Our 25th Anniversary Pre-Trip (and eventual full trip report)

Gucci65 · Aug 5, 2008

Norwoods is a little further down from Blackbeards and they are out of this world!!!!

They have a charbroiled wahoo that is fantastic!!!!!

Have a wonderful time and remember to update your trip report when you return.

Hope your Dad feels better!!

SchultzFamily · Aug 8, 2008

Down to 24 days to go (not counting today). DH and oldest son are in Vegas--my DH has a trade show and oldest son went to help set up and write orders (he sent me a text message the first night and said: pool, hot tub and beer--what a great combination :goodnevil Oh, to be 22 again). I got the rental car down another $80 so we are down to $276 when we started at over $600. I took a mental health day yesterday (I just needed to sleep and I did...slept until 10:30 a.m.). I spent the rest of the day taking our youngest to Office Max to get some stuff for when he goes back to Univ. of Dubuque in two weeks, then we went grocery shopping. I went to see my dad in the hospital after that. And then once I got home I made two batches of Chocolate Chip Cookies to send with three of the youngest boy's former teammates as they head off to college for the first time (long story short...once the wrestling season got into conference, regionals, sectionals, etc., and they were a week apart, I would make cookies for those days; I couldn't do it during the regular season as they often wrestled three or four days a week and they would never keep weight if I made the cookies then; anyway, they say I make the best cookies and even though my son has been in college two years, I still make the cookies for the team as their are still a few boys left that my son was teammates with). I also washed some clothes that I haven't worn that were hanging in the closet and put them in an empty drawer in case I decide to take them with. Still debating on whether to ship a box off to the CSR in advance of our trip so we won't have so much luggage--especially being that we'll be gone two weeks).

SchultzFamily · Aug 16, 2008

Well, we are down to 15 days. DH came back from a business trip on Wednesday after being gone a week with our older son in Vegas. He took $600 with him for gambling and miscellaneous expenses (taxis, tips, drinks, etc.) and came home with $400 of it (the other $200 he will get reimbursed for the expenses)--so he basically broke even. He gave me the $400 and told me to pay for my massage and use the rest for a special gift. I collect Precious Moment statues and there is a new one with a little girl holding a flying Dumbo. And since Dumbo is my DH's favorite character I will use part of the money for that. I've sorted more clothes so I don't wear what we are taking with us...less laundry to do before we go. Tomorrow they are planning on moving my dad to the nursing home so he'll have been there for two weeks before our trip so I will know that he is situated and being taken care of. We are getting so excited about the trip.

SchultzFamily · Aug 18, 2008

First, I want to thank all the nice people here who have sent me private messages or posted a response on my pre-trip report. I write now to say that I probably won't be on here for awhile and there is a good chance I will have to cancel our trip. As I mentioned in the first post of our pre-trip report, my dad was admitted to the hospital in February and then spent over seven weeks in a nursing home; he was then taken back to the hospital mid-May and has been there ever since...until last night when they took him back to the nursing home. Unfortunately, medicare will only pay for 24 more days of him being in the nursing home and, since he and my mom have no savings and cannot pay for him to continue to stay there, we have to start filling out paper work for public aid from the state and move him to a depressing long-term nursing facility. My heart is breaking for my dad because this is no way to live the rest of his days. The doctor truthfully doesn't think he'll last more than two months. If I can't get all of this paperwork situated and know that he is going to have someplace to go, there is no way we will be able to take our trip. My heart is also breaking because one of the last things my dad said to me when he was totally coherent was that no matter what he wanted us to go on this special vacation because as he said, "in today's times, not a lot of people make it 25 years, and you have something special to celebrate."

KnK · Aug 19, 2008

Heart breaking with you.

JustPlainBill · Aug 19, 2008

I'm very sorry.

WildLodgeFan · Aug 19, 2008

Keeping you and your family in our prayers.

SchultzFamily · Aug 22, 2008

Dad passed at 12:30 this afternoon. Although it is very difficult to know that my daddy is not going to be here anymore, I truly believe he is at peace now

bradandsarabr · Aug 23, 2008

I am sorry for your loss & will be praying for you in the days ahead.

JustPlainBill · Aug 23, 2008

I'm verry sorry.
I lost my father as well 22 years ago.

KnK · Aug 25, 2008

God watches us and cares for us always.

SchultzFamily · Aug 25, 2008

Thank you everyone for your warm wishes, prayers, etc., either by post or private message. It's been a difficult couple of days but it makes it easier knowing that dad is now in a better place. My husband and I talked at length last night and decided that we will leave for our 25th anniversary trip next Monday (September 1) as scheduled to honor my dad's final wishes that we go on our vacation and enjoy ourselves. We will go to celebrate our 25th anniversary and also celebrate my Dad's life and his enjoyment of the two times he went to Disney with our two boys.

So in a few weeks I will prepare a trip report and let you know how the trip went.

Thank you ALL again.

bradandsarabr · Aug 26, 2008

Horray!!!!!:sohappy:
Have the time of your life!!!!:sohappy:

Gucci65 · Aug 26, 2008

You and your family are in my prayers.

Just think, now your Dad will be able to join you on vacation!!!!!

DisneyGigi · Aug 26, 2008

I am glad that you decided to still go on your trip. Have a safe & wonderful trip and know that your family are still in my prayers. :wave:

momofnine · Aug 27, 2008

Wow, I just read your pre-trip report. I am very sorry for your loss. We are going to Disney in December to celebrate our 30th anni. As your dad said, not many people can make their marriage last for that long, you deserve to go and enjoy yourselves. Have a great time and know that your father wished for you to make this trip. Your family is in our prayers.

SchultzFamily · Aug 31, 2008

Well, the time has almost arrived. Seven hours from now we will be on a plane from Chicago O'Hare to Orlando on the trip we have been planning for a year for our 25th anniversary. We are going with heavy heart with my dad on our minds; but we also go knowing that it is what he wanted us to do. So we our dedicating our trip not only to our anniversary, but to my dad who gave me 50 years of unconditional love and then gave my DH 26 years of that same love; and then came our two boys, Andy and Mark, who he loved more than life itself--he was so proud of his grandchildren. We will purchase a balloon at Epcot (his favorite park with Andy and Mark) and send it up to heaven to dad--where I know he continues to watch over all of us.

Before we depart, I thank ALL of you for your prayers and encouragement during the difficult weeks before dad's passing and then when he did pass all the love and sympathy and additional prayers I received from all of you.

I promise lots of pictures from our home away from home--CSR and lots of pictures from the trip itself. And I'll do a full trip report and a food report upon our return.

Kathy (and Mark)

jiminy.cricket · Sep 1, 2008

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I hope this vacation helps you to sort things out emotionally and mentally. Have a magical time.

SchultzFamily · Sep 14, 2008

We're back and here is our report:

We arrived at the CSR on Monday, September 1, at around 12:30 p.m. Check-in went very smoothly--no one else in line. We had terrific CM's who were laughing and joking with each of our parties (you'll remember that my best friend and her DH went with us). The Assistant Manager personally came out to talk to the four of us, ask if we had any questions, gave us a list of all of our dining reservations and gave us his phone number in case of any problems or issues. He indicated our room was not ready, but that it would be soon. We were then given anniversary buttons and balloons and Shleley was given a birthday button (her birthday is September 26) and Tom was given a 1st Time Visitor Button. Shelley and Tom originally asked for Ranchos but were put in Casitas to be close to us which they were delighted with--they got upgraded to a water view room. Since our room was not ready, we went to Pepper Market where we all had something from the deli and shared by each couple as we had a 5:00 dinner at Mama Melrose for the Fantasmic Package. Just as we finished lunch, the Assistant Manager called to say our room was ready. Our friends were in Casitas 3 -- 3133 and we were in 3225. I was a little disappointed as we really like 4 and 5, but then we walked into our room. We were upgraded to a suite (what a treat it was having two bathrooms and two televisions). There were more balloons, autographed photos of Mickey and Minnie and a huge bouquet of flowers. We were also given robes for our stay and turn down service every night. We both had beautiful views of the Lake.

Every CM we dealt with was as friendly as could be. Although we only ate at Pepper Market twice, the service was good and friendly and the food outstanding. I saw one of the Mangers' helping several people who were obviously new to the PM and di not understand the set up. We had breakfast there one morning and wanted American Cheese omelets. They did not have American Cheese at the station, but the cook went and found it for us. Analia at the coffee bar was outstanding every morning I went for my cappucino--friendly, chatty. The lifeguards were very good and friendly and joking with the kids in the pool. Francisco was superb as always (and yes, Shelley and I had a few Pina Coladas at the pool). A large convention came in Saturday night/Sunday morning and we saw ONLYtwo people in suits--the rest were dressed casually (mostly in shorts) as they wen tot their meetings and always said hello when he passed us. Mark and I went to the Dig Site/Hot Tub on three nights. It was just us and two other people in the hot tub when the convention people were there and maybe 10 people in the Dig Site. During the afternoons when we were at the Dig Site, there were no more than 50 people in the pool. We even went down the Jaguar slide twice.

Mousekeeping was great and we received towel animals one day--a puppy dog and a peacock.

Shelley & Tom were given a Magical Dream the day they check out--they were asked to open Panchitos and were given a certificate for doing so. The four of us also won a Year of a Millions Dream prize. As we were exiting Splash Mountain one morning, we were each given Mickey Mouse Year of a Million Dream ears. We each kept one and then the men gave the other two to little children that we saw in the park.

As for the parks, the longest we waited for a ride was Tower of Terror--which was about 20 minutes and that was our own fault. We went right after Fantasmic ended and Rock & Roll Roller Coaster was not running, so this was our fault. Other than that, we waited an average of five minutes for every single ride, and ten at the most (including Soarin'). The CM's at the park were very friendly--always saying Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, etc. We received three "Happy Anniversary/Birthday phone calls) in the parks. We saw only one large group of travelers from Brazil and they were loud, but I saw no other issues with them.

We visited two other resorts during our stay and we will stick with the CSR--thank you very much (we've already booked our bounceback for next year). We went to the Wilderness Lodge for dinner at the Whispering Canyon Cafe (the worse meal of our trip--I'll write about it on the Dining Board) and talked to two different CM's--one at the desk and one who was walking around--and we felt like we were being a huge bother to them by asking them a question; we also went back to the Caribbean to give their food court a second try--sorry it was just as bad as the first time (but we felt better giving it a second try).

The second portion of our trip at Daytona Beach was very nice and relaxing (although I either got food poisoning or the 24-hour flu and spent Friday in the room all day).

As many of you know, this was a difficult trip as I lost my dad the week before we left. I walked into Epcot and broke into tears and when we went on Spaceship Earth (which I really like the new version) I couldn't stop crying on the first ride through. I bought a balloon which I was going to release into the sky. But as we were getting ready to release it, I heard my dad in my head saying "why would you spend $7.00 and then just let the balloon go--that is such a waste of money (this from the man who told me to stop buying him cards at holidays because Hallmark had enough money). So instead I found a little girl in a stroller and gave her the balloon. I explained, with tears streaming down my cheeks, to the parents why I was doing this--that my dad had died and I know he would have wanted me to give the balloon to someone as he always bought them for his grandchildren (those poor parents must have thought I was nuts).

The trip was just what we needed after the last seven months with dad in the hospital/nursing home/hospital and then passing on.

We had a wonderful trip and can't wait to go back next year--God willing.

P.S. When we got home, there was a box from Disney--I assumed it was one of the two shipments I sent home. It was not. We won a "specialized Disney Dreams Prize Pack" which consisted of a stuffed Mickey and Minnie, a tote bag, a coffee cup, a photo album, picture frame, tin of candy and a Deluxe Pin Trading Starter Kit and a DISNEY GIFT CARD. What a way to end the trip!

I will add pictures later.

momofnine · Sep 14, 2008

So glad you had a wonderful time. Congrats on winning the mickey ears and the box when you got home. I had never heard of anyone receiving a box...thats awesome!!! Again congrats on your anniversary...I'll bet your dad is looking down and smiling that you were able to make your trip.:wave:

Our 25th Anniversary Pre-Trip (and eventual full trip report)

Well-Known Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

Active Member

New Member

New Member

Member

Active Member

New Member

New Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Member