Make a Wish (and other organizations) ~ Wish Trippers UNITE! Volume FIVE!!

[yeti5353]

Did Make A Wish pay for any of your meals? We are trying to plan on how much money to bring with us.
Thank you,
Elisha Conway

I ended up calling MAW and saying dont mean to sound greedy or ungreatful but worrying about the money is stressing me out. they told me the total right there and then so I could relax and know that we probably needed a wee bit more, but could have done it on that.

 

[yeti5353]

I read on another dis tip board- mistakes one, that orlando TSI confiscates glo sticks in carry on luggage even if under 3 0z max of liquids. Also they will take away plastic swords and light sabers if not checked. No first hand expiernce with either item but would hate for someones kiddo to get disapointed in that way on their wish trip.

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

I ended up calling MAW and saying dont mean to sound greedy or ungreatful but worrying about the money is stressing me out. they told me the total right there and then so I could relax and know that we probably needed a wee bit more, but could have done it on that.

I read on some page somewhere (God only knows. I have been reading everything I can) that gktw normally recommends $45 per day per person. Is that about what you have seen Maw do?

 

[yeti5353]

I read on some page somewhere (God only knows. I have been reading everything I can) that gktw normally recommends $45 per day per person. Is that about what you have seen Maw do?

personal message me
Deb

 

[Indykjt]

Today was the big day that Braden met the wish granter's, and made his official wish! It was so exciting to see him full of so much excitement! I have updated our PTR... and hope to update it soon with approval and dates!

This all seems so unreal at times, and I can't imagine how incredible the trip itself will be for our whole family!

Now, just to wait for the next step....

 

[mom2ajnm]

My 11 year old son is going on his Wish trip through Dream Factory in Oct. He wanted it to be something with Disney and NYC. Since he is a big theater buff his wish was to go hang out with the cast from the Disney Broadway show Newsies. I didn’t know if these boards were strictly for DL or WDW. This is our first big family trip since being diagnosed and its starting to really stress me out. Not sure if I could start a pre-trip report if we are doing NYC trip? Thanks

Tara

 

[LindaBabe]

My 11 year old son is going on his Wish trip through Dream Factory in Oct. He wanted it to be something with Disney and NYC. Since he is a big theater buff his wish was to go hang out with the cast from the Disney Broadway show Newsies. I didn’t know if these boards were strictly for DL or WDW. This is our first big family trip since being diagnosed and its starting to really stress me out. Not sure if I could start a pre-trip report if we are doing NYC trip? Thanks

Tara

Welcome aboard, Tara! I think that would make a really exciting trip report! Congratulations to your son!

 

[connie005]

Today was the big day that Braden met the wish granter's, and made his official wish! It was so exciting to see him full of so much excitement! I have updated our PTR... and hope to update it soon with approval and dates!

This all seems so unreal at times, and I can't imagine how incredible the trip itself will be for our whole family!

Now, just to wait for the next step....

Congrats!!!
hope everything goes well for your family can't wait to read your ptr

 

[maroo]

I'm pretty sure we don't have time to do this for our trip, we leave in two weeks, but what a great idea!

I can still do one for you - if you want crowd scores!

Or you can PM me your dates and I can send you the crowd scores...but if you have already planned everything out, then I would stick to the original plan - the crowds are not a huge factor on a wish trip.

Hey everyone, I posted a blog review of GKTW last week. I kind of came back and went MIA, things have been crazy on my end.

BUT...

Here's the link, if you're interested!

I wanna check this out!!

We got a call from Spencer's wish grantors today! They are coming by next Friday night (the 10th) to bring Spencer's trip package by and have him a small send off party! They will be bringing cake and balloons for him! They should also have our expense check and plane tickets. (and other things he said!) I'm pretty excited and I know Spencer will be over the moon! It's getting closer!!

Woot woot!!

had to tell you all the most amazing thing that happened to me today. About a year ago a new fitness after 50 franchise opened in our neighborhood. always wanted to join but they dont even share the price openly- and you know if you have to ask you probably cant afford it. I had gotten a survey from them a few weeks ago asking if I had considered joining and why not. I said I would love to join but sure I could not afford it. and I told them it would be great if they gave wish families with parents the right age a short membership to go with travel trips. they called me today and said while they cant do big give aways yet, because they are still in the starting up phase they would give me a 3 month free membership with trainer to help me get ready for Mollys trip! I am super excited to have the chance to get in shape before we go. they have all the cool machines for antique joints like I have and assured me it would make a huge difference for me on the trip. What is extra cool about this is wish girl really wanted each of us to have something special and she is thrilled that I get this gym membership as part of her wish. (also helps keep me from having to think of something special for me that she can pull off). Pretty much no one else is excited for me but I knew you guys would be!

That is so cool!

I thought I had posted this...but I can't find it?!?!

Speaking of power-walking...I just signed up for my very first 5k! It's the 12 annual Cobb County 5K to benefit Make a Wish! I have about 2 months to prepare myself...man, I hope I don't collapse!

You can totally do it!!

Hi everyone! I'm happy I just came across this thread! My 6 year old has just been approved for his Wish! We are soooo happy for him! He's been dreaming of going to Disney World since I can remember and now it seems it will become a reality! He's a Stage III Hepatoblastoma survivor, after a year of chemo and a full liver transplant, he's cancer free and doing well! Still lots of scans and labs and a few minor bumps in the road, but he's alive and proud to show off his scars at the pool this summer! He is immunosuppresed due to his anti-rejection meds, so I'll be armed with sanitizers...but for this week he can hug and touch anything he wants! LOL

Looking forward to getting to know you all and reading all these super wish reports! There's so much to research, I don't know where to begin...LOL

You have come to the right place to start!!

So excited to watch you guys plan!

Welcome! Fellow transplant mommy here (kidney). we went to Disney for my son't one year kidney-versary when he was 2.5 years old. We came armed with lysol wipes and hand sanitizer too. We got a lot of "looks" getting on Peter Pan and wiping the boat down - guess they thought we were getting rid of the pixie dust or something. But he did great actually...until we headed back home and stopped at a pizza hut. He got food poisoning from eating at the buffet. I know, I know - our transplant coordinator has told us - NO buffets! But I thought, we've just been to Disney - pizza isn't going to hurt him. Oops - four days of puking later and a week in-patient to get labs back to normal...not doing that again!
I hope y'all enjoy planning your trip! Have you started a PTR yet? Who is he most excited to meet?

I didn't know transplant kids can't do buffets?!? I learn something new every single day!

Did Make A Wish pay for any of your meals? We are trying to plan on how much money to bring with us.
Thank you,
Elisha Conway

Yes - our chapter did!

I do want to caution you a bit, though...MOST of the chapters work the same - and have a very similar "national" formula that they use to determine how much spending money each family gets - BUT - some families have reported (and I have no way of knowing if any of it is really correct) that they have not gotten much spending money at all and that the info they got on the DIS was "wrong".... I just caution everyone - call your chapter to get the details - because nothing is worse than expecting a certain amount and finding out later that it was not the right information for your trip.

Even if it is "Make a Wish" and using the national formula - It also varies by family - depending on how many adults/children are going on the trip - how far you are traveling, whether it is international or not...etc...

But - on a positive note - most families I have talked to say that they had enough to take care of their family!

Maroo will put it up for you, after she sees your post with the link in it.

I found it!!

I started our PTR! Not much info there yet..LOL But there should be alot more after our first official meeting!

Hope ya'll are having a great weekend!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=45720803

Woot woot! I will post a link on the wish trippers thread!

 

[maroo]

My 11 year old son is going on his Wish trip through Dream Factory in Oct. He wanted it to be something with Disney and NYC. Since he is a big theater buff his wish was to go hang out with the cast from the Disney Broadway show Newsies. I didn’t know if these boards were strictly for DL or WDW. This is our first big family trip since being diagnosed and its starting to really stress me out. Not sure if I could start a pre-trip report if we are doing NYC trip? Thanks

Tara

This sounds like it would be a fun trip report to read!

So they have granted the wish, right?

New York will be a blast!!!

 

[carebearkidney]

I didn't know transplant kids can't do buffets?!? I learn something new every single day!

ahem...per our transplant coordinator - no buffets or raw foods (including veggies, fruit, meat, seafood or raw milk product) He still has veggies and fruits - just have to be washed. Deli meats have to be cooked or toasted other meats cooked to 160 inside. And oysters - yeah...I've had that before. He's not going to miss anything there!
All on account of food poisoning. What might give us a little tummy trouble, could completely send him to the hospital for weeks (as it evidently did!). Gotta love that compromised immune system! NOT!

 

[carebearkidney]

My 11 year old son is going on his Wish trip through Dream Factory in Oct. He wanted it to be something with Disney and NYC. Since he is a big theater buff his wish was to go hang out with the cast from the Disney Broadway show Newsies. I didn’t know if these boards were strictly for DL or WDW. This is our first big family trip since being diagnosed and its starting to really stress me out. Not sure if I could start a pre-trip report if we are doing NYC trip? Thanks

Tara

Hi! I hope you DO start a PTR - I know I'd love to read it!

 

[Lilfoot93]

My 11 year old son is going on his Wish trip through Dream Factory in Oct. He wanted it to be something with Disney and NYC. Since he is a big theater buff his wish was to go hang out with the cast from the Disney Broadway show Newsies. I didn’t know if these boards were strictly for DL or WDW. This is our first big family trip since being diagnosed and its starting to really stress me out. Not sure if I could start a pre-trip report if we are doing NYC trip? Thanks

Tara

What a fun wish! I can't wait to hear all about it!

Jackie

 

[maroo]

ahem...per our transplant coordinator - no buffets or raw foods (including veggies, fruit, meat, seafood or raw milk product) He still has veggies and fruits - just have to be washed. Deli meats have to be cooked or toasted other meats cooked to 160 inside. And oysters - yeah...I've had that before. He's not going to miss anything there!
All on account of food poisoning. What might give us a little tummy trouble, could completely send him to the hospital for weeks (as it evidently did!). Gotta love that compromised immune system! NOT!

I love the way you write!!



I could totally hear you.. "Ahem..."

I learn something new every day!

 

[Bullardbaby]

I am new to this board and need all the info I can get for our upcoming MAW trip to Disneyland Trip Oct. 7-12 for our family of 4. So far we've confirmed 3 days in the park ('cause we're WDW fanatics) and 1 day on our own. We've debated extending our trip (on our dime) an extra day...just need to MAW know for sure by this Wednesday (Aug. 8, 12) before she books the flight). Any idea how much spending $ they usually give you? Do you usually have to make your own meal reservations?

 

[Lilfoot93]

I am new to this board and need all the info I can get for our upcoming MAW trip to Disneyland Trip Oct. 7-12 for our family of 4. So far we've confirmed 3 days in the park ('cause we're WDW fanatics) and 1 day on our own. We've debated extending our trip (on our dime) an extra day...just need to MAW know for sure by this Wednesday (Aug. 8, 12) before she books the flight). Any idea how much spending $ they usually give you? Do you usually have to make your own meal reservations?

Welcome!

We haven't had our wish trip yet so I am not sure on how the spending money/ meals work yet.

Can't wait to hear about your child's wish!

Jackie

 

[dtnrhi]

Cool news!

We were supposed to go on my brother's wish trip to Disneyland in the September/October timeframe. My brother's health took a turn and while he did recover, we expedited the trip to make sure we get it done in a time when he is feeling well. We have had it planned for a month, but it was just confirmed today we leave in SIX DAYS!! We are staying at the Paradise Pier Hotel.

 

[mom2ajnm]

Welcome aboard, Tara! I think that would make a really exciting trip report! Congratulations to your son!

Thank you!

This sounds like it would be a fun trip report to read!

So they have granted the wish, right?

New York will be a blast!!!

Yes, they granted his wish. We go Oct. 8-15th!! So excited!!

Hi! I hope you DO start a PTR - I know I'd love to read it!

Thanks, I need to read a bit more to figure out how to start a PTR and then I'll post. I would love some input on traveling and NYC!!

What a fun wish! I can't wait to hear all about it!

Jackie

He is very excited, he wanted something different then WDW. He does theater so this is perfect for him!!

 

[jmerchlinsky]

So we know 90% of are info . We do not know how we are getting to and from the air port and i dont know any thing about are expense check. Makes planing a little hard but hope to know soon ..

 

[carebearkidney]

I love the way you write!!



I could totally hear you.. "Ahem..."

I learn something new every day!

Ha! Thanks. I write exactly how I talk - very animated! Kind of have to be that personality when you are trying to get 14 year old excited about photosynthesis and cellular respiration.