The greeter left us because she had another family coming in just after us and she was late! Little did we know that we would find out later on that that family also came from Puerto Rico. :O
The lady told us to wait outside in this bench because a MEARS shuttle would come pick us up shortly. I know that A LOT of families at GKTW drive rental cars, but we went through MEARS. If you are going through MEARS, do not worry about transportation to GKTW once you arrive. The greeter will take care of that and direct to where you need to wait. You will be given this device that will vibrate once the shuttle arrives. We waited outside for about fifteen minutes. While waiting, we were buzzing with excitement, all seeming surreal. I asked my sister to take a photo of me with the sign:
BUT, I wanted a family photo. Reading my mind, the very nice guy who part of MEARS offered to take a photo of us three. As he took the photo he said, " Welcome to Orlando!" I think that was the first pixie dust we received. I think that's when it sunk in. Here's the photo:
The shuttle arrived and we boarded. There were two other ladies with us. They were headed to this hotel very close to GKTW called Gaylord Palms. We would drop them off there and then head to the magical and once distant place called Give Kids the World!
I didn't really mind that GKTW was the second stop. More time to build up suspense! I was reading the map the sign with your name has and realized we were getting close! Not far after we saw Medieval Times did we see this plain yet spectacular sign!
So if anyone is driving to GKTW, watch out for this sign.
And of course, the famous Walmart
I'll be talking talking about Walmart in just a bit)
And at last!!!!!!
I have seen THIS photo SOOOO many times on the DISboards and the internet that I could not believe it was actually real! Give kids the World is definitely a world of its own.
We were dropped off at the House of Hearts and was wished a lovely week b the MEARS driver.
Once we entered the House of Hearts , it was all I imagines it to be and MORE!
I saw the little horsey I think Kylee ( or Korissa- don't know which is the younger one) loves! A warm "Hello" greeted us. We were asked if were just checking and said yes.
My sister when we were checking in: I love her!
A wonderful staff member ( a young adult named Ashley, who would later become my favorite staff person there) directed us to a table and gave us the village guide, my Mickey Mouse, and my my GKTW button. ( Our MAW chapter did not provide MAW buttons so I was glad to have some sort of button to identify my family and me as a MAW/GKTW family)
My button:
TIP/INSIGHT: Every family who is traveling with MEARS is given an itinerary. BUT, you can of course change that itinerary. You will be called the night before every day to confirm on which bus you're going on. The bus to Universal/IOA leave the village every day at 9:00 a.m. The bus to ALL the four Disney Parks leaves the village every day at 10:00 a.m. Yes, I know. Not so early but hey, at least you have the magic pass/button.
So, after the quick check-in, Ashely gave us a mini-orientation before the night's orientation. She told us what every building was, meal hours, etc. Our villa number was 181. We were very glad that it was right where EVERYTHING was- expect Mathew's Boundless Playground. I never got to go there.
When we saw our villa for the first time, we were stunned. Ashley took us a picture of us:
She gave us a tour of the inside, but first, the taste of many gifts to come!
As she showed us the kids' bathroom I told my mother that she couldn't come in it.