Remembering a lost loved one

[disgirl24]

I will be going to the World for my yearly trip in September. I was there last November for my mothers last trip as she lost her battle with Breast Cancer. I have gone to Disney yearly with different people and it is my favorite place to be but I have to say I'm having a struggle going to the Kingdom my mother loved and knowing she won't ever be back with me. These were our last few good memories before she left us. As I try to move forward in life now that my best friends been gone 4 months I'm curious how others have handled this situation? Also is there anything special you do while in the parks to remember the ones you lost?

Thank you for any help

 

[Mike&AllisMom]

I will be going to the World for my yearly trip in September. I was there last November for my mothers last trip as she lost her battle with Breast Cancer. I have gone to Disney yearly with different people and it is my favorite place to be but I have to say I'm having a struggle going to the Kingdom my mother loved and knowing she won't ever be back with me. These were our last few good memories before she left us. As I try to move forward in life now that my best friends been gone 4 months I'm curious how others have handled this situation? Also is there anything special you do while in the parks to remember the ones you lost?

Thank you for any help

I am so very sorry for your loss. I lost my grandma one of the years we went. I don't do anything special. I know she would want me to live every day and enjoy my life and I'm sure your mom would have wanted the same for you. Again, I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[skylynx]

I lost my mom to breast cancer, too, 12 years ago now, and the shadows of her and my dad, lost nine months after her, are all over Disney. Since my parents took me and my sisters to Disney nearly every year since it opened, family memories are intricately woven throughout many, many places that are still virtually the same as they were in the 70's. Though I rarely visit Port Orleans Riverside (which will always be Dixie Landings to me) these days, I smile whenever I walk down the long hallway from the entrance to the food court because I remember my kids when they were little running full tilt down that hall to leap into my mom and dad's arms on a family rendezvous (we lived in separate states and often met up there). My mom's favorite ride was the Haunted Mansion and my dad's was Pirates of the Caribbean, so I never miss them. I see what is possibly still the same bench I sat on with my mom with my head in her lap by the Crystal Palace when I was 13 and so sick waiting to go lie down in the "Mickey Mouse hospital" and then, hours later, feeling miraculously healed after a cool, dark ten minutes in the Enchanted Tiki Room. I can stand on Main Street even now watching a night parade and feel the presence of my mom beside me dancing to the Main Street Electrical Parade music or Spectromagic (though those parades are long moved on) because she was always so happy to be at Disney with her family and couldn't help bounce to the music. It was because of my share of the inheritance from my parents that I was able to buy a DVC membership and I truly feel like that is my parents' way of treating me to Disney trips for the rest of my life they way they did the first part of my life.

I am very sorry for your loss. Disney visits, particularly over a lot of years and growing from a child to an adult and then as a parent yourself tend to become a part of your soul, and the "first Disney visit without..." a special person in your life is always going to be gutting. The comfort to me, as I hope it will eventually be to you, is that you will be able to at some point soon get on a ride or eat in a restaurant or sit by a resort pool and remember your mom being there and it will be a source of happiness.

 

[wilkeliza]

I wore a pin of their favorite character. It made me feel like they were there with me in a tiny way.

 

[AJA]

I found out my mother had passed away (not unexpected) while at the Contemporary.

I have mixed emotions now anytime we visit there. I found taking a picture of my daughter in front of the mural each year helps. I guess it's a reminder that time affects us all.

My mom wouldn't want me to be sad. She would want me to remember all of us (that are lucky enough to not be struck down by tragedy early in life) go on this journey from youth to old age and it's important to enjoy the time you have with the ones you love and make memories because at the end they will still have those memories of you just like you do now of the ones you have lost. The happiest memories are the ones that count the most.

 

[edk35]

I miss my dad too when we go to Disney. He and my mom have been on many of ours trips over the years. It is sad, but I think our loved ones want us to continue to enjoy our vacations even if it is without them. MY father's last trip was Easter of 2012 and he died in Oct. of that year. I am so happy we had that time there with him.

 

[WuvEeyore]

I will be going to the World for my yearly trip in September. I was there last November for my mothers last trip as she lost her battle with Breast Cancer. I have gone to Disney yearly with different people and it is my favorite place to be but I have to say I'm having a struggle going to the Kingdom my mother loved and knowing she won't ever be back with me. These were our last few good memories before she left us. As I try to move forward in life now that my best friends been gone 4 months I'm curious how others have handled this situation? Also is there anything special you do while in the parks to remember the ones you lost?

Thank you for any help

I am so sorry for your loss. I just lost my Dad to cancer Dec. 22, 2015. He was a huge Disney fan as well. Our last trip with my Dad was in 2013. I am in the same shoes as you. I am trying to be excited for our upcoming trip for DD5 and DH's sakes, but I am afraid I will be overwhelmed when I get there.

 

[SnowWhiteCupcake]

We are dealing with this issue, as well. My mother and I are making our first visit since my father passed away in 2011. The loss is still very much with us. WDW was his favorite place, and he often talked about getting a retirement job there someday. I like the idea of wearing a pin of his favorite character to honor his memory.

 

[disnut8]

My husband and I have lost both our fathers who traveled to Disney World with us. They didn't go very often and we go a lot but each time we are there, it seems something just makes us think of our fathers. We might be going through World Showcase and see a band and my husband will say "my father would have liked that". Or we might see a kid going crazy and use my father's expression of "that kid is driving me nutzed!".

I think the key to remembering your loved ones at Disney World is not to think ahead about it. Just be there and live it with them in your heart.

 

[BonnieA]

My Pop was my disney buddy. We went many times as adults. After he passed I traveled with a niece 4 months later. One day I was on my own about to enter Epcot. It was very hard, I was in tears, it was our favorite park. But then I remembered that Pop was always with me, and I made myself go in there. It's all about the memories, so much can make you smile with remembering. I try to leave room for Pop on his favorite rides as well as my Mom though she didn't go much.

 

[Starclassic]

I don't have any help to offer but I just want to say I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[yngsj]

I'm very sorry! I lost my dad Oct. of 2015. We went to DL every year as a family for 1972 until 1988 and then he went twice with my family after my kids were born. When I visited DL this last Jan. I started crying as soon as I hit Main St. We had so many great memories there. I was able to enjoy my trip but my dad never left my mind. I think the next trip will be easier.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I'm so sorry for your loss I lost my Mom this past April to Alzheimer's. She only went to Disney twice-once when she took me as a kid, and the time I took her once I was grown. She loved Beauty and the Beast, I think the pin idea would be a wonderful tribute to her.

Your Mom is with you in your heart, and I'm sure she would want you to celebrate her life by enjoying the same things you always did with her.

 

[Mikie]

OP - my heart goes out to you. I am sorry for the loss of your mom.

I am so sorry for your loss. I just lost my Dad to cancer Dec. 22, 2015. He was a huge Disney fan as well. Our last trip with my Dad was in 2013. I am in the same shoes as you. I am trying to be excited for our upcoming trip for DD5 and DH's sakes, but I am afraid I will be overwhelmed when I get there.

This is so similar to me - and I am sorry for your loss. My dad passed away December 23, 2015. We had taken a big extended family vacation to Disney in October 2014 - my dad's first trip to WDW in 20 years, and my first with him in more like 30. The time spent planning that vacation with him is a memory I'll treasure and remembering him tuly be a kid again on that vacation, enjoying himself immensely in addition to him seeing it through his grandkids' eyes leaves me speechless. Our next trip will likely be in 2017 and I think there will be many bittersweet moments on that trip next time. All I can think is that our last vacation there together was him really trying to wring out every drop of joy in his life (after a lifetime of being a work-a-holic and then a huge health scare that gave him about 18 months of "new life" before he left us) and I'll try to follow his example and make the most of every minute!

My dad's name is Walt and we made some personalized family t-shirts for our last trip. I think I'm going to ask my mom if I can have one of dad's shirts from that trip and make it into a tote bag or something to bring along next time - I think I'll collect character autographs on it!

 

[Ladyfish77]

I ride my Dad's favorite ride - Carousel of Progress each time and remember him.

 

[WuvEeyore]

Hugs to everyone. So sorry that there are so many of us dealing with the same pain.

 

[Dreamport]

I ride my Dad's favorite ride - Carousel of Progress each time and remember him.

My friend does the same with the Haunted Mansion. It was her mom's favorite attraction which she looked forward to sharing most with her girls. I believe she makes it the first ride of the trip.

To the OP -- I'm very sorry your Mom can not be with you. My earliest vacations were with my grandparents. I allow myself to tear up if a memory hits me and above all, share with others in the group. "Remember the time Grampa go pulled up on stage at Diamond Horseshoe?" "Gramma parked you in front of this window so you could stare at the glass figures every trip." Share, feel, don't concern yourself with being stoic. You may feel her still with you more than you think.

 

[dachsie]

I am sorry for your loss. Remember that she is always with you so when you are doing something she would have really enjoyed, just give a little smile and remember her. She will be right there with you.

 

[disgirl24]

I am so very sorry for your loss. I lost my grandma one of the years we went. I don't do anything special. I know she would want me to live every day and enjoy my life and I'm sure your mom would have wanted the same for you. Again, I am very sorry for your loss.

Thank you very much

 

[disgirl24]

I lost my mom to breast cancer, too, 12 years ago now, and the shadows of her and my dad, lost nine months after her, are all over Disney. Since my parents took me and my sisters to Disney nearly every year since it opened, family memories are intricately woven throughout many, many places that are still virtually the same as they were in the 70's. Though I rarely visit Port Orleans Riverside (which will always be Dixie Landings to me) these days, I smile whenever I walk down the long hallway from the entrance to the food court because I remember my kids when they were little running full tilt down that hall to leap into my mom and dad's arms on a family rendezvous (we lived in separate states and often met up there). My mom's favorite ride was the Haunted Mansion and my dad's was Pirates of the Caribbean, so I never miss them. I see what is possibly still the same bench I sat on with my mom with my head in her lap by the Crystal Palace when I was 13 and so sick waiting to go lie down in the "Mickey Mouse hospital" and then, hours later, feeling miraculously healed after a cool, dark ten minutes in the Enchanted Tiki Room. I can stand on Main Street even now watching a night parade and feel the presence of my mom beside me dancing to the Main Street Electrical Parade music or Spectromagic (though those parades are long moved on) because she was always so happy to be at Disney with her family and couldn't help bounce to the music. It was because of my share of the inheritance from my parents that I was able to buy a DVC membership and I truly feel like that is my parents' way of treating me to Disney trips for the rest of my life they way they did the first part of my life.

I am very sorry for your loss. Disney visits, particularly over a lot of years and growing from a child to an adult and then as a parent yourself tend to become a part of your soul, and the "first Disney visit without..." a special person in your life is always going to be gutting. The comfort to me, as I hope it will eventually be to you, is that you will be able to at some point soon get on a ride or eat in a restaurant or sit by a resort pool and remember your mom being there and it will be a source of happiness.

Thank you so much for sharing