Two years ago I took my daughter-in-law and three of my grandchildren to Disneyworld for 5 days. I could not begin to tell you how wonderful it was to have this time with my family in such a magical place. The memories are so precious to me and to my grandkids. They still talk about the trip. When we got home I promised them that when the youngest grandchild turns 5 (2018) I will take all my grandchildren (5 of them) and my son and daughter-in-law to DisneyWorld. I started saving right away and I'm about half way there to the money I need to do this.
Now I'm really worried that by 2018 I won't be physically able to do it. This last year has dragged me down so much I'm not entirely sure I can do it now. I talked to my husband and asked if we could swing it sooner so I could have this trip as a memory as I know it will be the last time I could do anything like this. In order to do it at this time we would have to go in debt and he refuses to do that. I can understand and feel like a whinning baby saying....No I want it Now! BIG SIGH!
I don't want to do it cheap like staying in a hotel away from the Parks or driving instead of flying. I want to do it so it is the best memory of all our lives or I don't want to do it at all.
Written by
TheresaCurley
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It was October 2001. I like you wanted the best Disney Trip we could have. We paid extra to fly into John Wayne airport because it was smaller and closer to the Park. I paid to stay at the California Grand which is much more expensive than the other 2 hotels. We did everything right for having the ultimate Disney Vacation. Then came Sept.11 2001. Ridiculous security lines at the airport, the Diamond Backs baseball team was in the World Series and a big Nascar Race was also going on. To make a long story short we got the women and children on the first plane while me and my kids grandfather waited to check in the baggage on a latter flight because we missed our flight because of the 3 hour lines. We were able to catch a flight to L.A. but our baggage didn't make the flight. To make a long story short, we have made lots of trips to Disney Land and Disney World and the one we tried to do right was the worst one.
We went to Disney World 2 years ago with my daughter, son in law and 2 grandsons. It was a wonderful time and despite the physical toll it took, was well worth the effort. I did rent a scooter for the trip, which made the week much easier on my physically. I know many people resist using aids such as this because they refuse to give in to the disease but it was a question of using the scooter and enjoying the week or trying to be on my feet for long days and being in so much pain that I couldn't enjoy the trip at all. My 4 year old grandson would sit on my lap on the scooter until a park employee would tell us that is was not permitted. He would get off until we were clear and then get back on. In my defense, I do have a scooter at home so I was accustomed to driving it, unlike many park guests who have never used one before.
We didn't stay in the park but found that with a handicapped parking permit getting into the park and being able to park near the entrances was reasonably convenient. The only main downside to not being in the park is that you do not have access to the fastpass system until the day you are visiting. Guests staying in the park can reserve time the day before, which meant that some fastpass rides were booked completely by the time we got to the park and we had to stand on line for some time for some of the more popular rides.
As someone who keeps tight control of our finances, I can understand not wanting to go into debt for a trip like this. On the other hand, being the person with PD, I can also understand wanting to do something while you still can. Perhaps the compromises you would have to make to do the trip sooner than later are not as important as the memories that you and your family will have of spending time together. PD, in many cases, makes many of us resent compromise as it seems to be a constant requirement in our daily lives. I hope you can find a resolution to this as I can understand how important this must be to you.
The last time we went to Disneyworld we stayed in one of the Disney Hotels with a package and it was so fantastic. We did a dinning plan and didn't have to worry about paying for our food in the Parks or the Hotels. Our plan had what was called the Hopper so we could go to any park and back and forth on any day, we were not limited to one park a day. We also had the photo package which I highly recommend. We also made full use of the fast pass. Also if you stay at one of the Disney hotels you have extended hours at the parks. I found out from the Rep that since I now have Parkinson if I bring a note from my doctor that I can't wait on lines because of my health they have a service where they encode it on your wrist band at the hotel and for your entire stay you can go to the person at the exhibit and they will scan your band and they schedule an entrance time for you equal to the wait time of the line so you can go anywhere instead of waiting on line. At anytime after the wait time your whole group can go right in. You can only have one of these pending at a time though. This is in addition to the fast pass. When I say go right in I'm not talking about the fast pass line, this is something different, there is no line because you already waited only not on the line. We had transportation to and from the parks and they even picked up our luggage at the airport and had it delivered to our room. My one and only complaint about that trip was that it was so awfully hot. We went in May and you would not think it would be so hot but it was in the 90's every day.
I talked to my husband again about going into debt for it and he really is dead set against it. He's afraid we might need to go into debt to get a new car before long and the last thing we need at our age is a lot of payments to make. So I guess I just have to keep this darn PD under control until after the trip! Right now we are planning to do it April 2018. It's not really that long away, only 17 months. If I can keep saving at the rate I have been, money will not be a problem at all for the trip.
If you are able, I recommend cycling at 80-90 rpm to keep in the best physical shape you can. Check the pedalingforparkinsons.org website or ask me for more information if you wish.
Staying off property ain't so bad. Lots of hotels have awesome shuttle service. Get a doc note. Lots of perks to handicapped designation. Get a scooter. Come in cooler months like March or April.
I will definitely get the doctors note and rent a scooter and we are planning the trip for early April in 2018. As for the hotel I have my heart set at staying at the Disney Saratoga Tree House Villas. There will be 8 of us and these villas have 3 bed rooms and two full baths and a half bath and are made to look like a tree house. The kids will love it and we can all be in the same unit. The cost is no more than getting two rooms or suites at other Disney Hotels which would be what we would have to do to accommodate all of us. If you are interested in checking it out here is a youtube video of the place.
Thank you everyone here. I feel like you are all my friends. My husband is very stubborn and at this point it is choosing between harmony in the home or a trip now instead of in 17 months from now. I think I will just have to take my chances and wait and try my best to improve or keep from progressing.
I am from the school of thought that you should owe no one anything, but to love them. With that I would have to side with your husband. Not to get political but as soon as we stop the flow of free money there is going to be some economic shake up. I am hoping that interest rates will rise so I can finally earn some interest on my savings. I know I hear the boos but give it a couple of months to see how it plays out.
No matter how you cut it Disney is very pricey! We took our children (adults) and 4 grandchildren last October. We had a blast --- at the hotel resort (off property)! In fact the kids wanted to stay and play at the hotel pool. Everyone had a great time, no lines, no pricey eats, no $15 parking. Grandchildren are 31/2 and 5 yrs. Come on Disney you are pricing us out big time!
Yes it is pricey but I still think it is worth it. You can go to a Hotel and enjoy a pool any time but to me there is nothing that can compare to a Disneyworld vacation for the kids. Please this is my personal preference so I don't want to debate it.
Everyone has their opinion and that's fine. My point is Disney has priced themselves way too high for my money. We all want the Disney experience for our families. Nobody does it better! We've been fortunate to go several times when our kids were growing up. During our trip last October the pirate theme pool was loaded with kids every day. Apparently it wasn't your average pool.
It's all about quality time with your family. It's what you want to do that counts.
Oh yes I forgot the most important thing. If your grand kids have Nintendo DS 3s they have to take them if they do the pass game. My daughter hit the jackpot from the Safari driver who had a DS 3 and hundreds of users all over the world.
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