Make a Wish (and other organizations!) - Wish Trippers...UNITE!! Volume 2!

[merneric]

I have started our TR, I didn't want to forget anything. Warning, there are TONS of pictures!!!!
The first ones are really big, now I know how to re-size them

I am going to repeat this. GKTW does not tell you about the Hard Rock Cafe discount, but they give you 50% off merchandise and they gave Sam a free pin. I would not have known about it if I didn't read it here! Thanks wish trippers!!

Thanks Maroo for the free ice water tip! Saved us a ton of $$$$

The stroller that we rented from Orlando Stroller Rental was AWESOME! It was big and bulky, but the only time we had a problem was when we rode on the bus from one park to another. It was just a bit of a hassle, no big deal really. Sam was SO comfortable and it was a lifesaver for us. He would have been worn out by the time we got through the parking lots without it. Also, we told the parking attendant that we had a "medical stroller" and we got to park in handicapped parking, even without a sticker. We were super close to everything. We didn't have to use the parking lot tram. Also, it was a big red stroller, easy to spot among the "sea" of strollers.

Mary Anne

 

[MomTo4+more]

It is so much more fun to plan our Wish trip than it is to think about everything else going on this week. It's a week filled with medical appointments and meetings. These boards are a great escape from it all. I truly enjoy reading all the trip reports!

I have a question. I have not flown in so long. Where do I find good lists about what we can and can't take with us? How about my son's Epi-Pens? Do I need a doctor's note? He will also need to fly with oxygen. How does that work? It's still a few months out yet, but the questions are in my head so I thought I would ask.

Thanks!

Cathy

 

[StefaniLyn]

I'm soooo excited! Make A Wish called this afternoon and we now officially booked for Isabella's Wish Trip to Disney!

Departure from WI on Thursday, Dec 3rd @ 7:30am
Arrive in Orlando at 11:05

Stay at GKTW from Dec 3-9
Stay somewhere else Dec 9-12 (We decided to extend our trip 3 days - any suggestions for an inexpensive hotel room? or we might stay with BIL who lives in Orlando but that could be crowded.)

Return flight Saturday, December 12th, leaving Orlando at 11:30 am
Arriving in Milwaukee at 1:25 pm.

I'm so excited! Now to start all the planning. Anyone know a good (free) site for crowd information?

Let the planning begin!

 

[maroo]

I'm soooo excited! Make A Wish called this afternoon and we now officially booked for Isabella's Wish Trip to Disney!

Departure from WI on Thursday, Dec 3rd @ 7:30am
Arrive in Orlando at 11:05

Stay at GKTW from Dec 3-9
Stay somewhere else Dec 9-12 (We decided to extend our trip 3 days - any suggestions for an inexpensive hotel room? or we might stay with BIL who lives in Orlando but that could be crowded.)

Return flight Saturday, December 12th, leaving Orlando at 11:30 am
Arriving in Milwaukee at 1:25 pm.

I'm so excited! Now to start all the planning. Anyone know a good (free) site for crowd information?

Let the planning begin!

Aw man! Awesome Dates!!!

I would LOVE to actually meet you guys, if you are cool with that! Because I am going to be there some of those dates!

No pressure... but I am going to be at the POP from December 10th (late on the 10th) through the time you leave...And the POP is not extremely expensive. And they have Disney transportation, if you don't want to have to rent a car. (They will even take you back to the airport.)

Plus...honestly...and hopefully some other wish families will pipe in here...

It seem to me to be hard enough to leave GKTW...it may soften the "blow" some to be in a Disney resort for those days. Instead of just a cheaper hotel room? Does that make sense? Plus you get EMH, if you want them.

Crowds...

I can give you the crowd numbers (PM me) but they will change a dozen times between now and then. You can't really start getting good crowd numbers until after the hours come out (and then they change some more once Disney changes the hours again)... lol


But I can tell you the crowd scores are between a 4/10 and a 7/10 depending on the day.

You will have your button, though, so crowds won't matter as much.

As you get closer, I can help you plan your days with the crowd calendar, if you want.

 

[maroo]

It is so much more fun to plan our Wish trip than it is to think about everything else going on this week. It's a week filled with medical appointments and meetings. These boards are a great escape from it all. I truly enjoy reading all the trip reports!

I have a question. I have not flown in so long. Where do I find good lists about what we can and can't take with us? How about my son's Epi-Pens? Do I need a doctor's note? He will also need to fly with oxygen. How does that work? It's still a few months out yet, but the questions are in my head so I thought I would ask.

Thanks!

Cathy

First of all... I am sorry you have had a busy/hard week. You are welcome to escape here any time you want!

I think the best place to get a list is the TSA website.

I think it is www.tsa.gov or something like that.

You can bring Epi-PENs with no note, as long as it has the name on it (on the outside case or box). You can bring any meds, as long as they have a Rx.

Oxygen...I think I have info on the second post on this thread about Oxygen.

I know we have had several families use it on the plane in the past. Noah's Mom may be on here later...Noah is in the hospital right now...but she can help you with that, too.

Also, make sure the MAW folks know that you will need O2 on the plane, they should be able to help with that and make sure and note it on the tickets.

 

[Mickydees]

What about getting a wheelchair on flight? Our son will need it to get through airport. Or is there wheel chairs available at most airports. If so should we use them there, and rent something in Orlando or at the parks?

 

[StefaniLyn]

You can bring Epi-PENs with no note, as long as it has the name on it (on the outside case or box). You can bring any meds, as long as they have a Rx.

Maroo is right about the EpiPens you can bring it without a note. It is also important to note that the name on the prescription must EXACTLY match the name on the airline ticket (no nick names, shortened name, etc). We learned this this hard way when DH tried to bring Bella's EpiPen to New Jersey (we had flown separately due to his work schedule). They would not allow him to take it on the plane (same last name, but didn't matter). An expensive lesson learned as he had no choice but to toss the EpiPen away at the airport - he was dropped off and couldn't even run it back to the car !

I hope you find answers about the oxygen. Make sure you tell your wish granters about your medical needs.

 

[Andreaswish]

Andrea and I wantto do a scrapbook of our trip, before her upcoming surgery. Where is the best place price wise to get Disney stickers, paper, photobooks, etc??????

She is pretty excited to do this with me. Now we need to go through all three hundred ninety five pictures of ours and a bunch from my parents. This could be a big album.

Please help if you can.


p.s. I have been enjoying some of the recent trip reports.

Diane

 

[maroo]

What about getting a wheelchair on flight? Our son will need it to get through airport. Or is there wheel chairs available at most airports. If so should we use them there, and rent something in Orlando or at the parks?

Hello! to the Wish Trippers thread!

Does your son use a power wheelchair or push chair? Does it have any special equipment? Chest strap or aductor or anything like that?

Andrea and I wantto do a scrapbook of our trip, before her upcoming surgery. Where is the best place price wise to get Disney stickers, paper, photobooks, etc??????

She is pretty excited to do this with me. Now we need to go through all three hundred ninety five pictures of ours and a bunch from my parents. This could be a big album.

Please help if you can.


p.s. I have been enjoying some of the recent trip reports.

Diane

Sorry...I have no clue...

But you could ask on the DISign board, at the bottom of the DISboards and they would definitely know!

 

[Mickydees]

maroo, thanks for the welcome - good to be here. His chair is a simple child size transport chair. It easily folds up and has no special equipment. There is one strap for the waist area. Thanks.

 

[jessica52877]

Andrea and I wantto do a scrapbook of our trip, before her upcoming surgery. Where is the best place price wise to get Disney stickers, paper, photobooks, etc??????

She is pretty excited to do this with me. Now we need to go through all three hundred ninety five pictures of ours and a bunch from my parents. This could be a big album.

Please help if you can.


p.s. I have been enjoying some of the recent trip reports.

Diane

I like Michael's or AC Moore if the item is on sale. Usually they run the stuff 30-40% off pretty often. Joann's also but it seems their selection is getting smaller each time I go.

I also look on ebay sometimes and have gotten some jolee's sticker lots for a deal!

Target has a few things but only a deal if on clearance.

You would think I scrapbooked wouldn't you? Gotta whole lotta stuff to do with though!

 

[kmparrish5]

I like Michael's or AC Moore if the item is on sale. Usually they run the stuff 30-40% off pretty often. Joann's also but it seems their selection is getting smaller each time I go.

I also look on ebay sometimes and have gotten some jolee's sticker lots for a deal!

Target has a few things but only a deal if on clearance.

You would think I scrapbooked wouldn't you? Gotta whole lotta stuff to do with though!

I got some really cute stuff including an album at Hobby Lobby. They put their scrapbook stuff on 1/2 off several times a year.

 

[maroo]

maroo, thanks for the welcome - good to be here. His chair is a simple child size transport chair. It easily folds up and has no special equipment. There is one strap for the waist area. Thanks.

Then you will be able to bring that on the plane, probably and let them store it in the W/C section of the plane. If the plane is big enough.

At the worse, you will be able to "gate check" it...they will take the chair and put it with any strollers, etc that they have.

Then they give it back to you at the gate.

Then you use the airplane aisle chair to get your son in the seat.

I think I have pictures of this on here somewhere...let me find them for you...

here ya go... courtesy of Sue in MN! She is wonderful, wonderful!!

Click here for Info on AIRLINES and Wheelchairs

 

[twinmum]

What about getting a wheelchair on flight? Our son will need it to get through airport. Or is there wheel chairs available at most airports. If so should we use them there, and rent something in Orlando or at the parks?

Hello and welcome! Our son uses a walker most of the time, but a wheelchair for long distances - like airports and WDW!!! We bring his own chair because it's most comfortable and ensures he's properly seated as he'll be in it all day for several days. We also bring the walker and when we were at GKTW, we had him use it as much as possible so his hips wouldn't get stiff etc.

We're from Canada and we've found the airlines to be quite good about handling the wheelchair. I don't think you'll find a pediatric chair easily in an airport. There are places to rent pediatric equipment in Orlando if you don't want to bring yours from home (ask over on the DISabilities thread and I think they'll be able to help) but I'd think hard about bringing your own. I don't think there are pediatric wheelchair rentals at WDW even though they are free for Wish families - and those adults chairs are just way too big for our son, who weighs on 46 lbs. It just wouldn't be safe or comfortable for Mark.

Happy planning!
Alison

 

[Corrine 1973]

For all of you who had an early flight on your departure date, how did you do breakfast?

Our plane leaves at 8:05 am. We live a little over an hour away from Ohare Airport, and we have to get there 1 1/2 to two hours early. That means that the Limo will pick us up around 5am (not sure of exact time until I get itenerary from MaW). Liam also has to do his treatment before we go and that will take at least 45 min. (Going to ask dr at next weeks appointment about a portable nebulizer that can be used in a car) So how do people do breakfast? Try to eat at home? Ask the driver to run through a drive through, if he can? Bring something quick to eat for the road like donuts, fruit bars, or pop tarts? Eat at the airport (and probably spend way to much money)?

What worked best for you have gone through it? Tring to figure out what is best for my family. Thanks.

 

[Mickydees]

Thanks so much for all the wheel chair info. It is all very helpful. We are tentively going in middle of October. Still waiting on date confirmation from MAW. Pre-trip report will be coming soon. Look forward to getting to know all of you. In the mean time feel free to visit our son's webpage to get to know him and his disease @ collinsquest.org.

 

[merneric]

For all of you who had an early flight on your departure date, how did you do breakfast?

Our plane leaves at 8:05 am. We live a little over an hour away from Ohare Airport, and we have to get there 1 1/2 to two hours early. That means that the Limo will pick us up around 5am (not sure of exact time until I get itenerary from MaW). Liam also has to do his treatment before we go and that will take at least 45 min. (Going to ask dr at next weeks appointment about a portable nebulizer that can be used in a car) So how do people do breakfast? Try to eat at home? Ask the driver to run through a drive through, if he can? Bring something quick to eat for the road like donuts, fruit bars, or pop tarts? Eat at the airport (and probably spend way to much money)?

What worked best for you have gone through it? Tring to figure out what is best for my family. Thanks.

We also left very early in the morning. We just brought a box of poptarts and ate it during our layover. We did have to buy drinks and that was expensive! $2.75 for a bottle of water!! I think that is horrible--you can get a whole case for a little more than that. Do they really have to charge that much??? It worked out fine, but we were very hungry when we got to Orlando at 2:45! Luckily, they have lots of yummy food waiting for you at the village!
Mary Anne

 

[MomTo4+more]

We are picking out dates for our trip. I am trying to get a few options. If we went in November or early December, would it still be warm enough to get wet in the ocean? How far is the beachfront from GKTW? My children have never seen the ocean. Being from Chicago, I have a hard time imagining anywhere being warm enough to get wet at that time of the year, but someone told me they think you can.

 

[kdzbear]

Andrea and I wantto do a scrapbook of our trip, before her upcoming surgery. Where is the best place price wise to get Disney stickers, paper, photobooks, etc??????

She is pretty excited to do this with me. Now we need to go through all three hundred ninety five pictures of ours and a bunch from my parents. This could be a big album.

Please help if you can.


p.s. I have been enjoying some of the recent trip reports.

Diane

Joann Fabrics Superstores have great 12x12 scrapbooks made by Sandylion. I fit over 800 pictures, park maps and other colelctions in the one I made. I had to add extra pages with the extenders, but it worked. I also purchased a package of their big paper and alternated it with the Disney pages. You can also order them from the website. They go on sale once about every three weeks where you can get 12 pages of 12x12 Disney paper for about $1. I also purchased the clear photo insert pages by Ultrapro to use for some of the pictures where you can fit six 4x6 pictures on each side of the page. They fit great with the other pages in the book. Good Luck! I am sure you will make an amazing scrapbook!

 

[kmparrish5]

For all of you who had an early flight on your departure date, how did you do breakfast?

Our plane leaves at 8:05 am. We live a little over an hour away from Ohare Airport, and we have to get there 1 1/2 to two hours early. That means that the Limo will pick us up around 5am (not sure of exact time until I get itenerary from MaW). Liam also has to do his treatment before we go and that will take at least 45 min. (Going to ask dr at next weeks appointment about a portable nebulizer that can be used in a car) So how do people do breakfast? Try to eat at home? Ask the driver to run through a drive through, if he can? Bring something quick to eat for the road like donuts, fruit bars, or pop tarts? Eat at the airport (and probably spend way to much money)?

What worked best for you have gone through it? Tring to figure out what is best for my family. Thanks.

Our flight was at 9:50 a.m. However, we had to leave about 5:45 a.m. to get to the airport. We stopped and got something in a drive thru. I also took snacks on the plane with us. It was helpful to have something on the plane.