Can I pout for a moment? Horrible first vacation

[Jessie]

Our family of five took our first vacation both as a family and to WDW. We arrived on 9/10 and 9/11 was my oldest's birthday and our first day in the parks. That night she got sick with a stomach bug. It then proceeded to domino its way through all of the kids plus DH and then finally me. Since we had to check out on the 14th, we were stuck driving while someone was sick.

I was/am the only driver so the day it was me was horrible. My kids got to spend only 4 hours in the parks, total. I didn't get to see them see Mickey . My poor DD1 got sick on her birthday. We basically all cried at some point.

I am actually pretty heartbroken over all of this. We had been building up this trip so much and more than once heard - "this is the worst vacation ever" from my sick and sad kids.

I ended up getting pulled over for speeding during all of this (totally my fault) during which my scared 6 year old said while crying - "I'm too young to go to jail!". All three kids screamed and cried despite us doing our best to calm them down.

The night we got home we had to take our 18 mo old to the ER because he was just inconsolably crying that I was so worried.

We've been home about 3.5 full days now and I just want to crawl into a ball and cry.

So, that is how our first family WDW experience went. I plan for us to go again Jan 2013. I hope that's enough distance away that the little ones aren't nervous to go again.

Also, during this time I'm going to work on getting over my fear of flying so that we can fly down. I will not do anymore road trips.

Thanks for listening to me whine and pout.

[DizneyRox]

Yeah, I drove once... Never again, 2 1/2 hours vs 20+? I pick whichever way gets me to my destination faster.

[DVC2004]

Wow, I am so sorry! It certianly sounds like anything that could go wrong, did. You're not whining. That would be bad to happen on any vacation but most especially your first.

I don't know if this makes you feel any better, but on our 2nd vacation and also was the 2nd trip to Disney me and both kids got violently ill during the trip. I'm talking high fevers, chills, vomiting and more. You can imagine. Only my husband was the only one unscathed but still had to take one kid somewhere alone while two of us were sick. Housekeeping had to come in the middle of the night to change out the bed my son got sick on. We all were so sick at different times a good portion of the trip was spent in bed. The valet at the hotel even argued with my husband when he was trying to get my son quickly out of the car- and he didn't get him out in time. What a trip. We also drove and were rear ended the first day on the way down and the following day my husband got a speeding ticket.

Anyway, my sympathies are with you and the disaster. I think your next trip will be great- the kids a little older, and yes flying is for sure the way to go. If you are scared, see your doctor. They can give you things to relax you. Good luck.

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

Oh that's horrible...I am so sorry for you.

[deedeebee]

Wow, I am so sorry to hear about a trip of any kind being that hard. That said, we fly! No driving over 8 hours. When our kids were young, 2, 3 and 4, we had a trip or two that went bad, very bad. Time will ease your pain. We just got back about 6 weeks ago, such a difference, the kids are now 13, 14 and 15. They are Disney pros. I had my doubts, now those trips are just one of those stories everyone tells. Feel better, and you will all be ready to go back in 2013, FLY.

[Madame Leona]

We had a trip like that a couple of years ago. My son (3) at the time broke his leg before we left then we all had the flu over the 4 days we were there. Horrible to say the least. After a good trip, we were finally able to laugh about the whole thing.

Please tell me the officer was kind enough to let you off with a warning.

[MNNHFLTX]

I am so sorry for the misfortune! I can imagine how disappointed you all were, not to mention how miserable it is to get a stomach virus on vacation.

I think time and a positive attitude on you and your husband's part will go a long way towards helping the kids forget the bad parts of this vacation (that and it sounds like some of them are so young that they will probably not remember or at least will not remember much). Who knows, maybe someday you'll even be able to laugh a little at some of the memories (forgive me, but I did get a little chuckle over the 6-year-old saying she was too young to go to jail--poor little thing!)

I think flying next time sounds like the way to go--you'll all arrive much better-rested. Just make sure and eat well, get lots of sleep and take some Vitamin C a couple of weeks before you leave and hopefully no one will get sick!

[MNNHFLTX]

I was going to add that you should try and get some extra rest yourself right now. You're probably still suffering the after-effects of the virus. It's no wonder you feel like crying.

[minnie04]

WOW!! so sorry to hear that your trip was so bad. You just never know with timing on illness poor kids and you of course, I hope your next trip will turn out perfect

[SBETigg]

Oh my goodness! I'm so sad for you all. I'm sorry things didn't go well for you.

[Jennifer_and_Chris]

I'm so sorry that your first trip was this (bad) eventful.

I think we all had that one trip that made us say never again. But, here we all are... going again and again.

Our trip was when I was prego w/ DD2 and DD1 was just turning 2 years old. We had the opposite feeling about transportation. I think she was so out of her routine and element that she cried over everything. There were days DH and I didn't want to leave the room. We had the grand dream of how it would be our last visit with just the 3 of us before the 2nd child came and we spent a night in urgent care because she wouldn't stop crying.

But, the worst part for us was the plane ride home. She cried the whole time, kicked the seat (por lady in front of us) the whole time. We were "that family" on the plane. 2.5 hours of pure torture for us and everyone confined to the plane.

We vowed never again will be fly until the kids are old enough to pack their own bag, carry it into the car and through an airport. We have driven since 2008 and we actually love to drive! If the kids feel like having a meltdown, only DH and I have to listen to it!

Believe me, you're kids will have sickness "amnesia" as they grow and hear all the things about Disney world that you'll brainwash them with!

I think it's your excitement and positive energy that will get them excited about anything... not just a trip to disney.

In the meantime, rest, sleep, wash the sickies off you and get back to livin'!!! Hope you all feel better.

[emerzmom]

So sorry.

[faline]

Oh dear! I don't think I've read such a sad trip report before! You must all be so disappointed! What lousy timing - to have a bug run through our entire family while you're supposed to be having fun and new experiences!

If anyone deserves a do-over, you certainly do!!

[BrowncatP]

Oh, so sorry to hear that your trip was bad. Time does heal all. A number of years ago, my husband and I were going to go to Universal's IOA after breakfast. Luckly there was a light rain that morning. We decided to skip IOA until the next day. We went back to the room to figure what to do in Orlando. Thank goodness it rained. After getting back to the room, "toilet fever" hit me. I was sick for most of the day. You just never know when the body will not cooperate with your mind!

[dnickels]

Oh gosh, sounds like a Murphy's Law vacation where anything that could go wrong did. Sorry it was so rough, get some rest and hope everyone is feeling better!

From now on, every time I read another "My vacation was ruined because.....
-a cast member made a sarcastic comment
-the bus driver made us wait
-we couldn't check into the room until 4 pm
-(insert minor inconvenience here)
I'm going to be so tempted to link them to your post!

[Kairi_7378]

I'm so sorry to read this!

[Melanie]

Oh my goodness, how heartbreaking! I'm so sad for you all.

I am SURE that your next trip will be FULL of magic!

[Jodi]

I can sympathize with you entirely. Two years ago, my DH who is diabetic had issues with his blood sugars during our vacation to WDW, ended up in ER twice while we were there, once via ambulance, the other by car....really put a damper on our vacation considering this did not need to happen, just that he will not take advice from others, even teenage DD who is also diabetic. Soooo, we decided to go back this year only to have DH make himself sick worrying IF he would get sick, which set off DD2 in a worry frenzy, oh, no not again!! She made herself sick with worry...each day I wondered who would get sick next. Day before we were to head home, in line for Splash Mtn, DD1 throws up...just not a way to spend a vacation, worrying the entire time....I seriously want a DO OVER!!!!

[MinnieMommie]

I am so sorry that you were all too sick to enjoy your vacation. There is nothing worse than a stomach bug going through the family! This has happened to us but never at Disney. Wow! You are a trouper and a great mom to hold things together the way you did!

Get plenty of rest and load up on fluids. Once you get your strength back you can start planning for 2013. That will be something nice to look forward to. Be well and remember to take care of yourself!

[Dsnygirl]

Oh wow, I am so sorry to hear your first trip went the way that it did... that is just awful!! You (and your kids & DH) definitely deserve a do-over... I hope your plans for 2013 come through, and that it is as magical as this one wasn't! Sending pixie dust your way that you all feel better soon and can find some good memories out of it all...