Hi everyone!
So glad that I found you! I've spent the last few nights (staying up all hours) Googling "Disney World Make A Wish Trips", and that's how I found this forum. I have to be honest my eyes are tired from trying to read all the great trip reports and advice. I am the type of person who really needs to prepare and wants to do as much research as possible...So I need some HELP, please!!
First, I should introduce my family: there is our beautiful wish child Azaria (her name is pronounced like the word area with an Az in front of it). She is 6 years old and was diagnosed with Aicardi Syndrome at birth. (Aicardi Syndrome consists of daily seizures, the absence of the center part of the brain, retinal lesions that cause blindness, and developmental delays). She does not speak, but tries to communicate in her own way. She is unable to sit unassisted and is unable to stand or walk. We were told her life expectancy is 5-10 years. Azaria has about 8-12 seizures a day, and about once a month she requires medical intervention to stop them.
BUT she is doing extremely well, given all that. She is a very happy and precious child!
Our son Aidan is 4 and will turn 5 on the trip, May 12! He is such a sweet little guy and loves his "sissy" so much. He tries to care for her during her seizures, saying "it's ok sissy" while holding her hand or stroking her head. Aidan has a very severe peanut allergy, we almost lost him when he was 2, due to an exposure to peanut butter. We are very careful with Aidan and carry epinephrine with us at all times.
We also have an older son, Christopher, he just turned 21. He lives near San Francisco but comes home often. Christopher is really the only person who helps us care for the kids, he is our only respite. And the kids adore their big brother.
Then there is me and my husband. I'm Debi, and my husband is TJ, we live in Central California. We have annual passes to
Disneyland and visit often, especially when we take Azaria to UCLA.
That's us, now where to begin??? Azaria's wish was granted in June of last year. We've been trying to take this trip since then but could never seem to work out the dates. So I called MAW in January and gave dates that we would be available to go in February or March. Never heard back so I called back a couple of weeks ago and our wish rep was so sorry she never got back to us. I guess she kind of dropped the ball. No problem though, we gave her new dates for May and she set it up the next day.
We leave Thursday May 7th on American Airlines at 7:00am. We connect in Dallas to Orlando, arriving at 7:10pm. Initially we were to fly home on the 13th but I asked if we could extend our stay at our own expense, so now we are leaving on Sunday, May 18 at 4:40pm, arriving home at 9:40pm.
(I haven't planned what we will do or where we will stay those extra days but thought the extra time would help us not feel so rushed.)
I would really like some help planning a day to day itinerary. I could really use some help here, my computer research time is only at night when I can barely even think clearly, and Disney World seems so foreign to me.
Things Azaria would like: character meet & greets, "kiddie rides", shows, and she loves animals, specifically dolphins! I thought a visit to Animal Kingdom would be in order, if tickets are available for that park. Seaworld would also be a must. As a family, we just love to hang out together, enjoy shows, we think Azaria would love the Cirque du Soliel show La Nouba, and any other shows. She loves lights and interaction with characters, parades, fireworks.
We will be there on Aidan's birthday, on the 12th he will be 5. We want to do something so that he feels special on his birthday, so we were thinking of taking him to the Kennedy Space Center since he loves spaceships and astronauts. Are tickets given to the space center? I just read online that on May 12th, they are launching Space Shuttle Atlantis. This is something I need to look into more to see if we could view the launch from the beach or somewhere nearby.
Well I should really get some sleep because I am starting to ramble and this is getting really long! I know I will have lots of questions and will begin writing my lists, schedules and plans tomorrow. Again, any help/input would be great.
One last thing, unfortunately MAW is not paying for our son Christopher to come with us, I'm disappointed although I understand. If there are any suggestions on getting his flight or Disney tickets cheap, PLEASE let me know. His
one way ticket there on our flight is $300 right now. He is flying back early on the 14th and I can get that ticket for about $100, but with adding the tickets to the parks, it is going to be expensive and we just don't know how we are going to pay for it. I was told he can stay with us at GKTW but don't know what is included with that? Food? Possibly tickets too?
Thank you so much! I look forward to getting to know you all. I feel like I know some of you already since I've been reading your posts and trip reports!
Thanks again, and sorry this first post is so long!
Blessings,
Debi
I remember you posting the first time, because I remember the part about your Dad and your nephew. I found you on page 80 of this thread, and I wrote something short back on page 81. MAW may not be paying your dad and nephew's way, but they still may be able to stay at GKTW with you. Call GKTW tell them that you live with them and ask if they can stay with you in the villa. The villa can sleep 7 (we did it). There is a master bedroom (king size bed) a kids' room (two twins) a queen sized fold out sofa, a twin bed roll away and a crib. GKTW may ask MAW to verify that they are "residents". I don't know about the ticket packages though. I don't think MAW pays for those, I think the parks donate them...GKTW may be able to help you, but if not, try mousesavers.com and allears.net for advice on good places to buy inexpensive tickets. 
