Evan is going to see "Bickey Bouse" on a wish trip!

[billwendy]

here is a pic of ev with the sunshine ladies

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/evsmama30/sfgals.jpg

even the dog got in on the action. i am in the pink sweater, and gran is in the coral shirt!

if anyone can tell me what i am doing wrong with the pics...i cannot get it to show up as a pic.

Love it!!!!! you guys are GREAT!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing that with us!!!

 

[evsmama30]

here is a linkt to the other local news' story about ev...

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/5842-six-year-old-gets-dream-trip-to-disney

 

[mommy2girlswv]

here is a linkt to the other local news' story about ev...

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/5842-six-year-old-gets-dream-trip-to-disney

It was too cute!! He looked so happy!!!

 

[VBAndrea]

AWESOME news feature!!!! Evan looked really delighted with all the attention. And I love your little doggie ~ I bet he/she is good company for Evan.

 

[mom2pixies]

Great job Evan and Leanne! Where can we line up for your autographs?

 

[evsmama30]

how are you all doing??

crazy weekend here, and a little sad. the good news was evan's trip presentation went really well! the ladies were all so nice. ev "held court" as usual

we also got our itenerary from sunshine foundation, and i will tell you about that a little further down the post.

but our sad news is that the new doggie we got ran away the first day we had him. i left him outside on a tie out just long enough to use the bathroom myself and i came out to find the collar attached to the tie out and no dog. he was super nervous and i am not sure if he ran off or was just hidng. but i was outlooking for him till nearly 3am

only good news is evan hadn't met him yet. that has me bummed.

but i do have a lot more info about sunshine...specifically rules and procedures for the dream village, info on our rental car when we arrive in florida, and specific info on the stipend they give you for your trip (thank goodness he got lots of GCs for his birthday...lol). i also learned that the race on saturday is only from 8-12, so that gives us time to chill a bit and got to downtown disney with lots of time to wait for t-rex since i couln't get an ADR

i had one question for anyone who is folloeing this PRT and may know. since sunshine is not GKTW, we don't get a "green light" pass. this is fine, i was just going to get a regular GAC for ev and it is okay if we have to wait. BUT, the info i got said that if yoou had a visible disability, you did not need a GAC card, and that the CM's were trained to already help you. does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on this??? not sure if it would be worth waiting in line to get a GAC if it doesn't matter, but would hate to miss out on things like wheelchair seating for parades and showws if we don't. thanks for your help and input!

have a great evening

 

[brookerene]

I'm sorry to hear about the doggy! I can't answer your other question.... I'm sure there is someone who can... I think I would get the GAC, if it was a slower time of year I might pass, but better safe than sorry.

 

[xanphylus]

For the ADR at T-Rex did you call T-rex directly or try the disney adr line? Sometimes if you call directly they have openings they just don't give them to disney.... dunno- worth a try!

 

[DMGeurts]

Oh - I am so sorry about your new doggie. I hope he turns up somewhere.

I wish I could help you out with the GAC, I really don't know anything about it - but I am sure a lot of others to and will chime in as soon as they read it.

I just have to say that Evan has my entire family wrapped around his finger... everytime you post a new picture of Evan, my girls come running to see how cute he is! He has totally stole our hearts!

D~

 

[evsmama30]

hey gang-

checked with the shelters and local vets...no doggie. i guess i am just grateful ev didn't get the chance to meet him and like him

but my mom and i were discussing dining plans(in room vs. out) and what to do on our arrival day. so i am in need of opinions...our first evening after we arrive is free. i was thinking of maybe trying to go to universal citywalk. does anyone know anything about it? is it free like downtown disney? any good places to eat? does there happen to be any harry potter stuff there (i am kind of a die hard potterhead!) just wondered if anyone had an opinion! thanks for the advice!

ev is getting so excited...i am too!

 

[angeque143]

thanks!!! i hate being on tv, but if it hels another kiddo, what the hey!!!

This is my feeling too!!!

 

[evsmama30]

For the ADR at T-Rex did you call T-rex directly or try the disney adr line? Sometimes if you call directly they have openings they just don't give them to disney.... dunno- worth a try!

it was HERE that someone suggested this!!! i did call contact the restaurant and heard back today that we got a priority seating for that night! thanks for the suggestion!!!!

 

[mom2pixies]

it was HERE that someone suggested this!!! i did call contact the restaurant and heard back today that we got a priority seating for that night! thanks for the suggestion!!!!

Yeah!! If that place is anything like Rainforest Cafe (but dino themed!), Evan is going to love it! The colours, the theme, the animatronics and noise--perfect for kids! Okay, I admit it. I'm the one in the family who loves Rainforest....

 

[evsmama30]

hey gang-

i was checking in to say hi and see if anyone had any helpful info on flying with a wheelchair on southwest (i know tracy might )

in our sunshine foundation itenerary, it said that they had told them we needed wheelchair assistance, but i am not exactly sure what that means. my understanding is that evan can stay in his own chair till gate time, when they can gate check his chair. his chair is a foldable zippie zone. super lightweight and takes about the same space as a medium sized stroller. in the packet was a worksheet about his chair and dimensions, and whether we wil take it apart and keep pieces of it with us??? i am so cinfused. i figured they would just take it, fold it, store it, and give it back?!?!?!

i did notice when i flew last month on southwest that they had a special skinny chair to get someone onto the plane, but i figured i would just carry ev. anyone have any advice? should i just call southwest?

if it helps, we are flying out of PGH.

thanks in advance guys!!

 

[angeque143]

I would call the airline and get the rules from them....This way everything is clear and there are no doubts about it!!

 

[VBAndrea]

Chances are they will treat it just like a stroller. You wheel Evan right up to the gate, he gets out of his chair at the plane entrance, you fold the chair (or they may be able to do it for you if it's simple enough) and leave it right there. When you land in Orlando the chair will be waiting for you (and should be all set up) right as you exit the plane. This is how Southwest handles strollers and since you stated the wheelchair is similar in size I would assume they handle it exactly the same way. Hopefully someone with a wheelchair can verify this, but that's how strollers were done the last time I flew with one.

I have no idea how you will proceed through security. I would ask on the disabilities board b/c you may want to prepare ahead for that.

 

[billwendy]

From my experiences with WC's on airplanes is that if it is removeable, keep it with you on the plane. Even a simple wheelchair that we used for Daniel came back to us missing 1 leg rest!!!

He will be able to stay in it right up to the door of the airplane, then you may carry him or help him walk to his seat. They should let you on the plane like first!! Take your time and dont feel rushed at all.

His chair should be waiting for you right at the door as you get off of the plane. you can step to the side and put it back together. then off you go!!!! Does he have swing away footrests, or is it a 1 piece front end. Does he have a separate cushion? are the arm rests removable?

 

[evsmama30]

From my experiences with WC's on airplanes is that if it is removeable, keep it with you on the plane. Even a simple wheelchair that we used for Daniel came back to us missing 1 leg rest!!!

He will be able to stay in it right up to the door of the airplane, then you may carry him or help him walk to his seat. They should let you on the plane like first!! Take your time and dont feel rushed at all.

His chair should be waiting for you right at the door as you get off of the plane. you can step to the side and put it back together. then off you go!!!! Does he have swing away footrests, or is it a 1 piece front end. Does he have a separate cushion? are the arm rests removable?

thanks for the info girls. he does have a seperate cushion and armrests. the rest of it is pretty much attached. but maybe i should take those with me then...i guess by then we will have the stroller handle too. i guess we can just stash that stuff in a carry on. good info to know!!!

 

[xanphylus]

it was HERE that someone suggested this!!! i did call contact the restaurant and heard back today that we got a priority seating for that night! thanks for the suggestion!!!!

Yuppers!

 

[billwendy]

thanks for the info girls. he does have a seperate cushion and armrests. the rest of it is pretty much attached. but maybe i should take those with me then...i guess by then we will have the stroller handle too. i guess we can just stash that stuff in a carry on. good info to know!!!

Absolutely!!! arm rests can be easily lost, as can a cushion.....what a bummer if you got there and they were gone!!! With Dan's chair, he had to go without a footrest for the whole trip!!