Make a Wish (and other organizations!) - Wish Trippers...UNITE!! Volume 2!

[josabbimommy]

I ended up getting a pair of the Pink Crocs for myself. Abbi and Joseph got the Disney ones, Joseph got Black and Abbi got red. Joseph wanted the Green ones, but they were sold out.

Photopass:
I'm not sure about getting it before you go. What I can tell you is that when we were there in '07, the first park we went to was Epcot. They took our pictures and the photographer scanned a card and then he handed it to me.
When I Got home, I logged onto the Photopass Website and ordered the pictures. I don't remember doing anything before we went.

 

[merneric]

I think if you order a CD before you go, you can save 20%.

 

[kmparrish5]

I have a question for those of you who are Disney pros. We will be there on Memorial Day. Which of the parks would be the least crowded on that day?

Bailee gets overwhelmed with crowds and I want to make it as simple for her as possible.

We leave in 20 days!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HeatherN]

How exactly do you do the photopass? I was reading that you need to do something before you do something else?? Maybe about registering your photopass?? I can't find the post anymore. I definitely want to get a Photopass before we go, but want to make sure I do it right. Can you get a couple cards (or whatever they are) in case the family splits up?
Thanks,
Mary Anne

Check out this site:

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

This is where we ordered ours.If you purchase it before you go it is cheaper.You can get mutiple cards from any photopass photographer.Then when you get home you go online and enter the card number.Once your photos are all uploaded online you can edit them.Then you use a code you recieve when purchasing the CD and order your final CD which is mailed to you.

 

[maroo]

I have a question for those of you who are Disney pros. We will be there on Memorial Day. Which of the parks would be the least crowded on that day?

Bailee gets overwhelmed with crowds and I want to make it as simple for her as possible.

We leave in 20 days!!!!!!!!!!!

They say the best park to do on a very busy day is usually Epcot, because it absorbs crowds well.

You could also consider doing Sea World or Universal...as those may be less busy than a Disney park. Or have that be a "short" day and spend some time at GKTW. GKTW is usually empty during the day!

 

[that's nice]

I have a question for those of you who are Disney pros. We will be there on Memorial Day. Which of the parks would be the least crowded on that day?

Bailee gets overwhelmed with crowds and I want to make it as simple for her as possible.

We leave in 20 days!!!!!!!!!!!

Touring Plans http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14 says that Epcot will be the least crowded. They usually pick Epcot on the busiest days because it is the biggest park. I think if you use the extra morning hours (8am) and maybe take an afternoon break you should be OK!

EDIT: Epcot doesn't have extra morning hours.. I was looking at Sunday. DHS has the extra morning hours. Sorry.
Tim

 

[that's nice]

Maroo,
If you are staying at GKTW do you get to use the extra morning and evening hours?

 

[twinmum]

Hello - unless something has changed (since November), the extra morning and evening hours are not available for families from GKTW. You'll probably find that with your GKTW button and Guest Assistance Card, you'll be able to do so much, you'll be fine with spenind extra time at GKTW!

Alison

 

[maroo]

Maroo,
If you are staying at GKTW do you get to use the extra morning and evening hours?

No...actually you don't...

But most families are at GKTW in the morning for character greetings and breakfast and don't get to the parks till at least 9:00. And then, with the button and evening GKTW activities, most families are done by the time the parks are closing.

Having said that...if a family really, really wanted to do EMH at a park one night, I feel sure that a quick stop by guest services at that park would result in a "pass" that would allow the family to stay. We have not tried that, but Disney is just so great about meeting the needs of wish families that I feel sure they would make that happen. It doesn't cost Disney anything to do that.

But really...most Wish families just don't need them.

Even as a regular park attendee...I avoid them, unless I am hopping with the intention of catching the EMH. They make the park so busy! I follow Touringplans.com and basically they say to avoid those EMH parks.

 

[that's nice]

No...actually you don't...

But most families are at GKTW in the morning for character greetings and breakfast and don't get to the parks till at least 9:00. And then, with the button and evening GKTW activities, most families are done by the time the parks are closing.

Having said that...if a family really, really wanted to do EMH at a park one night, I feel sure that a quick stop by guest services at that park would result in a "pass" that would allow the family to stay. We have not tried that, but Disney is just so great about meeting the needs of wish families that I feel sure they would make that happen. It doesn't cost Disney anything to do that.

But really...most Wish families just don't need them.

Even as a regular park attendee...I avoid them, unless I am hopping with the intention of catching the EMH. They make the park so busy! I follow Touringplans.com and basically they say to avoid those EMH parks.

Thanks for answering my question. I was trying to help out kmparrish then I thought about the extra hours and didnt know if GKTW got to use them. We avoid them too when we do our plans!

 

[maroo]

Thanks for answering my question. I was trying to help out kmparrish then I thought about the extra hours and didnt know if GKTW got to use them. We avoid them too when we do our plans!

It is totally cool! I actually saw your answer and did not even think about the EMH issue for wish families, either! It is all good!

 

[kmparrish5]

Thanks for the help. I think we will plan on doing both Universal parks on Memorial Day. I have a feeling my kids won't enjoy Universal as much as the Disney parks and Sea World. We will make it a short day unless they absolutely love Universal. My kids won't ride any of the big rides, only the kid ones. We can't go to EPCOT because we will be going on the next day to have lunch with the Princesses for Caroline's birthday !

 

[maroo]

Thanks for the help. I think we will plan on doing both Universal parks on Memorial Day. I have a feeling my kids won't enjoy Universal as much as the Disney parks and Sea World. We will make it a short day unless they absolutely love Universal. My kids won't ride any of the big rides, only the kid ones. We can't go to EPCOT because we will be going on the next day to have lunch with the Princesses for Caroline's birthday !

Just one comment...

We planned to totally skip Universal because there was not much there for Lauren to do...
But I have regretted it because many of the most recent wish trippers have said that Universal treated them WONDERFULLY and that it was one of their favorite parks.

I just say that to say...don't miss it on a wish trip, because we have heard some great stories from Universal!

 

[BeckySob]

Just one comment...

We planned to totally skip Universal because there was not much there for Lauren to do...
But I have regretted it because many of the most recent wish trippers have said that Universal treated them WONDERFULLY and that it was one of their favorite parks.

I just say that to say...don't miss it on a wish trip, because we have heard some great stories from Universal!

For sure!!! Universal was WONDERFUL to us. At Epcot, we might as well have been invisible. But.......I'm not an agressive person either. Had I flagged down an employee, it may have been better, but I could never see one anyways.

 

[Andreaswish]

Andrea was chosen for the Big Give. I am so excited for my kids. I took all their measurements, and they wondered why I was doing that. I told them they would find out soon enough.

Diane

 

[sammie girl]

What is the big give????? It is something only for MAW or am I missing something?

Now an update on my family. Alexis also missed school on Friday. She actually made it to mass but came home sick right after. It was her BG again...... Her doctor was booked and her specialist said to wait it out until there was a 3 day pattern or her BG got so low or high that it would mean hospitalization. I decided to take her to the med clinic. Found that she had an ear infection and soar throat from allergies. UGG! She didn't complain because she was scared of a strep test. Good news is that now I have an answer as to her crazy out of control BG's. Bad news is that today we almost ended up in Children's Mercy anyway because her BG was a whopping 457 and wouldn't come down for over 4 hours. We only had 2 more hours left before heading to the hospital when her BG finally started to go in the 300's. Now it is down to 190 which is still high but much much better. It will be another sleepless night for me (and I thought as your kids got older you were able to sleep better!). So thank God that he came through for us once again with an answered prayer for our Alexis. I will really try to start on some Disney planning this week.....

 

[maroo]

This is a frequently asked question...so I am going to try to address it and link it on the second post for later reference...

The Big Give was inspired by Oprah's Big Give (the TV show). It is a group of ladies and men on the DISboards that make custom clothes for families that need some pixie dust. It started with an active DISer that lost a son in a drunk driving accident only days after returning from Disney World. When it was time for their family to go back to Disney, the DISboutiquers made the family clothes to help make their trip extra special.

This first Give went so well, that they have continued the tradition. Now they mainly select Wish Families.

The Big Give is not in any way affiliated with MAW, Disney, GKTW or even officially by the DISboards. It is just a group of very kind ladies and men that just want to bless families that they come to know on the DIS. It is a completely volunteer thing.

The organizers try to include every single MAW family that they "meet" and get to know on the DIS. (I am not an organizer - Lauren was actually a recipient and I now try to give back to future Gives.)

However, it is impossible to include every family. They have to have a good amount of time to organize it (so if your trip is right around the corner, then they would not be able to do one). And these ladies have families, etc and sometimes life just gets in the way of being able to organize during certain times of the year, vacation, illness, etc, can all factor in to whether they can do a give at any given time.

Anyway...You may see the term "Big Give" in Pre-Trip reports and occasionally on the Wish Trippers thread...and that is what it means!

If you have any questions about it, please let me know!

 

[maroo]

What is the big give????? It is something only for MAW or am I missing something?

I answered this question for ya in the post above.

Now an update on my family. Alexis also missed school on Friday. She actually made it to mass but came home sick right after. It was her BG again...... Her doctor was booked and her specialist said to wait it out until there was a 3 day pattern or her BG got so low or high that it would mean hospitalization. I decided to take her to the med clinic. Found that she had an ear infection and soar throat from allergies. UGG! She didn't complain because she was scared of a strep test. Good news is that now I have an answer as to her crazy out of control BG's. Bad news is that today we almost ended up in Children's Mercy anyway because her BG was a whopping 457 and wouldn't come down for over 4 hours. We only had 2 more hours left before heading to the hospital when her BG finally started to go in the 300's. Now it is down to 190 which is still high but much much better. It will be another sleepless night for me (and I thought as your kids got older you were able to sleep better!). So thank God that he came through for us once again with an answered prayer for our Alexis. I will really try to start on some Disney planning this week.....

I am so sorry that Alexis is not feeling well! Lauren's Dad is a Type I diabetic. He is overall very healthy (in his 40s) and does well, but his levels get out of whack when he is sick, too. I know it is not easy to deal with all of that and hopefully over time it will get a little easier. Hugs to you guys!!

,

 

[teresajoy]

This is a frequently asked question...so I am going to try to address it and link it on the second post for later reference...

The Big Give was inspired by Oprah's Big Give (the TV show). It is a group of ladies and men on the DISboards that make custom clothes for families that need some pixie dust. It started with an active DISer that lost a son in a drunk driving accident only days after returning from Disney World. When it was time for their family to go back to Disney, the DISboutiquers made the family clothes to help make their trip extra special.

This first Give went so well, that they have continued the tradition. Now they mainly select Wish Families.

The Big Give is not in any way affiliated with MAW, Disney, GKTW or even officially by the DISboards. It is just a group of very kind ladies and men that just want to bless families that they come to know on the DIS. It is a completely volunteer thing.

The organizers try to include every single MAW family that they "meet" and get to know on the DIS. (I am not an organizer - Lauren was actually a recipient and I now try to give back to future Gives.)

However, it is impossible to include every family. They have to have a good amount of time to organize it (so if your trip is right around the corner, then they would not be able to do one). And these ladies have families, etc and sometimes life just gets in the way of being able to organize during certain times of the year, vacation, illness, etc, can all factor in to whether they can do a give at any given time.

Anyway...You may see the term "Big Give" in Pre-Trip reports and occasionally on the Wish Trippers thread...and that is what it means!

If you have any questions about it, please let me know!

I am an administrator on the Big Give board (not the Dis), and what Maroo has said pretty much sums it all up! We are just a group of Disers who try to help make Wish trips extra special for as many other active Diser Wish families as possible. We need a good deal of time to organize a Give, it's a lot of work, but it is very rewarding when we see the pictures of families wearing the clothes and displaying the items we sent them.

 

[WishMom09]

Nightlights?? Is there a night light in the villa? Or do I need to carry one from home?