honeyb35
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2011
- Messages
- 134
This will be my 2nd trip to DLP, I first went in 2006. Both times in February, for a very specific reason.
On 12th Feb 2005 my perfectly healthy son turned 6 months old. However, that day something else happened he was rushed to hospital after suffering a fit. He then spent the next 3 months in there, and was diagnosed as suffering encephalitis, which is where an infection attacks the brain and causes it to swell (thought in his case to be the herpes simplex virus, basically a cold sore!) When he was discharged he was permanently brain damaged, and shortly afterwards diagnosed with epilepsy and reflux.
When it was coming up to the first anniversary of his illness I could feel myself getting panicky and depressed about it all a very close friend picked up on this and suggested a trip to Disneyland to take our minds off all the bad stuff that happened in Feb and give us new memories.
And this is precisely why were returning in Feb! The more happy memories I can make of that month the better I feel!
So, we, that is, myself, my husband, our eldest daughter who is 11, our son who is now 7, and our youngest daughter who is 5, are off to experience the magic!
Booking the trip proved a complete nightmare initially. We actually received a small grant from a charity towards the holiday which is why I wanted to go. However it meant we were tied to booking the holiday with a certain travel agency and when I checked prices, they were extortionate and seemed to bring up a whole heap of problems I hadnt even really thought about.
I had pretty much given up on the idea of going, and a few months later, called into a different branch of the travel agency on the off chance, not really expecting much. However this agent was really good from the start whereas before I was told that as a family of 5 we would have to stay in a partner hotel (not a problem, just was v pricey to say it wasnt on site!) this time she told me about the disabled adapted rooms available in the Sequoia Lodge, and the help we could get at the airport if we flew, all for a price cheaper than initially quoted for an offsite hotel and ferry!
So we are now flying from Manchester Airport early in the morning and arriving at lunchtime. Apparently we have priority boarding, ambulift onto the plane ect. Im quite a nervous flyer, but have to pretend not to be, as my hubby is worse! Also, last time we went, there was a lot of turbulence on the way home and my darling son got v v travel sick just as the airhostesses had strapped themselves into their seats and I realised the budget airline didnt provide sickbags lol.
Also hoping that sons wheelchair will be brought so we can use it straight after getting off the plane. He was in a pram last time, which they didnt deem important enough to do this with, so he had to be carried all the way through to baggage :\
Finding a transfer has proved the biggest headache of all so far. The travel agent couldnt find one, so Ive spent months searching on the internet, only to conclude that there are NO affordable transfer companies who cater for wheelchairs (anyone fancy a business idea?). Ive eventually booked with inter shuttle prestige its not ideal as he cant travel in the wheelchair but at least they can carry it (I hope!) and they seem really friendly.
I dont really have definite plans of what we are going to do in the park so far. None of us are bothered about the big rollercoaster type rides. The main reason for Disneyland at this time for us is due to our son starting to respond to familiar characters he loves toy story (especially Buzz!), cars, nemo, mickey .so meeting some of those is a biggie!
My eldest daughter was the same age as our youngest when we first went and she LOVED the carousel, so I imagine that will be a popular one (although son cant ride that, hes not good with things like roundabouts as they make him sick!). I remember a Peter Pan ride where it appeared you flew through the skies of London, with lots of fibre optic lights hopefully that one is still there! And of course, its a small world!
Princess meets for the girls would be good (even though eldest is 11, shes still a princess at heart!)
The stunt show for the hubby is on the cards not quite sure Ill be able to drag him away tbh!
I havent given mealtimes much thought, hubby is quite a fussy eater and budget is stretched. I think breakfast rolls sneaked it will do for dinner and well survive on mcdonalds for teatimes, its only a couple of days after all! And snacky bits in the suitcases of course!
I sent off for the kids passports just before Christmas and they arrived a couple of days ago, which of course sent the excitement sky rocketing again!
On 12th Feb 2005 my perfectly healthy son turned 6 months old. However, that day something else happened he was rushed to hospital after suffering a fit. He then spent the next 3 months in there, and was diagnosed as suffering encephalitis, which is where an infection attacks the brain and causes it to swell (thought in his case to be the herpes simplex virus, basically a cold sore!) When he was discharged he was permanently brain damaged, and shortly afterwards diagnosed with epilepsy and reflux.
When it was coming up to the first anniversary of his illness I could feel myself getting panicky and depressed about it all a very close friend picked up on this and suggested a trip to Disneyland to take our minds off all the bad stuff that happened in Feb and give us new memories.
And this is precisely why were returning in Feb! The more happy memories I can make of that month the better I feel!
So, we, that is, myself, my husband, our eldest daughter who is 11, our son who is now 7, and our youngest daughter who is 5, are off to experience the magic!
Booking the trip proved a complete nightmare initially. We actually received a small grant from a charity towards the holiday which is why I wanted to go. However it meant we were tied to booking the holiday with a certain travel agency and when I checked prices, they were extortionate and seemed to bring up a whole heap of problems I hadnt even really thought about.
I had pretty much given up on the idea of going, and a few months later, called into a different branch of the travel agency on the off chance, not really expecting much. However this agent was really good from the start whereas before I was told that as a family of 5 we would have to stay in a partner hotel (not a problem, just was v pricey to say it wasnt on site!) this time she told me about the disabled adapted rooms available in the Sequoia Lodge, and the help we could get at the airport if we flew, all for a price cheaper than initially quoted for an offsite hotel and ferry!
So we are now flying from Manchester Airport early in the morning and arriving at lunchtime. Apparently we have priority boarding, ambulift onto the plane ect. Im quite a nervous flyer, but have to pretend not to be, as my hubby is worse! Also, last time we went, there was a lot of turbulence on the way home and my darling son got v v travel sick just as the airhostesses had strapped themselves into their seats and I realised the budget airline didnt provide sickbags lol.
Also hoping that sons wheelchair will be brought so we can use it straight after getting off the plane. He was in a pram last time, which they didnt deem important enough to do this with, so he had to be carried all the way through to baggage :\
Finding a transfer has proved the biggest headache of all so far. The travel agent couldnt find one, so Ive spent months searching on the internet, only to conclude that there are NO affordable transfer companies who cater for wheelchairs (anyone fancy a business idea?). Ive eventually booked with inter shuttle prestige its not ideal as he cant travel in the wheelchair but at least they can carry it (I hope!) and they seem really friendly.
I dont really have definite plans of what we are going to do in the park so far. None of us are bothered about the big rollercoaster type rides. The main reason for Disneyland at this time for us is due to our son starting to respond to familiar characters he loves toy story (especially Buzz!), cars, nemo, mickey .so meeting some of those is a biggie!
My eldest daughter was the same age as our youngest when we first went and she LOVED the carousel, so I imagine that will be a popular one (although son cant ride that, hes not good with things like roundabouts as they make him sick!). I remember a Peter Pan ride where it appeared you flew through the skies of London, with lots of fibre optic lights hopefully that one is still there! And of course, its a small world!
Princess meets for the girls would be good (even though eldest is 11, shes still a princess at heart!)
The stunt show for the hubby is on the cards not quite sure Ill be able to drag him away tbh!
I havent given mealtimes much thought, hubby is quite a fussy eater and budget is stretched. I think breakfast rolls sneaked it will do for dinner and well survive on mcdonalds for teatimes, its only a couple of days after all! And snacky bits in the suitcases of course!
I sent off for the kids passports just before Christmas and they arrived a couple of days ago, which of course sent the excitement sky rocketing again!
