Go ahead and invite those parents before it is too late

[buttrflyksses]

This post is for anyone who is hesitating to invite your parents or in-laws on their next trip.

Christmas 2006 - We decided to give my mother a present...a trip to SSR the following summer with us and my brother and his family. My mom was ecstatic. My brother paid for her airfare and park tickets, we used our DVC points and got a 2 bedroom for everyone to stay together.

June 2007 - We had a wonderful week at SSR. Although my mother was only 62 years old and not wheelchair bound she would not be able to walk for more than 20 minutes at a time due to arthritis so we bought her a transport wheelchair. My husband pushed her around the entire week in that wheelchair and absolutely treated her like a queen( or should I say princess). She got to have breakfast in Cinderella's Castle with my brother's 2 girls ages 2 and 5. She had the time of her life that week. She had never been on vacation with any of her grandchildren before so it was especially nice that we were all able to stay in the same suite together.

November 23, 2007 - My mother very unexpectedly passed away. She had a heart attack while visiting me for Thanksgiving. My 12 year old DD performed CPR (she had just been certified 4 weeks before during a Red Cross Babysitting Certification Course) and then instructed me in what to do so I could take over until the paramedics arrived. They were able to get my mother back 2 different times but the damage to her heart was just too great. She was only 62 years old.

I will cherish forever the wonderful week we spent in Disney World. I am so grateful that we took the time to include her in something that my family has enjoyed over the years but that we had never shared with her.

We discussed with our children before we left that this disney vacation was going to be a little different, slower paced and maybe they wouldn't get to do everything they wanted to. They were ok with it. If these are reasons that you haven't invited that loved one to go with you please reconsider. I can't imagine not having the wonderful memories that we made together on that trip.

 

[DMKEDM]

Our deepest condolences to you and your family over the loss of your dear DM...how comforting that memory of the week at SSR must be...thanks for sharing your story with us, and may you find peace in your grief in this special memory...

 

[snappy]

Heartwarming, story, thanks ever so much for sharing.

I love taking my mom to WDW as well. We did the Orlando race for the cure last September. She thought WL was so wonderful, she was like a kid in a candy shop. She also loved California Grill.

It was a heck of a trip.

I went the the funeral today of my boss's mother. Miss Madeline, a good friend to my mom. Your post was timely and hit close to home. I think I'll make another reservation tonight for my mom and myself.

 

[rlduvall]

I am so sorry for your loss. Your story brought tears as I just lost my 65 year old dear mother on 12/6/07. Two years before that I tried to get her and my stepfather to go with my son and me to Disney. Almost had her convinced, but she then decided against it. Didn't want to deal with flying, didn't want to deal with walking, didn't want to deal with coming up with the money. Three months later (2/24/06), she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Oh, how I wish I would have pushed the issue.

Stay strong; it really helps to have supportive family. I had my son late in life - Mom never thought I would have any children. When my DH and I had him, she was ecstatic and a wonderful Grandma. I am so glad I was able to give her 8 beautiful years with him and I don't know what I would do without him, myself. (Did I just go off on a different tangent, sorry. )

I am so glad you had that time with your Mother.

 

[Muushka]

Thank you for you thoughtful reminder to all of us.
And my condolences to you and your family for the loss of your mother.

 

[Lady V]

I so agree. My mom has actually come on 5 of my last 6 trips to Disney. I just love having her there. It feels like I am a kid again and I just love to be able to shae it with her. She is also my best friend. To anyone wondering about it-take your parents-I would give anything to take my dad but we don't know if he could handle the trip.

 

[DIZBOUND]

I am so sorry for your loss. But your story gives me new vigor in trying to convince my grandparents to join us on our upcoming trip in Nov. They would get to see their 3 great grandsons in the most happiest place ever! My grandfather is so there it is his wife that needs the convincing. Guess I will be making that phone call tomorrow. Thank you again for sharing. I am so happy that you and your family have those wonderful memories of your last trip to Disney, I am sure they will stay with you forever.

 

[kato0627]

To the OP, I am so sorry for your loss. Your DD was very strong to do CPR. That must have been very hard for her and you as well. I am so glad you were able to share such a special time with your family in Disney. Cherish those memories. My parents are living but 77 and 73. They can not take the heat at all, and the crowds would overwhelm them. My dad would end up sitting on a bench all day!! I wish we would have done Disney in their younger years~they have never been. I may work on this with DH. I too feel family memories are wonderful. God bless you as you find strength to know your mother is at peace. Again, I am sorry for your loss.

 

[javamom]

So very sorry for your loss. What a wonderful family you have! I am glad to hear that you got that opportunity to be together. What a blessing.

 

[Psychodisney]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my mom at 60yo amost 9 years ago. The February before she took me and my two boys, my brother and his family and my sister and her family to the Poly for a week. Great memories for all. She wanted to take us all the following year but she was too sick. I think we all need to appreciate the time we have with the people we love.

 

[wildernessDad]

My sympathies go out to you and your family. Our time is all too short in this world and we must be with our loved ones as much as possible. It is great that you took your mom to WDW.

I am taking my father in law to WDW with us this upcoming December. He's really a wonderful person and I consider him to be a good friend. He'll be 86 later this year. We took him in January and he complained some. I swore that I would take him anymore, but here we are.

 

[DebbieB]

My mom was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in March 1996. She had surgery, chemo, radiation. She was very depressed after treatment but turned around after we went to Disney in November 1996. I truely think that trip gave her life back. She was doing well, we went to Disney again in 1998. In early 1999, a friend introduced me to DVC when we stayed in an OKW 2 bedroom with 2 other friends. I just loved it and thought it would be great to bring her there. I bought DVC in September 1999 and planned our first DVC trip for May 2000. In December she had a reoccurrence. She started treatment again. We still managed to get to OKW in May and BWV in December. She kept on treatments for over 5 years, they kept the cancer under control, we still went on our trips, I think they kept her going. Unfortunately in the summer of 2005, it had spread to her liver and they could no longer control it. She died in September 2005. She really loved DVC (she called the 1 bedroom unit "our apartment") and I am so glad to have those memories.

 

[DVC Mary]

My heart goes out to butterflykisses for your loss, but thank you for sharing.

I hope I am doing the right thing. My Mom has refused to go w/ us for the last 8 years. She can't take the heat, but has also refused to go in the winter w/ us b/c the one Dec trip we took had a 90 heat wave.

Please pray for good weather & good health for Feb.6-10.

I booked us a short trip w/o her knowledge 2 days ago. I've bought travel insurance & everything. Now the trick is convincing her that she HAS TO GO.

My uncle died at 81 over the holidays and it hit my oldest DS almost 11 that .....

"Nana is going to be 80 this year. We don't know when she'll die. I wish she'd go to Disney w/ us just once."

SW had tickets for $69 each way. I got a 1 bedroom for 2 nights and cash room thru CRO for 2 nights w/ a minimal AP discount, but I'm hoping something will open up & I'll get the other 2 nights on points.

Wish us luck that she'll go. I'm going to have a sit down w/ her & my eldest DS. She'll have a harder time saying no to him this time......I hope & pray.


I would love to hear advice on how to make it a slower trip for Nana, so we don't tire her out, but rather slow down & enjoy the magic. She has refused to ever use an ECV or let us get a wheelchair, but I hope she'll agree to at least a wheelchair for this trip.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Great story. Made me tear up. Our condolences and glad you have those magical memories!

 

[JenSop]

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us - I'm so glad you were able to share that trip together. It's really good advice for everyone. It's so easy to put things off, but we never know what the future will bring and need to cherish time with our loved ones.


This coming July DH and I will be taking my parents (both 61) and my grandmother (83) for a week. The three of them haven't been to Disney in a VERY long time. It was my grandparents who took my sister and I on many WDW trips when we were growing up, and those are some of my fondest memories. DVC is actually making it possible for us to be able to take them for this trip. (We'd never afford it otherwise - we're staying in a 2BR at BCV.) My mom keeps telling me how my grandmother is so excited about going. I only wish my grandfather were still around to be going with us (although I'm sure he'll be there in spirit.)

Reading your story really helps to remind me how glad I am that we're all going together.

Thanks again.

 

[Inkmahm]

I'm sorry about the loss of your mom. I can relate. I took my mom and dad to WDW in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, my dad got pancreas cancer and died in early 2004. I'm so glad I was able to take him to Disney before he was gone.

Mom was using a scooter when we were there then but has had knee replacement and now is ready to come back with us in March this year. We'll get her a wheel chair while we're in the parks because she still has arthritis and can't walk very far. She also has a standing invitation to go with us on any trip to Disney so I hope she'll go again in the future.

We just took my husband's parents with us in December and hope to do that again in the future, too.

We hope not to lose any of them for many years, but if we do, we're building the memories now.

 

[wilma-bride]

Thank you for posting your experience and I am so sorry for your loss. We have a trip to WDW planned in April with my in-laws. I have been absolutely dreading it, thinking that it is going to be difficult to accommodate them and the kids and my DH and keep everyone happy. Your story has made me realise that I should be looking forward to the opportunity for us all to spend two wonderful weeks together at my favourite place in the world and appreciate the wonderful relationship we have.

Thank you so much

 

[Esmerelda]

What a wonderful heartwarming story. I'm so glad that you did get your trip in before it was too late. I wish my story would have unfolded as yours did.

I had finally convinced my father (after all these years of my travels) to go on a cruise and also do Disney with us one time. He said he just had to convince my mom.

He became ill with what we thought was the flu and a week later on Thursday went to the drs office and was immediately transported to the nearby ER. He was diagnosed with lung CA and it had metastized to his brain. We were absolutely clueless (and I'm in the medical field). He did not look like a person that had all of this going on. The doctor told us all in the hallway that he might have 3-4 months. This was Thursday evening, and he died that Saturday at 1pm. My husband and I were getting married 3 months after that so he never got to walk me down the aisle. He also never made it on that cruise...nor to Disney. I still cry to this day when I think of all we missed out on and its been almost 3 years now.

You are so right....take your loved ones while you still have the chance, you never know when that chance could be gone forever

blessings to all...
Esmerelda

 

[jennypenny]

I'm sorry for your loss.

We too brought my whole family for a trip to BCV in February 2005 for my mother's 63rd birthday. Less than 2 months later she was gone very suddenly. The last time my children saw her was in disneyworld.

Live while you can...

 

[jekjones1558]

I am so glad that you have memories of your mom at WDW for a lifetime. Now that my dad is gone, I also am happy to have DVC time with him in my memories (see signature).