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

[angeque143]

I can not believe in about 24 hours we will be in flight to ORLANDO FLORIDA!!! So excited!!!​

1 more day!!​

WOOOO HOOO!!! Have a GREAT time!!!!

 

[maroo]

We leave CA on Aug. 20th, board the Disney Dream Aug. 21 and disembark/come home August 25th!! We just got the call!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!

We met with our wish givers for 2 hrs tonight!!!! All paperwork done. I's dotted and t's crossed. Tentative dates are 6/2-6/9!! Can't wait to hear!

Let me know when they are in stone so that I can add the dates to your thread on page one!

How much spending money do you think we should start saving? I'm not sure what all is covered (I know room, parks, food at GKTW, and flights), but I want to make sure we try to save enough to really give our kids the ultimate experience without assuming there will be an expense check.

This is so hard to answer - it varies wildly between chapters. Depends on family size, how many adults/kids, how you are traveling, where you are staying, and the funding of the chapter.

I would save as much as you can and then throw a party with any extra when you get back - it won't hurt to save some extra!

That was my question too... We go the first week of May. I started in Feb, paying more than what due on my bills. So we don't have ANY bills due in May... We can take my dh paychecks before we go.. He on call the week before we go and thats always great check. (Sorry that I hope everybody cable,internet, phone goes out that week.) He gets payed the day we leave. When we get home I don't have to worry about mid may bills because they are payed. I feel like you about the expense check.. I love budgets and I going to make one with our money. I heard they give you one with the expense check. My dh and I don't use cash much anymore. We used our bank card. How much cash do we need on us? Can you pay the buggage fee with bank card? We know cash for tips and tolls. I cancel our bank card, but can't replace cash. Our bank is down the street from wal mart. If we need more cash we will go their. We want to used our bank card as much as we can because we get rewards and we save them for xmas. Also we are thinking about shipping some of our stuff back to save on over weight charge on the way back? What does everybody thing about that? We also knew are dates 6months before. A friend of ours, daughter went a met "Hannah Montan", they knew like week before they went. We could have never did that.

You can use your bank card for pretty much anything in the parks! Snack carts can even take cards, I think!?!

Shipping stuff back is a good idea - if the shipping doesn't cost more than the extra weight? Bring an extra duffle back or two for all of the stuff you will get!

Has anyone ever participated in the Pirates and Princess Party at GKTW? We plan to attend it on our 2nd day there, after visiting Sea World. I was just wondering if the kids were dressed up for the party? I am sure Addison would love any chance she can get to dress as a princess, but I didn't want Elliot to be left out of that. I was thinking of finding him some pirate attire, but wanted to know if that was common or if he'd stand out

I have seen pictures of it and some of the kids are dressed up - but some are in street clothes - I would think whatever your kids want to do would be great!

Look!

Look Where?

Down There!

What at your sig?

YEP!

And?

Countdown Clock!

So what?

WE HAVE DATES NOV 08 - 22nd/23rd(flying through the night)

Will start a PTR report in June as that is when we will get all details - accomodation and stuff. WOOOOOHOOOOOO

Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

That is awesome!

Let me know when you start a pretrippie so that I can link it here.

Thanks Maroo for adding me to the first page of the wish trippers thread!!!

you are very welcome! sorry it took me so long!

Okay, I'm confused....

I talked to our MAW volunteer, and she checked to see the status of our wish.

Apparently they are waiting to hear back from Hannah's doctor ... but they said it is one in Texas?! We moved from Texas to Vegas last June, and her doctors are all out here now. The only Texas doctor we still have listed is her Gaucher specialist, but it is listed as a contact for doctors to ask questions specifically about her disease. He hasn't seen Hannah for over a year.

I'm so very confused! When they check to see if a child gets approval for travel, how many doctors do they contact?

oh man....I hope this is resolved!

Hi all...I am new here. We are meeting with MAW to start paperwork for my little Eva this Saturday. From our phone converstion it looks like a GKTW Disney trip is going to be the way to go since she is NUTS about Mickey.

So nervous because now I am a single mom and I DESPERATELY need Grandma and Grandpa to go since my son who's turning 6 is ADHD and it is too much for my 17 year old to help with both. I guess which ever they decide we will make the best of it and have a ball!!!

I look forward to "meeting" you all and appreciate any words of wisdom that you can provide! I have not been to Disney since I was a kid myself!! This is exciting all around!

I hope this went well!! I will keep reading and see what updates you have for us.

Well It was originally One week but because of my condition, It would be a lot for me to do in 7 days (especially traveling all the way from England)so we asked if we could have an extra week and find our own accommodation at our own expense (We know a friend who has a holiday villa who would give us a discount). And they said YES!!!

The trip is 14 days however the return flight sets off at 8:30pm(Orlando time) on the 22nd and then we land at 9:30am(UK time) on the 23rd.

Gosh, I was wondering this, too! I was like WOW....they give twice as much for Harry...lol.

That is going to be really great - since you are traveling so far - to have some days in between to rest and really take it easy!

 

[maroo]

When I talked to our wish coordinator last week, he told me that Elliot would be receiving the Make A Wish Shirt in the mail and that he should wear it on the flights, that it might help get special recognition. We received awesome Wish Trip shirts in the Big Give and I wanted everyone to wear those on travel days. Should we all wear ours and then have him wear the one they sent or would his big give one be okay?

I think whatever he wants to wear will be fine. I agree - take both - you never know when you will need to change, etc.

Wear everything you can - buttons, shirts, etc, etc. Don't be afraid to receive some pixie dust!

Hi Everyone,
I put this over on my PTR but thought I would offer it up here too...I have finally started our Trip Report. I think I totally under estimated the amount of time it would take to edit the thousands of pictures we took but I have 4 days of pictures ready to go so I am getting started. Come join me here---Bibbiti Bobbiti Make A Wish Helps our Boo Have Her Princess Wishes Come True!!!

Have a great day!

I gotta head over there!!!!

It does take a lot of time to upload and edit pics! So glad you are doing a TR!!!

Just made ADR for The Crystal Palace at 3:35pm on May 10th 2011. I hope my dd enjoys it..

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Crystal Palace!!!!!

Yeh PM Maroo, she's the one who does the adding on.


Sometimes it is hard to keep up with the ptrs.... and trs.... but it's fun!

It is hard to keep up with and I am still catching up here.

lol

I started a PTR and was wondering how I get it listed on the entry page? Do I send a PM to Maroo?

You can definitely send me a PM! But I found ya and I will add it here in a few min...

I gotta go get some work done, I suppose.

 

[jwallaceent]

Have a great time

Thank you very much!!

 

[maroo]

I think I am CAUGHT UP!!!!

Woo hoo!!!!


.

I got a call from our wish manager today! We have our dates! June 2-June 9! We leave on June 1 to stay in a hotel in San Antonio the night before our flight. We fly out of S.A. airport June 2 and return June 9!!! So excited! Time to step up our planning!

Awesome! I will add these to your link!

I believe Maroo is in Disney right now.

I was! I was! Thanks for letting everyone know - this thread is moving fast!

GKTW seems geared for younger kids which is great but my dd is 15...almost 16. If her wish is granted, can she request a disney resort stay or Universal resort stay as opposed to GKTW? She has always wanted to stay at a Universal hotel. Currently she has only been referred to MAW...we have not heard anything back from them. But if approved, how detailed should she get with her wish? Just not sure and certainly don't want to sound like she is "wishing" for too much with this trip. Any advice?

I think staying at a Universal Hotel would be a completely "different" wish and I am not sure how your wish organization would handle that one?

There is the option of either staying at GKTW or staying at a Disney resort through GKTW. Lauren ended up staying at the Contemporary because GKTW was full - and I think that really worked out well for her because the monorail travel was easier than coming and going in the van. Although, after this past trip (we just got back) - it would have been easier than I thought - the parking is really close!

GKTW offers so much for kids and even teens. There is a teen oriented game room and stuff for them to do. Lauren really enjoyed the Birthday Party, even though she is older. We wish we had been able to go to GKTW more often, honestly.

A GKTW wish also allows you to return to GKTW to "play" at anytime after your wish, too.

I am totally biased toward GKTW, though. A Universal Wish may be awesome!!

It is totally her wish - so I would advise just to tell them exactly what she wants - they may not be able to do everything, but they can move mountains!

And remember, if you stay at GKTW or they have you go through GKTW to get your tickets and stuff, it won't just be a Disney vacation. Something to keep in mind! You will get tickets to Disney, Universal and Sea World and have access to lots more stuff. Some of the kids that wished to stay at say, the Grand Floridian, still went through GKTW for their tickets and had access to the activities and such at GKTW. But that was still a Disney wish.

I don't know how MAW does a wish for Universal though.... could be the same, could be completely different. Does anyone else know?

And it's her only wish- wish for the sky if that's what she wants! A wish is never too much, the worst they could do is tone it down some I bet.

Totally agree with this!

You better do a TR! I have to live vicariously through you guys and your TR's. All of our trips have been canceled in the last 2 years and I don't see one until at least April 2012 happening. So, come on! Write down the adventures!

yeah...but I still haven't finished the one from Sept 2010 yet...

Hi everyone!

One of my best friends is getting ready for her son's Wish Trip. I'm so excited for her because they totally deserve the break. She has limited internet access (on her phone only) and although I sent her the link to this thread, I don't think it's easy for her to read through it on her phone.

Anyhow, anyone have any Must-Know advice for her? She's traveling with 4 kids, one a diabetic, and then her Wish Tripper (my "boyfriend" ) who has mitochondrial disease, CP and a few other issues

That is awesome!

My biggest piece of advice is to HAVE FUN! Is she staying at GKTW?

If so...use the button a lot and make sure it is clearly visible on the wish child at all times. And feel free to use it at character lines.

 

[Perrinsmommy]

Thanks Maroo for adding our dates to the page! Perrin is SUPER excited!!

 

[mom2pixies]

Thank you for adding our PTR to the main page. Wow--you're fast. You just got back and are already caught up! Impressive.

 

[chelleydi77]

I hope I'm right with this...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAROO!!!

 

[maroo]

I hope I'm right with this...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAROO!!!

you are right.

thanks!

 

[maroo]

Thanks Maroo for adding our dates to the page! Perrin is SUPER excited!!

you are very welcome!

Thank you for adding our PTR to the main page. Wow--you're fast. You just got back and are already caught up! Impressive.

you are welcome, too!

now I just gotta get caught up on my TR thread....now that will take some doin'!

 

[LVMom23]

I just got the call! It is official!

Hannah's wish was approved, and we are going to WDW and GKTW from 4/23 to 4/29!!! Let the planning begin!!!

 

[that's nice]

I just got the call! It is official!

Hannah's wish was approved, and we are going to WDW and GKTW from 4/23 to 4/29!!! Let the planning begin!!!

AWESOME!!!!!!

Now it's really REAL!

 

[jwallaceent]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAROO!!!​

​

 

[brookerene]

Yay for the dates... you'll be coming when we are going!!!!!

Happy B-day Maroo!

 

[mommy2girlswv]

I just got the call! It is official!

Hannah's wish was approved, and we are going to WDW and GKTW from 4/23 to 4/29!!! Let the planning begin!!!

Great, you will be in FL for easter

 

[mom2pixies]

Just a question about how much trip planning the wish grantors take care of. If part of the wish is to meet a specific character, do the wish grantors take care of making reservations to ensure that part of the request is filled (in Brooke's case, meeting Ariel), or are the parents responsible for organizing dining reservations, BBB or Pirate's League reservations, etc.? I have no problem doing it all myself should we get the wish granted, but just curious.

 

[mommy2girlswv]

about disney. Kaitlyn had her 9month old check up today..They want to send her to allergist/immunologist dr. Haves anybody took their kid to one? They want to allergy testing on her. Haves anybody kids had allergy testing? if yes, what do they do?Right now, we can't give her strawberries and she can't wear bandaid. Her dr. changed her formula again today. They think she has a milk allergy too. She had a VERY VERY bad reaction to bandaids. They think it could been the adhesive. Any info will help!!

 

[blessedmom4]

MAROO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mom2pixies]

I just got the call! It is official!

Hannah's wish was approved, and we are going to WDW and GKTW from 4/23 to 4/29!!! Let the planning begin!!!

That's awesome!!! Can't wait to hear your plans....

 

[maroo]

I just got the call! It is official!

Hannah's wish was approved, and we are going to WDW and GKTW from 4/23 to 4/29!!! Let the planning begin!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAROO!!!​

​

thank you!

Yay for the dates... you'll be coming when we are going!!!!!

Happy B-day Maroo!

I love it when Wish Trip Unite people are like a train coming and going to GKTW - it is like we are always there!

Just a question about how much trip planning the wish grantors take care of. If part of the wish is to meet a specific character, do the wish grantors take care of making reservations to ensure that part of the request is filled (in Brooke's case, meeting Ariel), or are the parents responsible for organizing dining reservations, BBB or Pirate's League reservations, etc.? I have no problem doing it all myself should we get the wish granted, but just curious.

She will be able to meet Ariel at the Magic Kingdom. I don't think Ariel is at any character meals. The wish organization *might* set up a special meet and greet with Ariel, but most that I have seen here really don't usually have the personnel that know who to call to set it up?

But, I don't think you will have any trouble getting her to meet Ariel. She will also LOVE the Little Mermaid show at Hollywood Studios!

It will not hurt at all for you to go to Guest Services when you get to the park and tell them that it is your wish trip and that your DD's WISH was to meet Ariel and ask them the best time to try to meet her. It is possible that the CM may try to set up something special and at the least they can tell you when the best time would be. It may be best at the end of the time she usually does meet and greets so that you can spend time with her after she is done with the line of people.

As a wish family, you do get to break character lines - but I much prefer having a child be able to meet the character in a sort of one on one or at least a more quiet atmosphere (with no line standing there waiting on them) if that is their wish and they really want to spend time with a specific character.

It doesn't always work out to have that special time - but you can certainly try!

As for any sort of reservations - I would go ahead and make them to fit your schedule you have made and if the Wish Organization makes them for you later, you can always cancel the one you made (or the one they made, depending on how it is being paid for). It would not hurt to email your wish people and let them know the days you will be where so that they can match it up, too??

On our trip, we had to cancel one reservation and make it for a different time because the one MAW set up was going to conflict with our plans - but we ended up having to cancel again during the trip and it all worked out in the end.

about disney. Kaitlyn had her 9month old check up today..They want to send her to allergist/immunologist dr. Haves anybody took their kid to one? They want to allergy testing on her. Haves anybody kids had allergy testing? if yes, what do they do?Right now, we can't give her strawberries and she can't wear bandaid. Her dr. changed her formula again today. They think she has a milk allergy too. She had a VERY VERY bad reaction to bandaids. They think it could been the adhesive. Any info will help!!

William was tested and they basically do little pin pricks on their back (which hurt a bit, but it isn't terrible - depends on the child, probably, though) and see what reacts. It is a bunch of pin pricks, though. But they can narrow down what they are allergic to and set them up to get shots or at least let you know what to avoid.

MAROO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thinking my FB page may have outed my Birthday...

I just logged on and have never seen so many emails in my whole life...you guys are so sweet!