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

[ndloewen]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the disboards.

I'm finding so many wonderful stories here. Thanks for the links to these wonderful stories and helpful hints!

We weren't able to extend our MAW trip. At least we'll be going! We had to cancel because DD got sick 2 days before we were supposed to go. That's ok. We didn't want to be there for freezing weather anyway - we could do that at home!

We'll be there March 24-29th.

Welcome here! That must have been SO disappointing to have to cancel. Hope it all works out for you this time!!

 

[oklamomof4boys]

Hey everybody! I have a favor to ask. I would really appreciate it if you could keep Nathan in your prayers. He has an appointment with his cardiologist on Friday. It is just a routine appt. ( if there is such a thing as a "routine" appt. with a cardiologist!) but as most of us know, you always have to be prepared for the unexpected. 7 years ago, nearly to the exact day, we took Nathan for a "routine" cardiology check up and our world came crashing down. Previously we had been told that Nathan wouldn't have any long lasting effects from the virus that attacked his heart at birth. His heart function had returned to low normal and they thought he would " grow into" his enlarged heart. He wasn't having any symptoms and he wasn't even scheduled to see the cardiologist for another 6 months. But mother's instincts told me to get him checked out- you know, I was probably just being overprotective, right? Wrong- he was in heart failure and they feared he was on a fast downward spiral towards transplant. But through a lot of prayers ( oh, and medical science and a ton of meds) they have been able to get his heart function back close to normal. But they warn us, he could go into heart failure again at any time. It could be slow and gradual or sudden and dramatic. So of course, now there is quite a bit of trepidation before each appointment.

Here's a little story that you all might appreciate. The other night, Nathan crawled into bed with us ( I don't really mind this- it makes it easier for me to sleep since I get up to check on him several times during the night.) Well, around 4:00am I noticed he was breathing very laboriously. I woke him up to check on him. He said, " I feel funny" so I told him to get up ( my plan was to get his stethescope to check his heart) as he was crawling over me, staring at my starting to panic face, he looked at me and ...........BLECH!!! Vomit all over my face, hair, bed, etc. Yes, when our children start to act "funny" our minds frequently go to worst case scenario- I never want to be caught off guard again! But sometimes it is just a run of the mill 12 hours stomach bug. Of course, I do realize for some kids even a run of the mill stomach bug can be dangerous. But not everyone can understand why I was totally happy that the worst thing that happened that night was vomit on the face!

Carol

 

[Khalana]

I totally know what you mean!!! Stomach bugs are not fun but when thoughts of unnameable horror goes through your mind, a stomach bug seems so trivial. I will be praying for his aapointment. I too feel sick to my stomach every time we see our cardiologist.

 

[mom2lilnick]

Praying for Nathan. Sorry about the stomach bug.. ick!

 

[maroo]

Crowd Calendar...

Many of you guys have received a "planner" from me with "crowd scores" and other info for helpful hints in planning your parks during your stay.

The "Crowd Calendar" produced by www.touringplans.com has been used by people for a while to help plan which park will be the least crowded.

While this does not matter...as much...for Wish families, it might be something to consider if you have any family members (including the Wish child) that would rather avoid crowds. Also, we can't avoid lines for counter service, bathrooms, shows, etc. that are present where there are LOTS of people in the parks.

It appears that the crowd scores for several dates have been significantly increased for some of the dates for Feb/March. This is probably in part due to the big "deal" that Disney has offered...people are taking advantage of it and there may be more people in the parks. In fact, President's Day is currently listed as an 11 on a scale of one to 10! Yikes! Hopefully a typo?

Here is their website: www.touringplans.com

You should probably check it closer to your trip. And just make sure the numbers have not shifted in a major way or that the parks that I listed are still the same (the good parks/bad parks).

Also...if you are a wish family and you have dates, please let me know and I can make you a planner that is specific to the dates you will be in the parks! I want every Wish family to have one because I think it will help give some ideas in planning your trip so that you can have even MORE fun!

 

[macntosh]

I am surprised that ESPN the weekend is so dead, but I don't mind since that's when we will be there; atleast the beginning of it.

 

[LoveTheseKids]

Prayers for Nathan and family! I totally know what you mean about the barfing. My kids are really prone to bad sinus infections, and any cold can trigger it. Kate has had to have 2 picc lines because of sinus infections that fail multiple rounds of antibiotics. Of course, now, when she gets a cold, I'm in panic mode that we're headed to a picc line, and another 15 day hospital stay. Alas, some colds....are just colds. YKWIM?

We're getting very excited here, can't wait to have the time to just be a family without the medical interruptions.

Dayna

 

[maroo]

This is very preliminary...No decisions have been made yet.

But, I do think that the more people that sign up or show an interest will increase the chances that this could actually happen!

There is a "Marathon Weekend" in January at Disney World each year. People can walk or run a 5K, a half marathon (13.1 miles), a full marathon (26.2 miles) or what is called the Goofy - they do both the half and the full! (Crazy, I know!)

Anyway...they have "charity groups" that raise money as part of the event.

The Disboards have been raising money for GKTW by selling shirts and someone came up with the idea to set up a charity group to walk/run during the Marathon weekend.

Here is the thread:

Give Kids the World Marathon Weekend Interest Thread

This is what I am hoping you guys will help me do...

Do you know someone that would want to walk/run ANY of the races above? If so, please go to this thread and let them know that you know someone that would be interested.

Would YOU like to run/walk any of these? It is during school time and of course would cost money to get back to Disney (but you could raise the support, if you worked really hard, and have your way paid, theoretically)...but this would be an AWESOME time for past Wish Kids and Families to have a Dis Meet... Just an idea. And hopefully this will be an annual event, if we can get it started!

Anyway...I am hoping to generate some excitement about this! I really, really want this to work out!

If you know someone interested, please let the Disboards know!!

 

[Khalana]

Noah isn't doing so good right now, so let's all pray for him and the family. Their trip is coming fast...

I think they need some

 

[lc26515]

Hello dis board folks. This is my first post and I don't know what in the heck I am doing..... I have my tutor, Maroo, sitting here beside me. Oh, I am Lauren's mom by the way. Mary is so fired up about this website so I had to get her to help me check it out. I am very slow with this technology stuff, I just am getting comfortable with using a cell phone -- it is sad, pitiful etc. etc

 

[Khalana]

Hello dis board folks. This is my first post and I don't know what in the heck I am doing..... I have my tutor, Maroo, sitting here beside me. Oh, I am Lauren's mom by the way. Mary is so fired up about this website so I had to get her to help me check it out. I am very slow with this technology stuff, I just am getting comfortable with using a cell phone -- it is sad, pitiful etc. etc

Yay! Hi Lauren's mom! I'm sure you'll be able to figure out the world of cyberspace. This is such a great place to connect with other wish families and of course to discuss all things Disney. Welcome here!

 

[QueenMomof2]

Just a couple questions I was hoping the wish trippers could answer for me.

First, can you extend your wish trip, paying for the extra days yourself?

Second, on the TR I have read it seems like most people go to Universal & Seaworld also, is that a must? I could see going if we were able to extend our trip but otherwise we just really want to focus on WDW since the kids are young and it will be their first time and only our second times.

Third, what's the best breakfast place to go for the kids at WDW? Our kids are TOTAL breakfast NUTS. It's really their "big" meal of the day, our DD is so picky food wise we're just happy when eats.

 

[oklamomof4boys]

Just a couple questions I was hoping the wish trippers could answer for me.

First, can you extend your wish trip, paying for the extra days yourself?

Second, on the TR I have read it seems like most people go to Universal & Seaworld also, is that a must? I could see going if we were able to extend our trip but otherwise we just really want to focus on WDW since the kids are young and it will be their first time and only our second times.

Third, what's the best breakfast place to go for the kids at WDW? Our kids are TOTAL breakfast NUTS. It's really their "big" meal of the day, our DD is so picky food wise we're just happy when eats.

Some MAW chapters will let you extend at your own expense and some won't. Our's wouldn't and I can't really figure out why. Somebody mentioned one time calling the airline and changing the return flight yourself and you could always try that. But I would certainly ask if you can extend it on your own dime because many will let you.

The standard tickets you get on a wish trip are 3 day parkhoppers to WDW, 2 day to US/IOA and one day to Sea World. Usually wish trips have 5 days in the parks. We chose not to go to Sea World and spent a day at GKTW- there is so much to do there. Keep in mind, if you extend the trip on your own, you can not just "add on" to your 3 day WDW pass. Since they are comp tickets, they don't have any monetary value, so you have to pay full price for whatever number of days you are adding onto your WDW trip.

We never ate breakfast at the park, so I can't help you with that one.

Carol

 

[Khalana]

Hi everyone,

We're having a bit of a heart scare with Lydia again... Oh how I HATE those. I've noticed in the last few weeks that she's seemed out of breath, and kind of sighing/grunting every now and then. I wasn't sure if it was anything important but today I watched one of the videos on my TR of her singing and then I asked her to sing that same song to me and she sounds so different, like she has to take breaks to breathe... I called our Pediatric Cardiology Nurse on call and she said that she was booking ehr for an appointment in March but wanted her to be seen locally before that so we're going on Monday. I know she still has pulmonary hypertension and her bicuspid valve, but she seemed fine last October at her check-up. Please pray that it is nothing! That she is just out of shape or has some strange long-lasting virus with no other symptoms.

 

[oklamomof4boys]

Hi everyone,

We're having a bit of a heart scare with Lydia again... Oh how I HATE those. I've noticed in the last few weeks that she's seemed out of breath, and kind of sighing/grunting every now and then. I wasn't sure if it was anything important but today I watched one of the videos on my TR of her singing and then I asked her to sing that same song to me and she sounds so different, like she has to take breaks to breathe... I called our Pediatric Cardiology Nurse on call and she said that she was booking ehr for an appointment in March but wanted her to be seen locally before that so we're going on Monday. I know she still has pulmonary hypertension and her bicuspid valve, but she seemed fine last October at her check-up. Please pray that it is nothing! That she is just out of shape or has some strange long-lasting virus with no other symptoms.

We will certainly keep Lydia in our prayers! Hopefully it isn't anything serious.

Carol

 

[maroo]

Just a couple questions I was hoping the wish trippers could answer for me.

First, can you extend your wish trip, paying for the extra days yourself?

Second, on the TR I have read it seems like most people go to Universal & Seaworld also, is that a must? I could see going if we were able to extend our trip but otherwise we just really want to focus on WDW since the kids are young and it will be their first time and only our second times.

Third, what's the best breakfast place to go for the kids at WDW? Our kids are TOTAL breakfast NUTS. It's really their "big" meal of the day, our DD is so picky food wise we're just happy when eats.

Ditto on everything that Carol said!

We have had folks to extend a couple of days and one planning to extend a whole week (they are from Canada). But we were not able to extend ours....due to school issues. And some chapters won't let you extend.

Carol is correct about the tickets! Which means you can actually only do 3 days at Disney. Most wish families do 1 day at Sea World (you can feed the dolphins for free!) and one day at Universal. On our trip, we did not plan to do Universal at all, we did Downtown Disney one day instead.

Most wish families plan "down time" during the trip, too. Like one long day, a shorter day, long day, shorter day, etc. Just to keep your kids feeling well.

I have been making "planners" for wish families for the last few families that have gone. I can make one for you guys if you want me to! And any other Wish family!! (for free!)

As far as breakfast...everyone I have heard from that stayed at GKTW says the breakfast is hot and the best meal of the day and it is FREE!!! There are other good breakfast places, though, but they can be expensive. Chef Mickey's has a good buffet with the characters. But I think it is about $30 a person or something like that? It is high. Boma breakfast was our favorite...I think it is $20 a head? But it was AWESOME! It is at the AKL. We stayed on site (not at GKTW) so our budget was a little different since we had to buy all of our food.

If it was my family...I would eat at GKTW each day, except maybe one...because you get good one on one character time at GKTW two mornings a week. Then you can do a nice lunch or two when you are at the parks?

 

[oklamomof4boys]

I did enjoy breakfast at GKTW. We would go early ( hot breakfast starts at 8:00, but the cold things and waffle station were open at 7:30, I think). We would go around 7:45am. The best thing about breakfast was the volunteers. At least while we were there, they were mostly "regular" volunteers. A lot of retired couples. They were wonderful and made us feel very special. It was a great way to start the day. The waffles were great- they would ask us what we wanted on them and then brought them fresh off the waffle iron to us. I loved them with strawberries and whipped cream. I agree with Maroo- maybe do a special breakfast in the park one or 2 times. You can always make more ADRs, try the breakfast at GKTW and then if you don't like it, you can keep your additional ADRs and if you do like it, you can cancel the extra ADRs.

Carol

 

[mom2lilnick]

My kids loved breakfast at GKTW! Well.. everyone but Nick, but he NEVER eats breakfast, so.. he got all fruits and hot chocolate with whipped cream every day. It was pretty funny.

I really had no issues at all with the food at GKTW, the Turkey meal was awesome, I went back for seconds and even ate Noah's mashed potatoes (he wouldn't eat them because they had the skins in them).. not to mention, who could resist the hot fudge sundae or banana split just waiting for you two buildings over after every meal???

 

[QueenMomof2]

Thanks for all the great info guys. So I'll just have to ask and see if we can extend our trip. I think if we were able to extend it would likely be for an extra half a week or whole week, I mean if we're going to go all the way there we might as well right.

I looked more at Universal & Seaworld and I think the kids would like the Curious George part at Universal and the Seuss world part. Seaworld I think they would like since we go to the Zoo so often and they love animals. So as long as it's included and we are there we might as well go and enjoy it right.

They can be our shorter days which is an EXCELLENT idea Maroo thanks for that. Once we know our Wish trip is for sure a go I would love a planner thanks so much for offering.

Right now DD is napping from 12:30 to 4:30 everyday because of her meds. I'm really hoping that changes soon.

For some reason I didn't realize GKTW had hot food. I don't know why I thought that it seems kind of obvious now that of course they would have it. Sounds like if we are staying there we will definitely try the breakfast there and maybe do one or two others on site just for the experience of it.

I was looking through some pics on DIS from the different restaurants and I noticed the one, I think it was Akershus (sp?), the sign of prices said 12.99 adults and 8.99 kids. I'm thinking that was an O-L-D sign.

 

[maroo]

Hi everyone,

We're having a bit of a heart scare with Lydia again... Oh how I HATE those. I've noticed in the last few weeks that she's seemed out of breath, and kind of sighing/grunting every now and then. I wasn't sure if it was anything important but today I watched one of the videos on my TR of her singing and then I asked her to sing that same song to me and she sounds so different, like she has to take breaks to breathe... I called our Pediatric Cardiology Nurse on call and she said that she was booking ehr for an appointment in March but wanted her to be seen locally before that so we're going on Monday. I know she still has pulmonary hypertension and her bicuspid valve, but she seemed fine last October at her check-up. Please pray that it is nothing! That she is just out of shape or has some strange long-lasting virus with no other symptoms.

I am so sorry!

and I don't know how I missed your post earlier? I need to go back and read the past few days?!?


I will pray for you guys!!!!!

Thanks for all the great info guys. So I'll just have to ask and see if we can extend our trip. I think if we were able to extend it would likely be for an extra half a week or whole week, I mean if we're going to go all the way there we might as well right.

I looked more at Universal & Seaworld and I think the kids would like the Curious George part at Universal and the Seuss world part. Seaworld I think they would like since we go to the Zoo so often and they love animals. So as long as it's included and we are there we might as well go and enjoy it right.

They can be our shorter days which is an EXCELLENT idea Maroo thanks for that. Once we know our Wish trip is for sure a go I would love a planner thanks so much for offering.

Right now DD is napping from 12:30 to 4:30 everyday because of her meds. I'm really hoping that changes soon.

For some reason I didn't realize GKTW had hot food. I don't know why I thought that it seems kind of obvious now that of course they would have it. Sounds like if we are staying there we will definitely try the breakfast there and maybe do one or two others on site just for the experience of it.

I was looking through some pics on DIS from the different restaurants and I noticed the one, I think it was Akershus (sp?), the sign of prices said 12.99 adults and 8.99 kids. I'm thinking that was an O-L-D sign.

Ah...you are in for a treat!

You get hot breakfast...hot dinner and you can order pizza anytime. To be perfectly honest with you...the dinner on the first night (and only night, sadly) we were there was not that great. We are just picky, I guess. The food was good, but they were serving stuff that Lauren didn't really like. BUT...they will also deliver PIZZA to your room...I think anytime between the hours of 4pm and 10 or 11? And they will deliver it to the pool, too! So you guys should always be good and well fed!!

Many wish families just eat a BIG breakfast...eat cheaper snacks, lunch in the park...and then come back for a late afternoon nap and supper and then head back out (if you have the stamina!)...

Ah...and the ice cream...ah...to go back right now...OH, wait! I am on a diet! Nevermind! Let's just say I got a couple of my "fruit" servings in at the ice cream shop! The banana splits are AMAZING!

I have never heard of that restaurant?

It would be awesome if you could extend. Then you can really build in down days for you guys! And if that 4 nights, you get three free, deal is on...that would be even cooler! Down days are very helpful. Try not to wear yourselves out the first couple of days...you might end up sick...

Gosh...I need to stop talking!