Yup.....we really ARE going.......and SOON! - Matty's Wish Trip December 12-18, 2009

[pacrosby]

Hi to all!!

I already wrote a verrrry long detailed intro that for some reason would not post and sadly............. I'm too tired to do it again. Still, I wanted to at least get started so here's my very quick version.....


Just heard today from our MAW rep that Matty's wish trip was approved and tentative dates are 12/10-16th at GKTW. We're just waiting on the airline representative to confirm airline reservations. I CANNOT believe this still..........it's all been such a whirlwind (a story for another day). I actually didn't even get the ball rolling until early October so they really came through for us. An amazing organization!

Quick intro.....I'm Pamela, married to Stephen and living in central Massachusetts (originally both of us from the metro Boston area). We have 4children 9, 8, 6 and 4.............the 6 yr old being my Matty, the Wish recipient. Matty is living with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and has had 3open heart surgeries, one in utero surgery when I was 26 wks pregnant and a multitude of other procedures (r/t to cardiac/GI and endocrine systems). At present he is doing quite well without any outward appearances of ill health or plans for any surgeries/procedures in the near future but, as many of you also experience, we essentially live year to year and hope for the best enjoying every blessed minute we have with our most incredible little boy.

Matty's Wish was specifically to be a "gingerbread man in the Christmas parade at Disney World" but, alas, that was not to be LOL The rep said that the ""trip is the Wish and although other 'extras' are often arranged they cannot be arranged through them and are essentially up to me to figure out how I might get things done. I understand why they can't allow kids to be in the parades (a logistical nightmare....can you imagine???) but I was wondering if it might be possible for him to 'meet' the gingerbread men (they march in the MVMCP) before or after the parade and perhaps take a px of him with them. We are buying him a gingerbread man costume (yes, you read that right LOL) that he wants to wear at the parade....it's the gingerbread boy from Shrek....hilarious! Perhaps that will help influence some nice CM with a sense of humor???? Any thoughts from you veterans? He presented a 'Wish book' to the volunteers that came over on Wednesday and in it we had multiple px of these crazy gingerbread men all arranged in a collage. I'd love to find some way to make some form of that wish a reality

Well that's a real quick (and lousy) intro and my first question. I'm looking forward to participating in this site.

Thanx in advance for all the wonderful advice I am sure to receive.

Pamela

[pipersmom]

Hooray! Another wish tripper :) I'm so glad Matty is doing well, and I know exactly what you mean. We're waiting on dates, met our wish granters yesterday, and this will be our first time at WDW (not counting a couple trips I made as a kid). There's actually a thread for wish trippers
Wish Trippers Unite! (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2039777)
and I'm sure Maroo and some of the other folks could probably point you in the right direction on the parade portion of his wish! So cute that he wants to be a gingerbread man. On the first page of the wish trippers thread there's lots of good info to get you started, and a lot of us planning trips, and those that have been on trips, post there pretty frequently. Looking forward to following along!

[pacrosby]

Hi Amanda, thanx for the quick welcome.

Should I have posted the intro in another forum or does a moderator move things around as necessary? I did find the Wish Trippers Unite forum (is that the right word?) but didn't see anything other than a general thread (which I posted on when I was having trouble posting here). I saw links to threads of folks going on Wish trips (pre and post-trip) but only found forums to post threads on that appeared to be for everyone (not just Wish trips). Am I making any sense????? It's getting late LOL

Pamela

[pipersmom]

Hey Pamela! You do make sense, and I just saw that you had posted over there and replied, lol. We usually do a short intro so everyone knows our story, but the pretrips stay on this thread. Most of us all follow each others though :)

[Momofwishkid]

Horray, a christmas time wish trip!! You must be so excited. I cant wait to follow along with your report.

[maroo]

Woo hoo on the pre-trip report!

You found us and jumped right on in! Congrats on figuring out how to make a pre-trip report!! :)

I have hints on how to post pictures on the second post in the wish trippers unite thread!

I will also post a link to your pretrip report on the wish trippers unit thread! :)


And...I should note that I will be in Disney the same time you guys are!!

We will be in Epcot on December 15 (in the afternoon) and not sure where on December 16th, but definitely in Disney.

:santa:

[teresajoy]

How cute that your son wants to be a gingerbread man!!! That is adorable!!!

[pacrosby]

Horray, a christmas time wish trip!! You must be so excited. I cant wait to follow along with your report.

Thanx Jennifer...............Xmas is my family's favorite time of year (fall/Halloween is a close second). I'm a sucker for anything involving decoration and celebration and I drag my husband and children along for the ride (actually they are very willing participants) It's going to be crazy trying to decorate and shop before we go (heck, my house is still decked out from the Halloween celebrations) but I am determined to have everything done before we go so when we come back all we have to do is relax (well, truth be told there will likely be no relaxation but rather alot of trips to light displays and holiday festivals....maybe a party or two of our own in the remaining days leading up to the holiday). Yup......I am a nut.

Again thanx for the welcome and I hope not to disappoint.

Pamela

[pacrosby]

Woo hoo on the pre-trip report!

You found us and jumped right on in! Congrats on figuring out how to make a pre-trip report!! :)

I have hints on how to post pictures on the second post in the wish trippers unite thread!

I will also post a link to your pretrip report on the wish trippers unit thread! :)


And...I should note that I will be in Disney the same time you guys are!!

We will be in Epcot on December 15 (in the afternoon) and not sure where on December 16th, but definitely in Disney.

:santa:

Thanx for posting the link. I really am pretty illiterate when it comes to the computer. I have no clue how to post pictures or add links............I'm useless!

So you will be in Disney around the same time???? Have you been before at this time of year? I am so looking forward to making the most out of ALL the special holiday things they have to offer......parades, shows, holiday themed activities. We are hoping to be able to extend the trip 2-3 days to keep things less rushed. Our rep will let us know on Monday....apparently it depends on whether changing the days increases the airfare substantially. Even just an extra night would be great. But if not, that's ok...........I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth (as they say).

Anyway.........thanx for the welcome.

Hey...btw....how do you include more than one person's quote in the same reply? I told you I was clueless!!!

Pamela

[pacrosby]

How cute that your son wants to be a gingerbread man!!! That is adorable!!!

You should see the gingerbread man costume I found online....hysterical! I thought it'd be fun to personalize the Wish a bit beyond just going on the trip but no go. Matty has been in the parade at Sesame Place (rode on the Elmo float) so initially when he came up with it I thought it might be ok but when she explained why not it made sense. I guess Disney figures it's doing enough with the free tickets and special access to rides and shows. If they started personalizing everyone's wish (100-200 kids a week) it might get out of hand. I remember reading someone's trip report on here though. Their little boy wanted to meet Peter Pan. I think she mentioned it to one of the CMs in a lounge who made a special phone call and arranged Peter Pan to single out the little boy as he passed by in the parade and then had a meet and greet after. I understand that it might be a longshot getting a meet and greet with the gingerbread men (who the heck wants a meet and greet with the gingerbread men????????) but if my Matty wants to meet a gingerbread man than gosh darn it I'm gonna try and get him to meet a gingerbread man!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL


You guys have been so welcoming. Many thanx

Pamela

[yinyanggirls]

I love that he has such a specific wish! Too cute! How wonderful that your chapter was able to get the trip organized so quickly. Apparently ours is a very busy one and we were told last week that Feb/Mar is out and we needed to give them some dates in APRIL! I'm trying to see the upside to the long wait. (More time to plan, more time to get in shape, and by the way, am I the only who can't stop shopping for cute Disney stuff all of a sudden? We're gonna be broke by April...):rotfl2: Well I guess you better get planning! Hope to see some pics soon!;)

[pacrosby]

I love that he has such a specific wish! Too cute! How wonderful that your chapter was able to get the trip organized so quickly. Apparently ours is a very busy one and we were told last week that Feb/Mar is out and we needed to give them some dates in APRIL! I'm trying to see the upside to the long wait. (More time to plan, more time to get in shape, and by the way, am I the only who can't stop shopping for cute Disney stuff all of a sudden? We're gonna be broke by April...):rotfl2: Well I guess you better get planning! Hope to see some pics soon!;)

Hi Melissa,

Don't hold your breath for px LOL I think we need a scanner for that don't we???

Our chapter really went above and beyond to make this happen for us. I am soooo appreciative of their efforts. When I first talked to the rep in early October I told her that Matty's Wish was to go during the holiday celebrations and so we were thinking the second or third week in December (couldn't go before that and didn't want to be gone for Xmas). We didn't give her any restrictions as far as dates....just said anytime from 12/8 to 12/24; that allowed her to just find 7 consecutive days during that two week period. If we had been more specific we may not have gotten it. I can see where a longer wait would definately be helpful. I'm going to be going nuts in the next few weeks. I have thought about getting some Disney stuff but I've got to finish my Xmas shopping first!! I did get a cute book for Matty tonight though called 'The Gingerbread Man'. So appropo (sp?).

I noticed you were from Arizona. Just curious. Why did you choose WDW over DL? Does DL have something similar for Wish kids? When they were pushing for a second wish from Matty we wondered if we should just say DL (in case there was no availability at WDW) but I knew nothing about it.


To anyone and everyone:

I thought of some questions that perhaps someone might be able to help with. Here goes.....

1) is it likely too late to even think about booking a character breakfast? I'm aware of how early everyone books and how crazy it can be trying to book them so close to a trip. I don't want to stress out about it but certainly it would be fun to get one in. Any tips? Should I just save my sanity and try to spend our money elsewhere? No doubt the opportunities for that will be bountiful!!
2) how about the MVMCP? Are we going to be too late to get tickets to that too? That WOULD be a bigtime bummer (gotta at least SEE those gingerbread men!). I have to wait until I get airline confirmation on Monday before I can do anything.
3) I read about dinner shows in the Orlando area....anyone know anything about them (besides that they are pretty expensive LOL)? Are they worth looking into? Maybe as an alternative to a character meal?
4) I've also read many talk about the packet GKTW provides at orientation. Do I understand correctly that they give you not only tickets to the parks but also coupons/tickets to other area attractions? Can anyone elaborate? I'd love to know what else there MIGHT be available BEFORE we get there in order to help with planning. I'd hate to find that we received a coupon/ticket to something I had paid full price for already.
5) I've read about the ICE show at a local hotel (Gaylord Palms I believe). Has anyone been? Is it worth the big price (remember, there are 6 of us!)? The site is intriguing and I'm thinking the kids would love to go (me too!)
6) Finally (for tonight anyway) we are hoping to extend our trip a couple of days (2 or 3, we'll know if we can and for how long on Monday). Any suggestions for inexpensive accomodations for the final days? If we don't utilize all the tickets GKTW has provided us in our packet, can we use them on those days (i.e. if we've only used 2/3 days on our park hopper)? Is anyone aware of other holiday type things going on in central Florida we might want to take in (rather than spending a fortune going back into the parks for another day or two)? Just trying to think ahead.

ok, ok....I'm done. Sorry I got carried away..........my mind is spinning a mile a minute. Just trying to be as prepared as possible; very unusual for me. We are usually a 'fly by the seat of our pants' kind of family when it comes to vacations/getaways but I can't do that this time.......there ain't no do over for this one!!

Thanx guys!!!

Pamela

[pacrosby]

I just ordered Matty a gingerbread man costume online!!!!! Seven pages in on my search before I found a merchant who had his size in stock.....I was starting to think I was going to have to get the sewing machine out!!!! Even if he chickens out and doesn't wear it it will be a fabulous memory to hold onto. I'm tickled pink!

Pamela

[Momofwishkid]

I just ordered Matty a gingerbread man costume online!!!!! Seven pages in on my search before I found a merchant who had his size in stock.....I was starting to think I was going to have to get the sewing machine out!!!! Even if he chickens out and doesn't wear it it will be a fabulous memory to hold onto. I'm tickled pink!

Pamela

So cute!! You will have to post pics of Matty in his costume and of him metting the gingerbread man at Disney. Congrats on finding one in his size.

[StefaniLyn]

I love the beginning of your PTR. It's wonderful that your Wish organization has gotten things together so quickly for Matty! It looks like our trips will overlap a bit - we are going December 3-12 because we extended for 3 days to visit with family. We check out of GKTW on the 10th, but are thinking of returning for breakfast the day we leave.

Good luck with the planning. I love the Gingerbread Man idea - so creative!

[kdzbear]

Welcome! :welcome:


Hi Melissa,

Don't hold your breath for px LOL I think we need a scanner for that don't we???

Our chapter really went above and beyond to make this happen for us. I am soooo appreciative of their efforts. When I first talked to the rep in early October I told her that Matty's Wish was to go during the holiday celebrations and so we were thinking the second or third week in December (couldn't go before that and didn't want to be gone for Xmas). We didn't give her any restrictions as far as dates....just said anytime from 12/8 to 12/24; that allowed her to just find 7 consecutive days during that two week period. If we had been more specific we may not have gotten it. I can see where a longer wait would definately be helpful. I'm going to be going nuts in the next few weeks. I have thought about getting some Disney stuff but I've got to finish my Xmas shopping first!! I did get a cute book for Matty tonight though called 'The Gingerbread Man'. So appropo (sp?).

I noticed you were from Arizona. Just curious. Why did you choose WDW over DL? Does DL have something similar for Wish kids? When they were pushing for a second wish from Matty we wondered if we should just say DL (in case there was no availability at WDW) but I knew nothing about it.


To anyone and everyone:

I thought of some questions that perhaps someone might be able to help with. Here goes.....

1) is it likely too late to even think about booking a character breakfast? I'm aware of how early everyone books and how crazy it can be trying to book them so close to a trip. I don't want to stress out about it but certainly it would be fun to get one in. Any tips? Should I just save my sanity and try to spend our money elsewhere? No doubt the opportunities for that will be bountiful!!

I think you should try to get a character meal. Who does Matty want to meet? Even if it looks like everything is booked right now, people cancel last minute!

2) how about the MVMCP? Are we going to be too late to get tickets to that too? That WOULD be a bigtime bummer (gotta at least SEE those gingerbread men!). I have to wait until I get airline confirmation on Monday before I can do anything.

I have read in the past that only a few of the parties sell out and not until closer to the days. I think you should be ok with waiting a few days to get tickets.

3) I read about dinner shows in the Orlando area....anyone know anything about them (besides that they are pretty expensive LOL)? Are they worth looking into? Maybe as an alternative to a character meal?

I don't know about these

4) I've also read many talk about the packet GKTW provides at orientation. Do I understand correctly that they give you not only tickets to the parks but also coupons/tickets to other area attractions? Can anyone elaborate? I'd love to know what else there MIGHT be available BEFORE we get there in order to help with planning. I'd hate to find that we received a coupon/ticket to something I had paid full price for already.


5) I've read about the ICE show at a local hotel (Gaylord Palms I believe). Has anyone been? Is it worth the big price (remember, there are 6 of us!)? The site is intriguing and I'm thinking the kids would love to go (me too!)

6) Finally (for tonight anyway) we are hoping to extend our trip a couple of days (2 or 3, we'll know if we can and for how long on Monday). Any suggestions for inexpensive accomodations for the final days? If we don't utilize all the tickets GKTW has provided us in our packet, can we use them on those days (i.e. if we've only used 2/3 days on our park hopper)? Is anyone aware of other holiday type things going on in central Florida we might want to take in (rather than spending a fortune going back into the parks for another day or two)? Just trying to think ahead.

Go to the link in my signature for my pre-trip report and towards the last 2/3 of my report I have links to all of the holiday decorations that you want to see at the Disney Resorts as well as meeting Santa at downtown Disney. Now, I have never done any of this before, but I have friends that have and they say that these displays are not to be missed! :santa:

ok, ok....I'm done. Sorry I got carried away..........my mind is spinning a mile a minute. Just trying to be as prepared as possible; very unusual for me. We are usually a 'fly by the seat of our pants' kind of family when it comes to vacations/getaways but I can't do that this time.......there ain't no do over for this one!!

Thanx guys!!!

Pamela

You might also want to put a link to your pre-trip report in your signature line and then more people can find Matty's Wish and come and answer questions for you. We leave in 12 days and when I come back I can report on the Christmas items that were up already while we are there. However, we are staying on Disney property so I can't give advice on GKTW. Again, Welcome! :santa::santa::santa:

[maroo]

Thanx for posting the link. I really am pretty illiterate when it comes to the computer. I have no clue how to post pictures or add links............I'm useless!

So you will be in Disney around the same time????

YEP! I will be there with my friend Rachel (who uses a bright orange wheelchair), her Mom, Rachel's best friend, Rachel's neice, brother and sister in law! And I am sorta the tour guide...so things are going to be nuts. Our plans are to be in Epcot on the 15th to eat and go to the Candleight Processional that day. I may actually have some time later that night that I might be on my own...not sure yet. Depends on how things go and how long it takes, etc. Really it depends on whether or not we can get a GAC for Rachel. She should qualify, but we won't know till we get there. (GAC - is the card that we may be able to use to make the trek out a little faster - but not a front of the line pass.)

Have you been before at this time of year?

Nope. Never been at Christmas. Can not wait!!!

I am so looking forward to making the most out of ALL the special holiday things they have to offer......parades, shows, holiday themed activities. We are hoping to be able to extend the trip 2-3 days to keep things less rushed. Our rep will let us know on Monday....apparently it depends on whether changing the days increases the airfare substantially. Even just an extra night would be great. But if not, that's ok...........I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth (as they say).

I really, really hope you can extend because getting everything in is going to be difficult at Christmas. If you are able to extend...maybe we can go to the Christmas party the same night??

Anyway.........thanx for the welcome.

Hey...btw....how do you include more than one person's quote in the same reply? I told you I was clueless!!!

Pamela

To include more than one quote you click the little + key at the bottom...and you can click more than one...click them all and then click reply and they will all show up. Then you can type inside the quotes (like I did above in pink) or outside...like this note. :)

Hi Melissa,

Don't hold your breath for px LOL I think we need a scanner for that don't we???

Our chapter really went above and beyond to make this happen for us. I am soooo appreciative of their efforts. When I first talked to the rep in early October I told her that Matty's Wish was to go during the holiday celebrations and so we were thinking the second or third week in December (couldn't go before that and didn't want to be gone for Xmas). We didn't give her any restrictions as far as dates....just said anytime from 12/8 to 12/24; that allowed her to just find 7 consecutive days during that two week period. If we had been more specific we may not have gotten it. I can see where a longer wait would definately be helpful. I'm going to be going nuts in the next few weeks. I have thought about getting some Disney stuff but I've got to finish my Xmas shopping first!! I did get a cute book for Matty tonight though called 'The Gingerbread Man'. So appropo (sp?).

I noticed you were from Arizona. Just curious. Why did you choose WDW over DL? Does DL have something similar for Wish kids? When they were pushing for a second wish from Matty we wondered if we should just say DL (in case there was no availability at WDW) but I knew nothing about it.


To anyone and everyone:

I thought of some questions that perhaps someone might be able to help with. Here goes.....

1) is it likely too late to even think about booking a character breakfast? I'm aware of how early everyone books and how crazy it can be trying to book them so close to a trip. I don't want to stress out about it but certainly it would be fun to get one in. Any tips? Should I just save my sanity and try to spend our money elsewhere? No doubt the opportunities for that will be bountiful!!

It is not too late...depending on where you want to eat and when. Come up with some ideas and let me know...you can PM me...and I can try to help you get them.

Which characters do you like?

Check out this site....

www.allears.net and go to Dining - there is a whole section on there about character dining.

2) how about the MVMCP? Are we going to be too late to get tickets to that too? That WOULD be a bigtime bummer (gotta at least SEE those gingerbread men!). I have to wait until I get airline confirmation on Monday before I can do anything.

DEFINITELY do MVMCP. If you can...stay away from the 18th...that is the last night of the party and will be hard to get into.

I am going the 17th...but don't let that sway you! :rolleyes1

The best day to go is during the middle of the week when you have fewer local folks and people are not quite in town.

3) I read about dinner shows in the Orlando area....anyone know anything about them (besides that they are pretty expensive LOL)? Are they worth looking into? Maybe as an alternative to a character meal?

Honestly...there will be TONS to do in Disney/Universal...especially with Christmas. You can read my TR if you want info (albeit not positive) about the Pirate Show. Although if I had a pirate lover, I may go again despite our issues.

I would do a character meal instead! :)

4) I've also read many talk about the packet GKTW provides at orientation. Do I understand correctly that they give you not only tickets to the parks but also coupons/tickets to other area attractions? Can anyone elaborate? I'd love to know what else there MIGHT be available BEFORE we get there in order to help with planning. I'd hate to find that we received a coupon/ticket to something I had paid full price for already.

Ok...you get a 3 day PH to Disney parks. 2 Days for Universal and 1 day for Sea World. They also have free tickets to Gatorland (don't waste your time unless you are there a whole extra week) and some other attractions. I think they can get free tickets to water parks, too.

But you don't get tickets to MVMCP and as far as I know there are no discounts for that.

5) I've read about the ICE show at a local hotel (Gaylord Palms I believe). Has anyone been? Is it worth the big price (remember, there are 6 of us!)? The site is intriguing and I'm thinking the kids would love to go (me too!)

Depending on where you live...I would take your kids at another time. I am sure it is a great production...but you will have LOTS to do and that may be a great thing to look forward to after you get back...assuming you can get to one around where you live?

6) Finally (for tonight anyway) we are hoping to extend our trip a couple of days (2 or 3, we'll know if we can and for how long on Monday). Any suggestions for inexpensive accomodations for the final days? If we don't utilize all the tickets GKTW has provided us in our packet, can we use them on those days (i.e. if we've only used 2/3 days on our park hopper)? Is anyone aware of other holiday type things going on in central Florida we might want to take in (rather than spending a fortune going back into the parks for another day or two)? Just trying to think ahead.

I would try to stay on Disney property if you can swing it. I think they still have Free Dining those days...so you might want to call and check on that. The hotels are a little more expensive, but they provide transportation so that you don't have to worry about renting a car.

I should tell you, though, that you are approaching a VERY crowded and high price time at Disney at the end of your trip. Starting the 20th, I believe, it really starts to get busy at Disney. But you could do your Sea World or Universal day towards the end and try to do your Disney stuff toward the beginning. ???

There are also good places to stay offsite, you will just need to rent a car.

ok, ok....I'm done. Sorry I got carried away..........my mind is spinning a mile a minute. Just trying to be as prepared as possible; very unusual for me. We are usually a 'fly by the seat of our pants' kind of family when it comes to vacations/getaways but I can't do that this time.......there ain't no do over for this one!!

Thanx guys!!!


Pamela

I get carried away, too!!! :)

[pacrosby]

Thank you so much for all the great advice! Good to know to stay away from MVMCP on that last night. "Technically" our Wish trip ends on the 16th so I would imagine any attempt to get anything 'extra' would be a no-go after that date. Don't those wacky gingerbread men march in MVMCP? I'm not giving up on this crazy meet and greet idea (although I still have no clue how to make it happen). I suppose as a result I need to try and get tickets during one of the nights we are at GKTW. I have to figure whether doing it in the beginning as a great intro to the week or at the end as a great close to the week would be better. HMMMMMMM Decisions, decisions:confused3

As for character meals I will definately PM you (Maroo) once I get some ideas and get confirmation of the trip later today, many many big big thanx for the offer! I really am a novice at all this. I've only been to Disney twice, once in my late twenties (when I lived in Florida) and once on a conference with my husband 4 yrs ago. Neither of those times were planned out; we just flew by the seat of our pants. Didn't do character meals or anything. So I DEFINATELY appreciate any and all help I can get.

As far as water parks..................GKTW can get tickets to those too? Are you serious???????? Is that in place of one of the others or in addition? Is it warm enough to go to a water park at that time of year? My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE (did I say 'LOVE') waterparks:yay::woohoo::banana::cool1::dance3: (did I make myself clear with all those? LOL) I wouldn't want to do it in place of MK/AK/US/IOA/Ep/HS but if we could do it one day and then perhaps hold a ticket from the regular packet until one of the days we extend our trip that would be beyond fab! Or perhaps that's a no-no to use a free ticket on the extended portion of the trip? I think I need a Wish trip Etiquette book.

As far as ICE is concerned....I've never heard of anything like it around here so I'll have to see if we can fit it in without taking away from everything else. We attack our vacations and weekend getaways in a commando style....GO, GO, GO... and really enjoy that pace (yes, even the kids do, they are VERY well-trained). The word 'relax' is simply not in the Crosby vocabulary. So while I would like to savor this trip at a bit of a slower pace, I'm thinking more like 75 mph (as opposed to 100)!

ok...finally................accomodations for the extended portion of our trip. I read of a 29 dollar/night deal on one of the DISboards that is available if booked through mid-November. Supposedly at a fairly decent no-frills off- property hotel/motel. Almost sounds to good to bypass if it's still available when I get around to booking. Staying at a Disney property sounds great but for just 2-3 nights towards the end of the week I probably would be hard pressed to get a good deal. I'd rather spend our money on the FUN FUN FUN........hotels aren't anything more than a place to sleep for us (we have hysterical stories of places we have stayed:eek:). If you do know of any real deals on property I'd love to hear them though as well as any real reasons it might be worth the extra money.

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

[pacrosby]

ok....just for fun I found a couple of pictures of these kooky gingerbread menMatty and I have now become so obsessed with



http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterpanfan1953/3254921604/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterpanfan1953/3254094159/in/photostream



I think I'm in love:lovestruc

Pamela

[pacrosby]

oh.....and here's that utterly ridiculous (but oh so adorable on a 42" 6 yr old) gingerbread man costume!

http://www.officialcostumes.com/99883116.html

ok, ok, so not EXACTLY the same but close enough. I think it needs a bow around the neck. I'll have to work on that (like I don't have enough to do LOL)

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

ok, so I have about 15 minutes before my little Wish recipient comes off of the bus from Kindergarten. Time for some random thoughts.

I honestly can't really believe we are doing this. If someone had asked me if I would ever refer Matty for a Wish 6-7 months ago I would've given them a resounding 'absolutely not'. I was pretty opinionated (alright, so I guess I haven't changed in that regard. I'm still opinionated it's just that I have a different opinion :rotfl:). Even when I decided in September to go for it I had some reservations. I remember feeling guilty calling and giving his cardiologist the heads up. She and I had had 'the conversation' before and although I knew she technically knew he would qualify for a Wish, I also knew that deep down she shared my previous opinion. You'd think that at my ripe old age I wouldn't give a rip what someone else thinks but, alas.......it's true.............sometimes I do.

Now that the ball is not only rolling but is picking up some serious speed, those reservations are gone. Magically gone! Hey, how appropo! I know this is right. I know that Matty deserves every bit of this special opportunity. In order to keep our sanity intact we tend to live in a healthy state of denial. It's not that we don't remember the frightening days of the past; it's not that we don't know about the uncertainties of the future......it's just that we prefer to not think about them. We choose instead to remember the miracles of the past, dream about the possibilities of the future, and live in the present. The motto in the Crosby house (that's our house) is "it's ALL in the attitude". Somewhere deep inside,though, deep down inside, beneath that positive attitude, we do remember. We remember how truly terrifying it was when we were given the diagnosis; when we sat waiting for those 4-5 hour open-heart surgeries to be over wondering if Matty would come out the same as he went in (ok, whether he would come out at all). I remember how horrible it felt to bring this child, my child, in over and over again to be poked and prodded. How terribly frightened he was. How he screamed uncontrollably whenever he came with me to my OB appts thinking the appt. was for him (I lost 3 babies btw Matty and Brennan.....so Matty came to alot of appts)......talk about white coat syndrome!. We remember the horrific nightmares this child has suffered for years and years...............nightmares that started the night we came home after his third open heart sugery (some have suggested it could be post-traumatic stress). And then there's the future. Big fat question mark. We tell ourselves he'll be ok. He's doing great now. We tell ourselves he will be one of the lucky ones. He'll graduate high school. He'll get married (his wife better watch out!). He'll have kids. He WILL be ok. But will he? I'm secretly haunted by the stories of children with HLHS who's hearts have failed. Children who were doing really well. Children who got through their surgeries without any major complications; without any residual problems. Children who everyone thought were going to be fine. And then their hearts fail. Sometimes they are 7. Sometimes they are 8 or 9. Sometimes they are fine until their teens. But then they get sick. More surgeries. Hospitalizations. The ever horrifying notion of........the transplant list. More terrifying moments. More uncertainties. I guess that's life though right? Nothing is certain. That's what I tell myself in very quiet moments when the thoughts creep up on me and I need to push away those tears. I could die tomorrow. Any of us could. But it's not quite the same is it? I know many of you reading this know what I'm talking about.

ok....that's enough of that!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's lighten this puppy up!

Disney is more of a favorite 'dream' for us than a favorite 'place'. I never even set foot in the place until I was in my late twenties (during a 2 year stint when I moved to Florida trying to prove how truly independent I could be.................ok, truth be told it was after a series of pesky relationships gone sour and a desire to go off into the sunset and start all over;)). My husband was there once as a child (after a two day drive with mom and dad and 3 older brothers in a nifty old 1960-something station wagon......that must've been a hoot:eek:) . My children? Well the youngest has only seen pictures. The oldest three (which includes my Wish child) were there for a few days when we piggy-backed on one of my husband's conferences at the Swan and Dolphin in the Spring of '05. A 5 yr old, a 3 yr old, a 2 yr and a 43 yr old cranky 6 month pregnant woman (yup, you guessed it......me!). We made the best of it, and definately had fun (all participants in Crosby vacations/getaways are required to have fun, even 43 year old cranky women soon to be expecting their 4th child in 5 yrs.......................hey, what can I tell ya, those are the rules:confused3)

So you can plainly see why this family is so very excited about this upcoming adventure in Disney. And at Christmas time!!!!!! We're just gonna pee our pants!


Well, random thoughts finished for now. I'll be back. Hope you will too!


Pamela:santa:

[Momofwishkid]

ok, so I have about 15 minutes before my little Wish recipient comes off of the bus from Kindergarten. Time for some random thoughts.

I honestly can't really believe we are doing this. If someone had asked me if I would ever refer Matty for a Wish 6-7 months ago I would've given them a resounding 'absolutely not'. I was pretty opinionated (alright, so I guess I haven't changed in that regard. I'm still opinionated it's just that I have a different opinion :rotfl:). Even when I decided in September to go for it I had some reservations. I remember feeling guilty calling and giving his cardiologist the heads up. She and I had had 'the conversation' before and although I knew she technically knew he would qualify for a Wish, I also knew that deep down she shared my previous opinion. You'd think that at my ripe old age I wouldn't give a rip what someone else thinks but, alas.......it's true.............sometimes I do.

Now that the ball is not only rolling but is picking up some serious speed, those reservations are gone. Magically gone! Hey, how appropo! I know this is right. I know that Matty deserves every bit of this special opportunity. In order to keep our sanity intact we tend to live in a healthy state of denial. It's not that we don't remember the frightening days of the past; it's not that we don't know about the uncertainties of the future......it's just that we prefer to not think about them. We choose instead to remember the miracles of the past and dream about the possibilities of the future. The motto in the Crosby house (that's our house) is "it's ALL in the attitude". Somewhere deep inside,though, deep down inside, beneath that positive attitude, we do remember. We remember how truly terrifying it was when we were given the diagnosis; when we sat waiting for those 4-5 hour open-heart surgeries to be over wondering if Matty would come out the same as he went in (ok, whether he would come out at all). I remember how horrible it felt to bring this child, my child, in over and over again to be poked and prodded. How terribly frightened he was. How he screamed uncontrollably whenever he came with me to my OB appts thinking the appt. was for him (I lost 3 babies btw Matty and Brennan.....so Matty came to alot of appts)......talk about white coat syndrome!. We remember the horrific nightmares this child has suffered for years and years...............nightmares that started the night we came home after his third open heart sugery (some have suggested it could be post-traumatic stress). And then there's the future. Big fat question mark. We tell ourselves he'll be ok. He's doing great now. We tell ourselves he will be one of the lucky ones. He'll graduate high school. He'll get married (his wife better watch out!). He'll have kids. He WILL be ok. But will he? I'm secretly haunted by the stories of HLHS kids who's hearts have failed. Kids who were doing really well. Kids who got through their surgeries without any major complications; without any residual problems. Kids who everyone thought were going to be fine. And then their hearts fail. Sometimes they are 7. Sometimes they are 8 or 9. Sometimes they are fine until their teens. But then they get sick. More surgeries. Hospitalizations. The ever horrifying notion of........the transplant list. More terrifying moments. More uncertainties. I guess that's life though right? Nothing is certain. That's what I tell myself in very quiet moments when the thoughts creep up on me and I need to push away those tears. I could die tomorrow. Any of us could. But it's not quite the same is it? You guys know what I'm talking about.

ok....that's enough of that!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's lighten this puppy up!

Disney is more of a favorite 'dream' for us than a favorite 'place'. I never even set foot in the place until I was in my late twenties (during a 2 year stint when I moved to Florida trying to prove how truly independent I could be.................ok, truth be told it was after a series of pesky relationships gone sour and a desire to go off into the sunset and start all over;)). My husband was there once as a child (after a two day drive with mom and dad and 3 older brothers in a nifty old 1960-something station wagon......that must've been a hoot:eek:) . My children? Well the youngest has only seen pictures. The oldest three (which includes my Wish child) were there for a few days when we piggy-backed on one of my husband's conferences at the Swan and Dolphin in the Spring of '05. A 5 yr old, a 3 yr old, a 2 yr and a 43 yr old cranky 6 month pregnant woman (yup, you guessed it......me!). We made the best of it, and definately had fun (all participants in Crosby vacations/getaways are required to have fun, even 43 year old cranky women soon to be expecting their 4th child in 5 yrs.......................hey, what can I tell ya, those are the rules:confused3)

So you can plainly see why this family is so very excited about this upcoming adventure in Disney. And at Christmas time!!!!!! We're just gonna pee our pants!


Well, random thoughts finished for now. I'll be back. Hope you will too!


Pamela:santa:

I completley understand all of your feeling and Matty truley deserves this Wish along with your family needing and deserving it also. It is going to be such a magical time for you all!

[maroo]

Thank you so much for all the great advice! Good to know to stay away from MVMCP on that last night. "Technically" our Wish trip ends on the 16th so I would imagine any attempt to get anything 'extra' would be a no-go after that date. Don't those wacky gingerbread men march in MVMCP?

I am really not sure who you would call. I would think this would be considered a special event and I know that the characters from the parade don't actually do meet and greets...

The other issue is that where they are after and before the parade is considered "backstage" and is closed to kids. Even MAW kids. They make no exceptions to that because of legal issues. I am really, really not sure how to make that happen??

I would DEFINITELY dress up in the Gingerbread costume...AND have his button very clearly put on his costume...HOPEFULLY the Gingerbread men would actually see it and may stop on the parade route.

I would also make shirts for every member of your family that says something about his wish being to meet the Gingerbread men...Let me think on this, too.

Honestly...if it was me...and this may be financially impossible...but one idea...is to get tickets to every single MVMCP that they have and go to ALL of the parades. I am sure - at least at one of them - that the Gingerbread men would see him and maybe come by and shake his hand?? But that is just a hunch.

Don't give up on asking CM's...calling Disney...etc.

I'm not giving up on this crazy meet and greet idea (although I still have no clue how to make it happen). I suppose as a result I need to try and get tickets during one of the nights we are at GKTW. I have to figure whether doing it in the beginning as a great intro to the week or at the end as a great close to the week would be better. HMMMMMMM Decisions, decisions:confused3

Well...if you don't do them every night... :) he he...

Ok...at GKTW - Thursday, December 17th is Christmas at GKTW. I would try not to miss that. They give gifts to each child and they get to see Santa, etc. There is a lot in the TR's about Christmas.

Your other option is the 11th, 13th and 15th.

The 11th is a Friday. You won't miss much at GKTW that night, but the party will be crowded with locals.

The 13th is a Sunday. Sunday night is usually the Candyland Party at GKTW. It would be cool for him to dress up there, too!

The 15th seems like it would be a good night. I don't remember anything super special going on a GKTW that night?

As for character meals I will definately PM you (Maroo) once I get some ideas and get confirmation of the trip later today, many many big big thanx for the offer! I really am a novice at all this. I've only been to Disney twice, once in my late twenties (when I lived in Florida) and once on a conference with my husband 4 yrs ago. Neither of those times were planned out; we just flew by the seat of our pants. Didn't do character meals or anything. So I DEFINATELY appreciate any and all help I can get.

Definitely PM me...if we can't find one...I will get some other nice folks to help me. Then we will just PM you that we found one and have you reserve it. :)

As far as water parks..................GKTW can get free tickets to those too? Are you serious???????? Is that in place of one of the others or in addition? Is it warm enough to go to a water park at that time of year? My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE (did I say 'LOVE') waterparks:yay::woohoo::banana::cool1::dance3: (did I make myself clear with all those? LOL) I wouldn't want to do it in place of MK/AK/US/IOA/Ep/HS but if we could do it one day and then perhaps hold a ticket from the regular packet until one of the days we extend our trip that would be beyond fab! Or perhaps that's a no-no to use a free ticket on the extended portion of the trip? I think I need a Wish trip Etiquette book.

I am pretty sure that they can! You might want to call them and make sure before you tell your son for sure...and remember it may be cold.

GKTW phone number is 800-995-KIDS. But you will want to wait until you are confirmed, because they may look up his info before they provide information. :)

You are allowed to use the tickets anytime within 14 days! :)


As far as ICE is concerned....I've never heard of anything like it around here so I'll have to see if we can fit it in without taking away from everything else. We attack our vacations and weekend getaways in a commando style....GO, GO, GO... and really enjoy that pace (yes, even the kids do, they are VERY well-trained). The word 'relax' is simply not in the Crosby vocabulary. So while I would like to savor this trip at a bit of a slower pace, I'm thinking more like 75 mph (as opposed to 100)!

He he! Then I say go for it!! :)

We tried the commando route on Lauren's trip...though...and she got really sick. She ended up missing 2 days of her trip and was in the hospital one night. But only you know your kids. Lauren just got a virus she could not fight off since she was so tired.

ok...finally................accomodations for the extended portion of our trip. I read of a 29 dollar/night deal on one of the DISboards that is available if booked through mid-November. Supposedly at a fairly decent no-frills off- property hotel/motel. Almost sounds to good to bypass if it's still available when I get around to booking. Staying at a Disney property sounds great but for just 2-3 nights towards the end of the week I probably would be hard pressed to get a good deal. I'd rather spend our money on the FUN FUN FUN........hotels aren't anything more than a place to sleep for us (we have hysterical stories of places we have stayed:eek:). If you do know of any real deals on property I'd love to hear them though as well as any real reasons it might be worth the extra money.

Very true! And $29 is AWESOME! Is it in an ok area? There won't be any deals on property that week anyway.

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

ok, so I have about 15 minutes before my little Wish recipient comes off of the bus from Kindergarten. Time for some random thoughts.

I honestly can't really believe we are doing this. If someone had asked me if I would ever refer Matty for a Wish 6-7 months ago I would've given them a resounding 'absolutely not'. I was pretty opinionated (alright, so I guess I haven't changed in that regard. I'm still opinionated it's just that I have a different opinion :rotfl:). Even when I decided in September to go for it I had some reservations. I remember feeling guilty calling and giving his cardiologist the heads up. She and I had had 'the conversation' before and although I knew she technically knew he would qualify for a Wish, I also knew that deep down she shared my previous opinion. You'd think that at my ripe old age I wouldn't give a rip what someone else thinks but, alas.......it's true.............sometimes I do.

You are not alone in these feelings...really...lots and lots of wish parents have said the same thing...

Now that the ball is not only rolling but is picking up some serious speed, those reservations are gone. Magically gone! Hey, how appropo! I know this is right. I know that Matty deserves every bit of this special opportunity. In order to keep our sanity intact we tend to live in a healthy state of denial. It's not that we don't remember the frightening days of the past; it's not that we don't know about the uncertainties of the future......it's just that we prefer to not think about them. We choose instead to remember the miracles of the past and dream about the possibilities of the future. The motto in the Crosby house (that's our house) is "it's ALL in the attitude".

This is the only way to live...really...dreading the future and dwelling on the past doesn't really do anyone any good. Obviously we all have to grieve the past...grieve for what could have been...but moving on is just as healthy. :)

Somewhere deep inside,though, deep down inside, beneath that positive attitude, we do remember. We remember how truly terrifying it was when we were given the diagnosis; when we sat waiting for those 4-5 hour open-heart surgeries to be over wondering if Matty would come out the same as he went in (ok, whether he would come out at all). I remember how horrible it felt to bring this child, my child, in over and over again to be poked and prodded. How terribly frightened he was. How he screamed uncontrollably whenever he came with me to my OB appts thinking the appt. was for him (I lost 3 babies btw Matty and Brennan.....so Matty came to alot of appts)......talk about white coat syndrome!. We remember the horrific nightmares this child has suffered for years and years...............nightmares that started the night we came home after his third open heart sugery (some have suggested it could be post-traumatic stress).

Aww..... This is just heartbreaking... :sad1: :hug:

And then there's the future. Big fat question mark. We tell ourselves he'll be ok. He's doing great now. We tell ourselves he will be one of the lucky ones. He'll graduate high school. He'll get married (his wife better watch out!). He'll have kids. He WILL be ok. But will he? I'm secretly haunted by the stories of HLHS kids who's hearts have failed. Kids who were doing really well. Kids who got through their surgeries without any major complications; without any residual problems. Kids who everyone thought were going to be fine. And then their hearts fail. Sometimes they are 7. Sometimes they are 8 or 9. Sometimes they are fine until their teens. But then they get sick. More surgeries. Hospitalizations. The ever horrifying notion of........the transplant list. More terrifying moments. More uncertainties. I guess that's life though right? Nothing is certain. That's what I tell myself in very quiet moments when the thoughts creep up on me and I need to push away those tears. I could die tomorrow. Any of us could. But it's not quite the same is it? You guys know what I'm talking about.

I can only imagine what you are talking about. The two famlies that I am really close to now (Lauren and Rachel) live with those same fears every day. They don't even know what is wrong with Lauren and are doing more tests as we speak to figure it out. And Rachel was "supposed" to die before her teenage years. Has now almost died 3 times. We thought we would not make it to the big Disney trip in December...but she made it! And she is doing better now than in the entire time that I have known them...laughing...really enjoying life.

It isn't the same.

But that is what wish trips are for...to blow it out...to make memories that will last forever...no matter what.

A DISer posted a while ago that she took her trip many years ago. She was sick (cancer, maybe?). She is now fine, but her sibling was killed in a car wreck the very next year. So we never know what is going to happen in life. But the wish trip - is the time to make memories that will last forever and ever no matter how things turn out in this life.

And we still hang on to the hope that all of the kids will continue to do well.

ok....that's enough of that!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's lighten this puppy up!

Disney is more of a favorite 'dream' for us than a favorite 'place'. I never even set foot in the place until I was in my late twenties (during a 2 year stint when I moved to Florida trying to prove how truly independent I could be.................ok, truth be told it was after a series of pesky relationships gone sour and a desire to go off into the sunset and start all over;)). My husband was there once as a child (after a two day drive with mom and dad and 3 older brothers in a nifty old 1960-something station wagon......that must've been a hoot:eek:) . My children? Well the youngest has only seen pictures. The oldest three (which includes my Wish child) were there for a few days when we piggy-backed on one of my husband's conferences at the Swan and Dolphin in the Spring of '05. A 5 yr old, a 3 yr old, a 2 yr and a 43 yr old cranky 6 month pregnant woman (yup, you guessed it......me!). We made the best of it, and definately had fun (all participants in Crosby vacations/getaways are required to have fun, even 43 year old cranky women soon to be expecting their 4th child in 5 yrs.......................hey, what can I tell ya, those are the rules:confused3)

So you can plainly see why this family is so very excited about this upcoming adventure in Disney. And at Christmas time!!!!!! We're just gonna pee our pants!

ha! :rotfl:


Well, random thoughts finished for now. I'll be back. Hope you will too!


Pamela:santa:

I love your random thoughts! :)

And I will be back! :)

[pacrosby]

ok ok........a four o'clock phone conversation with our MAW rep reveals (drum roll please).........................


a 7:00 am direct flight out of Boston to Orlando on Thursday morning 12/10 and

an 8:10 pm direct flight out of Orlando to Boston on Friday nite 12/18


:dance3::dance3: (there, a dancing smiley for each of our family members!)





Now the REAL planning begins!!!!!



Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

[kdzbear]

ok ok........a four o'clock phone conversation with our MAW rep reveals (drum roll please).........................


a 7:00 am direct flight out of Boston to Orlando on Thursday morning 12/10 and

an 8:10 pm direct flight out of Orlando to Boston on Friday nite 12/18


:dance3::dance3: (there, a dancing smiley for each of our family members!)




Now the REAL planning begins!!!!!



Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607


Congrats on having dates! That will be such a magical trip with it being right before Christmas! :santa::santa::santa:

[kdzbear]

Go to Liam's trip report and check out the Gingerbread man at GKTW: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34269909#post34269909 I know it is not the Disney one, but look he is dancing with the kids! :wizard:

[pacrosby]

Go to Liam's trip report and check out the Gingerbread man at GKTW: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34269909#post34269909 I know it is not the Disney one, but look he is dancing with the kids! :wizard:


OMG thanx for the link!!! He's pretty cute too! At least I know he'll be able to meet and hang with ONE gingerbread man

Pamela:santa:

[maroo]

She totally beat me to it!!!!!

I was SOOOOO excited to see the Gingerbread man!

I would call GKTW about 2 weeks before you leave and make sure they know your child's wish and see if they can make sure the Gingerbread man shows up for that party. How awesome is that! :)

[pipersmom]

What awesome flight times! You'll actually have time not to rush around the day you leave. I know (as do most here) exactly what you mean about living in the moment and trying not to stress out too much about the future. Hopefully for the week of the trip all that will be completely out of your head and you'll be able to just have fun! How cool would it be for Matty to get to hang out with a gingerbread man at GKTW? Funny how things work out sometimes :)

[chrissid7]

OMG WE WILL BE THERE ON THE EXACT SAME DATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana::banana::banana:

We will actually be in the airport coming and going at the same time!!!! we will be leaving out of VA but our flight leaves @ 7:20 am 12/10 and we will leave Orlando @ 8:45 12/16.

:santa:We are going to MVMCP 12/11 :santa:

just had to hurry and post now im going back to read the rest of your story I just got sooo excited when I saw your dates! :yay::yay:

[StefaniLyn]

Woo hoo for times!!!! And those are great times too! You'll be able to relax at GKTW after your arrival and you have almost a full day to do a park before your departure. :dance3::dance3:

[chrissid7]

I am very sorry Matty has had to deal with so much as well as for you and your family. I think it will be the coolest thing to see this lil gingerbread man! What a sweet wish! Ive had a couple of extra weeks of planning, but im still ironing out stuff too. Our process started in August, and I have been trying to get the dinner reservations I wanted since the day I got the dates. Im pretty close now! :woohoo:

We do plan on spending most of the day on the 10th just chillin in the village and waiting for Santa to arrive, Alyssa cannot wait for that!

I hope you get help posting pics, I would love to help but i would just mess ya up if I tried to explain lol. I can do it I just cant teach it.

I thought about extending our trip, but we are doing a surprise makeover for Alyssa's room, so we stay 1 night locally at a nearby hotel so that everyone can be here when we get home, since we wont get home untill late.

Looking forward to sharing with you and planning somewhat together. :cool2:

[yinyanggirls]

Pamela, It does seem odd to go to FL instead of CA, huh? I have a couple of friends whose kids had wishes granted several years ago and they both went to WDW, even though one of them lives in Orange County CA, same place as Disneyland. :laughing: I think it is such a popular wish that unless a child specified DL they plan on WDW as well as having GKTW participate in the wish.
When we met with Phoebe's wish granter, we were trying to think of a wish involving horses but couldn't figure out something she'd love that we don't already have access to. We then discussed the possibility of a Disney cruise, but after finding out about the limitations of the shore excursions we ruled that out and her wish granter basically just suggested WDW. I shoudn't say she suggested it. That's a big no-no. I made a list of ideas, not all specific, just things that Phoebe loves, like moving really fast (swings, slides, bouncing etc) music, people watching, etc. She may have offered it as an idea and we knew that Phoebe would love it because last spring we went to DL for the first time and she loved it. So there's a long answer to a short question. :rotfl:

I obviously haven't been yet, but I imagine that mid-week days would be easier to arrange things for than weekends or Mon/Fri. Make sure you try the Disney reservation website and look up possible reservations there. Since people might cancel as it gets closer you could get lucky. I panicked and reserved several meals, even though we only plan to do one (or two at most). As SOON as I know our travel dates I will cancel whatever won't work and free up those res's for someone else.

Also, one thought for the Gingerbread men at Disney...Again, knowing that mid-week is likely going to be less crowded (unless there are any special events) you might have better luck mid-week. What I would try is, as it gets closer to parade time start asking any CM who looks like they might know something about it, where is the best place to see it? If the CM notices his button, spends a few moments talking to you guys and seems to know what they are talking about, proceed to ask that CM if there is any chance the G-Men could know he is there before they come out and look for him during the parade, making a point to be at whatever spot this CM has just told you would be good to view at. Mention that any special attention they could lavish on him for 30 seconds would be so totally awesome since it was his WISH!!! Then hope for the best. I would also try to have these discussions without little ears listening in case the CM you come across is grumpy or new or whatever.

It would be totally awesome if GKTW could verify that the G-man will be there when you are. I imagine at a C-mas party he would be guaranteed, but you hate to assume. That will be totally cute, all the opportunities he'll have to wear the costume. :thumbsup2

[yinyanggirls]

Do you have a film camera? Is that why you would need a scanner? If you like, you can mail me some photos and I could scan and email them to you then return the originals. But since you are going on the trip soon, you'll have digitals from GKTW (from what I've heard) and if you decide to buy a photopass as well. Let me know if you want any help!:surfweb:

[pacrosby]

Thanx to all who are following along..................and hello to those of you who have recently jumped on board! I'll have to go back and respond to each of you and to make sure I check in on your PTR's. I can't get over how very kind, helpful and supportive everyone is here.

But first....................I need to share my initial thoughts re: our tentative schedule. I've been busy:)

After perusing every schedule I could find this is what I've come up with:

Thursday: arrive late morning/early afternoon @ GKTW
do orientation and get acclimated to our new surroundings
check out ICE @ the Gaylord Palms
evening activities @ GKTW (6:30 - Winter Wonderland)

Friday: 8:30 am Universal character photos @ GKTW
Univeral Studios/IOA - open til 6
evening activities @ GKTW (7:30 - Pirates and Princesses)

Saturday: 8 am horseback riding @ GKTW
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - MK open til 11

Sunday: Grinch character breakfast @ Universal
Universal Studios/IOA - open til 7
evening activities @ GKTW (7:30 - Candyland)

Monday: 8 am Disney character photos at GKTW
Seaworld - open til 6
Family Night @ Farris and Fosters Chocolatiers (7 pm)

Tuesday: 8:30 am Nickelodeon character photos @ GKTW
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - Epcot open til 9

Wednesday: check out of GKTW :sad1:
check in to Nick Hotel :)
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - HS open til 8
evening activities @ Nick Hotel

Thursday: Nick Hotel pools
MVMCP @ 7

Friday: leave open for last minute decision
depart to Boston 8:10 pm


Anyone notice that I left out anything? Is there anything else going on at GKTW that I should know about? We will likely be in and out for meals during the day. I hate spending alot of money on food unnecessarily. I tripped upon the Grinch Character breakfast at Universal and thought it'd be a hoot! We took our 2 oldest to see the Broadway version of the Grinch in Boston last December and they (we) loved loved loved it. We have the movie, and books and plush..........too fun! Hopefully it won't be booked. I will call tomorrow.

Haven't called for the MVMCP for the 17th yet but I think that date is the best for us. It will give us one more day at MK beyond the 3 day park hopper and it will leave the trip on a real high. If anyone thinks the Thursday will be crazy busy though let me know. Tuesday is always a possibility.

I do want to do some sort of Disney character meal IF at all possible at this late date. The Alice in Wonderland Tea Party thingy looked cute (albeit expensive). The kids make cupcakes and have a tea party themed lunch. My kids love that movie. My younger one wouldn't be able to go (still not potty trained:guilty:) so he could hang with us (it's only for kids, no adults). I've heard mixed reviews though. Anyone have any experience with this one? None of the others jump out at me. I wouldn't be interested in many of the character dinners..................so expensive and there are soooooo many people I'm sure the interaction is limited, if at all. Maybe a breakfast if I could find one. We go to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania every year (sometimes more than once) and ALWAYS do character dining so I wouldn't be heartbroken if we didn't get one. Although they like all the Disney characters none of them are all out CRAZY for any particular one and we will see them at GKTW and throughout the parks anyway. Maybe if they had a character meal with Lightening McQueen and his pals or Sully and Mike. Now THAT they would flip for! Truth be told my Matty is a real closet Elmo nut. He knows that most people would think he's too old for Elmo but, secretly, he loves him. I always tell him not to be embarrassed. Heck, I'm 47 and I love him too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok, let me know what you think. I'm all ears (better yet, eyes:))

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Do you have a film camera? Is that why you would need a scanner? If you like, you can mail me some photos and I could scan and email them to you then return the originals. But since you are going on the trip soon, you'll have digitals from GKTW (from what I've heard) and if you decide to buy a photopass as well. Let me know if you want any help!:surfweb:

Melissa........
ohhhh, you're so nice. We do have a digital camera but we print the px out on a photo dock (I think that's what it's called). I've thought about getting a scanner. Can't you use it somehow to get hard photos online? If so maybe this would be the oh-so perfect excuse to go get one. They aren't that expensive I don't think.

I did read someone's Wish Trip Report from Disneyland. A VERY different trip for sure.

Good thoughts on how I might get a photo op with a gingy man from the actual parade. The GKTW guy will work too though. Hey I'll take any life-sized Christmas confection I can get at this point!

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

I am very sorry Matty has had to deal with so much as well as for you and your family. I think it will be the coolest thing to see this lil gingerbread man! What a sweet wish! Ive had a couple of extra weeks of planning, but im still ironing out stuff too. Our process started in August, and I have been trying to get the dinner reservations I wanted since the day I got the dates. Im pretty close now! :woohoo:

We do plan on spending most of the day on the 10th just chillin in the village and waiting for Santa to arrive, Alyssa cannot wait for that!

I hope you get help posting pics, I would love to help but i would just mess ya up if I tried to explain lol. I can do it I just cant teach it.

I thought about extending our trip, but we are doing a surprise makeover for Alyssa's room, so we stay 1 night locally at a nearby hotel so that everyone can be here when we get home, since we wont get home untill late.

Looking forward to sharing with you and planning somewhat together. :cool2:



Hi! How cool that we will be there at the same time. It's like we'll have our own little network going.

May I ask where you got your dinner reservations? Was it tough to get what you wanted? I've heard that is an ordeal in itself. Think I better hurry up and make a decision.

How old is your Alyssa? I'll have to go find you PTR. Room makeover sounds wonderful. I'm big into design and decor. You'll have to provide details/post pictures (perhaps you already have on your thread)

Nice to have you along:)

Pamela :santa:

[pacrosby]

What awesome flight times! You'll actually have time not to rush around the day you leave. I know (as do most here) exactly what you mean about living in the moment and trying not to stress out too much about the future. Hopefully for the week of the trip all that will be completely out of your head and you'll be able to just have fun! How cool would it be for Matty to get to hang out with a gingerbread man at GKTW? Funny how things work out sometimes :)

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason and are not as random as they appear. There have been far to many of those 'moments' in my life. I KNOW I'm not in charge.

thanx for the good thoughts

Pamela

[chrissid7]

Hi! How cool that we will be there at the same time. It's like we'll have our own little network going.

May I ask where you got your dinner reservations? Was it tough to get what you wanted? I've heard that is an ordeal in itself. Think I better hurry up and make a decision.

How old is your Alyssa? I'll have to go find you PTR. Room makeover sounds wonderful. I'm big into design and decor. You'll have to provide details/post pictures (perhaps you already have on your thread)

Nice to have you along:)

Pamela :santa:


I just had to keep checking online. I searched everyday for about a week before 1 finally appeared that I wanted. I also check the cancellation (Dec) thread here. Nothing has come along on there yet that would work for us but its fun to keep checking. I also think that if it is a restaurant you have your heart set on and you dont get ADR's. I recommend going straight to the restaurant when you enter the park and tell them, ive heard you can get in that way too.

Alyssa is 10 and she has Cystic Fibrosis, and unfortunatly lots of other funkies too, celiac disease, petit mal seizures, feeding tube too much!. Her PTR is under my countdown ticker. Im sure ill be posting lots of pics. I cant wait to follow yours too! :yay:

[yinyanggirls]

Melissa........
We do have a digital camera but we print the px out on a photo dock (I think that's what it's called).
Pamela:santa:

Okay, I know what you're talking about. I've never had that kind, but I imagine that there is some type of memory in your camera and if so there has to be a way to get the memory to communicate with a computer. Either a card you can remove and plug into a card reader, or a place to plug a USB in. Not that you have much time before you leave...but you could take it to a photo store and ask them if they know. (I'm thinking of Ritz, Fox, Motophoto, etc)

A scanner will make a copy of whatever it scans and save the info as a file. You can then email, upload, etc that file. I have found it very helpful even for non-photo stuff, such as insurance, docs, school stuff.

As long as you have something to take photos with! And again, there will be other photogs helping you capture the best moments.

[maroo]

One thought... (HA! I guess this is one really long thought!)

GKTW has a limited number of video/digital cameras that can be used by Wish Families. These are FREE and they will take the pictures that you take and put them on a disc for you.

They also have disposable cameras that you can get for your children - free, of course!

And make sure to take a LOT of pictures using the Photopass Cards in all of the Disney parks. Take multiple pictures over multiple days. This will help make sure you get a GREAT picture of all you guys. Sometimes you will have eyes closed, a child looking away, etc and the more pictures you let them take the better your chances are of capturing a great one to keep for years and years to come.



After perusing every schedule I could find this is what I've come up with:

Thursday 10th: arrive late morning/early afternoon @ GKTW
do orientation and get acclimated to our new surroundings
check out ICE @ the Gaylord Palms
evening activities @ GKTW (6:30 - Winter Wonderland)

This looks fun! Your orientation will hopefully be at 3:00ish in the afternoon. They only have orienation a few times a day and it sort of depends on when the families arrive...

Friday 11th: 8:30 am Universal character photos @ GKTW
Univeral Studios/IOA - open til 6
evening activities @ GKTW (7:30 - Pirates and Princesses)

Looks great!

Saturday12th : 8 am horseback riding @ GKTW
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - MK open til 11

There will be a group of DISers from the Podcast board that will probably be wearing matching shirts that will be volunteering at GKTW that morning. Say hello to them if you see them and let them know that you are a DISer! :)

Crowd score is a 7/10 for the MK. This is a pretty high score, meaning there will probably be crowds that day. You will have the FOTL pass, so it may not make as big of a difference...but parades, dining, etc will be busy. Other days this week have a crowd score of 4/5? I will post those below in case you want to change anything around.

Sunday13th: Grinch character breakfast @ Universal
Universal Studios/IOA - open til 7
evening activities @ GKTW (7:30 - Candyland)

Woo Hoo! I am so hoping that the Gingerbread Man will be out at this party! How much fun!

Monday14th : 8 am Disney character photos at GKTW
Seaworld - open til 6
Family Night @ Farris and Fosters Chocolatiers (7 pm)

What is this chocolate thing you speak of??? :)

Tuesday 15th: 8:30 am Nickelodeon character photos @ GKTW
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - Epcot open til 9

Crowd score is a 5, but Epcot is a park to avoid on the touringplans.com website - not sure why?

Wednesday 16th: check out of GKTW :sad1:
check in to Nick Hotel :)
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - HS open til 8
evening activities @ Nick Hotel

Crowd score is a 7 and DS is a park to avoid...I will post the whole list below...

Thursday 17th: Nick Hotel pools
MVMCP @ 7

Woo HOO!! I am excited that you guys will be there on the same night we will! I will PM you my information so we can hopefully at least meet up this night. Maybe I can help get the attention of a CM about that Gingerbread Man!

Friday 18th: leave open for last minute decision
depart to Boston 8:10 pm

This is great!






Anyone notice that I left out anything? Is there anything else going on at GKTW that I should know about? We will likely be in and out for meals during the day. I hate spending alot of money on food unnecessarily. I tripped upon the Grinch Character breakfast at Universal and thought it'd be a hoot! We took our 2 oldest to see the Broadway version of the Grinch in Boston last December and they (we) loved loved loved it. We have the movie, and books and plush..........too fun! Hopefully it won't be booked. I will call tomorrow.

Haven't called for the MVMCP for the 17th yet but I think that date is the best for us. It will give us one more day at MK beyond the 3 day park hopper and it will leave the trip on a real high. If anyone thinks the Thursday will be crazy busy though let me know. Tuesday is always a possibility.

I would call for those tickets soon - that day may sell out! :)

I do want to do some sort of Disney character meal IF at all possible at this late date. The Alice in Wonderland Tea Party thingy looked cute (albeit expensive). The kids make cupcakes and have a tea party themed lunch. My kids love that movie. My younger one wouldn't be able to go (still not potty trained:guilty:) so he could hang with us (it's only for kids, no adults). I've heard mixed reviews though. Anyone have any experience with this one?

I have never had any experience with it...but one thing I have learned about "reviews"...is that they can't really be trusted...if you think your kids will enjoy it, I would go for it! Call the ADR line and see if they have availability...you may just get lucky! 407-WDW-DINE.

None of the others jump out at me. I wouldn't be interested in many of the character dinners..................so expensive and there are soooooo many people I'm sure the interaction is limited, if at all. Maybe a breakfast if I could find one. We go to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania every year (sometimes more than once) and ALWAYS do character dining so I wouldn't be heartbroken if we didn't get one. Although they like all the Disney characters none of them are all out CRAZY for any particular one and we will see them at GKTW and throughout the parks anyway. Maybe if they had a character meal with Lightening McQueen and his pals or Sully and Mike. Now THAT they would flip for! Truth be told my Matty is a real closet Elmo nut. He knows that most people would think he's too old for Elmo but, secretly, he loves him. I always tell him not to be embarrassed. Heck, I'm 47 and I love him too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok, let me know what you think. I'm all ears (better yet, eyes:))

Pamela:santa:

Ok...here are the crowd scores and info from touringplans.com

This is actually a paid subscription, but I will post them here for you since this is a wish trip - hopefully I won't get flamed. :)


Date crowd score best park worst park
Fri, 11 Dec '09 4 DS EP
Sat, 12 Dec '09 7 EP DS
Sun, 13 Dec '09 4 AK EP
Mon, 14 Dec '09 6 EP MK AK
Tue, 15 Dec '09 5 AK MK EP
Wed, 16 Dec '09 7 MK EP DS AK
Thu, 17 Dec '09 5 AK MK EP DS
Fri, 18 Dec '09 5 DS EP


These determinations are made by using lots of statistics that I don't understand...but they have been true for my trips...when I got to a park to avoid, it is usually quite a bit more crowded than the "best" park.

Of course, you are on a wish trip - so the lines won't be as much of an issue...but the parades, walking around, etc will be better with fewer crowds.

Right now your Disney park days are:

Saturday the 12 The best park here would be Epcot
Tuesday the 15 Best park here would be AK or MK
Wednesday the 16 Best park here would be MK/EP

Of course...you have to get DHS in there, too...This is a logic problem, really.

Anytime you have a crowd score of 4 or 5, the crowds should be lower anyway.

Anyway...I hope that helps you.

[StefaniLyn]

Your schedule looks great, and with Maroo's direction there isn't much for me to add. However, I think Mayor Clayton's birthday party is typically on Saturday evening and from what I heard, you don't want to miss that!

[maroo]

Your schedule looks great, and with Maroo's direction there isn't much for me to add. However, I think Mayor Clayton's birthday party is typically on Saturday evening and from what I heard, you don't want to miss that!

Very good point! :)

::yes::

[pipersmom]

Still following along..you're so organized..I'm normally a slacker when it comes to planning, but once we get our dates I'm going to go into uber-planning mode!

Ohh..I wanna know about the chocolate thing too..yum!

[Momofwishkid]

Im with everyone else anxiously awaiting to fing out about this chocolatier thing.

[pacrosby]

Maroo,....

My, you are just the fountain of knowledge aren't you:worship:

Free disposable cameras for the kids? Really? Oh, they will love that. Re: those video/digital cameras that are available for the adults to borrow. You say limited availability. Do you know what limited means? We of course will bring our regular camera but our video camera is a bit of a dinosaur (can you say........a bit big?). It works fine but isn't the most convienent. I suppose we should bring it in case the ones they have there are already taken. My husband is one of the few men who is not into electronics and gadgets etc (and I couldn't care less). Heck, we don't even have a flat screen tv LOL

Interesting about the "crowdometer". It's good information to have for planning. Yes, we definately DO have to fit in Hollywood Studios (that's DS right?)........at LEAST one day, crowded or not. As I mentioned above those characters will really tickle my kids fancies. That parade is a MUST MUST MUST MUST DO! And, we're ok with crowds. We may not get to Disney World all that often (ok, barely ever) but we are amusement and water park afficionados and the short season up here results in our parks being pretty darn packed all the time. No worries there.

Yes, yes....MVMCP on the 17th and I just ordered the tickets right before starting this (are you a fan of Dory on Nemo? "We did it..... We did it.........oh yeah yeah yeah" - and yes, I do have the inflection and the dance going as I say it:dance3:) Sooooooo very excited! Your post did panic me a bit so I immediately picked up the phone to call and order and fortunately there were tickets still available. So, yes I agree, we will definately have to connect so I can thank you in person for all the fabulous advice and support you've provided (and I've been only here for what? Less than a week?)

Oh yeah, one more thing. Re: the photopass. Is that something I get when we are there? I know I've heard it referred to here and there as I've been perusing other threads but I don't recall the specifics?



Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Okay, I know what you're talking about. I've never had that kind, but I imagine that there is some type of memory in your camera and if so there has to be a way to get the memory to communicate with a computer. Either a card you can remove and plug into a card reader, or a place to plug a USB in. Not that you have much time before you leave...but you could take it to a photo store and ask them if they know.

I'd have to do just that. I have NO idea what you are talking about and, truth be told, I don't think my dh would be much help either LOL

This is what happens when you get old and stubborn and refuse to keep up with the technological advances in society!

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Your schedule looks great, and with Maroo's direction there isn't much for me to add. However, I think Mayor Clayton's birthday party is typically on Saturday evening and from what I heard, you don't want to miss that!

Yeah, I did notice but it was the only night that a park was open really late - MK is open until 11. I thought it would allow us more time to enjoy the parks (crowded or not) seeing that other nights they close kind of early. My kids would have NOOOOOOOOO problem riding 'It's a Small World' at 10:45 at night LOL

I'm sure EVERYTHING at GKTW is terrific. I want to do it all!!!!!!!!!! Does anyone know the particulars of Mayor Clayton's Birthday Party? What it actually entails? I'll have to make a judgement call on this one.

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Still following along..you're so organized..I'm normally a slacker when it comes to planning, but once we get our dates I'm going to go into uber-planning mode!

Ohh..I wanna know about the chocolate thing too..yum!



OMG....I'm generally so disorganized and fly by the seat of my pants no matter what the occasion (ok, except of course for my wedding) that this could not be more out of character for me. My husband is getting the biggest kick out of my sudden transformation. This is such a wonderful once and a lifetime opportunity though (kinda like my wedding). I said this before but it's worth repeating "there ain't no do over on this one". I'm going to do my best to make sure it's done right!



ok, ok, the chocolate thingy. So many of you asked!!!!! Do we have some chocolate lovers in the group??????? I actually read about this place on the boards here somewhere. It's called Farris and Foster's Fine Chocolates (or something very similar) and they are located in Orlando. They, of course, sell chocolates but they also have chocolate parties. On Monday nights they have what they have dubbed a Family Night where for 25 bucks a family (up to 6) can come in and make their own pound of chocolate (can make more than a pound for an additional cost). They suit you up in aprons and hats and let you go at it. I thought that it would be really fun and the kids could use holiday molds and perhaps make some to take home to their grandparents (yeah right...................do you really think we'll get out of there without eating it all;)) I'll find the website and come back and post a link (now that I know how to do that:cool1: I'm so proud of myself!)

Pamela

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/ (there it is)

[pipersmom]

OMG....I'm generally so disorganized and fly by the seat of my pants no matter what the occasion (ok, except of course for my wedding) that this could not be more out of character for me. My husband is getting the biggest kick out of my sudden transformation. This is such a wonderful once and a lifetime opportunity though (kinda like my wedding). I said this before but it's worth repeating "there ain't no do over on this one". I'm going to do my best to make sure it's done right!


Okay, as demented as this sounds..woohoo..found another one just like me! :rotfl2:


ok, ok, the chocolate thingy. So many of you asked!!!!! Do we have some chocolate lovers in the group??????? I actually read about this place on the boards here somewhere. It's called Farris and Foster's Fine Chocolates (or something very similar) and they are located in Orlando. They, of course, sell chocolates but they also have chocolate parties. On Monday nights they have what they have dubbed a Family Night where for 25 bucks a family (up to 6) can come in and make their own pound of chocolate (can make more than a pound for an additional cost). They suit you up in aprons and hats and let you go at it. I thought that it would be really fun and the kids could use holiday molds and perhaps make some to take home to their grandparents (yeah right...................do you really think we'll get out of there without eating it all;)) I'll find the website and come back and post a link (now that I know how to do that:cool1: I'm so proud of myself!)

Pamela

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/ (there it is)

Okay, on the website now, and for $25 we are sooooo doing that if we can! Piper would have an absolute blast! Thank you for letting us in on it!

[maroo]

Maroo,....

My, you are just the fountain of knowledge aren't you:worship:

You are so sweet. Not really. Just have lots of time on my hands. :)

Free disposable cameras for the kids? Really? Oh, they will love that. Re: those video/digital cameras that are available for the adults to borrow. You say limited availability. Do you know what limited means?

I have heard that they have 5 of them. But most families either don't need it or don't even know it is available. I have never heard of a family that needing one not having one available to them.

We of course will bring our regular camera but our video camera is a bit of a dinosaur (can you say........a bit big?). It works fine but isn't the most convienent. I suppose we should bring it in case the ones they have there are already taken. My husband is one of the few men who is not into electronics and gadgets etc (and I couldn't care less). Heck, we don't even have a flat screen tv LOL

Hehe. I don't have a flat screen either. Both of mine are boxes! :)

Interesting about the "crowdometer". It's good information to have for planning. Yes, we definately DO have to fit in Hollywood Studios (that's DS right?)........at LEAST one day, crowded or not. As I mentioned above those characters will really tickle my kids fancies. That parade is a MUST MUST MUST MUST DO! And, we're ok with crowds. We may not get to Disney World all that often (ok, barely ever) but we are amusement and water park afficionados and the short season up here results in our parks being pretty darn packed all the time. No worries there.

You guys are going to be just fine, then! :) I really have never been bothered by the crowds...well, except two nights...and I just went back to my room. :) lol But you will be fine. :)

Yes, yes....MVMCP on the 17th and I just ordered the tickets right before starting this (are you a fan of Dory on Nemo? "We did it..... We did it.........oh yeah yeah yeah" - and yes, I do have the inflection and the dance going as I say it:dance3:)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dory! You MUST see the Nemo Show in the AK...it is wonderful. :)

Sooooooo very excited! Your post did panic me a bit so I immediately picked up the phone to call and order and fortunately there were tickets still available. So, yes I agree, we will definately have to connect so I can thank you in person for all the fabulous advice and support you've provided (and I've been only here for what? Less than a week?)

Sorry...Didn't mean to scare ya! :) And yes...Did you get my PM? Private message? Check your private messages...if you didn't, post here...I am pretty sure I sent you some info about how to get in touch with me. :)

Oh yeah, one more thing. Re: the photopass. Is that something I get when we are there? I know I've heard it referred to here and there as I've been perusing other threads but I don't recall the specifics?

And I think I PM'd you about this, too.


Pamela:santa:

:goodvibes

[maroo]

Yeah, I did notice but it was the only night that a park was open really late - MK is open until 11. I thought it would allow us more time to enjoy the parks (crowded or not) seeing that other nights they close kind of early. My kids would have NOOOOOOOOO problem riding 'It's a Small World' at 10:45 at night LOL

I'm sure EVERYTHING at GKTW is terrific. I want to do it all!!!!!!!!!! Does anyone know the particulars of Mayor Clayton's Birthday Party? What it actually entails? I'll have to make a judgement call on this one.

Pamela:santa:

Mayor Clayton's Birthday Party ... It is fun, I am sure... That is the one party we actually saw (if you have not read my TR about Lauren's trip...it was a TRIP!)...I don't know what to tell you.

Chocolate would win out for me every time. But no clue what your kids would want?

[pacrosby]

ok.....I'm back AGAIN! We don't have internet access on our home computer (see, I keep telling you all) so I can only research and post when I have dh's work computer (and I can pirate off of someone's wireless sssshhhhhhhh:eek:). Once in a while (like yesterday) he can leave it for me all day but generally it's only at night. Thus, I have to research, request AND respond all in a matter of a few consecutive hours. My poor little chickens. It's going to be tough for them the next few weeks without their momma after 7pm:guilty:



I researched the Alice and Wonderland Tea Party and nixed that idea after finding out that parents are KICKED OUT OF THE ROOM:eek: How mean is that?!!! How can you take fantabulous pictures of your precious kiddos having so much fun if you CAN'T stay in the room?!! Blasphemous (sp?)!!! Anyways so now I'm rethinking some character breakfast. The 1900 Park Fare (is that right?) has that Supercalifragi...whatchamacallit breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter PLUS Tigger and ooh! That'd be cool. Of course at this point it appears it's all booked:sad2: So what do I do? Keep checking for cancellations?

DH and I also conferred and decided a couple of reservations at not-so-expensive fun themed restaurants might be worth thinking about. The food is honestly less important than the surroundings (I could eat Rice Krispies and a banana morning, noon and night and even better if life-sized cut-outs of Snap, Krackle and Pop were all over the walls/ceilings and floor LOL). That Sci-Fi Diner looked like a place my kids would love. Anybody have any thoughts? Any other places you know of that really appeal to kids?

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

ok, just emailed to request reservations for the Holiday Grinch and Friends character breakfast at Universal for Sunday 12/13!!!!! This is TOO much fun:yay: I am crossing all of my appendages for the next 72 hours (that's how long they suggest it could take for them to get back to me:eek:) Universal has some hilarious counter service restaurants too..................Circus McGurkus and Monsters Cafe. Definately will be on our must do stops for a little snack while we are there!

Pamela:santa:

[maroo]

ok.....I'm back AGAIN! We don't have internet access on our home computer (see, I keep telling you all) so I can only research and post when I have dh's work computer (and I can pirate off of someone's wireless sssshhhhhhhh:eek:). Once in a while (like yesterday) he can leave it for me all day but generally it's only at night. Thus, I have to research, request AND respond all in a matter of a few consecutive hours. My poor little chickens. It's going to be tough for them the next few weeks without their momma after 7pm:guilty:



I researched the Alice and Wonderland Tea Party and nixed that idea after finding out that parents are KICKED OUT OF THE ROOM:eek: How mean is that?!!! How can you take fantabulous pictures of your precious kiddos having so much fun if you CAN'T stay in the room?!! Blasphemous (sp?)!!! Anyways so now I'm rethinking some character breakfast. The 1900 Park Fare (is that right?) has that Supercalifragi...whatchamacallit breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter PLUS Tigger and ooh! That'd be cool. Of course at this point it appears it's all booked:sad2: So what do I do? Keep checking for cancellations?

DH and I also conferred and decided a couple of reservations at not-so-expensive fun themed restaurants might be worth thinking about. The food is honestly less important than the surroundings (I could eat Rice Krispies and a banana morning, noon and night and even better if life-sized cut-outs of Snap, Krackle and Pop were all over the walls/ceilings and floor LOL). That Sci-Fi Diner looked like a place my kids would love. Anybody have any thoughts? Any other places you know of that really appeal to kids?

Pamela:santa:

I would do three things on the reservation for 1900 Park Fare...

1. Call the ADR line every day...sometimes twice a day...407-WDW-DINE. Make sure to tell them you are a Wish Family that just recently got your dates.

2. Go online on the dining website and also check for a reservation. You can also try different size parties...for example: If you have 2 people that want to go, you can try to reserve for 4 - sometimes they have a 4 top available and no 2 tops. If you have 7 people, you may need to split your reservation into two parties of 4? I know...that equals 8...but it is hard to find a 3 person table.

3. PM me this information: restaurant, # adults, # of children, each child's age, date you want the ressie (with alternate dates) and approximate time and I have a few folks that are willing to get on the dining website often and alert me if there is one available...then I can alert you.


Sci Fi...sounds fun! :) Another hard to get ressie, though...you may need to PM me that info, too. :) And try the above steps. :)

[StefaniLyn]

ok, ok, the chocolate thingy. So many of you asked!!!!! Do we have some chocolate lovers in the group??????? I actually read about this place on the boards here somewhere. It's called Farris and Foster's Fine Chocolates (or something very similar) and they are located in Orlando. They, of course, sell chocolates but they also have chocolate parties. On Monday nights they have what they have dubbed a Family Night where for 25 bucks a family (up to 6) can come in and make their own pound of chocolate (can make more than a pound for an additional cost). They suit you up in aprons and hats and let you go at it. I thought that it would be really fun and the kids could use holiday molds and perhaps make some to take home to their grandparents (yeah right...................do you really think we'll get out of there without eating it all;)) I'll find the website and come back and post a link (now that I know how to do that:cool1: I'm so proud of myself!)

Pamela

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/ (there it is)

Ohhhh . . . that is so tempting. I may need to arrange a few dates on our trip to make this happen. Hmmmmmmm. . . . Thanks for sharing!

[pacrosby]

Finally got dh's computer. What nerve of him, making me wait so long:rolleyes:

I spent this morning trying to iron out some of the details on my tentative schedule; flipped a few things. Of course I came up with more questions! Here goes.......

Re: rope drops: I've heard alot about them. Are they worth it? What time would we have to leave GKTW to make it (let's say, for example, park opens at 9:00). Is it worth missing a character photo op at GKTW (since that is generally what it would mean). Are we just as likely to see the characters and get good interaction/photo ops in the parks?

Re: Nick Character photo ops: Anyone know who the characters are? I greatly limit my kids' time spent in front of that channel. I think the only characters they are intimately familiar with are the kooks from Fairly Oddparents and that ridiculous SpongeBob nut and his pals:rolleyes: I actually HATE that SpongeBob show but find the manner in which they have configured the characters to be rather hilarious. I mean a talking sponge with appendages???? Who EVER thought of that?

Anyone know the true drive time between GKTW and parks (from door to turnstile)? Is it reasonable to even consider coming back to GKTW for a lunch break or is likely to eat up too much time? Did I read that you can get a boxed lunch to take with you for the day? Could you take such a thing into the park?

Is actual Park Hopping within a single day worth it? How much time is it likely to take to go from one park to another? I know the monorail goes btw MK and Epcot but btw the others you have to drive don't you? Seeing that operating hours are reduced at this time of year would too much time be lost?

Do we need a whole day to tour AK? A 1/2 day? 3/4 of a day? 1/3? 2/3? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh you get the idea:)

I'll be back!

Pamela:santa:

[yinyanggirls]

Good questions! I'll be reading the answers with interest.
Also, thanks for passing along the Chocolatier's info. If we have time, my kids would love that.

[pacrosby]

Good questions! I'll be reading the answers with interest.
Also, thanks for passing along the Chocolatier's info. If we have time, my kids would love that.


Hey Melissa!

Do you have PTR? I just realized that I don't have you as one to try and keep up with:sad1:

Pamela:santa:

[yinyanggirls]

Hey Melissa!

Do you have PTR? I just realized that I don't have you as one to try and keep up with:sad1:

Pamela:santa:

Thanks far asking, but NO, not yet. I have been trying to hold off until I have dates. We're looking at April so there will be plenty of time to follow along! And since you'll be back by then, you'll be oh-so-helpful. ;)

[pipersmom]

ohh..1900 Park Fare always looks fun to me, as does Sci-Fi, hopefully you'll be able to get ressies! As usual, I can't answer any of your questions..my job is just to come in and type pretty words :) LOL. I'll be waiting to see some of the answers too....

[dapoteete]

subscribing

[pacrosby]

OMG OMG
......dh came home with a scanner!!!!!!!!!
So we've been playing for the past few hours and (drum roll please).......................................




here are my children - LARGER THAN LIFE!!!!! (eta: not quite as large now!!)








first we have 9 yr old Olivia (sorry for the school px, it was the first one I found)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/WednesdayNovember112009.jpg


next comes 8 yr old Nicholas (another school photo)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/WednesdayNovember1120093.jpg


then there's 4 yr old Brennan (Mr. Chatterbox!)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/WednesdayNovember112009-1.jpg


and finally my fantabulous wish baby.......6 yr old Matty!
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/matty.jpg


So sorry for the size but, hey, beggars can't be choosers.

Perhaps someone would be nice enough to give me a tutorial on how to resize LOL (ok now they're alittle smaller after a 11/17 edit)


Pamela

[chrissid7]

They are beautiful!!! It took me a lil while to figure out how to resize too, ut if you are using photbucket it will actually ask if you want small medium or large somewhere but I forget exactly where. I dont mind the huge on es though!! Thanks for sharing them!:love:

[pacrosby]

subscribing

Thanx Donna! Nice to have you along!

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

They are beautiful!!! It took me a lil while to figure out how to resize too, ut if you are using photbucket it will actually ask if you want small medium or large somewhere but I forget exactly where. I dont mind the huge on es though!! Thanks for sharing them!:love:



Ohhhh, thanx Chrissie (is that what you go by?). I did try and go back to photobucket and resize a number of times but I'm obviously doing something wrong (big surprise:sad2:) If you only knew how long the two of us had been fiddling with this thing before we got this far. My husband finally threw up his hands in disgust and went to bed LOL

btw...what are you doin' up so late??????

Pamela:santa:

[Momofwishkid]

Yay for pics!! :woohoo: Your children are beautiful. Matty reminds me of my youngest. What a good hubby to surprise you with a scanner.

[chrissid7]

Im just a mess! Im always up late because my internal clock is broken. I seem to be more productive when everyone is sleeping. I also work at night because It is busier and I get more calls. More calls=more $$. I answer calls for infomercials and radio calls (all 800 #s none of the wacky stuff lol). I work during the day too but I prefer nights. Alyssa has a feeding tube and the formula she is on is completey allergin free, which makes it unstable so I also have to switch it in the middle of the night. I have gotten a handle on that though, but now its all just habit. Its really hard on me though when Alyssa is in school.

My husband would have handed me the scanner and said have at it! :laughing: that was great that he helped you!





Ohhhh, thanx Chrissie (is that what you go by?). I did try and go back to photobucket and resize a number of times but I'm obviously doing something wrong (big surprise:sad2:) If you only knew how long the two of us had been fiddling with this thing before we got this far. My husband finally threw up his hands in disgust and went to bed LOL

btw...what are you doin' up so late??????

Pamela:santa:

[yinyanggirls]

Hurray!!!:cool1: You did it! Who cares about size?!? You got some up! Brennan is a heart breaker for sure! And I have a ttoal soft spot for redheads.:love: Good job!

[pacrosby]

Chrissi......................I'm a night owl too!!!



btw everyone: forgot to add my good news. Universal emailed this morning and gave us the big fat :thumbsup2 on our reservations for the Grinch's Holiday Character Breakfast!!!!!:banana: That should be a hoot! Unfortunately the system appears to be down tonight for any other reservations so I couldn't even TRY to get anything else (I was hoping to get the DHS Sci-Fi Dine In). Maybe tomorrow. Unfortunately Thursday is a busy night for us activity wise and I won't be able to get on here until about 9pm. Bummer

Hey....I think I already asked this but I don't remember. Do you all think it's warm enough for the pool in December? I lived there (
Florida) long ago but I honestly don't remember. I don't know if I should rethink the whole Nick Hotel thing.....not that I know where else we could go but at least I could look. I don't like to waste a penny and if we don't use their pool complex it's not worth the extra money. Heck, I could spend it somewhere else LOL!!!!!!! Gotta hurry up and make a decision I know, I know. Hmmmmmmmmm:confused3


Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Thanx Melissa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm off now. Bedtime for Bonzo!

Pamela:santa:

[maroo]

Gosh...you are the night owl! :)

Here are the hints I have for posting and resizing pictures.



1. Upload the pic of your choice to photobucket (www.photobucket.com)

2. Resize the pic in photobucket click on the thumbnail of the picture, it will open up, then click (above the pic)> resize > 15" screen- it will make you verify that you would like to resize the pic (I like the 800X600 size pictures instead of the message board setting, it shows lots more detail). I usually use "LARGE" to post most of mine.

3. After the pic has resized, go to your album, below the pic that you would like to post, there are 4 different codes (email & IM, direct link, html code & IMG code) Click in the box that has the has the IMG code. It will look something like this [IMG]http: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
When you click on that box, it will light up in yellow, and say "Copied"

4. In the thread on the Dis (in another open window), click on "post reply". When you are ready to post the pic, right click - a box will open, click on paste. This will paste the link that you copied from your photobucket account.

5. Post reply. The pic should show up! (You can also "preview post" and see if it is going to work before you actually post it...if you want!)




If you have already posted the picture, you can still go back and resize it in Photobucket. Then "refresh" the screen in Photobucket and refresh the screen on your pre-trippie and you are good to go!


I LOVE the pictures of your family! All of your children are so cute! And I may get to MEET them! :woohoo:

[pipersmom]

Hooray for the scanner and the Breakfast with the Grinch!! Your kids are so cute..I love it when they're so close in age! (Not that I would want 4..you're a great mom with everything you have to deal with!) I actually went to bed before 1am last night..woohoo..lol. Hope you have a great day :)

[yinyanggirls]

Hey....I think I already asked this but I don't remember. Do you all think it's warm enough for the pool in December? I lived there (Florida) long ago but I honestly don't remember. I don't know if I should rethink the whole Nick Hotel thing.....not that I know where else we could go but at least I could look. I don't like to waste a penny and if we don't use their pool complex it's not worth the extra money. Heck, I could spend it somewhere else LOL!!!!!!! Gotta hurry up and make a decision I know, I know. Hmmmmmmmmm:confused3
Pamela:santa:


I would think that it would fine as long as it is a heated pool. And I would think that a resort is going to have a heated pool. You could call them to verify.

[pacrosby]

Thanx for all the kind words. I'm finally back after a long night of swimming, dancing and piano lessons. Geez, I wish someone would drive me to swimming, dancing and piano lessons. Any takers??????? Of course, you'd have to pay for them too!!!!

Thanx for the tutorial Maroo but....................I already tried that:sad2: At some point I'll try again perhaps.

I did ask ALOT of questions in a post previous and since Qureen Maroo didn't address ANY of them I must assume they got lost in the shuffle (because Queen Maroo is ALWAYS full of great ideas!!!!:worship:). I think my gargantuan pictures of my chickens musta thrown her for a loop LOL

I'll be surfing and posting for the next few hours. Talk to you all soon:)


Pamela:santa:

[Momofwishkid]

Sounds like you had a very busy but fun evening! Sorry I dont have the answers to any of your questions but Im sure someone will pipe in. :goodvibes

[pacrosby]

Yes, Jennifer.....busy is an understatement:)


ok still waiting for some words of wisdom re: all my ??????????s. I suppose some of them might go in another forum as well, huh? I'll look into that.

I have dh's computer this afternoon....well at least until he comes to confiscate it. Gotta work fast!

I've been all over the place as far as where we might stay for the last couple of nights.I've definately decided against Nick Hotel (for the reasons I already stated). But then, I'm stuck:confused3 The ultra cheap part of me keeps going over those under $50/nt accomodations (and that $29/night one?????? Never heard of such a thing:eek:) Then I start telling myself that I am being too cheap.....that we always do cheap hotels/motels and this is not the time to stay in a flea-bag motel. Extension or not, it's still Matty's Wish Trip. Wouldn't it be nice to stay somewhere that is 'fun'? After spending countless hours perusing the Travelocity/Orbitz etc. sites I 'decided' (no easy task for me) to book at Pop Century (or whatever that place is called). I couldn't resist those ginormous (as my kids say) Mr and Mrs Potato Head! Have you seen them? They're hilarious LOL But then............of course........30 minutes later...........................I had second thoughts and I cancelled !!! What the.........?????:sad2: I'm cuckoo!

On the good news meter however I did end up getting reservations for the 1900 Park Fare breakfast on our last morning there:dance3::dance3::dance3:: as well as for the Sci-Fi Drive-in in DHS on that Tuesday. Actually at present we're reserved for a 12:55 and a 3:35. The Block Party Parade is at 3:00. Does anyone know if it will be difficult to get to the 3:35 reservation on time if we see the parade (a MUST SEE)? I'd rather go after the parade and then just relax for a bit and eat but if I'm pushing it we'll get rid of that one and go at 12:55. I suppose maybe I should post that question on some other forum too huh? Hmmmmmmmmmm

Because of all this planning I decided I needed to call our MAW rep and see what we might expect for an expense check. As opposed to other chapters that I see book/pay for extras our chapter just passes out the check and lets us have at it. I was getting alittle concerned about what I was spending after I hooked the MVMCP tickets (talk about sticker shock:eek::eek::eek:) and then the Grinch breakfast and now the 1900 Park Fare. Well, let's just say Jenna (our rep) put my mind to rest. I almost fell on the floor when I heard the total. I think my actually response was "are you kidding me???". She laughed. Apparently they usually like to keep it a surprise but she realized I needed to know in order to plan appropriately so she let the cat outta the bag. Stephen (dh) is going to have a flippin' canary!!!!! This organization is unbelievable. I am forever indebted.

Pamela:santa:

[kdzbear]

Yes, Jennifer.....busy is an understatement:)

On the good news meter however I did end up getting reservations for the 1900 Park Fare breakfast on our last morning there:dance3::dance3::dance3:: as well as for the Sci-Fi Drive-in in DHS on that Tuesday. Actually at present we're reserved for a 12:55 and a 3:35. The Block Party Parade is at 3:00. Does anyone know if it will be difficult to get to the 3:35 reservation on time if we see the parade (a MUST SEE)? I'd rather go after the parade and then just relax for a bit and eat but if I'm pushing it we'll get rid of that one and go at 12:55. I suppose maybe I should post that question on some other forum too huh? Hmmmmmmmmmm

Pamela:santa:

It is more of a black party than a parade. The "parade" comes out and then stops. It is lined up along the parade route. Depending on where you are seated determines what show or act you see. We were in the handicapped seating area and we saw the trampoline performers. Then once everyone does their act the whole parade leave the parade area. My suggestion would be to pick which character or performance you want to see and then find out where to sit to view it. I have pictures of all of the floats in my Sept. trip report. We will not see it again, but it was cute the first time. I prefer the parades at Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom.

[maroo]

Sorry...I have been in and out on the DIS.

Thanx for all the kind words. I'm finally back after a long night of swimming, dancing and piano lessons. Geez, I wish someone would drive me to swimming, dancing and piano lessons. Any takers??????? Of course, you'd have to pay for them too!!!!

Thanx for the tutorial Maroo but....................I already tried that:sad2: At some point I'll try again perhaps.

I did ask ALOT of questions in a post previous and since Qureen Maroo didn't address ANY of them I must assume they got lost in the shuffle (because Queen Maroo is ALWAYS full of great ideas!!!!:worship:). I think my gargantuan pictures of my chickens musta thrown her for a loop LOL

I'll be surfing and posting for the next few hours. Talk to you all soon:)


Pamela:santa:

Uh oh. I missed the questions! :eek:

Chrissi......................I'm a night owl too!!!



btw everyone: forgot to add my good news. Universal emailed this morning and gave us the big fat :thumbsup2 on our reservations for the Grinch's Holiday Character Breakfast!!!!!:banana: That should be a hoot! Unfortunately the system appears to be down tonight for any other reservations so I couldn't even TRY to get anything else (I was hoping to get the DHS Sci-Fi Dine In). Maybe tomorrow. Unfortunately Thursday is a busy night for us activity wise and I won't be able to get on here until about 9pm. Bummer

Hey....I think I already asked this but I don't remember. Do you all think it's warm enough for the pool in December? I lived there (
Florida) long ago but I honestly don't remember. I don't know if I should rethink the whole Nick Hotel thing.....not that I know where else we could go but at least I could look. I don't like to waste a penny and if we don't use their pool complex it's not worth the extra money. Heck, I could spend it somewhere else LOL!!!!!!! Gotta hurry up and make a decision I know, I know. Hmmmmmmmmm:confused3

If the pool is heated...and the weather is warm...you should be ok. I know people that don't mind at all swimming in 70 degree weather...but it has to be 90 for me to swim...so it all depends on the person. :)

Pamela:santa:

Yes, Jennifer.....busy is an understatement:)


ok still waiting for some words of wisdom re: all my ??????????s. I suppose some of them might go in another forum as well, huh? I'll look into that.

?? Was that your question? Did I miss it?

I have dh's computer this afternoon....well at least until he comes to confiscate it. Gotta work fast!

I've been all over the place as far as where we might stay for the last couple of nights.I've definately decided against Nick Hotel (for the reasons I already stated). But then, I'm stuck:confused3 The ultra cheap part of me keeps going over those under $50/nt accomodations (and that $29/night one?????? Never heard of such a thing:eek:) Then I start telling myself that I am being too cheap.....that we always do cheap hotels/motels and this is not the time to stay in a flea-bag motel. Extension or not, it's still Matty's Wish Trip. Wouldn't it be nice to stay somewhere that is 'fun'? After spending countless hours perusing the Travelocity/Orbitz etc. sites I 'decided' (no easy task for me) to book at Pop Century (or whatever that place is called). I couldn't resist those ginormous (as my kids say) Mr and Mrs Potato Head! Have you seen them? They're hilarious LOL But then............of course........30 minutes later...........................I had second thoughts and I cancelled !!! What the.........?????:sad2: I'm cuckoo!

If I had a dollar...for every time I had canceled...rebooked...canceled...rebooked...I would be rich!

On the good news meter however I did end up getting reservations for the 1900 Park Fare breakfast on our last morning there:dance3::dance3::dance3:: as well as for the Sci-Fi Drive-in in DHS on that Tuesday. Actually at present we're reserved for a 12:55 and a 3:35. The Block Party Parade is at 3:00. Does anyone know if it will be difficult to get to the 3:35 reservation on time if we see the parade (a MUST SEE)? I'd rather go after the parade and then just relax for a bit and eat but if I'm pushing it we'll get rid of that one and go at 12:55. I suppose maybe I should post that question on some other forum too huh? Hmmmmmmmmmm

I think kdzbear gave a great answer to this one :)

Because of all this planning I decided I needed to call our MAW rep and see what we might expect for an expense check. As opposed to other chapters that I see book/pay for extras our chapter just passes out the check and lets us have at it. I was getting alittle concerned about what I was spending after I hooked the MVMCP tickets (talk about sticker shock:eek::eek::eek:) and then the Grinch breakfast and now the 1900 Park Fare. Well, let's just say Jenna (our rep) put my mind to rest. I almost fell on the floor when I heard the total. I think my actually response was "are you kidding me???". She laughed. Apparently they usually like to keep it a surprise but she realized I needed to know in order to plan appropriately so she let the cat outta the bag. Stephen (dh) is going to have a flippin' canary!!!!! This organization is unbelievable. I am forever indebted.

I am so thankful that you guys know. We were good with ours, too...but it varies SOOOOO much depending on the organization, state, etc.

Pamela:santa:

I hope that answers the question for you guys!

[pacrosby]

Hey Maroo? You're back:cool1: I was getting worried.

Actually ALL the questions are back on page 4, post #57 (I'm too lazy to write 'em all out again LOL) If you get a chance??????? Pretty please??????? For my kids????????:flower3:


Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

oh yeah....I'm still confused about this Block Party Bash. You can't see the whole thing? How do you know where to stand if you don't know where to stand:confused3 How can you see who you want to see if you don't know where they will be:confused3 Does it cover a large area? And going back to my original question is it short enough that there will be enough time for us to get back to Sci-Fi Drive-In by 3:35? Is the place where the 'Bash' is far from the 'Drive-In'? Maybe there's a forum somewhere on here just for DHS events. I know many of you reading this are as clueless as I am:laughing:

If I get answers to my questions somewhere else I'll make sure I come back here and let YOU know!

Pamela:santa:

[kdzbear]

oh yeah....I'm still confused about this Block Party Bash. You can't see the whole thing? How do you know where to stand if you don't know where to stand:confused3 How can you see who you want to see if you don't know where they will be:confused3 Does it cover a large area? And going back to my original question is it short enough that there will be enough time for us to get back to Sci-Fi Drive-In by 3:35? Is the place where the 'Bash' is far from the 'Drive-In'? Maybe there's a forum somewhere on here just for DHS events. I know many of you reading this are as clueless as I am:laughing:

If I get answers to my questions somewhere else I'll make sure I come back here and let YOU know!

Pamela:santa:

It stretches the length of I would say 4-5 city blocks. You will only see whatever act is right in front of you. After the act, you can watch the other closed up floats go by, but there will be no interaction and they will move quickly. Look at my Sept. trip report and see if there is a particular character your child wants to see and then ask the cast members where to sit to see that character. You will have time to make it to the Sci-Fi Drive In. It is not that far from the parade. I also learned that Disney never cancels your reservations if you are late. I was very late to Goofy's Kitchen once. I arrived in tears to find out that they would not cancel my reservation. I used to love the actual parade at this park, but the block party was not so impressive since you only got to see the block that was parked in front of you. I hope this helps a little more. :confused3

[pacrosby]

thanx kdzbear. That's frustrating info to hear:sad2: Just our luck we'll be somewhere other than where the characters we like are! In the px I've seen it looked like Sully and Mike from Monsters Inc were riding in a car.....that's why I thought it was a parade. Perhaps that was from another year.


I won't even tell you what time I was up til last night but....I did get a good nights sleep since dh let me sleep in until noon:eek: What a guy:love: Had a very productive night! Managed to get reservations for the Port Orleans French Quarter for the final two nights of our trip :yay: and then added in a few dining reservations (gotta spend that expense check somehow).....one for T-Rex (in DTD during the extended portion of our trip) and one for Rainforest in Animal Kingdom. I was looking for themed restaurants that my kids would really enjoy. So that makes Sci-Fi Drive-In, Supercalfragilistic Breakfast, Grinch Character Breakfast, T-Rex and Rainforest. A couple of counter type restaurants like the Monsters Cafe and Circus McGurkus during our 2 days in Universal/IOA and catch as catch-can while we're in MK and Epcot and Seaworld (unless someone knows about some really fun/cute family type eatery I have yet to discover) should round things out.

I've happened upon some really great threads re: tips/tricks and must-do's in each of the WDW parks. I'll get the links and post here after. Does anyone know anywhere that I can insider info (like is available here for WDW) for Univeral and SeaWorld? I could use some hints for there as well.

I finally got a fairy godmailer too:woohoo: Such a cute idea! I hope I get the opportunity to pay it back.


Pamela:santa:

Olivia (9), Nicholas (8), Matty (6), and Brennan (4)

Matty's Wish Trip http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607 (you know you're in trouble when you can type out this link from memory:laughing:)

[pacrosby]

ok.....here are some links for anyone who's following along (and for my own furture reference)




Tips/Tricks and Must-Do's for:


Animal Kingdom: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2158273

Epcot: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2165142

MK: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2162490

DHS: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2159097



and for anyone going in December a similar type thread for

MVMCP: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2236819

[Momofwishkid]

Thanks for the links Pamela! It sounds to me like you have some really great plans for dining. Cant wait to hear about them when you return,will definetley hep when Im planning.

[StefaniLyn]

ok.....here are some links for anyone who's following along (and for my own furture reference)




Tips/Tricks and Must-Do's for:


Animal Kingdom: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2158273

Epcot: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2165142

MK: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2162490

DHS: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2159097



and for anyone going in December a similar type thread for

MVMCP: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2236819

Those links are awesome! Thanks!!!!

[pipersmom]

You're doing such a great job planning! Will definitely have to visit some of those links :)

[MomTo4+more]

Regarding the Block Party and knowing where to sit - ask the cast members at the American Idol attraction. They were a wealth of information about which characters to see at what part of the parade.

[pacrosby]

To Jennifer, StefaniLyn and Amanda....

Happy to help:) There's just soooo much information to try and keep track of. It's so exciting to find a thread that answers so many of my questions without my actually having to ask any LOL

And to Momto4+More....

Thanx for the tip! I appreciate it. I'll have to check out your trip report.

Pamela:santa:

[maroo]

Finally got dh's computer. What nerve of him, making me wait so long:rolleyes:

I spent this morning trying to iron out some of the details on my tentative schedule; flipped a few things. Of course I came up with more questions! Here goes.......

Re: rope drops: I've heard alot about them. Are they worth it? What time would we have to leave GKTW to make it (let's say, for example, park opens at 9:00). Is it worth missing a character photo op at GKTW (since that is generally what it would mean). Are we just as likely to see the characters and get good interaction/photo ops in the parks?

Rope Drop really just means you are there when the park opens. If your kids are into running to a ride to be the first to ride, then this would be your thing! The MK and AK have actual "shows" of sorts that happen before the park opens. I have only seen MK's (from the front and being IN the show! :faint:) You can see bunches of pictures of that from the "Magical" TR in my siggie.

I would do things at GKTW rather than rope drop. The character interaction is just different at GKTW. You have more time.

Re: Nick Character photo ops: Anyone know who the characters are? I greatly limit my kids' time spent in front of that channel. I think the only characters they are intimately familiar with are the kooks from Fairly Oddparents and that ridiculous SpongeBob nut and his pals:rolleyes: I actually HATE that SpongeBob show but find the manner in which they have configured the characters to be rather hilarious. I mean a talking sponge with appendages???? Who EVER thought of that?

I think they were...uh...maybe taking non prescription medications. :confused3 Anyway...The characters vary...And hopefully someone else will answer this one...

Anyone know the true drive time between GKTW and parks (from door to turnstile)? Is it reasonable to even consider coming back to GKTW for a lunch break or is likely to eat up too much time? Did I read that you can get a boxed lunch to take with you for the day? Could you take such a thing into the park?

Totally depends. Personally...when I go to Disney. I really enjoy getting to the parks early...staying till about 1 PM...then leaving for a few hours - go back to the room, take a shower, rest...and then go back to a different park that night. But that is just me. Probably also depends on your finances. Lunch is provided at GKTW...but not in the parks. Also...how much energy do your kids have?

I read that somewhere, too. That would be a good idea. In the MK and Epcot there are rooms that you can rest in. And you can always lay down at any First Aid to take a break.

Yes...you can take any food item you want into the parks. Except Alcohol.

Is actual Park Hopping within a single day worth it? How much time is it likely to take to go from one park to another? I know the monorail goes btw MK and Epcot but btw the others you have to drive don't you? Seeing that operating hours are reduced at this time of year would too much time be lost?

Totally depends on the park. I had no trouble going from AK to DHS to Epcot one day. We did the thrill rides at each park and it was fun. But...if you are going to "enjoy" the park and do lots of stuff...then it may not make sense. Epcot/MK are close. Epcot and DHS are also close. AK is pretty far from everything, but I almost always split that day wiht another park because it closes so early.

I think "hopping" to see a special parade or Fantasmic is a good idea. Because you avoid some crowd that say.

It is true that your hours a less...so you might want to take full advantage and go all day and retire early.

Do we need a whole day to tour AK? A 1/2 day? 3/4 of a day? 1/3? 2/3? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh you get the idea:)


Totally depends on what you want to see. If you want to do Safari, Lion King Show and Nemo that the least amount of time you can spend there is around 1 or 2. And you really have to plan well to see the shows early. If you do everything else and then try to see the shows, you end up having to pick or end up being there all day long.

Sample touring plan for me would be: Safari first, then Lion King Show, then rides, then eat, then Finding Nemo Show last. But that is just a sample and has you doing some criss crossing of the park.

There are good meet and greets there, too.
I'll be back!

Pamela:santa:

here ya go!!

Sooooo sorry I missed all of those!

[pacrosby]

YAY:yay: Thanx Maroo!

Pamela:santa:

[CrystalSnow]

I'm so excited for you! Also wanted to let you know that I was just looking through pictures of my husband hugging a gingerbread man at GKTW. It was on Sunday--Candyland night. They were so wonderful there and I'm sure if you called them you could make something happen. I think the Gingerbread man took the train from the main area to the Candyland Playground and I bet you could find a way to join him!

Anyway...let me know if you have any questions about anything. It's still fresh in my mind--but I'm sure it won't be for long! ;D

[Sandy321]

:wave:
How exciting - Disneyworld at Christmas!!

Glad you got the Grand Floridian breakfast - did you hear about their Gingerbread House? They sell gingerbread shingles - dipped in chocolate for around $5 - $12 (I've never been, I just read trip reports!! One day perhaps I'll be able to go!!)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1264623
Post 17 has pictures of the Grand Floridian!
(and I just went to youtube - there is a long 8 min video - several 2 min videos - but the 8 min one shoes a demonstration of making a gingerbread house!!)

Maroo's the font of information - but I'll try and help also -

I do believe if you have a digital camera, somewhere you should have a cord that will hook from your camera to the computer - oh, and a computer disk that you install the software - that way you can take the pictures from your camera to your computer - then use photobucket.com -

then its very easy to copy and paste the link from photobucket to here!!

Thanks for sharing your adventure!!

[pacrosby]

I'm so excited for you! Also wanted to let you know that I was just looking through pictures of my husband hugging a gingerbread man at GKTW. It was on Sunday--Candyland night. They were so wonderful there and I'm sure if you called them you could make something happen. I think the Gingerbread man took the train from the main area to the Candyland Playground and I bet you could find a way to join him!

Anyway...let me know if you have any questions about anything. It's still fresh in my mind--but I'm sure it won't be for long! ;D

Hi Crystal!!!

It so exciting to hear from someone who has just returned. I DO have lots of questions, particularly about GKTW. I can't wait to see your photos and start to read your trip report. Get crackin' girl!

I keep hearing alot about that gingerbread fellow at the Candyland party. Matty will be thrilled.

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

:wave:
How exciting - Disneyworld at Christmas!!

Glad you got the Grand Floridian breakfast - did you hear about their Gingerbread House? They sell gingerbread shingles - dipped in chocolate for around $5 - $12 (I've never been, I just read trip reports!! One day perhaps I'll be able to go!!)


Thanks for sharing your adventure!!


:wave: right back atcha!!

Yes I'm so excited about the 1900 Park Fare. And I do know about the Gingerbread House. I remember seeing the Travel Channel specials on WDW at Xmas back years ago and the Gingerbread House at the GF was a highlight. And to think I can even EAT chocolate-dipped gingerbread shingles?????? Sign me up!

I do appreciate all the photo tips. Sadly, I'm still pretty clueless:rolleyes1

Thanx for reading! I'd get lonely here all by myself:)

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

:jumping1::jumping1::jumping1::jumping1::jumping1: :jumping1::jumping1:

Just got the Wish Kit in the mail!!!! (yes, dh did just go to the mailbox, at midnight...............he was already out assembling the trash for tomorrow's pick-up and taking pur puppy out for her nightly constitutional so she won't pee in my bed:eek:)

Oh so excited!!!! Just makes it all seem so much more real. Anyway, promptly ripped it open only to find it contains all the information I am already well aware of.........in fact I probably could've written the welcome package:laughing: It also included a copy of Birnbaum Guides 2009 WDW! Terrific..........................except I already bought Birnbaum's 2010 Guide this past weekend:rotfl: Anybody want a book (of course, you've got to come get it;))?

What it did include that I'm interested in was a DVD on WDW. The kids will enjoy watching that. And "Wish-exclusive" Genie stickers (????). They write "........for your wish child to wear so our Cast Members can be aware of your visit. Each family member is welcome to wear the stickers." Do these stickers take the place of the buttons I've heard others talk about? Hmmmmmmm What happens when we change our clothes:confused3

And what else came in the mail that caused a bit of a hoot and holler???? Why, the MVMCP tickets of course:yay::yay::yay:

Movin' right along here............

Pamela:santa:

[chrissid7]

SA_WEEEEETTTT!!!!! That is so exciting!!!

Now 1 question before I go beating down my mail lady lol. Did you get yours in the mail because you are not having a send off party?

Nobody ever mentioned to me to be looking in the mail, but we are supposed to have aour granters come out on Dec 1 for our send off. They just said theat they would be bringing food for dinner and our tickets. They are bringing pizza for everyone except Alyssa and I because we have wheat allergies so we are getting Wendy's baked potatoes ( I just tried to make it easy for them).

Right now the odds are they may have to bring our send off to the hospital because I think she is going to be admitted :sad1:.

At least she would have that to look forward too.

Since we are going on the same dates Im just wondering how different our chapters are?

SO THRILLED!!! NOW WE HAVE TO PICK A TIME TO MEET AND SAY HELLO!!! Im going to go back and look at your schedule and see what days we might be at the same places.

:rainbow::rainbow:

[Momofwishkid]

Very exciting mail night. GKTW welcome kit and MVMCP tickets all at once. I know you were dancing around the house. I would have been.

[yinyanggirls]

Just got the Wish Kit in the mail!!!! (yes, dh did just go to the mailbox, at midnight..............

And "Wish-exclusive" Genie stickers (????). They write "........for your wish child to wear so our Cast Members can be aware of your visit. Each family member is welcome to wear the stickers." Do these stickers take the place of the buttons I've heard others talk about? Hmmmmmmm What happens when we change our clothes:confused3

Pamela:santa:

You guys are worse night-owls than me! But what a pleasant midnight surprise!

Take this with a large grain, since we haven't been yet, but my understanding is that the stickers are in addition to the the button. I remember reading one mom's blog who took the stickers to an office supply place and had them turned into buttons as well. If things play out in a similar timeline for us that is what I plan to do also, since both of my girls would have theirs in shreds within the first hour.

[maroo]

:jumping1::jumping1::jumping1::jumping1::jumping1: :jumping1::jumping1:

Just got the Wish Kit in the mail!!!! (yes, dh did just go to the mailbox, at midnight...............he was already out assembling the trash for tomorrow's pick-up and taking pur puppy out for her nightly constitutional so she won't pee in my bed:eek:)

Oh so excited!!!! Just makes it all seem so much more real. Anyway, promptly ripped it open only to find it contains all the information I am already well aware of.........in fact I probably could've written the welcome package:laughing: It also included a copy of Birnbaum Guides 2009 WDW! Terrific..........................except I already bought Birnbaum's 2010 Guide this past weekend:rotfl: Anybody want a book (of course, you've got to come get it;))?

What it did include that I'm interested in was a DVD on WDW. The kids will enjoy watching that. And "Wish-exclusive" Genie stickers (????). They write "........for your wish child to wear so our Cast Members can be aware of your visit. Each family member is welcome to wear the stickers." Do these stickers take the place of the buttons I've heard others talk about? Hmmmmmmm What happens when we change our clothes:confused3

And what else came in the mail that caused a bit of a hoot and holler???? Why, the MVMCP tickets of course:yay::yay::yay:

Movin' right along here............

Pamela:santa:

Those stickers will NOT replace the button.

Honestly...until about 3 weeks ago...I had NO idea that anyone would recognize those stickers at all.

But when I was talking to the Marketing person for PhotoPass, she mentioned that they use the "Genie" to alert CM's about a Wish Family. I told her that we never did know what to do with the stickers. :rotfl:

You will still get the magic button...and you will still get a GAC card issued by GKTW...but, heck, I would wear the stickers, too! :rotfl2: Can't hurt! :yay:

We got our packet when they came to give us our itenarary (how on earth do you spell that?!?!?)...

[pacrosby]

Thought I'd start adding journal entries consisting of random thoughts, background information, ideas/opinions,whatever........maybe mostly for me as I'll be printing this whole thread out for a remembrance of our trip. Of course any and everyone else is welcome to read them as well. It might make following along on our journey a bit more personal, with an "insider's view". I must alert you however that this first one might be too serious for some. I'll just entitle it "My Matty:love:"

Matty? What can I say about my Matty? Matty was born on January 1st, 2003. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! He was perfect:lovestruc At 8 1/2 pounds he was the biggest of my babies with the chubbiest little face and the biggest blue eyes and a crown of strawberry blonde hair:eek: Where did that come from?????? To this day we still aren't quite so sure (nope, the mailman doesn't have red hair either). By looking at him you'd never have suspected how wrong things had gone inside that little chest of his. Fortunately, we already knew.

The news had been delivered that previous October. After a questionable 20 week scan (gotta love those huh?) there were a number of follow-ups that eventually led to a referral to Boston Children's Hospital for a fetal echocardiogram. Dh and I went to that appt. full of optimism. "It'll be fine" we would tell each other. The referring radiologist had led us to believe we were facing a relatively small defect that could be corrected in a single, rather routine, uncomplicated surgical procedure right after birth. Ok.....so not what we were hoping for but, that was doable. He would be ok. Unfortunately though the radiologist was not the one with the final say. That honor belonged to the fetal echocardiogram and the fetal echocardiogram had something quite different to reveal.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. That was the diagnosis. Ummmmmmm, let's just say......"not good". How 'bout "devastating". I remember the cardiologist delivering the news in a small, cold, quiet room. I didn't say much. I looked like I was listening. I wasn't though. I checked out pretty much after I heard words like.............life-threatening, open heart surgeries, heart transplants, risks, complications etc. etc. etc. When the meeting (torture session was more like it) was over, Jaime (our beloved pediatric cardiolgist still to this day:hug:) noted that I had handled the news remarkably well.......better than most. Little did she know however that on the way back to the elevator I ducked into an empty room and collapsed in tears.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. What the heck is that you say? In simple terms a life-threatening congenital heart condition characterized by a complex set of heart defects incompatible with life. The most prominent defect is an underdeveloped and, as a result, nonfunctional left ventricle; hence the name "hypoplastic LEFT heart". Left untreated a newborn baby will die within a week. The treatment? A series of open-heart surgeries (generally 3, sometimes more depending on complications) within the first 3-4 years of life OR a heart transplant. Until the 1980's all babies born with this condition simply died. They often referred to them as 'blue babies'. My Dad (now 80 yrs old) tells me of his brother, a 'blue baby' who died at birth. Hmmmmmmmm.....makes me wonder.

It's been over 20 yrs since they pioneered the surgeries that now give these babies a chance at life. It's not a cure per se. Their hearts are not fixed. There's still alot of funky stuff going on in there. But they work:) The surgeries manipulate the anatomy and physiology in such a way that the heart works and supports life. For how long no one is quite sure yet. In the fall that Matty was diagnosed Boston Children's Hospital was also pioneering a fetal intervention; a surgical intervention that might alter the course of the disease process in utero. They asked us if we were interested in participating. There were no guarantees and in fact, there were serious risks. But we decided Matty deserved a chance to avoid all the surgeries and the life-long uncertainties that would come with being born with HLHS. So we said yes. We were the 8th to have the procedure done. I was 25 wks pregnant.

Long story short, the next 13 weeks were filled with countless fetal echocardiograms in an effort to check for positive changes. We had such high hopes. But in the end, Matty was still born with HLHS (albeit with a better than average prognosis due to anatomical specifics - i.e. an aorta that was near normal size-wise......something not typical of HLHS.......................we attribute this to the fetal intervention). Our journey had begun.

I won't bore you (or myself) with the details of the next 6 yrs. Suffice to say we have had more than our share of open-heart surgeries and other related procedures; lots of doctors visits, medications etc. We've had issues with eating (my carpets will forever be a reminder of the days of projectile vomiting:eek:). We've had issues with growth. Matty is a tiny bundle of energy. He and his 4 yr old brother (Matty will be 7 in January) are pretty much head to head. He is such a skinny little bean. Not even ON the charts:laughing: But that's ok. Developmentally he was always on the later end of normal, but he always got to where he needed to be, just in his own timeframe. He started Kindergarten this year (I waited an extra year) and he absolutely loves it:) I expect some academic struggles because of the first two years of life when his oxygen levels were soooooo low (high 60's/low 70's for the first 6 months; low to mid 80's until age 2..............now in the high 90's. For those who don't know, 100 is normal). But that's ok. He's here. He's living the life of a normal little boy. That's a gift in of itself.

So Matty. Who is Matty? A crazy, silly, fun and fascinating little creature; always on-the-go and ready to have a good time. He'll try almost anything (at least once:)). He loves adventure. He loves amusement parks and water parks. He LOVES Elmo (just don't tell his friends;)). He loves his swimming lessons (ok, so no matter he's been in the pollywog class for 2 yrs now:confused3); is an orange belt in karate; takes tennis lessons (his favorite sport) and rock-climbing:eek:, and learned how to ski last year! Matty has an infectious laugh. He is sweet. Still alittle shy and reserved among those he does not know but we're working on that. And, truth be told, he's a momma's boy:lovestruc (how lucky am I???????)

I still can't believe MAW is doing this for my little kooky kid. He sooo deserves it. It's just gonna be great!!!!!!!!


More pictures coming soon

Pamela:santa:

[pipersmom]

Thank you for sharing more about Matty and what he's been through. :hug: I truly believe our kids are stronger individuals for everything they have to go through. While I realize everything is relative, there are times I feel like telling people how much worse it could be when they're complaining about their child's cold, or strep throat, etc.

And woooohoooo for the trip packet! So excited for you guys!

[Sandy321]

Such a great attitude - thank you so much Pamela for sharing Matty with us!!

counting blessings - easier than counting tears! I know when dd was born, I thought she was so beautiful, so special, I had this prayer ' please God let me keep her" - and every struggle we go through - I think blessings... count the blessings of today - not the "what ifs"

easier said than done some days!!

Your trip packet came!! :cool1:

wonder if you could exchange one of those Birnbaum books for the kids edition?

[yinyanggirls]

I first learned about hypoplastic left heart syndrome two years ago when a single dad in my neighborhood approached me about babysitting. We had met in a community special needs kids group. He was worried about her social skills as she approached Kinder because she had lived so much of her life in the hospital. She was a smart little tyke, and opened up to us very quickly. Isn't it amazing how far the medical world has come in the last couple of decades? Thank heaven! I loved you description of Matty, especially the infectious laugh.

[maroo]

Thank you so much for sharing some more about Matty!

I am so excited that I will get to meet you guys!! :)

You have reminded me that I need to print Lauren's MAW TR - I still have not done that yet.

[pacrosby]

ok time for pictures:yay: I'm so proud of myself!
I'll just entitle them "Matty through the years" (although you'll notice he doesn't change much LOL)





"I've had better days" (days after birth)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattyhospitaltake2.jpg

"I'm a star!" (6 months of age)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattylivnicktake2.jpg

"whattaya lookin' at?" (9 months of age)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/daddyandmattytake2.jpg

"whattaya think of my hat?" (first birthday)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattybdayhattake2.jpg

"just call me Matty Magoo!" (about 18 mos of age)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattymagootake2.jpg

"I'm the little brother" (about 2 1/2 yrs of age)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattyandnickytake2.jpg

"I'm a handsome devil" (Easter '07, 4yo)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattyeastertake2.jpg

"haven't changed a bit" (Xmas '07, one week shy of 5 yo)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattyxmas07take2.jpg

"momma and me" (fall '08, 5 1/2 yo)
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattyandmomma08take2.jpg

and a copy of the most recent......Sept '09
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/mattyfall09take2-1.jpg




Sorry for the excess!! I just couldn't resist. Maybe I can go back and resize the photos from the other day......now that I know what I'm doing haha

Pamela

[yinyanggirls]

Awwww! So cute! I love how he goes from a tiny little peanut to a total chub at 18 mos. :) I'm so glad you figured it all out. I can't wait to meet the rest of the family.

[maroo]

There is no such thing as excess when it comes to pictures! Really. We LOVE pictures!

He is so adorable!

[pipersmom]

Aww, the pics are toooo cute! Never too many pics!

[Momofwishkid]

Awww! Matty is adorable and thanks for adding more of his story. Poor little guy has been through so much.

[Khalana82]

Hi Pamela,

I just stumbled over your TR while looking through the Wish Trippers thread. I've had to change my username (used to be just Khalana) as for some reason I'm not able to log in (even after resetting my password :confused3). Anyways, my daughter Lydia went on her Wish Trip last December. She also has heart issues (several left heart stuff and had OH for a coarct and a pda) and is now most likely (no other viable option) going on the transplant list after Christmas. Pretty scary, but as long as she gets a heart and survives, we'll be happy. :) We will actually be in the Orlando area around the same time as you and will visit GKTW one of the days. It would be fun to meet up (we haven't booked our tickets yet). Meeting another heart mom is always encouraging. It might not work with your schedule, but if it does it would be fun. :thumbsup2

[maroo]

Hi Pamela,

I just stumbled over your TR while looking through the Wish Trippers thread. I've had to change my username (used to be just Khalana) as for some reason I'm not able to log in (even after resetting my password :confused3). Anyways, my daughter Lydia went on her Wish Trip last December. She also has heart issues (several left heart stuff and had OH for a coarct and a pda) and is now most likely (no other viable option) going on the transplant list after Christmas. Pretty scary, but as long as she gets a heart and survives, we'll be happy. :) We will actually be in the Orlando area around the same time as you and will visit GKTW one of the days. It would be fun to meet up (we haven't booked our tickets yet). Meeting another heart mom is always encouraging. It might not work with your schedule, but if it does it would be fun. :thumbsup2

Oh my gosh!!!!! Hello!

Have you emailed a Mod? To try to get your account unlocked?

I am so, so sorry to hear about Lydia going on the transplant list. :hug:

I will also be in Disney at the same time!! :) Maybe we can connect!!

[Khalana82]

Oh my gosh!!!!! Hello!

Have you emailed a Mod? To try to get your account unlocked?

I am so, so sorry to hear about Lydia going on the transplant list. :hug:

I will also be in Disney at the same time!! :) Maybe we can connect!!

Hi Maroo! :)

No, I'm not sure where to find a mod email thingy? :confused3

Would be fun to meet! :thumbsup2

[kellyw8863]

Hi Pamela! As another Central MA person, I just wanted to stop in and see how your planning is going. I love all the family fluff - your pics are great! Did Matty have his heart surgery at Children's? Both of my girls are followed by cardiology there, as they both have ASDs. And I love your energy.:banana:

How have you found working with the MA MAW chapter? We are just in the very initial stages of planning, though I have been verbally assured that Ali has a wish-qualifying diagnosis. I filled out the online form last week, but I haven't heard anything else yet. Did you start the process with a phonecall? How long did it take from initial referral to approval?

Anyhow, I have subscribed and I look forward to following you through planning and the actual trip!

Kelly

[pacrosby]

SA_WEEEEETTTT!!!!! That is so exciting!!!

Now 1 question before I go beating down my mail lady lol. Did you get yours in the mail because you are not having a send off party?

Nobody ever mentioned to me to be looking in the mail, but we are supposed to have aour granters come out on Dec 1 for our send off. They just said theat they would be bringing food for dinner and our tickets. They are bringing pizza for everyone except Alyssa and I because we have wheat allergies so we are getting Wendy's baked potatoes ( I just tried to make it easy for them).

Right now the odds are they may have to bring our send off to the hospital because I think she is going to be admitted :sad1:.

At least she would have that to look forward too.

Since we are going on the same dates Im just wondering how different our chapters are?

SO THRILLED!!! NOW WE HAVE TO PICK A TIME TO MEET AND SAY HELLO!!! Im going to go back and look at your schedule and see what days we might be at the same places.

:rainbow::rainbow:

Hi Chrissie,

The Wish Kit actually came from WDW not GKTW or our MAW chapter. I have no idea whether or not they are plannning anything more than a meeting to drop off the tickets/expense check etc. We didn't talk about that at our first meeting and all my contact since that meeting has been with the rep in the office, not with the Wish volunteers.

We absolutely do have to connect. This is such an unexpected benefit of having gotten involved in this forum.......being able to connect in person with those of like minds going through similar experiences........and what incredible experiences they are going to be:cool1:

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Very exciting mail night. GKTW welcome kit and MVMCP tickets all at once. I know you were dancing around the house. I would have been.

We're STILL dancin':cool1::banana::yay::dance3::cheer2::

Pamela

[pacrosby]

You guys are worse night-owls than me! But what a pleasant midnight surprise!

Take this with a large grain, since we haven't been yet, but my understanding is that the stickers are in addition to the the button. I remember reading one mom's blog who took the stickers to an office supply place and had them turned into buttons as well. If things play out in a similar timeline for us that is what I plan to do also, since both of my girls would have theirs in shreds within the first hour.


You have noooooo idea!!!! This has completely thrown me for a loop as far as my sleep schedule is concerned. Since dh doesn't generally come home until later I don't get started 'til late and then up all night which THEN results in my being useless during the day! So what do I do??? Nap!!! THEN I'm wide awake again at night and the pattern continues. :sad2: Oh well.....all for a good cause right?????:)

Thanx for the info on the stickers and buttons. I hid them from my kids just in case. They'd be lucky to last 24 hours if they saw them!

Pamela

[pacrosby]

Those stickers will NOT replace the button.

Honestly...until about 3 weeks ago...I had NO idea that anyone would recognize those stickers at all.

But when I was talking to the Marketing person for PhotoPass, she mentioned that they use the "Genie" to alert CM's about a Wish Family. I told her that we never did know what to do with the stickers. :rotfl:

You will still get the magic button...and you will still get a GAC card issued by GKTW...but, heck, I would wear the stickers, too! :rotfl2: Can't hurt! :yay:

We got our packet when they came to give us our itenarary (how on earth do you spell that?!?!?)...

Yeah, and how practical is that????? STICKERS with kids? And your supposed to use the same ones ALL week:eek:? Well, ok..........I lie.......they did give us enough for 2 for each person. Perhaps they thought they'd help us minimize the need for luggage..................2 outfits per person:sad2:


btw: Itinerary. I-T-I-N-E-R-A-R-Y Itinerary.


Pamela

[pacrosby]

Thanx for the kind words on the pictures guys. I no longer feel guilty for the excess and would be more than happy to bore you with many many more:)

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Hi Pamela,

I just stumbled over your TR while looking through the Wish Trippers thread. I've had to change my username (used to be just Khalana) as for some reason I'm not able to log in (even after resetting my password :confused3). Anyways, my daughter Lydia went on her Wish Trip last December. She also has heart issues (several left heart stuff and had OH for a coarct and a pda) and is now most likely (no other viable option) going on the transplant list after Christmas. Pretty scary, but as long as she gets a heart and survives, we'll be happy. :) We will actually be in the Orlando area around the same time as you and will visit GKTW one of the days. It would be fun to meet up (we haven't booked our tickets yet). Meeting another heart mom is always encouraging. It might not work with your schedule, but if it does it would be fun. :thumbsup2

Hi Khalana!!!!!!

I'm so sorry to hear about Lydia's recent turn of events healthwise. Crossing my fingers for some miracle for you so that a transplant isn't necessary but, you are oh so right.........you just want her here, healthy and happy and if it takes a heart transplant to make that happen, then you just go with it.

Medical technology is an amazing thing isn't it? Heart transplants, while certainly still very scary, are so much more routine now. And the whole possibility of artificial hearts??????!!!!! I know for me that knowledge keeps the hope alive that Matty will indeed have the opportunity to live a long happy life.

So when will you be in Orlando? Are you going to WDW? I'd love to hook up. I'm sure we can make it work somehow:)

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Hi Pamela! As another Central MA person, I just wanted to stop in and see how your planning is going. I love all the family fluff - your pics are great! Did Matty have his heart surgery at Children's? Both of my girls are followed by cardiology there, as they both have ASDs. And I love your energy.:banana:

How have you found working with the MA MAW chapter? We are just in the very initial stages of planning, though I have been verbally assured that Ali has a wish-qualifying diagnosis. I filled out the online form last week, but I haven't heard anything else yet. Did you start the process with a phonecall? How long did it take from initial referral to approval?

Anyhow, I have subscribed and I look forward to following you through planning and the actual trip!

Kelly

Hey Kelly:wave2: Great to have you along!!

Yup, we are a member of the Boston Children's family. Who is your cardiologist? We've been seeing Jaime Levine since that fateful fetal echocardiogram 7 yrs ago. Gotta love her!!!!!! :love: She's got such a great attitude and is not restrictive at all.............I've heard lots of stories from other heart moms about how conservative their pc's are. I figure Matty's got enough to deal with without restricting him unnecessarily from alot of life's fun activities and adventures.

The MA/RI MAW chapter has been unbelievable!!!! They have really risen above board for us. I will tell you however that originally I made an inquiry online (I think I read that that is what you did) and after not hearing for a week I decided to take matters into my own hands. I was just afraid that perhaps my inquiry would get lost in the shuffle. Once I made contact with someone they took my info and our pc's name and sent off whatever paperwork was necessary. After a number of weeks I got concerned, yet again. When I called to check on the progress I was told that Jaime had yet to send the info back:confused3. That seemed odd to me (she knew we were doing this, gave 100% support, and had always been pretty timely in her response to my calls/emails in the past). As a result I asked if they could contact her again;they said they would; and, lo and behold the NEXT morning I got a call saying they had the info from Jaime and we were approved:yay::yay::yay: I will say, to this day I still wonder if they really had to call her again (my phone call to them occured late in the day) or if they in fact already had it and just happened to FIND it after I called.:sad2: Since then, though (that was less than 3 wks ago) it has been a whirlwind. Two days later our Wish volunteers called me; 3 days later they came out to meet us and fill out all the ppwk; and 2 days later I got a call from the office saying we were on! All of the arrangements were then completed within the next week:woohoo: Don't think one can ask for better service than that!

My suggestion would be to call them and make sure they got the info. You'd hate to just sit around and wait and wait only to find out it got lost in the shuffle. I was especially eager because Matty's wish involved being in WDW for the Xmas festivities. If they hadn't been able to push it through for this year we would likely have waited until next. Did you have a timeline?

Anyway I hope you find some useful information in and amoungst all my idle chatter!! (btw we are in North Grafton; my dh and I are originally from Concord and Lexington respectively)

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

ok, now seriously, someone has to help me with the multiple quotes!!!! Of course, all these posts are making me look alot more popular:rotfl:

Pamela:santa:

[pipersmom]

Hey Pamela! To multi-quote, in the first post you want to quote, hit the middle button on the lower right of the screen, the one with a quote sign and plus sign on it. Do the same until you come to the last post you want to quote, on that one hit the regular quote button. All the posts you wanted should show up. As you hit the "+ buttons, they should light up red.

[pacrosby]

ok.....just when you think you've got things all figured out you get thrown a monkey wrench. What to do......What to do:confused3

I'm cruisin' around here tonight and find a thread about SeaWorld which reveals the schedule and show times. I had originally had us going to SeaWorld on Monday but now I find out that alot of the special holiday shows won't be scheduled for Monday since the park is only open from 9-6:sad2:. If we want to see alot of those shows we will have to go on a Saturday or Sunday when the park is open 9-9. On Sunday we are already booked for a Grinch character breakfast at Universal (won't change that). On Saturday I had thought we would do AK and MK. MK is open 'til 11 that night and we would be able to catch Spectromagic Parade and Wishes Fireworks (so important!). Hmmmmmmmmmmm So the question remains do I switch the plan for those two days? Of course if we do we have to keep in mind that we would get far less accomplished on Monday because MK is not open 'til 11:sad1:. At least not to us (they do have evening EMH on Monday). Have we pretty much figured that they will make an exception and allow GKTW guests to stay for EMH ONLY in the very rarest of circumstances, if at all???? Has anyone read a Wish trip report where they noted the people had been able to stay? I'm so torn:confused: I want to be able to really enjoy all the special holiday shows at SeaWorld (isn't that why we wanted to go at this time of year in the first place?????) and yet I know that we won't get through everything we want to at WDW which is why I specifically picked Saturday, with the extended hours, as a day to go to WDW parks (ESPECIALLY MK).

Argh! Now this is the problem with being the Energizer Bunny Family with children who are all old enough to be able to enjoy most attractions:sad2:. When the kids were younger and we'd go someplace it was easy to get everything we wanted to do in because there were always things we could eliminate; things that wouldn't interest them; things they weren't tall enough for. Now as I go through the loooooong list of attractions at the parks I am having trouble knocking stuff off the list. We're going to need roller skates:eek:

Now I know, I know, some of you are going to politely warn me not to try to do too much:) BUT.........trust me................my family's ability to go from morning to night and pack it all in is astounding:eek: Of course we've never done it sooo many days in a row. But I think with a good night's sleep each night we should manage ok. And then of course, when we come home on the 18th................ we will promptly crawl into bed and sleep until January:rotfl:

So I need advice ladies.

I'll be waiting:surfweb:

Pamela:santa:

[chrissid7]

ok.....just when you think you've got things all figured out you get thrown a monkey wrench. What to do......What to do:confused3

I'm cruisin' around here tonight and find a thread about SeaWorld which reveals the schedule and show times. I had originally had us going to SeaWorld on Monday but now I find out that alot of the special holiday shows won't be scheduled for Monday since the park is only open from 9-6:sad2:. If we want to see alot of those shows we will have to go on a Saturday or Sunday when the park is open 9-9. On Sunday we are already booked for a Grinch character breakfast at Universal (won't change that). On Saturday I had thought we would do AK and MK. MK is open 'til 11 that night and we would be able to catch Spectromagic Parade and Wishes Fireworks (so important!). Hmmmmmmmmmmm So the question remains do I switch the plan for those two days? Of course if we do we have to keep in mind that we would get far less accomplished on Monday because MK is not open 'til 11:sad1:. At least not to us (they do have evening EMH on Monday). Have we pretty much figured that they will make an exception and allow GKTW guests to stay for EMH ONLY in the very rarest of circumstances, if at all???? Has anyone read a Wish trip report where they noted the people had been able to stay? I'm so torn:confused: I want to be able to really enjoy all the special holiday shows at SeaWorld (isn't that why we wanted to go at this time of year in the first place?????) and yet I know that we won't get through everything we want to at WDW which is why I picked Saturday, with the extended hours, as a day to go.

Argh! Now this is the problem with being the Energizer Bunny Family with children who are all old enough to be able to enjoy most attractions:sad2:. When the kids were younger and we'd go someplace it was easy to get everything we wanted to do in because there were always things we could eliminate; things that wouldn't interest them; things they weren't tall enough for. Now as I go through the loooooong list of attractions at the parks I am having trouble knocking stuff off the list. We're going to need roller skates:eek:

Now I know, I know, some of you are going to politely warn me not to try to do too much:) BUT.........trust me................my family's ability to go from morning to night and pack it all in is astounding:eek: Of course we've never done it sooo many days in a row. But I think with a good night's sleep each night we should manage ok. And then of course, when we come home on the 18th................ we will promptly crawl into bed and sleep until January:rotfl:

So I need advice ladies.

I'll be waiting:surfweb:

Pamela:santa:

Girl I am feeling your pain! I have been struggling to figure it all out but I did put a schedule that works for us (I think).I dont think we will get all that seaworld has to offer but for us the main events were to feed the dolphins, see the penguins and watch Believe. WE are going to fit seaworld and epcot into the same day so we had to select favorites in both.

If we end up adding 2 days to our trip which right now I am considering we will only do 1 that day and save the other for our last day.

whats holding me up is flights right now. Ill post about that later.

GODD LUCK, But we will be exhausted no matter what we do and it wil all be worth it!!

[Momofwishkid]

ok.....just when you think you've got things all figured out you get thrown a monkey wrench. What to do......What to do:confused3

I'm cruisin' around here tonight and find a thread about SeaWorld which reveals the schedule and show times. I had originally had us going to SeaWorld on Monday but now I find out that alot of the special holiday shows won't be scheduled for Monday since the park is only open from 9-6:sad2:. If we want to see alot of those shows we will have to go on a Saturday or Sunday when the park is open 9-9. On Sunday we are already booked for a Grinch character breakfast at Universal (won't change that). On Saturday I had thought we would do AK and MK. MK is open 'til 11 that night and we would be able to catch Spectromagic Parade and Wishes Fireworks (so important!). Hmmmmmmmmmmm So the question remains do I switch the plan for those two days? Of course if we do we have to keep in mind that we would get far less accomplished on Monday because MK is not open 'til 11:sad1:. At least not to us (they do have evening EMH on Monday). Have we pretty much figured that they will make an exception and allow GKTW guests to stay for EMH ONLY in the very rarest of circumstances, if at all???? Has anyone read a Wish trip report where they noted the people had been able to stay? I'm so torn:confused: I want to be able to really enjoy all the special holiday shows at SeaWorld (isn't that why we wanted to go at this time of year in the first place?????) and yet I know that we won't get through everything we want to at WDW which is why I specifically picked Saturday, with the extended hours, as a day to go to WDW parks (ESPECIALLY MK).

Argh! Now this is the problem with being the Energizer Bunny Family with children who are all old enough to be able to enjoy most attractions:sad2:. When the kids were younger and we'd go someplace it was easy to get everything we wanted to do in because there were always things we could eliminate; things that wouldn't interest them; things they weren't tall enough for. Now as I go through the loooooong list of attractions at the parks I am having trouble knocking stuff off the list. We're going to need roller skates:eek:

Now I know, I know, some of you are going to politely warn me not to try to do too much:) BUT.........trust me................my family's ability to go from morning to night and pack it all in is astounding:eek: Of course we've never done it sooo many days in a row. But I think with a good night's sleep each night we should manage ok. And then of course, when we come home on the 18th................ we will promptly crawl into bed and sleep until January:rotfl:

So I need advice ladies.

I'll be waiting:surfweb:

Pamela:santa:

Well I dont know to much about all the parks being we have never been But I dont think I would give up MK time. From what I hear there are plenty of holiday stuff to do there and you can still do everything at SW. Just my opinion :)
Which ever you choose Im sure it will be great!

[kellyw8863]

Hey Kelly:wave2: Great to have you along!!

Yup, we are a member of the Boston Children's family. Who is your cardiologist? We've been seeing Jaime Levine since that fateful fetal echocardiogram 7 yrs ago. Gotta love her!!!!!! :love: She's got such a great attitude and is not restrictive at all.............I've heard lots of stories from other heart moms about how conservative their pc's are. I figure Matty's got enough to deal with without restricting him unnecessarily from alot of life's fun activities and adventures.

The MA/RI MAW chapter has been unbelievable!!!! They have really risen above board for us. I will tell you however that originally I made an inquiry online (I think I read that that is what you did) and after not hearing for a week I decided to take matters into my own hands. I was just afraid that perhaps my inquiry would get lost in the shuffle. Once I made contact with someone they took my info and our pc's name and sent off whatever paperwork was necessary. After a number of weeks I got concerned, yet again. When I called to check on the progress I was told that Jaime had yet to send the info back:confused3. That seemed odd to me (she knew we were doing this, gave 100% support, and had always been pretty timely in her response to my calls/emails in the past). As a result I asked if they could contact her again;they said they would; and, lo and behold the NEXT morning I got a call saying they had the info from Jaime and we were approved:yay::yay::yay: I will say, to this day I still wonder if they really had to call her again (my phone call to them occured late in the day) or if they in fact already had it and just happened to FIND it after I called.:sad2: Since then, though (that was less than 3 wks ago) it has been a whirlwind. Two days later our Wish volunteers called me; 3 days later they came out to meet us and fill out all the ppwk; and 2 days later I got a call from the office saying we were on! All of the arrangements were then completed within the next week:woohoo: Don't think one can ask for better service than that!

My suggestion would be to call them and make sure they got the info. You'd hate to just sit around and wait and wait only to find out it got lost in the shuffle. I was especially eager because Matty's wish involved being in WDW for the Xmas festivities. If they hadn't been able to push it through for this year we would likely have waited until next. Did you have a timeline?

Anyway I hope you find some useful information in and amoungst all my idle chatter!! (btw we are in North Grafton; my dh and I are originally from Concord and Lexington respectively)

Pamela:santa:

We see Dave Brown. Love, love, love him! Though we only see him annually now. Maya's ASD has closed, surprisingly enough since it was huge. Ali's is also closed, but since she was dx'd with mitochondrial disease, she is at high risk for cardiomyopathy and conduction defects. She does have autonomic issues, so regularly has high blood pressure and heart rate as well. We always say how lucky we are to have such a great medical facility within spitting distance. Ali also regularly sees complex care, gastroenterology, pulmo, allergy, neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedics, opthamology, and otolaryngology, and there's not a single weak link - we love them all.

Thanks for the info on MA MAW. I should have known better than to fill out an online form; I'm always paranoid that those things are not forwarded to the right people. I'm home from work today, so I think maybe I'll give them a call to get the ball rolling. As much as I love her mito doc, his office is sloooowwwww. I requested a school letter back in June and finally got it last month. I hate to complain because overall they have been fabulous to us, but I'm not thinking that things will move quickly there. And we have an appointment on December 15th, so I could follow up on things then.

We really want to go over April vacation. Our foster son will be 18 on April 24th, and we really want him to be included. I'm pretty sure MAW will only cover his expenses if it's done before his 18th birthday, and we certainly cannot afford it. Actually, there's no way we would go without him - he's that much a part of our family. So, if we can't get April vacation, we want February vacation. My husband and I are both teachers and already miss so much school due to hospitalizations and surgeries, so we can't afford to otherwise take the time off. And, Ali's autonomic issues mean that she can't tolerate the heat so summer is out. If not this year, then next year so we can save to be sure to bring Gabe along with us.

So that was probably way more information than you really wanted. Can you tell I've been bedridden for two days with limited adult contact?:rotfl: I wish I could answer your questions about SeaWorld versus MK, but I have nooooo idea. I know nothing about Disney, and really, I don't even know where to start. Right now, I'm just reading, reading, reading. Oh, and we're from Templeton, north of Worcester. I'm originally from the North Shore area and my husband is from RI.

Later!

Kelly

[maroo]

I think it totally depends on what your family wants to see.

Personally, I would not skip Spectro and Wishes to do anything at Sea World. But if I had a child that LOVED Shamu, then I would certainly skip it so that the child could see a special Shamu show.

Maybe you guys should ask each member of the family to fill out a survey...

What is your favorite park? What do you most want to do in Disney World? What are the top 5 attractions (or types of attractions) you really want to ride? What characters are you most excited about meeting?

That way you can get an idea of what they want to do. William's main goal...was to ride the "train in the sky." The monorail. :rotfl: Lauren's was to see the castle. They were sure easy to please. They had no idea what Disney was going to be like. They ended up LOVING seeing Spectro in the rain. That was the best part of the trip. Playing in the rain and watching the parade.

Then you can decide.

On one hand, you really can't do it all...on the other hand, you will have the button and the GAC and if you split up and each take one - you should be able to accomplish a lot more in a day than a family that has to run and get FPs for an attraction and double back a lot. So that will help.

And don't forget all of the things they have for you guys to do at GKTW.

That probably didn't help much. :rotfl:

You really can't go wrong... you are picking the best of great things!

[yinyanggirls]

I just mentioned this on another thread, but I'll say it here too. It might be worth your time to check out "the Unofficial Guide to WDW" book, and an online site as well, that can help you maximize your time in the parks. You don't have to use it, but it would be nice to have a plan ahead of time just in case.

[kellyw8863]

Okay, so I know this isn't my PTR, but I just wanted to let you know that I followed your lead and actually put a call through to MAW and was essentially told that Alison should be approved but we need to go through the formality of having her mito doc fill out the appropriate forms confirming that she does indeed have mito.!:cool1:

[pacrosby]

Okay, so I know this isn't my PTR, but I just wanted to let you know that I followed your lead and actually put a call through to MAW and was essentially told that Alison should be approved but we need to go through the formality of having her mito doc fill out the appropriate forms confirming that she does indeed have mito.!:cool1:


I'm glad you called. Don't be uneasy about continuing to keep tabs on them. I honestly think if I hadn't called (when they were awaiting the ppwk from our pc) it could've been awhile until we had heard back. Apparently it's a pretty busy office and now that they are consolidating the MA and RI offices into one, I can imagine it'd be easy for things to get backlogged and/or lost in the shuffle.

Keep me updated:)

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

Thanx to those who offered opinions on the whole schedule thingy:).

I'm still not sure:confused:. It's not as if that Saturday night was the only night we'd be at MK. l also have us scheduled there the bulk of the day on Wednesday (when they have Spectromagic and Wishes again) and then again on the last Thursday night for MVMCP. So all told it's a portion of three days that we will be there regardless. I think it's just the ability to enjoy MK that late into the night on that first Saturday that I'm not sure I want to give up. I suppose I could see if I could reschedule the Grinch breakfast and our day for Universal allowing for Seaworld on that Sunday. Oh, nevermind, that's not an option. Don't want to miss the Candyland Party at GKTW!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhh....don't mind me. I'm just babbling:sad2:.

It's a total of four holiday shows at SeaWorld that are only scheduled on the weekend. The Shamu Holiday show, a Holiday Ice-Skating show, Fireworks and an Elmo Christmas show (wouldn't that surprise Matty hahahahaha). Now I suppose I could argue that who needs one more Fireworks Spectacular LOL And there is already one Shamu show......how different could the 2nd Holiday Show be??????? So just how big a deal is the Elmo Christmas Show and the Ice-Skating show????? Heck, if I knew I'd be able to make a decision!!!!

Can you blame a girl for wanting to do it all??????? Hey, do you think maybe they'd let us extend our extension..........maybe add on another month or so??????????? hahahahahahahahahahaha


Pamela:santa:

[yinyanggirls]

Okay, good, at least you've read about them. I hadn't heard of or thought about anything like it until the book suggested it. What I like is that they point out how most people don't get there early, most people eat lunch at midday, EMH mornings/nights are way more packed than average, and the charts on what crowd levels will be on different days so you can pick the best park for that day. Even if we never wait in a single line for a single minute (yeah right!) it would be nice to be at the parks when they are less crowded for dining, pictures, safety and sanity. :lmao:

[maroo]

Even if we never wait in a single line for a single minute (yeah right!) it would be nice to be at the parks when they are less crowded for dining, pictures, safety and sanity. :lmao:

I think you should write a letter to Len Testa (Unofficial Guide to WDW Author) and give him that line.... It is publishable! Great line!

[yinyanggirls]

I think you should write a letter to Len Testa (Unofficial Guide to WDW Author) and give him that line.... It is publishable! Great line!

Do you know him?:rotfl:
Sorry, I'm having way too much fun on here tonight.

[StefaniLyn]

I'm glad you posted the information about Sea World. I had no idea because I haven't completely planned that day out yet. Now I'm going to be doing a little rethinking of my own but unfortunately, like you, our plans can't be moved around much. I think Maroo's advice is the best, I second what she said!

[maroo]

Do you know him?:rotfl:
Sorry, I'm having way too much fun on here tonight.

Well....

Sorta.

He is my friend on Facebook. :rotfl2:

Maybe I should send him that in a message.

[Sandy321]

Plans are just that - you'll know more once you get there - and you have the best plan of all -letting Matty decide!! (if its too much, or not - you'll know - as Maroo said, no one can do it all!! - and the crowds may just overwhelm you - the magic button will help get you on the rides - so you'll have that going for you!! Dont forget when it gets really crowded - go up to Tomorrowland and ride that people mover - its amazing to look down on the crowds from up there!!)

You will be able to direct with your plans - but just being there - and spending all the time at GKTW will help kep your sanity I'm thinking!! The parks at Christmas time - magical!! Make sure you get a picture of everything - and then share it with me!! *grin!

[pacrosby]

Plans are just that - you'll know more once you get there - and you have the best plan of all -letting Matty decide!! (if its too much, or not - you'll know - as Maroo said, no one can do it all!! - and the crowds may just overwhelm you - the magic button will help get you on the rides - so you'll have that going for you!! Dont forget when it gets really crowded - go up to Tomorrowland and ride that people mover - its amazing to look down on the crowds from up there!!)

You will be able to direct with your plans - but just being there - and spending all the time at GKTW will help kep your sanity I'm thinking!! The parks at Christmas time - magical!! Make sure you get a picture of everything - and then share it with me!! *grin!


I actually prefer it when there's alot of people...................it adds to the festive atmosphere. Of course that doesn't mean wall-to-wall people....................but then that's why we are going in early December. School vacation week at Disney:scared1: (anywhere for that matter) would be another story entirely. I think the only potential issue with the crowds will be the fear of losing a child. Especially my youngest (just over 4)! We'll be sure to tie him into the stroller with duct tape! He's also the only one who is likely to tire out but fortunately he can sleep anywhere (and I mean anywhere!). The strollers at Disney are the same hard plastic ones as the ones at Sesame Place where we are frequent visitors and, believe me, he has noooooooo difficulty nodding off when necessary. Growing up Crosby means you "go with the flow"

Oh and yes there will be many many pictures. And I'd be most happy to shar them with you:)

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

ok, after much consideration I have decided to leave my "schedule" well enough alone. Yay!!!! I made a decision:cool1: Oh so proud of myself!
But now.....what do I do? I have a tentative schedule, I made all of our dining reservations, I've researched the parks................ There MUST be something else I need to do!!!!!!

I've been doing a little Mickey/Disney shopping in anticipation of preparing some surprises for my kids. I went to the Dollar Store and loaded up on all fun (albeit cheap) things Disney, bought some Mickey t-shirts and jammies, a holiday Disney Storybook, a gingerbread storybook and of course, the Gingerbread Man cosume!!!!!!!! My plan today is to go to the craft store and get some Disney themed flannel to make some blankets as well as the necessary material to make some autograph books. What a Crafty Suzie I am huh? Just call me "Martha":laughing: Of course I have to keep working on this Xmas shopping too since my goal is to have it ALL done before we leave. I'm actually about 75% done so the stress level in that area is fairly low. Decorating? Well that would be causing me a high level of stress. Why, I still have assorted paraphenalia from Halloween littering all corners of my household:eek:

ok.....off to bring dd to her rehearsal (Nutcracker). The plan is to shop shop shop until it's time to pick her up at 5:00. Hopefully I'll have great success!!

Pamela:santa:

[yinyanggirls]

You really do sound crafty! I much prefer to challenge myself by finding bargains than creating masterpieces. :lmao: And don't worry about the Halloween stuff. I just put mine away a couple days ago. ;)

[yinyanggirls]

Well....

Sorta.

He is my friend on Facebook. :rotfl2:

Maybe I should send him that in a message.



Why am I not surprised! :rotfl2: You're free to quote away. I think that book is pretty cool, considering I had no idea what it was about when I got it. It's definitely a different kind of guide book.

[chrissid7]

ok, after much consideration I have decided to leave my "schedule" well enough alone. Yay!!!! I made a decision:cool1: Oh so proud of myself!
But now.....what do I do? I have a tentative schedule, I made all of our dining reservations, I've researched the parks................ There MUST be something else I need to do!!!!!!

I've been doing a little Mickey/Disney shopping in anticipation of preparing some surprises for my kids. I went to the Dollar Store and loaded up on all fun (albeit cheap) things Disney, bought some Mickey t-shirts and jammies, a holiday Disney Storybook, a gingerbread storybook and of course, the Gingerbread Man cosume!!!!!!!! My plan today is to go to the craft store and get some Disney themed flannel to make some blankets as well as the necessary material to make some autograph books. What a Crafty Suzie I am huh? Just call me "Martha":laughing: Of course I have to keep working on this Xmas shopping too since my goal is to have it ALL done before we leave. I'm actually about 75% done so the stress level in that area is fairly low. Decorating? Well that would be causing me a high level of stress. Why, I still have assorted paraphenalia from Halloween littering all corners of my household:eek:

ok.....off to bring dd to her rehearsal (Nutcracker). The plan is to shop shop shop until it's time to pick her up at 5:00. Hopefully I'll have great success!!

Pamela:santa:


WOOOOHOOO for decisions!! Ok but I just nearly had a stroke when you mentioned something that I had not given to much thought to. DECORATING!!! :scared1: That is my favorite thing and now that Alyssa is in the hospital and Ive got 19 day to finalize plans for mini home makeover (which means cleaning all of those untouched areas because people will be in my house ughhhhh Im a good hider) Christmas shopping, Disney Shopping, Packing, and then working and living in the process holy moly!!!


OK I just slapped myself and realized I can do this, I just need to write out a game plan, but my biggest worry is that when we get home I will have less than a week to get ready for Christmas.... it really is a flash back of when we moved into our house 8 years ago. Only this time it is sprinkled with PIXIE DUST LOL!

OK now that you have you set plans you can set mine lol!!:headache:

[pacrosby]

Been awhile since I've updated this PTR. Could it be I've forgotten about our Disney planning? Has Matty's Wish trip gone on the back burner? :eek: Fear not.......................just been a busy little bee:)

Thanx to my many new friends here on the DIS I had myself a good night sleep (short but good.................these looooooong nights :surfweb: should be killing me but they're not - must be running on adrenaline LOL) For anyone unaware of my panic.....................I LOST the MVMCP tickets:scared1: Can you believe it??????? What a dope I am. Dh and I got in a big fight (ok, slight exaggeration:)) 'cuz I'm blaming it on him. Truth be told I suspect I threw them out by accident when I was trying to create some order in my kitchen:eek: Don't tell dh though. Anyhoo, many a nice cyber friend put my mind at ease and assured me not to worry. So I won't.

Got back to the planning:yay:. Printed out all the park maps. Printed out info on luggage allowances and extra fees (but doesn't look like we will have any fees to pay since we'll be allowed 6 regular sized pieces of luggage). Went over the rough daily schedule with a fine-toothed comb and officially gave it the :thumbsup2.

OMG!!!!!! There's only 15 days left:eek: I NEED MORE TIME!!

I've been feverishly Xmas shopping and feeling pretty good about my progress. I THINK I'll be done. The decorating is going to be a challenge however (yes, the Halloween stuff remains:rolleyes1) My parents are coming over tomorrow for Turkey Day dinner so hopefully that will put a fire under my butt tonight. Of course, I could always just stuff everything in my bedroom and close the door :rotfl:

I've been having alot of fun making autograph books for the kids. I'll have to try and get a camera out and show off my handiwork (they're not too shabby if I do say so myself ). Been up til the wee hours for the past 4-5 nights playing with all the clip art! Dh rolls his eyes and says "oh no, you've got a new toy". Still hoping to pull together a couple of no-sew blankets. They look easy enough but it's going to a stretch. I NEED MORE TIME!

We got a postcard in the mail from our Fairy godMailer! Too cute. The kids were all excited. We've got our homemade Mickey countdown in the kitchen and are anxiously moving along it's way. Did I mention........it's only 15 more days:eek: I NEED MORE TIME!

ok.....off to get Matty a flu shot at the Children's Hospital. Our regular pedi doesn't have anything but the spray vaccines and Matty shouldn't get the spray. Hoping to get a few hairs cut along the way. I finally got myself to the hair dresser Monday (it'd been since June!) for a color and cut. I am now back to being a brunette (of course you all never knew that I was anything but...................could've been bald for all you knew:laughing:). Kids were allittle freaked out when I came home. "Who are YOU and what have you done with our mother??????!!!!!!!"

I'll try not to disappear for so long this time. And I have much catching up to do on all your PTR's. Lest I forgot to mention......I NEED MORE TIME!!!

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

[pacrosby]

Oh yeah.....anybody know where I can find info regarding show times when we are there (i.e. Nemo, Lion King etc.) I've looked high and low and can't find it but I noticed other people have that info and are doing their planning around it. Where'd they find it???????????? Why can't I (super sleuth that I am) find it????? :sad2:

Pamela:santa:

[StefaniLyn]

This is the website I used to find the showtimes. I understand that these are subject to change, but being the over obsessive planner that I am, I felt I needed to have at least an idea of what the times were. The link shows the AK times but there are links to the other parks near the top of the page.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/ak/ak.htm

[chrissid7]

I am feeling your pain... I too need more time. Im guess that by the time we leave club med I might only have 4-6 days at home before we leave. So while im at the hospital I am also planning the surprise makeover which has now turned into a mini home makeover and I am stressed! I just dont know how I will get it all together but I have amazing friends and family working with me. It stinks not being able to yalk to anyone though unless its on the computer and even then she is right beside me so I have to be careful.

We will be fine and I think we (me and u) should meet at Epcot for drinks around the world huh??? lol

[pacrosby]

Just a quick note to those who have been enjoying the prep with me.....we are having a real problem with our computer (some sort of virus) and have a heck of a time staying on-line for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Hopefully it'll get fixed within the next couple of days.

Keep on plannin' everybody and I'll be back on board with you all soon.

Only 13 more days:yay::yay::yay::yay:

Pamela:santa:

[yinyanggirls]

Just a quick note to those who have been enjoying the prep with me.....we are having a real problem with our computer (some sort of virus) and have a heck of a time staying on-line for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Hopefully it'll get fixed within the next couple of days.

Keep on plannin' everybody and I'll be back on board with you all soon.

Only 13 more days:yay::yay::yay::yay:

Pamela:santa:

Bummer on the computer problems! I hate that!!! But woohoo on only 13 more days!!!!:banana: How exciting! I just noticed my ticker is in the 4 month range now. :woohoo: How did that happen?!?!? It goes fast....

[kdzbear]

I hurried and updated my trip report with the Christmas Party information and pictures. It only took 9 posts to get all of the pictures included. There are four pictures in the report for Matty. I hope this helps with your planning a little! :santa:

[Momofwishkid]

Sorry your having computer problems. I hope it's fixed soon so you can get back to planning! :cool1: 13 days left.

[pacrosby]

Holy cow!!!! Is it really only 6 days away? :eek: How did this happen?:eek: Wasn't it just yesterday that I was introducing myself? :eek: Wasn't it just last week that I spent every night researching this, that and the other; updating my progress and checking in on my fellow wish-trippers? :eek: Talk about "time flies"!!!!:eek:

Yup, the computer finally got fixed (major virus) and now I can hang out on here as long as I want:cool1: Of course, at this point I don't have the time to be hanging out on the computer........."we's got stuff to do"!!!! The Wish volunteers are coming over tomorrow night to deliver the 'goods':banana: Once I've got paperwork in hand I shall be changing the title of this thread from "I think we're really going" to "yup, we're really going!!!":dance3::dance3:

I've already got 80% of our clothes and such laid out for packing (if you all only knew how very unlike me that is :laughing:). I had some fun doing alittle 'casual wear' shopping for myself last week as the bulk of my warm weather wear consists of sundresses and skirts.....not great choices for Disney. Gotta love those clearance racks at TJ Maxx and Marshalls!!!!! I've been following the long range weather forecasts for Orlando......seems like the temp will be hovering around the low 70's with cooler weather in the evening. Of course coming from the northeast at this time of year......it'll seem downright tropical to us!!!!!!!

I never did call to have them reissue our MVMCP tickets as I was afraid I would just lose them again:sad2: I figured it might be better to just wait until we get down there and go to guest services the first day. If anyone thinks I should call now for some reason.......please speak up!!!!!

Things have been especially hectic around here the last two weeks. My daughter is performing in a Nutcracker production which has required much shuttling back and forth for rehearsals and now finally, beginning earlier today (well technically yesterday, Friday) and going straight through Monday, four days of back-to-back performances!!!! Must be nice to be young. I'm tired and I'm not even the one who's dancing:sad2: Then that same darling daughter of mine entered a gingerbread house competition.......house is to be done and delivered by Sunday.......yup, day after tomorrow........nope, haven't even started:lmao: Oh, and of course my oldest son is receiving one of the sacraments tomorrow in church. Dad will have to take him since I'll be doing Nutcracker duty. Of course that means Dad will have to dress him. Ohhhhhh, that could be scary:rotfl: I did finally finish my Xmas shopping:thumbsup2 Like some of you I joined the throngs of crazies out in the stores at 4 in the morning after Thanksgiving. Didn't even go to bed that night. I must have a screw loose, huh?:confused3And finally, I DID at least start my Xmas decorating:yay: Don't know how far I'll actually get (I'm pretty nutty when it comes to decorating......can't leave a surface untouched!) but at least I got started!

Matty and the kids are beside themselves with excitement (well, ok, dh and I too:rolleyes1). The countdown is on.............go team go:cheer2:


Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

[yinyanggirls]

Yay, for a working computer! Hard to live without one huh? I feel your Cmas pain, as it seems all of our weekends are packed. I'm taking Tessa to see the Nutcracker performed by her ballet company on Sunday afternoon. It will be her first stage show and I'm pretty nervous about getting through the whole thing. You sound so organized and calm. I wouldn't be! :lmao:

[pipersmom]

Oh my holy guacamole you have a lot going on!! Hooray for six more days..at least you have the adrenaline to keep you going :lol:. It sounds like you have things pretty well in hand though. Have a great time with your wish granters tonight!

[Momofwishkid]

:banana: Six days to go. You sound like you'll be pretty busy and that time is going to fly.

[kdzbear]

Yeah! Your trip is so close! I am so excited for your family!:woohoo:

[pacrosby]

ok....so it's official!!!! :dance3::dance3: How do I modify the title of this thread????

The Wish granters came by at 7 last night as expected. And they came bearing goodies:cool1: It was so cute.....the final paperwork, check etc. all presented in a packet entitled 'Matty Goes To Disney World'. And a big bag (a really cute reusable bag with a retro Mickey/Minnie holiday scene) chock full of 'stuff'.............assorted Disney stickers and coloring books, crayons, drawing paper, a big 'ol bag of single serving cheetos (Matty's very favorite junky snack food), a big bag of Hershey's Kisses (I told Matty those were for ME:banana:........ how thoughtful of the Wish granters to remember Mama!), a Toy Story Etch-a-Sketch, a travel Trouble game, a travel Go Fishing game, a Cars Magnetic play set and a beautiful 2009 Disney Mickey and Minnie Christmas snowglobe!!!! Just so generous......as usual. I had bought the kids some Disney jammies for the trip and they decided to put them on before the ladies came by. It was just too cute watching them unloading the goods. They were thrilled. Matty in particular is beside hiimself and, to be honest, a tad confused by all this. His comment at one point last night was......"something else?.........for me? (with a perplexed little grin on his face)..........why do people keep giving me and giving me and giving me stuff?" I wish I had a video of that. It was precious:love:

My Mom has been hanging here with us since Thursday (babysat the boys on Friday while I was off with dd at the performance and just stayed since she was coming herself to see it today, Sunday). Of course she was here last night during the 'final presentation' and was just blown away by the generosity of this organization. We have been keeping her and my Dad updated of all the goings-on since October but perhaps being here and listening first-hand was a different perspective. It's too bad my folks couldn't find a way to join us for at least part of the magic. They are really close to my kids and Matty simply adores her (well, we all do:love:). She will be coming to Disney in the Spring with dd and I when dd dances at DTD but this would've been soooooo special. Oh well. We've hinted around (and around, and around) but there's no convincing them. Truth be told......they could never keep up with us (they're 80 and 81) and they know it !:laughing:

It snowed last night!!!!!!! It looks beautiful (to all of you who are grumbling......HOGWASH......you don't know what you're missing!!). Nothinig like the holiday season awash with winter white. We've got another Nutcracker performance this afternoon. I could watch this show a million times......it's beautiful. The boys and dh will go today as well as my Mom and Dad after which we will take the 'prima ballerina' off to a fancy feast (she'll probably pick Friendly's:laughing:). Last performance is tomorrow which always saddens me alittle. Granted she will likely perform again next year and there will be the excitement of a new role and all.....but she will also be a year older:sad1::) Bittersweet, if you know what I mean. Thankfully she did choose to forego the gingerbread house contest. Just too rushed yesterday. I do feel a wee bit guilty however because it was really my fault we didn't get started earlier in the week. She put her entry paperwork in weeks ago. I'll have to make it up to her by helping her make a really big one just for us when we get back from WDW. Maybe we'll construct a whole neighborhood out of gingerbread!!! We'll likely be inspired by the house at the Grand Floridian don't you think?????????

4 more days!!!!! Did you hear that????? 4 MORE DAYS!!!!! The limo is going to pick us up at 4 am!!!!! This is just crazy!!!!!!!

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

[maroo]

4 more days and you guys are OFF!!!!!!! :)

Woo Hoo!!! :)

[pacrosby]

Hey maroo! Many many thanx for the wonderful Wish t-shirts:) The kids opened up the box tonight. Matty kept saying "where's the pants?":rotfl: Unfortunately I must've given you the wrong sizes because I don't have one to fit Noodle (that'd be my 8 yr old son Nick). Have no fear though.......we worked it out. Liv will wear mine with the sleeves rolled up and Nick'll wear hers. The oversized shirt on her looks great with leggings and hers actually fits him perfectly:)

You are waaaaay too kind:flower3:

Pamela:santa:

[Momofwishkid]

:cool1: It's now completley official!! Congrats!! It sounds like your wish granters made Matty's day with all the goody's

[yinyanggirls]

Phew! Don't you just love busy holiday weekends!? We saw the Nutcracker today here, Tessa's first theatre experience and she was captivated! I can't believe she made it through two hours! How fun for your daughter to be in it. Tessa said she wants to be too, and I told her to listen to her ballet teacher and work really hard. ;)
I love that your parents were there for the presentation. It's fun to share that with them, without having to try and explain on the phone. Can't wait for 4am, 4 days from now!!!

[chrissid7]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets get ready to RUMBLEEEEEEEEE! Its officially 3 days weeeeeeeee! I cannot believe its here!:cheer2:

Im sooooooo not ready but never fear walmart is near is what I keep saying lol!:scared1:

[yinyanggirls]

Have you guys made the rental car arrangements for the extended part of your trip yet? We haven't heard from our office as to how they want us to handle it. I'm wondering if they get a corporate rate or if I should shop around on my own. Any info you can share on that?

[pipersmom]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets get ready to RUMBLEEEEEEEEE! Its officially 3 days weeeeeeeee! I cannot believe its here!:cheer2:

Im sooooooo not ready but never fear walmart is near is what I keep saying lol!:scared1:

LOL! At the underdog reference, Chrissi!! :rotfl2:

So cool that you all are going to be there at the same time..I hope you can meet up at some point!

[kdzbear]

Three more days! You must be so excited! :santa::santa::santa:

[pacrosby]

Have you guys made the rental car arrangements for the extended part of your trip yet? We haven't heard from our office as to how they want us to handle it. I'm wondering if they get a corporate rate or if I should shop around on my own. Any info you can share on that?

Hi Melissa.........our MAW office gave me the confirmation number for our rental and suggested I call the rental company directly and ask to just extend the rental for two days. We did that without a problem. How they are going to split the fee (i.e whether we pay for the final two days when we drop it off, or whether they charge MAW for the whole thing and we just reimburse them) is beyond me. I figured no reason to get into it now as we can just sort it out later. I just wanted to make sure we were all set for the car.

Pamela:santa:

[pacrosby]

52 hours and 29 minutes!!!!!!!! (can you tell I'm excited:laughing:)

And the serious preparation begins..........

The luggage is downstairs in the dining room, open and prepared for packing. Most clothes are piled up in Brennan's room upstairs to be transfered tonight. Lists will be made of all the things I still need as I pack so I can run around the house frantically trying to find said items (like shoes:sad2:) or take a last minute trip to Target tomorrow night (more likely). I absolutely positively REFUSE REFUSE REFUSE to be packing at 3 am Thursday morning (that would be the typical 'Pamela' and this is not the typical trip). I vow to turn over a new leaf!! (hold me to that ok?????)

The kids opened a couple of new boxes tonight. One contained really cute Mickey/Minnie t-shirts for each of them (and dh and I!!) and the other was just for Matty. It had a gingerbread man ornament in it, the classic storybook "The Gingerbread Man" (you know "run, run, as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man") and the Gingerbread Man costume!!!!!!! It fits perfectly!! OMG it was hilarious:rotfl2: Dh and I were hysterical! And he LOVED it!!! His face lit up like a light bulb. We got a great picture but our camera battery died shortly thereafter so I can't share until tomorrow. But, trust me, it is tooooo funny! To anyone lurking.......you just gotta come back. I promise you won't be disappointed:)

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

[pipersmom]

52 hours and 29 minutes!!!!!!!! (can you tell I'm excited:laughing:)


The luggage is downstairs in the dining room, open and prepared for packing. I have most clothes piled up in Brennan's room upstairs so I will transfer those piles tonight. I'll then make a list of all the things I still need as I pack so I can run around the house frantically trying to find those things (like shoes:sad2:) or take a trip to Target tomorrow night (more likely). I absolutely REFUSE to be packing at 3 am Thursday morning (that's the typical 'Pamela'). I am turning over a new leaf!!

The kids opened a couple of new boxes tonight. One contained Mickey t-shirts for each of them and the other was just for Matty. It had a gingerbread man ornament in it, the classic storybook "The Gingerbread Man" (you know "run, run, as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man") and the Gingerbread Man costume!!!!!!! OMG it was hilarious:rotfl2: Dh and I were hysterical! And he LOVED it!!! His face lit up like a light bulb. We got a great picture but our camera battery died shortly thereafter so I can't share until tomorrow. But, trust me, it is tooooo funny! To anyone lurking.......you just gotta come back. I promise you won't be disappointed:)

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

We're all just as excited for you as you are! You're doing so well getting everything done..I'm a last minute packer too, so I know exactly what you mean. I can't wait to see the pics of Matty opening his costume and book!! :banana::banana: Your trip is going to be so awesome!!

[Momofwishkid]

Awww! Get that battery charged I cant wait to see the pics of Matty with his gingerbread man costume. Good job getting the suitcase open now if only the clothes would just magically arrange themselves in it. :rotfl:

[pacrosby]

hey? Anyone know if you can modify the title of your thread and if so, how? That's me......clueless as usual:confused3

Pamela:santa: (still a smiling Santa though!)

ETA: Nevermind, figured it out (in case you hadn't noticed)

[Momofwishkid]

I see you figured it out. :cool1: and Yup you are really going! :banana:

[yinyanggirls]

Being in a later time zone than you, I promise to kick you in the butt if you're up too late the night before. ;) (I ALWAYS end up doing the same thing, btw)...

[kdzbear]

For our September trip, I did not go to bed the night before our trip, but for Tyler's Wish trip I was in bed by 9:30 PM. You need your rest! :hug:

I can't wait to see Matty in his gingerbread costume! I bet he is too cute! :santa:

[pacrosby]

ok.....so sorry it took me so long but didn't even get around to trying to upload these photos until after 11 pm and dh and I are both alittle slow with this kinda stuff:sad2: We figured it out though:yay:

So here's my little buddy with his new loot.......................





"hey, look at my ornament"

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/100_1963.jpg

"hey, look at my book"

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/100_1964.jpg


"is it Halloween again already???"

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/100_1965.jpg


"oops......can't see"

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/100_1966.jpg

"ahhhhhh, that's better - what'dya think???"

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/pacrosby2009/100_1967.jpg



I could just eat him up!!!!!!!!!

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

[Momofwishkid]

:rotfl2: I just love the costume! Matty is just to cute :goodvibes I so hope you can get pics of him with the gingerbread men those would be awesome keepsakes!

[chrissid7]

OMG I cannot wait to see him.... and how special am I to get to see the cutest gingerbread man in person...what??? lol. Ok why am I on here at 1am??? ughhh somebody kick me. We gots packin to do girl!!! 28 hours till our limo arrives OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:scared1::scared1:

[maroo]

Oh. My. Gosh.

He is SOOOOOOOO cute in his Gingerbread Man outfit!!!

:love:

[pipersmom]

He is waaaaaaaaaay too cute in that gingerbread man costume!! I can't wait to see the pics when you get back and you haven't even left yet!! Less than 24 hrs..hooray!!

[kdzbear]

Matty is so cute in his gingerbread costume! I love it! His ornament is also too cute! You leave in just a few days! You will have so much fun! :santa:

[pacrosby]

YIKES..........17 hours!!!! What am I doin' on this silly computer:eek:

Kids are home from school. SNOW DAY!!!!! Just what I needed...distractions!!!! I'm usually very limiting when it comes to tv and computer time but today I'm saying "have at it!!" (keep 'em outta my hair).

Quick update: I called GKTW yesterday as someone here had suggested awhile back and told them about Matty's Gingerbread Man wish and asked about the GMan at their Christmas Party tomorrow (OMG, did I just say TOMORROW????:scared1:) night. I hoped that they might arrange something alittle extra. Well, got a big ol YES from "Mary" in Entertainment. I "think" she's trying to have him parading down the avenue with them as they arrive (and the Disney characters will be there too tomorrow night)!!!!! Even if he just gets alittle extra face time with the GMan that'd be special. You guys have been great with all these suggestions and encouragement. If I hadn't found this board while the trip would still have been great, it would've been nothing compared to what it will be now. Thanx guys....all of you:flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: (hope that's enough flowers to go around).

Gotta go pack......or somethin'!!!!!!


Pamela:santa:

[pipersmom]

That will be so awesome for him, Pamela! You need to give yourself a lot of credit too though, you're the one that's followed through! You're gonna have such a great time!

[maroo]

YIKES..........17 hours!!!! What am I doin' on this silly computer:eek:

Kids are home from school. SNOW DAY!!!!! Just what I needed...distractions!!!! I'm usually very limiting when it comes to tv and computer time but today I'm saying "have at it!!" (keep 'em outta my hair).

Quick update: I called GKTW yesterday as someone here had suggested awhile back and told them about Matty's Gingerbread Man wish and asked about the GMan at their Christmas Party tomorrow (OMG, did I just say TOMORROW????:scared1:) night. I hoped that they might arrange something alittle extra. Well, got a big ol YES from "Mary" in Entertainment. I "think" she's trying to have him parading down the avenue with them as they arrive (and the Disney characters will be there too tomorrow night)!!!!! Even if he just gets alittle extra face time with the GMan that'd be special. You guys have been great with all these suggestions and encouragement. If I hadn't found this board while the trip would still have been great, it would've been nothing compared to what it will be now. Thanx guys....all of you:flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: (hope that's enough flowers to go around).

Gotta go pack......or somethin'!!!!!!


Pamela:santa:


This brought tears to my eyes.

I am so excited for you guys. So glad you found us!

And so glad that anything we have brought to the "table" would help make your trip more magical!

I don't think the creators of the DIS really realize what wonderful things are happening to our wish kids over here.

[chrissid7]

YIKES..........17 hours!!!! What am I doin' on this silly computer:eek:

Kids are home from school. SNOW DAY!!!!! Just what I needed...distractions!!!! I'm usually very limiting when it comes to tv and computer time but today I'm saying "have at it!!" (keep 'em outta my hair).

Quick update: I called GKTW yesterday as someone here had suggested awhile back and told them about Matty's Gingerbread Man wish and asked about the GMan at their Christmas Party tomorrow (OMG, did I just say TOMORROW????:scared1:) night. I hoped that they might arrange something alittle extra. Well, got a big ol YES from "Mary" in Entertainment. I "think" she's trying to have him parading down the avenue with them as they arrive (and the Disney characters will be there too tomorrow night)!!!!! Even if he just gets alittle extra face time with the GMan that'd be special. You guys have been great with all these suggestions and encouragement. If I hadn't found this board while the trip would still have been great, it would've been nothing compared to what it will be now. Thanx guys....all of you:flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: :flower3: (hope that's enough flowers to go around).

Gotta go pack......or somethin'!!!!!!


Pamela:santa:



OMG!!!!! WE ARE SOOOOOO GOING TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR HIM AND WE WILL BE MATTYS FAN CLUB!!! HE WILL BE LIKE "WHO ARE THOSE CRAZY PEOPLE SCREAMING MY NAME???" Im so excited.... now go pack.... or something lol!!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee:woohoo:

[pipersmom]

Have a wonderful trip!! :hug: :banana: :banana:

[yinyanggirls]

I'm proud of you! Your light is off! Hopefully that means you are snoozing away, dreaming of Gingerbread men dancing in your head. ;)
(Can't wait to see the pics when you return! Have a blast!!!!!!!!)

[pacrosby]

I'm proud of you! Your light is off! Hopefully that means you are snoozing away, dreaming of Gingerbread men dancing in your head. ;)
(Can't wait to see the pics when you return! Have a blast!!!!!!!!)


Oh no girl.....my light is ON!!!!!!!

(I shall now hang my head in shame because I know I have disappointed you:guilty:)

BUT....the packing is DONE!! I JUST finished the kids autograph books:yay::yay: We made cute little personalized Mickey luggage tags for each of their bags and dh tied them on a little bit ago. Tickets are ready. Ppwk is in order. Everyone's clothes (and shoes!!) are piled up for the am. By golly.....I think I'm in good shape here:woohoo:. Of course at this hour I'm not even sure it makes sense to go to bed. I'll probably lie there with visions of gingerbread men RUNNING AROUND my head and then........JUST as I fall asleep.....the alarm will go off:scared1:

We did have a fun family Wish Trip send-off party tonight. I made a Mickey Mouse cake and we had Mickey Mouse chicken nuggets for dinner, played a little "what character am I" guessing game at the dinner table, I gave them their autograph books, they all did their little "1 MORE SLEEP TIL DISNEY" dance for the video camera and then we ate cake. I got a px of the cake and the books but I doubt dh is in the mood to load 'em up tonight (gee, you'd think he needed his beauty sleep or somethin' huh?).

ok.......gotta make sure I haven't forgotten something.

2 hours and 41 minutes until the limo comes.

:dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3:

Pamela:santa:

[yinyanggirls]

Oh no girl.....my light is ON!!!!!!!

(I shall now hang my head in shame because I know I have disappointed you:guilty:)

No, I was just in awe, that someone was able to pull it off. You'll have your turn to harass me 4 months from now!


(gee, you'd think he needed his beauty sleep or somethin' huh?).

ok.......gotta make sure I haven't forgotten something.

2 hours and 41 minutes until the limo comes.

:dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3:

Pamela:santa:

Since DH is getting his beauty sleep, he can handle the kids on the limo drive and on the flight while you nap right?!?!:rotfl2: Well, good luck, and I vote for a nap even if it doesn't seem worth it! (Not that I get a vote, LOL)

[pacrosby]

We're baaaaaaack!!! OMG....has 10 days gone by already????? Crazy.

We got in at about 11 last night......50 degree temperature drop in 2 hours:eek: Chilly in shorts!! Everyone fell asleep in the limo within 10 minutes time (got great px of sleeping souls LOL). Got home and all fell into bed (clothes and all) sleeping in 'til 10:30/11:30.

The trip? Amazing. Beyond our wildest dreams. I had resisted looking into a Wish Trip for Matty for years because I thought that it was essentially the equivalent of asking someone else to pay for a 'family vacation'. It just didn't seem right to me since we are fortunate enough to have the means to do so on our own. And while it certainly was that, a family vacation, it was much much MUCH more as well. An experience. An experience we could never have duplicated no matter how much money we were willing to shell out. I'm honestly not being melodramatic when I say it was an experience of a lifetime. It was MAGIC:)

We've taken well over a thousand pictures ( with the photopass I think we're close to 1500) so even with a 50% acceptablility rate (accounting for blurred px, closed eyes, goofy faces etc.) there should be many many memories to share. I look forward to doing so and reliving our trip through my trip report. Thanx again to everyone here. You all helped create the magic.:love:

On a final note we were fortunate enough to spend some time with Chrissi and her family (HI guys!!) which was such a terrific bonus. And met up with Maroo at the MVMCP where she created some super special magic for Matty (and me.....I cry whenever I let my mind relive it). The whole thing just gives me goosebumps.

Gotta go get our Xmas tree and retrieve our little mini dachsund Heidi from my parents house. I'll try to be on this week but in case I get all caught up in the hubbub around here, Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all.

Pamela:santa: and Murphy Junior (that'd be Matty, my little Gingerbread Boy :love:)

[yinyanggirls]

Welcome home Pamela!!!! I'm so glad you checked in! We've all been wondering how all these Dec trips went and only two (Savi's mom and Alyssa - thatkid) have reported back so far. I know this week will be so busy with unpacking and Christmas, but we (well, at least I) will be here anxiously awaiting the 50% acceptable photos. ;)

[pipersmom]

Woohooo!! Welcome home, Pamela! I knew Maroo had something cooking and wondered if it was for Matty...I am so excited to hear all about it, and the rest of your trip! We'll be here once you get all settled in and ready to report :hug: And I can't wait to see the pics!!! :banana:

[Momofwishkid]

Woo Hoo Welcome home!! It sounds like you had an amazing trip and I cant wait to hear about if Matty got to meet his gingerbread men!

[pacrosby]

k

[kellyw8863]

Welcome home!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see pics and read all about it!

[pacrosby]

Thanx for the welcome home guys!!!

We've been home for over 36 hours now and it seems so hard to believe we were even EVER there. I suppose the twelve plus inches of snow outside isn't helping. The multiple suitcases and carry-ons strewn all over the house should be a bit of a clue of course. How the heck I'm going to clean everything up and decorate this house for the holidays is a wonder????????

I'm just itchin' to start a Trip Report but we all know there's other things I need to get to. We uploaded almost 1200 pictures off one of our cameras last night and then proceeded to view the almost 200 photos on our WDW photopass. There are still pictures from 2 other cameras to go through (plus some video), the handful of photos from our GKTW disc AND the pictures Maroo will be forwarding to us. Oh yeah, and some video from Maroo :eek: Holy Cow!! I'll need to square all that away before I can even think of officially starting the TR.

Still I am constantly drawn to this forum!! Why, oh why, can't I drag myself away?????????????:eek:

So, in order to fulfill my need to do/say something, ANYthing......I shall offer up a few tips and tidbits. Let's call them....."Things that occured to me while on Matty's Wish Trip". Now I realize of course they are only my opinions but, perhaps, they may help one other person as they plan their upcoming trip.:)

1. A Wish Trip is just that.........a 'Wish Trip' and not just another 'family vacation'. It deserves to be extra extra EXTRA special. Embrace the 'button'. Wear it proudly. Flash that GAC and don't feel badly. They give Wish families these things for a reason. The majority of the staff WANT to make Wish trips extra special but they can't go out of their way unless Wish families make themselves known. That button is truly Magic. Let it work for you.

2. A Wish Trip is just that........a 'Wish Trip' and not just another 'family vacation'. It deserves to be a trip like no other. A trip that is unlike one's typical family Disney World vacation. It can be beneficial to think outside of the box. Be creative. The ability to take advantage of activities and adventures that might not be possible on one's typical vacation budget is what makes a Wish Trip a once in a lifetime experience. And don't forget GKTW. The Village and it's activities. Make time if possible. There are lifetime memories to be made there as well. And just being there is likely to give you goosebumps. It's what it represents. It, too, is magical.

3, A Wish Trip is just that......a 'Wish Trip' and not just another 'family vactaion'. It is likely to be a Trip that will change you. And it is just the beginning. We spent our last day at the GKTW Village, going back for a relaxing day of play after a very very busy week. Suprisingly, I found that I left that evening for the airport feeling uplifted, not sad as I had expected. Feeling like we were now part of an extended family and knowing that we would be back. We are actually now talking about planning a one year anniversary trip next December which will, of course, include one, or more, visits to GKTW (and perhaps even an afternoon or evening of volunteering for dh or myself). A Wish Trip is a once in a lifetime experience that deserves to be remembered and celebrated for years and years to come.

Of course I do realize that for some families just the ability to go on a family vacation is magic. I guess I just want to be sure people are aware that the potential exists for much more if they so desire.



There are so many things to share with you all. Please feel free to ask any and all questions r/t our trip experience/parks/village/etc. as I will continue to log on and follow everyones' plans (I'm lurking even if I'm not posting to your threads). And sometime, hopefully sooner than later, I will get going on my Trip Report.

And then perhaps I'll have a new PTR to attend to :yay:

Pamela:santa:

[pipersmom]

Thanks, Pamela..looking forward to reading your TR after things get calmer for you. Could you shoot me a pm with what you guys thought of the parties you attended at GKTW? I know we def plan to hit the Christmas party, but would you say there were any others that were "can't miss" ? I'm trying to set our schedule up now that we have dates!!

[chrissid7]

Welcome home guys!!!! It was so nice to spend some time with you all. We will never forget the time we shared, our kids laughter I dont htink I could forget if I tried. The late night hide and seek was just too funny! You have an amazing family. There is no doubt in my mind that we were there at the same time and met here for something much bigger than just meeting. I look to seeing you guys again. There is no way that out of all of the thousands of people there that we just kept accidentally meeting, it was great!!! I cant wait to tell you all about the HUGE MAKEOVER. Check out my ptr and look at the links but have tissues ready. Its been amazing coming home, people still keep stopping by just to say how much they enjoyed being a part of a "blessed" project. Its incredible the stories!

Glad you guys are home safe and sound. We ended up with about 12 inches too. So weird huh lol.

[maroo]

I had so much fun meeting you guys!! :)

I took...a BUNCH of pictures the night of your special evening...which I have yet to share with the DIS. ;) And I already have the disk from the pictures that Disney took (not the PhotoPass - the special Disney Photographer)...so I will include all of those and get them on a disc ASAP to send to you guys.

Life, however, has gotten in the way already and it may be over Christmas before I can even stop to catch my breath and work on getting the pictures to you guys.

Do I have your address? I think I do somewhere.
The pictures that Disney took are so big (over 2 MB each) that I can't even email them, I don't think.

Do you want me to post some here? Do you want me to start a separate Trip Report just for that special night? I will do it whichever way you guys want.

I hope you will copy those hints over to the Wish Trippers thread. :) Those are all awesome tips and coming from a family that just got back - invaluable, really.

I really enjoyed meeting you guys!! :hug:

[maroo]

You guys are going to want to CLICK HERE (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2355747) and subscribe...:rolleyes1


Just sayin'. :)

[pacrosby]

Hey there Maroo!!!

So glad you made it home safe and sound. Sorry to hear that life's not cooperating right now. Here's to better days ahead:hug:

It was so great meeting you! I just can't say thank you enough for all the time and effort you put into making Matty's final night so very very special. The first night with Murphy and then the last night with that crowd of kooky confections!Couldn't have been any more perfect. I've said it before but finding this board and meeting all you folks made our Wish Trip beyond incredible and it has truly changed us all in ways I can't even begin to explain. You are truly somethin' there girl!!

ok, so I found your thread. I'll be following alongpopcorn::

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Pam:santa: (and Matty:love:)

[jessica52877]

Jumping on board! Not sure how I missed 14 pages of this already!

[maroo]

Thank you, darling! Merry Christmas!!! :)

[reelmom]

Just getting on board also. I have been reading maroo's report on your little cutie and found my way to your TR. Can't wait to read more about it.

[pacrosby]

ok......so I'm pretty much ready to close this puppy up and start a brand new Trip Report...............but truth be told, I'm "ascared" LOL That's a heck of a commitment I'm getting myself into. What if I don't live up to your expectations????????????:scared1:

So please bare with me. It will not be anything like Maroo's wonderful mini-TR of Matty's night at the MVMCP....in and out and all done in all it's glory in 48 hours!! I DO have 4 kids ya know and a girl's (alright....old lady) has gotta get some beauty sleep!!

But I'll get it goin' anyway

Wish me luck:)

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Trip Report: "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[maroo]

ok......so I'm pretty much ready to close this puppy up and start a brand new Trip Report...............but truth be told, I'm "ascared" LOL That's a heck of a commitment I'm getting myself into. What if I don't live up to your expectations????????????:scared1:

So please bare with me. It will not be anything like Maroo's wonderful mini-TR of Matty's night at the MVMCP....in and out and all done in all it's glory in 48 hours!! I DO have 4 kids ya know and a girl's (alright....old lady) has gotta get some beauty sleep!!

But I'll get it goin' anyway

Wish me luck:)

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Trip Report: "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

You are so funny!

MOST of my TR's take WEEKS...and it took 4 months to get Lauren's wish trip done... I just had a lot of time on my hands this weekend!

And I have no kids. Just a dog. :rotfl2:

Can't wait to read it!!!!!!!!!!

Don't you worry...I LOVE every single Wish Trip report that I read...and I am NOT telling them ANYTHING about the other magic that happened for you guys............

[kimmylaj]

you will do great on your tr and i for one promise to be somewhat patient (it is very hard for me) cant wait to read all about it

[dmbfan]

Welcome home...:wizard: I was going thur your PT and LOVED the picture of Matty in the gingerbread costume...tooo awesome!!!

I can't wait to see all your pictures!!!