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

[maroo]

Before I start, let me begin by saying that these are my personal tips. Things I have learned from going there. I hope they will help you enjoy your trips, but don't feel you have to follow them. They just suggestions.

10. REMEMBER WHERE YOU PARK. Most of us will be driving cars that we don't know in a place we don't know, and walking out of SeaWorld at one in the afternoon is not the time to relize that you forgot where you parked. I talk from experience. The parks have sign posts to help you find your car so memorize it, write it down, take a picture, what ever you need to do to remember where you parked. It might not hurt to take a picture of the back end of your car as well. It will show you the color, make, and license plate of the car.

9. GET CHECKED LUGGAGE PRICES. This might seem silly, but it is a good idea to double check the prices a week or two before your trip. You don't want to be surprised when an airline increases their prices. Don't assume that the money MaW alots for checked luggage is the amount you will pay. Our airline went up $5 a bag when went. We were able to take care of it, but if your budget is real tight, this might be a problem.

8. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. Let's face it, you are running around having the time of your life, who has the time to drink water. You do. Counter services provide free ice water, that right FREE, so use it. Keep it on hand. Sip on it all day and when your cup is empty get some more. It is much easier to prevent heat related illness that to beat it back once it has begun.

7. EAT AT GKTW. Why not, it's FREE. Go ahead and indulge in that dole whip(a must), mickey shaped ice cream, and eat a meal a day at the parks (either sit down or quick service), but eat the rest of your meal at GKTW. It will save you alot of money to spend on souviners.

6. BRING FOLD UP DUFFLE FOR SOUVINERS. You think I am joking, far from it. After the souviners you buy and all the things given to you by GKTW you will need it. On the day we arrived and everyday we returned from the parks there were gifts waiting for us on the table. That is not to mention the stuffed animal the kids recieved during check in, the pillows they made, and the gifts they chose for the Christmas Party. Trust me you'll need it.

5. YOU HAVE A "GREEN LIGHT" GAC, USE IT. Don't feel ashamed to ask a CM where to go when you get to a ride, and if they are not sure ask for a supervisor. In most cases it will get you in faster through wheelchair entrance or FP lane. We only had problems at The Haunted Mansion. Plus GKTW will tell you during orientation that this will not work for characters. We found that this isn't the case and CM's told us to use it to go to the exits for Characters. We also used the card (and the fact we were on a Wish trip) to get Liam picked for the Jedi Training.

4. USE WASHER/DRYER AT GKTW. Once again it is free and comes with soap and dryer sheets. Pack less outfits (maybe cutting done on checked bags) and wash them. It is also nice to be able to pack clean cloths for return home.

3. GET A PHOTOPASS. It is worth it. Try to buy it before hand and save some money. Share it with other families who are going at the same time and split the cost. (Remeber that the family he gets the CD will have the extra work of copying CDs for others and send them out. While the other family will need to wait for the pics.) This is a once in a life time trip and since you get to add cool graphics its alot of fun.-Informed that families are now given CD's but not sure of details. - NOTE: This has changed for Wish Families - all families staying at GKTW now get a free photopass CD. You will have a code in your welcome pack that you can use. It will even pay for Shipping!

2. USE WALMART. It's on the corner before GKTW so use it. Buy extra snacks for your room. If you have a baby, buy baby food and diapers instead of packing them. They also have a great selection of WDW tshirts. They are just as good at a fraction of the price.

1. ENJOY YOU'RE WISH TRIP. This will probably be your only wish trip. There are things that you can only enjoy during this trip so take advantage of them. Go to the GKTW parties such as: the Holiday party, the princess/pirate party, and the Candy Land party. Also don't forget the Wish rooms rooms at MK and EPCOT.

Hope you all have a wonderful time.

Great list Corrine
I am going to add

#11 Take time to smell the roses.
Your family has been on the run for xx amount of years going back and forth between doctors. Now is the time to slow down and enjoy your time together. Remember this is your child trip, not yours so let them set the pace.

#12 Take time to enjoy GKTW
You may never get another chance to really enjoy it again. Yes you can go back to visit but it will not be the same as staying there. Play in the playground. Play a round of golf. Swim in the pool. Read the stones as you walk over them, each one is special.

These are great!!! Keep adding to them! I will link these in the 2nd post!

 

[HeatherSP]

You guys are so full of great advice. I really appreciate all of the tips I have read here.
We will be bringing a lot of medication on our trip. Our Make A Wish volunteer told us that we should bring it all on the plane as carry on even if we won't need it during the flight. I am concerned because one of my children takes growth hormone therapy shots every night. I know that you are not allowed to bring needles on the plane. What do you suggest I do? Also we have to refridgerate some of the medications. Normally we would just pack it with some icepacks. Would this be ok? No one in our family has ever flown before so I have no clue what I'm doing.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

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.

 

[CeraMomof3]

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!

 

[kailatilear]

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!

So glad you little one is getting her wish. You will learn so much on these boards.

 

[wishin' on a star]

Hi Sarah,
Welcome to the DIS! I'm sure you are all excited about the upcoming wish trip!! Be prepared, because there are going to be surprises...and I think that when it's all over, you just may say you actually love surprises! Try to go with the flow and let things happen a bit, and the trip will be really magical. There's lots of great advice and information here on the DIS, so make sure to read read read, and ask all the questions you want.

We went on a wish trip last May. My DD Catherine has had open heart surgery twice, has a shunt for hydrocephalus, among several other things. I look forward to hearing more about your family, and I hope you'll start a pre-trip report and let us in on some of your plans!

 

[CeraMomof3]

I don't know what a prewish report is! And we don't actually HAVE any plans yet. I don't know where to start. Our trip was months away and then less than a month away before I could blink!

I was only at disney once, when i was 7. I remember NOTHING.

 

[CeraMomof3]

I don't know what a prewish report is! And we don't actually HAVE any plans yet. I don't know where to start. Our trip was months away and then less than a month away before I could blink!

I was only at disney once, when i was 7. I remember NOTHING.

 

[Corrine 1973]

These are great!!! Keep adding to them! I will link these in the 2nd post!

I'm glad you liked it. I was just hoping the list would help people have a good time. I think linking it to the 2nd post is a great idea. I am also glad that Wish families now get the CD. Not everyone is as lucky as our family to have you around.

We will be bringing a lot of medication on our trip. Our Make A Wish volunteer told us that we should bring it all on the plane as carry on even if we won't need it during the flight. I am concerned because one of my children takes growth hormone therapy shots every night. I know that you are not allowed to bring needles on the plane. What do you suggest I do? Also we have to refridgerate some of the medications. Normally we would just pack it with some icepacks. Would this be ok? No one in our family has ever flown before so I have no clue what I'm doing.

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.

 

[visitingapril09]

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!

Yeah, Sarah, so glad you made it here. This is be far the best place to get lots of info! I had no idea you were going on a Wish trip.......and so soon!!!!

 

[visitingapril09]

Sarah, no questions are stupid. Why don't you start by asking a few of the questions that are at the forefront and many people will be pleased to answer them for you.

 

[brookerene]

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!

WELCOME! This is a great place to help you out on your trip... Pre tip report info can be found on post #2 of this thread! This is a great way to introduce yourself, record memories and share questions and answers! I hope you give it a shot!

 

[MitoDadMO]

Ok question for everyone.

I keep getting told by friends that we should be able to get "through" Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios 1/2 day each. Is this accurate? I know that is porbably with kids that dont have mobility issues like Kade. With that being said though, those families also didn't have the Magic button either.

We are trying to squeeze everything in and my wife (mitomommo) REALLY wants to goto DTD. And we all know what mom wants mom gets.

Comments??

 

[MitoDadMO]

I posted our Plan so far on the prt. let me know what you think.

 

[CeraMomof3]

Yeah, Sarah, so glad you made it here. This is be far the best place to get lots of info! I had no idea you were going on a Wish trip.......and so soon!!!!

We are ! Mila was nominated by a friend of the family and approved right away! Couldn't have been better timing... there is suspicion that M might have developed hydrocephalus as a result of her last surgery

 

[tinytreasures]

I don't know what a prewish report is! And we don't actually HAVE any plans yet. I don't know where to start. Our trip was months away and then less than a month away before I could blink!

I was only at disney once, when i was 7. I remember NOTHING.

Welcome to our group
on the first page of this thread you will find links to pretrip and post trip reports just click and read
it will help answer a lot of your questions when you see what other wish children have done.
Ask any questions you may have here or if you start your own pretrip thread on there is fine too

 

[Glo's wish]

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!!!!!

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....

 

[that's nice]

Ok question for everyone.

I keep getting told by friends that we should be able to get "through" Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios 1/2 day each. Is this accurate? I know that is porbably with kids that dont have mobility issues like Kade. With that being said though, those families also didn't have the Magic button either.

We are trying to squeeze everything in and my wife (mitomommo) REALLY wants to goto DTD. And we all know what mom wants mom gets.

Comments??

Yes, it is possible to get through both in one day, IF, you have a plan. I would suggest going to AK first thing in the A.M. Go on the safari first since the animals are usually more active then. You need to figure out which show appeals more to your family- Nemo or Lion King. I don't think it is possible to do both shows in a 1/2 day.

In DHS, again, you need to have a plan. Keep in mind that if the kids want to see characters, some stop coming out at 5. Make sure you check the show guide when you walk into the park so you don't miss something you want to do. There are a few shows in DHS that young kids probably wouldn't like so you can skip those.

I don't care if you have all day in both parks you CAN'T see everything in 1 day. Hit the major attractions and make sure to take a few minutes to relax too.

 

[blessedmom4]

I don't care if you have all day in both parks you CAN'T see everything in 1 day. Hit the major attractions and make sure to take a few minutes to relax too.

I agree with Tim on ALL points. FOTLK has an interactive component for the children, if that helps you make a choice...some will be picked to join in the dance at the end.
I KNOW Wish families will be picked, I am certain! Have Fun!!!

 

[blessedmom4]

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....

Maybe you could ask again, I know others asked twice.