how about an ongoing help the ill children group UPDATE WE CAN DO IT!!!

[AnnMorin]

I hope they say yes!!

I am an active participant of the "DISboards' and we are trying to come up with a plan to help out sick children that are cruising. I was wondering if it would be possible for many of us to order stateroom credits in small amounts for the children, it would probably be several people each ordering between $5.00 -$10.00. My hopes would be that if enough people made a small sacrifice there would be a huge surprise for these terminal children. I am enclosing a link to the ongoing thread we have. Please let me know if this could be possible. Or if you have any other suggestions on how to acheive our objective.
Thank you Ann Morin here is the link : http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=454355

 

[WDWLVR]

Ann I really like that last idea and hope that Disney allows it. That way people who can't give very much, but want to contribute can. Also it would be a lot more personal than just giving money to a central organization since many of us do those donations already.

It was a great idea and you have a great big heart. Thanks!

 

[AnnMorin]

I hope they will allow it. It does not seem like it would be much extra work for them and if you think about it since it is onboard credit the money goes back to DCL so even if it was a bit more work it is making money for them. I know how hard it is to find large amounts of extra money but I keep thinking that if a bunch of people even sent in five dollars how surprised the child would be! There is so much they could spent an onboard credit on too,.,excursions, smooties, shirts, stuffed animals, arcade cards etc. Yes Jay and I do donate to the large organizations too but this would be so much more personal. DCL could even just say stateroom credit from "your DISboard friends" so as not to have to write up all the names. Oh I hope they say yes!!!!

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ann - The shipboard account is an excellent idea -

Kathy - I agree with Ann's suggestion about rethinking your group, category and date.

I have looked at MAW's site, and it is pretty clear that they try to keep the cost to a certain amount, which in this case equals out to either 7 days at WDW or 4 days on a cruise given the number of people, category and date. Did they specifically tell you in the beginning that this would be a 7-day cruise for five people?

If you feel that Alyssa will be so disappointed not to go on a 7 day, perhaps this would be the way to accomplish your goal.

I think at 11 she will probably be thrilled to get on the boat with Mickey and his friends for whatever period of time!! It is the trip fo a lifetime for any child. I am sure that the additional surprises would make the trip all the more special!

Keep us posted - please!!

 

[AnnMorin]

I didn't count your other son so actually it is six people going, so you must have two cabins. That is where the big expense lies! I would seriously consider only having half the people go and by eliminating one cabin you would save a bundle and Alyssa could go for seven days no problem. The largest cabin occupancy other that the big suites is five people, DCL charges full adult fare for the first two per cabin so that is where the big bucks are adding up. Even if your eldest son who is 23 stayed home the five of you could then fit in one cabin which might cut the costs way down.

 

[Mjasp]

Ann, Well girlfriend you have hit the big one here.

I, like everyone else just LOVE this idea.

We will need DCL's help on this one though. I agree with other posters here, that DCL has to let us know when an organization has planned a cruise for a sick child and when the sailing will be so we can send our DD's or onboard credits.

OMG I just love things like this. Imagine helping a child who is so sick, just smile and forget about doctors and hospitals and pain for awhile. But lets not forget about the siblings of these children, if we send funds will they also get money to shop at Mickey's mates etc.

OK we have to get this off the ground, let me know how I could help.

Joanna

 

[AnnMorin]

I will let you know as soon as I hear from them. I just hope they say yes!!!!!!!!!!

 

[figment52]

I hope we get a positive response from DCL. I am going to have to keep following this thread.

 

[Verandah Man]

I remember when we started sending in donations for Nate, we were told it was a $25.00 min. and incruments of $25.00 could be ordered for onboard credits, then DCL started receiving so many calls from DIS'ers who wanted to send in $5.00 and $10.00 gift amounts, that the DCL CM's were told to start accepting these amounts. I don't know what Nate's final total was, but I understand it was a large amount. Since Nate's cruise, our DCL D.A.I.D. has moved on in the company, I know he was a strong force behind Nate's upgrade and special little surprises for Nate and his family during their cruise last month.

Will be waiting to hear what kind of response you get from your e-mail Ann, I too hope, DCL agrees.

 

[AnnMorin]

I can only hope that the new person at the helm will be as kind hearted as Mr. Ouimett was and that there will be a new D.A.I.D. If the answer in no I will head back to the "drawing board" and try to come up with some other plan. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

 

[Mjasp]

Ann...Another option if DCL doesn't want to let us know who will be sailing with last wish organizations. We can always try to contact the organizations themselves and see if we get anywhere with that. Although I can only see them telling us to donate to their organization, which most of us do already.

But we can't give up.

Joanna

 

[AnnMorin]

yeah, I already do give to two of them right now and they are so needy to help other children I can't imagine they would allow us to give extra just to some (because we are biased to the cruise kids..) we will just have to wait and see, if anyone comes up with any other ideas or plans to make this work please let me know!

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
I can only hope that the new person at the helm will be as kind hearted as Mr. Ouimett was and that there will be a new D.A.I.D. If the answer in no I will head back to the "drawing board" and try to come up with some other plan. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

I'm still trying to see if I can get something going on my end Ann, keep your fingers crossed, and pixie dust flying.

 

[preb]

I just read through this whole thread and love the idea.

I have one thought and it may be way out of line, but I'll go ahead and mention it.

What if everyone sent Shirley at The Perfect Gift their Disney Dollars, cash, pins and other donations and she delivered them in the form of a gift basket onboard? The Disney Dollars could then be posted to the shipboad account by the parents. Shirley could of course deduct an amount from any cash donations to cover her time and expenses. If someone posted a thread asking for help with a wish child, the information could be verified with the granting organization by one designated person (Ann?) from the boards, a thread would be posted requesting donations and then Shirley could get the ball (ok, the basket) rolling.


I've never even purchased a basket from Shirley, but I have certainly read numerous threads praising her and I've also seen all of the helpful things she's done for others.

Just my 2 cents. But, count me in on whatever is decided!

 

[AnnMorin]

However I don't know if Shirely would want to be responsible for all that. Several people have emailed me and asked if they could send to me and I could then send it in as a group gift and I have declined. The reason being is I don't want to handle the money myself and am not sure if Shirley would want to either. Unfortuneatly there is sometimes one "bad apple" in a group and I would not want anyone to think, suspect or suggest that I did anything unappropriate with any funds. To keep track of it properly would take extra accounting work that I certainly do not want to do and am not sure if Shirley would want to either. That would be necessary though incase someone questioned what "really " happened to the DD's, cash etc. That is why I thought the onboard credit idea would be perfect. Since it would be done on your charge card right to disney there would be no question as to where the money went. If Shirely wants to do it I am more than willing to be the other half who organizes, verifies stories etc. but it would be a big burden on her and I would hate to dump that large of an effort on anyone.
Andy as always thanks for your efforts, let me know if you hear back too.. (doesn't anyone check their email over at DCL )

 

[Verandah Man]

(doesn't anyone check their email over at DCL )

Remember it's Sunday Ann, I'm sure the offices are closed today.

 

[AnnMorin]

I am just one impatient lady... actually this has been a wonderful diversion as Mr. Sprinkler Guy blew me off again today ARRRRRRRRRG!!!! So instead of thinking about that I have focused on this.

 

[westjones]

You guys are so wonderful! This is a great idea. I will be following your thread and hope things work out.

DJ

 

[ChattyKathy]

Sounds like I either started a bad or good fire here...
When I sit and read thru these posts, it makes me sounds ungracious.


GrumpysMom~~MAW told us that Alyssa could take her immediate family, whom of which is in the household...



Kathy

 

[AnnMorin]

Kathy I was not suggesting anything ungracious at all! I was just trying to help come up with solutions that would give her the seven day cruise that you say she wants so much. As generous as we all are I don't think we could come up with $2000.00 to bump six people up to seven days from four so I was suggesting that maybe if especially the eldest son stayed home it may be more doable. I was really just trying to think it through and give you different options for Alyssa to help her achieve her wish. After all that is who is important here, the sick children. I personally think it would be such a beautiful gesture/gift for an older brother and/or stepfather to step aside and sacrifice their vacation so that the person whom the trip was about could have what their heart was set on. I am still trying to come up with ways to assist you (and others) and have not given up yet, I was simply suggesting ways that you could make this happen for her.