Staying a Disney fan...

[PlutoTheDog89]

Maybe i'm feeling particularly melancholy today as this Easter is also my parent's anniversary and we spent the last two Easters as a family in Disney World but...

We were a big Disney family growing up. We went every 3-4 years growing up. Since 2009, we've gone every year for Christmas. In 2017-2018 we were Passholders. We went for Halloween, twice for Easter, and of course for Christmas.

This Christmas was supposed to be our last year for a little while. We needed a break. Even though dad was the biggest advocate of taking a break and seeing new places, he started getting the itch and saying "what about Flower and Garden one more time?" The plan was to take a break and go back in a few years after all the construction and once my godson was 2 or 3 years old.

Quick background: my dad got heart surgery in July, 2018. He caught an infection that had him in the hospital for a month in October. Toward the end of our Christmas trip, he started getting symptoms again. He felt better when we got home, but it was revealed that the infection was back. He spent the better half of January in the hospital. My sister and I were down there in Disney for Pro Bowl... getting ready to go into Animal Kingdom for EMH when my mom called. Dad was rushed to the hospital.

We made it back in time to see him before he passed.

ANYWAY... We love Disney. My sister and I hosted a podcast, we have an instagram, I write for WDWInfo, I listen to DisUnplugged.. the whole 9. I'm getting the itch to go back but every time I think of being back in Disney, I get that sinking feeling of us being there without him. I can't see myself doing it.

Maybe it's all still kinda raw. We've talking about doing Hilton Head for Christmas this year and maybe checking out the Disney resort... I've always wanted to get out to Disneyland and see it...

But Idk... how do you all stay Disney fans when you take a long break away from it? We'll probably get the podcast started up again soon... but still.

Anyone ever go through something similar? Sorry for spilling my guts but... I know how awesome the DIS community is and how helpful you all are.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

I am so sorry for your loss. I haven't gone through anything like what you are going through but from an outsiders perspective, today is probably not the day to make a decision either way.
I'm certain you miss your dad every day but today is probably worse than others. Not only is it a holiday, it is an aniversary and a time where your family spent time together in Disney. I hope your family will be able to heal enough one day to be able to visit Disney again and remember all the great times you spent with your dad.

 

[tinkerjo]

I totally agree with the previous poster. Today is a tough day. We also have spent a lot of time on family vacations at WDW with my parents and even though they are not on every trip, I know it will be hard one day when they are no longer with us. DL is a great alternative, it is pretty much the same but totally different vibe( we loved some of the different rides, just stay away from the Matterhorn if you want your back in one piece). Maybe a Disney cruise would be a nice change of scenery. Very relaxing and still get the Disney love. I’m sure you will find a way to get through this and I am very sorry for your loss. It sounds like your dad was great and that you have a very close and supporting family