Deployed husband may have to meet us there

[lock4second]

Sighhhhh.... Just found out that there is a good chance that my deployed husband's return date may have been pushed back to 2 days before we are supposed to leave for WDW. Unless some miracle occurs and everyone gets their act together, that probably does not allow him enough time to in-process and get leave approved to leave on our planned date, especially since only one of those days back is a week day. We are thinking that he will have to meet us there. So here is why I am freaking out:
1) I'll have to call Disney to see if I can even check us in since the reservation is under his name.
2) We booked through RCI, so I doubt there is much that can be done with changing our dates.
3) I'm not sure i want our kids (2 & 4) to see him for 2 days (one of those days he will be at the base trying to in-process), then we leave and he will have to meet us there in a day or two. I don't know that the 4 year old would take the second separation well. Considering just hiding him at a friends house and having him surprise them there.
4) I really don't want him trying to adjust time zone wise while we are on vacation.
5) I don't think I can prepare for his homecoming (house is a disaster) AND packing us all for disney alone!!

Someone--anyone--please just tell me it will all work out and be awesome. I'm beyond stressed right now and that is not how I wanted to feel going into his homecoming and a vacation. Any tips at all?

And for the record, I knew returning delays were a possibility from my own deployments, so I thought I created a large enough time buffer-- GUESS NOT!

Luckily, he has been deployed to a relatively normal and safe place, so I am not worried about his mental state, thank goodness.

 

[MacDalt]

Lol, take a breath. It will be ok!

 

[MandiC]

It's going to be wonderful! I'd probably have him surprise them there, I mean how great would that be, happiest place on Earth afterall

 

[jerseygal]

THANK YOU to your DS and his service!

It will all WORK OUT! BEST WISHES FOR A VERY MAGICAL VACATION!
ENJOY!!!

 

[wilkeliza]

Sighhhhh.... Just found out that there is a good chance that my deployed husband's return date may have been pushed back to 2 days before we are supposed to leave for WDW. Unless some miracle occurs and everyone gets their act together, that probably does not allow him enough time to in-process and get leave approved to leave on our planned date, especially since only one of those days back is a week day. We are thinking that he will have to meet us there. So here is why I am freaking out: 1) I'll have to call Disney to see if I can even check us in since the reservation is under his name. 2) We booked through RCI, so I doubt there is much that can be done with changing our dates. 3) I'm not sure i want our kids (2 & 4) to see him for 2 days (one of those days he will be at the base trying to in-process), then we leave and he will have to meet us there in a day or two. I don't know that the 4 year old would take the second separation well. Considering just hiding him at a friends house and having him surprise them there. 4) I really don't want him trying to adjust time zone wise while we are on vacation. 5) I don't think I can prepare for his homecoming (house is a disaster) AND packing us all for disney alone!! Someone--anyone--please just tell me it will all work out and be awesome. I'm beyond stressed right now and that is not how I wanted to feel going into his homecoming and a vacation. Any tips at all? And for the record, I knew returning delays were a possibility from my own deployments, so I thought I created a large enough time buffer-- GUESS NOT! Luckily, he has been deployed to a relatively normal and safe place, so I am not worried about his mental state, thank goodness.

Breath everything will be okay. Also how long has he been gone? You should call Disney and say you have already had this trip planned and you wonder if there is any way they can help. If the kids don't know yet they can even help you set up a surprise! I worked at Epcot during several surprise returning home trips and CMs love to sprinkle pixie dust on our returning men and women.

 

[olwyngdh]

It will be awesome. What a magical surprise for your kids. If you can plan it to meet him at a park, he could be holding balloons for them when they come off of a ride or something like that.

 

[NicoleLarson]

As a former Army wife that has been through too many deployments to count, trust me it will all work out! He WILL NOT care if the house is a mess or if everything isn't perfect. He just wants to see YOU and the kids. Be at home, sleep in his bed with his wife. I'm a bit confused by the in processing that you are talking about. Is he coming home on leave or for good? If on leave, he doesn't have to report anywhere, he just goes on leave. If coming home for good, then he would or should have been assigned a "block leave" this is usually a couple of weeks after they come home. Either way, I personally would have him at home and if you have to leave a day before him then I'm sure everything will be ok. I have played the "my DH is deployed" card (only when he was actually deployed) several times, most people are willing to give you a break and help you out. Have you asked him what he would like to do?

 

[lock4second]

Thanks everyone for your input. He got approved to take other means home and is coming home a few days earlier. The timeline will still be close, but I'm no longer worried about him not being able to come with us.

Nicole- he will be home for good. In my own experience, they had me check in with medical, mental health, finance, armory and admin before they would approve any leave. We are at a different service's base, so I don't know what they will want him to do yet, but assume it's along those lines. Going to have his deployment manager here try and set up his appointments before he gets home to streamline the process.

So excited to see him and get to disney!