Our Last Minute CANCER SUCKS Trip

Because we had such a late start getting to the parks, it was approaching lunch time when we got off the Safari. Carol's phone rang and Darryl & Karen had just arrived at the hotel. We told them we were heading to the Dinoland, USA area for lunch and to meet us there. We all arrived at Restaurantosaurus and dove into the masses at peak lunch hour. It wasn't too terribly bad. Only had to wander with the trays of food for a few minutes before we snagged a couple of tables.

Now, under normal circumstances, I would have food pictures to insert along with critiques and whatnot. This was not normal circumstances. I do not have a single food picture. At all. From the whole trip. However, we are primarily CS folks, so I'm not sure we would have anything all that interesting anyway. I recall a mammoth cheeseburger that I split with Mom and Joshua having chicken nuggets in a Mickey plate with carrots and grapes. That's about all I remember from the meal. Sorry.

After we finished eating, Carol wanted to play around in the Dinoland area a bit. Fine. Of course, we stepped outside to find a lovely little rain shower. Yes, we had the rain ponchos, but I couldn't decide which was worse... getting wet with a little rain, or getting hot by draping myself in plastic in Florida in August. I decided I'd rather get wet.

1day11.jpg


We trooped to the Triceratop Spin and boarded our dinosaurs.

1day12.jpg


1day13.jpg


Then Carol wanted to play some of the games, so I let the boys try too.

1day14.jpg


Here they are showing off the dinosaur (I think?) and snake that Carol won for them.

1day15.jpg


Carol decided that since everyone was wet anyway, she wanted to do Kali River Rapids. Okee dokee. After that, however, they were going to Expedition Everest and then head back to the hotel to shower and change. Carol wanted to see the Blue Man Group and everyone had tickets except me, Mom & the boys. With Joshua's epilepsy, we have to keep him on a pretty strict bedtime. Sleep deprevation is his single biggest seizure trigger, so I am the sleep police. Anyway, Mom decided to hang with us instead of going with them.

Here is where our group divides. They went to EE and caught the parade.

1aDay4.jpg


1aDay5.jpg


1aDay6.jpg


1aDay7.jpg


1aDay8.jpg


1aDay9.jpg


We caught a bus and hopped to the Magic Kingdom.

1day16.jpg


Daniel almost fell asleep on the ride...

1day17.jpg


... but managed to perk back up when he saw the castle.

1day18.jpg


I took them on Buzz Lightyear, which they loved. Then we rode TTA, which I figured was completely safe. Daniel hated it. Those long pitch dark tunnels, he clung to me and screamed to GET HIM OUTTA THERE. Of all the rides in all the parks, he picks TTA to be afraid of. :rolleyes:

I saw that Buzz and Stitch were doing the character greeting, so I asked the boys if they wanted to meet either one of them. Daniel wanted to meet Buzz and Joshua said fine, so we waited in a short line.

1day.jpg


The Carousel of Progress was open, which thrilled me as it hasn't been running the last few trips I've made. Of course, it broke down when we were halfway between the last two rooms and we got stuck listening to that song (you know what one I'm talking about) for a little while before they got us moving again. I'm still glad we got to see it.

Mom was tiring out since we had to do without a wheelchair (I couldn't push her and the boys), so we started heading back toward Main St. Somebody hit the Grandmom button and Mom insisted that we take the boys through the gift shops on the way out "so that they could pick out a little souvenir". Yeah. Like the hats she bought them at AK weren't enough. Oh, no. :rolleyes: They each picked out a playset of figures and those Mickey rice krispie treats. Oh, and they just HAD to have a Mickey balloon, each, before we left for the bus. She was in grandmom heaven and the boys loved it, so I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

I called and found out our room number. I was nervous after our check in snafu, but the printed card keys worked fine.

1day19.jpg


The view from our room.

1day20.jpg


1day21.jpg


Thank goodness, no pool noise!

We grabbed dinner at the food court and then let the boys get wet in the pool for a little while.

1day22.jpg


1day23.jpg


1day27.jpg


1day25.jpg


When they tired out, I called for bath and bedtime. They were asleep by 9pm, which was a very good thing. Carol and the rest of the group LOVED the Blue Man Group show and said it was absolutely worth the ticket price.

It was an all around good day.
 
Sounds like a great day you all had!!! Can't wait for more:goodvibes
 
Great update Tricia! What do you mean, no food pictures?!?! :rotfl:

The boys are adorable in their little hats! Can't wait for the next update!
 

I decided to read this report because I have first hand knowledge that CANCER SUCKS and because I have enjoyed posts by the OP for a long time now. I am glad I did because this report is very well written.

Kudos to you Tricia for planning a Grand Gathering in less than 4 days, for being there in so many ways for your sister and dear friend, for not losing your cool with the major check in snafu, for being the sleep police and for not complaining. Much. ;)
 
Wonderful update!! Sounds like you all had a awesome, fun-filled day. Can't wait to read more about your trip.


Melissa:flower3:
 
Hi, twiniemama told us to come over an read an excellant report. My mom passed away a couple years ago from pancreatic cancer and can relate to what your family is going threw...Now to go get caught up.
 
I loved reading your TR so far! I just wanted to say that your sister has the right attitude. My mother passed away over 13 years ago to breast cancer when I was 17. At the time she was diagnosed, it was already in her bones. They gave her six months, but she laughed at them. She lasted for 2.5 years on just prayer and a great attitude! I still run into people who couldn't believe how sick my mom was, yet how upbeat she was and she always had a smile. We had a plaque made for my mom that said PACE, Positive Attitude Changes Everything. I honestly believe that her will to live was much stronger than the cancer and her attitude had everything to do with prolonging her life, so tell your sister to keep up her fighting attitude, it does work!!

God bless you and your family and I can't wait to her more.
 
Your report is such a wonderful tribute to your sister and your entire family. You all are blessed to have each other.:grouphug:
 
Carol's surgery is tomorrow at 12:30pm (east coast time). If you feel inclined, she can use all the prayer and positive vibes we can send her way.

I'm worrying and can't sleep, so I guess I'll get started on the next installment.

Saturday, August 2nd -

Woke up about our usual time and got everyone ready. Can I take a minute to say that I shooed my mom into the bathroom before I got anyone else up, she showered first and then continued her morning routine (that seems to involve a lot of steps :confused: ), and I still managed to get myself and the boys ready to head out before she was done. What is up with that? But I'm not complaining. Much. ;)

I snapped the first pic of the day of my boys...

2day1.jpg


... and we headed down to the food court to grab breakfast. I ran our refillable mugs back to our room and discovered that mousekeeping had already cleaned our room. My boys things that had been scattered on the floor (ooops!) were now arranged on the bed.

2day2.jpg


I finally thought to take a picture of our building.

2day3.jpg


Then we headed out to wait for a bus to Epcot. Carol wanted to do Soarin'. That was her main goal for Epcot. We got off the bus and started the walk to the gates. I decided to take a picture of the YOAMD flag...

2day4.jpg


... and my brother decided to make fun of me for taking a picture of a flag.

2day5.jpg


Can you imagine his reaction if I had remembered to take food pics? :laughing:

We continued to herd ourselves toward the gates. When I say we were a herd, I mean it.

2day6.jpg


I'm surprised we weren't mooing by the end of the day.

We went to the gates and I put my room key in the slot and... red light. Remember the promise that our room keys would be our tickets starting today? Yeah, that didn't happen. I took our 4 key cards and went back to Guest Relations right outside the gates at Epcot, explained the situation, and the nice lady printed me all new key cards that did have the tickets attached. Minorly annoying, but not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

A quick stop for a stroller and TWO wheelchairs this time. Karen decided she needed one too. I could go into a long involved discussion about my SIL, but I won't. Let's just say that she has a hard time being in a situation where she isn't the center of attention and leave it at that, shall we?

Our group trudged and rolled over to get Fast Passes for Soarin'.

2day7.jpg


The time on the FPs wasn't too far away, so we decided to do the boat ride while we were waiting. For some reason, this sign made me giggle.

2day8.jpg


It struck me like it was saying "The Land of Wheelchairs is this way", but I'm a little odd so I may be the only one who got a laugh out of it.

After that, we decided to grab a snack/early lunch at the food court there. We had ADRs for dinner at 4:20pm, so we knew we wouldn't want a big lunch. The boys had a lunchbox with a PB&J (one of those Smucker's Uncrustable things) and were happy.

2day9.jpg


2aDay1.jpg


Then it was time for the FP line.

2day10.jpg


2aDay2.jpg


Daniel is just a tiny bit too short to ride Soarin', so he and I wandered around and enjoyed the scenery while everyone else was on the ride.

2day11.jpg
 
After the rest of the gang was done on Soarin', we headed over to Imagination.

2day12.jpg


2day13.jpg


I let the boys play with the water for a minute.

2day14.jpg


Then we headed to ride Figment.

2day15.jpg


Not only was there no line, our group of 12 were alone in the group of 4 cars that travels along the ride together.

2aDay3.jpg


Since I wouldn't be bothering strangers (only family, and I'm allowed to bug them all I want :teeth: ), I snapped a bunch of pictures.

2day16.jpg


2day17.jpg


2day18.jpg


2day19.jpg


2day20.jpg


We played around in the exhibits for awhile.

2day21.jpg


2day22.jpg


Then decided it was time to head to the Studios. Our ADRs were at Hollywood & Vine (a Fantasmic dinner package), so we didn't want to wait until the last minute to head that way. We made a last minute bathroom break on the way out of Epcot and Paul decided to have fun on Carol's ECV while she was in the facilities.

2aDay4.jpg


He wasn't actually driving it. Just sitting on it and making motorcycle noises. Yes, we really are a bunch of big kids. Even if we are in our 40s and 50s. :p

Next up: I can't stop calling it MGM! and Why didn't somebody warn me that Toy Story Mania was worth the 90 min wait?
 
Great TR and I can't help but have a smile yet cry a little when I read each installment. You have this LOSER in your corner praying up a storm not only tomorrow but everyday for your family! :thumbsup2
 
I'm jumping in too! CANCER SUCKS!


What a wonderful gift to give your sister... the gift of all of your presence in her life.


I lost my mom last year to a very aggressive lung cancer. Cancer truly sucks! Stay strong for her. :hug:
 
You know I will be praying hard for Carol tomorrow.

Great installment by the way!
 
I'll be thinking about your family tomorrow. Best wishes and thinking positively!, and a little pixie dust...pixiedust:
 
Prayers, Prayers, and more Prayers out to your sister, and your family. Why isn't there a prayer smilie???:wizard: :grouphug: pixiedust: :flower1:
 

















Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE








DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom