Quick Review with some Info everyone should know! About This Page:

[Mom2Stitchy&theDQ]

Hey everyone! We are just back from our 5 night stay at Coronado Springs - unfortunately my Disney Curse hit me and my kids again - I'll explain more in a minute about the Curse - and our trip was definitely not what it should have been....

On the plane down to MCO my son started to vomit and had been complaining of a sore throat since the night before. As we were getting on the DME he was still vomiting and I was starting to think he had the flu and within a couple of days my daughter would get it. Needless to say I started to worry a lot.

We got to the beautiful and wonderful Coronado Springs and even though we were there at 11:30 am they gave us a room because my son was so sick. We got Ranchos 7B which in my opinion is the PERFECT location! Right near the main pool, right at a quiet pool, and just steps away from the bus stop. Even the main buildings were only a couple minutes walk away - the Resort was not nearly as big as I pictured it, and IMO no one has to worry about the size of the resort unless you are mobility challenged.

That day - which would have been our day at AK - my son slept. The vomiting stopped, but he had a low fever and was definitely not up for anything. My daughter and I went to the quiet pool which was right outside our door - thank God, because I needed to be with both my kids - and checked on him every few mins. He never heard me go in once, and when the bags arrived from DME he didn't wake up either.

The next day after sleeping in he said he was feeling a little better and he wanted to go to MK. I told him we could go, but if he started to feel any worse we had to go back to the room. We went and were only there a short while when I looked at him and he had become so pale. I took him to the first aid centre and they advised we could get a shuttle right from there to a walk in clinic, however it was already later in the afternoon, and the shuttle was only free until 10pm. We couldn't go from there because I didn't have any way to pay for the services with me - we had to go back to the room to get my credit card. The very nice people at first aid gave me a pamphlet with all the info and we made our way back there. Once back in our room, I checked his throat which he still said was very sore, and it looked to me like Strep Throat or Tonsilitis as there was a lot of pus on his tonsils and throat. I then had to make some long distance calls back to Canada to get the services approved by my insurance company (which I later found out I did not have to do; all out of country services for emergencies are approved). DO NOT MAKE LONG DISTANCE CALLS DIRECTLY ON THE PHONES AT YOUR HOTEL ROOM!! 5 calls cost me $137.00. If I had been thinking I would have realized this would be an expensive service, but I was quite worried about my son and was only thinking of him and just dialed.

So... I called the walk in clinic and the wait was 2 hours - the shuttle could come get us, then we'd have to wait 2 hours, then find our own way back as it would likely be after 10pm before we were out of there. Being alone with my kids this was not my favourite choice. Then I looked at the brochure again and there was a service to have a doctor come directly to our room!!!!!!!!! I called the number and the doctor could come the next morning at 8am. This to me was the best choice for my situation as my son was feeling a little better now that he was laying down again and in the air conditioning. I gave him more Advil and he slept on and off until the next morning.

At 8:05am there was a doctor at our door with a large case full of different medications. He took Jack's temperature and sure enough he had a fever. Then he confirmed my Strep Throat theory. He prescribed some antibiotics which he had with him and I promptly gave a dose to my son. This doctor was prompt, polite, nice, understanding and friendly. I couldn't have asked for better. I am really so grateful for this service.

Jack still hadn't eaten anything at WDW yet and this was our third day - thank goodness the dining plan was free. He wanted to go to HS so he could ride Star Tours so we went for 2 hours. Then it was time to go back for a rest. That evening after a second dose of medication he said he was hungry! We had a reservation for Captain Jack's - the one restaurant my little guy really wanted to go to - so we went. He had the twin lobster tails, and ate none of the veggies or rice, but loved the lobster, so I was happy that he finally eating a little bit again.

The next day was Epcot and after trying to decide if we should go or not, we went for about 4 hours - then it was time to go back for a rest.

Our final day was at MK and this was the one great, full day we had at WDW - every day should have been like this one! By this time my son had had 6 doses of antibiotics and was feeling about 90%. We had a great day, and a wonderful dinner at O'hana. We didn't stay for the evening at MK, as he really had had enough for that day, so we went back to the hotel to rest. The next morning we flew out at 6am to come home - all of this being uneventful and yesterday btw.

I wanted to let everyone know about the in room doctor service - it was a life saver for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now - about that Curse - I don't think I will be returning to WDW. Believe me this makes me VERY sad. I love WDW and have since I first went in 1973 when I was 4 (I guess you can figure out my age now!). I have taken my kids to WDW 5 times over the last 6 years including this trip, and of these 5 trips, 4 have had near disasters occur. I travel with my husband once a year and have never had any major problems so far, I travel to see my best friend in Dallas usually twice a year and have never hand any problems so far... the problems only occur when we are in WDW. First, the airline we flew with, Canada 3000, went bankrupt while we were in WDW and stranded us there - that was a lot of fun trying to find a way home along with a lot of other stranded passengers. Then when I did find a flight home with the dreaded Air Canada we spent 4 hours on the runway as our plane broke down. All around we were over 6 hours late with my husband waiting at the airport. Second, hurricane Charlie chased us home mid-trip - another real fun rental car many different airports driving around like lunatics adventure. Third, Spirit Airlines cancelled our flight home, and could only get us home 3 days later - maybe. We had to rebook another very expensive flight and pay OOP. And fourth is of course this last trip.

I know sickness can happen anywhere and problems with flights can happen anytime, and hurricanes do occur and yes I did book in August, but so many things have happened on our WDW trips, that I am scared to think of what happens next! My kids have even said they would rather go to camp for an extra week next summer than try to go back to WDW.

So, that's my long sad whinning story. My whole point in posting this was to let everyone know about the in room doctor service - which I hope none of you ever ever ever need to use.

Oh yes, one last thing - I did get a bounce back offer for next year with the basic 2 counter service 2 snack dining plan for free for the same time frame.

Carolyn

[emtpej]

Hey,
I'm sorry to hear your son was sick, but that he felt better while you were there!
Bad stuff happens to others, too, not just you! Our van broke down and it rained and stormed nearly the whole time we were there!

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry about your son!! Glad the doctor was able to give him some medicine to make him feel better!!

[mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince]

So sorry to hear of your troubles. Maybe you could give Disneyland a try next time? Maybe it's only an east coast curse!

[B.M.]

I'm SO sorry about your son being so sick.........................That was one of my biggest fears leading up to our trip, that one my kids would get sick!
Thanks for the report about the in room doctor, it's good to have that info in the back of my mind..........I pray that we never need it!
I hate that you wont be returning, but it sound like ya'll have a great time going other places!
I wish you the best in all your traveling adventures!!

[DyanKJ130]

Oh my! What an experience. So to hear of all the problems. Hope you'll reconsider in a few years and perhaps bring your DH with you to break the curse.

[pntsmom99]

Hi,

I feel so bad about your trip. The past few trips have not been good for us either, we've had my dh & dm get the flu. My DM fell at the airport and had to spend 90% of the vacation in the hotel room. I've gotton on the plane in BOS and landed in Orlando with a cough, which turned to broncitis and then to walking pneumonia (That time we had a visit from the doctor too...they are wonderful!

This year we hope we've got it covered. I am packing every medicine know to mankind I think. I'm going to put us all on airborne a few days before we go. Lot's of O.J. and plenty of water. We're breaking into teams...me with my DD9 and DH with DM, going to be the last ones off the plane so no one in a rush behind us and Mom can take her time and walk without rushing.

I thought for awhile that we were cursed too, but you know what I've decided I'm going no matter what! I'm going to have fun, and hopefully with advance planning all will be well.

[mcc0313]

So sorry that he was feeling so rotten and that you were not able to enjoy much of your trip. But you did seem to have some wonderful moments...

Thanks for the tip on the in-room doctor - that is a good thing to know and I am glad they were able to help you without you having to travel.

[chezp]

How awful about your son, but I'm glad they were able to help him.

[bsblady01]

I am sorry that you did not enjoy your trip.

[awitelin]

Total bummer about the trip not going well. Maybe your family just needs a summer off from Disney next year to break up your "curse", try going someplace different or send the kids to that camp, and give Disney a shot again the year afterwards. No reason to swear off something you love so much forever unless that's really what you want to do. I understand being frustrated, though, I've felt that before after a bad vacation

Thanks for the information about doctor services, though.

[janicelovesmickey]

sorry to hear about your troubles, but good thing you were able to get a dr.
I was sick at disney once, with a sinus infection one trip, and a bad cold
on the other.. it wasnt the best of trips, but I made the best of it.
I would also say try the west coast, you may just have better luck there.

[DoraDoug]

I am so sorry to hear that your son got sick. I completely understand what you mean about "the curse" though. It would make me think twice about another WDW vacation too. It's good to know they have a doctor that makes house calls. Hopefully that's one thing we'll never have to take advantage of.

[GoofyMom]

Just out of curiosity, what insurance company did you have? Blue Cross? CAA Travel Insurance? Ontario's regular healthcare?

I'm really sorry the curse struck again, but I'm glad that Jack got such stellar care and started feeling better by the end of your holiday.

[lauren-roxy]

I am so sorry about your trip.