Need help making a trip for happen for terminally ill family member.....

[crazydaisy00]

I have a Q for fellow DA's and TA's. If you were to book a family trip and had a terminally ill family member what's the best source to book? My family was planning a Dec trip and taking my mother and father in law for their 1st trip along with my sister in law and her family. Total people of 12. Unfortunately in Jan my M-I-L was diagnosed with cancer and has been battling since, she went in the hospital Mon night and Tues morning my F-I-L had a massive heart attack while visiting her...Thank god he is doing well! Yesterday he was released and we found out while visiting her cancer is aggressive and not going the way we hoped. Needless to say my F-I-L says let's make bucket list honey and tells me she was so excited to go to WDW and he now really wants to make this happen. Dan calls Disney today (yes during all the FD chaos lol) and gets some info but with a party that large good dining/ character dining are going to be hard...Also if she has a disability pass she can take 6 ppl on a ride. We don't look for much riding maybe something very easy but I also want to give her a great trip if this works out. Just looking at a few days she won't be able to go very long her health isn't good at all. I'll take any suggestions or information that anyone has. I have no idea if we will be able to fulfill this wish but with some prayers and pixie dust we might be able to get her to Disney. TIA....

 

[Skywise]

Sorry to hear your family going through something like this.

If you think she can make it 6 months out for the 190 day ADPs (which is probably asking alot) I'd book a resort now and start making the reservations as they come available.

End of August is pretty good crowd-wise and many ADPs will still be available or any time this month before Memorial Day or middle of June (Before July 4).

In general, stay during the weeks and avoid the weekends. Let the Disney CMs know what's going on and they might be able to work some magic for you.

If you can afford it, break the bank - Stay club level, at least for your in-laws, as I suspect they'll be back at the hotel for R&R quite a bit (and which will also get you better concierge services for reservations and the like).

Godspeed!

 

[crazydaisy00]

Sorry to hear your family going through something like this.

If you think she can make it 6 months out for the 190 day ADPs (which is probably asking alot) I'd book a resort now and start making the reservations as they come available.

End of August is pretty good crowd-wise and many ADPs will still be available or any time this month before Memorial Day or middle of June (Before July 4).

In general, stay during the weeks and avoid the weekends. Let the Disney CMs know what's going on and they might be able to work some magic for you.

If you can afford it, break the bank - Stay club level, at least for your in-laws, as I suspect they'll be back at the hotel for R&R quite a bit (and which will also get you better concierge services for reservations and the like).

Godspeed!

Thank you!! I really cant plan 6 mos out, we were originally taking this trip in Dec but after talking to the Dr yesterday we need to go asap, if she is able to go within in next month or 2 this will be our only shot. We are from PA and the trip will be hard as it is so the longer we wait we are worried the trip down will be too much for her to handle. Praying for a miracle and if we get one I will definitely be planning far enough in advance she can go to all the places we have been telling her about!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I would book the trip and stalk the online adrs. I've been able to book for a party of 10-12 late in the game, you will be able to get in somewhere.

MIL will be happy to be there with her family, she won't really care about Chef Mickey's.

 

[JulieWent]

I'm am sorry that your family is going through this. I hope that your trip is magical. The first thing you should do is call reservations and try to get a CM who is experienced and capable. Tell him / her your situation and what you're looking to do. That CM can make a huge difference for you in planning. Can you stay on-site? If so, there are some wonderful places that have villas with multiple rooms -- check the DVC board here in the DIS to see about renting. (I can highly recommend Dave's Rental Service. You'll see more about it on the DVC board.) If you can't stay on-site, there are many agencies that rent houses for large groups. (My parents rented one once for our whole family. It was huge.) Check this out as an option. Then, consider early June (after Memorial Day weekend) as being still not as crowded as it gets in later June. Don't wait until late June. (If you can plan that fast, go the last week of this month.) If you stayed in a villa or an off-site house, you wouldn't have to worry as much about ADRs because you could do some meals together in the villa or house.

It will be difficult to find character meal ADRs for a large group this close out, but consider breaking up and going in smaller groups. Go with your parents one night. Allow another family to go with them the next. That might allow for some more intimate family memories. You can try to find one big thing to do together.

Good luck. Pick up the phone and call Disney now. Someone will have some ideas. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Julie

 

[Piper]

I am sorry that your M-I-L is going through this. Just to clarify some things: There is no "disability pass." There is a DAS. This does not get you reduced time in line. You need to read to read the FAQs in this thread to get a better idea of what is available: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3178976

 

[stitchlovestink]

I'm am sorry that your family is going through this. I hope that your trip is magical. The first thing you should do is call reservations and try to get a CM who is experienced and capable. Tell him / her your situation and what you're looking to do. That CM can make a huge difference for you in planning. Can you stay on-site? If so, there are some wonderful places that have villas with multiple rooms -- check the DVC board here in the DIS to see about renting. (I can highly recommend Dave's Rental Service. You'll see more about it on the DVC board.) If you can't stay on-site, there are many agencies that rent houses for large groups. (My parents rented one once for our whole family. It was huge.) Check this out as an option. Then, consider early June (after Memorial Day weekend) as being still not as crowded as it gets in later June. Don't wait until late June. (If you can plan that fast, go the last week of this month.) If you stayed in a villa or an off-site house, you wouldn't have to worry as much about ADRs because you could do some meals together in the villa or house.

It will be difficult to find character meal ADRs for a large group this close out, but consider breaking up and going in smaller groups. Go with your parents one night. Allow another family to go with them the next. That might allow for some more intimate family memories. You can try to find one big thing to do together.

Good luck. Pick up the phone and call Disney now. Someone will have some ideas. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Julie

Just be advised that if you rent thru something like Dave's, there is NO FLEXIBILITY in changing your plans and NO refund. So if you can't go, you are out your money. If I were in your situation, I would make my reservation directly through Disney MYSELF! Disney is forgiving and does NOT always keep the cancellation penalties depending on the circumstances....have experienced it myself (when I had to have emergency surgery)!! And No I did NOT buy insurance. And if you get the right CMs, it is amazing some of the strings they can pull to make things happen!
My DD got a family into Chef Mickey's just to meet Mickey Mouse before they left and they were not dining there! But she was personal friends with Chef Mickey and she had befriended that family staying at her hotel. The dad had just passed from cancer and the mom was there with just the three young kids. My DD went into Chef Mickey's and talked to the CA and told them what she wanted to do because the family was leaving and never got to meet Mickey. The mom was crying and the kids were beyond thrilled. All this happened while my DD was supposed to be on her break! One of her 'supers' came by and asked her why she wasn't on break...When he found out what she had done, she got a fanatic card. He said that's what it is all about. This was a supervisor at the CR. What a way for that family to end their trip and head back to the airport.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Just be advised that if you rent thru something like Dave's, there is NO FLEXIBILITY in changing your plans and NO refund. So if you can't go, you are out your money. If I were in your situation, I would make my reservation directly through Disney MYSELF! Disney is forgiving and does NOT always keep the cancellation penalties depending on the circumstances....have experienced it myself (when I had to have emergency surgery)!! And No I did NOT buy insurance. And if you get the right CMs, it is amazing some of the strings they can pull to make things happen! My DD got a family into Chef Mickey's just to meet Mickey Mouse before they left and they were not dining there! But she was personal friends with Chef Mickey and she had befriended that family staying at her hotel. The dad had just passed from cancer and the mom was there with just the three young kids. My DD went into Chef Mickey's and talked to the CA and told them what she wanted to do because the family was leaving and never got to meet Mickey. The mom was crying and the kids were beyond thrilled. All this happened while my DD was supposed to be on her break! One of her 'supers' came by and asked her why she wasn't on break...When he found out what she had done, she got a fanatic card. He said that's what it is all about. This was a supervisor at the CR. What a way for that family to end their trip and head back to the airport.

What a beautiful story!

 

[stitchlovestink]

What a beautiful story!

Thank you!!! DD got into an argument with the CA CM as she told DD that Mickey was 'too busy'!! DD told the CA she knew Mickey Very Personally....they lived in the same apt bldg at one time! Then the CA backed down and worked with DD instead of against her.

She has had several interactions that have been extremely touching. But the one that was most memorable to her (and to her relaying them to me) was a little girl (probably about 10) who had lost ALL of her hair and had a tube of some sort entering her nostril. DD 'assumed' she was battling cancer but never inquired. DD has VERY LONG BLONDE hair. Well this little girl came up to her and said, "Excuse me, could I please have your hair?" Well DD is a bit on the vain side about her hair (not in a rude way but what woman doesn't love her hair to the point she would want to totally give it up?? she's 21) Well when DD saw this little girl standing there...her heart sank! She said, "I am so sorry but I really love my hair. I don't think I could give it up. Is there anything else though that I could do for you? Anything at all?" Well the little girl said, "when my hair grows back, I am going to color it just like yours. It is so long and pretty. Do you think I could brush your hair?" Meantime the girl's mother showed up and she got upset that she asked to brush my DD's hair. Well my DD told her that her work was all caught up and she had some free time. So my DD went and got her hairbrush and she and the little girl sat there for about 20 minutes. My DD asked her what her favorites were...park, ride, restaurant, snack, character, etc. And the little girl would ask DD hers in return. DD said They sat there and laughed. Eventually the mom interrupted and asked the little girl to go see her Dad about something. The mom started crying as she was talking to DD saying thank you for seeing past the 'tube' and other 'issues'....and just treating her like a normal little girl! Those few moments had been a highlight of their vacation because a stranger saw past the differences and saw the child.
My DD never asked one question about her situation and often wonders what happened to her. She left quite an impression on DD too.
So like I said before there are some CMs who when they know there are extenuating circumstances, they will do what they can to make special moments for guests.

 

[canadianmom2three]

Not sure if this is something that you could swing financially, but would you consider the VIP tour? It seems $$$ at fist glance, but it is for a group of up to 10, so if you were to split the cost it might not be prohibitive? It seems like it may be helpful to allow you to accomplish more things, and to move through the park as a larger group on one day of your trip. Also, have looked at the fireworks cruise as something to do with a larger family group that is a more relaxed way to see the fireworks without battling the crowds. Just some ideas....