Pre-Trip Not our typical Disney trip (and a bonus very typical Disney trip!)

Hi friends! For those who don't know the cast of my TRs, here we are:

M (my wife)
28
Writer/academic administrator

B (me)
28
Opera singer/voice teacher

We've been together for ten years and married for 2.5 years. We both grew up in Florida and went to WDW frequently as kids and teenagers. Then we discovered park-going as adults and realized...it's even more fun! We now live in NJ just outside of NYC and although we can't go to Disney as often as we'd like we still visit the Mouse when we visit M's family in Florida (and sometimes without visiting them...shhhh!).

Now about the title: we've been talking about doing a different kind of Disney trip for awhile now, and recently we finally picked some dates and started diving into trip planning. What makes this trip so different? We're going back to where it all began. We're going to Disney...LAND!!!

Now of course it would be silly for two East Coast girls to fly all the way to California without seeing more of what the state has to offer. So we're starting in northern CA and working our way down, and Disneyland will be at the end of the trip.

Dates: August 4-14, 2017
Flights: Southwest (we're quite loyal by this point!)
Lodging: various throughout the state

I'll post our plans a few days at a time in the following posts. Any tips for WDW veterans/first-time DLR visitors are more than welcome! We've been doing our research but the whole concept of not pre-planning very much is a little daunting. If this were a WDW trip we'd have all our ADRs planned by now, haha! We're very much looking forward to the different vibe of DLR.

Stay tuned for more!

 

[MinnieM123]

Through the years, I've had every possible dental procedure done (except for implants--no thanks). Sometimes, a root canal doesn't work; sometimes an apioectomy might work after a failed root canal.

But I got to the point where I'd only tolerate so much (after having issues with multiple teeth over time), and I'd request to have a tooth pulled--and I'd be put out of my misery. Had no problem with bridges or partials after the fact.

Everyone, and every tooth, is different and some procedures are successful and some aren't. It also depends upon how much money you want to part with, as all these procedures cost a lot. And for the record, I went to all board-certified dentists, endodentists and oral surgeons. My dental insurance would only pay for qualified physicians. (Of course, the dental insurance only paid a pittance of the full bill though!)

I hope things turn out well for you, and sorry to hear about your tooth pain.

 

[amjt660]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal
I too am glad that this happened now and not during your soon to be awesome DLR trip

Max

 

[PacNWTigger]

So sorry about your dental disaster! At least now you can rest, heal up, and have a nice time in Texas with your family. Your DLR trip is coming up quick too...when do you leave again?

 

[bee]

So sorry you had to go through another dental procedure! I am hoping that this is the last one you will have to endure! I hope the swelling goes down and pain subsides before your trip so you can enjoy your TexMex!

Thank you! I hope so too!!

Yikes, sounds like a rough day. I'm glad you got it taken care of somewhat quickly, and I hope you heal up soon. Sounds like you do have a great wife.

Thank you! She is the best!!

Through the years, I've had every possible dental procedure done (except for implants--no thanks). Sometimes, a root canal doesn't work; sometimes an apioectomy might work after a failed root canal.

But I got to the point where I'd only tolerate so much (after having issues with multiple teeth over time), and I'd request to have a tooth pulled--and I'd be put out of my misery. Had no problem with bridges or partials after the fact.

Everyone, and every tooth, is different and some procedures are successful and some aren't. It also depends upon how much money you want to part with, as all these procedures cost a lot. And for the record, I went to all board-certified dentists, endodentists and oral surgeons. My dental insurance would only pay for qualified physicians. (Of course, the dental insurance only paid a pittance of the full bill though!)

I hope things turn out well for you, and sorry to hear about your tooth pain.

Thank you! Wow, I'm glad your issues have been resolved after so many procedures! I can only hope that the apicoectomy is the last step for me. I'm very thankful we have good insurance through M's job and they covered 80% of the procedure, and I only had a small copay for my prescriptions. In fact the OTC ibuprofen gel caps cost more than all three prescriptions combined!

Sorry to hear about your ordeal
I too am glad that this happened now and not during your soon to be awesome DLR trip

Max

Thank you! It's like the universe is protecting me...but also wants to scare me, because these things keep happening right before I travel!

So sorry about your dental disaster! At least now you can rest, heal up, and have a nice time in Texas with your family. Your DLR trip is coming up quick too...when do you leave again?

Thank you! I'm doing as much resting as possible. We leave in 49 days for California and arrive at DLR in 55 days! I'm getting so excited!

 

[gdisneyfans]

WARNING: this post involves medical procedures and stitches...and not this guy:

Read at your own risk!!

If you read my PTR and TR from the last time we took a WDW trip, you may remember I had a second root canal done on one of my molars last May/June (the endodontist did it in two sessions), then got in a car accident on the way home from the second session.

Everything was fine for a year. Almost exactly a year after the procedure I started having a very slight pain in the same tooth while chewing. I had a regular dental checkup coming up so I told the dentist; he didn't see anything unusual in my X-rays or gums, so he filed down the crown a bit in case I was just experiencing pressure from the contact with my upper teeth. This was Tuesday morning. On Tuesday night M and I went out to dinner in a group for our friend's birthday. During dinner I could feel it getting worse and worse to the point where I couldn't stand chewing and only ate half my dinner. It was too late to call the dentist so I called Wednesday and they said I could come in and the dentist would see me between appointments.

Wednesday (yesterday) I got to the dentist and he again had the tooth X-rayed and looked for any outward signs of an infection. He tapped on all the teeth in the area to make sure we really knew which was the problem and presumably to see if I was actually in pain. Then he kept filing away at the crown and making me bite down even though I told him it hurt to bite. I could have punched him. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to hold back tears during all this. I understand there are plenty of people who fake pain in attempt to get prescription meds to either take themselves or sell...but like. Dude. I was literally crying in his chair. I just wanted a referral to the endodontist, which he finally gave me.

I called the endodontist and made an appointment for Friday (tomorrow). I felt better after taking ibuprofen so I figured I could wait.

THEN...

I woke up with extreme throbbing pain around 4:00 this morning. I looked in the mirror and the whole gum area around the tooth was swollen and discolored. I took more ibuprofen and came back to bed in an attempt to sleep but the pain was so bad I started crying and couldn't stop and definitely couldn't sleep. Unfortunately I woke up M in this process. She stayed up with my and held me while I cried, then around 6:00 she called the endodontist for me and left a message asking if I could come today instead. She made me a protein smoothie so I could get some nutrients without having to chew. She also decided to take the day off to take care of me.

Around 8:15 the doctor himself called back and asked if I could come in today at 9:15, which was perfect. I took a Lyft to the office and when I got there I had more X-rays done and the doctor inspected the area (thankfully he didn't tap tap tap like Dr. ********!!). He said I had a bad infection and another root canal would probably not help, and recommended an apicoectomy (Wikipedia if you don't know what it is-I sure didn't!). He said he could do it right then and there and I said, "Yes, please!" so I could start recovering sooner rather than later! He numbed me with a LOT of something-caine, more than I've ever had for a procedure before and performed the surgery, which was basically (WARNING WARNING GROSS GROSS GROSS!!) removing the entire tooth, cleaning and treating it while it was outside of my mouth, and placing it back in. It was actually pretty quick and after he was satisfied with the new X-rays he placed stitches around the tooth so it hopefully heals correctly. (CAN'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!!)

He gave me prescriptions for antibiotics, a mouth rinse, and pain meds (nothing crazy, just high strength acetaminophen) and told me to avoid hot food or beverages or showers for 48 hours, and take 4 ibuprofen every 8 hours for the next day or two while I have pain. I am supposed to fly to Texas on Sunday to see my parents and brother, which the doctor said should be fine, although I might still have some swelling in the area around the tooth. Which would totally suck as half the point of the trip was to have some good Tex-Mex, haha. I made a follow-up appointment for two weeks from today to get the stitches removed and check on the progress.

I took a Lyft to Target since it's one of the closest pharmacies to home and M (best wife ever!) met me there to help me get the rest of the way home. She bought me some soft, cold foods/drinks since I won't be able to eat normally for a bit. It's now been about eight hours since the surgery and it's definitely not going to be a fun next few days. I am quite swollen in the area around the tooth and if I weren't on lots of NSAIDs I'm sure I'd be miserable. I'm ready for this to be done!!

I've often said, semi-jokingly, that this tooth is cursed. I have been fortunate to have had good dental health with the exception of a few minor cavities, which were easily treatable with fillings. I have never had braces but I have naturally straight teeth. Every dentist and specialist remarks how healthy the rest of my mouth is and how unusual it is to have had so many problems with one tooth. Being an opera singer and occasional drama queen, I can relate to a certain character who also was cursed: the title character of Verdi's Rigoletto, who is cursed long before the start of the opera, and of course his own actions lead to the curse-and his worst fear-being fulfilled. Here is the very end of the opera. The worst has just occurred (I won't spoil it in case you want to watch the opera) and he exclaims, "Ah! La maledizione!" ("Ah! The curse!") (happens at 0:13)



I jokingly sing this sometimes when bad things happen (when it would be better to laugh than cry) and I may be delirious from pain and lack of sleep, but I'm finding this hilarious right now (and driving M a little nuts).

As much as this sucks, I'm glad it happened now and not while I was in Texas with my parents, or upstate for this opera gig, or in California on vacation!!! And at least I paid the bill with my Disney Visa and I'm getting Disney Dollars!

TL;DR I had surprise surgery this morning! I have the best wife ever!

The like is because you do have the best wife ever - that is so sweet the way she took care of you! But so sorry you had to go through this. But like you said, thankfully it wasn't during something more important!

 

[bee]

The like is because you do have the best wife ever - that is so sweet the way she took care of you! But so sorry you had to go through this. But like you said, thankfully it wasn't during something more important!

Thank you! She is truly the best. I keep telling her, "I hope this never happens to you, but if it does I'll take care of you!"

After a full night's sleep (with the assistance of LOTS of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and a mild OTC sleep aid) I am feeling way better. I woke up around 7:30, took more meds, and went back to sleep until 10. I still have some swelling and occasionally a bit of throbbing in the area which is quite normal after surgery but I am using ice packs on-and-off which definitely helps. My gums are a bit irritated since they have stitches in them. But the pain yesterday before seeing the doctor was SO. MUCH. WORSE. than what I'm having even in post-surgery recovery. I'm hopeful and optimistic at this point. I've warned my parents and brother I may not be much fun next week when I visit them, haha.

Back to some Disney planning!!!

I did go ahead and make a second Napa Rose reservation so we can decide later which day we want to go. As I'm going to be resting most of the day I've been watching more Disneyland history/planning/fan videos. I'm getting so excited!!!

 

[gdisneyfans]

Thank you! She is truly the best. I keep telling her, "I hope this never happens to you, but if it does I'll take care of you!"

After a full night's sleep (with the assistance of LOTS of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and a mild OTC sleep aid) I am feeling way better. I woke up around 7:30, took more meds, and went back to sleep until 10. I still have some swelling and occasionally a bit of throbbing in the area which is quite normal after surgery but I am using ice packs on-and-off which definitely helps. My gums are a bit irritated since they have stitches in them. But the pain yesterday before seeing the doctor was SO. MUCH. WORSE. than what I'm having even in post-surgery recovery. I'm hopeful and optimistic at this point. I've warned my parents and brother I may not be much fun next week when I visit them, haha.

Back to some Disney planning!!!

I did go ahead and make a second Napa Rose reservation so we can decide later which day we want to go. As I'm going to be resting most of the day I've been watching more Disneyland history/planning/fan videos. I'm getting so excited!!!

Glad to hear you're feeling somewhat better! Hopefully by the time you leave for Texas, you will hardly even notice the stitches there any longer

Planning for Disney always seems to help

 

[TheMouseFan]

Your trip is getting so close! I'm so jealous that you guys are going to Disneyland! I want to go so badly!! Sorry about your tooth. There isn't much of anything that is worse than tooth pain!

 

[bee]

Glad to hear you're feeling somewhat better! Hopefully by the time you leave for Texas, you will hardly even notice the stitches there any longer

Planning for Disney always seems to help

Thank you! I feel much better and I am allowed to have hot food/drinks today! I had hot coffee this morning AND I was able to eat some eggs and hash browns in very small bites. The stitches are still annoying but not actually painful and I know they're there to help me heal correctly so I'm not letting them bother me too much.

Disney planning is ALWAYS a way to feel better and/or be distracted from pain!

Your trip is getting so close! I'm so jealous that you guys are going to Disneyland! I want to go so badly!! Sorry about your tooth. There isn't much of anything that is worse than tooth pain!

Thank you! It's much better and even though I woke up in pain this morning (I took the drugs but they wore off by the time I woke up of course), this pain is nowhere near what I had Thursday morning before the surgery!

Yesterday I did a double-take at the countdown and had to count the days one-by-one on the calendar to really believe how close we are! We planned this trip much farther in advance than we usually plan WDW trips so for awhile it seemed it would never get here! But it's real!!

PS sorry for bombarding you with likes on your old TRs! Reading old TRs (mine and others) is a great way to pass the time and distract from the tooth woes!

 

[amjt660]

Cars land will be even more special with cars 3 now out

Max

 

[ScarletBegonias]

So glad you are feeling better! And your wife is awesome! So nice that she took off work to take care of you!

 

[gdisneyfans]

@bee we were in Chicago this weekend and went past this building and thought of you! Have you ever been? It's a beautiful building!

 

[DisneyGigi]

WARNING: this post involves medical procedures and stitches...and not this guy:

Read at your own risk!!

If you read my PTR and TR from the last time we took a WDW trip, you may remember I had a second root canal done on one of my molars last May/June (the endodontist did it in two sessions), then got in a car accident on the way home from the second session.

Everything was fine for a year. Almost exactly a year after the procedure I started having a very slight pain in the same tooth while chewing. I had a regular dental checkup coming up so I told the dentist; he didn't see anything unusual in my X-rays or gums, so he filed down the crown a bit in case I was just experiencing pressure from the contact with my upper teeth. This was Tuesday morning. On Tuesday night M and I went out to dinner in a group for our friend's birthday. During dinner I could feel it getting worse and worse to the point where I couldn't stand chewing and only ate half my dinner. It was too late to call the dentist so I called Wednesday and they said I could come in and the dentist would see me between appointments.

Wednesday (yesterday) I got to the dentist and he again had the tooth X-rayed and looked for any outward signs of an infection. He tapped on all the teeth in the area to make sure we really knew which was the problem and presumably to see if I was actually in pain. Then he kept filing away at the crown and making me bite down even though I told him it hurt to bite. I could have punched him. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to hold back tears during all this. I understand there are plenty of people who fake pain in attempt to get prescription meds to either take themselves or sell...but like. Dude. I was literally crying in his chair. I just wanted a referral to the endodontist, which he finally gave me.

I called the endodontist and made an appointment for Friday (tomorrow). I felt better after taking ibuprofen so I figured I could wait.

THEN...

I woke up with extreme throbbing pain around 4:00 this morning. I looked in the mirror and the whole gum area around the tooth was swollen and discolored. I took more ibuprofen and came back to bed in an attempt to sleep but the pain was so bad I started crying and couldn't stop and definitely couldn't sleep. Unfortunately I woke up M in this process. She stayed up with my and held me while I cried, then around 6:00 she called the endodontist for me and left a message asking if I could come today instead. She made me a protein smoothie so I could get some nutrients without having to chew. She also decided to take the day off to take care of me.

Around 8:15 the doctor himself called back and asked if I could come in today at 9:15, which was perfect. I took a Lyft to the office and when I got there I had more X-rays done and the doctor inspected the area (thankfully he didn't tap tap tap like Dr. ********!!). He said I had a bad infection and another root canal would probably not help, and recommended an apicoectomy (Wikipedia if you don't know what it is-I sure didn't!). He said he could do it right then and there and I said, "Yes, please!" so I could start recovering sooner rather than later! He numbed me with a LOT of something-caine, more than I've ever had for a procedure before and performed the surgery, which was basically (WARNING WARNING GROSS GROSS GROSS!!) removing the entire tooth, cleaning and treating it while it was outside of my mouth, and placing it back in. It was actually pretty quick and after he was satisfied with the new X-rays he placed stitches around the tooth so it hopefully heals correctly. (CAN'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!!)

He gave me prescriptions for antibiotics, a mouth rinse, and pain meds (nothing crazy, just high strength acetaminophen) and told me to avoid hot food or beverages or showers for 48 hours, and take 4 ibuprofen every 8 hours for the next day or two while I have pain. I am supposed to fly to Texas on Sunday to see my parents and brother, which the doctor said should be fine, although I might still have some swelling in the area around the tooth. Which would totally suck as half the point of the trip was to have some good Tex-Mex, haha. I made a follow-up appointment for two weeks from today to get the stitches removed and check on the progress.

I took a Lyft to Target since it's one of the closest pharmacies to home and M (best wife ever!) met me there to help me get the rest of the way home. She bought me some soft, cold foods/drinks since I won't be able to eat normally for a bit. It's now been about eight hours since the surgery and it's definitely not going to be a fun next few days. I am quite swollen in the area around the tooth and if I weren't on lots of NSAIDs I'm sure I'd be miserable. I'm ready for this to be done!!

I've often said, semi-jokingly, that this tooth is cursed. I have been fortunate to have had good dental health with the exception of a few minor cavities, which were easily treatable with fillings. I have never had braces but I have naturally straight teeth. Every dentist and specialist remarks how healthy the rest of my mouth is and how unusual it is to have had so many problems with one tooth. Being an opera singer and occasional drama queen, I can relate to a certain character who also was cursed: the title character of Verdi's Rigoletto, who is cursed long before the start of the opera, and of course his own actions lead to the curse-and his worst fear-being fulfilled. Here is the very end of the opera. The worst has just occurred (I won't spoil it in case you want to watch the opera) and he exclaims, "Ah! La maledizione!" ("Ah! The curse!") (happens at 0:13)



I jokingly sing this sometimes when bad things happen (when it would be better to laugh than cry) and I may be delirious from pain and lack of sleep, but I'm finding this hilarious right now (and driving M a little nuts).

As much as this sucks, I'm glad it happened now and not while I was in Texas with my parents, or upstate for this opera gig, or in California on vacation!!! And at least I paid the bill with my Disney Visa and I'm getting Disney Dollars!

TL;DR I had surprise surgery this morning! I have the best wife ever!

I am so sorry you had trouble with a tooth again. I have been there and know how painful that is. I had no idea they could even do that. I lost mine after a horrible abcess sent me to the ER. I literally looked like a cartoon character my face was so swollen. Worst pain I have ever felt! The tooth was actually okay for a root canal once the antibiotics kicked in but it ate part of my jawbone so the tooth had to go and the jawbone be scraped. The sound was terrible when they scraped the bone. Still makes me sick remembering it. A few weeks later I lost a filling and my tooth cracked on the other side. Lucky for me, that one I was able to get a crown to fix. Long story short- tooth pain is horrid. I feel for you, glad you are feeling better and glad it didn't happen while you are at Disneyland!

 

[dizfan917]

Oy. Mouthal pain can be the worst! I hope everything is back to normal soon. I can't wait for the stars to align so we can visit Disneyland one of these years. I was in Anaheim opening a new retail location for the company I work for a few years ago and we were booked into a Holiday Inn Express, I believe, right next to the parking garage. We could see the fireworks from the front patio of the hotel. We worked every day from 8:00am till 6:00p, so we never got a chance to visit the parks. We did wander in to Downtown Disney for dinner one night (Earl of Sandwich!!), but never got through a front gate. sigh.... one of these days!! :0) Looking forward to the report of your visit!

 

[bee]

Cars land will be even more special with cars 3 now out

Max

Ooh, great point! I didn't see Cars 2 or 3 but I think I'll need to catch up before DLR!

So glad you are feeling better! And your wife is awesome! So nice that she took off work to take care of you!

She's amazing! I don't know what I would have done without her. Luckily during summer her job is pretty flexible.

@bee we were in Chicago this weekend and went past this building and thought of you! Have you ever been? It's a beautiful building!

View attachment 211107

That building is gorgeous! We've been to Chicago but I don't think we saw that building.

I am so sorry you had trouble with a tooth again. I have been there and know how painful that is. I had no idea they could even do that. I lost mine after a horrible abcess sent me to the ER. I literally looked like a cartoon character my face was so swollen. Worst pain I have ever felt! The tooth was actually okay for a root canal once the antibiotics kicked in but it ate part of my jawbone so the tooth had to go and the jawbone be scraped. The sound was terrible when they scraped the bone. Still makes me sick remembering it. A few weeks later I lost a filling and my tooth cracked on the other side. Lucky for me, that one I was able to get a crown to fix. Long story short- tooth pain is horrid. I feel for you, glad you are feeling better and glad it didn't happen while you are at Disneyland!

Oh no, that sounds awful! I'm glad you were able to have it treated! I'm hoping mine is mostly healed before Disneyland. Apparently the healing process can take four months!

Oy. Mouthal pain can be the worst! I hope everything is back to normal soon. I can't wait for the stars to align so we can visit Disneyland one of these years. I was in Anaheim opening a new retail location for the company I work for a few years ago and we were booked into a Holiday Inn Express, I believe, right next to the parking garage. We could see the fireworks from the front patio of the hotel. We worked every day from 8:00am till 6:00p, so we never got a chance to visit the parks. We did wander in to Downtown Disney for dinner one night (Earl of Sandwich!!), but never got through a front gate. sigh.... one of these days!! :0) Looking forward to the report of your visit!

I don't know how you could stand being so close and not visiting the parks! I hope life brings you back to Disneyland for a full parks trip!

UPDATE:
I'm currently in Texas visiting my parents and brother. I've been able to take less and less pain medication each day since the surgery. Yesterday we went to Mexican Inn Cafe with my grandmother and I was able to (veeeeery slowly, in very small bites) eat one enchilada! I had to take the other two home but I'd call that progress! Otherwise I'm having soft foods and liquids to be cautious and not overdo it. I'm feeling good about where I'll be by the time I go upstate and to California.

By the way, who else is stalking the WDW site to check resort prices for 2018??

 

[amjt660]

Skip cars 2
It was just bad
I hear 3 is better but have not seen it yet

Max

 

[PacNWTigger]

Skip cars 2
It was just bad
I hear 3 is better but have not seen it yet

Max

I wholeheartedly agree with Max. Skip Cars 2 because it was worse than bad...Mater was funny, but couldn't save the show.

I wonder if DCA will have some of the new cars out for M&G...that could be kinda cool if they do!

 

[Tuvalu]

DHS has Cruz Ramirez

 

[susan lees]

We are planning a west coast road trip in 2020 so I'm looking forward to your report. We will include Disneyland.
My son has just finished a year as CM in rose and Crown in epcot but he also loved Disneyland Anaheim so much so he flew across US to visit twice. This is a Scottish boy who hates flying lol. Happy planning.

 

[MinnieM123]

UPDATE:
I'm currently in Texas visiting my parents and brother. I've been able to take less and less pain medication each day since the surgery. Yesterday we went to Mexican Inn Cafe with my grandmother and I was able to (veeeeery slowly, in very small bites) eat one enchilada! I had to take the other two home but I'd call that progress! Otherwise I'm having soft foods and liquids to be cautious and not overdo it. I'm feeling good about where I'll be by the time I go upstate and to California.

Bee, very happy to hear that your mouth is feeling better after the dental surgery.