I have just been reading more wish trips (that's nice and maroo's) and I have to say--all of these children are such superstars!! They really have taught all of us grown-ups about what is really important in life...and it's amazing that just after a few pages of heartfelt words and excited photos and I feel like I already know them! i'm so glad I found these boards--and have had the chance to read up about these great kids.
Two thumbs up for the kids!
I totally agree with you! I have learned more from Lauren than I have ever taught her.
So she had her follow up with the ortho doctor today and the bones in her arm have moved, so now the doctor has to go and rebreak her arm and try to set it. If he isn't pleased with how it looks then he is going to have to put pins in her arm. More frustration and worrying. Don't know more than that right now, so I will say night and let you all know tomorrow how things go.
aw man! I was worried after you posted yesterday and wondered if surgery would be down the road for you guys. Is this the first time they have had to do pins? (If they do - I hope they don't!)
Keep us posted, please. Many hugs and prayers coming your way!
We have made it home as of an hour ago. We had an amazing time and I can't even begin to describe what this trip meant to Abby and our family. I had so many emotions all week long it was crazy. Can someone please tell me how to do my TR and how to link it?
I am SOOOOOOO excited you guys are home and that you want to write a TR!
You just start a thread on the trip reports board - it is a lot like a pre-trip report - but you put it on the main trip report board.
You can also merge it with your pre-trip report and just keep typing on your pre-trip report. Eventually the MODS will move the thread to the trip reports board.
One advantage to leaving it on your pre-trip thread (you can totally change the title!) is that everyone that is subscribed will know you have started and keep getting updates.
I really want to go to
MNSSHP. Do you have to buy separate tickets for it or is it included in the general admission?
It is a separate ticket and is offered in mid-Sept through the end of Oct (sometimes Nov 1st, too).
I think this is almost a "must do" for many MAW families for several reasons -
The party is lots of fun and one of the best parties that Disney puts on! Free candy, a cool parade and a cool fireworks show that can only be viewed on party nights.
If you have the magic button, you don't have to wait in character lines and this is particularly cool at the party - because the characters are all dressed up and there are many characters out (like the 7 dwarves (sp?)).
The other thing that is good - especially for families that get only three days in Disney is that it basically gives you a 4th day for a lot less than a one day ticket. You can use the party to "knock out" a lot of the MK. You can enter the park at 4:00 with your party ticket and stay till midnight - so that is a good 8 hours in the MK for less than a full day ticket.
Of course - if you don't celebrate Halloween or don't like the Halloween type of themes, then it may not be the party for you. And if you are going on a different sort of trip and don't have the button - then the "perk" of the characters may not be as much of a draw.
But I, for one, ALWAYS go to MNSSHP if I am there during that time. I went three times this year. I am not really a big fan of Halloween and scary things - but this party is so much fun.
Maroo, I so want to comment on your post to me
You made me smile
to Lauren and her family for tomorrow!
Today will be wild and I will be MIA. It is a wonderful day though! [/COLOR][/B]
I am so glad!! Tomorrow is the big day!
Hey!
Just wondering do wish children get front of line GAC's(disney,universal,seaworld) even if they don't go to GKTW?
This sort of depends...
There seem to be about 3 different types of trips...
1. The first, and most common, is for the person to go through a wish organization for a life threatening illness and stay at GKTW. The wish is sponsored by MAW and GKTW and they sleep at GKTW.
2. The second group of families, less common, is for a person to go through a wish organization for a life threatening illness and stay on Disney property but through GKTW. The wish is sponsored by MAW and GKTW. This usually happens when there is no room for the family at GKTW and GKTW pays for the family to be put up at a Disney resort. This can happen if the wish child wishes to stay at a Disney resort - like we had a child who's wish was to stay at a certain resort and they made that happen. But this group goes to GKTW first and has orientation and all tickets come from GKTW.
3. The third group goes through a wish organization that doesn't participate with GKTW (this happens with some international trips) - this child may or may not have a life threatening illness. This group stays on Disney property and the wish is sponsored by the wish organization alone - no GKTW involvement. These families may or may not stay on Disney property. (And I suppose yours may be the first I have heard of that would stay on Universal Property, for example??? If your wish is a Harry Potter centered wish??...)
Groups one and two usually get: 3 day park hopper to Disney, 2 days Universal and 1 day at Sea World. They all can enjoy the things GKTW has to offer - meals, ice cream, all of the amenities - even the group not staying at GKTW to sleep. And these two groups get "the magic button" and a "green light GAC"...The magic button is a GKTW button.
Group three can vary wildly...I have seen one family get all Disney - they were put up at a Disney resort for a number of nights and got to go to a Disney park every day - but no Universal or Sea World tickets. This group doesn't get a button and may or may not get a "green light" GAC. It depends on the wish organization. IF you are in this group - anyone that is reading this - PM me and I can give you some information about how families have navigated this type of wish trip - but I don't want to post it for everyone in cyber space.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are wish organizations out there that grant wishes to children with chronic illnesses - these are children that have a chronic illness that presents significant challenges for them, but it is not considered life threatening. And those wishes tend to run a little differently and don't go through GKTW. GKTW is specifically for children with life threatening illnesses.
I'm drooling just thinking about the cupcakes. 
We visit Chef Mickey's every time we go, although this is much more about the characters and tradition that the actual food. In Epcot, we LOVE Le Cellier, Rose and Crown, and Akershus, besides having Princesses actually had pretty good food! Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge is also a favorite, especially of my husband's!
