Braden's Big Wish PTR - A Wish Trip in the Making

[Lilfoot93]

That is wonderful news Glad it sounds like you are getting the dates you wanted too. Now the fun of planning begins!

Jackie

 

[Indykjt]

A bit more good news today! It seems things are moving along in Braden's wish process! We were at the hospital today for one of his therapy appointments, and we ran into the doc that referred him. He told us that he just signed more paperwork today from MAW!

Another funny thing happened yesterday. We have been checking several times over the last few weeks for a character meal at Hollywood & Vine, but nothing had shown available. But yesterday, my wife checked again and an opening popped up for a 9:25 breakfast with some of Braden's favorite characters!!! It is also for the day after they are getting tix for us to MNSSHP, and it happens to be on my birthday! I can't think of a better way to spend it!

 

[carebearkidney]

Yay for things getting on a roll and character breakfast with favorites! Sounds like it is falling into place.

 

[Indykjt]

It has been an exciting last week and a half for us! We have our official dates! We will be leaving on Sunday October 14th, and returning Wednesday October 24th! We decided to extend our trip by a few days so we could fully enjoy GKTW, and have a little more time to enjoy the parks, without having to try to rush through. We have planned our schedule out so far this way:

Sunday the 14th - Travel, Check in at GKTW, Candyland Party at GKTW
Monday - Magic Kingdom
Tuesday - GKTW, rest, and then MNSSHP for Braden's Trick-or-treating with Jake!
Wednesday - Hollywood Studios, Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine with Disney Junior Characters
Thursday - Seaworld, GKTW Christmas Party
Friday - Universal Studios
Saturday - GKTW, check out, check into rental home
Sunday - EPCOT, Animal Kingdom
Monday - DTD, Shopping, etc.
Tuesday - Islands of Adventure
Wednesday - Sight see & Fly home

We are already overly excited... don't know how we'll be able to last the next 6 weeks!!!

 

[nesser1981]

So glad you've gotten your dates!!!

Your plans look fantastic, we did the Disney Junior meal when we went in Feb/Mar. They are so great there, probably the most fun of the character meals we did. The interaction there was the best. We did 4 character meals on our trip.

Can I make a little suggestion? You might want to split your Epcot & AK day and maybe do Epcot one day and then maybe AK w/DTD in a day. I only say that because we tried to do Epcot & AK in the same day, and I honestly regret it. We ended up skipping a lot at both parks. And you might want to move them a little earlier in your trip, before you're completely worn out. We did those the last full day of our trip, so we'd been doing so much walking all week and those parks have the most walking of any. We skipped entire sections of AK and blew through the countries in Epcot.


We are already overly excited... don't know how we'll be able to last the next 6 weeks!!![/QUOTE]

 

[MomOfAnAngel]

So glad you've gotten your dates!!!

Your plans look fantastic, we did the Disney Junior meal when we went in Feb/Mar. They are so great there, probably the most fun of the character meals we did. The interaction there was the best. We did 4 character meals on our trip.

Can I make a little suggestion? You might want to split your Epcot & AK day and maybe do Epcot one day and then maybe AK w/DTD in a day. I only say that because we tried to do Epcot & AK in the same day, and I honestly regret it. We ended up skipping a lot at both parks. And you might want to move them a little earlier in your trip, before you're completely worn out. We did those the last full day of our trip, so we'd been doing so much walking all week and those parks have the most walking of any. We skipped entire sections of AK and blew through the countries in Epcot.

Thanks, we were really excited to be able to get the reservations because there hadn't been any available at all and Braden loves all of the characters that are there. We did the AK/Epcot day together because we'll have 3 days of tickets so we have to combine 2 of the parks in one day and we know we will want to spend a full day in MK and Hollywood Studios. From looking at AK we won't be there very long, it looks like mostly we want to see the Tree of Life and be able to say we've been to AK. I know it will be pushing it some, but those are the only 2 parks we are willing to not have a full day with.

I'm really glad that MAW allowed us to extend the trip, it will be so much easier to make sure no one gets too worn out trying to rush everything through and I have been able to plan in plenty of time to play at the village.

Now to start planning outfits, get costumes, autograph books, and anything else I need. It's coming up quickly, hopefully I don't forget anything. Braden has decided since it's halloween he wants to dress up as the Villain from Jake and the Neverland Pirates so he will be Captain Hook. Should be interesting since his wish is to Trick-or-Treat with Jake. Since I don't know if Jake will be at the party we did find him a stuffed Jake to hide in the suitcase and have with us just in case Jake isn't at the party or he doesn't get a chance to see him.

With school, doctor, and therapy appointments time is going to just fly by and we'll be in Disney before we know it!!

 

[carebearkidney]

Woohoo! Great schedule, even planned rest days... I'm impressed! You are going to have so much fun! Can't wait to read all about it!!! Soon - it's happening soon!

 

[nesser1981]

Thats why we did AK & Epcot in the same day too.

Thanks, we were really
excited to be able to get the reservations because there hadn't been any available at all and Braden loves all of the characters that are there. We did the AK/Epcot day together because we'll have 3 days of tickets so we have to combine 2 of the parks in one day and we know we will want to spend a full day in MK and Hollywood Studios. From looking at AK we won't be there very long, it looks like mostly we want to see the Tree of Life and be able to say we've been to AK. I know it will be pushing it some, but those are the only 2 parks we are willing to not have a full day with.

I'm really glad that MAW allowed us to extend the trip, it will be so much easier to make sure no one gets too worn out trying to rush everything through and I have been able to plan in plenty of time to play at the village.

Now to start planning outfits, get costumes, autograph books, and anything else I need. It's coming up quickly, hopefully I don't forget anything. Braden has decided since it's halloween he wants to dress up as the Villain from Jake and the Neverland Pirates so he will be Captain Hook. Should be interesting since his wish is to Trick-or-Treat with Jake. Since I don't know if Jake will be at the party we did find him a stuffed Jake to hide in the suitcase and have with us just in case Jake isn't at the party or he doesn't get a chance to see him.

With school, doctor, and therapy appointments time is going to just fly by and we'll be in Disney before we know it!!

 

[Indykjt]

Braden received a special gift from friends of our family, who happen to be another wish family that stayed at GKTW! They made it special for him to be able to count down the days until his trip... just 42 links left to remove!

Here's Braden with his wish chain!

A closeup of the links... love the Mickey details!

The links will be removed one a day from now until October 14th, the day we leave on Braden's wish trip to Disney! Can't wait!

 

[onceagain1]

Just read through your PTR, so happy for your family. And, I have to say, I absolutely love the chain that Braden received. I might just have to make one for my daughter Maia. As it happens, she starts grade 1 on Wednesday, and if I counted correctly, that would be 100 days from when we leave on our trip.

 

[carebearkidney]

How neat! I JUST had a friend send me a link with a similar chain (with the colors and Mickey ears) for us to do too! I think we'll make one to start after Christmas - too many days as of yet. But it's so close for you!!!

 

[Momtokcc]

The chain is a really cool idea! I love it!!

 

[Lilfoot93]

I love the chain idea! How exciting his trip is almost here! I bet he is so excited!

Jackie

 

[Indykjt]

Well, the countdown chain is getting shorter each day, and we now have more news!

We received a call yesterday from Braden's Wish Grantor's, and they have his packet ready to go! We will be having his wish party a week from tomorrow at a Coldstone Creamery! He is so excited for the party and that will be just over two weeks before his trip!!!

We have already gotten our flight info in a "Wish Sneak Peek" sent to Braden last week. We will be departing Indianapolis on a 9 am flight on 10/14, non-stop to Orlando, landing at 11:12 am! Perfect arrival time,and will make for a great travel day!

For our departure, our flight leaves Orlando at 12:52 pm, and arrives back here in Indy at 3:04 pm... again, great flight times!

We will be doing MNSSHP on 10/16, and have a character meal at DHS Hollywood & Vine on 10/17. Braden will be able to have breakfast with the Disney Jr. characters that day!!!

We have been fortunate enough to be able to extend our trip, so we will be there from 10/14 to 10/24, staying at GKTW until 10/20. We are so excited, and even though there are more than three weeks left, it feels like there is no time left to plan!!!

 

[Lilfoot93]

Well, the countdown chain is getting shorter each day, and we now have more news!

We received a call yesterday from Braden's Wish Grantor's, and they have his packet ready to go! We will be having his wish party a week from tomorrow at a Coldstone Creamery! He is so excited for the party and that will be just over two weeks before his trip!!!

We have already gotten our flight info in a "Wish Sneak Peek" sent to Braden last week. We will be departing Indianapolis on a 9 am flight on 10/14, non-stop to Orlando, landing at 11:12 am! Perfect arrival time,and will make for a great travel day!

For our departure, our flight leaves Orlando at 12:52 pm, and arrives back here in Indy at 3:04 pm... again, great flight times!

We will be doing MNSSHP on 10/16, and have a character meal at DHS Hollywood & Vine on 10/17. Braden will be able to have breakfast with the Disney Jr. characters that day!!!

We have been fortunate enough to be able to extend our trip, so we will be there from 10/14 to 10/24, staying at GKTW until 10/20. We are so excited, and even though there are more than three weeks left, it feels like there is no time left to plan!!!

Cold Stone will be a fun place to celebrate for his send off party! Who doesn't love cold stone! YUMM!!

Great flights too! I'm kinda jealous of that 2 hour flight It is almost 6 hours for us! It is coming up so fast. I bet the kids are super excited!!

Jackie

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

YAY are you freaking out as much as we are? Only 3 weeks and 4 days left!!! So awesome we will be there at the same time

 

[Indykjt]

YAY are you freaking out as much as we are? Only 3 weeks and 4 days left!!! So awesome we will be there at the same time

We are freaking out!!!

A few weeks ago it seemed so far away, now it seems like there is no time left!!!

 

[nesser1981]

We are freaking out!!!

A few weeks ago it seemed so far away, now it seems like there is no time left!!!

You guys are going to have such an amazing time!

 

[Indykjt]

Last week we got some really cool news for Braden. He was chosen by Riley Hospital (his "home" hospital here in Indy), as a Coin Toss Kid for an upcoming Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers game at Lucas Oil Stadium! They are providing tickets for our family for the game, a limo to and from the game, Braden and I get to go down on the field before the game, and then he gets to be with the captains from both teams and the refs for the coin toss! He will also be featured in the program for that days game! The game also happens to be exactly one week before we leave on his wish trip!!!

Tonight was also a great night... it was Braden's Wish Party! His party was held at Coldstone Creamery, and he had a blast! Here are some pics:

Before the party, Braden's Wish Granters came by our house to deliver his trip packet! It had all our travel info, tickets, details, and expense check! Plus, they brought a bag of goodies for Braden, including his MAW shirt and buttons for all of us!

And here is Braden with his Wish Granters at the

We are now all set to go... just over two weeks to go!!!

 

[sarsop524]

Love those party pics!!! Can't wait to hear all about your trip, we will be there in November!