Richard's Make-A-Wish PTR - 9/26/09-10/02/09

[Terry718]

Congratulations on your upcoming trip, im sure it will be wonderful for all of you

I'm sorry to read everything Richard has been through and how long it took to get diagnosed with CF, I suffer with it myself and it took 9 months pratically for my mum to convince the doctor's something wasn't right and to finally get a diagnoses.

It's a shame you won't get to visit DC but with a short trip it's difficult finding the time to fit everything in and it does cost alot, but i Hope one day you will get to return and Richard get's to go its such an amazing place to spend a day and swimming with dolphins is certainly one of the highlights of my life so far
Shame you couldn't get any of the ADR's you wouldn't either, maybe they will get some cancellations which mean you could at least get a few you wanted.

I can't believe Richard thinks Magic Kingdom is for kids, im 25 and visted WDW 4 years ago now and fell in love witht he park, however im a big kid and love most things Disney.

Look forward to reading more

Thanks for the good wishes. I admire your mom's perserverance - its hard to keep pushing the doctors because they're supposed to be the experts. But like your mom, I knew there was more to Richard's illness and did alot of pushing and pleading to get there. We are doing well managing Richard's illness and I hope you are feeling good as well!

Kids are funny, aren't they! It sounds like you threw a great party and kept all of the kids distracted and entertained! I am sorry she missed it, though.

This may help your ADR concerns. GKTW is not an official Disney resort. So they won't have any knowledge of your "reservation" there or anything. So don't be afraid...I am sure you staying at GKTW.

PM me the ADR's you are trying to make and I can help you make sure you can get as many as possible and at the times you are looking for.

Maroo - Thank you for all you do for everyone. I appreciate the heads up about GKTW reservation - I wasn't too worried but it did raise my eyebrows a bit. You reassured me and I appreciate that! I'm not too worried about the ADRs. They will work out, or they won't. I know we'll have a great time wherever we are.

Just popping in to say HI and read up on your PTR. How exciting it must be that your trip is getting so close! It sounds like you have your hands full, but I admire your persistence and patience. BTW, I think I'm going to pick up a package of Huggies for myself next time I'm at Wal-Mart. Because if MK is for babies, I'm the biggest baby of them all I'd demand a maternity test too!

And LOL about the "circle" t-shirt! That boy of your's sure does have a creative mind!

I hope Richard's birthay party goes off without a hitch - it sounds like you all could use a little pixie dust!

You put a great big smile on my face when I read this. I'll have to remember to pack my own huggies too!

I just came over to say, "Hi"! I love your updates so far. Have you been to the www.disneyworld site? Your son can make a Disney planning video of everything that he wants to see at Disney. Then you can email it to yourself and play it over and over. My daughter's 9th birthday is tomorrow so a few days before your son's and she loves that site. Let me know if I can answer any planning questions. We went in your same time frame 2 years ago and we are going the week before you this year as our family vacation. We did not think my son's wish would get approved when we booked our trip for September in Janauary. Then in March his Wish trip was approved for November so we are going 2x.

This is a great idea, thank you. When things settle down a bit, I will head on over to the site. Also, thanks for the offer of help with the planning. I will take you up on that! Finally, I am so glad your son's wish trip was approved and so happy (jealous too!) that you get to go twice!

Just stopping by to say hi. I don't really have any advice for the MK situation as Mya is only 2 so we were definitly doing all the baby stuff. I do know that GKTW offers other tickets like Gatorland and Medival nights dinner though the wish child is the only one free. As for the ADR's, I did mines all online but for the coveted ones like CRT and CP, it is better to call in. Check back closer to your trip date as more people are inclined to cancel then. I did my ADr's 4 weeks before we left and got everything I originally wanted.

Thanks for the tip. I read Mya's entire trip report. It was beautiful and I continue to pray for your little princess. As I said above, I'm not too worried about the ADRs, I'm sure it will work itself out.


**** I hope I replied to all of you. Again, it was not my intention to ignore your good thoughts and wishes. I just couldn't figure out how to quote you. Well after a good night's sleep and some coffee, I got it. So thanks again for following along and have a wonderful day.*****

 

[kdzbear]

I am so glad that Richard is feeling better. There is nothing scarier than when you don't know what is causing a fever. I am also glad that your husband was not hurt in the crash. I have been there too! My husband called in late December when I was at my daughter's school party to tell me that he and his co-workers were in a bad wreck and the car was totaled. He was ok, but his friend was in the hospital. Everyone ended up ok. When you get back to Disney planning and have questions, just let me know. I love planning Disney trips for myself and my friends! I am helping a friend tonight plan a first time trip for her family this fall!

 

[StefaniLyn]

to Richard!!!!!!

I'm so happy to hear Richard's illness was short lived and he's doing better now. Nothing like hospital stuff to ruin a good weekend, eh? I hope he's feeling better later this week so you can celebrate.

What a bummer about the car too- but at least DH is unhurt and I hope the other driver was too.

5 WEEKS!!! Time to move Displanning up to the front burner mama! Let me know if you have any questions about planning. I'll try to help any way I can. Maroo is a great help too!

 

[Terry718]

One Month and One day until our trip! I still can't believe it. I'm starting to get very excited and very nervous...

I took Richard to the doctor today and he is doing amazingly well. Better than he's been in years, truly. You'd think I'd be thrilled and I am, but I am also incredibly worried... because I know it won't last. I'm no pessimist but this CF is so sneaky. Just when you think you've got it under control, it rears its ugly head. So while I am thrilled to see him looking, feeling and breathing so well, I'm scared. I know it sounds ridiculous and I should be celebrating but I'm just so afraid he will start to decline as our trip date approaches.

Speaking of our trip, with the help of the wonderful, infamous Maroo - we got ADRs!!! Yippee! Hooray! I am so grateful for this board and for all the incredible people who have helped us thus far. Like I said in my original post, it is so humbling when complete strangers come to your rescue. There are no words...

So school is starting soon and I am in school mode but I do have to switch gears and get into the Disney-mode.

We have planned the following, let me know what you think.

Saturday - Arrive and explore GKTW
Sunday - Universal
Monday - Hollywood Studios
Tuesday - Animal Kingdom in the am, Epcot in the pm
Wednesday - Magic Kingdom
Thursday - Sea World
Friday - Home

My parents will take Katie to Magic Kingdom on Monday as I don't think Hollywood Studios offers much for her. On Tuesday, we'll take her to Animal Kingdom and she'll probably go back to GKTW or the Polynesian with the parents. In fact, my parents have offered to occupy Katie for most of our trip so we will be able to do everything Richard wants without having to worry about her. My fingers are doubly crossed this works out.

So now I'm all about the packing. I even started my lists! I just can't believe one month and one day.....

 

[Hurwitzfamily04]

One Month and One day until our trip! I still can't believe it. I'm starting to get very excited and very nervous... I took Richard to the doctor today and he is doing amazingly well. Better than he's been in years, truly. You'd think I'd be thrilled and I am, but I am also incredibly worried... because I know it won't last. I'm no pessimist but this CF is so sneaky. Just when you think you've got it under control, it rears its ugly head. So while I am thrilled to see him looking, feeling and breathing so well, I'm scared. I know it sounds ridiculous and I should be celebrating but I'm just so afraid he will start to decline as our trip date approaches. Speaking of our trip, with the help of the wonderful, infamous Maroo - we got ADRs!!! Yippee! Hooray! I am so grateful for this board and for all the incredible people who have helped us thus far. Like I said in my original post, it is so humbling when complete strangers come to your rescue. There are no words... So school is starting soon and I am in school mode but I do have to switch gears and get into the Disney-mode. We have planned the following, let me know what you think. Saturday - Arrive and explore GKTW Sunday - Universal Monday - Hollywood Studios Tuesday - Animal Kingdom in the am, Epcot in the pm Wednesday - Magic Kingdom Thursday - Sea World Friday - Home My parents will take Katie to Magic Kingdom on Monday as I don't think Hollywood Studios offers much for her. On Tuesday, we'll take her to Animal Kingdom and she'll probably go back to GKTW or the Polynesian with the parents. In fact, my parents have offered to occupy Katie for most of our trip so we will be able to do everything Richard wants without having to worry about her. My fingers are doubly crossed this works out. So now I'm all about the packing. I even started my lists! I just can't believe one month and one day.....

i know what you mean about the lists..i think i have about 10 or more of them. lol. you all sound just as excited as my family..but its hard not to be right? and its coming up so quick..i feel like im running out of time =)

 

[celerystalker]

Be sure to remind Richard that Captain Jack is at MK - definitely not a baby!

Disney Studios has Beauty and the beast which is a live musical show - it's in a covered ampitheater. Not sure if she would enjoy it or not.

Voyage of the little mermaid is neat, but it's in a dark theater with a ton of special effects and a giant ursula that can be frightening - it might be something to pass on.

I haven't been to the playhouse disney show since they updated it (I saw it in 2007 and it was good!) - if she's into any of those shows, she might like it.
Since it's geared for a younger crowd, it's a little more open - everyone sits on carpet instead of in seats to accomadate more active youngsters.

I'll be volunteering at GKTW on the Tuesday you all are there!
I'll be there from 7:45 AM to 6:30 PM, so you'll probably be at the parks - but if you see me ,say hi!

 

[Terry718]

I've been MIA for what seems like an eternity, although its probably only been a week. First our cable repairman knocked out our internet/phone service which then caused a lot of "whose responsibility is it to fix it" problems, (cable company did fix it eventually). Then I struggled with anxiety about getting the kids back to school.

Katie attends a special needs pre-school where she receives the very best of therapies so I have been anxious to get her back. She really thrives when she is in school and her progress is nothing less than remarkable.

Richard on the other hand, has a history of severe respiratory difficulties from September to February. For the last three years he's been hospitalized every November, December and January. So again, that feeling of doom lingers all around me. I try and shake it off but it feels like a heavy blanket that I carry on my shoulders and can't take off. I am doing my best to think positive but elementary school is like a petri dish full of germs and bacteria! If only I could keep him in a bubble....

Anyway, now that the kids are finally back to school and our internet service is up and running, I have to get serious about my planning and catch up with everyone else's trip reports...

I'll be volunteering at GKTW on the Tuesday you all are there!
I'll be there from 7:45 AM to 6:30 PM, so you'll probably be at the parks - but if you see me ,say hi!

Oh my gosh! I think Tuesday will be a late start for us so I will be sure to look everywhere for you!

 

[Corrine 1973]

Well back Terry. I am glad you were able to fix your computer.

Just over two weeks. My prayers are with your family that everything remains smooth before your trip and Richard doesn't get sick before, during or after your trip.

 

[SilverL]

Glad to see you're back! Yikes, that is scary about hospitalizations. I hope this year you'll be able to avoid all of that.