"It all started with a whopping price error ” 10/24 The Perfect Storm of Opportunity

[A&Bmama]

I am so very sorry for your lost.

Thanks for your sentiments and thanks for reading. Better days are ahead.

 

[A&Bmama]

Oh...I am so sorry. I sat, reading, with tears streaming down my face, feeling your hurt and sorrow through your words. Hugs and prayers to you and your family.

Thanks for your kind words.

I solemnly pinky swear promise that you will smile again by the end of the trip report. It's going to take a few installments to get there though.

 

[A&Bmama]

My deepest condolences for you and your family I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. I must say though you are amazing to be able to write about this - I can't imagine how hard it is to go through again I do hope you find this helps.
We are all here for you, take as much time as you need. I hope you are able to find some strength from doing this

I'm finding writing about it to be helpful. I won't lie to your though, I shed more than a few tears writing the last installment.

I discovered the DIS before the trip and I read a few trip reports. I had every intention of writing one myself when I got back but of course I didn't feel like it for a long time.

I had of put it out of my mind thinking that my trip was too long ago to write a TR. One day I was on the Dis again dreaming of a do over, I found myself wandering over to the TR section. Then it occurred to me that just because my trip was almost a year ago was no reason to not write the trip report. There is no DIS imposed "statute of limitations" on Disney experiences, so why not?

 

[A MK Family]

I am so sorry for your loss. As a read your report I couldn't help but cry. It must have been awful to been that far away. I must say you seemed to have handled it all so well.
Thinking of you and your family

 

[Becx N Gav]

I'm finding writing about it to be helpful. I won't lie to your though, I shed more than a few tears writing the last installment.

I discovered the DIS before the trip and I read a few trip reports. I had every intention of writing one myself when I got back but of course I didn't feel like it for a long time.

I had of put it out of my mind thinking that my trip was too long ago to write a TR. One day I was on the Dis again dreaming of a do over, I found myself wandering over to the TR section. Then it occurred to me that just because my trip was almost a year ago was no reason to not write the trip report. There is no DIS imposed "statute of limitations" on Disney experiences, so why not?

I've had that very same thing myself, my DH and I wrote down a detailed TR of a trip to Disneyland Paris, but what with other things going on I never got around to posting it. I say good for you for posting and anyone that has a problem (I doubt it but you never know ) with an 'old' reoprt is just being a PITA
Crikey I'd love to read a report of some really old trips 70's/80's even 90's it would be fascinating to see the changes and what's the same

I hope you have the hard part out the way now and some happier memories come back to you

 

[smithpack]

First of all, I just want to say that I am sorry to hear about your father passing away. I am a firm believer that we will be with our families again after this life. I am sure he was there with you to help comfort you when you got the news. Losing a loved one is always a hard thing to deal with.

Secondly, I can't wait to hear what is coming up in your TR. Also, so glad you got the huge discount on your vacation. You definitely deserved it after all you had been through. On a brighter note, you did ride the RNRC!! Your dad probably would have wanted you to enjoy that day. That is probably why you happened to forget your cell phone.

 

[A&Bmama]

I am so sorry for your loss. As a read your report I couldn't help but cry. It must have been awful to been that far away. I must say you seemed to have handled it all so well.
Thinking of you and your family

Thanks. It was difficult to be so far away. I think maybe things happen for a reason. If I had been home and Mom had called me right away I would have been there is 5 minutes or less since we live only a few streets away from each other. Maybe I was being spared having the image of him in lifeless in his chair in my head for the rest of my life.

 

[A&Bmama]

First of all, I just want to say that I am sorry to hear about your father passing away. I am a firm believer that we will be with our families again after this life. I am sure he was there with you to help comfort you when you got the news. Losing a loved one is always a hard thing to deal with.

Secondly, I can't wait to hear what is coming up in your TR. Also, so glad you got the huge discount on your vacation. You definitely deserved it after all you had been through. On a brighter note, you did ride the RNRC!! Your dad probably would have wanted you to enjoy that day. That is probably why you happened to forget your cell phone.

Thanks for your kind word. I do think that my dad made me go to the phone. It was one of the strangest things I have ever experienced. It was like someone switched a channel. One minute I am thinking of how to get warm and what am I going to eat, in the next instant I am sick with anxiety and thinking I have to get to the phone.

My husband even commented on it later. He wanted to know if I had been expecting someone to call that day because he thought it was odd the way that I rushed to the phone with such "purpose."

 

[A&Bmama]

Arrangements:

We call Sue’s room and there is no answer. We walk to the Mara to get the coffee anyway. DH asks if I want him to go to the smoking area and see if he can bum a smoke from someone. I tell him no, but inside I am thinking how sweet it is that this man of mine who has never smoked a day in his life is willing to do this for me.

Once we are through the doors we spot Sue and Bob heading to the smoking area. DH heads to the Mara to get me coffee as I catch up to Sue and Bob. One look at me and Sue knows something is terribly wrong. I tell her what happened. I don’t remember much of the conversation. I remember I smoked 2 cigarettes. I remember that the coffee was still bad. Sue tells me to call her if I want to smoke some more.

We head back to the room to try to arrange flights. I call WestJet first. The earliest they can get us out is Monday. I tell them to go ahead and change the flights. I call the bereavement travel number my Mom gave me. The lady I was dealing with was very nice but the only flight she can get me for the next day is with an American airline, I think it might have been Delta. If I recall correctly I think it would have had me going from Orlando-Atlanta-Chicago-Toronto-Halifax. It was executive class, one way of course and at the bereavement discount it would have cost me $2000.00 for me alone. I don’t book it but I am thinking that if I can’t come up with anything else I might call back and book it and leave DH with the kids to come back on Monday with WestJet.

My mother calls me back and I tell her that I am booked to get home one day early so far, but that I am still working on it.

I fill my mug with Margarita cooler that I had bought but had yet to touch. I call Sue’s room and tell her I want to go out and smoke again. I have my third cigarette and while I am telling her about the difficulty we are having getting out it occurs to me that WestJet also flies to Tampa, Fort Myers and Miami. Maybe they have something available out of one of those cities. We finish, Sue offers to give me some more cigarettes and a lighter. I consider it for a moment, I decide that I have indulged myself enough and I tell her no. I am certain my Father would be very disappointed in me if I used his death as an excuse to begin smoking again.

I call WestJet back and they are able to get all of us out the next day at 2 pm from Tampa, we will have to change planes in Toronto. It will cost an additional $950.00 with the bereavement discount. I book it write the details down.

I call my Mom to tell her that we were able to get flights and that we will arrive home at 11PM the next day. She sound relieved. I tell her we will call her several times during the day to check in.

DH and I begin to pack up our stuff. The kids are asleep at this point. It makes me sad to think they went to bed after learning that they lost their Grandfather and that when they wake up they will learn that they lost most of their Disney trip too.

Up Next: If Tomorrow Never Comes

 

[amyngary]

I am so sorry for your loss, and also for making a joke about wanting your next installment. I honestly expected the message to be something good.

We took a trip to Chicago last summer and about 5 hours after we arrived, my sister called to say that my mom had a bad car accident and was ejected from the car. When she arrived at the hospital, they didn't think she would make it. My sister chose not to call me until they had her stabilized in ICU. She insisted that I not come home, so we stayed the rest of the weekend as planned, except left very early on Sunday to get home. I still don't know if I made the right decision, but my mom is fine now. Even after that, I can't imagine what you went through.

I know what you mean about you knowing to check the phone though. The night before my mom's accident, I had a dream that she had a heart attach (and I never dream about my mom). I told DH the next day that I was worried about my mom.

I am still with your TR - you have a great writing style.

 

[A&Bmama]

I am so sorry for your loss, and also for making a joke about wanting your next installment. I honestly expected the message to be something good.

We took a trip to Chicago last summer and about 5 hours after we arrived, my sister called to say that my mom had a bad car accident and was ejected from the car. When she arrived at the hospital, they didn't think she would make it. My sister chose not to call me until they had her stabilized in ICU. She insisted that I not come home, so we stayed the rest of the weekend as planned, except left very early on Sunday to get home. I still don't know if I made the right decision, but my mom is fine now. Even after that, I can't imagine what you went through.

I know what you mean about you knowing to check the phone though. The night before my mom's accident, I had a dream that she had a heart attach (and I never dream about my mom). I told DH the next day that I was worried about my mom.

I am still with your TR - you have a great writing style.

Don't worry anout the joke for a second. I knew when I wrote that installment that some would think it was good news. I mean seriously, we were in the happiest place on earth, the place where pixie dust and magic live. You figure your biggest problems will be rain, crowds, maybe a meal or two you don't care for...

I do believe that we have a sixth sense or whatever you want to call it. I scratch my head and think maybe somehow I knew that that was the day something bad was going to happen. Everytime I tried to plan it I would get really irritable and just not want to have anything to do with it. Then I think, where was my sixth sense when I booked the trip, why didn't I feel like I shouldn't go at all? Oh well, I guess it's not an exact science.

 

[mla1977]

I am so sorry for you loss. I lost my father when I was in college. I didn't have a cell phone at the time so someone called the school and they had to find me in my class (thankfully I got up that morning). They gave me a number to call at the hospital and when I called the hospital they asked me to have someone drive me there (I knew that wasn't a good sign). It was a crazy time trying to get my mother there to drive me (she started making phone calls to figure out what was happening instead of just picking me up at school). I still get teary thinking about it 14 year later (this week).

Of course yesterday I was dealing with a sick kitty with the possibility of surgery and I read your warning about being in the right state of mind, but I went ahead and read anyways. Of course I got emotional, but in order to stay under control at work, I chose to wait until to day to respond.

This past August my Grandmother was diagnosed with liver cancer and she was put on hospice care. I had been planning a trip with my goddaughter for months and everyone told us to still take the trip. My Grandmother knows how much I love Disney and she was jealous that we were going without her. Thankfully, she survived until we got home and we were able to spend some more time with her and share our pictures with her. We did end up losing her at the end of the month, and I feel guilty for not being there to spend more time with her, but she insisted that we take the trip and she was very happy to share it with us through the pictures.

Again I am very sorry for your loss. I know you made the right decision by going home immediately. Disney will always be there, but your family needed you.

 

[dydo2424]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I just found your wonderful TR today and have sat here reading it from the very beginning. Thank you for sharing. I hope there is some relief for you putting it in words. I will be here until it's complete..

 

[Dugette]

I've been following your trip report for awhile (great attention-getting title, by the way!), but haven't commented until now. Just wanted to say sorry for the loss of your father. Although it's not the same thing, the moment we touched down from our flight back from our honeymoon in Italy a few years ago, I got a call from my mom that my Grandpa has passed away. Definitely know the feeling of wishing I had been there...I'd wanted to show him wedding pictures (since he wasn't able to make it to our wedding), but I was too late.

Anyway, love the crazy deal you got!!! I am similar to you with the "economic discipline", so I really appreciate the half-price bargain you got. And I'm super impressed you paid off your mortgage. We recently finished paying off all debt except our mortgage, and I thought that was cool, but the mortgage would be amazing!

Great trip report, keep it up! Thanks for sharing.

And, for this person:

Crikey I'd love to read a report of some really old trips 70's/80's even 90's it would be fascinating to see the changes and what's the same

I recently posted a 1990 trip report (an unusual one), so feel free to check it out. Link is in my signiture, next the the 1990 dates. Enjoy!

 

[Khill]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I have lost my father in the past couple of years, and know that nothing can be said to bring him back.

It is nice and comforting to know that you have friends on the Dis board that will and can sympathize with you, and feel the pain that you have.

May he look down on you and be proud of who you are and what you have become. Keep the loving memories close, and cherish the special times you had.

We are all thinking of you and your family.

 

[MEK]

I do believe that many people have a sixth sense about things. So, yes, I think you knew to go right over to your phone and check for messages. You knew something was wrong just by the "look" of that blinking message light.

I am glad you were able to get a flight home from Tampa. Imagine having to make 3 stops before even getting home. That would be horrible.

Again - I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[A&Bmama]

I got pretty behind on all my TRs, but I think I am caught up now. I am so sorry to hear about your dad.....that is so sad. How awful to lose a parent while visiting the happiest place in the world. This happened to my coworker's wife a few years ago. I hope you were able to get home in a timely manner.

I can tell that is was difficult touring the parks with so many people. I really think you did a great job keeping everyone organized. I don't know how you managed to eat so little because your meal times were out of synch. I would have been eating everything in sight.

I do believe that many people have a sixth sense about things. So, yes, I think you knew to go right over to your phone and check for messages. You knew something was wrong just by the "look" of that blinking message light.

I am glad you were able to get a flight home from Tampa. Imagine having to make 3 stops before even getting home. That would be horrible.

Again - I am so sorry for your loss.

First let me say thanks for reading and for the kind words. Secondly, I am trying to respond to everyone who taking the time to offer support and share their stories. I just realized I never responded to you the first time. Oops sorry!

It is a very difficult time when you lose a parent. It's sad that is was compounded by being so far from home and by the loss 1/2 of a trip we had been dreaming of for over a decade.

I was really glad to be able to get everyone out together the next day.

Thanks again for reading and offering support!

 

[A&Bmama]

I am so sorry for you loss. I lost my father when I was in college. I didn't have a cell phone at the time so someone called the school and they had to find me in my class (thankfully I got up that morning). They gave me a number to call at the hospital and when I called the hospital they asked me to have someone drive me there (I knew that wasn't a good sign). It was a crazy time trying to get my mother there to drive me (she started making phone calls to figure out what was happening instead of just picking me up at school). I still get teary thinking about it 14 year later (this week).

Of course yesterday I was dealing with a sick kitty with the possibility of surgery and I read your warning about being in the right state of mind, but I went ahead and read anyways. Of course I got emotional, but in order to stay under control at work, I chose to wait until to day to respond.

This past August my Grandmother was diagnosed with liver cancer and she was put on hospice care. I had been planning a trip with my goddaughter for months and everyone told us to still take the trip. My Grandmother knows how much I love Disney and she was jealous that we were going without her. Thankfully, she survived until we got home and we were able to spend some more time with her and share our pictures with her. We did end up losing her at the end of the month, and I feel guilty for not being there to spend more time with her, but she insisted that we take the trip and she was very happy to share it with us through the pictures.

Again I am very sorry for your loss. I know you made the right decision by going home immediately. Disney will always be there, but your family needed you.

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad. I know it's a really helpless feeling when you know there is a crisis going on and you can't get there. I can't imagine having to sit there waiting with no information of what was going on. I think I would have been absolutely hysterical. Maybe not though, on thing I've learned is that we are stronger than we think we are.

I did try to warn people, I didn't want to blindside anyone who expecting "light" reading. I didn't really believe that it would stop anyone though. I would find that the curiosity would be too strong at that point if I were reading it.

I'm sure your Grandmother loved being able to look at your picture and take the trip vicariously through you. The older I get the more I learn that parents and grandparents mean these things they tell you. Like "don't spend your money on me, I have everything I need." I know I'll say this to my kids and mean it. Your Grandmother wouldn't want the end of her life to interfere with you living yours. I'm sure she wants you to live your life to the fullest and find as much happiness as you can along the way.

Thanks for reading and for sharing your stories with me.

 

[A&Bmama]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I just found your wonderful TR today and have sat here reading it from the very beginning. Thank you for sharing. I hope there is some relief for you putting it in words. I will be here until it's complete..

Thanks for reading. I'm really glad I decided to write the report. It brings back the good memories of how much fun we had before this happend.

 

[A&Bmama]

I've been following your trip report for awhile (great attention-getting title, by the way!), but haven't commented until now. Just wanted to say sorry for the loss of your father. Although it's not the same thing, the moment we touched down from our flight back from our honeymoon in Italy a few years ago, I got a call from my mom that my Grandpa has passed away. Definitely know the feeling of wishing I had been there...I'd wanted to show him wedding pictures (since he wasn't able to make it to our wedding), but I was too late.

Anyway, love the crazy deal you got!!! I am similar to you with the "economic discipline", so I really appreciate the half-price bargain you got. And I'm super impressed you paid off your mortgage. We recently finished paying off all debt except our mortgage, and I thought that was cool, but the mortgage would be amazing!

Great trip report, keep it up! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for following my report. I'm sorry you never got to show your Grandpa your photos, it's never easy when you lose someone. I remember when we first found out that we were expecting DS the first thing I wanted to do was tell my Grandmother. I was so scared that she might die before finding out that she was going to be a Great Grandmother. Fortunately she actually lived until DS was 14.

Not having credit card debit is fantastic! You look to be quite a bit younger than I am so it will come in time. Just don't carry a balance on those credit cards if you can possibly help it

I am really interest phobic, way more than most people. My advice is never pay interest on anything that depreciates. It's simple advice that can be hard to follow at times.