Dream Factory and GKTW?????'s

[rscash]

I'm a really big planner, and could really use some info so that I don't go nuts. My son has been granted his "wish" through Dream Factory to go to WDW, and we will be staying at GKTW. I know that GKTW gives tickets to more than just WDW. My son really has no intrest in going to anything other than WDW. So my question is, will GKTW be able to give us only WDW tickets in place of all the other parks? And also for anyone who has been granted a wish through Dream Factory, can you give me an idea of the money situation? I don't want to seem greedy or anything, I'm just trying to plan the trip, and I don't know if I need to plan on bringing extra $$$ for things that the kids may want, or for food, etc.

 

[alizesmom]

GKTW will only be able to give you 3 days of tickets. That is what is donated to them. You can purchase more on your own if you wish. I'm not familiar with your wish group so I can't help there. Have a wonderful time. Karen

 

[Camster0307]

My daughter just had her Wish trip this past November. We, too, were just interested in visiting WDW. GKTW gave us a 3-day park hopper; we returned the passes to Universal and Sea World. Our Wish org. then expensed us the money to get an additional 2-day park hopper and I paid OP for the remaining two days myself.

Just ask your wish org. - it couldn't hurt!

 

[scrappin]

We went on a trip through the Dream Factory this past December. They were more than generous with expenses and we had plenty to spare. We had enough for each kid to pick out special things and I purchased ride pics on many of the rides we went on that offered that. We also ate out at least 1 meal each day. All of this was covered in the money we received. We didn't know how much money or any of the details until about two weeks before our trip.

My kids loved wdw but they also enjoyed the day we spent at Universal and Islands of Adventure too. As well as Sea World.

One thing I can say is that I spent a lot of time worrying for nothing about expenses, tickets, etc. and I should have just relaxed more. They way they handle the wish trip and the people at GKTW - it was just incredible! Also, depending on how old your son is, don't discount the events at GKTW as well.

 

[5dwarves]

I'm a really big planner, and could really use some info so that I don't go nuts. My son has been granted his "wish" through Dream Factory to go to WDW, and we will be staying at GKTW. I know that GKTW gives tickets to more than just WDW. My son really has no intrest in going to anything other than WDW. So my question is, will GKTW be able to give us only WDW tickets in place of all the other parks? And also for anyone who has been granted a wish through Dream Factory, can you give me an idea of the money situation? I don't want to seem greedy or anything, I'm just trying to plan the trip, and I don't know if I need to plan on bringing extra $$$ for things that the kids may want, or for food, etc.

If you are planning a Wish trip to Orlando, you are in the right place! There are many wish trippers here on the Dis. Check out the Wish Tripper's Unite link in my signature. There are lists of other wish trip takers through agencies other than just MAW. Maybe someone has gone through Dream Factory. When we were at GKTW last July there were 2 Dream Factory families there. The wish trip reports will give you a lot of info that pertains only to wish families, and a lot of good info on GKTW. Your expense check from Dream Factory (if they are like our wish organization) will include lunches, travel expenses and souvenir expenses for the wish child. I am not sure how many posts you have to have before you can initiate a PM (private message) but most wish families are happy to share info with you. Once you can use PM, contact me and I'll let you know what our total was (we werent' with Dream Factory though.) Hope this helps a little....

~Elisa

 

[5dwarves]

Yep...just checked. One of the TR's (trip reports) is by a Dream Factory family. Let us know if you have any more questions!

~E

 

[SueM in MN]

Check out the Wish Tripper's Unite link in my signature.

in case you want to check out the Wish Tripper's Unite thread and can't find a post by 5dwarves, there is a link to that thread in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board. It is in post #3 of that thread, with other links to Wish information.

 

[rscash]

Thanks everyone. I've been to WDW twice but this is so diffrent than a regular trip. I just feel so helpless not being able to plan like I normally would.

 

[dclfun]

Definitely talk to your Wish coordinator as this is your son's wish and he should be able to choose what he wants to do. Since only a 3 day ticket to WDW is given ( because that's what's donated by WDW) then the wish organization would have to fund another ticket by giving you more cash or an advanced purchase. It's up to each Wish organization as to their policies on buying you another ticket but with the cash you are given, you can choose to do whatever you like. My son was given a very generous cash allotment before his wish trip ( he did not choose WDW) which he used to do lots of different activities while in Boston other than the tickets that were already provided ( his wish was to see a Red Sox game in Fenway Park and it cost a fortune as the game was sold out- I have no idea how they pulled it off with great seats there ). Some wish-trippers have mentioned doing the Dolphin Discovery at Sea World and using their cash for that, others have used their funds for more souvenirs, etc. Also be sure to find out what's already included for your trip. From what I've read here, WDW donates some of the photos taken by park photographers to wish families on their special trip. I do know that snacks and meal items are left in your refrigerator at GKTW village plus some surprises for each child, not just the wish child. Then there are the meals donated by Perkins, the ice cream shop, etc. which won't cost you anything as well as the special events at the village to enjoy. You wouldn't want to be spending your money or budgeting for something that's already provided. Happy planning for your trip!---Kathy

 

[5dwarves]

From what I've read here, WDW donates some of the photos taken by park photographers to wish families on their special trip. I do know that snacks and meal items are left in your refrigerator at GKTW village plus some surprises for each child, not just the wish child. Then there are the meals donated by Perkins, the ice cream shop, etc. which won't cost you anything as well as the special events at the village to enjoy. You wouldn't want to be spending your money or budgeting for something that's already provided. Happy planning for your trip!---Kathy

GKTW stocks your fridge before you get there. They do take into consideration how many people are in your party. The Gingerbread house serves breakfast and dinner and it is all free. The ice cream parlor is open from 7:00am (yes you read that right...breakfast brain freeze) until 9:00 or 10:00. At lunch time they have some light snacks/sandwiches. The movie theater also has snacks (candy, popcorn, sodas). There is also Momma Merri's pizza that delivers to your villa, and brings canned sodas with your pizza order. If you are planning a rope drop for the parks, there is a golf cart like thing that is equipped with a refrigerator compartment, that delivers a continental breakfast (juice, rolls, cereal, coffee, milk). There is no want for food there. That is for sure! You will receive a free 5x7 pic of your party with Minnie and Mickey that is taken at GKTW. The photo session is in the movie theater at GKTW. They take your photo card given to you when you are in orientation, and call up families in the order they show up at the theatre. You sit in padded chairs in AC waiting your turn. It goes quickly, but the children do have time for hugs and high fives with the characters. While Minnie and Mickey are getting their pics taken, there are usually other characters outside for casual meet and greets and photos with your own camera (make sure you bring it!). When we were there it was Mary Poppins, Goofy and Pluto. My wish child received a free photo at Star Tours Tatooine Traders. When we were having lunch one day a CM saw our GKTW button and brought us all free desserts (but that was not the norm, that was just him). Universal gives one free 5x7 at every photo location in the park....Your expense check from your wish agency will go very far because of all the extras GKTW and the parks give you. All five of my kids,not just my wish child, had a present from GKTW every day. We would leave for the parks and come back and the gifts would be on the table. The first day they received stuffed Shamu's and my wish child received a stuffed Mickey. When we got to our villa there was a gift basket with more goodies in it, to include a Candy Land game that is a GKTW edition. The other days they received hot wheels, action figures, comic books, baseball cards...smaller items, but still thrilling for my kids (and gender appropriate...my daughter didn't get a hot wheel, she received slippers I think.) I am sure you will be pleased with your check and I am also sure you will be treated like royalty by everyone you encounter at GKTW and WDW. Hope you have a magical time!

 

[rscash]

thanks everyone for the info!!!!!

5dwarfs, I tried to PM you but it wouldn't let me. I guess I don't have enough posts. If you want to send me the total maybe you can PM me? I don't know it that will work or not.

 

[5dwarves]

thanks everyone for the info!!!!!

5dwarfs, I tried to PM you but it wouldn't let me. I guess I don't have enough posts. If you want to send me the total maybe you can PM me? I don't know it that will work or not.

rscash...just sent you a PM. Remember, every agency is a little different. We didn't go with Dream Factory. It also seems fairly common that the wish agencies don't give you that all important expense check until a few days before your departure. Since families with special needs kids have such huge medical expenses, and one parent may have had to stop working to take care of the sick child, we are always under the gun as far as finances go. Our wish agency took very good care of us and made sure all our needs were provided.

~Elisa

 

[5dwarves]

rscash:

A "souvenir" you should consider purchasing is the photopass CD. There are links on the dis where people share a photopass cd and thus share in the expense ($100-120 I think). It is nice to be able to get family pictures that have everyone in them and do the add ons with the photos (tinker bell, simba, dates, castle, etc.) when you get home. If you go the photopass route, take a digital picture of your photopass card so that you have the number of the card saved somewhere...that way if you loose your photopass card, you can still retrieve your photographs...btw, GKTW has digital cameras and camcorders that they loan out to wish families, so if you don't have one, they have one you can borrow. They require that you turn the camera/cameras in 24 hours before you check out and they put your photos and movies onto a cd/dvd for you.

~Elisa

 

[rscash]

Thanks Elisa for all the info. You have been a big help. I'm just such a big planner and I feel like my hands are tied. I just want my son to have the best trip ever. I guess I need this experience to teach me patience
----Rebekah

 

[5dwarves]

Rebekah:

Don't worry about it...we all are obsessive planners...our childrens' illnesses have taught us to be proactive and not sit idly by. EVERYONE on a wish trip experiences the same angst you are going through. Trust me...LOL....There were several of us glued to the computer right before our trips. Wendygrace was the groundbreaker for most of us last year. JennyDep went a few years ago and had good insight too. I really recommend reading the trip reports...(you can always skip the parts where we get wordy ) There were several things I used to get ready for the trip. My kids were 5, 7, 8 (wish kid), 11 and 13 at the time. I went to allears.net for pictures of rides for access and used TGM (Tour Guide Mike) for advice on the best day to do which park and which order to ride the rides in based on crowd levels, etc. (He has the obsessive thing down pat). If you sign up for his site through the Disboards link there is a $3 discount. The other thing I did was get the Official and Unofficial guide for WDW from Amazon (they have/had a bundle deal where it was cheaper to get both of them together and they are fun reads!) Steve Soares has a web site that talks about the show times...there is another site that lists all the character locations (where characters may just stroll around and meet and greet for autographs). I took all the info, made a pocket folder for each park (each in a different color with its own label...LOL) and put in tabs...I had the list for the order we were going to attack, I mean experience, the attractions, a list of characters, a list of shows, and a list of restaurants (all ears has menus and price lists...very helpful). I put maps and hand outs in the pockets...I even got my Pal Mickey off of ebay before we went so we could have a stuffed animal talk to us at Disney World. LOL. I also ordered the souvenir (free btw) maps from the WDW website. Once we got there, the folders and all my obsessive planning helped a little, but I eventually let go of my neurosis (kind of and had a good time. Planning is good...you will find out what it is you want to do, what is suited for your family, when to go where, special things that not everyone knows about...just don't let it drive you crazy. Have fun getting ready AND have fun being there....and read some TR's...Wendy's always makes me tear up when she talks about her DS and Peter Pan...awesome experience! I have to catch up on some of the Trs myself. My son had a setback last fall with his seizures and I was otherwise occupied. He is doing much better now. Oh, and there are VIP lounges that cater to wish families at Epcot and at MK....the TR's talk about them, and they are very helpful in fulfilling wishes.