"Is this Disney World?" Daniel's MAW trip report!

[billwendy]

Thanks to everyone who has followed our Journey - it all started with a diagnosis of Medullablastoma in 11/08 followed by surgery, radiation, chemo and LOTs of OT, PT and Speech therapy. My loving Dis'ers have travelled with me all the way to our wonderful MAW trip including being granted a Big Give!!! My nephew is now 12 years old, and knew he wanted to go to Disney, and they invited us to come along and help keep track of all the siblings which are 2,8,10 and 15 plus their mom and dad.

Day 1 - they arrive!!!!! We had driven down and were able to go to the airport to greet them as they arrived. We saw the MAW greeter standing there and went over to say Hi and she let Bill hold their greeting sign!!!

The excitement was just stirring inside and we chatted with the greeters who volunteer to do this every week. She told us there are greeters at the airport 24/7 including holidays. They helped us transition through the airport, had luggage carts and took us to car rentals and gave us directions to GKTW!

A piece of Dan's wheelchair did get lost - so make sure you take off everything removeable from your chair and bring it on with you! We are still waiting for southwest to coordinate to fix it, but they promised they would.

They were granted a 15 passenger van for their group of 7 people, and Avis also provided a car seat for the toddler.

We finally started out on the road and it started to POUR! but, we were very excited and found GKTW quite easily with the directions and map they had given!

Up Next - a look at GKTW Village!!! and "Is this Disney World?"

 

[dogodisney]

Woo hoo! I am so looking forward to reading this TR.

So happy hear everyone arrived safely.

 

[jessica52877]

I feel honored that you are going to do a trip report!! Whoo hoo! Can't wait to read it!!

I have LOVED LOVED LOVED all the pictures!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Great start! Can't wait to read more!

 

[billwendy]

I forgot to mention that they had forgotten to pack Steve's(8yo) medications so he was a bit antsy - lol - I think he could jump a mile high!!

John tried, but couldnt match his brothers leap

Dan was getting tired of both of them!! lol - lets just say brotherly "love" abounded on this trip!!!

We drove up to the Main building for check in, and while the parents did the checking in, I took the kids outside where they had a covered porch and some of those mechanical rides. They had a GREAT time - including 12 year old Dan - getting on and off of the little rides. When John(10yo) was waiting for a turn he turns to me and says "I love this place - so is this Disney World?" I had to laugh thinking to myself - you have no idea what you are in store for this week little guy!!!!!! Excitement was just welling up inside of me at what a Magical experience this was going to be for all of us!!

Dan acting Goofy!!! Im being a good aunt and saving these for either prom night or his wedding day!!!! lol

They got checked in after about an hour or so of waiting - here there were plumbing problems in the villa they were staying in - thank goodness they got fixed!!! Dan got a stuffed Mickey and the other kids got a little Shamu! Then a lady took the boys (to Samantha's dismay) in a golf cart and we followed in our cars to their villa - home away from home for the week!

The villa was really nice. It had a front porch with 2 rocking chairs. A kitchen with cabinets ( which Steve had to check all of them out), a fridge (with a few drinks stocked inside), a dishwasher (soap provided). 1 bedroom with a king sized bed with a TV, 1 bedroom with 2 single beds and a rollaway and a HUGE adapted bathroom with a roll in shower and a big jaquzzi tub (which all the kids eventually tried out - no pictures of that lol). There was another full regular bathroom and a living room with a TV and a DVD player. They also let us know that they had a DVD library that they could borrow from during the trip if they wanted. The house was very clean and neat. Such a nice place for a family to stay! On the kitchen table was a gift bag with some goodies, stuffed animials, a Spiderman Game, a book bout GKTW, crayons, coloring books and more waiting for them. The kids got gifts each day - sometimes DVD's or Tshirts or other fun goodies - they were spoiled!!!

THey went to lunch at the Gingerbread house and Bill and I ran to Cracker Barrel for lunch. We were a bit disappointed when we were told we were only able to eat at GKTW one time ( they would not allow us to purchase additional meals). So we decided to save our meal for Christmas!!!

Now....what to do in the rain???? Well, it was warm soooooooo - we surprised the kids and all went swimming!! We hopped on the wonderful bus that goes around the village so you dont have to drive your car and went to the new pool with the pirate ship!!! It was AMAZING! The pool itself has fountains shooting into it. And then there is a water play area with all kinds of shooting fountains! There were also lockers there, plenty of tables and chairs and towels too - although the kids insisted they needed their new Disney beach towels from the Big Give!! You will notice that we are just about the only ones there because of the rain lol - but we didnt care!! Swimming gave Dan such a sense of freedom as he could move around without worrying about his balance or anything. He totally wore himself out and was in his PJ's (after a bath in the jaquzzi tub) and resting by 7:45 when Billy and Hoss went to the orientation meeting (which took over an hour by the way!!!)

Next - Day 2 - Animal Kingdom and The Heavens open up!!!!

 

[MK2010]

I'm enjoying this read! Can't wait for more!

 

[sleepy01020]

Sounds like a good start, were you staying at the villa, or were you staying else where?

 

[Tweevil]

YAY! Danny & I are subscribing
The kids looked soooo excited!

 

[billwendy]

Bill and I were staying at the POP. We felt we would be pressuring them if we stayed real close. This way they could get up and going when they could and they would give us a call as they were leaving the villa. It worked out really well.

Beyond excitement is what we all were!!!! Tell Danny the snacks were consumed on the plane ride!!!! We left Disney at 12:30pm and were back home in Philly at 4:30 am - Billy drove all the way through!!! I fell asleep around midnight! We rented a CD book each way and it helped pass the time and keep us going!

 

[Haganfam5]

Your TR is awesome so far Wendy! Can't wait to read more! I hope you all didn't get too wet!

 

[dogodisney]

John asking if the resort was Disney World was just too cute. Like you said Wendy....was he in for a surprise!!!


The pic of all of you outside their villa is really nice. I love how their last name is on the sign for their villa. That must have been so welcoming!

 

[HeatherSue]

I am loving your trip report! I took notes so I wouldn't forget what I wanted to comment on:

Bill would make a great greeter!

Was it the other foot rest that was missing from Daniel’s chair? That seems like it would make it uncomfortable.

Wow, they get a van, how cool!

LOL! Love the picture of Steve on top of the red pillar thing.

It’s so sweet that even the bigger kids enjoyed the little rides at GKTW! The pictures are so funny!

Wow! They got gifts every day? That is so neat! The house looks so nice, too.

What an awesome pool. I love that you went swimming in the rain- just perfect!

 

[jessica52877]

I almost missed the update some how!

Wow! Those kids can jump pretty high!!! I could see the brotherly love getting a little overbearing sometimes!

I wish the GKTW had it set up so you could just pay for the meals. That way you could have enjoyed a few more together if you wanted to. Probably a good choice to wait for Christmas! I LOVE Christmas food!

That pool does look awesome!! I want to jump in! Swimming in the rain is the best!

The group picture is again wonderful!! You guys take great pictures!

I love the "is this disney world" comment! I hope John actually LOVED Disney World as much as GKTW.

I love how the little gifts they leave always seem to suit the families well. And I love Pablo the Penguin sticking out! I am sure it is since Dallas just loves penguins!!

 

[jenb1023]

Love the Is this Disney World comment! Too cute! Good for you swimming in the rain - you were going to get wet in the pool anyway! What a long drive - I live in PA (near Harrisburg) and I think I would go stir crazy in the car for that long - LOL! Though when we were kids my parents drove us to FL for our first and only WDW trip and I survived.

I can't wait to hear about your first park day! I hope it didn't rain your whole trip!

 

[kellyw8863]

Yah! I'm so glad I found this! It was fantastic meeting you, though I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to chat longer. I hope that Daniel perked up a bit and felt better for the rest of his trip. Can't wait to follow along!

Kelly

 

[billwendy]

Your TR is awesome so far Wendy! Can't wait to read more! I hope you all didn't get too wet!

welllllllll,,,,,,,,,

John asking if the resort was Disney World was just too cute. Like you said Wendy....was he in for a surprise!!!


The pic of all of you outside their villa is really nice. I love how their last name is on the sign for their villa. That must have been so welcoming!

It was very cool how they personalized that for them!! When we drove up and the boys saw that they were very happy!!

I am loving your trip report! I took notes so I wouldn't forget what I wanted to comment on:

Bill would make a great greeter!

Was it the other foot rest that was missing from Daniel’s chair? That seems like it would make it uncomfortable.

Wow, they get a van, how cool!

LOL! Love the picture of Steve on top of the red pillar thing.

It’s so sweet that even the bigger kids enjoyed the little rides at GKTW! The pictures are so funny!

Wow! They got gifts every day? That is so neat! The house looks so nice, too.

What an awesome pool. I love that you went swimming in the rain- just perfect!

Billy would LOVE to be a greeter!! lol - he loves doing stuff like that and helping people. He truely has a servants heart. Yes, they had a blast on those little rides, and the fact that you just had to push the button to make them go made them even more amazing to them! Steve actually was able to just leap right up there - that boy has springs in his legs!! Yep, it was the other footrest from Dan's chair. He didnt seem to mind too much. He kinda tended to sit more curled up - I think it helps him feel more stable since he is kinda shakey sometimes. The house was very nice and the surprises made the kids so happy! The pools were awesome - and the rain didnt bother us a bit!!! I think the kids were shocked which made it even more fun!!!

Yah! I'm so glad I found this! It was fantastic meeting you, though I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to chat longer. I hope that Daniel perked up a bit and felt better for the rest of his trip. Can't wait to follow along!

Kelly

Kelly, it was sooooo fun meeting you!! I saw you guys at the pool - recognized G-Pa first and then saw the rest of you - loved the little floatie your girls had. I think I have a video clip of my Steve jumping and some of your family is in the background. It was just so funny to meet there! Did you guys enjoy Christmas? Wasnt Santa funny? He called Sarah (15 yo) Mom - and I think it scarred her for life - .

 

[billwendy]

Okay - back to the story - lol....Our first full Park day - the kids chose Animal Kingdom. Billy and I traveled from the POP to AK by bus and waited by the trams for them to come. They called us around 10am as they got into the parking lot. MAW families can park for free which was awesome for them. It was pretty warm and muggy, and we just wondered what the day would hold. We hadnt ever really vacationed with these guys, but were very excited to begin our Disney journey together. Finally we saw some Zebra shorts from a distance, and knew it was our crew!!! Daniel was wearing his MAW shirt, button and tag because they wanted to make sure he was easily identified as a MAW child. Steve and John had on their adorable zebra shorts with matching mickey head shirts. Sarah and Samantha were both wearing their minnie lepoard tshirts and Sammy also had on a pair of minnie lepoard shorts I had made for her to coordinate with her shirt. Hoss was wearing his goofy shirt, and Shelly her Minnie Ariel shirt. I had on a tie dye WDW shirt, and Billy had on a Tigger that I had made him from a previous trip. We didnt know H and S were wearing those shirts or we would have coordinated with them. MAW kids also get a free photopass CD!!! But, guess what - this is the ONLY picture they got on their CD!!!! They never got out the pass to use again!!!! Oh well!!!!

We went right to the Safari and were quickly escorted to the fast pass line. There was a special loading platform where Dan could take his time transferring from his WC and we parked it right there.

THis baby giraffe was bending down to take a drink - how cute!!

I was bummed that the old shakey bridge doesnt do its thing anymore - it sooo would have scared John!! lol - when did they stop doing that? I cant remember????

We got off the ride and Dan wanted to go down the trail so we headed off after getting a picture of the boys in their adorable...I mean very wild and manly outfits!!

THey loved looking at the fishies and animals and animal skeletons (this is not my favorite thing - but the kids loved it).

Right after that everyone decided that they were hungry, so we went to Pizzasafari, which pleased everyone. Man, those boys can EAT!!!! The kids had fun making fun of me because I got a kids meal - but I am a girl who likes options, and the grapes and carrots were just so appealing in that heat! We all filled up and then went right to the Lion King show - they ushered us right in and put us in the warthog section right on the floor. John was just sooooo happy, Samantha loved it too - she was clapping and dancing - Timon came over and gave Daniel a high 5 too!! Sarah is a dancer and was in awe of the dancers in the show. This was where "Wendy...sit next to me" started and continued on every ride, every dinner, every lunch, every show, every everything from then on - lol. It was nice to be fought over by the 3 boys!!! I was in Aunt Wendy heaven

After the show we swung around to Dinoland. Samantha fell asleep in the stroller so Shelly stayed with her while Billy, Hoss and I took the rest of the crew on the Dinosaur ride. Lets just say everyone LOVED it - well, except John - poor guy. It was very real for him and he hid under his Dads armpit. He recovered, but stated that he did NOT like that ride!! After that some people went on Primeavil Whirl (or should we call it Hurl - lol)

And then Billy and I took the Boys on Triceretop Spin - which John LOVED, although he didnt want to go high and of course his brothers wanted to go higher and higher!!! This became a theme of these types of rides!!!

Continued in next post.....

 

[billwendy]

It was at this point that we discovered that someone, who shall remain nameless - lol - turned our kids into Pin Trading Maniacs!!!!! We had gotten some pins as pixie dust during the Big Give. When I dragged Billy to the Disney outlet, we found lanyards for .49 cents! So, we picked up 1 for each kid, and a few pins that were also .49 for them to have fun with - which they TOTALLY DID!!!! THe older kids purchased several special pins for them selves. It was really really fun to do with them!

Daniel got several pins from cast members who saw his MAW pin. John and Stephen had no rhyme or reason to their trading - I think they just enjoyed it, although Steve was wearing my Russell pin and accidentally traded it away!!!!!!! I was so bummed, but, it was an accident - lol.

While Samantha was still asleep, the rest of us went to see the YETI!!!! John did not want to go on this ride either. So first I stayed with John and Samantha and then we babyswapped and I took Daniel, Sarah and Stephen back on with me!!!

We then noticed that the skies were getting really really dark. Oh well, we continued on and went on Kali River Rapids. Shelly waited with Samantha and Sarah stayed with her. The rest of us headed on the ride and got wet - and then we baby swapped and I GOT EVEN WETTER!!!!!!! As we got off the ride and began to walk around the skies just opened up. We decided it was time to call it a day as Daniel was getting very fatigued. We started running to get the car/bus but were just so wet we slowed down. Lets just say when Billy and I got off the Bus we left puddles in our seats!!!! They went back to the Villa and we went out to the Outlet in search of more pins for the kids and we ate at Sweet Tomatoes. We met several Europeans there who said that they were stuck in the states due to the volcano. One poor man was hoping he still had his job when he got back.

Up next....Fun in the Magic Kingdom and We cant find the girls!!!!!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I was bummed that the old shakey bridge doesnt do its thing anymore - it sooo would have scared John!! lol - when did they stop doing that? I cant remember????

Great picture!!!

What a great day! Loving all your photos! You must have been in Auntie heaven!

The bridge on safari was shaking when I was there in January.

 

[jessica52877]

Love the group picture! You are so good at getting big group pictures!

$.49 pins! WOW! WOW! WOW!! That is just the best deal EVER!! Dallas really enjoyed it too. He just traded to trade. Non stop. At the end I traded a few of his while he was on the Rock N Rollercoaster. I wanted to come home with something cute atleast! Sorry Russell was lost!

That little giraffe was cute!

I hope that guy still had his job when he returned. They had to be acceping of issues like that over there. Atleast I hope!!