How We Survived The Worst Disney Trip Ever - A Honeymoon TR - FINALE!!!!!

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

It sounds like Day 2 went much better for you and it is nice that you were able to reconnect with an old friend for a little while.

 

[TheLastPrincess]

mariacj: It sounds like you get as excited about Disney songs/parades as I do! Yesterday, DH caught me singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the bathroom (somehow, I am always in a bathroom...whether at Disney or home ) and he liked it. The singing, I mean. I used to sing all the time, I even took voice lessons for a while and my teacher encouraged me to pursue musical theater (I have a Broadway-style voice, I'm sure Simon would agree), but I don't sing much anymore. So when DH hears me, he considers it a real treat! On the flip side, I wish he'd play the guitar more!!

hjohnson6: I remember those days. When swimming was more important than fireworks. Don't worry, they will appreciate it when they are OLDER!

Although my kids, should I ever have any, will be hard-pressed to get me to go back to the resort when there are fireworks to be seen! FORGET IT, KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[randy4au]

Brother Bear bears are hidden away in the Canada area, by the waterfall. I've never seen the movie. Does that make me less of a Disney fan?

We hung out in that area before and after watching O Canada! Perhaps they were just taking a break at that time.

Glad that you're along for the ride, Randy!

Glad to be aboard.

 

[starrzone]

starrzone: Thanks for sharing your story. So did you have to pay for those bills? I'm interested to know. I hear free healthcare is great, but the waiting lists are horrible. Is this true?

Well, luckily my parents had Blue Cross insurance that did cover it, but they kept getting more bills (that were already paid) and then my mother would talk to Blue Cross and the process would go on and on. I think they have everything straightened out now!

As for the waiting lists, I guess it depends on what you have to get done. For example, 3 days before Christmas, my father chopped off the top of his left index finger (and he's a lefty!) in a freak accident. My mother took him to the ER that night, and he did not have to wait very long, if at all. He had a few more appointments at the ER to get it rebandaged, and now he goes to a physical therapist to get treatment so that the finger will work properly once it heals. He has griped a bit about having to wait, but not enough so that he left the hospital because he'd been waiting too long. On the other hand, if you go to the ER with a sore throat, you should expect to wait a few hours because there are people there who are much worse off than you. The wait times are governed largely by who is the sickest, and money has nothing to do with it.

I'm glad YOU'RE better, though! I've heard horror stories of people getting really sick and not getting the treatment they need in time. Work on getting better; we want some more stories!

 

[sandym718]

Loving your trip report, but so sorry to hear about your problems with IC/UTI's. I have battled them my entire life, since I was a child. Luckily they occur much less frequently now than in my early 20's. Figured out a few tricks I guess. Anyways, almost hate to tell you this, but that med that turns your pee orange (and I TOTALLY believe you about the whole wiping thing, it just seems to turn EVERYTHING orange!), it is available over-the-counter under the brand AZO. It really helps, doesn't it? I have a standing prescription for the antibiotics so I don't have to be seen every time. I keep this stuff on hand to take as soon as a problem starts, go get the antibiotic filled, take both for 2 days and then I'm fine (I keep taking the antibiotic to clear up the actual infection). Just some info!!

Can't wait to read the rest!

 

[DisTeach1]

Speaking of the guys who do the acrobats in Africa at AK...they're not always there, because the last time, the bar had some other entertainment. We were at a Harlem Globetrotters game and they have guys doing African acrobats. After the game, they had an autograph session...my husband went up to them and talked, and then came back. "Don't you recognize them?" "Uh, no, since I don't see guys who can do this sort of thing everyday" "They're the same guys who perform at AK-they travel and also work with the globetrotters". Wow...they must be really busy, because it seems like the globetrotters are always somewhere.

Just a side note.

 

[ldadar]

I took that orange pee stuff too. (No one really reads this, right?)

Amazing the community one can find on the internet, isn't it?

 

[Phedre]

Enjoying your TR! Sorry it wasn't your dream honeymoon though!

 

[JoanieS]

Great TR so far!

 

[MyKidsMom1820]

I love your trip report!!!

Your wedding picture is so beautiful!

Sorry about your uti issues... I have had some killer uti's and man, so those suck.

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

That orange pee pill is the best pill ever, isn't it? Not only does it help to calm the bladder, it also acts as an anesthetic! So no more burning either! Well, at least the ones I took helped with the pain. But from what I've heard, all orange pee pills do the same.

I'm also glad to hear things started to go your way on day two!

 

[PrincessFan0809]

I have just finished reading your first update. I'm so sorry that your trip was not a good one. UTI's are the worst. As a matter of fact, I'd rather give birth than have a bladder infection!!

I have to tell you that me and my family were at MGM during that storm. As we were running to the bus, I was the one screaming that we were going to die. It was terrifying.

 

[1andrea]

Great report can you please hurry back with more!

 

[jakenjess]

It sounds like there are a lot of us who have taken the orange pee medicine! It does work wonders! I'm so glad you had a better day. We've eaten at Le Cellier three times and it's always been wonderful. Glad you liked it.

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[LouDisney]

Sounds like day two was a little better for you. I am glad. Great update!

 

[TheLastPrincess]

starrzone: Do you have to be on a waiting list to see a doctor? For example, DH has a heart condition that he's had all of his life...would he receive the attention that he needs? Or is there a flaw in the system in this regard?

sandym718: Well it's good to know that med is available OTC. But even if I knew that, I still would have had no way to get it on our trip unless we called a cab, which may or may not have cost us the same amount to have it delivered. Oh well.

DisTeach1: Good to know! Thanks for the fact. I love those guys!

Idadar: Yes. I have no pride. Now the whole world knows we took the orange pee pill!

PrincessFan0809: Wasn't that a SCARY storm?! I love FL storms when I am INSIDE, but man oh man, I thought we were going to die.

As for the rest of us, let us join together a "I Survived a UTI" club and see how big it gets!!! Thanks for stopping by everyone!

 

[mariacj]

mariacj: It sounds like you get as excited about Disney songs/parades as I do! Yesterday, DH caught me singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the bathroom (somehow, I am always in a bathroom...whether at Disney or home ) and he liked it. The singing, I mean. I used to sing all the time, I even took voice lessons for a while and my teacher encouraged me to pursue musical theater (I have a Broadway-style voice, I'm sure Simon would agree), but I don't sing much anymore. So when DH hears me, he considers it a real treat! On the flip side, I wish he'd play the guitar more!!

Wow my DF thinks it is a treat when I sing and I wish he would play guitar more! The bathroom has become my stage I love it!

As for the rest of us, let us join together a "I Survived a UTI" club and see how big it gets!!! Thanks for stopping by everyone!

Yay... I think we need stickers and t-shirts!

 

[starrzone]

starrzone: Do you have to be on a waiting list to see a doctor? For example, DH has a heart condition that he's had all of his life...would he receive the attention that he needs? Or is there a flaw in the system in this regard?

Yes, if you have certain problems, there definitely IS a waitlist. To be honest, I think the wait time sometimes depends on your "connections" (i.e. if you're the child of a doctor, or are good friends with one, you might get in sooner to see a specialist), but it most certainly also depends on the severity of your condition. I've heard of realy long waits for procedures such as CAT scans, but if someone urgently needed one (as in they arrived at the hospital at the brink of death), they would be put ahead of someone waiting who didn't need it right away.

I'd say your husband would definitely receive the attention he needs, but it might not be as quickly as if he were paying for it himself. Up here, you really have to advocate for yourself when it comes to health care, because there are so many people in the system and only so many health care professionals. Every system definitely has its pluses and minuses; nothing is perfect!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Yes, if you have certain problems, there definitely IS a waitlist. To be honest, I think the wait time sometimes depends on your "connections" (i.e. if you're the child of a doctor, or are good friends with one, you might get in sooner to see a specialist), but it most certainly also depends on the severity of your condition. I've heard of realy long waits for procedures such as CAT scans, but if someone urgently needed one (as in they arrived at the hospital at the brink of death), they would be put ahead of someone waiting who didn't need it right away.

I'd say your husband would definitely receive the attention he needs, but it might not be as quickly as if he were paying for it himself. Up here, you really have to advocate for yourself when it comes to health care, because there are so many people in the system and only so many health care professionals. Every system definitely has its pluses and minuses; nothing is perfect!

Very well said! I can provide a little insight into the health care up here as well. My mother has MS, we were living in the States when she was diagnosed and she was able to see a specialist within a week. When we moved back to Canada we were lucky to even find a family doctor who could take us on as there is a severe shortage of doctors here. Many families don't have a regular family doctor and have to go to the ER or a walk-in clinic for things that they would usually just see their family doctor about.

We have lived here for 5 years now and my mom has yet to be seen by a MS specialist. Apparently there is only one in the area and there is a huge waiting list and it can take years to get in. My mothers case is not severe but she really could use the care a specialist could give her vs a general practitioner.

As starzone said if you have immediate need/have a really serious condition then you shouldn't have a problem getting the care you need but otherwise you are wait-listed.

 

[TheLastPrincess]

Sunday, September 16, Day 3, was our day for Blizzard Beach.

We arrived late morning and shared a cinnamon roll. Not long after finding a semi-shady place to claim our chairs did DH spot another friend of ours, Travis, walking toward the kiddy pool.

We knew Travis and his family would be there the same time we were, as they had invited us to their Disney Party they had for everyone they knew who was going to WDW during the month of September. Gotta love that Free Dining.

We chased him down and found his wife, Melissa, and 2 little boys playing the pool. DH ran off with Travis to try some slides while I stayed with Melissa to help her take care of her boys. I was content to sit my bladder down in the cold water while DH had some fun. I was having fun, too, just in a different way. A way that didn't involve beating up my backside on a slide. And being generally incomfortable. Instead, I was sitting in a foot and a half of pool, happy as could be.

In fact, sitting there helped so much, that by the time DH came to collect me and we said goodbye to our friends, that I was ready to try some slides myself. We did a few, then the very last one - the one we were looking forward to the most - we waited in line forever for, and when we got to the very top, the very next ones to go down the slides - they shut down the park.

"Sorry," the lifeguard said. "There's a storm coming."

Ah, the quintessential mid-afternoon Florida storm.

We made our way through the crowd of tourists to the bathrooms to change. When we came out, it was pouring down rain. We ran to the bus stop and sat halfway soaked underneath the entirely-too-small shelter they have for the buses and waited for the Polynesian bus. We were having dinner at 'Ohana at 5 PM today.

The year before, my parents and I tried Kona, and we really liked it. I decided to try 'Ohana this year, even though I had heard Kona was still the very best the Polynesian has to offer.

Boy, I think I have to contend that one. Because 'Ohana was delish.

Someone was even dumb (or smart, depending on how you look at it) enough to ask for A-1 sauce. They absolutely made a HUGE fuss about it, and made him put on a grass skirt and parade around the restaurant with the kids and Cousin So-and-So because he angered the 'Ohana gods, or something.

It was pretty loud in there, but we were against the window on the side, and honestly we were too busy eating the AWESOME meats and other foods to even care.

This was the view from our table:

We tried a pineapply drink. Yum!

And more free dessert. Too beautiful to eat!

We left 'Ohana completely stuffed and satisfied. DH was learning very quickly that everything I said about Disney food was absolutely, 100%, I-kid-you-not correct. Before now, he had always made fun of my being a Disney Snob. "Oh, <insert Disney dish here> was SOOOO much better at Disney," I would say. Or, "There will never be food as good as Disney food." And he'd always get irritated with me and say I wasn't being very open-minded. He doesn't say that anymore, of course. Now he is somewhat of a Disney Snob, at least when it comes to food!

We got on the monorail, not sure exactly how we wanted to spend the rest of our evening. I suggested we walk around the Grand Floridian. This was a staple of past trips to WDW - if we couldn't actually STAY there, at least we'd get to visit and pretend we were. It was (or still is, actually) my mom's favorite place on earth. This is where we stayed for our first Disney trip, all of nearly 20 years ago, when it was BRAND NEW. Of course, we never paid a dime then, nor did we pay for the 4 trips that were to follow, the last free trip allowing us to once again stay at the GF. My dad worked for Chevrolet, and THEY paid for our vacations. And after that, we were hooked.

So I needed to pay homage to the place I fell in love with as a child. However, there isn't much to do at the GF except walk around. And I was restless. I asked DH if he wanted to go visit the Boardwalk. Instead, DH suggested, "Why don't we go to the Magic Kingdom? We're right here."

I felt my heart grow wings and flit away like Tinkerbell. "That's an even BETTER idea!" I squealed.

It was Extra Magic Hours night, anyway. The storm was long gone, leaving behind a beautiful pink sky in its wake:

My favorite castle in the world:

We spent most of our time in Fantasyland, and went to the bathroom in between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland where Lilo is looking for Stitch. Maybe there was no toilet paper in her stall, and she needed him to find some for her?

These are things one thinks about when one has a UTI at Disney World.

But I can assure you, it IS quite possible to forget one has a UTI when one is taking the proper meds AND watching the most magical, beautiful thing the Magic Kingdom has ever created....WISHES.

This would be DH's first Wishes, and it had to be a good one. So we stood just behind Casey's Corner on Main Street, and I had my camera ready. Because this time, I was going to take pictures.

When the music swells in the beginning, I hold my breath. Because I know that in just a few moments, my heart will spread its wings and fly away in enchantment over and above Cinderella's Castle as fireworks explode above its spires.

But would DH feel the same way?

Here are my favorite pictures...sorry they're not professional, but it's very hard to actually ENJOY Wishes and take pictures at the same time:

However, during the last few minutes of the show, it got to where I couldn't take pictures anymore. I was too busy holding DH's hand and listening to every *gasp* and expression of delight he was making over the fireworks. *MY* wish was that DH would love Wishes so much he would want to come back. And that I could enjoy the rest of our trip, bladder trouble-free. And that DH would love WDW as a whole enough to want to come back...I wasn't even expecting him to love it as much as I do, because I know I have nearly 20 years of memories there, and he's just getting started.

But just before the end, when the voices are singing "When You Wish Upon a Star," and the castle is a lavendar color, with giant golden fireworks painting the sky, DH looks at me and he is.........

Crying?

Well, there are tears in his eyes.

"I love you," he said, and leans in to kiss me.

Sometimes, the biggest firework finales of all, in the most magical place on earth, don't compare to the ones inside the heart.

Next up: Back to the Magic Kingdom, when I see the interior of the Castle for the VERY first time, and somehow the Fairy Godmother knows who we are?! Lots of Disney magic to come!