*~Elsa's Royal Wish PreTrip~* BIG GIVE!! MAW/GKTW

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

Here's the initial plan:

Arrive on Tuesday afternoon. Unpack, settle in, shop at mousememories?

Wed: MK. (nap? fireworks?)

8am Crystal Palace

Mickey's Philharmagic
Carrousel
Dumbo
Laugh Factory
Peter Pan's flight
Space Ranger Spin


1:50 -2:50 BBB
3 parade ?
4:45 pm 1900 Park Fare Dinner

7pm GKTW

I would say if you can skip the parade, make the BBB res for 3:30-4:30, and head back to your room around 12. that is a very long day. and you might have a cranky DD at the BBB. Then you would head back around 3 for the BBB appt. and then go from there. Breakfast will be about an hour, maybe more. depending on how slow your kids eat and interact with the characters.

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

Thursday: Epcot DD's Birthday! arty:
nap?

AM: Kim Possible

11:45a Akershus for Princess Lunch

1:30 autographs?

5:45p Garden Grill @ Land for dinner

7pm GKTW visit w/ ??? (spoiler)

I would head back after lunch to have your rest time. and hit some characters on the way out. Also I wouldnt spend certain time just doing autographs. Do them as you see them. So its not a whole bunch of waiting in line at one time. By day 2 you might need a longer rest time. to help recover from the night before if you stay for a show or fire works.

 

[muttshouse]

The celebration chest cakes are "small loaf cakes for 1" according to the CM at Dining Ressies. No info on flavor or size. No clue about how they taste either!

 

[muttshouse]

Wanted to say Hello and Welcom, just finished reading your pre trip thread...looks like we will be coming to GKTW one day before you leave. I can not get over how good you are on coming with what days to do what... I so far got the times the parks open and close and that is.

Hi Christine!!

Maybe we can find each other?

Don't be too impressed - all the planning is done around when we can get ressies!!
Besides, we got postponed and now have some more time to plan. Although as time grows short, I'm having second thoughts.

DH is ready to storm the park and try to do everything like when BK (before kids). I'm having quite a time trying to figure out what is reasonable.

I don't know how much of a pain it's going to be to schlepp the kids back and forth to the park. They tend to want to stay where they happen to be. I'll have to consult DH and see if he's willing to schlepp. I think there's a Wish lounge and I was thinking that maybe we could have the kids lay down there?

Still planning but time is growing too short to change ressies. I might switch us out for Ohana instead of 1900 PF.

Kids want dinner. Back later.

 

[teresajoy]

Still planning but time is growing too short to change ressies. I might switch us out for Ohana instead of 1900 PF.

Kids want dinner. Back later.

I think the most fun I've ever had at a character meal and definitely the best food was at 1900 Park Fare! I would keep it!

 

[muttshouse]

I think the most fun I've ever had at a character meal and definitely the best food was at 1900 Park Fare! I would keep it!

THanks for the input!

I had posted on the restaurant thread and got lots of responses. I checked out youtube and felt SO much better. It will be lots of fun - but it seems so packed full of people!

 

[muttshouse]

I would say if you can skip the parade, make the BBB res for 3:30-4:30, and head back to your room around 12. that is a very long day. and you might have a cranky DD at the BBB. Then you would head back around 3 for the BBB appt. and then go from there. Breakfast will be about an hour, maybe more. depending on how slow your kids eat and interact with the characters.

Sounds reasonable. I'll have to see if it's possible to reschedule BBB at this "late" time. DD is playing right now and I think she'd notice if I were on the phone . . . hmmm. She's already figured out all the *other* surprises I'd planned.

*crossing fingers*

 

[muttshouse]

I would head back after lunch to have your rest time. and hit some characters on the way out. Also I wouldnt spend certain time just doing autographs. Do them as you see them. So its not a whole bunch of waiting in line at one time. By day 2 you might need a longer rest time. to help recover from the night before if you stay for a show or fire works.

Love the input. Thanks Rachal!

Since Epcot day is DD's actual birthday, I think the kids will be sleeping in a little that day - slow morning at Give Kids the World. I think they have some special things they do there for kids' birthdays, but I'm not sure what.
Also, on Thursday nights I *think* Santa is there for a visit. So we'll be back at GKTW that evening (no illuminations?). Not sure yet.

Can you tell I'm a little AR when it comes to planning?

We're leaving lots of time "unplanned" right now because we know the kids will be trading pins and making souvenir pennies. Not sure how many rides they'll be able to do this time around due to height, age, and chicken-liveredness.

 

[maroo]

Hi Maroo!

I'd love to be on the Wish Trips thread.

I did tell DD that *some* of her wish might be hard to do . . .

UPDATE: Our trip is now scheduled for March 24th-29th!!

YAY! DD wished that we could reschedule for her birthday and voila we're going down to WDW that week.

Hi there!!

I am SOOOOO sorry. I totally forgot to post your thread to the Wish Trippers Unite thread...but it is there now! and somehow I forgot to hit the subscribe button, too, on the report itself! Man...I am losing my mind!

I will catch back up here real quick and post on the Wish Trippers Thread that we have a new wish trip pre-trippie to follow!!

 

[maroo]

Hi Christine!!

Maybe we can find each other?

Don't be too impressed - all the planning is done around when we can get ressies!!
Besides, we got postponed and now have some more time to plan. Although as time grows short, I'm having second thoughts.

DH is ready to storm the park and try to do everything like when BK (before kids). I'm having quite a time trying to figure out what is reasonable.

I don't know how much of a pain it's going to be to schlepp the kids back and forth to the park. They tend to want to stay where they happen to be. I'll have to consult DH and see if he's willing to schlepp. I think there's a Wish lounge and I was thinking that maybe we could have the kids lay down there?

Still planning but time is growing too short to change ressies. I might switch us out for Ohana instead of 1900 PF.

Kids want dinner. Back later.

You can definitely take a rest in the Wish Lounge. Assuming there are no other families in there...you can relax on the carpeted floor or you can rest on this big pillow they have. The kids can watch a movie and you can get some water. It is also right beside First Aid...and you could lay down there, too!

 

[oklamomof4boys]

I'm glad I found your trip report! We took our wish trip in November- we had a wonderful time! I'm not sure if you've had all your questions answered.

You had asked about wishing to stay in Cinderella's suite- somebody included that as part of their wish but they were told they couldn't do that. With your GKTW button you won't have to wait in line to meet characters or to ride most of the rides. That saves a ton of time. I can't remember, are you staying at GKTW? It is a magical place.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Carol

 

[muttshouse]

I'm glad I found your trip report! We took our wish trip in November- we had a wonderful time! I'm not sure if you've had all your questions answered.

You had asked about wishing to stay in Cinderella's suite- somebody included that as part of their wish but they were told they couldn't do that. With your GKTW button you won't have to wait in line to meet characters or to ride most of the rides. That saves a ton of time. I can't remember, are you staying at GKTW? It is a magical place.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Carol

Hi Carol!

Thanks for the information. Elsa will feel better knkowing she didn't "mess up" her wish.

Yes, we're staying at GKTW. I think our plans are pretty much set except for me trying to change our 1900 PF and BBB times for later.

I'm up to my ears in obligations right now and trying to get things done so I can pack for the trip!

The kids are now revved up for pin trading, autographs, and squished pennies. I hope they actually get to go on some rides.

I feel so clueless, I don't even know what to ask!



Learning to enjoy the journey is a skill I'm still working on and getting better at. That's why I married my husband.

 

[muttshouse]

Here's something that happened in Jan. 2009. I'm just trying to make our MAW trip complete.

One of my scrapbooking friends, Carolyn Taylor, found out about our MAW trip and asked if Elsa was going to wear any costumes while there. I told her that basically Elsa has outgrown her costumes and any she can squeeze into, we would bring.

Then Carolyn says her daughter's old costume might fit E! She sends the package and Elsa is SO happy! Thanks Carolyn!


(Carolyn's an incredible lady! Runs weekend crops (www.croppingcircle.com), works for Mr. Ray (www.mrray.com) helping managing his office and business, and has 2 girls, one of which has medical issues. Whew!)

Here's Elsa Opening the package

What is it? What is it?

Elsa's "very proud/snooty" face.

Happy! I missed the shot of the big grin right before this.

BoyO feels a little left out. "Take a picture of ME TOO!!" Elsa and Dad are in the back.

Feeling Very Regal

 

[dmbfan]

How sweet...I have to say she looks like Snow white... Even to the color of her hair....

So awesome that she is now able to wear a princess dress

 

[oklamomof4boys]

How sweet...I have to say she looks like Snow white... Even to the color of her hair....

So awesome that she is now able to wear a princess dress

I was going to say the same thing! She does look like Snow White!

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

Super Cute!!! she just needs a red bow and you are good to go!!

Do you have the master list for the squished Penny locations? DD collects them too and its make it so much easier to find what she wants to get. I will get it to you if you dont have it.

 

[muttshouse]

Super Cute!!! she just needs a red bow and you are good to go!!

Do you have the master list for the squished Penny locations? DD collects them too and its make it so much easier to find what she wants to get. I will get it to you if you dont have it.

Oh no! Completely forgot about the bow! I'll have to dig around and see if any of her current hair bands will do.

Thanks everyone for the comments. If she's Snow White, does that make me the Evil Queen? I do LOVE a good apple . . .


Elsa's been growing her hair out for almost 3 years now. Totally different texture. Before her hair was a little lighter in color and was on the thin side. She rarely had a problem with me handling her hair. Now it's a little wavy and thick! She loves it.

It was completely gone when she was 4 due to the chemo. So we've had to "restart". She's totally forgotten how much time and care it takes for longer hair. She won't let me brush it because it hurts and washing and drying is a total pain. Now I know why I had the "Dorothy Hamil" cut for so long as a kid!


I'd love the squished pennies list! TIA!

 

[muttshouse]

I was contacted by the DisBoutiquers Big Give group! I'm so grateful that our family is allowed to share in their love.

They are a group of disboard members who have huge hearts filled with love and who sprinkle pixie dust on Wish trip families by making something special for the Wish kids and their siblings. I think there may be some paper crafters there too.

So, I promised to post pics to let them know we got the Pixie Dust. Today, Richard (Elsa's little brother) received a package. THANK YOU SO MUCH to our Busy Mice in Redwing MN. (You didn't include your messageboard name and I don't have time to look it up right now.) The card had a very thoughtful note in it - thanks so much!! Richard will have to wait until everything is washed before he can wear it.

Here's Richard with the bag. He was so excited to get a surprise today especially since an order for lefthanded items arrived for Elsa.

Opening the Bag!

Finally got the stuff out of the bag!!

We got the cutest outfit for him! Matching shirt and pants.

THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN!!

 

[Bill_Lin]

I'm glad I found your trip report! We took our wish trip in November- we had a wonderful time! I'm not sure if you've had all your questions answered.

You had asked about wishing to stay in Cinderella's suite- somebody included that as part of their wish but they were told they couldn't do that. With your GKTW button you won't have to wait in line to meet characters or to ride most of the rides. That saves a ton of time. I can't remember, are you staying at GKTW? It is a magical place.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Carol

Lysi's first wish was to stay in the Cinderella Suite. The Disney commercials on that were way too effective. Because most little girls would include that in their wish, and there are so many wish kids every day, it is not feasible. What Disney was doing at the time was to give it out randomly to park guests daily. I don't know if that is continuing. Having a meal in the Castle was plenty. The suite came with riding in the parade which would have been fun but would also have cut into our ride time.

Lysi was 5, so we scheduled "rest rides" each day to slow down and catch our breath. Here is a list of good possiblities that are nice and mellow:

Small World - has been known to put people to sleep. If a wish kid wants to stay on and take a second trip, just let the CM know.

Train

Pirates

Shows

Animal Kingdom train

Lion King Festival

Boat ride from Epcot to Disney Studios

Hall of Presidents

Steamboat

Ferries across the "pond" at Epcot.

Mexico ride

Nemo and Friends

Ellen's energy adventure

Sea World shows


We also found cool down areas, as we were not used to hot humid weather. There are play fountains at Epcot, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Sea World and misting stations at Animal Kingdom and Universal Studios. Of course, nothing beats air conditioning in indoor shows and restaurants.

The Wish Lounge at MK was a blessing. They also can give you information and help with wish issues. There are nice quiet, uncrowded restrooms there. I understand the VIP lounge at Epcot is open to wish trippers but we did not use it.

Bill

 

[muttshouse]

Hey Bill!
Thanks for the suggestions. We've been racking our brains trying to figure out when to "schedule" the down time rides. We have NO idea how tired the kids will be from the early start the previous day. Guess we'll find out! LOL!

Both kids have already axed all dark rides off the list. I may still kidnap them and make them go on Peter Pan with me.