Doing WDW with a child cancer survivor

[kristenkoj]

We are heading to WDW in June with our two kids. My Daughter will be 11 and is officially a brain cancer survivor as of this month. It was 7 years ago when she was diagnosed with her brain cancer and today one would not know it to look at her. We want to make this trip as special as we can to celebrate how far not only she has come but also our whole family. I know that if a child has a birthday while are WDW there is special attention paid to them, but is there anything for children celebrating other special occasions?

 

[MSSANDRA]

I hope so! Hugs and Prayers for the best trip ever. I would note the celebration on your reservation and on all of you ADR's. Maybe make her a shirt to the effect. This deserves to be celebrated!!!

 

[minnie4me]

I lost my father to brain cancer, so anyone and everyone who survives should be celebrated !!
If no one in Disney wants to make a big deal about it, do it yourselves !! I'd cheer like crazy !!
I would think if you or your TA noted it on your ressies, somewhere on your journey something could be done. I would tell all the CM's you can from check in to dining, etc...your story will touch someone and they will go out of their way, that's just how it is at Disney !!
Have a beautiful trip and enjoy every minute !!

 

[Kat&Dom]

We are heading to WDW in June with our two kids. My Daughter will be 11 and is officially a brain cancer survivor as of this month. It was 7 years ago when she was diagnosed with her brain cancer and today one would not know it to look at her. We want to make this trip as special as we can to celebrate how far not only she has come but also our whole family. I know that if a child has a birthday while are WDW there is special attention paid to them, but is there anything for children celebrating other special occasions?

YAY!!! They have "I'm Celebrating _____" buttons at the parks - I think you can also get them at the resort. When you check in, make sure to ask for a button and you can put in I'm Celebrating "being cancer free". Everyone will be able to see the button and cheer your daughter on.

I hope you have a very magical trip with lots of pixie dust! I am so glad that your daughter won her battle against such a difficult and devastating disease!

 

[bean]

I'm a childhood cancer survivor and would just like to say congratulations!! I'm now ahem....36 and pregnant with my third child. So, although I had a very rough few years, I've been very healthy for most of my adulthood. Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[disneyquestions]

Congrats to you and your family.

If you go over to the restaurant board, there is a cake thread - take a look at the pictures - there are AWESOME custom cakes that you can order to have delivered to a special meal for your daughter. Good luck, and have a great trip.

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

I don't have any good idea's for you but I am so happy that she is cancer free. That is amazing. I hope she has super special trip. I would make sure to tell everyone that I saw while in WDW!

 

[kristenkoj]

That is great news to hear! Congratulations. That gives me hope for my daughter's future.

 

[Leajess99]

That is awesome news for your daughter and your family!!! My little cousin (okay she is now 14) is also a cancer survivor and it is wonderful.

Definitely get the "I'm celebrating" pin and they can fill in what you are celebrating. Have fun on your trip!!!

 

[kristenkoj]

Thanks for all the input! I will certainly get the I'm celebrating button for her. That is something I didn't know was around. I'm open to any other ideas as well. Thanks again!

 

[xXMyTwoPrincessesXx]

This is wonderful!!!! Congratulations to your daughter and your family on beating this ugly disease!!

I say call Disney! Are you staying on site? Or have dinning reservations? Everytime I called to make reservations or ask a question, I was asked "Anything special you are celebrating?".. I would say we are celebrating DD's birthday and they say they will mark it, to make sure she gets special attention.. When I would call again, they say "we see here that you are celebrating your DD's birthday..".. they also noted that it's our first time! I don't know how they will use these "notes".. but it's worth a try. Specially if you are staying in a Disney's resort.

The button sounds like a great idea, too!

Congrats, again. It warms my heart to hear about cancer survivors. I know a mommy who's fighting stage 4 cancer with her 3 year old.. and I see how hard it is, not only on the child, but the whole family!

 

[JennStars9]

I'm glat to hear that your child is cancer free.
Kids with cancer are always in my prayer. I work at St. Jude and see the daily struggles these kids and families go through.

I'd make sure that you get one of the "I'm Celebrating" buttons and tell every CM that you see.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

What an absolutely wonderful reason to be taking the trip- huge congratulations to your whole family!

I was going to say what about shirts to say it's a cancer survivor celebration tour? You can make your own shirts on zazzle with all sorts of Disney prints and they really do get noticed- my sister made all sorts for her wedding and we got free cupcakes, pins, all sorts when CMs read them, we also got lots of nice comments and conversation from other guests.

 

[mavslab]

That is AWESOME!! Congratulations!

I hope you have a magical trip

 

[dfchelbay]

We are heading to WDW in June with our two kids. My Daughter will be 11 and is officially a brain cancer survivor as of this month. It was 7 years ago when she was diagnosed with her brain cancer and today one would not know it to look at her. We want to make this trip as special as we can to celebrate how far not only she has come but also our whole family. I know that if a child has a birthday while are WDW there is special attention paid to them, but is there anything for children celebrating other special occasions?

You can get those buttons that say "I am celebrating" then fill it in. I would write I AM CANCER FREE, with her name too. They always pay special attention to those buttons and whats written on them. You'll be amazed at how many cast members will respond to that button.

 

[Princess Roo]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What an exciting thing to be celebrating!
Check out the DISigns section of these boards (toward the bottom). I bet one of the sweet DISigners over there would love to design a special shirt for your family to draw attention to the occasion. (They do it free of charge and you just print them out on iron-on transfers.)

 

[chepic]

Congrats.....I will be celebrating 20 years cancer free when we go in May. I have to tell you that we get the best Disney surprises when we let them know at check in. We have celebrated many, many milestones at Disney and it has always been the CM's at check-in that really seem to go the extra mile. We have gotten balloons sent to our room, chocolate covered strawberries, cards, and a call from Mickey.

With all that said, I would make certain that when you check in, you let the front desk staff know. You can also order a cake from one of the many bakeries on site. I didn't notice where you are staying, but if they don't have a bakery, you can find one on the website. They have all sorts. We had one at Boma one night that we ate there for our son's birthday.

The celebration buttons are good. Many CM's notice them. At the park, be really early one day to be in front at the rope drop. We were there once and my son was picked on his birthday to help drop the rope with the Fairy Godmother.

Have a blast.

Cheryl

 

[jennyf2]

CONGRATS!!! Disney always finds ways to make trips special --- agree with the button, this way many many people will notice!!!

Have a WONDERFUL vacation!!!!!

 

[KBW]

Wow!!! Congratulations to the whole family, especially your DD! I just love all the ideas, especially the pin and the shirt! We were at WDW for my DD's 7th birthday...she wore a pin and got tons of special treatment from CMs. (And quite honestly, celebrating 7 years of cancer-free is a much bigger deal to me than a 7th b-day.) I also agree to tell everyone your story...who knows? Maybe you'll get an upgrade at your resort, participate in rope drop, or be in a parade, etc. Regardless, it's a great way for others to share in the celebration of such an important milestone. Have a fantastic trip!!!

 

[kate2128]

Congratulations to your daughter! Cancer sucks!

I am a cancer survivor, too. We're going in October to celebrate surviving this last year and my bone marrow transplant. When we last went, we were celebrating both of my boys' birthdays and they really did get extra attention on the day they each wore their button. Based on that, I can only imagine how much special attention they would give your dd if she was wearing a button that said "I'm celebrating being A CANCER SURVIVOR!" I also think making shirts for your whole family would be awesome. Have a great time on your trip!