The power of Disney Magic...a personal journey - just tell me I'm not crazy

[EagleScout]

If you are worried about scooter slowing your trip, maybe consider a wneelchair. On the last disney trip my dad took before he passed, he was pretty sick. He requested a scooter b/c he did not want to be a burden- but after a couple days, it became obvious that it would be faster and easier for his adult son-me- to just push him in a regular wheelchair, which was literally my pleasure (and allowed us to stop having to cringe at the near-collisions). I recognize your kids are still teens, so maybe slightly different, but either way, have a great trip!

And even if not opt for wheelchair, my larger point is, please consider renting scooter if it will make family and your time better- i have to assume scooter will be preferable to you limping in agony for the 10 miles or so an average disney travler goes each day. Alternatively, a wheelchair is a bit less cumbersome, so you could even come in and out, and when you are up, even push the chair yourself as sort of a walker.

 

[Hootch]

the same, but I did DL last summer with two meniscus tears. I had surgery right after we returned from our trip. It was painful but it is probably the only time I will experience DL with my kids.

 

[stargazertechie]

And even if not opt for wheelchair, my larger point is, please consider renting scooter if it will make family and your time better- i have to assume scooter will be preferable to you limping in agony for the 10 miles or so an average disney travler goes each day.

This, exactly. I wanted to share a picture of Dad in the scooter. He really did love that thing. The first few times on and off the bus were a bit scary, but he was a pro by the second day!

 

[shortchef]

You are so not crazy in the least! I also made my first trip to WDW as an adult and many of my very best memories are from there. I have a collage picture of my kids standing in front of the mosaic in Cinderellas Castle, the first with my one daughter's head at the hemline of Cinderella's dress and the last with her head equal in height to Cinderella's. They put it together and gave it to me for a gift a couple of years ago! They are adults now and wow, the memories and the tears flooded when I opened it. So, YES - GO and enjoy every moment. Time will only move faster!

 

[wmears95]

Go, Go, Go!!! Just do whatever you have to in order to enjoy the trip! (you might want to ask for some pain medication to take with you)

And when you get home, schedule your knee surgery.

I did the same thing in 2011. Had the surgery about a month after we got home.

I love my new knees! (I did have to have one "tweaked" last June but had a super fast recovery.) I also thought I was "young" at 49, but the doctor told me that ALL age groups now get the "bionic" knee.
I can now go up and down stairs pain free, am able to sleep, can sit pain free (yes, sitting hurt prior to surgery while standing and walking felt so much better!)
Surgery is a big decision, but the injections you are getting did nothing for me. I had the best surgeon, his focus is knees and hips, so his expertise was fantastic.
If you have any questions about the surgery, I'll be glad to answer them!

 

[SDSorority]

Not crazy at all! When I'm at WDW, all (ok, most) of my cares go away! I am prone to anxiety attacks, and when I'm IN the parks, I don't get them! When I'm in WDW restaurants, that's another story, but actually INSIDE the park I am completely free as a bird. It's amazing. I don't know what it is- my mind is at peace when I'm there. I love it- Disney Magic is amazing.

 

[Princess Hannah]

I am prone to anxiety attacks, and when I'm IN the parks, I don't get them! When I'm in WDW restaurants, that's another story, but actually INSIDE the park I am completely free as a bird. It's amazing. I don't know what it is- my mind is at peace when I'm there. I love it- Disney Magic is amazing.

I am the same way! I have severe social anxiety but it doesn't bother me in WDW, which is why I consider it my real home. I've had a few sticky moments in restaurants or while meeting characters, but never a panic attack and all my other symptoms are gone. I can be myself there, and I'm so grateful to have a place like that in my life.

 

[boltfan]

Not crazy at all. I made it a tradition to take my 3 kids (sans husband as he doesn't like Disney!) every other year since 2004, since it's all we can afford. This past year, my job was cut to part time, and my husband's hours were also cut some, so we weren't sure we'd be able to make it in 2014. I was very disappointed as my daughter will graduate June 2015, so this will probably be her last trip, so I knew we HAD to go. Let's just say, I booked the trip anyway and am paying it off little by little, and suddenly in the past few weeks, my husband was offered a great new job and my job was made full time with a huge raise! So, everything worked out in the end! Enjoy your trip

 

[MrsDuck]

Totally NOT crazy.

Disney magic is where it's at!

 

[abmitch01]

I'm sorry about your furry friend. And the loss of a parent. I don't think you are crazy at all. Except what everyone else said about the scooter. I took my parents done when they were in ill health knowing this would be the last time. My mom is terminally ill. To get her to ride a scooter was a huge PITA. She looked well at the time if she was sitting down so she was afraid people would judge her. But she could barely walk from handicapped parking to the ticket booth. I was nervous about her driving it but she did great. they had the best time, they were like two little kids.

don't ruin your foot more, consider the scooter

 

[dominiondad]

Crazy. Crazy about your father's memories. Crazy about your family. And crazy about loving your family and spending quality time with them. Crazy Good.

Enjoy Disney!

 

[mousekatool]

Another vote for "not crazy". I completely understand where you're coming from. My dad passed away very unexpectedly in January, and a few weeks later I completely went off the deep end and randomly booked our September trip, thinking I could always cancel if I came to my senses. We just traveled to the World last April, when I attended a conference, and had no intention of returning for at least 2 years. But when faced with mortality (I'm the same age as you, but my kids are younger), I decided to carpe diem.

So, my advice is, don't stress over it, and just go! You can enjoy the trip and make memories without further injury or pain if you rent a scooter or wheelchair, and Disney is great at making accommodations for people with all sorts of physical challenges.

 

[ponyboy]

Our last trip was less than 6 months after I had back surgery. They went through my stomach and removed the disc at L5-S1 and replaced it with an artificial disc and then went through my back and bolted everything together to the vertebrae above and below.

I was still hurting every day and it took a handful of pills to get me through a day at Disney. I wasn't supposed to ride anything but I still did, though not as much as I wanted to. I waited outside while the kids rode stuff more than I would have liked but my back just couldn't take it.

Every night when we got back to the resort I would just crash in the bed and not move until the next day. A couple of days I got a late start because it was tough for me to move in the morning when I got up at least until I could get a few pain killers down and they kicked in. One day I took a break back at the resort in the afternoon so I could just lay down for an hour or so and give my back a rest.

That said, I still had a great time and so did the kids. They wanted me to ride more stuff with them but they understood why I couldn't do everything that I normally did. I toughed it out and kept up with them when we were at the parks and made sure they got to do whatever they wanted.

Yeah it hurt but the pain is temporary yet the memories are forever and when I think back about the trip I don't dwell upon how much my back hurt but how much fun everybody had.

I'd do the whole thing over again in a heartbeat.