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

[jjmomof4]

Hey everyone, we finally finished our itineraries and we are just 4 weeks before we leave for our trip Oct 1-7 at GKTW. The Family is so excited, we have a question though, has anyone been to aquatica, and if so how is it, we are going to do Universal/IOA in one day, the kids aren't big enough for most rides, so we are doing Sea World/ Aquatica on our extra day. We just wanted to get an idea of how it was.

Thanks

Hi,
I think we will overlap by a day or two! I'm curious to see what you hear about Aquatica, we are looking at that as a possiblity too. I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Jennifer

 

[jjmomof4]

The issue, I think, is going to be GETTING them to the park...

Once they are at a Disney park, they can take the bus to any other Disney park or to DTD -

But then how will they get back to GKTW? GKTW does have a shuttle - but it only goes to certain parks on certain days and the timing is not very helpful, from what I have heard.

You may need to budget a bit of cab fare or plan to meet them at a Disney park at some point??

I sent you a PM...

Thank you for the suggestions, I've been looking over the maps of the parks and distances today. Jeff will go back to get them each night, we'd already figured on that, and we planned to arrive at each park together in the morning. I'm realizing we can't just pull up to the gate to pick them up at the end of the night. Where is the best site or thread to look for maps/buses/transportation between parks? And can we use that with the boys to go from say Epcot to Animal Kingdom given that we'll have two wheelchairs?
I got the PM, thanks so much! My reply will come as soon as I have enough posts!
Thank you,
Jennifer

 

[Lilfoot93]

Thank you for the suggestions, I've been looking over the maps of the parks and distances today. Jeff will go back to get them each night, we'd already figured on that, and we planned to arrive at each park together in the morning. I'm realizing we can't just pull up to the gate to pick them up at the end of the night. Where is the best site or thread to look for maps/buses/transportation between parks? And can we use that with the boys to go from say Epcot to Animal Kingdom given that we'll have two wheelchairs?
I got the PM, thanks so much! My reply will come as soon as I have enough posts!
Thank you,
Jennifer

Jennifer,Here is the link you can post on to get to your 10 posts... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=31288549

 

[jjmomof4]

I called MAW touch bases and see if they knew which day Colin's Jedi Training is scheduled for (as that's his wish). She is checking on it. We hadn't even realized we could extend our trip, but in reading through these boards, I guess many families do. So I asked about the possibility of staying just two more days, since the same flight with same price also takes place two days after. This would give us the ability to give the boys more downtime, as suggested above, and enjoy a little more each day, instead of having to rush. I'm hopeful they will be able to work that out!

Any suggestions on which days would be better for which parks? I know we'll have the GAC, but less crowded is less chaotic for the boys.

I am so grateful I found these boards before we went! I would have been woefully unprepared for so many things if I had not read through so much this weekend. Yes it's like a gushing fire hydrant, but it's an amazing help for a mom that tries to plan ahead for the unexpected so life is easier with three medically complex boys!

Thank you all,
Jennifer

 

[camidges]

Do wish kids staying at GKTW get to go to the parks during extra magic hours? I figured that the answer was probably no, but I guess I still wondered... Anyone have experience with this?

 

[LindaBabe]

Do wish kids staying at GKTW get to go to the parks during extra magic hours? I figured that the answer was probably no, but I guess I still wondered... Anyone have experience with this?

Sorry. At last report, No.

 

[yeti5353]

she does not want a wheel chair because she CAN walk and maybe some day she wont be able to. I dont really understand it because she loved wheelchair rides when she was in the hospital.

Her leg pain has been recently attributed to hypermobile joint syndrome. I dont doubt she has that, pretty easy to diagnosis, but the pain seems too severe and started too young. frustrating all around

 

[yeti5353]

why not just the free rental chair from WDW? Not sure I see the value in renting a specific chair. I had already thought about using it for stuff. Or having to go back and get one mid day...

 

[mspols]

I am new here. My 4 year old Lily was granted a wish to Disney from MAW and met her wish team in May. It looks like we will be going at the end of October or beginning of November. I'm trying to gather I of from others and have loved reading all fabulous trip reports and the planning posts.

Mandy

 

[maroo]

Thank you for the suggestions, I've been looking over the maps of the parks and distances today. Jeff will go back to get them each night, we'd already figured on that, and we planned to arrive at each park together in the morning. I'm realizing we can't just pull up to the gate to pick them up at the end of the night. Where is the best site or thread to look for maps/buses/transportation between parks? And can we use that with the boys to go from say Epcot to Animal Kingdom given that we'll have two wheelchairs?
I got the PM, thanks so much! My reply will come as soon as I have enough posts!
Thank you,
Jennifer

So glad you have enough posts now!

It takes about 20-40 min to get to the parks from GKTW - depending on the park and time of day, etc...

You can ride the buses, even with two wheelchairs - two wheelchairs fit on almost every bus (probably all of them) and some of the buses can take two - and if you can fold up the chair and hold it (not sure what type of chair you guys have?) - then you can hold even more on the bus - you may have to wait for the next bus in order to be able to get on (this is one place where wheelchairs take more time in Disney) -

As far as pulling up the parks...
MK - is a little hard - but they could walk to The Contemporary (about 5 min walk) and you could pick them up from there easily.
AK - pretty close up parking there with a HA tag -
DHS - very close parking with a HA tag
Epcot - I don't think I would attempt this one...It seems like it is really far away?? But maybe I don't remember right??

Just don't forget that if you take the buses to Epcot that you have to get back...and buses only run 2 hours or so after the park closes...so it will be hard to get a bus BACK to AK if you go to AK in the morning and then Epcot at night and stay a long time. Honestly, the parking is so close for HA - that I would almost just drive...?? But I would study the maps before you leave - it will make it a lot easier when you get there...

I called MAW touch bases and see if they knew which day Colin's Jedi Training is scheduled for (as that's his wish). She is checking on it. We hadn't even realized we could extend our trip, but in reading through these boards, I guess many families do. So I asked about the possibility of staying just two more days, since the same flight with same price also takes place two days after. This would give us the ability to give the boys more downtime, as suggested above, and enjoy a little more each day, instead of having to rush. I'm hopeful they will be able to work that out!

Any suggestions on which days would be better for which parks? I know we'll have the GAC, but less crowded is less chaotic for the boys.

I am so grateful I found these boards before we went! I would have been woefully unprepared for so many things if I had not read through so much this weekend. Yes it's like a gushing fire hydrant, but it's an amazing help for a mom that tries to plan ahead for the unexpected so life is easier with three medically complex boys!

Thank you all,
Jennifer

Do you have your dates?? I can do a planner for you! (Or anyone else that wants one)!

Do wish kids staying at GKTW get to go to the parks during extra magic hours? I figured that the answer was probably no, but I guess I still wondered... Anyone have experience with this?

No...this is one thing that drives me crazy...

I have to remember, though, that there are over a hundred Wish Families staying at GKTW any given day...so I guess it is hard to make exceptions for that many people.

I have heard of families that were allowed to stay...but I have also heard of families that were actually turned away.

she does not want a wheel chair because she CAN walk and maybe some day she wont be able to. I dont really understand it because she loved wheelchair rides when she was in the hospital.

Her leg pain has been recently attributed to hypermobile joint syndrome. I dont doubt she has that, pretty easy to diagnosis, but the pain seems too severe and started too young. frustrating all around

I understand that... One of my friends has a child with CP that HATES using her wheelchair - the only place she uses one regularly is Disney, actually...but I can see that.

So sorry that it is all so frustrating!

why not just the free rental chair from WDW? Not sure I see the value in renting a specific chair. I had already thought about using it for stuff. Or having to go back and get one mid day...

You can totally do this!! They don't usually run out of manual chairs - so that will work! But you won't have it for the parking lots, GKTW, etc, etc. But, the good thing is, you would not have to transport it.

I am new here. My 4 year old Lily was granted a wish to Disney from MAW and met her wish team in May. It looks like we will be going at the end of October or beginning of November. I'm trying to gather I of from others and have loved reading all fabulous trip reports and the planning posts.

Mandy

to the DIS!!!

So glad you are here!!

 

[jjmomof4]

why not just the free rental chair from WDW? Not sure I see the value in renting a specific chair. I had already thought about using it for stuff. Or having to go back and get one mid day...

Hi Deb,
when we went to Disneyland and Legoland in CA this summer for Ethan and Aidan's wish trip we rented two wheelchairs a day at both parks for the boys to share. It was very difficult by the end of the week, as it took about 15 minutes to walk to where the wheelchairs were, then having to wait in line to rent it, and then having to return it and walk back out to the handicapped parking at the end of the day when they were even more tired. We had hoped they wouldn't need one because they had been doing so well for so long, however it was definitely a need. This time we've requested MAW rent them for us to have at GKTW to take with us to the parks, it saves us about an hour each day. And from everything I've read about WDW it's even farther from handicapped parking to the park entrance, and between parks. I know she may not want a chair, but it's an awful lot of walking.
Jennifer

 

[jjmomof4]

Hi,
I think I've finally figured this all out, I posted a short recap of Ethan and Aidan's wish trip this summer to California, along with a few photos, on our PTR.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46052985#post46052985

I hope I did the link correctly!

Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[Lilfoot93]

I am new here. My 4 year old Lily was granted a wish to Disney from MAW and met her wish team in May. It looks like we will be going at the end of October or beginning of November. I'm trying to gather I of from others and have loved reading all fabulous trip reports and the planning posts.

Mandy

So glad that Lily got her wish! I can't wait to hear all about it.

Jackie

 

[jmerchlinsky]

Hi,
I think we will overlap by a day or two! I'm curious to see what you hear about Aquatica, we are looking at that as a possiblity too. I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Jennifer

Are you guys staying At GKTW, we are so excited for this trip

 

[carebearkidney]

Wow - I'm not on for 2 days and I have nearly 2.5 pages of new posts to read. All caught up now though!
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to all the new wishers! Now to head back and read some new PTR posts!

 

[onceagain1]

I can't remember if I saw it on this thread, or while I was browsing a general tips thread, but someone mentioned that they wrote their cell number on their child's arm, in case the child got separated from the parents. It got me to thinking about the potential separation issue for us as we're arriving the week before Christmas. I use Mabel's Labels for my daughters' daycare and school labelling needs. While browsing the site, I noticed these disposable emergency labels that could be used, as they said, for while at theme parks, etc.. A few months ago, I never thought I'd need one, now I've realised they might come in handy for my Chatterbox and Busypants!!

So I thought I'd pass the tip along to other parents as well. In case you haven't heard of Mabel's Labels, they're Canadian based, but I think well known in the states as well. http://www.mabelslabels.com/

As it happens, the non profit organization Braveheart that supports families in Atlantic Canada is having a Mabels Labels fundraiser, and I swear I'm not trying to push our agenda, that's why I put the regular website up above. But if you end up deciding you want to order, you could use this link here until the end of October and Braveheart will receive a bit of commission from the sale. http://braveheart.mabelslabels.com/

And....I must get working on my daughter's PTR, so busy these days. It was her first day of Grade 1 today, what a great moment it was. This is what I posted earlier to my friends at home:
"Got M all ready for her first day of Grade 1, with her Hello Kitty capris, French worded tshirt, and pink and orange polka dot backpack and lunch bag. She was super excited to go, dancing all over. Six years old, missing her first tooth, wearing a reverse bob haircut and chatting a mile a minute, ready to start her second year of French Immersion. After all the massive medical challenges that she has been through, she has already arrived at many milestones I dared not to dream that she might attain. So no tears for me this morning, only feelings of wonder and happiness."

Happy September 5th everyone!

 

[nesser1981]

I've been trying to finish up our scrapbook from the trip before #1 I forget too much and #2 before the new baby arrives. Anyhow, I finished scrapbooking our entire Make A Wish trip today if you guys would like to look at the pages so you can see how our trip was.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4398011187908.2182859.1217358424&type=3

There are 134 pages, (I digital scrapbook)

 

[DelanaAndKyra]

Since we arent going until May I am wondering are there an extra expenses I should be saving up for that Make A Wish wont be covering? Kyra is 4 and will need a stroller for the parks. I am not sure what else I should be even thinking of for expenses as of now. I cant wait to go. Everything I have been buying for family members for Christmas has been beneifical of a Disney trip! Hurry up May!

 

[carebearkidney]

I've been trying to finish up our scrapbook from the trip before #1 I forget too much and #2 before the new baby arrives. Anyhow, I finished scrapbooking our entire Make A Wish trip today if you guys would like to look at the pages so you can see how our trip was.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4398011187908.2182859.1217358424&type=3

There are 134 pages, (I digital scrapbook)

Loved it! Sent you a message on FB too. Again, thanks for sharing with us.

 

[Lilfoot93]

I've been trying to finish up our scrapbook from the trip before #1 I forget too much and #2 before the new baby arrives. Anyhow, I finished scrapbooking our entire Make A Wish trip today if you guys would like to look at the pages so you can see how our trip was.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4398011187908.2182859.1217358424&type=3

There are 134 pages, (I digital scrapbook)

I LOVE it!! Awesome job! Looks like you guys had a magical time!

Since we arent going until May I am wondering are there an extra expenses I should be saving up for that Make A Wish wont be covering? Kyra is 4 and will need a stroller for the parks. I am not sure what else I should be even thinking of for expenses as of now. I cant wait to go. Everything I have been buying for family members for Christmas has been beneifical of a Disney trip! Hurry up May!

We will be ther in May also! You may be able to call your local chapter and ask what they will pay for. I know they told us they would pay for a rental car and lunch and dinner as breakfast we can get at GKTW. But that is all I know right now.

Jackie