Just back from GKTW

[jennydep]

Oh.my.goodness! This trip was beyond wonderful! I have updates and pictures on our website if you would like to check them out. http://www.deputyfamily.net/mickey/index.html

If anyone is going to GKTW I will be thrilled to answer questions.

Jenny

 

[mumchum]

Hi there, we leave for my dd's wish trip on Monday. We are so excited. Just wondering how the food was at GKTW? What was your child's favorite thing at GKTW?

Was getting around easy? From a driving stand point that is.

I have lots of questions. I'm thrilled to have someone on here to answer them.

 

[mumchum]

Hi there,

I just visited your site, describing your trip. You made me get all teary! A good teary though. It was the part where you were at Epcot and the characters assemble for you to take pictures with your Mickey. Stuff like that gets to me. I had better bring lots of tissues on our trip then huh? I'm glad you had a wonderful trip. I will add your Mickey to our prayer list. My son is also named Bradley, he is almost 9. My daughter Emily is 6, we have just finished treatment, and hoping for the best.

 

[jennydep]

You will have orientation the first evening you are there. At that time you will recieve a packet with all sorts of info in it. They will give you what's called The Bunny Book. It has all the directions to all the parks and attractions they offer tickets to (Disney, Universal, Sea World, Wet N Wild, Gatorland, and Midevial Times). The directions are excellent. We used them everyday and did not have a bit of trouble finding our way around.

Each park is different as far as parking goes. At Universal and Animal Kingdom, we were sent to handicapped parking. At Epcot, Sea World and Wet N Wild we were sent to regular parking. At MGM, we were sent to regular parking, but were given a "reserved" spot at the end of a row right next to the tram drop off spot. We rode the monorail to the Magic Kingdom so I don't know about parking there.

The food at GKTW is very good. It's catered by Perkins restaurant. Breakfast always had eggs of a couple varieties, either waffles or French toast sticks, pancakes, donuts and pastries, fresh and canned fruit, a variety of cold cereals, bacon, sausage patties and biscuits and gravy. Dinner varied every evening, but there was always something kid-friendly served. And if you are at the parks late and miss dinner, you can always order a pizza or two and have them delivered to your villa.

You are going to be blown away by the Village. It is amazing. And the people there are so generous and kind. Our kids want to go back and visit sometime. And we can! Once you've stayed there, you are always welcome to come back and visit for a day. You can swim, eat at the Ice Cream Palace, play in the castle - basically do anything except eat in the restaurant or spend the night. Take time to explore the Village and play there. We stayed in Florida a few extra days after we left the Village so we saved one of our Disney days to do later. We took one day off from the parks and just hung out at the Village. The kids spent most of the day in the pool and loved it. It was a nice relaxing day.

I miss it already!!

 

[SueM in MN]

I haven't had time to do more than skim threads on the site laterly, but I'm looking forward to looking at your in depth. Glad you had a good time and looking forward to reading more about it.

 

[Michigan]

I'm glad your family had a GREAT time.

I visited your site before your left and have been praying for little Ray. Have you talked to his family since you got back?

 

[mumchum]

I just wanted to say Thank You so much for all the wondeful tips.

I am thrilled to have your experiences, and to have them before we leave! We are so grateful.

We did just pull a bunch of maps off of mapquest, I guess that's why the Make-a-wish people didn't give us those ones. Oh well, the more prepared the better.

We will try to do the Cinderellabration thing you suggested. And we will try to squeeze in MGM (we were going to skip it, but now maybe not) - will have to look at our schedule again.

I am looking forward to seeing what GKTW has to offer, it looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for the info about the food too.

I am in such a state of anticpation that it is difficult to do anything. I should actually be finishing our packing, but these boards are just too interesting.

 

[jennydep]

I'm glad your family had a GREAT time.

I visited your site before your left and have been praying for little Ray. Have you talked to his family since you got back?

Thanks for praying for Ray. I talked to his mom today for the first time. They are doing well all things considered. She said at least they had time to prepare for Ray's death and packed as much love as possible into the last few months.

 

[PammyPoppins]

We are going on my daughter's wish Trip in October. Your Trip sounded Great!
Your children are really cute.
What is Medieval Times and where is it? Do they give you a certificate to go there? Also I thought someone said they include a certificate to hard Rock cafe for lunch and one for a lunch at Epecot was either one of them in your packet from Give kids the World?
Thanks,
PammyPoppins

 

[mumchum]

Hi there again, do you recall what times Cinderellabration showed at? I know they are subject to change, but it would give me a general idea. Who do you talk to, to meet the Princesses? and when?

I will probably reread your posts a few times before we go. It helps me get ready.

Thank you for starting this post.

 

[jennydep]

We are going on my daughter's wish Trip in October. Your Trip sounded Great!
Your children are really cute.
What is Medieval Times and where is it? Do they give you a certificate to go there? Also I thought someone said they include a certificate to hard Rock cafe for lunch and one for a lunch at Epecot was either one of them in your packet from Give kids the World?
Thanks,
PammyPoppins

This is a link to Mideval Times. http://www.medievaltimes.com/index2.htm It is within a couple of miles of the Village. They are allowed to send one family of up to 4 people per evening there. I think they give the family a letter to take with them to the restaurant. It's done on a first come, first served basis. You can sign up after your orientation.

We did not get coupons for any meals. We just got the tickets to the parks. They offer tickets to other Orlando area attractions and those are listed in your orientation packet. We got tickets to Wet N Wild to use on our last day.

Jenny

 

[jennydep]

Hi there again, do you recall what times Cinderellabration showed at? I know they are subject to change, but it would give me a general idea. Who do you talk to, to meet the Princesses? and when?

I will probably reread your posts a few times before we go. It helps me get ready.

Thank you for starting this post.

I remember the times in the afternoon being 4:35, 5:35, 6:35. I don't remember morning times since we were only there on two afternoons. I would suggest you talk to a Cast Member at the front of the Castle as soon as you can when you get the the Magic Kingdom to find out about meeting the princesses. I have no idea how quickly the times get booked. So the earlier you check the better your chances.

 

[SueM in MN]

I saw the link in your trip report to Ray's CaringBridge site. I hope it's OK to post it here. His family wrote a beautiful entry after he went to Jesus.

I finally got to read your trip report. It was great. I loved the pictures, especially the one with your DD and Cinderella. That one is priceless.

In case anyone wants to look more at GKTW village, here's a link to the GKTW website.

 

[jennydep]

I saw the link in your trip report to Ray's CaringBridge site. I hope it's OK to post it here. His family wrote a beautiful entry after he went to Jesus.

I finally got to read your trip report. It was great. I loved the pictures, especially the one with your DD and Cinderella. That one is priceless.

In case anyone wants to look more at GKTW village, here's a link to the GKTW website.

It's fine that you posted the link to Ray's site here. He was such a wonderful young man and we were blessed to have spent the past year getting to know him and his family. Thanks for the comments on our trip. Mickey's reaction to Cinderella is what the trip was all about. Her wish was to "meet the princesses and dance with Cinderella". She certainly got to do those things.

 

[Disneylvr]

I am so glad your family had such a magical and well deserved trip! I read some of Ray's site and it really touched me. What a brave little boy!

 

[mumchum]

I just came from Ray's site. You were fortunate to have been part of his life I think.

Thanks for the showtimes. I will check on those morning times. I just discovered that the day I scheduled for MK will have t-showers , may have to reshuffle the schedule. oh well

In your website, your family went to Character Connection in Epcot. Where was that located? Also where did you watch Cinderellabration from? Where do you think is the best spot (given that you saw it more than once )

 

[jennydep]

In your website, your family went to Character Connection in Epcot. Where was that located? Also where did you watch Cinderellabration from? Where do you think is the best spot (given that you saw it more than once )

I don't remember exactly where Character Connection is. It is somewhere in Future World, so just check your park map for it.

My husband thinks the best place to sit for Cinderellabration is right in the middle of the compass that is inlaid on the sidewalk. You are back far enough that you can see over the front of the stage but close enough that you can see everything well.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't remember exactly where Character Connection is. It is somewhere in Future World, so just check your park map for it.

I think it's currently in Innoventions West in Future World, but from what I have read about it, it was kind of a test and was at different sites at times.
I don't think it's on the park maps, but it might be on the weekly schedule.

If nothing else, you can go to Guest Relations and ask when you are there.

 

[SueOKW]

can't wait to read about it - welcome back!

 

[mumchum]

Hi there, thanks to the moderator. Character connection was indeed where you said it was. It was awesome. All the Characters came to do group pictures with Emily and Bradley, they were truly treated like VIP's. There was no meet and greet for Cinderellabration however. We did meet some princesses in Mickey's Toon Town.

Yes, somehow I have come down with Norwalk, I think. So I have spent the day in the hotel room, while the kids went swimming in the hotel pool and then to Give Kids the World. Its Christmas tonight.