help - last minute "Make-A-Wish" type FW trip for MIL

[ms_flo]

Hello everyone. The wonderful people on DISboards were very helpful to me when I planned our last trip to WDW. I felt like I couldn't say "THANK YOU" enough back then.
Now I need your help more than ever! I'll try to keep this short & sweet...

After our DD's trip to WDW in '04, we talked to all the grandparents about going with us on our next trip. We never started making serious plans though, because my MIL (& dear friend) was diagnosed with lung cancer. After almost 2 years of dealing with it, the cancer has spread to her liver. Two weeks before Christmas her doctor told her it was time to stop all treatments. We did not know if she would make it through the holidays, but she has. She is in increasing pain but good spirits. About a week ago she told me that she would still like to go on the WDW trip--even if she was "only able to sit in the room with the kids." If she is up to it, I want to take her to WDW and make sure she doesn't just sit in a room.

I want to take her to FW. My MIL has always loved to camp. If we stay at FW, we can still have a Disney vacation like we talked about--even if she doesn't feel like going to the parks. Unfortunately she no longer has her tt, and I don't think she would be comfortable in our pop-up. (I'm also not sure if it would survive such a long trip.) Plus, if we go, it needs to be soon. We have been warned that her health could deteriorate quickly. So...

I would like to rent a comfortable camper for us. I think we could get there as early as 1/24, but 1/28 or 1/29 is more likely. I'd like to stay for at least 5 days maybe up to 10. It will depend on how she feels. I've played with some dates on the computer reservation system. It looks like getting anything other than a partial hook-up site could be difficult. So far I haven't seen any rentals that I thought would work on the "tent sites", and I really don't have time to do any more searching. Do any of you have a rental camper that will fit on the tent sites, or do you know of a place that does? Does anyone know if FW has handicap accessible full hook-up sites available? I couldn't get any info about accessible sites from the reservation page. (If I'm lucky, FW keeps its accessible full hook-up sites separate from the computer reservation system, and there is still one available. I feel sure we could make this work if we could get a full hook-up site.)

If we're able to do this, there will be 5 of us (with a very slight possibility of only 3). If we can do things cheaply enough, I would also like to bring my SIL & 2 nieces. That would make 8 people. I would be happy to sleep in a tent with the kids, but I need comfortable sleeping quarters for my MIL. She is in enough pain as it is without sleeping on a lumpy mattress. (I am trying to find a body massaging pad for her, but there's just been so little time to look into all of this.)

I would appreciate any information or suggestions you could share.
Thank you in advance for your time & your assistance.
And thank you for "listening".

 

[becky1960]

Have you talked to reservations and explained your situation, It has been my expirence over the years that Disney will go out of their way to work on special problems like yours. I dont think they have hadicapped sites per say but last year our son was in a wheel chair and it worked out ok for us.

I know how you feel and hope everything works out for you, I have been going to Wdw for many, many years (over 35) and feel the the same way as your MIL. We will keep her in our prayers and hope you will have great luck in you pursuit.

 

[my3princes]

I would suggest renting a cabin rather than renting a camper and finding a site. The cabins are very comfortable and can sleep up to 6. Let your MIL have the double bed to herself and she should be fine. They have handicap accessible cabins and some of the boats to the MK are also wheelchair/ECV accessible. I'm sure that flying would be much quicker for your MIL and the cabins really are wonderful, yet still let you experience FW. Good luck with your decision. You may also want to check out the DISabilities forum for other questions.

 

[auntie]

If you are interested in renting a camper..contact Tina..she's a member on this board, and she does rent out her 5th wheel. She lives in Fl. and brings it to FW..sets it up on site for you. Nothing is needed, as she provides all your towels, linens, cooking utensils, and the like. She is a sweetheart and quite a few people here on the Dis have used her RV. That being said, and considering that her health can deteriorate very quickly...do you think camping would be the best option for her. I mean..she may require some time to herself, and camping isn't all the "private". Maybe two rooms at a moderate or an Allstar where Grandma would be able to have some privacy and alone time should she require it(and she will) is something to consider. While I know you want to have her family around her, with kids involved..as much as she loves them..I don't know how to say this..but it sounds to me(and I'm just an outsider) that camping might be a bit too much given her physical deterioration. The resorts are SO incredibly geared for the disabled. I've had handicapped rooms..and as far as showering and accomdating a wheel chair..should you need one, they can't be beat. I've not stayed in a cabin equipped for the disabled, but as a previous poster suggested, this too may be a better option if she really wants to experience Fort Wilderness.
As far as reservation..Disney can be pretty compasionate in regards to such situations. Ask to speak to a supervisor. I've had two situatons where I had to cancel a trip(one we were in a car accident..and another, my dad had a stroke..and they waived all cancellation penalities and the like.) You may be able to snag a reservation if you can explain how imperative it is. Doesn't hurt to ask. Good luck to you, and prayers for your mother inlaw and your family. This is Tina's web site and you can actually see her unit and see if it will accomodate your family.

http://campatthefort.com/faq.html

 

[PolynesianPixie]

It is so wonderful that you are making this wish come true! I am all choked up just reading it! I know you've already been told this, but please do involve the CMs in this trip. I bet they can make some magic happen for your MIL! If she doesn't feel up to going to the parks, maybe you can get her on the carriage ride at FtW that will be at the same time as the fireworks. She will get an amazing view and it will be a most memorable moment for the rest of the family, too.

I know this may sound strange, coming from a complete stranger, but if you need help with anything~planning, ideas, whatever~PM me. I'll do anything I am able. Taking this kind of trip on in this kind of time frame is a huge undertaking, you shouldn't have to do it all yourself.

~Ami

 

[ms_flo]

Have you talked to reservations and explained your situation, It has been my expirence over the years that Disney will go out of their way to work on special problems like yours. I dont think they have hadicapped sites per say but last year our son was in a wheel chair and it worked out ok for us.

I know how you feel and hope everything works out for you, I have been going to Wdw for many, many years (over 35) and feel the the same way as your MIL. We will keep her in our prayers and hope you will have great luck in you pursuit.

I have not called reservations. I wanted to have a little more information before I talked to them. I didn't feel like I knew what to ask. :-/ Plus, DISers are usually nicer & more helpful than the people I tend to get on the phone!

Thank you.

 

[ms_flo]

I would suggest renting a cabin rather than renting a camper and finding a site. The cabins are very comfortable and can sleep up to 6. Let your MIL have the double bed to herself and she should be fine. They have handicap accessible cabins and some of the boats to the MK are also wheelchair/ECV accessible.

My MIL really prefers a camper to a cabin. She doesn't like to feel "closed in". Unless it is extremely cold outside, she rarely closes the wooden doors at her house. She wants to be able to look out through the storm doors--the full glass kind. She says she's not claustrophobic, but... I think she has only treated herself to 2 things through all of this: a wig when her hair fell out last year, and a bay window looking into her back yard when there started being signs that the cancer was spreading.

Plus if we can take advantage of enough "cheap" options ($50 campsite vs. $250 cabin), I might be able to bring my nieces (her other granddaughters) with us. And if we have enough room (camper vs. cabin), my SIL might be able to come too.

I'm sure that flying would be much quicker for your MIL and the cabins really are wonderful, yet still let you experience FW.

I'm not sure what to do about the travel arrangements. That's one of the reasons my dates are so uncertain. Flying would be much faster, but I don't know how the pressure changes would affect her breathing. (She had 1/2 of a lung removed about 18 months ago & never really made it back to breathing "normally".) Driving will take longer, but we can do whatever she needs/wants if we're in our car. We can take 3 days to drive & stop every hour or two if needed, or we can even turn around & head home if things go badly. I might even drive her down & DH fly down with the kids so they don't miss too much school.

(Which reminds me, the asst. principal at the high school says they can excuse the absences if it is an "educational trip". I don't have enough extra brain cells right now to try to conjure up something for that. Any ideas?)

Good luck with your decision. You may also want to check out the DISabilities forum for other questions.

I also posted on the disabilities board this morning.

Thanks for all your input. I'm anxious to go to my MIL's this weekend & see what she thinks.

 

[tinah159]

Flo, call reservations ASAP. I may be able to help you if you get a site.

 

[mamaloya]

School excuse letter.

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SE.shtml

I pray that it goes well for you all and the memories last a lifetime.

 

[ms_flo]

If you are interested in renting a camper..contact Tina..she's a member on this board, and she does rent out her 5th wheel. She lives in Fl. and brings it to FW..sets it up on site for you. Nothing is needed, as she provides all your towels, linens, cooking utensils, and the like. She is a sweetheart and quite a few people here on the Dis have used her RV.

I've talked to her already. Her 5th wheel looks like it would be perfect for us, but I don't think I can get a site big enough for it. I'm going to see what all I can get nailed down this weekend & if it looks like we are going to try a camper, I'll call for reservations at the beginning of the week & see if they can squeeze us into a full hook-up site somewhere.

That being said, and considering that her health can deteriorate very quickly...do you think camping would be the best option for her. I mean..she may require some time to herself, and camping isn't all the "private". Maybe two rooms at a moderate or an Allstar where Grandma would be able to have some privacy and alone time should she require it(and she will) is something to consider. While I know you want to have her family around her, with kids involved..as much as she loves them..I don't know how to say this..but it sounds to me(and I'm just an outsider) that camping might be a bit too much given her physical deterioration. The resorts are SO incredibly geared for the disabled. I've had handicapped rooms..and as far as showering and accomdating a wheel chair..should you need one, they can't be beat. I've not stayed in a cabin equipped for the disabled, but as a previous poster suggested, this too may be a better option if she really wants to experience Fort Wilderness.

She's much more interested in experiencing her grandkids going to WDW than she is in experiencing it for herself. I want to do FW because she loves to camp & be outside. (a few details about that above) Sitting in a hotel room for hours at a time would be hard on her, but just thinking about sitting outside in the warm Florida sunshine brightens her up. If we're at the campground we can take the kids to the park & let her have the camper to herself for hours at a time. Then when we come back for breaks during the day, she can soak up the Disney Magic from the kids. I really don't know how much she would leave the campground--maybe 1 or 2 special things every day or two (Fantasmic, Illuminations, Rainforest Cafe, etc.).

As far as reservation..Disney can be pretty compasionate in regards to such situations. Ask to speak to a supervisor. I've had two situatons where I had to cancel a trip(one we were in a car accident..and another, my dad had a stroke..and they waived all cancellation penalities and the like.) You may be able to snag a reservation if you can explain how imperative it is. Doesn't hurt to ask.

I will definitely ask for a supervisor when I call. That is exactly the kind of thing I expected DISers to be able to tell me about, and it's good to know about your previous cancellations. It makes me feel much better about not having exact dates yet.

Good luck to you, and prayers for your mother inlaw and your family. This is Tina's web site and you can actually see her unit and see if it will accomodate your family.

http://campatthefort.com/faq.html

Thank you for your help & your prayers. God has mended family relationships & blessed us so much during the last 2 years! We've had much more time than most do after a lung cancer diagnosis, and I am very grateful. I wish I could be with her on every day she has left, but that's not possible. So I want to make the ones I do have with her magical for her & everyone else.

 

[ms_flo]

It is so wonderful that you are making this wish come true! I am all choked up just reading it! I know you've already been told this, but please do involve the CMs in this trip. I bet they can make some magic happen for your MIL! If she doesn't feel up to going to the parks, maybe you can get her on the carriage ride at FtW that will be at the same time as the fireworks. She will get an amazing view and it will be a most memorable moment for the rest of the family, too.

I know this may sound strange, coming from a complete stranger, but if you need help with anything~planning, ideas, whatever~PM me. I'll do anything I am able. Taking this kind of trip on in this kind of time frame is a huge undertaking, you shouldn't have to do it all yourself.

~Ami

If we can get there, I will definitely involve the CMs! I didn't know about the carriage rides, so it's easy to see that I need help with pretty much everything. When we took the kids on their trips, I spent months researching & planning. This time I don't have The 2008 Unofficial Guide, for that matter, I can't even find my old ones!

And your offer doesn't sound strange at all. I don't think of DISers as complete strangers. I knew I could count on the people here to help.
Thanks & I'll add you to my buddy list. :-D

 

[ms_flo]

School excuse letter.

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SE.shtml

I pray that it goes well for you all and the memories last a lifetime.

Thank you for the link & your prayers. I am praying for strengthened relationships-both within the family & with Christ.

 

[fldisneymommyto2]

My MIL really prefers a camper to a cabin. She doesn't like to feel "closed in". Unless it is extremely cold outside, she rarely closes the wooden doors at her house. She wants to be able to look out through the storm doors--the full glass kind. She says she's not claustrophobic, but... I think she has only treated herself to 2 things through all of this: a wig when her hair fell out last year, and a bay window looking into her back yard when there started being signs that the cancer was spreading.

Plus if we can take advantage of enough "cheap" options ($50 campsite vs. $250 cabin), I might be able to bring my nieces (her other granddaughters) with us. And if we have enough room (camper vs. cabin), my SIL might be able to come too.


I'm not sure what to do about the travel arrangements. That's one of the reasons my dates are so uncertain. Flying would be much faster, but I don't know how the pressure changes would affect her breathing. (She had 1/2 of a lung removed about 18 months ago & never really made it back to breathing "normally".) Driving will take longer, but we can do whatever she needs/wants if we're in our car. We can take 3 days to drive & stop every hour or two if needed, or we can even turn around & head home if things go badly. I might even drive her down & DH fly down with the kids so they don't miss too much school.

(Which reminds me, the asst. principal at the high school says they can excuse the absences if it is an "educational trip". I don't have enough extra brain cells right now to try to conjure up something for that. Any ideas?)


I also posted on the disabilities board this morning.

Thanks for all your input. I'm anxious to go to my MIL's this weekend & see what she thinks.

epcot is completely educational!!! And spending time with thier grandmother.. how much more educational can that be!!! Best of luck in your trip planning and prayers for your MIL.

 

[mickeymouse1017]

Would you please let us know how things turn out for your trip? I am wishing you all the best and praying for your family and MIL.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Have you decided when you're going yet?