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

[blessedmom4]

HI!

My name is Sarah and I am mom to 3 : Robby ( 6 ), Mila ( almost 4, my wish child ), and Shayla ( almost 2 ).

Mila has had open heart surgery and two brain surgeries. Her MAW trip is March 3-10 We will be staying at GKTW.

I'm NOT a surprise person. I hate surprises. Even Little Ones!

I feel very, VERY lost about our trip!

Sarah Another Heart Mom here. You are in the right place to have your questions answered. If you want to start a Pretrip report you simply start a thread (new post) and tell as much about your family as you would like to share. I love to read about all of the families journeys, so I would be happy if you have time to do that. If not, you may still ask any and all questions right here. There are some very knowledgeable folks who have had incredible trips to help you! Glad you are here!

 

[kailatilear]

I'm so glad they are waiving them for you!!! I wasn't as lucky. Maybe I emailed the wrong person? I got a response today saying they DO NOT waive baggage fees for Make-A-Wish families. I really hope the expense check is enough to cover this too....

The first time I emailed baggage and this is the same response I got. This time I emailed fees/fares and I got them waived. Good luck

 

[4monkeys]

The first time I emailed baggage and this is the same response I got. This time I emailed fees/fares and I got them waived. Good luck

When I emailed I just sent to the customer servce one...I also asked about the medical bag, maybe that's why.

I wish all the airlines waived the fees. At least our chapter makes sure to include those fees in the expense check.

 

[luvmygrlz3]

We haven't received our packet yet from MAW/GKTW. But I was wondering...has anyone here ever had to deal with US Airways before with MAW? Do you know if they are known for waiving baggage fees? I would like to email them, but would rather have more information available (all of my flight information, etc). Just trying to figure out what to expect...

Thanks in advance!

 

[CeraMomof3]

Alison, thanks for letting me know about this board! I'm so excited - so much great information.

Mila has a princess makeover the day after we get in, at 10:00. We don't get in till 6:30 at night - how long does it take from the airport to the hotel? Any chance that we'll make the orientation that night? What happens if we don't make orientation?

What do people bring on the trip? Thank goodness walmart is close - I won't bring sunscreen or anything like that... And I don't think Shayla will be in diapers then....

I've seen so many beautiful Disney outfits ( and lots from YOU, Alison! )... Where do I buy Disney fabric to make such awesome outfits????????/

 

[Mom2mitokids]

HI!

My name is Sarah and I am mom to 3 : Robby ( 6 ), Mila ( almost 4, my wish child ), and Shayla ( almost 2 ).

Mila has had open heart surgery and two brain surgeries. Her MAW trip is March 3-10 We will be staying at GKTW.

I'm NOT a surprise person. I hate surprises. Even Little Ones!

I feel very, VERY lost about our trip!

Hi Sarah,
It's Kris from P2P. We are just going to miss you So glad Mila is getting her wish.

 

[Mom2mitokids]

I'm so glad they are waiving them for you!!! I wasn't as lucky. Maybe I emailed the wrong person? I got a response today saying they DO NOT waive baggage fees for Make-A-Wish families. I really hope the expense check is enough to cover this too....

What airline are you taking?

 

[Glo's wish]

What airline are you taking?

Hi Kris. We are flying Airtran.

 

[jwallaceent]

Just had to tell everyone. AirTran waived our baggage fees!!!!! I took a chance and emailed them again yesterday and I received the email today that they will waive them.

Thank you 4monkeys for your help!!!!!

May I ask what response they gave you? I emailed them this morning and they sent an email back stating our bags can be checked at the gate free of charge and stated that the overhead compartments can be used too. I am not 100% sure what they are saying as I have never flown before! YIKES!!! So any information would be appreciated! Thanks for the information!

 

[4monkeys]

We flew Airtran in December for Allison's wish trip. They do in fact waive the checked luggage fees. (Not the fees if they are overweight though) Carry-ons are always free I think?!?!

Since there are a few asking about this I am posting the reply I received from Airtran prior to our trip.
Dear Ms. Taylor,



Thank you for taking the time to write with your inquiry. The Transportation Security Administration does make allowances for medically necessary items. AirTran Airways recommends any medically necessary items never be checked, rather, medication should always remain with the passenger in carry-on luggage.



For information regarding travel with medication and supplements, please follow this link to the TSA website:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm



With regard to baggage fees, the normal baggage fees are waived for families traveling on a Make-A-Wish trip.



If I have failed to address all of your concerns, please contact me directly in a reply to this message. We thank you for including AirTran Airways in your travels and we wish you a very pleasant flight



Sincerely,
Pam Austin
Corporate Complaint Resolution Officer
AirTran Airways

Hope this helps some of you out. At least maybe where to email so that you can get the same response!?!?

Good luck and happy Wish Tripping!!

 

[brookerene]

Alison, thanks for letting me know about this board! I'm so excited - so much great information.

Mila has a princess makeover the day after we get in, at 10:00. We don't get in till 6:30 at night - how long does it take from the airport to the hotel? Any chance that we'll make the orientation that night? What happens if we don't make orientation?

What do people bring on the trip? Thank goodness walmart is close - I won't bring sunscreen or anything like that... And I don't think Shayla will be in diapers then....

I've seen so many beautiful Disney outfits ( and lots from YOU, Alison! )... Where do I buy Disney fabric to make such awesome outfits????????/

In regards to orientation, that is where you get your tickets...so if your BBB appointment is at the castle you need to have your tickets....hence orientation....and due to your timing you'll probably have to do orientation in the morning.....which will be pulling it pretty close! You may want to talk to your wish granters about getting it a little later if possible.
From what I have read here...it takes about a half hour to get to GKTW from the airport....and there are toll booths in between! So take lots of quarters.

In regards to Disney fabrics, a lot of the clothes shown here are from the Big Givers so you could ask one of them... they have a BIG GIVE thing in their signatures.... but any mainstream fabric store like JoAnn's should have it...

 

[CeraMomof3]

In regards to orientation, that is where you get your tickets...so if your BBB appointment is at the castle you need to have your tickets....hence orientation....and due to your timing you'll probably have to do orientation in the morning.....which will be pulling it pretty close! You may want to talk to your wish granters about getting it a little later if possible.
From what I have read here...it takes about a half hour to get to GKTW from the airport....and there are toll booths in between! So take lots of quarters.

In regards to Disney fabrics, a lot of the clothes shown here are from the Big Givers so you could ask one of them... they have a BIG GIVE thing in their signatures.... but any mainstream fabric store like JoAnn's should have it...

We don't have Joann's here in Canada!

I didn't book BBB - that was done by our wish Organization I'm REALLY excited for Mila - for those of you who have done it, how long does it take? Any suggestions for what to do with the baby & 6 year old while she's having it done?

 

[Glo's wish]

I tried re-emailing Airtran about baggage fees. Please wish me luck on getting them waived!
I'm feeling very unsettled this morning. I haven't heard back on Glo's blood work so I called the office. The nurse that usually lets me know how the results look said that Dr D is in meetings right now but would call me back.
She wouldn't tell me anything more.... I know this is all in God's
hands and nothing they say is news to him. I also know I shouldn't
worry, but knowing these things isn't helping right now.
Hopefully I will have good news to report later....

 

[visitingapril09]

Sarah, do you have Fabricland there? They have recently started carrying a larger supply of disney fabrics and the prices, on sale which they usually are, are not bad at all.

 

[Mom2mitokids]

Hi Kris. We are flying Airtran.

I heard that they do. We are taking Delta and they don't. We will do carry ons as the last time we had to pay $200 out of our pockets and baggage fees are up from 2 years ago.

 

[Mom2mitokids]

Alison, thanks for letting me know about this board! I'm so excited - so much great information.

Mila has a princess makeover the day after we get in, at 10:00. We don't get in till 6:30 at night - how long does it take from the airport to the hotel? Any chance that we'll make the orientation that night? What happens if we don't make orientation?

What do people bring on the trip? Thank goodness walmart is close - I won't bring sunscreen or anything like that... And I don't think Shayla will be in diapers then....

I've seen so many beautiful Disney outfits ( and lots from YOU, Alison! )... Where do I buy Disney fabric to make such awesome outfits????????/

Hi Sarah,
I'm not sure you can make it to the 7:30pm orientation. We are getting in at 6:06pm and I'm not counting on making it. It's going to take at least a hour to get out of the airport(time you do the rental car) and then another 30 min to get to GKTW. The next orientation is at 9am, but it's usually a 40 min meeting. Can you call your MAW and see if they have a tad later appt?

 

[CeraMomof3]

Hi Sarah,
Can you call your MAW and see if they have a tad later appt?

They don't Oh well. Either we'll work something out, or not. I have a feeling GKTW will be willing to help us? I stayed up all night reading all 47+ pages of this thread and it does seem like someone else didn't make orientation until later!

Mila is so excited. I'm thinking of making the kids a Disney countdown. We have one for birthdays, etc.

SO EXCITING!

I sew semi-professionally, so I will be on the lookout for disney fabrics. A few matching Disney dresses will go a long way in this house. Mila ONLY wears dresses these days!

 

[Ciara's Wish Trip]

Just spent most of my morning reading many, many TR'S and cried through most of them. I am now wondering how I am going to make it through DD's wish trip....

 

[HeatherSP]

You are allowed to bring syringes on aircraft. I average about five air roundtrips a year an am diabetic and have both syringes and pen needles and have never had any problem. I have a "medical backpack" which carries my CPAP, Blood Pressure Meter, Blood Sugar tester, all my pills and liquid medications. And the liquids are in a Frio Cold PAck to keep them at cooler temeratures. And since it is all medical in the pack it does not count against any luggage limitations.

Additionally, I would suggest going to www.coolerconcept.com and looking at the Frio Cold Packs. There are several people in this forum, myself included, who use them.

These are gel packs that are water activated. They will keep the internal temperature at insulin-safe levels for over 40 hours. As the water evaporates you can just soak it in water for a few minutes to reactivate it. They come in various sizes.

For example, I have a "double wallet". Depending on what I am doing it will hold my Byetta pen as well as either a syringe with insulin in it or two insulin vials. And I have never had any problems with TSA over it.

Thanks for the help! The frio cold packs sound great. I'm going to show those to hubby and see what he thinks



Liam also has a medication that needs to be refidgerated. He gets his medication shipped to our house from the CF Pharmacy in Florida and it comes with three special ice packs to keep it cold. We just frooze those in the freezer and put it in with his medication right before we left the house. We had no problem at the air line with it. I actually just got three more in the mail today with his meds. If you would like me to send a couple to you PM me.[/QUOTE]

Thank you! I have a little carry case and some ice packs. I think they will work since it is a short flight. I really appreciate your offer to send me some though. That is very sweet of you.

 

[jwallaceent]

I have a question and would love your input...Brooke orignally asked to swim with the dolphins. I spoke to her MAW planner today to see what was going to be included in our trip. I was told nothing extra as in no to Bippity Boppity Boutique and no to the character dining. They said that none of that was mentioned during her interview(because she didnt know we were doing the Dinsey thing, she just wanted to swim with the dolphins).

So my question to you is she is 3...would you go with the BBB or the character dining experience...or neither and spend our money on something else. I know she will see characters all over the place and not so sure about the dressing up, poor thing hardly has any hair!

Any other suggestions we should maybe try? I am defintley going to take her to the Nemo show and my older kids want to see the Monsters INC Laugh in. I am thinking maybe at this point do the parks and GKTW and that should be busy enough. We will probably take her to eat out at the Jap. Steakhouse as my older kids absolutly love it and she had never experienced that! Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!