Make a Wish (and other organizations) ~ Wish Trippers UNITE! Volume FIVE!!

[onceagain1]

I just came across a surprise.. Well a surprise because I didn't see it until just now. When we went to the Tusker House Restaurant in Animal Kingdom for the character breakfast on our trip, they had Donald outside in back of the restaurant on patio for photos. Typical greet and meet type photo. Well, while eating breakfast, one of the photo assistants brought us my daughters' photo (an 8x10 in cardboard type frame) of her and Donald thirty minutes earlier. I thought that was so nice. I looked at the front (photo) and then the back as it felt weird. There was some kind of frame stand back there or something. Anyway, just now, I took it out of the bag it was in and put it on our counter when I noticed there was a white clear bag inside of the frame on the back with more photos in it. There were 10 additional 4x6 prints with three of them having the text on it saying "Where Dreams Come True". Wow, that was so sweet of them to do that.

That's amazing, so nice. I was looking at that restaurant, but in general, I wasn't thinking of breakfast, I'm not sure about getting up, ready, and over to disney for breakfast. Seems like a lot to manage. How was it for you guys?

We just got back to gktw after being at Sea World from open to close. We are exhausted but had a blast. We are now waiting for Katies Kitchen to deliver dinner. Then off to the pool.
At sea world we had a special meet and greet with the dolphins and their trainers, that was Elsa's wish. Then, we sat front row in front of platform for shamu show. The gktw button gets you the spot. Although it is a major splash zone, we barely got wet and were able to be just feet away from the killer whales. AWESOME DAY. Meltdowns galore. And we are looking forward to our ritual of ice cream

Sounds just wonderful!! Can't wait!

As for us, sorry for not posting more, it's actually because I only have so much free time in the evening, and am doing lots of reading about Disney on various sites, and planning for our trip. Can't believe we leave in just 10 days!! Tomorrow is Chatterbox's last wish link present! Got them their roll on/carryon luggage, for each girl. Thought about getting princess ones, but really wanted one that had a parent strap for the inevitable carries, especially give the 2 girls.

I have a question for those that were/are there recently. Is there free wifi at GKTW? I'm wondering about putting on a US cell phone/data package for the time we're down there (have to pay for 30 days). It's a bit expensive so I'd like to get the cheapest package possible. Using free wifi would certainly help.

 

[onceagain1]

Well we're home from the most amazing trip ever! Words will never describe how great it was and how tired we all are lol the week went by so fast! Now we're home and right back to our normal...Kyra has a really swollen throat so instead of school or her scheduled neurology appointment tomorrow we are off to the doctors to have her checked out as she had a fever too. In hind sight I know how she is with germs and should have pre booked tomorrows appointment before we left for the trip. I will update in more detail about the trip in the next couple of days but in the mean time they really aren't kidding when they say you need to pack an extra bag to come home with. You get ALOT!

Glad you guys had such a great time - yay!! Sorry she's sick already, this is what I suspect may happen with us as well. Chatterbox has gotten sick after only just 2 days of extra fun packed days. Will be trying hard to make her nap. We're packing an empty large duffel bag to use, think that will do?

And PS - how did you find the crowds? Crazy? or not too bad?

 

[KaylaM]

That's amazing, so nice. I was looking at that restaurant, but in general, I wasn't thinking of breakfast, I'm not sure about getting up, ready, and over to disney for breakfast. Seems like a lot to manage. How was it for you guys?

It was our 3rd day there, which by then, it was a bit easier than it would have been earlier in the week since we are from California (time difference). We made our reservation for 10:30am, so it wasn't too bad to get up and get over there. GKTW is just a few minutes away. Breakfast was soooo good - best eggs I have ever had, and I am very picky about eggs... They were really good with my daughter - one of the highlights of trip...

 

[DelanaAndKyra]

That's amazing, so nice. I was looking at that restaurant, but in general, I wasn't thinking of breakfast, I'm not sure about getting up, ready, and over to disney for breakfast. Seems like a lot to manage. How was it for you guys?




Sounds just wonderful!! Can't wait!

As for us, sorry for not posting more, it's actually because I only have so much free time in the evening, and am doing lots of reading about Disney on various sites, and planning for our trip. Can't believe we leave in just 10 days!! Tomorrow is Chatterbox's last wish link present! Got them their roll on/carryon luggage, for each girl. Thought about getting princess ones, but really wanted one that had a parent strap for the inevitable carries, especially give the 2 girls.

I have a question for those that were/are there recently. Is there free wifi at GKTW? I'm wondering about putting on a US cell phone/data package for the time we're down there (have to pay for 30 days). It's a bit expensive so I'd like to get the cheapest package possible. Using free wifi would certainly help.

Glad you guys had such a great time - yay!! Sorry she's sick already, this is what I suspect may happen with us as well. Chatterbox has gotten sick after only just 2 days of extra fun packed days. Will be trying hard to make her nap. We're packing an empty large duffel bag to use, think that will do?

And PS - how did you find the crowds? Crazy? or not too bad?

Crowds werent too bad at all!. Also as far as the wifi, there is wifi there and the wifi to use as well as password is in the GKTW village guide. Also you can use guest services at the parks to call shuttles if need be. Another thing is I did add an international plan on my phone for 30 days then got down there and my phone had no service at all because my provider was so far away! actually called the provider today to get the money back as they decided not to tell me about that fact but added anyway. As far as calls in the village...there is long distance in the villas

 

[onceagain1]

Crowds werent too bad at all!. Also as far as the wifi, there is wifi there and the wifi to use as well as password is in the GKTW village guide. Also you can use guest services at the parks to call shuttles if need be. Another thing is I did add an international plan on my phone for 30 days then got down there and my phone had no service at all because my provider was so far away! actually called the provider today to get the money back as they decided not to tell me about that fact but added anyway. As far as calls in the village...there is long distance in the villas

Yikes! Okay, have been looking into the plans, but thanks for the heads up, will check about whether they have coverage there.

 

[onceagain1]

That's amazing, so nice. I was looking at that restaurant, but in general, I wasn't thinking of breakfast, I'm not sure about getting up, ready, and over to disney for breakfast. Seems like a lot to manage. How was it for you guys?

It was our 3rd day there, which by then, it was a bit easier than it would have been earlier in the week since we are from California (time difference). We made our reservation for 10:30am, so it wasn't too bad to get up and get over there. GKTW is just a few minutes away. Breakfast was soooo good - best eggs I have ever had, and I am very picky about eggs... They were really good with my daughter - one of the highlights of trip...

Okay, that sounds reasonable, and I think that's the place I've heard someone else say was their favorite place for breakfast.

 

[onceagain1]

Oh, another question for those of you that have been. Did you stay at GKTW in the mornings that characters were coming there? If so, were you still able to arrive at parks at decent times?

 

[kalimom6]

Yesterday we grabbed the quick breakfast at ice cream palace. That starts at 745. Then we headed to the theater where mickey was going to be. That starts at 8 and we were the firsts ones there. Then headed to the castle and were second for pluto. Elsa was given a mickey mouse when we checked in here at gktw and mickey signed the foot and pluto signed the hand. We missed goofy and mary poppins as we wanted to get on the road.
Crowds are minimal and no lines for rides, at sea world anyway. And i am so glad I am so glad I packed how i did. 4 shorts, 1 jeans/pants for everyone, not counting jeans we traveled in. We havent worn jeans yet. This is day 4. I checked the weather constantly before we left. We are from Montana so this is perfect weather.
Off to figure out what exactly is on agenda today

 

[kalimom6]

Oh and we got to sea world at 9, opening time.

 

[jas792]

wow sounds like you are having a great time - I cant believe you are getting so much done so fast with all the young children you have.
We are still waiting to hear for our dates. Cant wait till we get them.
Have a great time today
Jo

 

[jas792]

can someone tell me how to start a waiting for dates thread

 

[DelanaAndKyra]

Yikes! Okay, have been looking into the plans, but thanks for the heads up, will check about whether they have coverage there.

i'm wish rogers, they convinced me before hand it was covered but proved otherwise

 

[jas792]

you can make long distance calls from your Villa in GKTW for free

 

[NEmel]

can someone tell me how to start a waiting for dates thread

The instructions on how to start at PTR are on page 2 of this post. Not quite sure how you get them listed under the category on page 1. Mine isn't there so can't help you with that but you can put the link in your signature!

 

[KaylaM]

Yikes! Okay, have been looking into the plans, but thanks for the heads up, will check about whether they have coverage there.

I was told I would have coverage there, but there were only a few places in the village it worked. It worked every where else, and not at all in our villa, which was the pits. I wish I would have known before hand, which is why I asked them.. LOL! You do get 30 minutes of free phone time in your villa, which came in handy.

 

[KaylaM]

That's amazing, so nice. I was looking at that restaurant, but in general, I wasn't thinking of breakfast, I'm not sure about getting up, ready, and over to disney for breakfast. Seems like a lot to manage. How was it for you guys?


Okay, that sounds reasonable, and I think that's the place I've heard someone else say was their favorite place for breakfast.

I have a lot to do in the morning with my daughter (treatments, feeding, dressing) before leaving the villa and it still wasn't bad on timing. I don't know if I mentioned it, but we did have about 30 minutes to walk around the park near the restaurant to wait for our reservation time to check-in, which they allow you to do so 15 minutes early. So its pretty easy, and a short drive. Good luck, and have fun!!

 

[KaylaM]

Oh, another question for those of you that have been. Did you stay at GKTW in the mornings that characters were coming there? If so, were you still able to arrive at parks at decent times?

I always got my daughter up, did everything with her, went to see characters every morning, ate breakfast (but one day) in Gingerbread house and headed to the parks. Even got lost going to Universal Orlando / Island Adventures (our GPS in rent a car was the pits), and that took us an extra 40 minutes and still had plenty of time to enjoy our day. We got back to GKTW for the evening event there with time to rest right before. We planned our day (get ready, characters, breakfast, park(s), rest, evening event) on our busiest days and it was still enjoyable and didn't seem rush. Tell yourself to just go with the flow and enjoy every moment, and not worry about rushing to make it here or there. I was worried one day about being here and there by a certain time and it wasn't nearly as enjoyable nor relaxing as other days. I learned my lesson that day. Good luck and just have fun.

Oh, and remember, you can't always spend a week in the village, but you can at parks (in the future), so do what all you can at the village, then do what you can at the parks but know you can always come back to the parks. If that makes sense.

 

[onceagain1]

I always got my daughter up, did everything with her, went to see characters every morning, ate breakfast (but one day) in Gingerbread house and headed to the parks. Even got lost going to Universal Orlando / Island Adventures (our GPS in rent a car was the pits), and that took us an extra 40 minutes and still had plenty of time to enjoy our day. We got back to GKTW for the evening event there with time to rest right before. We planned our day (get ready, characters, breakfast, park(s), rest, evening event) on our busiest days and it was still enjoyable and didn't seem rush. Tell yourself to just go with the flow and enjoy every moment, and not worry about rushing to make it here or there. I was worried one day about being here and there by a certain time and it wasn't nearly as enjoyable nor relaxing as other days. I learned my lesson that day. Good luck and just have fun.

Oh, and remember, you can't always spend a week in the village, but you can at parks (in the future), so do what all you can at the village, then do what you can at the parks but know you can always come back to the parks. If that makes sense.

That's a great tip, and so true. I was browsing restaurant reservation openings again today but couldn't commit. I didn't want to tie us to a reservation and thus feel rushed to get there. If u see something come up that we would really like, then maybe I'll book that.

Thanks for the tips everyone, and keep them coming. Didn't know about free long distance from GKTW. Perhaps only need data/text plan while there (hubby and I text each other alot to communicate with us/kids).

 

[KaylaM]

That's a great tip, and so true. I was browsing restaurant reservation openings again today but couldn't commit. I didn't want to tie us to a reservation and thus feel rushed to get there. If u see something come up that we would really like, then maybe I'll book that.

Thanks for the tips everyone, and keep them coming. Didn't know about free long distance from GKTW. Perhaps only need data/text plan while there (hubby and I text each other alot to communicate with us/kids).

You can cancel with no charge/penalty up until the evening before your reservation.

 

[onceagain1]

You can cancel with no charge/penalty up until the evening before your reservation.

Oh that's right! Thanks for reminding me, maybe now I'll feel comfortable making a reservation