Urgent - has anyone seen Elizabeth (homeless lady) hanging around the BWPPI?

[jory29]

I am needing to know as our 12 and a half year old son has been asking about her. She is apparently a homeless elderly lady, and 2 years ago in Nov., we saw her outside on the bus stop in front of the BWPPI and she both won and broke our hearts!!

We asked the front desk who she was, (they told us her name) and we asked them if we gave her something warm if she would use it, and they said she was very independent, so would probably say no, and they said that she only hung around when the crowds at DL were low. After that she moves on down the line to other less crowded areas, they said. They also told me that when it's raining they will run out and give her an umbrella to use.

When we saw her, she had a bag, a small suitcase rollaway style, and she put on her gloves and toque and curled her head down on her suitcase to go to sleep at night, in the lit bus shelter in front of the BWPPI! It was pretty cold at night in Nov. Our son saw this with us from our window of the hotel. He was really saddened for her. The front desk informed us that she does apparently receive money on a monthly basis from the government. They said that she is coherent and can carry a conversation sometimes, and other times, not so much.

I need to know if anyone has seen her hanging out near the bus stop in front of the BWPPI. Our 12 and a half year old would love to slip her some money to help her when we next go, and she may or may not take it, but at least he will try his best. He really felt badly for her.

Disneyland is so fun but so sad - on one hand, it's the happiest place on earth. On the other hand, you walk out of the gates and the magic ends....

*Or - does it???*

The magic of Disney, I believe, is that the love and magic never dies. What we take from the park, we carry out of it - and we spread it through the lands - through the real lands, of real life.

 

[JustAKid]

I can't help you, and I'm sorry, but I figure if anything deserved a bump, this did. I also wanted to send good vibes to you and your family. Thanks so much for being so sweet to someone that most would usually pass by. Maybe instead of money (or in addition to) you might encourage your son to find a way to show her love (something she might be lacking). Good luck with your search!

 

[50sjayne]

What justakid said...I've been listening to the Mary Poppins soundtrack in the car and was really listening to the words to Feed the Birds and almost cried the other day. That's a good Disney kid you have there ;-)

 

[jory29]

I can't help you, and I'm sorry, but I figure if anything deserved a bump, this did. I also wanted to send good vibes to you and your family. Thanks so much for being so sweet to someone that most would usually pass by. Maybe instead of money (or in addition to) you might encourage your son to find a way to show her love (something she might be lacking). Good luck with your search!

Thanks for your reply, I'm hoping someone here from the boards will remember who they've seen sitting there, and hopefully they've seen her. If they haven't seen her, maybe it's a good sign she got into a nursing home or something good like that?

Last time, our son wanted to give her a blanket but I told him when I had asked at the front desk about giving her something warm, that the staff at the hotel had told us that she would probably say no. You're totally right, even some other gesture and/or money would be especially nice, as I'm sure most everyone walks on by with nary a glance. Maybe our younger daughter can make a card and our son can fill in some thoughtful words. Maybe a breakfast muffin, pre-wrapped, as well, or something like that.

Thanks, 50sjayne, for your reply as well! Sounds like you're a Disney girl with a big Disney heart as well.

 

[DizMe]

Wow, what a sweet, wonderful son you have! Congratulations on raising kind children.

I wonder if they made something for her whether that might make a difference? Maybe she would accept something handmade for her, like a fleecy throw or something. My dd made these in Brownies. If Elizabeth didn't want it, you could donate it to a hospital or nursing home.

 

[MyMonkies]

What a big hearted boy you have!

How about calling the hotel & asking them?

Also, if she's not willing to accept help, maybe if it was left secretly she might? Either something that just says "For Elizabeth" where she is expected to be or leave something at the front desk for her & ask them to run it out just saying someone had left it for her????

Another idea, if you can't connect with her-maybe your son could do something in her honor for someone locally where you live???

 

[jory29]

What a big hearted boy you have!

How about calling the hotel & asking them?

Also, if she's not willing to accept help, maybe if it was left secretly she might? Either something that just says "For Elizabeth" where she is expected to be or leave something at the front desk for her & ask them to run it out just saying someone had left it for her????

Another idea, if you can't connect with her-maybe your son could do something in her honor for someone locally where you live???

That was a great idea you had, thanks! I phoned staff at the BWPPI and told them that we were wondering about Elizabeth. She said it was funny I'd phoned because they all had been talking about her just recently, wondering where she had gone. They have not seen her for months. She said that they did know that she had family in the area, where she could go and get cleaned up, etc. (she was a very neat and tidy homeless person we had noticed that, too) but that she didn't like to stay with them, she preferred to be on her own, on the streets. On really cold nights, if BWPPI or Tropicana had rooms available, they would give her a room for the night! She said they can't do that for every homeless person, of course, but that Elizabeth was special. I think she is very special, there was something about her that reached deep into our hearts and really made us think about things. She told me sometimes they would try to take her food, but she would say she didn't need it, she had money of her own and could buy her own food. Sometimes she would tell them stories about her past, and talk a lot, and other times, she would ramble, and not make much sense. The lady I spoke to at the BWPPI told me that she herself would see her at the grocery store, or all the way near her own house, which was a far ways away. She said that everyone along the hotel strip had been asking about her. I told her if I find out any information, I would phone back and let her know. She and I wondered if maybe her family did manage to get her into a nursing home - she is either in her late 70's or early 80's. They do also wonder if she had died, so it would be nice if someone can post any information about Elizabeth that they may have.

Thanks also for your compliments about my son... he's a little different himself, (aspergers) and although he seems to lack empathy (seemingly so) at some times, (due to the fact it is harder for him to express his emotions at times, I think), other times, he shows he is very thoughtful and considerate, with a heart of gold.

 

[jory29]

Wow, what a sweet, wonderful son you have! Congratulations on raising kind children.

I wonder if they made something for her whether that might make a difference? Maybe she would accept something handmade for her, like a fleecy throw or something. My dd made these in Brownies. If Elizabeth didn't want it, you could donate it to a hospital or nursing home.

That's a great idea, too. Thanks for posting. Now that we know we will likely not see Elizabeth there, (see my post prior to this one) I'll see if my son and family want to do something in memory of her, whether she's still here on this earth, or an angel up in heaven now.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

I'm all teary-eyed! This entire thread is beautiful.

I will keep my eyes peeled for her on my daily walk into the Resort area and will report if I see anything!

Lorealle

 

[Amy&Dan]

What a story. You have a very special son.

Years ago, I worked, lived and went to school in Downtown Denver and to this day, over 20 years later (and now way out in the suburbs) I can still remember the faces of some of the homeless people I would see regularly. They all have a story and I still wonder about some of them.

And your information about BWPPI and Tropicana giving Elizabeth a room when they could made me glad to give them my business.

I hope wherever she is, she somehow knows that she touched people and that they cared.

 

[jory29]

Thanks, Lorealle, and Amy&Dan! I hope she realizes, too, that people care for her. She touched all of our hearts deeply.
I am still hoping someone will know more about Elizabeth, and will post here.

 

[JennHales]

This thread really warmed my heart. I have a BIL who is homeless on the streets of SFO.
Thank you for being such a good person and raising wonderful kids.
Jen

 

[jory29]

This thread really warmed my heart. I have a BIL who is homeless on the streets of SFO.
Thank you for being such a good person and raising wonderful kids.
Jen

Prayers for your BIL. I hope he's o.k. It's not easy not knowing where or how one is doing; I understand, because my own sister had taken off from our family for almost 20 years, when I was almost 20 years old. We had no clue where she was. Finally, last Feb. she got in contact with us. She is doing well, and the reunion was so awesome. Bless you as you wonder about your BIL as I know he must be not far from your thoughts!

Thanks for the compliments on my kids. I think every kid has good in them and its both painful and rewarding to watch a situation such as homelessness through their eyes. Painful in the sense that we feel badly for the homeless people on our earth. Rewarding in the sense that they care enough to want to change the world one day...

Maybe one day they will.

 

[fronkfam]

This thread has brought sweet tears to my eyes. I wish i had information for you, but we have only stayed in that area during the busy summer season. I hope Elizabeth is doing well, wherever she is.

Your children have big hearts! Our son has very severe autism. He constantly amazes us at how loving he can be. What a blessing!

 

[jory29]

This thread has brought sweet tears to my eyes. I wish i had information for you, but we have only stayed in that area during the busy summer season. I hope Elizabeth is doing well, wherever she is.

Your children have big hearts! Our son has very severe autism. He constantly amazes us at how loving he can be. What a blessing!

Thanks for posting your reply ... I understand that children with autism are very special indeed. They are here to teach us, I believe, how we should interpret the world. Though at times they appear to lack appropriate responses to 'feelings', other times they show us what's really in their hearts, which is a WHOLE lotta' love. God Bless your son. He sounds very special indeed!