can & can't order & that we must "share" meals. Never & I mean never order an alcoholic beverage! It's like Mt. Saint Helen's all over again.

Our 1st trip with the kids to WDW was with my entire family. It did not go well. The repercussions of that trip are still being felt & that was in 2002. I would love to be able to travel & include my family on trips, but it's just not going to happen.

Now, back to the food discussions. A while back someone tried the grand marnier liquor slushie of sorts. I would love to know how to make that. We bought some on our last cruise and have yet to find something tasty to do with it. Anybody?

Never mind! I got un-lazy and looked it up

Grand Marnier Orange Slush
Drink Kiosk by France, Epcot

3 cups Grand Marnier
1 cup *Orange Fruit Smoothie from Florida Natural Flavours in Casselberry, FLA
Ice if making in a blender

Same instructions as for the Lemon Slush.
*If substituting the Orange Fruit Smoothie try for something with an orange dreamsicle taste.

Ooooo I think that might have been me. Grand Marnier Slush - Yum!! I will also be having one of those in about 17 more days!!!

Well, bad news from the home front - I was RIF'd today. The company (I can say it now: HP) announced it's earnings for the 1st quarter yesterday and they were less than stellar. Their response? Cut good hardworking people to make the profits look better and so when they sell our division (ExcellerateHRO) they can get more money. I'm not angry - nor depressed, I've been through this before and it's just another wave to ride. I do feel awful for the good folk left behind who are already overwhelmed with work as now my projects will be tossed at them & they're pretty intense. My new full time job: to find a full time job. I refuse to sit idle and let myself go into a funk... but can't say the Disboards won't be a distraction

My summer trip in 5 months with the kids is still on for now... I'll reassess the trip weekly. I pray to have a new job soon. Anyone looking for a programmer in MA?

Welcome to the unemployed in MA club! Not a club you wanted to join I'm sure. I'm so sorry to hear your news, but you have a great attitude about it. DH has said over & over that looking for a job is a full time job. Sending lots of good wishes & pixie dust your way for a new position soon & for your trip to still be on.

 

[Muushka]

I am sorry twinklebug. I hope your situation is short lived.

 

[stopher1]

Sorry to hear that twinklebug. It's been a while for me, but I've been there too. Same kind of situation you mentioned too. I'm actually getting a bit stressed about tomorrow myself. My boss called me today to tell me that he's coming in to town suddenly and wants to meet with me. No other explanation. I haven't had something like that happen since years ago when I was one of 100+ to be let go for that other company I worked for... I'm hoping it's not the same kind of news you got twinklebug