Help w/ Make-A-Wish trip

[lisaluvsmickey2000]

Please help with any/all info you have.

I am a private duty nurse for children w/ special needs. One of my children (a 3 year old boy irate: ) was grated a MAW for Disney. The family has asked me to go w/ them

Both his parents and his older brother are coming along for the ride The older bro is 9yo and has ADHD w/ PDD (Asperger like symptoms), so any help on that front will also be appreciated

My special boy has a genetic disease that makes him very flaccid (no muscle tone) so he will be stroller-bound. He is blind, but hears very well. He is fed partially by mouth, but meds and supplements are by GTube. He also has seizures (mostly controlled by meds).

So here are some specific questions:

What does MAW pay for?

If we stay at Give Kids the World...how big are the villas?

If GKTW is booked up, where will we stay?

What kind of special magic does the World bestow on the MAW kids and families?

I will have to think of some more questions when it isn't 3am :

But any other info would be great...THANKS everyone

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to the Give Kids the World website at www.gktw.org you will find a lot of information. If you look around a bit, they even have some virtual tours of the villas. You'll aslo find a schedule of the special activities they have planned for each day of the week. There are enough of those that some people who have gone on MAW trips have said they could have a really good, full trip without ever leaving the GKTW village.

GKTW Village has food, so any meals eaten there are taken care of as part of the stay. There will also be park tickets to various area parks (peopke who have been on trips can help with the specific number or days).

I couldn't sleep, so have been up since about 3:30 am, so my brain is not registering a whole lot of help right now.

 

[Pigsty333]

It is pretty much inclusive. They take care of everything. They will know you are with the MAW as there are buttons (I believe everyone gets one, but I am not sure, identifying you).

We had our niece who had osteoarthritis (brittle bone) and they allowed us to use her stroller as a wheelchair. We had to get a pass at Guest Services. The problem with it - it is made out of paper and when it rained it got very wet and the stamp (for the length of your stay) would disappear, so we had to constantly go and get it replaced. What I did is I took it to Office Depot and had them laminate it, punched a hole in the middle and wore it around the neck with a lanyard. Much easier and accessible at all times to show the cast members when trying to enter through a wheelchair gate.

We got a lot of nasty looks from people that don't understand why we did that. She has to be constantly monitored because her bones break very easily, she has a heart condition and is partially blind.

Some cast members were a little rude - like when we were in the long lines for a character. They made you wait in the line, but others would tell you that you did not have to wait and escorted you to the front as soon as they realized you had a child with a disability. If you encounter any problems, then find one of the CM that is a supervisor and thell them your problem. They will help you out.

 

[SueOKW]

A Wish child and family shouldn't have to wait for much of anything. You will have time to review everything with a volunteer at GKTW. Don't worry about having to wait in line - or using the stroller - no issues at all. There will be magic a'plenty.

The villa we stayed in at GKTW had 2 BRs and I think 2 bathrooms.

I've heard of people staying at a monorail resort if GKTW is full. I thought GKTW was so special I was glad we got to stay there. Imagine being in a places where being different is the norm!!!!

 

[SueOKW]

one example of magic... I remember all our other kids going to visit some characters, the line was long and Kevin and I were just standing on the side "talking". Suddenly, over walks Pinnochio and taps me on the shoulder... The CMs notice you and make magic for you. It's incredible.

i had lots of tears of joy.

 

[skoopman]

I hope you and the family have a wonderful time. We are leaving Saturday for DD's MAW trip! You asked what MAW pays for. They pay for the following for the immediate family only. I have heard exceptions to the immediate family rule, but only when it is an only child, however I know there is a lot I don't know.
Airfare
Hotel
3 day park hopper passes to Disney
2 day park hopper passes to Universal
1 day Sea World
money for food (varies depending on MAW chapter, for us it is $50 per person per day)
money for souvineers (again varies, for us it is $60 per person for the trip)
car rental

I think that is it. From what I gather it should be a wonderful magical, fun filled trip.

Suzanne

 

[MarieS]

My boys went on their MAW trip last year and it was fantastic! One thing I like to tell other families is about the First Aid Centers. Each park( Universal, etc too) has one. They have cots with cubicles. I was able to get my boys out of their chairs for breaks, tube feedings, meds, diaper changes. Several of the WDW aid centers had IV poles that I could use to hang the tube feedings too. The first aid centers made a huge difference in how well our trip went
You may also want to try doing a search on these boards for MAW or GKTW.
Have a great trip!

Marie

 

[spotdog]

At the risk of sounding insensitive...

Some people need accommodations to experience the parks due to mobility difficulties. Such as using a wheelchair or having stamina limitations.

Others have sensory deficits and use assisted listening systems/captioning or audio description and braille to fully enjoy WDW.

Some of us have mental/emotional challenges and just need a quieter place to wait our turn to experience attractions.

But MAW children are special. This will probably be their only chance to enjoy WDW with their family. I could wait just a few more minutes to let them "go to the front of the line".