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

[josabbimommy]

Here's what I can tell you about the Cape and Shuttle launches.
1. Leave Early, the traffic is horrendous. When we went, my father was a flag officer in the US Navy and we still had a problem getting there.
2. Bring money for tolls. The road to get to the Cape is a toll road and if I remember correctly, it's several dollars.
3. Bring something to do. As stated above, it took forever! Your kids just might be bored to tears waiting for the shuttle to launch.
4. When I was there the weather wasn't that bad, however, when I went back years later, it was piping hot and sitting waiting for a shuttle to launch would probably lead to a meltdown condition.

A Note of Caution:
The year I went (1986) was when the Challenger exploded. Trying to explain to a 10 year old (my big sister), a 9 year old (my brother), a 8 year old (my other sister) and my sister and I (who at the time were 6), why the shuttle had exploded was one of the hardest things that my parents ever had to do (according to my mom).


For 5dwarves:
Your very lucky that you live near Space Camp. I have fond memories of Space Camp. I spent a week there in middle school and loved it! Your so lucky!

I hope that this helped!

 

[5dwarves]

Here's what I can tell you about the Cape and Shuttle launches.
1. Leave Early, the traffic is horrendous. When we went, my father was a flag officer in the US Navy and we still had a problem getting there.
2. Bring money for tolls. The road to get to the Cape is a toll road and if I remember correctly, it's several dollars.
3. Bring something to do. As stated above, it took forever! Your kids just might be bored to tears waiting for the shuttle to launch.
4. When I was there the weather wasn't that bad, however, when I went back years later, it was piping hot and sitting waiting for a shuttle to launch would probably lead to a meltdown condition.

A Note of Caution:
The year I went (1986) was when the Challenger exploded. Trying to explain to a 10 year old (my big sister), a 9 year old (my brother), a 8 year old (my other sister) and my sister and I (who at the time were 6), why the shuttle had exploded was one of the hardest things that my parents ever had to do (according to my mom).


For 5dwarves:
Your very lucky that you live near Space Camp. I have fond memories of Space Camp. I spent a week there in middle school and loved it! Your so lucky!

I hope that this helped!

Yes, we are...we get an annual pass so we can go to the museum and the rock climbing wall and the "rides"...yes kind of a tower of terror thing, one for big kids and one for litttle kids. They have day camps there during the summer. I have always wanted to send the kids, but it hasn't been in the budget yet. Mickey and Minnie come to the rocket center every so often, wearing space suits. We are waiting on their next visit...acutally it is more like I am waiting on their next visit. We also have a Sallie Ride convention, that I believe travels across the country, for middle school and high school girls who are interested in science. There are all kinds of companies who are showcasing math and science careers to girls, and there is usually a female astronaut/shuttle captain or something that is the keynote speaker. My daughter loved it. If you have girls in that age range, google the sallie ride conference and see if it comes close to where you are...I think it is about $30 for a girl to attend.

 

[kmparrish5]

I added some pictures of our family to our PTR. Thought you might want some faces to go with our names.

 

[HeatherSue]

One thing I have to share that cracked me up yesterday, the wish coordinator asked Lexi if she could do one thing............Lexi responded she wanted to meet a real mermaid that had to stay in the water. I don't know how I held in laughter from the look on the wish granter's face. She did good and told Lexi that mermaids had to stay way out at the ocean and couldn't come to see people because they weren't allowed to come to the surface when humans were around. She then told Lexi that because Ariel was part human now she would try to arrange a meet for them. I bet these wish granters have some real stories to share. I know they are very busy but I still do wish the communication would be a little better so things wouldn't get like they did yesterday. That will save alot of money knowing we can still eat at GKTW.

Thanks again.

There are "real" mermaids at Weeki Wachee!!
http://weekiwachee.com/main/
The website shows some pictures of the mermaids out of the water, but I don't think they usually are.

Hi all!!! Remember me?? Probably not. I was active here last summer when we went on our daughter Hannah's wish trip(see link in siggy)We were the first Make a wish family chosen for the Big Give. I was unpacking summer clothing yesterday and brought out all the beautiful clothing and it got me reminiscing about our trip. The kids got so excited to see the clothing and we are happy to report that they still fit and we will be able to use them this summer also. I still read here all the time and think of you all often.Welcome to all of the new families.

To update you on the Nichols family: Life has been pretty good this year.We have had a few ups and downs but still have many blessings in our lives.I enjoyed returning to the work force after being a stay at home Mom for ten years.I work at our local high school as an aide to kids with disabilities.I LOVE the Job.Unfotunately, due to the economy my position was eliminated for the next school year(along with 25 others in my district) I am pretty sad about it but hoping something will open up again in the future. Paul is still working hard ,but nervous with talks of layoffs of 12,000 state workers coming in July. Logan is enjoying his first year in kindergarten. Hannah is a forth grader and loves school.Lately she has been having a big problem with her hip.For years she has had issues with it partially dislocating.This is due to the fact that she has Down syndrome.This causes low muscle tone.The muscles and ligaments around that hip have become very streched and loose(kind of like an over streched rubber band) So anyway , due to the constant dislocating it has deteriorated her hip socket to the point in which she really needs a hip replacment.She is only 10 years old so this is not possible at this point because she is still growing.This is super frustrating because now she is in pain a LOT and starting to limp. We have been working with a Dr about 2 and a half hours away from us who says he can do surgery but there are no guarentees about the long term sucess.Our next step is getting an evaluation at Boston Childrens hospital.(this is where she had her open heart surgery)So life is never boring around this house. Just thought I would give you all an update and let you know I think of you all.I have not dropped off the face of the earth yet, it only feels like it.

I remember you!! Every time I see Bullseye, I think of Hannah, and it brings a smile to my face.

I'm so sorry to hear about Hannah's hip. I sure hope they can do something for her.

Tessa is in kindergarten this year too. She loved it at first, but now I think she is "done".

 

[maroo]

Here's what I can tell you about the Cape and Shuttle launches.
1. Leave Early, the traffic is horrendous. When we went, my father was a flag officer in the US Navy and we still had a problem getting there.
2. Bring money for tolls. The road to get to the Cape is a toll road and if I remember correctly, it's several dollars.
3. Bring something to do. As stated above, it took forever! Your kids just might be bored to tears waiting for the shuttle to launch.
4. When I was there the weather wasn't that bad, however, when I went back years later, it was piping hot and sitting waiting for a shuttle to launch would probably lead to a meltdown condition.

A Note of Caution:
The year I went (1986) was when the Challenger exploded. Trying to explain to a 10 year old (my big sister), a 9 year old (my brother), a 8 year old (my other sister) and my sister and I (who at the time were 6), why the shuttle had exploded was one of the hardest things that my parents ever had to do (according to my mom).


For 5dwarves:
Your very lucky that you live near Space Camp. I have fond memories of Space Camp. I spent a week there in middle school and loved it! Your so lucky!

I hope that this helped!

Great tips! Thanks!!


So you saw the Challenger explode LIVE?!?!?

What a horrible, horrible thing to see and your poor Mom. I clearly remember that day and I was nowhere near it! Bless your heart!!!

I added some pictures of our family to our PTR. Thought you might want some faces to go with our names.

Cool!!

 

[sammie girl]

Hi everyone! Thanks for listening to me over the weekend. We have everything figured out we are leaving a few days later so Lexi can stay at GKTW. You are all so wonderful.

Also I have started a pre-trip report for any interested. If you can sit through my first post I promise I won't make them that long anymore.

There are "real" mermaids at Weeki Wachee!!
http://weekiwachee.com/main/
I can't believe this exists. I had no idea and I don't think that the wish makers know either or surely they would have told me about it. I don't know that we will have time to do it this trip but we are going to save our money to try to go back next year. This will be a definite and I am not telling Lexi until we get there. She will be so psyched. THANK YOU so much for the info....

 

[keetmommy]

I am glad that you got to change your dates....I think your DD will be much happier at GTKW...

 

[maroo]

Hi everyone! Thanks for listening to me over the weekend. We have everything figured out we are leaving a few days later so Lexi can stay at GKTW. You are all so wonderful.

Also I have started a pre-trip report for any interested. If you can sit through my first post I promise I won't make them that long anymore.

There are "real" mermaids at Weeki Wachee!!
http://weekiwachee.com/main/
I can't believe this exists. I had no idea and I don't think that the wish makers know either or surely they would have told me about it. I don't know that we will have time to do it this trip but we are going to save our money to try to go back next year. This will be a definite and I am not telling Lexi until we get there. She will be so psyched. THANK YOU so much for the info....

I am so excited for you guys to get your dates changed so you can stay at GKTW!! Fabulous!!

 

[kdzbear]

Hi everyone! Thanks for listening to me over the weekend. We have everything figured out we are leaving a few days later so Lexi can stay at GKTW. You are all so wonderful.

Also I have started a pre-trip report for any interested. If you can sit through my first post I promise I won't make them that long anymore.

There are "real" mermaids at Weeki Wachee!!
http://weekiwachee.com/main/
I can't believe this exists. I had no idea and I don't think that the wish makers know either or surely they would have told me about it. I don't know that we will have time to do it this trip but we are going to save our money to try to go back next year. This will be a definite and I am not telling Lexi until we get there. She will be so psyched. THANK YOU so much for the info....

Here is the link to her trip report: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=31546801#post31546801 Great start to the report!

 

[maroo]

Here is the link to her trip report: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=31546801 Great start to the report!

You beat me to it! lol

I did take out the "post number" though...this should go straight to the whole thing? Not sure how that works?
It may not matter?

Anyway...Great start!!

 

[kimmylaj]

Hi all!!! Remember me?? Probably not. I was active here last summer when we went on our daughter Hannah's wish trip(see link in siggy)We were the first Make a wish family chosen for the Big Give. I was unpacking summer clothing yesterday and brought out all the beautiful clothing and it got me reminiscing about our trip. The kids got so excited to see the clothing and we are happy to report that they still fit and we will be able to use them this summer also. I still read here all the time and think of you all often.Welcome to all of the new families.

To update you on the Nichols family: Life has been pretty good this year.We have had a few ups and downs but still have many blessings in our lives.I enjoyed returning to the work force after being a stay at home Mom for ten years.I work at our local high school as an aide to kids with disabilities.I LOVE the Job.Unfotunately, due to the economy my position was eliminated for the next school year(along with 25 others in my district) I am pretty sad about it but hoping something will open up again in the future. Paul is still working hard ,but nervous with talks of layoffs of 12,000 state workers coming in July. Logan is enjoying his first year in kindergarten. Hannah is a forth grader and loves school.Lately she has been having a big problem with her hip.For years she has had issues with it partially dislocating.This is due to the fact that she has Down syndrome.This causes low muscle tone.The muscles and ligaments around that hip have become very streched and loose(kind of like an over streched rubber band) So anyway , due to the constant dislocating it has deteriorated her hip socket to the point in which she really needs a hip replacment.She is only 10 years old so this is not possible at this point because she is still growing.This is super frustrating because now she is in pain a LOT and starting to limp. We have been working with a Dr about 2 and a half hours away from us who says he can do surgery but there are no guarentees about the long term sucess.Our next step is getting an evaluation at Boston Childrens hospital.(this is where she had her open heart surgery)So life is never boring around this house. Just thought I would give you all an update and let you know I think of you all.I have not dropped off the face of the earth yet, it only feels like it.

of course we remember you so good to hear from you.
i hope the docs figure something out for hannahs hip. stop by more often if you can we miss you

 

[josabbimommy]

Yes I was there when the Challenger crashed. It was not a good day for either of us. I can remember being so excited to see a shuttle launch. I loved space and anything to do with it (I still do) and was excited when my dad came home and told us we were going to see it. Imagine my surprise when a few days later we're at the launch site and bam, everything explodes. My sisters and I were devastated. After that point, it was hard for us to say goodbye to our father, who was a naval aviator, 'cause we were always scared he'd crash.

Anyway, onto happier topics...
anyone know if GKTW kids can go to Extra Magic Hours?

 

[josabbimommy]

I forgot to mention that I love the mermaid site. My son would love them!

 

[Andreaswish]

Hi All,

I was wondering what shoes to get and break in before our trip in six weeks. I am sure it is probaly on here somewhere. I have heard some good things about crocs, but have never owned a pair. I do have problems with my heels Planters Fasciitis. I was thinking of getting crocs for my kids good idea or not??

How can we prevent blisters also, any advice? What items to take for sore and tired feet?

Thanks,

 

[BeckySob]

Yes I was there when the Challenger crashed. It was not a good day for either of us. I can remember being so excited to see a shuttle launch. I loved space and anything to do with it (I still do) and was excited when my dad came home and told us we were going to see it. Imagine my surprise when a few days later we're at the launch site and bam, everything explodes. My sisters and I were devastated. After that point, it was hard for us to say goodbye to our father, who was a naval aviator, 'cause we were always scared he'd crash.

Anyway, onto happier topics...
anyone know if GKTW kids can go to Extra Magic Hours?

Scary! I'm sorry that you had to see the Challenger explode.

As far as the extra hours at the parks...unfortunately not.

 

[BeckySob]

Hi All,

I was wondering what shoes to get and break in before our trip in six weeks. I am sure it is probaly on here somewhere. I have heard some good things about crocs, but have never owned a pair. I do have problems with my heels Planters Fasciitis. I was thinking of getting crocs for my kids good idea or not??

How can we prevent blisters also, any advice? What items to take for sore and tired feet?

Thanks,

As far as shoes, I wore my birkenstock sandels. 'Course I've owned em for about 3 years, so they were broken into really good! My daughter wore flip flops and never complained about sore feet. I can't stand crocs, I think that they are over-rated. They are way too pricey.

My advice to anyone......start walking now. Walk until your feet hurt, and then walk 2 more miles. That should get you ready.

 

[maroo]

Hi All,

I was wondering what shoes to get and break in before our trip in six weeks. I am sure it is probaly on here somewhere. I have heard some good things about crocs, but have never owned a pair. I do have problems with my heels Planters Fasciitis. I was thinking of getting crocs for my kids good idea or not??

How can we prevent blisters also, any advice? What items to take for sore and tired feet?

Thanks,

I have a couple of thoughts here. First, I swear by Crocs. They are squishy and comfy as you walk. They also have a large area for your foot, so if your feet swell as you walk around all day, they don't get really sore in shoes that would normally fit. This is an issue for me, so I really like my crocs. But you really have to buy the real kind, not imitation crocs. They also have Disney crocs, which could be fun to get for the trip.

If you are going to do tennis shoes, I would invest in a pair or two of really good socks. The kind that wick away moisture, esp if you tend to get blisters. I have seen them at drug stores for fairly cheap and you can get really, really good ones at a running store. You basically get what you pay for on those.

If you plan to get really wet on rides, I would bring a change of socks in your bag so you don't have to walk around a long time with wet socks. That can cause a major blister.

I would also bring several (at least 2) pairs of shoes that you consider to be very comfortable. You can swap them off each day and sort of let them wear on different parts of your feet. If you have a pair that puts a little pressure on one area, then you can swap shoes later and change the pressure point.

I also recommend, from personal experience, those good blister bandaids - they are expensive, but worth it if you have a painful blister. Mole skin can also help cover a blister, too.

I would break in any shoe you buy and "practice" by going on long walks with those shoes. The long walks will also help you get ready for all of that walking!

Ok...that was a lot of thoughts! Sorry for the brain spillage!!

 

[ahkeela]

I have a concern, and it's been eating at me this past week...I would really like some advice here. Actually there are several concerns, any input would be greatly appreciated.

First, I haven't heard from our wish coordinator about anything, is that typical? Our trip is next week! Maybe I'm just nervous because I had called Make A Wish in early January and gave them the dates we'd like to go in Jan, Feb, March and April and they never got back to me. (Our wish had been granted last summer, they were just waiting for us to give them dates.) I called them in April and they had basically forgot about us and booked us right away for May. (Sorry for repeating that, just reminding everyone of our situation.) With that said, I am wondering if I should call them to touch bases? I did get an email forwarded to me from the wish coordinator with the flight info, actually the tickets basically, nothing else.

Secondly, and this is a tough one...I've been watching the weather for the dates we are going to be there, and it is supposed to be 88-90 degrees, plus humidity. We live in California where it gets hot, but not humid. One of the things we wanted to avoid is the heat because this is an issue for Azaria. She overheats very easily as she does not sweat due to her condition and medications. So we have to keep her cool. In the past when we've traveled to the east coast during the summer, she has gotten sick from the heat/humidity and we had to keep her in an air conditioned room or car. (Personally, I am not looking forward to the humidity either as I've been known to get sick myself, spent one summer in Virginia vomiting and nausea due to the humidity!) So, I've been checking the weather since I found out about the dates but that was quite a projection. Not until recently have I been able to see that it will actually be that hot.

I don't know what the policy of MAW is concerning changing your trip date, especially after it is booked. Not only that, I purchased my older son Christophers ticket out of pocket, which is non refundable. If we are allowed to change the date, I am willing to take that hit. I just don't want to make it hard for the MAW and GKTW people.

There are a few other issues that have me concerned about leaving next week, (my mom is ill-stage 4 cancer and not doing well, our finances have changed-taxes! So we don't have as much money as we thought we would to extend our trip, but we can make it work if we have to.)

I am just not sure what to do. I don't want to sound ungrateful at all, and I really want to go, but with all the above, I don't know how to make it work. I don't want MAW to take a hit either because we change dates. The weather is a real issue, I really didn't think when we were given those dates that it would be that hot already. The money situation, well that can be worked out.

So, any advice would be extremely helpful! I really feel I should make a decision today and I'm just making myself sick over it all. Part of me says to just go, but if we do and we are all miserable I will feel so bad for Azaria. I really want this to be a special trip for her. My friends daughter passed away two months after her MAW trip. That really made me want to stop procrastinating this and schedule it, which is what prompted me to called in January. Life is so precious and I don't want to put this off anymore but I am really conflicted.

Sorry to ramble on! I look forward to your advice.

 

[ahkeela]

Oops! I posted twice on accident, not sure how to delete it, so I just deleted the text.

 

[jessica52877]

I would probably call make a wish and just inquire about the trip and what happens if you needed/wanted to change it. Maybe they'll say it isn't an issue at all and that would make things easy for you to say let's just change it then. I have no experience with any of that so help really.

About the heat, if you don't go now then I am thinking at the earliest that you would be able to go is October sometimes (due to heat). The past 5 years we have always gone in May and October and usually October is hotter then May. Of course it depends on when you hit it of course. So are you willing to wait that long?

If you go I would say just take it easy. I know you want to do and see as much as you can but no one will be having fun if you are hot and miserable. You can go into the shows to get away from the heat. The rides are also all nice and cool and since you won't have to really stand in lines it will just be while out that you would be hot. Take advantage of the MAW lounge for sure!

Let us know what you decide! I hope it all works out for the best!