Gktw Question

[MAJ RN]

My son and I are going to WDW with Make A Wish. We will be staying at Give Kids the World. Can anyone give me some information on this place. Did your families have fun? How far is it from WDW? Any info would be greatly appriciated



Thanks,
Melissa

 

[SueM in MN]

There are quite a few frequent posters to this board who have made wish trips and stayed there. I'm sure you will get quite a few replies.
While you are waiting, you can visit the Give Kids the World website at www.gktw.org
The website is really great.

 

[Piglet]

DD had a MAW trip back in 2001. Give Kids the World Village is a wonderful place and you and your son will have so much fun. WDW isn't too far - just a short drive (like 15 - 30 minutes depending on traffic) What other questions do you have??

Melinda

 

[MAJ RN]

I was also curious about the villas, what are they like? I have seen very few pictures of GKTW and the web site does not seem to have much info regarding activities. Pretty much any detail anyone is willing to share would be helpful.



Thanks,
Melissa

 

[Piglet]

The villas are very nice. They are like a small house and are really 1/2 a house. Small kitchen, living room, 2 nice big bedrooms (one has king size bed, the other had 2 twin sizes w/ handicap shower & a big soaking tub) , 2 baths, washer & dryer. Fridge is stocked and they pretty much provide everything you need at the house. They have different activities scheduled through out the week and I think it changes pretty often. They normally have a movie in the theater with popcorn, they have a game room, usually a pool party with a picnic for dinner one evening. While we were there it was Halloween and they had a big party with trick or treating, DJ, crafts. You and your son definetly will have plenty to do and won't be disappointed.

Also Wal Mart is right at the end of the road. We didn't pack some of the small stuff we needed and just went there.

Hope this helps.

Melinda

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

GKTW is really great, we just went over Christmas and had awful weather (cold and rainy), not good for touring the parks and GKTW really saved the day. They were on top of my kids' list of favorite parts of the vacation. While we were there they had a magic show at the theater that all ages enjoyed (including dh), there is alot to do in the Castle such as a playroom with toys, games and crafts. There is an arcade, Putt-Putt course (I was disappointed that we didn't get to do that), walking trail, fishing hole, carousel, ice cream shoppe, I'm sure I'm leaving some out..., oh, they had horses there one day to ride, and everything is FREE. There's a train, two swimming pools. As Piglet said, the villas are really nice, we were very pleased with them. The volunteers were all wonderful, as well. Our refridgerator wasn't really stocked, it just had a few drinks in it, but it we just made a trip to Walmart for a few extras.

It seems like we were about 30 miles from the parks, maybe a little less. I'm not positive about that.

 

[Dragonfly8124]

You will be very pleased with GKTW. We just got back yesterday from our trip and it was great! Email with questions and I will be happy to give you any info you need to prepare you for your trip. All I can say is . . . AWESOME VACATION!

 

[SueOKW]

There were so many good things about GKTW I can't tell you! You will be amazed. In a funny way, the best thing for me was that everyone there had a family member with a medical problem or condition. Everyone there had similar experiences - - hurting, tired, or determined and laughing. Does that make sense? It was so neat being in the majority for a change. I really hated to leave.

When we went the trips were too short - 5 days - they've since increased them to 7. There was so much to do and not enough time. You will have a marvelous time.

 

[mcmom]

For those that just got back~how do you use the GKTW pin to get on the rides without waiting in lines. Do you go to an alternate entrance or just hope the CM see's it? We are going for my son't wish trip in February and I don't want to do the wrong thing!

Thanks
Lori

 

[Dragonfly8124]

We just got back. There is usually a Cast Member close to the end of the line or the Fast Pass line. Find the cast member, show them the GAC and ask which entrance you are supposed to use. We went to all the Disney parks. Magic Kingdom and Epcot cast members were more aware of the GKTW/GAC then the ones at MGM and AK. By this I mean they sent you to the front of the line and at the other two parks mentioned they didn't understand some times and we had to explain that we are suppose to have front of the line access. In particular at MGM on the Aerosmith RnR. The cast member working the line at the end told us, "Oh you don't need to go anywhere but here - there's about a 10 minute wait." Even after telling her we were suppose to go to the front of the line she still insisted that we went through the main line. When we got to the top where the line wraps around several times to load I got the attention of one of the cast members loading the cars. I asked her and she opened the gate up and put us on the next car. Then when we exited the cast member unloading us told us about the back door exit for that ride. You go to the exit for RnR and a cast member will show you the back door entrance. For the most part though they knew what they was doing and put you on the next ride ASAP.

Take the time to do the activites at GKTW too - they are really neat.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have not been on a WISH trip, but have seen lots of people who were. Two things I have found out/noticed about people on MAW trips.

• If there are already people with disabilities/special needs waiting to get on a ride/attraction, the MAW group goes ahead of them. Don't be shy or concerned about that. Most of us waiting understand why your group is going ahead (and anyone who has a problem with a MAW group going ahead of them needs more Pixie Dust).
• For a few rides (like Peter Pan) there isn't a lot of room in the special needs boarding area, so you probably will need to wait your turn because of no space to let your group thru.
• It's important to carry your MAW paperwork with you, not just have the pin. The paperwork is what actually gives you the front of line privileges.

This wasn't recent, but a few years ago, I heard of someone selling counterfeit MAW pins that people were using at the parks. We actually saw a group of young adults (in their early 20s) get busted for that at the Tarzan Rocks show. There was a group of other special needs people waiting, when the "fake MAW" group came up. The CMs had not started seating yet, but this group wanted one of the front seats and the CM took them up there (the rest of us were not seated for almost 15 minutes). As he came back, a CM manager asked why he had started seating people. Because the group was about 8 young guys (not your typical MAW group), the manager went up and asked to see their paperwork. They didn't have any and security was called. After security escorted them out, the mananger talked with the original CM and explained that if in doubt, he needed to ask for the paperwork because pins were fairly easy to obtain.

 

[mcmom]

Thanks for the information. I would not have thought to take the paperwork with us. We are so excited! I am ready to start packing (22 days to go) but my dh hasn't gotten me the suitcase out yet!

Lori

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the information. I would not have thought to take the paperwork with us. We are so excited! I am ready to start packing (22 days to go) but my dh hasn't gotten me the suitcase out yet!

Lori

I believe people who have been on WISH trips have posted that they get the specific paperwork (and a reminder to carry it with you) that you need during an orientation meeting after you arrive at GKTW.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[MAJ RN]

I wanted to thank everyone for all your advice, but I just found out we will be staying on Disney property because GKTW is completely booked!! Has anyone ever stayed on site with a MAW trip?


Thanks,
Melissa

 

[roseprincess]

Hi Melissa,

My dd had her WDW wish trip granted last yr. via MAW. We (dd,ds,dh, and I) went last June. We opted to stay at the Contemporary Resort(deluxe resort).
When our wish granter came for the initial visit to our house, he told us about GKTW, but he ( our wish granter) didn't know alot about GKTW, what the villas look like, etc. And I didn't know about these DIS Boards at the time to ask questions. So, to make a long story short, we had requested to stay at the Contemporary because we wanted access to the monorails and also we wanted to have the experience to stay on property. And I was also leary of GKTW at the time because I wasn't getting the info that I needed from our wish granter. Anyways, MAW came thru and let us stay at the Contemporary. We were just so thrilled! And when we checked in last June at the Contemp., MAW upgraded our room to a tower room. We were just floored!

One thing since we didn't stay at GKTW, we were told that MAW had to cut off a day from our trip. At GKTW, the policy is they let you stay 7 days, 6 nights. If you stay on property at a resort, it is 6 days/5 nights that MAW pays. I don't know if that policy now is the same as last yr, I know MAW sometimes changes these policies often.
I also heard that if GKTW is full (like you are experiencing), they bump you to stay on property. ( which is not a bad thing.)

Which resort are they letting you and your son stay at?

Roseprincess

 

[MAJ RN]

Roseprincess,

We are hoping to stay at the Contemperary, my son loves the monorail. We are allowed to stay for 6 nights 7days since GKTW were booked for our trip.