danceintherain
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2007
Let me preface this by saying, we have talked with his oncologist, and she is supportive of whatever decision we make. She'll write letters, give us referrals to doctors in Orlando, etc etc. But, it's not a straight forward decision.
My youngest was recently dxed with cancer. They got the tumor out, but the pathology report indicated that cancerous cells made it to his bloodstream, so he's on chemo to prevent it from seeding elsewhere in his body. He had his first treatment last week, and he's doing very well thus far. The survival/remission rate for his type of cancer is like 95%, and he will be done with chemo at the end of June. DH is VERY concerned about traveling with an immunocompromised child. I'm less concerned, because I feel like experiencing life and joy is important. Disney is my happy place and I love being with my kids in my happy place, even when they're chasing pigeons.
We have a Disney trip planned with extended family in early/mid-March. It will be approximately 2 weeks after his next chemo treatment. DH indicated, before we talked to the doctor, that we could reschedule for later in the year (probably December) if we didn't go on this extended family trip. He will be done with chemo in June.
We've been planning the March trip for 3 years now....maybe even longer. There are 20 of us, and we are renting points to stay in (3) 2 BR villas at the Beach Club. My parents are paying for most of the trip, airfare, hotel, tickets, and Genie+. They are not paying for local transportation and food.
The airfare is Southwest, so we can probably get a credit for part of it, and a refund for the rest.
The point rental isn't really refundable, but the rest of my family will just "spread out." My mom was already worried about my 3 youngest siblings having to share a villa, instead of having their own room(s).
The tickets will be annoying to manipulate. DH has an Armed Forced Salute ticket, but I assigned the other 5 for this year to my sister and her family, because they may only do 3 or 4 days now, then go back for another day or two at a different point in the year. They live close enough to do this, and AFS tickets don't expire the same as regular tickets. But, if DH and I aren't there, then nobody will be able to activate the tickets. So, I would need to figure out how to reassign tickets.
DH is worried that his boss won't be happy if he takes time off for Disney, when he's already been taking so much time off for medical related stuff (his and YDS). I doubt this is well founded, since his 50% is better than most people's 100%, but he's just been working from home more, and traveling less. He has only worked for the company for about 6 months, so he doesn't qualify for FMLA. But, they're not making his track his PTO.
This is a LONG standing argument for us, so I have a hard time taking it seriously. DH hates traveling, and very rarely takes all of his PTO. He had like 2 months paid out when he retired from the military, and like 2 weeks when he left his last job. He had like 2 weeks at the end of the year, after only working there for 4 months, and "said" he would take it off, but only ended up taking maybe one day a week, and still took work calls. The only time he doesn't get upset about taking time off is when we having a new baby, we're moving, or he's changing employers. He always takes calls. He's always worried people are judging him or mad at him for something, when his performance reviews at work are always phenomenal, even when he reports to people that don't like anyone, and people always want to be his friend. He's always suspicious of people and their motives. (He got dxed with ADHD last year, but doesn't think it's an accurate dx)
If we go back in December, we would be paying for the trip ourselves. Not a burden. We would probably stay in 2 rooms at the Wilderness Lodge (because Christmas decorations) but I'm more concerned about not having connecting/close together rooms than my husband is. We did it on a cruise last summer, and it was a PITA. I spent A LOT of time and energy running kids and things between rooms. We could look at other options, so that's not a definite issue. We probably won't go higher deluxe than Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge. So no walking to parks. I doubt DH will set foot on the Skyliner. We will probably rent a car either way, because its what DH prefers.
We would have tickets already, as long as the reassigning works, and we go before the end of the year.
We would probably have enough SWA credit to cover the tickets in December, since the cost for Spring Break here was super overinflated. ($1000pp for a ticket that usually costs about $300pp and only about half the current tickets are fully refundable) But if we have to pay full price, then so be it.
I'm not thrilled about pulling my older kids out of school for it, but we would need to avoid the summer, since DH can't do heat. I could consider Thanksgiving, but DH doesn't do awesome with crowds either. We wouldn't be doing Spring Break, except we're making concessions for the group....and it's "early" spring break.
I'm trying to wrap my mind around a more firm decision before we reach out 30 day DAS window later this week. DH will definitely qualify, if I can get him to do the video chat. He didn't come on our last trip, because he was worried he would drag the trip down with his limitations (and he didn't want to take the time off). YDS maybe not so much, but I figure I'll try. I don't want to go without anyone. YDS has never been, and is my most joyful child. He will be thrilled about this trip. Also, if DH stays home with YDS, then it wouldn't solve any of the work related problems, and possibly make them worse, because YDS is a very vocal tiny tyrant. Either way, I plan to do a few hours in the parks in the morning, then do an afternoon break. We may, or may not, return to the parks in the evenings. Overall, I expect DH will spend more time in the room than anyone, and YDS will be with him most of the time.
Anyway, I know that was a novel. I can try to break it down to pros and cons, if necessary. But, most of it is "feelings" related, which are hard to quantify.
My youngest was recently dxed with cancer. They got the tumor out, but the pathology report indicated that cancerous cells made it to his bloodstream, so he's on chemo to prevent it from seeding elsewhere in his body. He had his first treatment last week, and he's doing very well thus far. The survival/remission rate for his type of cancer is like 95%, and he will be done with chemo at the end of June. DH is VERY concerned about traveling with an immunocompromised child. I'm less concerned, because I feel like experiencing life and joy is important. Disney is my happy place and I love being with my kids in my happy place, even when they're chasing pigeons.
We have a Disney trip planned with extended family in early/mid-March. It will be approximately 2 weeks after his next chemo treatment. DH indicated, before we talked to the doctor, that we could reschedule for later in the year (probably December) if we didn't go on this extended family trip. He will be done with chemo in June.
We've been planning the March trip for 3 years now....maybe even longer. There are 20 of us, and we are renting points to stay in (3) 2 BR villas at the Beach Club. My parents are paying for most of the trip, airfare, hotel, tickets, and Genie+. They are not paying for local transportation and food.
The airfare is Southwest, so we can probably get a credit for part of it, and a refund for the rest.
The point rental isn't really refundable, but the rest of my family will just "spread out." My mom was already worried about my 3 youngest siblings having to share a villa, instead of having their own room(s).
The tickets will be annoying to manipulate. DH has an Armed Forced Salute ticket, but I assigned the other 5 for this year to my sister and her family, because they may only do 3 or 4 days now, then go back for another day or two at a different point in the year. They live close enough to do this, and AFS tickets don't expire the same as regular tickets. But, if DH and I aren't there, then nobody will be able to activate the tickets. So, I would need to figure out how to reassign tickets.
DH is worried that his boss won't be happy if he takes time off for Disney, when he's already been taking so much time off for medical related stuff (his and YDS). I doubt this is well founded, since his 50% is better than most people's 100%, but he's just been working from home more, and traveling less. He has only worked for the company for about 6 months, so he doesn't qualify for FMLA. But, they're not making his track his PTO.
This is a LONG standing argument for us, so I have a hard time taking it seriously. DH hates traveling, and very rarely takes all of his PTO. He had like 2 months paid out when he retired from the military, and like 2 weeks when he left his last job. He had like 2 weeks at the end of the year, after only working there for 4 months, and "said" he would take it off, but only ended up taking maybe one day a week, and still took work calls. The only time he doesn't get upset about taking time off is when we having a new baby, we're moving, or he's changing employers. He always takes calls. He's always worried people are judging him or mad at him for something, when his performance reviews at work are always phenomenal, even when he reports to people that don't like anyone, and people always want to be his friend. He's always suspicious of people and their motives. (He got dxed with ADHD last year, but doesn't think it's an accurate dx)
If we go back in December, we would be paying for the trip ourselves. Not a burden. We would probably stay in 2 rooms at the Wilderness Lodge (because Christmas decorations) but I'm more concerned about not having connecting/close together rooms than my husband is. We did it on a cruise last summer, and it was a PITA. I spent A LOT of time and energy running kids and things between rooms. We could look at other options, so that's not a definite issue. We probably won't go higher deluxe than Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge. So no walking to parks. I doubt DH will set foot on the Skyliner. We will probably rent a car either way, because its what DH prefers.
We would have tickets already, as long as the reassigning works, and we go before the end of the year.
We would probably have enough SWA credit to cover the tickets in December, since the cost for Spring Break here was super overinflated. ($1000pp for a ticket that usually costs about $300pp and only about half the current tickets are fully refundable) But if we have to pay full price, then so be it.
I'm not thrilled about pulling my older kids out of school for it, but we would need to avoid the summer, since DH can't do heat. I could consider Thanksgiving, but DH doesn't do awesome with crowds either. We wouldn't be doing Spring Break, except we're making concessions for the group....and it's "early" spring break.
I'm trying to wrap my mind around a more firm decision before we reach out 30 day DAS window later this week. DH will definitely qualify, if I can get him to do the video chat. He didn't come on our last trip, because he was worried he would drag the trip down with his limitations (and he didn't want to take the time off). YDS maybe not so much, but I figure I'll try. I don't want to go without anyone. YDS has never been, and is my most joyful child. He will be thrilled about this trip. Also, if DH stays home with YDS, then it wouldn't solve any of the work related problems, and possibly make them worse, because YDS is a very vocal tiny tyrant. Either way, I plan to do a few hours in the parks in the morning, then do an afternoon break. We may, or may not, return to the parks in the evenings. Overall, I expect DH will spend more time in the room than anyone, and YDS will be with him most of the time.
Anyway, I know that was a novel. I can try to break it down to pros and cons, if necessary. But, most of it is "feelings" related, which are hard to quantify.
