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

[BeckySob]

Hi there!!! I am so excited for PICTURES!!

But I don't know where to find them?? Where do I go look.

Sorry!

I put them on my pre-trip report deally bopper thingamajig. But I'm not sure if they're up yet, as it said that it had to be checked by the moderator? I don't know what that means?

 

[maroo]

Sorry!

I put them on my pre-trip report deally bopper thingamajig. But I'm not sure if they're up yet, as it said that it had to be checked by the moderator? I don't know what that means?

Which site are you using to upload your pictures? Are you using the DIS boards picture area? or Photobucket? Or another site?

 

[tbelfonti]

Everything is good but I have one big question ...

Was anyone given a baseball cap as an identifying item that you're with MAW?

It's a khaki cap with the genie on it and a heart. It's cute - but there's no way my PRINCESS is going to wear a baseball cap as an identifying thing. My husband? Yes. But the PRINCESS is going to be wearing her crown :haha:

I cannot imagine paying for BBB and then slapping the cap back on her head. They also gave us the same logo on a sheet of stickers to identify us at the parks.

Very bizarre and I'm not sure what to think / do. I was expecting a MAW button or tshirt - not a cap / stickers.

Anyone else have this cap? How was the reception?

Other than that, everything is in order. We get picked up at 6AM on the 27th for our trip by our limo. 9 more days!!!

 

[BeckySob]

Everything is good but I have one big question ...

Was anyone given a baseball cap as an identifying item that you're with MAW?

It's a khaki cap with the genie on it and a heart. It's cute - but there's no way my PRINCESS is going to wear a baseball cap as an identifying thing. My husband? Yes. But the PRINCESS is going to be wearing her crown :haha:

I cannot imagine paying for BBB and then slapping the cap back on her head. They also gave us the same logo on a sheet of stickers to identify us at the parks.

Very bizarre and I'm not sure what to think / do. I was expecting a MAW button or tshirt - not a cap / stickers.

Anyone else have this cap? How was the reception?

Other than that, everything is in order. We get picked up at 6AM on the 27th for our trip by our limo. 9 more days!!!

Your princess will not have to wear the MAW hat or button. She will be given a button from GKTW, and you will be given a lanyard for your Guest Assistance Card. My experience is that the GAC was way more important than the GKTW button. Just make sure your GAC is visible when flaggin the employees down.

 

[kdzbear]

Last night at 7:45 pm I received a call from the Dream Factory and my son’s Wish has been approved. I was told that the head of Dream Factory would now be handing his trip planning over to another volunteer who should be in contact with me in the next three days. We are so excited!

My son has a rare chromosome disorder and had been through a lot, but not near as much as many of the people on this site so I almost feel bad that he is getting a Wish. Dream Factory grants wishes for kids with chronic illnesses whereas Make a Wish is life threatening illnesses.

We applied to Make a Wish in February 2008 on the advice of our pediatrician’s partner’s urging. He has a son that received a wish. He also had two physical therapists that said he would qualify. After a long wait, we were told in October 2008 that he did not qualify since the doctor would not supply a termination date. She had explained to them that the only other baby on record with my son’s condition died at 5 months and that there was no way to determine how long he will live. Since we could not provide a definite time it was denied. This same problem is the problem we face each time my son needs a new treatment or orthopedic device. So MAW referred us to the Dream Factory.

I did not want to get our hopes up so I waited until February 2009 to submit his Wish to Dream Factory. They also stated that he had to be able to “say” his Wish and my son doesn’t talk. Then they explained that he could show them a picture or toy to explain it. However, now he can say Disney. It is one of about 20 words he is able to speak, but he can sign over 400 words. Then a month before I submitted the Wish we received a pin code for free dining and booked a September trip. We have been saving for two years for this trip and it is paid for and completely planned. I do not know what to do now. Should we go on both trips? Tyler’s Wish trip will not be until late November or December. I am sorry this is so long. I just wanted to explain the background. Then last night out of the blue he received a call that his Wish was approved! I am so happy and overwhelmed at the same time!

 

[DaveStroem]

KDZbear, do not feel guilty at all. Yes others may have it worse off, but that does not change the fact that your son is still deserving of a wish.

As for what to do about the first trip, I think I would try to cancel it or postpone it till free dining next year.

 

[jessica52877]

If you go in December on the wish trip. I would probably keep September too. We LOVE going more then once a year. On your wish trip then you could also have more time for GKTW (do you stay there) and for the other parks yet still see Disney decorated. Univeral is tons of fun at Christmas with their Macy's parade and all the balloons. And they have a special Grinch show at IOA.

 

[maroo]

Last night at 7:45 pm I received a call from the Dream Factory and my son’s Wish has been approved. I was told that the head of Dream Factory would now be handing his trip planning over to another volunteer who should be in contact with me in the next three days. We are so excited!

My son has a rare chromosome disorder and had been through a lot, but not near as much as many of the people on this site so I almost feel bad that he is getting a Wish. Dream Factory grants wishes for kids with chronic illnesses whereas Make a Wish is life threatening illnesses.

We applied to Make a Wish in February 2008 on the advice of our pediatrician’s partner’s urging. He has a son that received a wish. He also had two physical therapists that said he would qualify. After a long wait, we were told in October 2008 that he did not qualify since the doctor would not supply a termination date. She had explained to them that the only other baby on record with my son’s condition died at 5 months and that there was no way to determine how long he will live. Since we could not provide a definite time it was denied. This same problem is the problem we face each time my son needs a new treatment or orthopedic device. So MAW referred us to the Dream Factory.

I did not want to get our hopes up so I waited until February 2009 to submit his Wish to Dream Factory. They also stated that he had to be able to “say” his Wish and my son doesn’t talk. Then they explained that he could show them a picture or toy to explain it. However, now he can say Disney. It is one of about 20 words he is able to speak, but he can sign over 400 words. Then a month before I submitted the Wish we received a pin code for free dining and booked a September trip. We have been saving for two years for this trip and it is paid for and completely planned. I do not know what to do now. Should we go on both trips? Tyler’s Wish trip will not be until late November or December. I am sorry this is so long. I just wanted to explain the background. Then last night out of the blue he received a call that his Wish was approved! I am so happy and overwhelmed at the same time!

Wow!! Cool!!! He got a WISH! That is fantastic.

There is not a Mommy (or Daddy) on these boards that has not felt bad, at one point or another, for their child getting a wish. That is completely normal. It sounds like he has certainly struggled and no one knows what the future holds...sounds life threatening to me. But the important thing is the doctor signed off on it!

You would be fine either way. Going twice or saving it for later. A Wish Trip is so different from a "regular" Disney trip. You would get something out of the Wish Trip even if you have been to Disney a dozen times. Staying at GKTW is a trip all by itself. That front of the line pass is priceless. The character interaction is priceless, too.

It will also be neat to go during Christmas time!

You could go in Sept and figure out what things he really likes and sort of get some of those Disney things "out of the way"... Especially if you have never been. Since you don't know what the future holds, I hesitate to tell you to just "take it later."

Then you can use the Wish Trip to focus more on him- once you see what he really likes. What characters would he want to meet special for him? There are lots of special parties, wish lounges, and character interaction that takes time on a Wish trip...so you don't get as much time in the parks as a regular trip, which is why you get the front of the line pass.

Also, you will get tickets to Universal and Sea World and you could focus on those for the Wish Trip.

I would do both. It is up to you, of course, when you take both trips...you may want to spread them out and go again next year on your dime...or you could go in Sept and Nov/Dec of this year.

I am going in both months. My Sept trip is focus on Free Dining and casually catching the parks and Dec is going to be all about catching the Christmas stuff.

Anyway...that is my 02 cents.

 

[ndloewen]

Everything is good but I have one big question ...

Was anyone given a baseball cap as an identifying item that you're with MAW?

It's a khaki cap with the genie on it and a heart. It's cute - but there's no way my PRINCESS is going to wear a baseball cap as an identifying thing. My husband? Yes. But the PRINCESS is going to be wearing her crown :haha:

I cannot imagine paying for BBB and then slapping the cap back on her head. They also gave us the same logo on a sheet of stickers to identify us at the parks.

Very bizarre and I'm not sure what to think / do. I was expecting a MAW button or tshirt - not a cap / stickers.

Anyone else have this cap? How was the reception?

Other than that, everything is in order. We get picked up at 6AM on the 27th for our trip by our limo. 9 more days!!!

We got that same package. We brought it along, but it never even came out of our suitcase!! With your GKTW button and GAC, you really don't need anything else!!

 

[ndloewen]

Last night at 7:45 pm I received a call from the Dream Factory and my son’s Wish has been approved. I was told that the head of Dream Factory would now be handing his trip planning over to another volunteer who should be in contact with me in the next three days. We are so excited!

My son has a rare chromosome disorder and had been through a lot, but not near as much as many of the people on this site so I almost feel bad that he is getting a Wish. Dream Factory grants wishes for kids with chronic illnesses whereas Make a Wish is life threatening illnesses.

We applied to Make a Wish in February 2008 on the advice of our pediatrician’s partner’s urging. He has a son that received a wish. He also had two physical therapists that said he would qualify. After a long wait, we were told in October 2008 that he did not qualify since the doctor would not supply a termination date. She had explained to them that the only other baby on record with my son’s condition died at 5 months and that there was no way to determine how long he will live. Since we could not provide a definite time it was denied. This same problem is the problem we face each time my son needs a new treatment or orthopedic device. So MAW referred us to the Dream Factory.

I did not want to get our hopes up so I waited until February 2009 to submit his Wish to Dream Factory. They also stated that he had to be able to “say” his Wish and my son doesn’t talk. Then they explained that he could show them a picture or toy to explain it. However, now he can say Disney. It is one of about 20 words he is able to speak, but he can sign over 400 words. Then a month before I submitted the Wish we received a pin code for free dining and booked a September trip. We have been saving for two years for this trip and it is paid for and completely planned. I do not know what to do now. Should we go on both trips? Tyler’s Wish trip will not be until late November or December. I am sorry this is so long. I just wanted to explain the background. Then last night out of the blue he received a call that his Wish was approved! I am so happy and overwhelmed at the same time!

Congrats on the wish!! So glad that the Dream Factory granted your son his wish. What chromosome is it? We also have a son with a rare chromosome deletion (12q) and have no idea of life expectancy. We too were turned down from the first wish granting organization, however, the reason being that he couldn't verbalize his wish. The second organization (Children's Wish Foundation) granted him his wish.

As far as two trips??? Ummmm...YAH!! Can you ever have too many trips to Disney?? I think not!!! It would be better though if your first trip was the wish trip and the second trip was your own trip. That way you could go visit GKTW on your second trip.

 

[5dwarves]

My son has a rare chromosome disorder and had been through a lot, but not near as much as many of the people on this site so I almost feel bad that he is getting a Wish. Dream Factory grants wishes for kids with chronic illnesses whereas Make a Wish is life threatening illnesses.

I did not want to get our hopes up so I waited until February 2009 to submit his Wish to Dream Factory. They also stated that he had to be able to “say” his Wish and my son doesn’t talk. Then they explained that he could show them a picture or toy to explain it. However, now he can say Disney. It is one of about 20 words he is able to speak, but he can sign over 400 words. Then a month before I submitted the Wish we received a pin code for free dining and booked a September trip. We have been saving for two years for this trip and it is paid for and completely planned. I do not know what to do now. Should we go on both trips? Tyler’s Wish trip will not be until late November or December. I am sorry this is so long. I just wanted to explain the background. Then last night out of the blue he received a call that his Wish was approved! I am so happy and overwhelmed at the same time!

Another wish family was feeling guilty for being granted a wish. I think it was BeckySob. Please don't dwell there. There are so many life altering things that have happened to your entire family as a result of your son's illness that you are all very deserving for VIP treatment.

I know my initial reaction is for you to definitely do both trips. When I came back from our wish trip, I felt like there was so much we had left undone and that we needed a do over trip soon. You will have the unparalleled ability to get a true "do-over". As Maroo said there are many things at GKTW that you will be able to do. You will also have Sea World and Universal tickets so it will give your second trip a new twist. It isn't a bad thing to go twice. That being said, if your personal situation is such that you would benefit from a refund for the first trip, then by all means do so. Only your family knows what is best there, but two trips sounds awesome to the rest of us

Glad you found the wish thread...feel free to quiz us on anything.

~Elisa

 

[llurgy]

I still dont understand MAW sometimes.....

Some chapters seem to only take terminal and others life threatening. I was under the impression that it was life threatening that qualified a child where-as it USED to only be terminal. Life threatening would not require a termination date, so I dont know what is happening.

Love
Mandy

 

[LindaBabe]

Termination date must mean something other than to do with terminal illness - how could anyone predict the final event?

I think the cap with the genie must be related to your wish granting organization. Give Kids the World logo is a stylization of some of the village buildings, most notable the mushroom cap and the magic castle.

 

[daddyto8]

From MAW:
Who is eligible?

A child with a life-threatening medical condition who has reached the age of 2 1/2 and is under the age of 18 at the time of referral, is potentially eligible for a wish.

After a child is referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, the Foundation will contact the child's treating physician to determine whether the child is medically eligible for a wish, based on the medical criteria established by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. In addition, a child cannot have received a wish from another wish-granting organization.

I don't know who would have the audacity to use the term termination date.

My son's is probably in his late teens, but it not something anyone can predict.

MAW used to use the term "terminal", over time the have opened it up to 'life-threatening' so that cancers and such would be eligible as well even if they will not necessarily result in death.

Ultimately, the medical guidelines are more specific but the intent is to limit to those who's illness greatly and often fatally impacts their life.

 

[tbelfonti]

Last night at 7:45 pm I received a call from the Dream Factory and my son’s Wish has been approved. I was told that the head of Dream Factory would now be handing his trip planning over to another volunteer who should be in contact with me in the next three days. We are so excited!

My son has a rare chromosome disorder and had been through a lot, but not near as much as many of the people on this site so I almost feel bad that he is getting a Wish. Dream Factory grants wishes for kids with chronic illnesses whereas Make a Wish is life threatening illnesses.

We applied to Make a Wish in February 2008 on the advice of our pediatrician’s partner’s urging. He has a son that received a wish. He also had two physical therapists that said he would qualify. After a long wait, we were told in October 2008 that he did not qualify since the doctor would not supply a termination date. She had explained to them that the only other baby on record with my son’s condition died at 5 months and that there was no way to determine how long he will live. Since we could not provide a definite time it was denied. This same problem is the problem we face each time my son needs a new treatment or orthopedic device. So MAW referred us to the Dream Factory.

I did not want to get our hopes up so I waited until February 2009 to submit his Wish to Dream Factory. They also stated that he had to be able to “say” his Wish and my son doesn’t talk. Then they explained that he could show them a picture or toy to explain it. However, now he can say Disney. It is one of about 20 words he is able to speak, but he can sign over 400 words. Then a month before I submitted the Wish we received a pin code for free dining and booked a September trip. We have been saving for two years for this trip and it is paid for and completely planned. I do not know what to do now. Should we go on both trips? Tyler’s Wish trip will not be until late November or December. I am sorry this is so long. I just wanted to explain the background. Then last night out of the blue he received a call that his Wish was approved! I am so happy and overwhelmed at the same time!

1. "Termination date" - that just saddens me so much. WHO are they to say he can't be approved because they don't know WHEN he's going to die? That just breaks my heart. All these children don't have a date - only God knows that.

The guilt is SO common. I'm right there with you. It's painful to realize that someone from the outside looks at our situation with sadness and / or pity. There's this thing we all do - where we think our situation isn't as bad as someone else's. I know spending time in the hospital and talking with other families - when they hear "heart" they freak out. Whereas I would hear "Cancer" and freak out. What you know is easier to deal with than what you don't.

We got that same package. We brought it along, but it never even came out of our suitcase!! With your GKTW button and GAC, you really don't need anything else!!

OK - I thank you for your response. I feel SO much better! I was expecting a tshirt of some sort so this hat threw me for a complete loop. DH and I went to AC Moore tonight and he's going to make her a Make A Wish tshirt. I just want her to have something to wear for the plane ride that indicates she's a MAW kid

 

[maroo]

I don't know who would have the audacity to use the term termination date.

My son's is probably in his late teens, but it not something anyone can predict.

MAW used to use the term "terminal", over time the have opened it up to 'life-threatening' so that cancers and such would be eligible as well even if they will not necessarily result in death.

Ultimately, the medical guidelines are more specific but the intent is to limit to those who's illness greatly and often fatally impacts their life.

I totally agree with you on this!

1. "Termination date" - that just saddens me so much. WHO are they to say he can't be approved because they don't know WHEN he's going to die? That just breaks my heart. All these children don't have a date - only God knows that.

OK - I thank you for your response. I feel SO much better! I was expecting a tshirt of some sort so this hat threw me for a complete loop. DH and I went to AC Moore tonight and he's going to make her a Make A Wish tshirt. I just want her to have something to wear for the plane ride that indicates she's a MAW kid

I agree with the termination date thing... I hate the term. Goodness.

Tshirts that identify you guys are a great idea...but...uh...I wouldn't buy any just yet.

 

[tbelfonti]

Tshirts that identify you guys are a great idea...but...uh...I wouldn't buy any just yet.

OK - I'll hold off on those LOL. You guys spoil us LOL.

 

[maroo]

OK - I'll hold off on those LOL. You guys spoil us LOL.

I mean...I don't know...

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

 

[Andreaswish]

Hi All,

I was wondering what kind of bag to bring to the parks and what essential items to put in there.

Does anyone know where the lockers are located at the parks and how much they cost?

We will be using a wheelchair so I maybe able to hook it on the wheelchair.

Any Advice??

Thanks,
Diane

 

[Corrine 1973]

Hi All,

I was wondering what kind of bag to bring to the parks and what essential items to put in there.

Does anyone know where the lockers are located at the parks and how much they cost?

We will be using a wheelchair so I maybe able to hook it on the wheelchair.

Any Advice??

Thanks,
Diane

At the four Theme Parks, the policy is:
Large Locker: $7.00 per day plus a $5.00 key deposit which is refunded when the key is returned
Small Locker: $5.00 per day plus a $5.00 key deposit which is refunded when the key is returned
Key must be turned in within an hour of the park closing
Key operated lockers can be accessed as often as you like
When visiting more than one theme park on the same day:

Return the key for the $5.00 deposit and get a receipt
Take the receipt to the next theme park
Present the receipt, pay the $5.00 key deposit and you'll have a locker for the remainder of the day
Locker Locations

Magic Kingdom-

Inside the park adjacent to the Wheelchair/ECV rental
Small locker - 11"H x 9"W x 16" Deep
Large locker - 17"H x 12"W x 22" Deep
Epcot -

To the right of the base of Spaceship Earth, near the restrooms
International Gateway
Small locker - 11"H x 9"W x 16" Deep
Large locker - 17"H x 12"W x 22" Deep
Disney Hollywood Studios -

Rent at Crossroad's of the World - Lockers located next to Oscar's Super Service
Small locker - 11"H x 9"W x 16" Deep
Large locker - 17"H x 12"W x 22" Deep
Disney Animal Kingdom -

Expedition Storage lockers by Guest Services inside the park
Small 11"H x 9"W x 16" Deep
Large 17"H x 9"W x 16" Deep
Outside the park near the Kennel (rent at Kennel)
Small 11"H x 9"W x 16" Deep
Large 17"H x 9"W x 16" Deep
Extra Large 17"H x 12"W x 16" Deep

Now that you have that information, if at all possible I would hook it on to the wheel chair. How wants to walk all the way back to the front of the park when you are at the other side..

I read somewhere (I think it's a good idea) to bring two bags. One with things you need but are not valubale. And a smaller bag (i.e. purse or fany pack) with things that you could bring with you.