Need some special help....long...please read!

[4fordisneyworld]

I used to post on the board quite a bit and then we had tragedy hit our family. We had just returned from Disney this past April 08 on the 12th. My husbands birthday was on the 13th ( he turned 31 ) and then he passed away completely unexpectedly on the 16th. ( due to sudden heart death ) We have two incredible little girls who are grieving their daddy so much right now. They are only 6 and 4. Well it was my husband's dream to raise our girls going to disney. We had even bought into the DVC while there in April. I was able to cancel it, just not sure if I should keep it at that point. I am still in shock to say the least but I am at least out of the fog enough to try and be there for my girls. I miss him so much every second of every day. We had the fairytale romance and we would have been married 11yrs in July. But we still felt like newlyweds. Here is my question to all of the dis people....

We arrive in Disney on Dec 3 with a party of 10. No one has ever been there out of our party except myself and my girls. I am only going back so soon because I know if I don't do this now I might not ever take them back. Just so many memories that I am scared to do this. I really want to do something special for my girls that would make the trip very special and yet somehow maybe make it a little easier for them. My six yr old is getting pretty nervous the closer it gets. I have even asked her if she would rather not go and she still wants to but tells me that she might cry. Which I tell is perfectly fine! We are staying at POP, the only place we have stayed so far and I am wondering if the resort might help me plan something special or even something really cool in a park. Any suggestions would be awesome!

Thank you dis friends and I look forward to your ideas!

PS some of you may remember my last time i was searching for help on here! My husband wanted to make my little girls dream come true, long story short, and it was awesome how disney helped us. Just hoping this time they can really come through....lots of memories we are about to embark upon!

 

[CrAzY4DL]

I've never been to WDW so have no help for you but I definitely have a huge internet hug for you and your girls for being so brave!!! How hard it must be for you to help keep yours and DH's dream for your girls alive!!!

Kudos, Mom!

 

[dyna]

HUGSSss It certainly does not hurt to ask if disney would do something special but since you are traveling with others it would be very easy for you to do something special yourself maybe pack a special gift or 2 even buy the big balloons in the parks an slip away long enough to take them back to the room.... Way you would deliver stuff you packed an took along would be you forgot something in room an only you go back or someone who is traveling with you could possibly do it.

Maybe tell the girls I know Daddy would have wanted you to have this...

Look at the disney visit as a time to remember old memories an make new, keep a couple things they always did with daddy alive yet maybe start some NEW tradition to make new memories on.

 

[ksumn1]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure you and your family will treasure those memories of the great time you had at WDW with your DH.

I would call WDW Reservations and maybe have them add anote onto your reservation about your recent loss and that this trip is in memory of your DH. Let them know that you really want to make this as good of a trip as possible for the girls. When DH and I went on our Anniversary, he had it noted in our reservation and I was wished Happy Anniversary by the staff at Artist Point at dinner that night. Reiterate at check in the reason why this is a special trip as discreetly as possible. See if maybe Mickey can have something sent to the room. Join the postcard (Fairy Godmailer??) list on the DIS and have Mickey or the Princesses send your DD a special message before the trip.

Plan a special dinner at DH's favorite restaurant. Use the time to reminisce and share happy memories about him and your last trip. Try to fins something you did as a family and turn it into a ritual you can do on each trip. (Dinner at a certain place, pictures at a certain place etc) Bring a picture of DH that you took of him in front of the castle or anywhere, really and when you get there take a moment to remember your DH and how happy he was, Alllow yourself to greive for a second...then go ride Space Mountain 5 times in a row!!

Just remember that it probably will be sad and happy and fun and depressing all at the same time, and that's OK. Make it a memorial trip but make sure that ya'll have fun, too.

God Bless you and

 

[Disney87]

delete

 

[kpadalik]

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your girls.

A little something that you may be able to do on your own to honor your husband while at Disney is to buy a couple of Mickey balloons on Main Street when you get there. Have the girls each release one into the air so Daddy can get them in Heaven and that way he knows that they are in Disney and carrying on his dream of your DDs being raised "Disney". It could even be a tradition that you do every time you visit. Just a thought...

 

[LisaMommy]

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your girls.

A little something that you may be able to do on your own to honor your husband while at Disney is to buy a couple of Mickey balloons on Main Street when you get there. Have the girls each release one into the air so Daddy can get them in Heaven and that way he knows that they are in Disney and carrying on his dream of your DDs being raised "Disney". It could even be a tradition that you do every time you visit. Just a thought...

I was going to recommend the same thing. Find a special spot, away from the majority of the crowds and maybe let them say something they remember doing with their daddy at WDW. My heart goes out to you and your family.

 

[bellebud]

I wanted to give you and your girls a huge

I'm so very sorry for your loss!! You sound like a wonderful mom though, and your girls are very lucky to have you!

How about ordering something from disney florist to be delivered to your room once you're there - make it from tinkerbell.

are you doing the 'tinkerbell' gifts that are talked about on the dis? Each morning leave a small gift for your girls, and maybe a sprinkling of *pixie dust* in the area so it really looks like tink was there.

I hope you can find peace and happiness again at some point.

 

[RMulieri]

I was wondering how you were doing. I like the idea of the balloon release.This trip will be hard for you,but you are doing a great thing for your children.Just go on the trip, cry if you feel it, it will be a different trip then you have ever been on.Allow your children to share their feelings and cry, hug each other,I firmly believe your Dh is with you in spirit and wouldn't want you to stop going to disney.My thoughts and prayers are with you

 

[Erin13178]

I'm sorry for your loss. I do like the balloon idea.

I would contact your hotel or reservations and see if they can suggest anything. Is there anywhere your dh liked to dine or anything that maybe you could go there in honor of him?

 

[Chris]

I'm so very sorry for you loss. Major hugs for you and your girls. what about a special dinner for the 3 of you? Somrry I'm not much help, but I'l keep thinking.

 

[Chris]

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your girls.

A little something that you may be able to do on your own to honor your husband while at Disney is to buy a couple of Mickey balloons on Main Street when you get there. Have the girls each release one into the air so Daddy can get them in Heaven and that way he knows that they are in Disney and carrying on his dream of your DDs being raised "Disney". It could even be a tradition that you do every time you visit. Just a thought...

OH I love this idea. what a nice tradition it could become.

 

[SLK1]

Wow...this story just touches my heart and I pray you guys will be strong and try hard to enjoy what your husband desperately wanted you to do. What about purchasing one of those bricks on the walkway to the MK? You could dedicate it to his memory and let the girls help with what it should say, then the next time you come, you could make sure you see his brick.

I also love the balloon release idea.

Good luck, and I hope you will enjoy your time at Disney!

 

[poegirl30]

Your story is very similar to mine. My first husband passed away six and half years ago at the age of 30 from a sudden heart attack. My kids were 7 and 10 at the time. I think that going to Disney is a great idea, and we did a balloon release at the one year anniversary (it was at a grief camp for kids), and the kids loved it. Having a lot of support when you go is a really good idea. (We went to Disney at Thanksgiving at about a year and a half after my DH's death with family, and although it was difficult, we really had a good time, considering. I am very glad we went.) It will probably be very emotional, but that's OK. I would definitely contact Disney and let them know your circumstances. There are little things that can be upsetting that other people wouldn't understand, so if the hotel especially has a heads up, they can at least be aware. I hope that helps. Please know that I'm thinking of you guys. Sending hugs.

 

[lucigo]

I used to post on the board quite a bit and then we had tragedy hit our family. We had just returned from Disney this past April 08 on the 12th. My husbands birthday was on the 13th ( he turned 31 ) and then he passed away completely unexpectedly on the 16th. ( due to sudden heart death ) We have two incredible little girls who are grieving their daddy so much right now. They are only 6 and 4. Well it was my husband's dream to raise our girls going to disney. We had even bought into the DVC while there in April. I was able to cancel it, just not sure if I should keep it at that point. I am still in shock to say the least but I am at least out of the fog enough to try and be there for my girls. I miss him so much every second of every day. We had the fairytale romance and we would have been married 11yrs in July. But we still felt like newlyweds. Here is my question to all of the dis people....

We arrive in Disney on Dec 3 with a party of 10. No one has ever been there out of our party except myself and my girls. I am only going back so soon because I know if I don't do this now I might not ever take them back. Just so many memories that I am scared to do this. I really want to do something special for my girls that would make the trip very special and yet somehow maybe make it a little easier for them. My six yr old is getting pretty nervous the closer it gets. I have even asked her if she would rather not go and she still wants to but tells me that she might cry. Which I tell is perfectly fine! We are staying at POP, the only place we have stayed so far and I am wondering if the resort might help me plan something special or even something really cool in a park. Any suggestions would be awesome!

Thank you dis friends and I look forward to your ideas!

PS some of you may remember my last time i was searching for help on here! My husband wanted to make my little girls dream come true, long story short, and it was awesome how disney helped us. Just hoping this time they can really come through....lots of memories we are about to embark upon!

I think first of all that you are doing the right thing by going, and I'm glad to hear you are staying at Pop...that tells me you are going where your kids are going to have a great time! IMO its a kid oriented resort and they will love it.

Let me say how sorry I am to hear about your husband. Big HUGS!! My husband died at 36 and we bought year passes to Disney about 4 months later as a way for me to reconnect with my children as I felt we were all in a fog.

This is going to sound way too simple, but if you want to make this trip special for your girls don't overplan, don't go crazy, just have a child-lead trip. If they want to spend 30 minutes sitting in the 1950's sign at the front of the resort do it! Adults have a tendancy to hang with adults even in the parks...make this trip special for your kids...bring board games to play in the room, interact with them and give them that special time that its hard to get at home due to the business of life. Play with them in the pool, laugh, sing, be a kid with them.

I hope this helps!!!

 

[lucigo]

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your girls.

A little something that you may be able to do on your own to honor your husband while at Disney is to buy a couple of Mickey balloons on Main Street when you get there. Have the girls each release one into the air so Daddy can get them in Heaven and that way he knows that they are in Disney and carrying on his dream of your DDs being raised "Disney". It could even be a tradition that you do every time you visit. Just a thought...

I love this idea!!!

 

[LilGMom]

I am very sorry for you and your family's loss.

I don't think I'd plan too much and follow the lead of your DDs for the mostpart. You could go to Cinderella's Wishing Well in MK and send a wish to him. (as opposed to a balloon release which WDW doesn't encourage - not trying to be a downer but I saw this mentioned on their website)

I would imagine that this trip will be an emotional rollercoaster for all of you and I hope you encounter some major Pixie Dust while there.

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

I am so very sorry for the loss of your DH. Blessings to you and your girls. I will be checking into POP the same day as you. Do what is in your heart and follow the lead of your daughters. I am sure your husband would be very proud of you to be following through on his dream of raising your daughters to know and experience Disney World. Best wishes for a nice trip for you and your girls (as well as the other 7 people in your gathering.) Are you doing a Grand Gathering? Maybe Disney could help come up with something special.

 

[badblackpug]

How about one of those engraved bricks @ MK or EPCOT with your husbands name? You could explain to your daughters how much your husband love WDW and haw he wanted them to love it, too. Finding the brick could be a special part of future trips, and can keep your kids and WDW and their dad connected.

 

[Camno's Mama]

How about one of those engraved bricks @ MK or EPCOT with your husbands name? You could explain to your daughters how much your husband love WDW and haw he wanted them to love it, too. Finding the brick could be a special part of future trips, and can keep your kids and WDW and their dad connected.

I was just going to recommend the same thing. We planted a tree in memory of my grandfather when he passed away, and it's a special place to visit for a lot of our family members. Much happier than a cemetary..a place with good memories and filled with love.

Maybe you could start the day with his favorite ride at one of his favorite parks. That could be a tradition for you and your girls. Or, depending on how you feel about something like this, get them something from Daddy. Something he would have loved to buy them...a stuffed animal or a treat of some kind.

I don't know how I would handle all of this...you are a brave woman. It's inspiring that you are willing to follow through with all of this even when it is difficult for you. But if it's something that you all loved, then you are doing the right thing. Disney World is very joyful for those that love it, and if you do, then I'm sure that there will be some moments of real happiness for you and your girls while you are there.

Good luck.