My Son's MAW Trip

[GavandGraciesMommy]

My son, Gavin, has had a rather rough last year medically. On top of that, Gavin has autism and mental retardation so cognitively about 16 months- 2 years old. It was very hard for him to understand what was going on. He had open heart surgery in November and I swear seeing him strapped to that bed was the hardest thing ever. So to make a long story short... we received notification that Gavin is being granted a wish. Although he is primarily nonverbal (about 10 words) when I asked him what he wished all he kept saying was "Lightning McQueen" and "fish. This was a pretty exciting for us because Gavin normally doesnt open and answer questions. It really shows how excited he is So we met with our volunteers last week and they were so awesome and nice. Gavin has wished to go meet Lightning McQueen for his birthday (October 15th). We are waiting for approval now but they were pretty hopeful (but as everyone know they cant make guarantees). I will keep everyone posted

 

[carebearkidney]

Oh Yay! I can't wait to read more about Gavin and Lightning McQueen. I have a 6 year old that is an extreme fan too.
October will be a beautiful time - weather and crowd wise...you should check into trick or treating at MK too So excited for your family!

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

Thank you! Oh I hope that your son gets his wish soon

 

[DisneytheKid]

I hope you hear some good news about the wish soon!

 

[maroo]

hello!!

I just wanted to let you know that I put a link to your pre-trippie report on the Wish Trippers thread so that people can come find you!

I am probably going to Disney in October myself! So who knows - may see you there!

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

Thank you! We are very excited! We are supposed to hear the first of August if our dates are approved. This is kind of the mock schedule that we had come up with. We knew that we did not want to spend as much time at Epcot as the other parks because of our kids ages and attention levels but tell me what you think...
1) Hollywood Studios
2) Magic Kingdom
3) Animal Kingdom--- Epcot at night if we have time. All the kids really want is to ride the nemo ride and Soarin'
4) Sea World, Downtown Disney
5) Universal Studios

This is our very first trip so we are not sure how much time to allow for each of the parks. Obviously we are squeezing a lot into a few days.

 

[connie005]

Thank you! We are very excited! We are supposed to hear the first of August if our dates are approved. This is kind of the mock schedule that we had come up with. We knew that we did not want to spend as much time at Epcot as the other parks because of our kids ages and attention levels but tell me what you think...
1) Hollywood Studios
2) Magic Kingdom
3) Animal Kingdom--- Epcot at night if we have time. All the kids really want is to ride the nemo ride and Soarin'
4) Sea World, Downtown Disney
5) Universal Studios

This is our very first trip so we are not sure how much time to allow for each of the parks. Obviously we are squeezing a lot into a few days.

Hi my daughter Amanda is also getting a wish trip from MAW.We recieved our date October 21 we are going to mnsshp. Like you it is also our first trip we are very excited.i have been all over the net looking at pictures and reading other families trips.i have been going over the trip in my mind but each week it changes lol. I guess i will just let the kids lead the way

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

Hi my daughter Amanda is also getting a wish trip from MAW.We recieved our date October 21 we are going to mnsshp. Like you it is also our first trip we are very excited.i have been all over the net looking at pictures and reading other families trips.i have been going over the trip in my mind but each week it changes lol. I guess i will just let the kids lead the way

I think we might try to do the MNSSHP as well. We didnt ask our wish team for that though so we will probably have to buy the tickets out of pocket. We are still waiting for our dates. Our volunteers are out of town until next Friday but they said that they shoudl know by August 1st. OUr goal dates were for my son's birthay so I really really hope he gets it.

So did you guys plan on doing any Character meals? I went ahead and made a reservation at Tusker House for the days that we asked for just in case because I knwo they fill up quick. I hope your daughter has a wonderful trip!! Do you have a PTR? I would love to keep in touch

 

[Lilfoot93]

I hope you get the dates you want! How fun to go to Disney World for his birthday!

Jackie

 

[connie005]

I think we might try to do the MNSSHP as well. We didnt ask our wish team for that though so we will probably have to buy the tickets out of pocket. We are still waiting for our dates. Our volunteers are out of town until next Friday but they said that they shoudl know by August 1st. OUr goal dates were for my son's birthay so I really really hope he gets it.

So did you guys plan on doing any Character meals? I went ahead and made a reservation at Tusker House for the days that we asked for just in case because I knwo they fill up quick. I hope your daughter has a wonderful trip!! Do you have a PTR? I would love to keep in touch

i haven't started a real ptr yet but if you look in the disabilities thread i started something like a ptr lol

we really didn't plan any character meals cause i heard they take long and we didn't want to miss out on time during the parks I really hope you get your dates it would be such an amazing birthday gift

 

[MomOfAnAngel]

Hoping you get your dates, we would like to go around that same time as well. Maybe we'll both get lucky and we'll see you there. That seems like one of the best times for weather and crowds from what I've read, and Braden won't have to miss more school.

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

We received notification today that pending the doctor's approval Gavin will be able to go on October 14th! We are very excited that he got his dates. They are also going to let him do the MNSSHP We are very excited

 

[maroo]

We received notification today that pending the doctor's approval Gavin will be able to go on October 14th! We are very excited that he got his dates. They are also going to let him do the MNSSHP We are very excited

Woot Woot!!!!!

I will add your dates!!

I am so glad he gets to go to MNSSHP!

and...uh...I think I am in the airport that day...not sure when my flight leaves - but who knows, we may be in the same place at the same time!

 

[connie005]

We received notification today that pending the doctor's approval Gavin will be able to go on October 14th! We are very excited that he got his dates. They are also going to let him do the MNSSHP We are very excited

OMG!! that is so great doesn`t it feel more real now.

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

Yes it does feel so much more real now!! We are so so excited. We had to explain what "happy tears" were to my daughter yesterday because I kept crying whenever I talked about it. I tend to be a crier whenever I feel any emotion This is just such a wonderful gift to him and I do not know how to thank MAW enough. We havent even gone yet and I already feel like this.. wonder what it will be like when we are there lol

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

Woot Woot!!!!!

I will add your dates!!

I am so glad he gets to go to MNSSHP!

and...uh...I think I am in the airport that day...not sure when my flight leaves - but who knows, we may be in the same place at the same time!

Yes please add us to your list. This is sort of the mock schedule I came up with.
1) Hollywood Studios (Gavin's birthday and Lightning McQueen Day)
2) Magic Kingdom
3) Animal Kingdom--- Epcot at night if we have time. All the kids really want is to ride the nemo ride and Soarin'
4) Sea World, Downtown Disney
5) Universal Studios

I have heard that Hollywood Studios wont take a whole day so we might hit Epcot at night. I am not sure. We want to make sure to give the kids time to do the activities at GKTW. The only day I know we will spend all day at the park until really really late (except the break we plan to take for naps) is the day we are at Magic Kingdom. I made my daughter an appointment at BBB for 6:30 PM and then we will do the MNSSHP as well that night. We are bring Gracie's princess dress with us because I heard they are crazy expensive at the park. She has been saving her money from her chore and daddy's change she gets when he leaves out (he has coincidentally been leaving an awful lot of it out for her she is daddy's little girl for sure) My very talented sister in law is helping make Gavin a costume he can wear with his sensory issues.

Gavin has autism and mental retardation so he is basically nonverbal but on some days we get a lot of speech and then we may go days without any. I told him that Lightning McQueen was kind of like that so he may not talk when we are there. He laughed like he understood. I thought it might make him feel even more special to know he was like Lightning. Little white lies...

I could not remember all of the info you needed for your spread sheet but I know that the fireworks we want to see are for sure the ones at Magic Kingdom and Fantasmic. Any other recommendations are greatly appreciated. Also I have strict instructions from both kids that they want to see lots of parades and characters lol

 

[carebearkidney]

Yay for dates and happy tears! Totally a fellow crier here too. Heck, I get teary eyed when Ariel hugs her dad at the end of Little Mermaid! sheesh!

 

[Lilfoot93]

We received notification today that pending the doctor's approval Gavin will be able to go on October 14th! We are very excited that he got his dates. They are also going to let him do the MNSSHP We are very excited

Yay! I am so glad that you got the dates you wanted!

Jackie

 

[ElishaConway]

Hi, we are going very close to the same time so I am going to follow your ptr. Hope yall have an amazing time!
Elisha Conway

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

Yes it does feel so much more real now!! We are so so excited. We had to explain what "happy tears" were to my daughter yesterday because I kept crying whenever I talked about it. I tend to be a crier whenever I feel any emotion This is just such a wonderful gift to him and I do not know how to thank MAW enough. We havent even gone yet and I already feel like this.. wonder what it will be like when we are there lol

Look forward to talking more Glad Im not the only crier out there lol