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

[Corrine 1973]

It's an amazing place to volunteer, but it can also be a bit hard at times. There are many families where you cannot tell who the wish child is, they have a chronic (but not terminal illness), are in remission, etc. Then there are the families where it is only all too obvious who the wish kid is and you can tell that child probably doesn't have a lot of time left. Many of the places in GKTW are named after children who have visited and later passed on (such as Amberville).

I can still remember on family in particular, three years later. I was driving the cookie cart around Christmas time. The cookie cart is the golf cart that plays music. We drive around giving out cookies, coffee, and punch or hot chocolate. We often talk with the families as for many families this is the first place where people truly understand what they are going through.

Anyway, I was chatting with this mom about her trip and how it was going. She was telling me how it was bittersweet and it was hard at times. Her 8 year old son had muscular dystrophy and they had chosen to do his Wish while he was still relatively healthy so that he could enjoy it to the fullest. Being there, she saw lots of kids who represented what the future would hold for her son. Her son noticed it too. He asked her, 'Mommy, what is wrong with all these kids? These kids are sick, I just have issues!"

I've always loved how that little boy put it. The mom was talking to me about how the doctor had told them to be honest with him about what would happen. How they had told him that one day he would be in a wheelchair, but at 8 years old, he didn't get it. She asked me, "How do you tell your 8 year old son he is going to die at an early age?"

I have never forgotten that family. I did get a chuckle out of the "I just have issues!" comment, but I'll always remember the mom's pain when she asked me that question. I hope that despite it all we were able to help them forget their son's illness for a time and leave them with some really wonderful memories.

I must admite that reading your story put tears in my eyes and a smile on my lips. I know how this woman feels, Liam has an illness but besides coughs hasn't been real sick. It's hard to explain to a 7 year old that there may come a time when he becomes very sick and has to be in the hospital.

 

[merneric]

I have read in a couple TRs lately, that GKTW tells you the button doesn't work for character lines. Have they always told people this, or is this something that Disney is trying to change??

Also, can you bring snacks into the parks???

Mary Anne

 

[maroo]

I have read in a couple TRs lately, that GKTW tells you the button doesn't work for character lines. Have they always told people this, or is this something that Disney is trying to change??

Also, can you bring snacks into the parks???

Mary Anne

They told us this at our October 2008 Orientation and I remember being so afraid that they would have us wait for character lines...but they didn't!

I think GKTW tells families that because it is not a "guaranteed" thing with Disney...but it has never failed that they pull button families to the front. And I have seen several families report that they "got in trouble" or were told "never to wait" for character lines.

I feel confident in telling future wish families to let a CM know, with the button and/or GAC, that you would like to see the characters and you should bypass the lines...usually through an exit so no one else really notices.

 

[maroo]

I have read in a couple TRs lately, that GKTW tells you the button doesn't work for character lines. Have they always told people this, or is this something that Disney is trying to change??

Also, can you bring snacks into the parks???

Mary Anne

You can definitely bring snacks into the parks... in fact, you can bring full meals.

 

[Matt1026]

You can definitely bring snacks into the parks... in fact, you can bring full meals.

Thank you so much for sharing all of this information. I am hoping to remember all of the valuable information that everyone is sharing by the time we get to go.

 

[myasma]

Just wanted to let everyone know that we met with Mya's wish fairies yesterday and our potential dates are September or October. We are now waiting for them to call with specific dates.

 

[tastycollector]

How much does a photopass CD cost? I registared on the website, but couldn't find a price.

 

[merneric]

How much does a photopass CD cost? I registared on the website, but couldn't find a price.

I think it is $99 if you buy it before you go. This is the link I have:

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx#

Mary Anne

 

[tastycollector]

How have others gone about extending their stays? My brother has offered to help pay to let us stay longer. My mom called our wish coor., but it sounds like it didn't go well. We just are trying to figure out if it is even possible. Any help would be great.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I think you will really like the K.C. area. We are not far from there also. Halfway between there and Omaha. There is alot to do in K.C. but Omaha is by far much better (especially if you have kids). I grew up in the Omaha area so that is probably why I am partial.
I am getting a little worried about all of the sugars being offered while we are there. I know my kids will love it but I am sure our A1C testing will not. Any advice for my type 1 diabetic daughter while we are there? I hate to tell her no all the time on her wish trip.

I am thinking that I will probably just carb her for anything she wants (with the exception of liquid sugar ex. pop, juice, gaterade etc.) No matter what those things will put her in ketoacidosis. But with the icecream and cookies and such is it wrong to let her enjoy these things for a week? She gets told no so much at home. Anyone ever known of a type 1 who has went and how they handled it. (side note: the "diabetic" and "sugar free" items are really worse for diabetics because they contain sugar alcohols and usually just as many carbs. The sugar alcohol will cause stomach cramps, constipation and bloating even in normal people.)

I don't know if anyone can help with these questions but they just sorta cropped up on me.

As long as you bolus appropriately she should be fine. She has a pump right? That will make life much easier for you. Also, with the heat and all the walking she is probably going to be running lower than normal. I know one woman who was actually told that ice cream is a perfect before bed treat because the fat and protein slow down the absorption of the sugar so it helps you to stay stable during the night, avoiding lows and the dawn phenomenon (told this by her endocrinologist). Take about twice as many test strips as you normally need and make sure you have a carb counting book with you. Don't let her go overboard, but I see no reason why you can't enjoy the ice cream palace or an occasional "bad" dessert.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I have read in a couple TRs lately, that GKTW tells you the button doesn't work for character lines. Have they always told people this, or is this something that Disney is trying to change??

Also, can you bring snacks into the parks???

Mary Anne

GACs and buttons are only for attractions and character greetings are not considered attractions. That being said,

I did two separate College Programs as a performer (8 months a piece). I have never had an attendant knowingly make a family wait through the line. In fact, if somebody comes through the line and we didn't see them, we make sure to tell them not to wait. If an attendant had told a family to wait, I would have pulled them up anyway. Obviously this is not official policy, but it's what we have always done. I have only heard of one time where somebody was denied by an attendant, and frankly, I was shocked!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I must admite that reading your story put tears in my eyes and a smile on my lips. I know how this woman feels, Liam has an illness but besides coughs hasn't been real sick. It's hard to explain to a 7 year old that there may come a time when he becomes very sick and has to be in the hospital.

Corrine: My second grade teacher has a son with CF. He is a couple of years older than me and doing great thanks to a transplant! I can remember their fear about the statistics and what would happen when he reaches this age, but the advances in medicine have been wonderful and he has had a very positive outcome and as far as I know, is projected to live a healthy life with a normal span.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we met with Mya's wish fairies yesterday and our potential dates are September or October. We are now waiting for them to call with specific dates.

 

[sammie girl]

Thank you everyone for the advice on snacks. Yes, you are correct peanut butter and vanilla ice cream are my dd's fav bedtime snack. I am more worried about the other stuff but have talked with her endo today and was told during this week don't go over board but let her have some fun.

I have a question about our first day at GKTW. Our plane arrives at 10:45. We are going straight to the village and planning to eat lunch there. I made a reservation at bbb for both dd and ds (new package for boys they just started). I made this for 4:30 so the kids could be all dolled up for the Christmas party. My question is will we have enough time to get there by 4:30. We also want to eat supper at the village. Do they do an earlier orientation? I have seen were some have gone around 3 or so. I am hoping they offer that time also so I could go to the party that night as well. Also how long does orientation last and will we have enough time to get to bbb if orientation is at 3?

Did I lose everyone with all of that
Plane arrives at 10:45
Eat lunch at village and hopefully orientation (do they do it at 3?)
BBB at 4:30 and back to the village for supper and Christmas party.

How long is orientation and how far is BBB from village?

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Thank you everyone for the advice on snacks. Yes, you are correct peanut butter and vanilla ice cream are my dd's fav bedtime snack. I am more worried about the other stuff but have talked with her endo today and was told during this week don't go over board but let her have some fun.

I have a question about our first day at GKTW. Our plane arrives at 10:45. We are going straight to the village and planning to eat lunch there. I made a reservation at bbb for both dd and ds (new package for boys they just started). I made this for 4:30 so the kids could be all dolled up for the Christmas party. My question is will we have enough time to get there by 4:30. We also want to eat supper at the village. Do they do an earlier orientation? I have seen were some have gone around 3 or so. I am hoping they offer that time also so I could go to the party that night as well. Also how long does orientation last and will we have enough time to get to bbb if orientation is at 3?

Did I lose everyone with all of that
Plane arrives at 10:45
Eat lunch at village and hopefully orientation (do they do it at 3?)
BBB at 4:30 and back to the village for supper and Christmas party.

How long is orientation and how far is BBB from village?

It sounds like you are going to be cutting it close (I'm nto entirely sure the times or how long orientation will last). When I volunteered there only one member of the party needed to go to orientation. If that is still the case can you send the kids on ahead to be safe?

 

[keetmommy]

I wonder about orientation too, we get in at 1:15 and are meeting people at 5 for dinner...will that work out???? Forgot all about orientation when we made the plans to meet these people

 

[keetmommy]

Oh Yah should I be worried if we haven't heard from GKTW yet...we leave in 12 days....

 

[sammie girl]

Oh Yah should I be worried if we haven't heard from GKTW yet...we leave in 12 days....

I was wondering that also. We leave in 15 days

 

[kmparrish5]

I was wondering that also. We leave in 15 days

We did not hear from GKTW until one week before we left. We got something in the mail and also a phone call.

 

[keetmommy]

We did not hear from GKTW until one week before we left. We got something in the mail and also a phone call.

Thanks...I was wondering

 

[kmparrish5]

Thank you everyone for the advice on snacks. Yes, you are correct peanut butter and vanilla ice cream are my dd's fav bedtime snack. I am more worried about the other stuff but have talked with her endo today and was told during this week don't go over board but let her have some fun.

I have a question about our first day at GKTW. Our plane arrives at 10:45. We are going straight to the village and planning to eat lunch there. I made a reservation at bbb for both dd and ds (new package for boys they just started). I made this for 4:30 so the kids could be all dolled up for the Christmas party. My question is will we have enough time to get there by 4:30. We also want to eat supper at the village. Do they do an earlier orientation? I have seen were some have gone around 3 or so. I am hoping they offer that time also so I could go to the party that night as well. Also how long does orientation last and will we have enough time to get to bbb if orientation is at 3?

Did I lose everyone with all of that
Plane arrives at 10:45
Eat lunch at village and hopefully orientation (do they do it at 3?)
BBB at 4:30 and back to the village for supper and Christmas party.

How long is orientation and how far is BBB from village?

You should arrive at the village no later than 12:45 p.m. It took us 2 hours from the time we landed. The orientation is done at 9:00 a.m., every afternoon (it says the check with Guest Services to check for time), and
7:45 p.m. It took about an hour when I went to orientation.
No, you would probably not have time to do the BBB before Christmas. It is about a 20 minute drive without traffic from BBB to the village. I am sure the BBB will take some time especially with 2 kids.