Just started researching GKTW and MAW

[mom2of2]

One of my closest friends contacted me about bringing her DD3 to WDW. Her DD has ALL(leukemia) and has been begging her to go to WDW to "kiss Mickey Mouse"
I went to both GKTW and MAW websites and read what all is offered and how to go about getting a wish granted.
For those that applied and were accepted....
How long after you requested a wish were you contacted?
Did you apply to both organazations?
Did you get to choose when you went to WDW?
If it was MAW did you choose your resort?
I read that GKTW does 3 day hoppers, US and SW...does MAW do the same or is it just WDW?
TIA

 

[SueOKW]

We went through Make-A-Wish - and I'd say it was about 5 months in total. We stayed at GKTW.

I think they can work pretty quickly when need be. You s/b/a to do a search for M-A-W in your area and give them a call.

Hope she gets to give that kiss!

 

[dclfun]

I hope she gets her kiss from Mickey too! I have also heard that emergency wishes can be granted and accomodated immediately or you can pick the dates you want. BTW, does the child have ALL? I have ALS- that's Lou Gehrig's disease, not leukemia....just wondering. There are some great reports on this board from people who have taken wish trips to GKTW, etc. ---Kathy

 

[Anne MN]

MAW can be speedy. we were approved in late july and went in med Sept. about 6 weeks total. Most of the paperwork is done by Dr office. We used DD cardiologist- he was the one who signed off on the form and faxed it back the same day. (well his nurse did)
You also need to find out if they have an age limit- like has to be over a certain age. GKTW is the village that most MAW families stay at. DD grandparents stayed with up for a few days. they can stay with the child, but tickets and transportation are their responsibility. Some have requested that the whole week be disney, so the MAW does things different (most stay at the village and do disney, universal and sea world- we did)

I know that either the childs parents or Dr's are the ones who usually contanct MAW, but you could contact them and give them the name of your niece so they can contact her parents, or find the info and give it to her mother/father for them to contact MAW

If you have question- ask away. someone will be able to answer them.

 

[michelle9343]

MAW granted my DD wish last year (Disney Cruise). Anyone can apply for the child and a Doctor needs to fill out the paper work. Approval happens very quickly. Like Ann MN said they can really make the trip happen fast. I have never stayed at GKTW but have only heard wonderful things about it.
I think you are thinking that GKTW is another wish granting organization but I believe it is a place that many of the wish families stay at while visiting Disney.Once the Wish is approved a wish coordinator will meet with the family and get all the plans going. Hope this helps.

Side note: We will be on the Double Dip cruise with you!

 

[DJBounce]

GKTW does not grant the wishes. It is the resort that many wish children from the various wish granting agencies stay at (it is wonderful!!) When we were there this past Oct, everyone received the same passes, regardless of which wish organization sent them there. We received a 3 day WDW hopper, a 2 day Universal/Islands of Adventure hopper and a one day pass to Seaworld.

Our application was sent to Make a Wish in mid December and we heard back from them very quickly to get the doctor's information. My daughter's doctor was quick at filling out the paper work and we got the official word on January 11th. So it only took about a month. We waited until October for her trip because she required intensive physical therapy after surgery she had. But they can grant the wishes very quickly - within days if they have to.

BTW, Mickey comes to GKTW! It sounds like your neice will love that!!

 

[mom2of2]

Thanks for the info

dclfun....yes it's ALL...that's what happens when you don't proofread your post prior to posting

michelle9343: I can't wait for the dd cruise either!!!

We filled out a request for MAW and hopefully they will contact her soon. There isn't a rush for them all to go, I was just wondering how fast it all came together.
I also didn't realize that the organizations worked together.
I just wanted to give her the basics prior to them contacting her so she knew what to expect. She doesn't want to "over ask" if you kwim. Bri is 3 so it's not like she's going to know the difference from the Poly or AS movies. As long as she gets that kiss and sees the Princess's she'll be golden.

 

[tink2dw]

Please Don't forget The Starlight Foundation!! It was started by Emma Sams of General Hospital and Dynasty Fame. She started the charity after bringing one very sick kid and his Mother to Calif to go to Disneyland out of her own friendship for the mother and child and her own pocket book. This sparked the idea for this chartity. Now, after 20 years 4,700 children have had their wishes come true!! But they do much more check them out.

To ask for a wish
http://www.starlight-newyork.org/_programs/kids_network.html
http://www.slsb.org/chapters.html

For more info on the Charity.
http://www.starlight-newyork.org/_programs/index.html

And lastly some of the simple things we can do to help out! Like print a $1.00 off coupon for colgate toothpaste and Colgate will donate to Starlight this month!! This Sunday, January 29th be on the lookout in your local newspaper for the Colgate-Palmolive coupons benefiting Starlight Starbright.
follow this link, it will link you to Colgate where you can print a $1.00 coupon!!
http://www.starlight.org/

Just an Emma Sams Fan. I have no affiliate with Starlight Foundation. Check them out as you would any Charity.

 

[Megan's Mom]

We went two years ago and it was the best vacation we have ever had. When you are there be sure and get a copy of Henri Landwith's book. He is the founder of GKTW village. He started out in the hotel industry with the space program. Then Disney came along. A friend contacted him about a little girl that was dying and wanted to see Mickey. By the time all the red tape the little girl died. He promised then to create a place where kids could go to fulfill their wish. They can process a child in 24 hours if necessary. He believed every child should get their wish.

 

[jtopp]

Our DS's doctor submitted an application to MAW in June. They contacted us and visited our home in august, and our trip was in November. We were only contacted by MAW, and we were given a time span to choose from based on DS's medical schedule. They suggested GKTW to make the trip more satisfying for us, instead of one of the on-site resorts. GKTW offers all amenities, including on site recreation and meals. GKTW provides you with a three day hopper for WDW, a two day pass for US/IOA, and a one day ticket for seaworld. Other lesser attractions are also offered upon request. Our trip, being worry free was one on the best ever. GKTW made sure that every request was addressed, and being only 15 minutes from WDW, there was no problem with transportation

 

[roseprincess]

One of my closest friends contacted me about bringing her DD3 to WDW. Her DD has ALL(leukemia) and has been begging her to go to WDW to "kiss Mickey Mouse"
I went to both GKTW and MAW websites and read what all is offered and how to go about getting a wish granted.
For those that applied and were accepted....
How long after you requested a wish were you contacted?
Did you apply to both organazations?
Did you get to choose when you went to WDW?
If it was MAW did you choose your resort?
I read that GKTW does 3 day hoppers, US and SW...does MAW do the same or is it just WDW?
TIA

My dd's wish trip was in June 2004. I referred my dd on the national MAW website in Jan. 2004. It was awesome because 2 hrs after I referred dd on the national MAW website, I got a phone call from the Intake Coordinator from the Chicago MAW office! She asked me some preliminary questions and then faxed over the paperwork to my dd's cardiologist. It took about a week to two weeks to hear back from MAW. Wish granter came to visit in Feb. 2004. Unfortunately, wish granter didn't know much about GKTW, other than it's a great place and the website. My dd wanted to stay on-site instead of GKTW because we couldn't get much info on GKTW (I did not know about these disboards at the time). And dd and ds never experienced the monorails before(they had never been to WDW or Disneyland). Eventually got approval to stay on-site at the Contemporary. I also requested to get a room that faced the MK so we can see Wishes from our room. Wish granter said he wasn't sure if that was going to be granted. Anyways, when we arrived at the Contemp in June, they upgraded our room to a tower room facing MK! A big Thank You for the Orlando MAW office that upgraded our room!

Mostly MAW has wish families stay at GKTW, but they also take other requests; if the wish child wants to stay on-site, at least this is how it was with the Chicago MAW office. We also got the 3 day hopper passes. We asked for the IOA pass instead of US. We also requested to go to Typhoon Lagoon waterpark one of the days. My dd's wish trip was a little more alternative than the usual MAW-GKTW wish trip and dd enjoyed it very much!

Rosemarie

 

[roseprincess]

Please Don't forget The Starlight Foundation!! It was started by Emma Sams of General Hospital and Dynasty Fame. She started the charity after bringing one very sick kid and his Mother to Calif to go to Disneyland out of her own friendship for the mother and child and her own pocket book. This sparked the idea for this chartity. Now, after 20 years 4,700 children have had their wishes come true!! But they do much more check them out.

To ask for a wish
http://www.starlight-newyork.org/_programs/kids_network.html
http://www.slsb.org/chapters.html

For more info on the Charity.
http://www.starlight-newyork.org/_programs/index.html

And lastly some of the simple things we can do to help out! Like print a $1.00 off coupon for colgate toothpaste and Colgate will donate to Starlight this month!! This Sunday, January 29th be on the lookout in your local newspaper for the Colgate-Palmolive coupons benefiting Starlight Starbright.
follow this link, it will link you to Colgate where you can print a $1.00 coupon!!
http://www.starlight.org/

Just an Emma Sams Fan. I have no affiliate with Starlight Foundation. Check them out as you would any Charity.

I'm pretty sure the Starlight Foundation-Chicago chapter doesn't grant wishes anymore. They somewhat merged with MAW here in Chicago.
Starlight-Chicago chapter does refer all kids to the Chicago MAW chapter to grant wishes.

Rosemarie