Hi Everyone! I will be arriving on December 17th. Each trip to Fort Wilderness is special for me. A little over 3 years ago, the doctors sat us down and told my beautiful wife of 20 years that at 52 years of age this would likely be her last Christmas. We had just purchased our first and dream RV and tow vehicle. We lucked out and someone cancelled so our last Christmas would be at Disney World. They same place I proposed, the same place we watched our family grow up.
We arrived early and set up, waiting for my daughter and boyfriend to fly in. Our 3 day drive from Canada was like a first date all over again. We talked for hours, sang along with the soundtrack of our lives, and told each other everything we had been to busy to share for the last 20 years. Chemo had made her weak, and sometimes a little forgetful, but we enjoyed our road trip more than anything we had done in the past. Upon arrival we were floored by the decorations. So many decorations. It was as if we landed in a Christmas village. Alas, we brought one blow up. “Buddy” the elf is the family favorite and a tradition so he stood proudly near the road.
The next morning, 5 days before Christmas we were waiting for the girls to get ready for a long day including MVMC party. I suggested we do a quick loop on the bikes with my mini dog until they were ready to go. Long story but I had a fall. The dog was fine, the bike was fine but I had a wrist issue. We sent the kids off to enjoy the park and said we would catch up later.
I went to Celebration hospital, with my wife in tow. She wouldn’t stay back despite being somewhat immune compromised after being on chemo for 2 years. Turns out it was a bit more serious and I was moved to specialist hospital about 30 miles away for surgery. I would go it alone since it was unsafe for her to join me. Too much chance of her catching something.
So my wife drove my brand new dually which she had never driven before back to the Fort. She went to the main desk, fighting back tears, to explain she didn’t know exactly where the site was, how to dump tanks, how to turn on the heat or A/C. This was our first trip....ever. I had been the guy who takes care of everything. She never planned on being without me. So my sick and weakened wife, was stuck in a 42’ fifth wheel, with two 18 year olds, my dog, and no idea about plans, gifts, reservations or anything. This is her last Christmas and I took care of everything.
From behind the guest services desk, came our Fairy Godmother. She could see the distress on my wife’s face. She hugged her, helped her through a good cry and then got to work. She drove with her in the dually, so she could find the sight. A cast member followed with all the packages we had shipped from
Amazon. Our fairy godmother spoke with neighbors who helped to dump the tanks, turn on the heat, inflate the solo buddy. The kids came back from Mickeys Christmas party, and immediately took over taking care of everything.
The next day, I was being prepped for surgery when my phone rang. It was the Fairy Godmother checking on me. I told her I was fine but someone needed to look after my girls. I was panicked, nobody knew what plans I made. Nobody knew the reservations or fast passes. Who would make my wife’s coffee, who would setup the decorations. I would be home for Christmas Eve at the soonest. The Fairy Godmother assured me she had taken over the “My Disney Experience” and everyone was having the best time. Kids we out at the parks, dog was walked and she personally had stopped and visited with my wife bringing her Starbucks and staying with her for over an hour.
After three nights in the hospital and an $83k (yes 83,000 US dollars) bill I was released with some new hardware in my wrist and arm and light cast. So glad we had
travel insurance. I arrived at the campsite, to meet my Fairy Godmother, and after hugs and kisses and tears we were finally going to get started on what they called our last Christmas. I took over control of the My Disney App only to find all of our missed reservations had been credited. Every picture was there since she added a complimentary Memory Maker, reservations that were missed had been credited and new ones created including 6:00 Christmas Dinner at Be Our Guest followed by a premium viewing location for the fireworks. Since I was still recovering and my wife was in wheelchair our schedule would be toned way down. The Fairy Godmother removed everyone’s Fast Passes and replaced them with a special any park any attraction any time passes. That way when we were able we could enjoy some rides without worrying about schedules. Our Fairy Godmother came by every day to check up and often visited on her own time. On Christmas Day she brought her daughters acapella choir by and they sang for us. This was no longer the last Christmas, it was now the best Christmas.
My wife had me make reservations for the next year and the next. She said this will be where memories live and none of us will forget the best Christmas we ever had. I wrote countless letters to Disney execs telling them about the magic provided by our Fairy Godmother. She was humbled by the commendations and promotion she received. She and my wife became fast friends, often talking on the phone for hours after we returned home. My wife stopped her treatments shortly after. But instead of the growing weaker, she has grown stronger. The Cancer while never going away had stopped spreading. She is still considered stage 4 and terminal. It turned out we would have one more “Last Christmas”. I bought another Buddy The Elf blow up and we enjoyed a second Christmas without injury and with the whole family, and with our Fairy Godmother and her family!
So here I am, in Canada. I just packed a third Buddy the Elf blow up. I have my dog, and a packed trailer and gifts for our family and our Fairy Godfamily. This will be the first time it’s ever just been me and the dog for the 1000 mile 3 day trip. I am hoping to be all backed in and setup in the 700 loop by the 18th. The kids will fly in on the 21. The Fairy Godmother and her family are waiting for me on December 14th.
Perhaps the greatest Christmas miracle and Disney Magic is that I have to pick up my wife from the airport on the 18th. This will be her third “Last Christmas”. The cancer is still there, and she still takes so many meds. We still need a wheelchair but we are together for Christmas with new family and friends and old traditions. Christmas dinner with the Beast and THREE Buddy the Elf blow ups.
So if your going through the 700 loop (I hope) and see three Buddy the Elf blowups, please yell out “Buddy!” because everybody does and it makes us smile!
Merry Christmas