Mallory Magical Wish to DisneyWorld & GKTW! UPDATED 8/1/13 -- Updated pictures!!

[Redwavess]

Pre-Trip and Trip Highlights...
Think of this as your Table of Contents
You can click on one of these underlined links or find the post by going to the page it is on and scrolling down to the post number in the parentheses I hope that helps make looking around easier!!!

Medical Info (pg. 1 Post #10)
Mallory's Detailed Medical Info Carepage http://www.carepages.com/carepages/MalloryAddison
Santa Update (pg. 2 Post #28)
I Wish For... Rudolph!?! Mallory's MAW Wish Story (pg. 4 Post # 46)
Announcing the over planned... trip plans (pg. 6 Post # 76)
We Got Mail... The Big Give (pg. 7 Post #96)
Rudolph Returns...More Big Give (pg. 8 Post # 108)
Our 1st Disney Family Movie Night... And The Big Give Once Again (pg. 8 Post # 120)
Disney Movie Night Round 2... And the Big Give Strikes Again!! (pg. 9 Post #133)
Double Big Gives...And The Countdown Calendar (pg. 10 Post #143)
A BIG GIVE to Be Treasured Forever!! (pg. 10 Post #149).
Make a Wish Makes a Call And a Family Big Give (pg 11 Post #165)
A Whale of a Big Give (pg. 12 Post # 175)
A Brother and Sister BIG GIVE (pg. 12 Post #179)
Another BIG GIVE for the kids!! (pg. 13 Post #189)
It's Raining BIG GIVES!! (pg. 14 Post #196)
A Bunch of Big Gives!! (pg. 15 Post # 212)
Another Big Day of Big Gives!! (pg. 16 Post # 227)
A Double Dose of Big Gives!! (pg 16. Post # 238)
10 Days to Go... And More From the Big Give!! (pg. 17 Post # 245)
A Final BIG GIVE And It's AMAZING!! (pg. 18 Post # 258)
The Send Off Party & Counting Down the Last Hours!! (pg. 18 Post # 270)
I wish for New Orleans!?! (pg. 19 Post 278)
We're Back!!! :-( (pg. 20 Post 291)
Day 1 -- Trip Plans Revisited & Day 1 -- I Wish for... New Orleans (pg. 21 Post 308)
Day 2 -- Still on our way to Orlando & Arriving at Give Kids the World!!! (pg. 22 Post# 318)
Day 2 -- Animal Kingdom (pg. 23 Post #340)
Day 2 -- Candy Land Carnival!! (pg. 24 Post #357)
Day 3 -- Lines? What Lines?!? -- Universal Studios (pg. 25 Post # 362)
Day 3 -- Kids Night Out... Mallory out and about on her OWN!!! :-0!! (pg. 25 Post # 370)
Day 4 -- Part I Disney's HolllyWood Studios... Rides, Shows, and Tie Dye FUN! ;-) (pg. 26 post # 384)
Day 4 -- Part II Finally ~EPCOT~ Is Mallory Tall enough to ride Soarin'(pg. 27 post # 399)
Day 5 -- Mallory at the Magic Kingdom... Just simply MAGIC!!! (pg. 27 post # 403)
Day 5 -- CONTINUED Mallory at the Magic Kingdom... Just Simply Magic (BBB) (pg. 27 post # 404)
We interrupt this regularly scheduled update to bring you... Pictures of the Kids Today (pg. 28 post # 407)
Day 6 -- Sea World -- A Ton of Fun!! (pg. 28 post 408)
Day 6 -- More Sea World -- A whale of a time was had by all!! (pg. 28 post 409)
Day 6 -- An Evening at Give Kids the World... Swimming, Christmas, and Special Visitor Comes to our Villa!! (pg. 28 Post 411)
Day 7 -- Fun, Fun, Fun, At Island of Adventure!! (pg. 28 Post 414)
Day 7 -- Island of Adventure Part II (pg. 28 Post 415)
Day 7 -- Time to have fun at the Princess and Pirate Party!! (pg. 28 Post 417)
Day 8 -- Having fun at Give Kids the World Updated 7/21/12 (pg. 28 Post 419)
Day 8 -- More Fun at Give Kids the World and time to go home Updated 7/21/12 (pg. 28 Post 420)
Day 8 -- Part III Heading Home and a look Back at Mallory's Magical Make a Wish Trip Updated 7/21/12 (pg. 29 Post 421)
RECENT PICTURES Cars Land, Pop Corn, The Waiting Game and fun... A Day trip to Disneyland! (pg 30 Post 438)

Hi all!

I've been reading through the posts for some time and I am excited to introduce myself and my family to all of you. I am thrilled to join this wonderful family like group you have here. I have already gotten some great ideas from reading, like having Disney family movie nights to get us ready to go.

On to the introductions (For Medical Info See Post #10)...

My family

Family Vacation 2008 Cruise to Mexico!! Husband Jason, Me Madeline, Michael 13 & Mallory 3!

Another photo of the family - dad + grandma This is at Disneyland outside the Monsters Inc Ride.

Our wonderful wish child

We are doing a happy dance now that we know Mallory's wish to go to DisneyWorld has been granted. We are going in February during President's Week. We have no plans so far and will need some help to make the most of our trip.

Mallory qualifies for a wish based on her congenital heart defects. She was born with a series of serious heart conditions that have so far required 3 heart surgeries. She is such a trooper you would never know by looking at her all that she has been through. She is a happy, smart, funny, kindergartener that is the star of our family.

Thanks for being such a great group for wish families to come to and share. I look forward to hearing from you.

Talk to you soon!

Madeline

 

[dizneeat]

Hi!
Your wish child is beautiful! What a cute little princess!

We will be there the same time you are, so building up the excitement will be a lot of fun!

 

[Redwavess]

Here is a couple more of our favorite Disney Pictures:

This was our family Christmas Card in 2006.

Riding down Main Street with Mom! Mallory's birthday trip to Disneyland for her 2nd BIRTHDAY!!

Mallory, Daddy, and Goofy!!

Mallory , Michael & Dad with Mickey Mouse!!

We love DISNEY!! I could fill pages with Disney pictures but I won't bore you!! LOL We have been to Disneyland many times, but never to DisneyWorld, so this will be especially, special!!

 

[Redwavess]

Thanks dizneeat!! Yes excitement is building.

It looks like you have been there many times. This will be our 1st time (unless you count when I was toddler). Do you have any tips for us?

I will check out your food reviews!! They look interesting!! I am a fellow food lover myself!!

Thanks for the reply!

Happy Vacationing!!

Madeline

 

[dizneeat]

Thanks dizneeat!! Yes excitement is building.

It looks like you have been there many times. This will be our 1st time (unless you count when I was toddler). Do you have any tips for us?

I will check out your food reviews!! They look interesting!! I am a fellow food lover myself!!

Thanks for the reply!

Happy Vacationing!!

Madeline

We love to go to WDW! We fell in love with Disneyland on my first trip to the USA (we are Austrian) in 1992. After we had travelled to WDW we were caught in its "spell" and have to go back year after year.
Since we have to travel from Europe we usually stay for a month during the summer.
As for tips .......... make good use of Fastpass and get your ADRs as soon as possible! Many of the character restaurants fill up fast.
Don't miss Crystal Palace for breakfast in the MK. If you get an early ADR you can enter the park before the general public and you get Main Street and the castle mainly to yourself.
Have you thought about getting photopass? There is a pre-purchase offer, which is $99,- instead of $149,- if you purchase after you travel. We love getting lots of photos of the two of us together and you can puts a LOT of borders around the photos.

If you have any questions .......... just ask! I would love to help you plan your trip!

 

[Redwavess]

Thanks Disneeat! You are awesome!! I really appreciate the tips. Crystal Palace sounds great for breakfast and getting into the park early will be EXCELLENT!! The photopass sounds like a GREAT idea too!!

I really appreciate the help with planning!!

What about for lunch? Are there any must do lunch spots? The 50's diner at MGM sounds fun. Have you been there?

Thanks again, so much!!

Cheers,

Madeline

 

[my2girlsrock]

Hi there.....

I am relatively new to the board as well, we have a "wish child", Taylor who is 9, & her wish was just granted by Make A Wish. We will be going to WDW in March 2011

I just wanted to subscribe to your thread & I to tell you all the people on here are wonderful !!!! They are always helpful & try to give so much help with everything!!!

Good Luck planning!!!!

 

[Redwavess]

My2girlsrock,

Thanks for the reply. You all must be so excited, just as we are! We will have to check in on each other and share the tips we learn!!

Cheers,

Madeline

 

[smileycrissy]

Hi joining in.

Congrats on the MAW trip. You have an adorable family. I love the Christmas photo shot.

I honestly have to put a vote in for Whispering Canyon Cafe over in the Fort Wilderness Lodge. The staff is hysterical!! Check you tube for some videos on what they do. I think your kids will get a kick out of that place.

 

[Redwavess]

Here is info on the medical stuff for anyone interested:

Our daughter Mallory was born on New Year's Eve (2004-2005). Everything seemed perfect until the next day. She stopped breathing in the nursery and was flown to Loma Linda University Children's hospital where she was diagnosed with a set of heart defects; Transposition of the Great Arteries, VSD, Double-Outlet Left Ventricle, and pulmonary atresia. She had BT shunt heart surgery at five days old, and came home at 10 days old to grow and get ready for her complete repair (the Rastelli procedure).

Yeah! Time to go home!!

Next, Mallory had her Glenn surgery down at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in December of 2006. This surgery turned her heart into a single ventricle. We were hoping that she would be able to have a complete repair and that is why we traveled to another hospital, but as our initial surgeon stated, a complete repair, the Rastelli was not possible with her anatomy. Not only was she unable to have the Rastelli, but she also had some complications that kept us in the hospital for 22 days. Her complications included both diaphragms being paralyzed (for which she had an additional surgery), a chylothorax, and pleural effusion (fluid on her lungs). It was very scary at times, but we pulled through with God's strength and the support of our families and friends.

Going home after the 2nd surgery. Home is such a wonderful word after a scary hospital stay.

Finally, we went back at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital with Dr. Bailey, and had her 3rd surgery the Fontan on May 29th 2007. We were anxious, but also excited to finish the last of the three-step surgeries.

Getting ready for her 3rd surgery.

Although the heart stuff has been scary, and overwhelming at times, we love being Mallory's parents and wouldn't change it for the world, so if this the price of admission we are happy (most of the time to pay it!

Mallory now!! Her 1st day of kindergarten.

 

[Redwavess]

Thanks so much for joining in Smileycrissy!!

Thanks for the compliment on the Christmas photo. There is a funny story behind that picture. We went to a picture studio took tons of pictures, but none of them just right. So I called my sister we got a white sheet and some lights and took more pictures at home. We gave Mallory that ornament because she was getting tired or taking pictures and it ended up so cute in the picture.

Thanks for the Whispering Canyon Cafe suggestions. I went to Youtube and that looks like so much fun! I will have to make sure someone in my family asks for ketchup. LOL

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate the help SO much!

Cheers,

Madeline

 

[Redwavess]

Okay so I'm reading through some PTRs and I noticed people planning what they will do on certain days. Do we make the plans ourselves or does GKTW or MAW? Does everyone receive the same number or days and tickets?

So far we do not have any details from MAW yet. We have been told our dates are confirmed and we sent in the waivers. What happens next??

Thanks!!

 

[smileycrissy]

You're very welcome! I hope you guys have a lot of fun when you go to Whispering Canyon.

I think you decide what days you want to go where. I don't know the details 100% but you could probably ask one of the parents of the other WISH kids PTR's and they should be able to answer. Everyone is really helpful.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Have a great time planning this special trip. Your family is beautiful. I look forward to hearing your plans....

 

[my2girlsrock]

Okay so I'm reading through some PTRs and I noticed people planning what they will do on certain days. Do we make the plans ourselves or does GKTW or MAW? Does everyone receive the same number or days and tickets?

So far we do not have any details from MAW yet. We have been told our dates are confirmed and we sent in the waivers. What happens next??

Thanks!!

Ok don't quote me on any of this but I will try to answer your questions based on what is going on with our MAW trip
You make all the plans as far as what you want to do on each day on your own, I got good advice from another parent on here ~ they said to figure out what you didn't want to miss each night & plan according to that. For example if you wanted to see a certain night parade at a certain park then plan on going the day they had the night parade or if there is something that GKTW has on a certain night that you want to be there for plan around that. Does that make sense to you .... as I am typing it I think it makes sense but when I reread it I am not sure .
I believe everyone receives the same tickets ~ 3 day Disney park hopper, 2 day IOA/US park hopper & 1 day SeaWorld. Do u have everything as far as dates/flight info?
I hope this helps you somewhat.....

 

[Redwavess]

Do u have everything as far as dates/flight info?
I hope this helps you somewhat.....

Thanks for all your help with my questions. I really appreciate it!! You totally made sense!!

No we do not have flight info yet. We have confirmed dates (President's Week in February) and we just sent back the releases so I'm hoping more info is coming soon!!

Thanks again!!

 

[Redwavess]

Have a great time planning this special trip. Your family is beautiful. I look forward to hearing your plans....

Thanks for the reply!!

 

[my2girlsrock]

Thanks for all your help with my questions. I really appreciate it!! You totally made sense!!

No we do not have flight info yet. We have confirmed dates (President's Week in February) and we just sent back the releases so I'm hoping more info is coming soon!!

Thanks again!!

No problem.... I actually got the info from everyone on here, they are all so helpful!!!!

 

[Redwavess]

Hi all,

I have some great news to share. Mallory went to see her cardiologist this week and he says everything looks GREAT!! I was worried that we were going to get some bad news, I just want her wish trip to be perfect... I don't want her heart defect to get in her way. Sure enough we have a green light for fun. So we are doing the happy dance at my house this weekend!!

So it is back to the planning and preparing for fun we go!!

Keep the suggestions coming. I am loving all the great tips I'm getting!! Thanks so much!!

Madeline

 

[dizneeat]

Hi all,

I have some great news to share. Mallory went to see her cardiologist this week and he says everything looks GREAT!! I was worried that we were going to get some bad news, I just want her wish trip to be perfect... I don't want her heart defect to get in her way. Sure enough we have a green light for fun. So we are doing the happy dance at my house this weekend!!

So it is back to the planning and preparing for fun we go!!

Keep the suggestions coming. I am loving all the great tips I'm getting!! Thanks so much!!

Madeline

Hi Madeline!

Sorry, I haven't posted here much, but I have been reading along!

Your news today is the best news ever! A green light for fun!!!
Congratulations and happy planning!