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

[alexwyn]

Has anyone taken that tour with Mauiva Air Tours? If so do I have to book it before I leave? An old GKTW newsletter said you must book before you come. I called the air tour place and the res agent said I must call GKTW before I come and get them to send an email back to the air tour so they can book it before but when I talked to GKTW she said I book it when I get there. I know the other activities are booked while there but is the air tour a little different? Thanks so much.

 

[Synovial]

How long does it take from the time you see your wish granters until you get your wish? Synovial

 

[Perrinsmommy]

How long does it take from the time you see your wish granters until you get your wish? Synovial

I think this varies by chapter but we saw our wish granters in March over Spring Break and we are leaving Thurs. I think it has to do with when you want to go. Perrin wanted to go for SWW and they wanted to send us last weekend but I wanted him to finish out the school year!

 

[wishin' on a star]

If you stay at Give Kids The World do they have transportation to Disney World or do you have to drive yourself? Synovial

There is a shuttle from GKTW to Disney, however I have heard that it's not the greatest or most convenient. MAW usually offers a car rental as part of the wish, from what I have seen. And, with your GKTW button, you get free parking at all of the Disney parks. It works well to be able to come and go as you please!

 

[mom2pixies]

How long does it take from the time you see your wish granters until you get your wish? Synovial

We saw the wish granters on Saturday and by Monday we had confirmation that the Disney wish was granted and she began working on it immediately--but the actual trip won't be until September, but that was our choice of dates.

Some people have had as short a time as 6 weeks turnaround time from wish meet to actual trip. Guess it all depends on when you want to go and whether there is availability at GKTW and flights, etc.

 

[brookerene]

There is a shuttle from GKTW to Disney, however I have heard that it's not the greatest or most convenient. MAW usually offers a car rental as part of the wish, from what I have seen. And, with your GKTW button, you get free parking at all of the Disney parks. It works well to be able to come and go as you please!

and you also need to make sure you ask where to park because we did and were always directed to the handicapped parking..... which we always had awesome parking...

 

[brookerene]

I have finished our PTR/TR!!!

 

[mom2pixies]

I have finished our PTR/TR!!!

Wahoo! Good job, Brooke! I'm heading over to read the end....

 

[sgarrity]

Received text from wish granters that our chapter is only doing a 5 day disney trip. I was surprised because I thought it would be a week long. It looks like we are going to go in December. As the summer is out. My husband and I are in Education and cannot go during the school year. So we requested if not this summer then December.

We also requested to extend the trip at our cost. The granter said she would have to get back to me.

Has anyone in the KY chapter heard of being denied to add days to the trip at personal cost?

 

[Owensheart]

Received text from wish granters that our chapter is only doing a 5 day disney trip. I was surprised because I thought it would be a week long. It looks like we are going to go in December. As the summer is out. My husband and I are in Education and cannot go during the school year. So we requested if not this summer then December.

We also requested to extend the trip at our cost. The granter said she would have to get back to me.

Has anyone in the KY chapter heard of being denied to add days to the trip at personal cost?

That is kinda different than what I've heard...maybe it's 5 days at Disney because day 1 and 7 are travel days? Interesting. I don't know anyone from the Kentucky chapter...I Sure hope you can extend though. Well e there in December...no exact dates yet.

 

[angeque143]

Received text from wish granters that our chapter is only doing a 5 day disney trip. I was surprised because I thought it would be a week long. It looks like we are going to go in December. As the summer is out. My husband and I are in Education and cannot go during the school year. So we requested if not this summer then December.

We also requested to extend the trip at our cost. The granter said she would have to get back to me.

Has anyone in the KY chapter heard of being denied to add days to the trip at personal cost?

I remember you having said that there were low funds perhaps this is why the trip is 5 days?

 

[mysevendwarfs]

As I plan Bridget's wish trip, we are struggling with what events to plan around at GKTW. I know we want to be there for "Christmas". Bridget spent last Christmas in the ICU so we thought that would be really neat for her. She fatigues easily and we want to make sure we don't over do it. To those of you who have been to GKTW what would you not want to miss? Also, it will be my son's birthday while we are at GKTW. Is there any way to celebrate a birthday at the Village? Thanks!

 

[mom2pixies]

As I plan Bridget's wish trip, we are struggling with what events to plan around at GKTW. I know we want to be there for "Christmas". Bridget spent last Christmas in the ICU so we thought that would be really neat for her. She fatigues easily and we want to make sure we don't over do it. To those of you who have been to GKTW what would you not want to miss? Also, it will be my son's birthday while we are at GKTW. Is there any way to celebrate a birthday at the Village? Thanks!

Not certain what are 'don't miss events'--although I hear the Winter Wonderland event is pretty cool--and I'd love to take Brooke to Twinkle Hope's Spa for the Twinkle Hope Tea Party (but they don't appear to have that on the new summer schedule. Maybe that activity is gone?) but I read somewhere that for any birthdays, the kid will receive a signed card from Mayor Clayton, a foil balloon and the chance to pick out a special 'present' from some sort of talking treasure box. I think these things were delivered to the villa the morning of the birthday. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Then, in Brooke's PTR last night, I read that someone in the Gingerbread House sang happy birthday to her husband (while accompanied on a ukelele), while he enjoyed a birthday-candle-topped waffle for breakfast.

I'm sure you could contact GKTW and let them know it will be your son's birthday and they will be sure to do something special for him! They really seem to celebrate every holiday in style, so I can't imagine they will let this milestone go unnoticed.

 

[mom2pixies]

Received text from wish granters that our chapter is only doing a 5 day disney trip. I was surprised because I thought it would be a week long. It looks like we are going to go in December. As the summer is out. My husband and I are in Education and cannot go during the school year. So we requested if not this summer then December.

We also requested to extend the trip at our cost. The granter said she would have to get back to me.

Has anyone in the KY chapter heard of being denied to add days to the trip at personal cost?

Is that 5-days at Disney only? All the other trips seem to be 7 and 8 days long, but include only 3 days at Disney, 2 days at Universal and 1 day at SeaWorld. Maybe Disney-only trips are shorter as they are more costly to MAW because only the 3-day hoppers are usually provided and the chapter has to pay for the two additional Disney days?

I have read somewhere that one family wasn't allowed to extend their trip, but not sure what MAW chapter that was. It was the only time I had heard of that, though. I think most places will allow it as long as you make your own arrangements for the additional days and pay your own way.

 

[sgarrity]

Is that 5-days at Disney only? All the other trips seem to be 7 and 8 days long, but include only 3 days at Disney, 2 days at Universal and 1 day at SeaWorld. Maybe Disney-only trips are shorter as they are more costly to MAW because only the 3-day hoppers are usually provided and the chapter has to pay for the two additional Disney days?

I have read somewhere that one family wasn't allowed to extend their trip, but not sure what MAW chapter that was. It was the only time I had heard of that, though. I think most places will allow it as long as you make your own arrangements for the additional days and pay your own way.

Her first wish was to stay at GKTW so I am not sure. I did ask the wish granters to double check that.

 

[mommy2girlswv]

Received text from wish granters that our chapter is only doing a 5 day disney trip. I was surprised because I thought it would be a week long. It looks like we are going to go in December. As the summer is out. My husband and I are in Education and cannot go during the school year. So we requested if not this summer then December.

We also requested to extend the trip at our cost. The granter said she would have to get back to me.

Has anyone in the KY chapter heard of being denied to add days to the trip at personal cost?

I met a family KY chapter and they stay a day longer than us and we got their the same day! I don't think they are counting the travel days!! I'm not 100% on this, but I call our MAW chapter a lot!! MAW pays for the travel and pays a fee for to GKTW. MAW doesn't have anything to do with FL because they pay that fee for GKTW to handle everything!! I would call and ask question about the trip and she would tell me that MAW doesn't handle that part of the trip and I would need to call GKTW. Also, I read on GKTW the world newsletter that they have two packages that MAW wish could pick for their family and they only different is with or without a car rental!! So, I think you will get 7days, but two of them is travel days. On our budget paper from MAW Day 1 and DAy 7 wasn't with the other days!!

 

[brookerene]

Not certain what are 'don't miss events'--although I hear the Winter Wonderland event is pretty cool--and I'd love to take Brooke to Twinkle Hope's Spa for the Twinkle Hope Tea Party (but they don't appear to have that on the new summer schedule. Maybe that activity is gone?) but I read somewhere that for any birthdays, the kid will receive a signed card from Mayor Clayton, a foil balloon and the chance to pick out a special 'present' from some sort of talking treasure box. I think these things were delivered to the villa the morning of the birthday. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Then, in Brooke's PTR last night, I read that someone in the Gingerbread House sang happy birthday to her husband (while accompanied on a ukelele), while he enjoyed a birthday-candle-topped waffle for breakfast.

I'm sure you could contact GKTW and let them know it will be your son's birthday and they will be sure to do something special for him! They really seem to celebrate every holiday in style, so I can't imagine they will let this milestone go unnoticed.

Yes just ask at the waffle counter... and GKTW gives a balloon for birthday and has a bunch of birthday boxes for kids to choose from... I think I have a photo on my tr somehwere of that!

 

[Mom2mitokids]

Received text from wish granters that our chapter is only doing a 5 day disney trip. I was surprised because I thought it would be a week long. It looks like we are going to go in December. As the summer is out. My husband and I are in Education and cannot go during the school year. So we requested if not this summer then December.

We also requested to extend the trip at our cost. The granter said she would have to get back to me.

Has anyone in the KY chapter heard of being denied to add days to the trip at personal cost?

If you are staying at GKTW it's 7 days. No matter what your chapter tells you. Maybe they are counting travel days. Our first day was all travel, but if you live closer to Florida you will at least have a half day the first day. Our last day..our flight didn't take off until 6pm, so we had most of the day. International travelers gets 1 extra day at GKTW. I do know some MAW chapter won't let you extend your trip, but some does. We stayed 4 extra days.

 

[jj0plin]

Has anyone taken that tour with Mauiva Air Tours? If so do I have to book it before I leave? An old GKTW newsletter said you must book before you come. I called the air tour place and the res agent said I must call GKTW before I come and get them to send an email back to the air tour so they can book it before but when I talked to GKTW she said I book it when I get there. I know the other activities are booked while there but is the air tour a little different? Thanks so much.

\
We booked a flight through them and I was told it could be handled either way. I wanted to book it the second day we were there so I wanted to get it scheduled in advance. The first person I talked to at GKTW wasn't helpful so I waited a day and called back. The next person was very helpful and set it up for us. It used to be that the Pilots only offered the trips on one day a week but now they do it whatever day you want.

Received text from wish granters that our chapter is only doing a 5 day disney trip. I was surprised because I thought it would be a week long. It looks like we are going to go in December. As the summer is out. My husband and I are in Education and cannot go during the school year. So we requested if not this summer then December.

We also requested to extend the trip at our cost. The granter said she would have to get back to me.

Has anyone in the KY chapter heard of being denied to add days to the trip at personal cost?

We were part of the Kentucky chapter and we were able to take a 7 day trip. The 5 days doesn't even make sense because I've read that MAW pays a flat fee to GKTW for the week and automobile and that's it. The only thing that makes me wonder would be the price per flight dates (like it's more expensive on Southwest to fly on a Friday or a Sunday). We were also allowed to extend our days at our own expense. Are you out of the Greater Ohio/ KY chapter?

 

[mom2pixies]

Come check out my PTR to see the FABULOUS countdown calendar brookerene made for my daughter Brooke's wish trip! It's just perfect.

Thanks again brookerene!!!