Food & meals for DisneyWorld Make-a-Wish trip..... final update #18

[Claudia1]

An distant acquaintance has a make-a-wish trip scheduled for her daughter in May. They have a total of 7 children and I have heard that they will be eating PBJs most of the trip because they can't afford the food. The trip includes travel, tickets, and lodging but not food.

Is that right? If so, how do families pay for meals if they have little money to use toward a vacation?

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Are they staying at Give Kids The World? I thought that's where most Wish families stayed. If so, food is free there I think.

Others wise...you pay for food whether you are at home or on vacation so it's not like their food budget would be zero. They could have food delivered from a grocery store to their resort (WeGoShop or GardenGrocer) to get simple stuff like cereal for breakfast and sandwiches, chips and fruit for lunch. You can bring food into the parks...even a small cooler. Also, kids meals aren't too crazily priced in the parks and the parents could share an entree.

 

[Sparkly]

Wouldn't they give the family money for food? I thought they gave the Wish families a amount of spending money for their trip.

 

[morgan98]

I believe (and could be wrong) that there are different chapters of Make A Wish, so there may be differences in what trips cover. If they stay at the village, food is included, but if for some reason they are staying at a different hotel, then food would be separate.

Seems odd that they would arrange the trip, but then say they family is on their own for food. With seven people, that seems like a big expense to not cover.

 

[Claudia1]

Thanks for the feedback. I am researching where they are staying and what is included and will get back when I have more complete details. If could be that they are concerned about meals in the parks...... which could be very pricey with 7 kids and much more than eating out locally.

 

[Jedana]

And is it really a Make a Wish trip, or is it one of the other charities?

 

[Mizzoufan]

From Make A Wish website http://wish.org/content/faq#Does-the-family-have-to-pay-for-the-wish

Does the family have to pay for the wish?
No. All wish expenses are fully covered, including all travel and spending money when appropriate. Make-A-Wish's objective is to create a memorable wish experience for both the child and family that is not clouded by financial concerns.

 

[stout]

I've been a wish granter for 9 years. It is based on the policies of each chapter. If the family stays at give kids the world, the food on the gktw property is all free--even ice cream at 3am if so desired. Our chapter gives the family a check to cover expenses prior to the trip, which includes a per person per day meal stipend (I forget the amount, but I believe it would easily cover two quick service meals per day). Again, it is based on the particular chapter, but I would encourage the family to reach out to their assigned wish granters or wish coordinator to ask more.

 

[Deb]

a good friend of mine was recently in the Orlando area on a wish trip. Most of their meals (including the two planned in WDW) were part of the wish. they did not stay at GKtW

 

[Pumbaa_]

Op looks like someone is not in the know and is spreading rumors. T is nice of you to be concerned, but this is a time to back away and myob

 

[Claudia1]

I have not been able to find out any details so I'm tabling the discussion until I learn more. The family is overwhelmed right now and I don't suspect any deceit on their part, just incomplete information.

Thanks for all of your great comments and information! When I know more, I'll be back.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Ok, I'll bite. Why are you so involved w a distant acquaintance monetary issues? They have a coordinator, that is who THEY should be talking to. They need the facts before anything else

 

[Mizzoufan]

I posted from the Make A Wish website, That Make A Wish pays for EVERYTHING.

 

[Claudia1]

Ok, I'll bite. Why are you so involved w a distant acquaintance monetary issues? They have a coordinator, that is who THEY should be talking to. They need the facts before anything else

Some of her coworkers contacted me about doing a fundraiser for their meals. I didn't think that sounded right and I know my fellow DISsers know more about this than me so I reached out here for information. Nothing more than hearing about something that didn't sound quite right but not knowing the truth. I have not been able to contact the family directly to learn the facts but I have shared all of your comments with those closer to her so they can determine their proper response.

After reading everything here, I'm guessing the coworkers have misunderstood, the family has not been completely informed yet, or they just don't have all the details yet. It was the coworkers who wanted to help a family they care about, not that the family asked for the help. I don't have any reason to believe the family initiated the request for help......the idea was prompted by the concern of her coworkers. With a terminally ill child plus 6 more, they are under a lot of stress and, like most of us here, the coworkers want to help.

Yes, they need the facts and I have passed along the info that their coordinator should be handling this. I have advised the coworkers to not do anything until they find out the facts. If you read my initial post, I specifically ask "if that is right". I honestly didn't know but I knew I would get great info here.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[SirDuff]

I posted from the Make A Wish website, That Make A Wish pays for EVERYTHING.

I've spent a lot of time on the DISabilities board and this is not the experience for many people. Many of them pay out-of-pocket for meals in the parks - meals at GKTW are free, but that would involve returning there for meals. Most (all?) get spending money, but this doesn't always cover all actives/meals they might want to have in the parks. And, the amount of this spending money greatly differs between MAW chapters.

 

[SMD]

I've spent a lot of time on the DISabilities board and this is not the experience for many people. Many of them pay out-of-pocket for meals in the parks - meals at GKTW are free, but that would involve returning there for meals. Most (all?) get spending money, but this doesn't always cover all actives/meals they might want to have in the parks. And, the amount of this spending money greatly differs between MAW chapters.

All of the above, plus there's no requirement that a family that receives a stipend use it for food. Maybe they have other plans for the money and the trade off is not paying for meals at the park.

 

[Claudia1]

I just got the correct info. They are staying at the Village so their meals are provided there. However, their trip does not include meals at the parks. Friends and family are using a gofundme account to help with park meals. With 7 kids, it will be pricey and also not easy to go back to the Village for meals.

Thanks for helping me understand that different chapters do things differently. I appreciate all of your responses, which has helped us all to help the family.

 

[Claudia1]

I have just learned that the little girl passed away yesterday. The entire family was able to go on the GTKTW trip and precious memories were made.

With the info received here and passed on to those closer to the family, the GoFundMe account set up provided enough money so that the entire family was able to eat lunch in the parks. They had breakfast and dinner at the village. Before the fund, they thought they could not take all of their children. However, the account provided them with enough money to take everyone..... a trip that will always be treasured.

Thanks to my fellow DISsers for the information that led to the GoFundMe account that made it all happen!

 

[christineann]

How heartbreaking. I'm glad the whole family was able to go.