Karlyn’s Wish Is Coming True ***1st hair tutorial***

[bigdisgrandma]

Okay, It is finally here. WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD Sept 10-16! We are going on a very special Make a Wish trip for our Granddaughter and now we can really start planning. This will be an interesting trip to plan as half of our group of 10 will be staying at GKTW and half will be staying at Port Orleans Riverside with free dining. It is taking little bit more strategy for us than our usual trips to the World to say the least. Grandpa and Grandma have just a slight addiction to WDW and we are thrilled that this is our second trip this year.

Here is our cast of thousands—no really just 10

Grandpa—loves it all but is not into the planning
Grandma—loves the planning
Aunt Mandy—always up for a trip to Disney anywhere
Uncle Tim—you’re not leaving me home!
Uncle Jason—Florida? count me in
Dad—just going with the flow, can’t wait for Test Track
Mom—obsessed with planning, so like her mom
Brother Brody—10 yo, and ready to take on the world
Sister Karlyn—8 yo, our wish girl—wants to meet princesses and Mickey
Sister Gabby—7 yo, wants her pic taken with Minnie while Gabby does a handstand to show her gymnastics class

The travel arrangements have been coordinated with Make a Wish and Delta airlines so we are all on the same flights from Salt Lake to Orlando and back. There are two rental cars. We have a couple of ADR’s because of requests by Karlyn and others. Grandpa is on the look out for autograph books for the 3 kids. Grandma thinks we all need matching shirts. The paper countdown chain is surrounding the kitchen. The wish party is set for August 9th at the Wishing Place here in Salt Lake. And if that isn’t enough excitement, our wish family is buying a new house and moving about 3 weeks before our extravaganza! It will be packing, unpacking and more packing.

We would love to hear any suggestions about things that are different with a Make A Wish Trip and also if anyone has tried this “Coordination of Benefits” that we are attempting between GKTW and POR. (Sorry, Grandma works with medical billing)

We love reading all the other wonderful MAW trip reports and hope ours will be interesting to some of you as well.

[AURORA73]

Yeah I'm the first post. I am so excited to hear about the trip.

[bigdisgrandma]

Yeah Aurora73. You know I will be counting on you for help with this as you have great experience with MAW in Utah and with Disney.

[bigdisgrandma]

Now that planning is in full swing, Mom and Grandma are spending lots of time on the computer (dis boards) and the phone trying to get everything going. Because we are lucky enough to be coming on our MAW trip during free Dining and our trip was not finalized until recently, we missed the magic 180 day chance for ADR’s. That along with the size of our group—10 people, has made things a little difficult. Roxanne at WDW-Dine was SO helpful and kind.

So here is the beginning of our plans

Sept 10—Leave SLC and arrive in Orlando about 5 pm. Wish family will go to GKTW for orientation and dinner. The other 5 will go to POR, get settled in and grab some dinner.
Sept 11—SeaWorld during the day and then GKTW that evening for Santa and the fun
Sept 12—BBB for K and G during the day. Not sure what to do with the rest of the day but then off to MNSSHP. We plan to get there around 4 for the evening. Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern at 8.
Sept 13—MK in the AM. Crystal Palace for lunch
Sept 14—HS and AK
Sept 15—Epcot, Dinner at Biergarten
Sept 16—Leave for airport around 1:30 so shopping at DTD before heading to the airport.

We probably won’t use the US/IOA passes as the kids really only want to do Disney. They have been slightly brainwashed by their grandparents!

We are so excited to be able to have this MAW trip. Right now our Karlyn is doing quite well and doesn’t require much medical intervention, only oxygen at night. She does tire quite easily so we want to take things easy.

Can someone tell us what time the GKTW Santa party starts on Thursday? Will it be ok to go to SeaWorld on that day?

Thanks for your help.

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Bigdisgrandma....awesome start to your trip report!!!!! I think your plans look great!!!! If you go to the GKTW website, I think it lists the times of their activities....if not...I think it was around 7 pm. I think going to Seaworld that day would be fine. We did Seaworld on a sat. and ended up going to something that night at GKTW (having a duh moment and can't remember what it was! ) The girls loved seaworld, we just got tuckered out and decided to cut it short...I really wanted to stay and watch the nighttime Shamu show, but we didn't make it. Oh well....a reason to go back...woohoo!! Keep up the good work, I can't wait to read more!!

[AURORA73]

You can count on my help! I miss being in the same office hearing all about the plans and sharing Disboard talk. I'm excited for your trip and look forward to reading the full trip report in a few months.

[IndayMichelle]

I am so excited for you! My little cousin was granted a family trip to WDW through MAW and I love looking at her pictures!

We're going to MNSSHP the same night! And CP at MK the next day to eat with Pooh and friends! Maybe we'll run into each other...

[Ppufi]

Since Seaworld and Universal close earlier, you should be out in time to see Santa. We did Universal that day, left at the closing, and were just in time for the Christmas festivities.

[bigdisgrandma]

Originally Posted by Iluvmickeymouse!

Bigdisgrandma....awesome start to your trip report!!!!! I think your plans look great!!!! If you go to the GKTW website, I think it lists the times of their activities....if not...I think it was around 7 pm. I think going to Seaworld that day would be fine. We did Seaworld on a sat. and ended up going to something that night at GKTW (having a duh moment and can't remember what it was! ) The girls loved seaworld, we just got tuckered out and decided to cut it short...I really wanted to stay and watch the nighttime Shamu show, but we didn't make it. Oh well....a reason to go back...woohoo!! Keep up the good work, I can't wait to read more!!

Thanks so much. Karlyn's mom has been checking with the GKTW website and has quite a bit of info from there. I am just like you, I can always use any excuse to head to Orlando!

Denise

[bigdisgrandma]

Originally Posted by AURORA73

You can count on my help! I miss being in the same office hearing all about the plans and sharing Disboard talk. I'm excited for your trip and look forward to reading the full trip report in a few months.

I miss you too Aurora73. At least we're close enough we can still go to lunch

Originally Posted by IndayMichelle

I am so excited for you! My little cousin was granted a family trip to WDW through MAW and I love looking at her pictures!

We're going to MNSSHP the same night! And CP at MK the next day to eat with Pooh and friends! Maybe we'll run into each other...

I'll be watching for you, we'll be that group of 10 with two very blond little princesses. Hope we do see each other.

Originally Posted by Ppufi

Since Seaworld and Universal close earlier, you should be out in time to see Santa. We did Universal that day, left at the closing, and were just in time for the Christmas festivities.

Thanks, sounds like our plan will work out for that day! Were you just worn out by the end of your trip? I am thinking that it is making me tired just planning!

Thanks to you all. Have a wonderful day.
Denise

[Bill_Lin]

I am exicted about your upcoming Wish Trip. You will be going about the same time that we went on our Wish Trip last year. By having some folks at GKTW and some at a Disney Resort, you should have the best of both worlds and be able to visit both as a group.

The evening they arrive at GKTW would be a good time to check out the fun there; the caousel, the train and station, mini golf, the castle of miracles, the pool and water play area and such. The activity that night is a kind of talent show that might be "missable." One adult will go to orientation at 7 p.m. to get tickets, passes and all. http://www.gktw.org/pre/Village/schedule.asp?p=village

It is a great idea to leave Sea World early enough for the Christmas Party at GKTW at 7:30 p.m. It is well worth it. I wish you could take in the Pirates and Princesses Party Friday at GKTW as well. There is dancing with Shamu and friends, a coronation ceremony with tiaras and scepters for ALL the little princesses and pirate hats and swords for the boys. Crafts are made as well.

We could not have done AK in half a day with Lion King Festival, Everest, the Safari, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, Tough to be a Bug and the Nemo show, not to mention the animal trails. Don't miss the Beauty and the Beast Show at HS, as well as Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney and Star Tours.

Many characters from the theme parks visit GKTW on specific days. It is easier and nicer to do character greets with them there.

The ultimate Princess experience is Cinderella's Royal Table for Breakfast or lunch.

For shopping savings, Wal-Mart at the light near GKTW has a large section of Disney Merchandise (that says Disney rather than Walt Disney World on it) for a great price. Across the highway and a block or 2 east is an indoor Flea Market with many more such souvenirs. I even found Universal and Sea World stores in the airport for real "last minute" shopping.

PLEASE visit the Wish Trippers Unite thread that is linked in my signature. You will find a lot of helpful people there to network with regarding Wish Trips. You might also like to see my link to Wish Trip Planning.

Blessings,

Bill

[bigdisgrandma]

Bill,

Thank you so much for the great information. I have read almost all of the information that you so willingly share with MAW families. Your way with words is amazing and the service you provide to us all is truly a gift of great worth. May God bless you for this.

We are so excited to be able to share this wonderful experience with Karlyn and her family. We will have the best of all worlds with 2 "homes" while we are in Orlando. The hard part is trying not to over-plan ourselves. When my husband and I go to the World, we love to spend time just people watching but with so much for Karlyn, Gabby and Brody to want to see and do, we really are trying to stay in control

Again, thank you for all you do for the Wishtrippers. I hope in some small way, I can help to pay it forward!
Denise

[GoofyDoo]

Subscribing!! I'm so excited for you about your trip!!! Loving your report. I want to see that pic of your GD standing on her head beside Minnie--LOL!!

[Bill_Lin]

Denise,

Thank you for all your kind words. I really do enjoy helping people in this way. Wendygrace, 5Dwarves and Jennydep helped me so much in answering my trip planning questions. This is also a great way to keep the memory of our own trip alive.

Amy,

I would love to see that "standing on the head" picture as well. A great place for that might end up when Minnie and Mickey visit GKTW in the theater. They can also be found at Camp Minnie Mickey in AK and at the Toon Town Fair in MK.

Bill

[HeatherN]

Oh yeah!!! So excited to be sharing in your trip as well!!!! Can't wait to read all about it.