Just got back and SO disappointed

[avalon451]

Dear DISers, what a huge help you have all been. I planned so carefully for a long time for our first family trip, March 24th-28th. None of us had ever been to any Disney park. We were sure we were going to have a wonderful time. Well, the best laid plans, as they say....

DD12 got sick on the plane on the way there. Feverish, weak, nauseated. We kept making her rest, drink lots of water, and take tylenol, and took turns staying with her in the hotel. She would perk up in the later morning or afternoon and want to go to the park, but she tired very easily. We kept thinking she was getting better, and then she would wake up again worse. By yesterday, we all wanted to just go home. Our flight back to Seattle got in at 9:30 and we got home at 11 and she slept deeply all night. This morning we took her to the doctor and she was a mess, shivering, weak, nauseated. Despite all our efforts she had become very dehydrated, and they gave her 2 bags of intravenous fluid right there in the office. Her test for Influenza A or B has come back negative, so apparently it's just a NASTY virus, compounded by an ear infection and stress. So she's on antibiotics and we're feeding her water and popsicles, and trying to keep them down.

Our other two daughters also started getting sick, DD5 on Wednesday, DD10 yesterday on the way home, along with me. Luckily their ears and lungs are clear, and they are doing ok with rest and lots of fluids. I have an ear infection and the start of a sinus infection.

We tried so hard to make it ok. She's very conscientious, and she felt SO bad for "holding us back." We kept telling her that as long as she felt better we were just fine. We did get to see and ride much of what we wanted to, at least the younger two did while me or DH switched off with them. But I just feel so awful for my poor daughter.

And the crowds were HORRENDOUS. I knew it was one of the busiest times of the year, but having never been there, I didn't realize the implications. Hydroguy's tips are great but in some cases they don't always work out the way you'd like, when it's that busy. i.e., Park hop over to CA at 9:30 to ride Soarin'? Sure, but you have to line up at 9 because otherwise the line by 9:10 is to the middle or farther of the esplanade. So you get in that line to get in early and get your Soarin' knocked off, but by the time you get throught the gates the line for Soarin' is already 50 minutes. BEFORE official opening. By midday it was simply impossible to get around.

Anyway, maybe when I'm feeling less traumatized I'll do a trip report. It wasn't all bad, we really tried to make the best of it. Just... sigh.

 

[jemilah]

I have been there with a sick kid it is awful, so sorry your trip was bad......hope you can find a way to go again soon!

 

[mystic_path]

Awww I am sorry to hear things didnt go as planned for you and I hope your daughter is feeling alright. Just start thinking about another trip back during a less busy time and it will cheer you up a bit.

 

[DisneyPhreak]

O man....so sorry to hear that it didnt go as well as you had hoped. Thats one thing that can ruin any trip in a hurry is someone getting sick. Unfortunately its something you never plan for, it just happens. Hopefully you got some enjoyment out of the trip, and it just means that you have to go back again sometime soon.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm so scared for crowds like that on our trip. We've only been during the quiet seasons, and here we are, going on Memorial Day weekend and beyond.


Now go rest. If you have what everyone around us (including us) has been getting, there's a lowish fever, then just a whole bunch of coughing and blowing your nose, for us it felt like ear infections but we didn't go in so who knows, and about a week after the coughing starts the ear pain goes away and eventually the coughing stops (though I'm still coughing a bit, but I have sensitive lungs).

Very strange remedy that I made hubby take when just going into the illness, and he only had one bad day (compared to my 5 and DS's 4 very bad days and nights): tblsp of apple cider vinegar, matching amount of honey, water, stir, drink with a really bad expression on your face b/c it just tastes weird. But my cough calmed significantly when I found the remedy (thanks mothering dot com) and like I mentioned, DH only had one bad day compared to our marathon sicknesses (and he never got the ear pain at all, which as you know is baaaad ear pain).

Hope you heal up soon!

 

[bethy]

I am so SO sorry. So sorry for your daughter's and your family's illness and SO sorry for such a bitterly disappointing experience. I really really feel for you.

 

[DLR29]

This bad experience just gives you one more reason to go back and have a better vacation!

 

[deej696]

I am so sorry your trip was so stressful. Growing up, we spent a lot of time at WDW and I know I got sick a couple times. Hopefully that wont keep you away forever, however, and that you'll try again with better luck!

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

Ahhhh...That just makes me sooooo sad...and on your very first trip.
I'm so sorry...

One year at Disneyworld, 3 of the 5 of us got the 'vomits' ugh! and our son who was barely 3 at the time, still says (when we're talking about different Disney trips)..."Was that the time that I got really sick?" We were staying in a Disney Hotel and they took such sweet care of us, but it was still so sad.

I wonder if taking out travel insurance would pay for the trip if you get ill like that ? Does anyone know?

 

[trodrigue]

Hi Neighbor!
So sorry about your daughter's illness. That happened on our last trip also, with my 11 year old getting sick, and then my husband. Well, I actually sulked about it for a few months! Now I am happily planning my next trip back and planning for 7 days, just in case someone is sick, buying AP's, etc.

By the way, I just printed pics from that last trip, some 3 months after the fact, and those memories are happily much removed from the negative stuff, and I can now focus on all the great parts.

Hopefully after everyone is well again, you will refocus on the parts that were wonderful.

 

[imjen]

I totally feel for you! Our last trip had quite a bit of ups and downs too. It was our anniversary trip and we did a day at Catalina Island and two days at DLR. I was sick before we left and stayed sick for the whole trip & for about a week after we got back. We still had a lot of fun, but we had to rest more than usual and by the evening of the 2nd day at Disneyland/DCA I was exhausted and didn't realize I'd set our camera down on a bench. When we went back to get it, it was gone, and never ended up being turned into lost and found...so it was stolen. I used up the rest of my energy trying to find the camera and going to lost & found, so we left after that.

I'm so bummed that that's how our day ended and it's hard not to have that memory overshadow the other stuff. Uggghhh We did have a ton of fun overall and did some things that we hadn't done before with our kids so the trip was still worth it and I have some good memories, but it's hard having that bad taste in my mouth and I'm scared now that I'll get sick for our next trip too. (I tend to stress myself out and often end up catching some bug right before or during trips). ((((HUGS)))) & I hope your dd, you, & the rest of your fam get better really soon!!!

 

[mommaU4]

Oh man, I am so sorry to hear that.

If it helps you aren't alone. In 1999 DH and I were planning to take our kids (we only had 2 at the time) to WDW for their first time. It was also our first trip back there since 1989, ten years!

We planned and planned and were so excited!!!!!! Then 2 days before the trip DS got sick. Long story short, he was doing ok the day of the trip so off we flew from CA to FL.

But he was still weak and then became feverish. We spent more time in the First Aid areas of Epcot and Animal Kingdom then in the parks themselves.

Sure enough on day 3 of a week long trip, DS got better and then DD and I got it. It was a nightmare. I was in tears all day because our well planned trip was just ruined. DD and I spent 2 days in the hotel room too sick to even go out. All I wanted to do was go home. The plane ride home was torture because I felt so sick.

Anyway, I know what it's like to plan for something for so long and then have it go wrong.

BUT I will say that we went back to WDW with all four kids in 2005, and not one person was sick, crowds were low, Christmas decorations were up and it was magical!!

I know your time will come too!! The next trip will be better.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I'm so sorry, that's really disappointing! Hopefully you guys will get to go back again. There are a lot of nasty bugs going around this year. I was sick for our October trip, it was just a cold. But it made it hard to sleep at night, I did my best to tough it out during the day. I ended up giving it to my ds and brother who came on the trip. So they were sick the last 2 days of the trip. I know it's no fun being on vacation sick!

Hope all of you feel better real soon!

 

[Cass]

Aww your poor DD, poor thing

I hope you can plan another trip someday soon to make up for it.

 

[tink2dw]

I'm sorry that your child was ill, bummer to the max! But it isn't uncommon.

Our 1st trip to WDW we had alot of fun but the morning we were leaving to fly home my Dd woke up puking and puked on the plane floor, all over her clothes, with the seat belt sign on!! All the Flight Attendants would do was bring me 3 wet paper towels, Hmmm, the floor or my Dd, Dd of course!! Thank goodness I had extra clothes in the back pack for her! We flew 3000 miles with puke on the floor!!

12 years later on our next trip to WDW, DD and I were sick down flat in bed for 3 days of 10 days. Plus Dd got acute swimmers ear after 1 swim and was down and out 2 more days after 2 hospital visits and an a Ambulance ride. It was eventful but we still had fun.

So, plan another trip to Disney as soon as you can. Pray for everyone to stay well!

 

[BecBennett]

To make you feel better I had a bad cold the entire holiday , and then one night woke up with conjunctivitis
I didn't let it stop me from enjoying Disneyland though, it was only towards the end of the trip when DBF started getting the sniffles, and we all know how much worse a man cold is compared to the "easy" colds that women get...

 

[disney-inspired]

I'm sorry your trip was complicated.

I hope it doesn't prevent you from coming back someday to enjoy DL or WDW.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I'm so sorry! That is a huge bummer. I can't imagine your disappointment! On your very first trip! Geesh. I know I would have been crushed too, after all that planning. Your DD sounds like a real trooper, poor thing.

I hope your little girl is feeling better soon- and that one day you all can laugh at the comedy of errors almost this trip was for you. At least you know your next trip out HAS to be better!

We'll all be here to help you plan Trip # 2!

 

[bonita_babe232]

AWWWW i totally understand you too! Both my sons and my grandma got sick too! My son puked in goofys candy shop i was so embaressed!.... We didn't even get into the park till 2-3 days after we got there... My older son perked up but the little one was sick the whole time... he pooped his stroller atleast twice everytime! We even ran out of clothes on time cause he had to many accidents! Don't worry just think... next time you go back will be fun cause you wont be sick (hopefully lol) and just think it will be a trip that you never forgot! Thats one of the first things we tell people...it was fun other then all the puking and poopin lol! But i hope your daughter gets better soon! Theres a bug going around! My whole family had it for a week.... and now we think the little guys got it again... its just going around like wildfire here!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

To make you feel better I had a bad cold the entire holiday , and then one night woke up with conjunctivitis
I didn't let it stop me from enjoying Disneyland though, it was only towards the end of the trip when DBF started getting the sniffles, and we all know how much worse a man cold is compared to the "easy" colds that women get...

Yes, a 'man cold' is always sooooo much worse than the 'easy' colds we women get. That's why you know who made us the stronger gender!!!