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

[mommy2girlswv]

Go to the blue band at the top of the page (Just above your post) that says Thread Tools and click on it and click subscribe. Decide how you would like to be notified and that is it .

Thanks

 

[Corrine 1973]

I'm very new to all this. First thing, I love reading all the pre-trip and trip post. Most of all my question about are upcoming trip are answer by reading.. My daughter, January(3yrs old) wish trip is May 6-May 12 2011, she will be taking her mommy(me), dad, and baby sister(Kaitlyn 10month at the time of trip.. As you can tell I will be traveling with baby and would love a tips for that.. Also, with her only being 3yrs old what part of the trip should we stay always from because it just wouldn't be fun for her.. We are thing about not going to epcot because she just too young to enjoy it.. Any info would be great..Again, I enjoy reading about everybodys trips at nap time..

My son had just turned two, and my daughter had just turned 4 before our Wish Trip. Some of their favorites were at DHS where they played at the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground and most of the rides at Fantasyland at MK. They all enjoyed the 3-D shows such as Mickey's Philharmagic and Muppet 3-D though the 2 year old wouldn't keep his glasses on so I Finally gave up. One thing my 2 year old realy enjoyed was a play area right next the exit of Splash montain. He loved playing in there while his brother and sister went on it with my brother. It is geared for younger kids. One of my sons favorites was the night time parade. It was spectromagic then, but I have seen the Electric Parade on YouTube and it looks amazing. There are several Walt Disney World books geared for kids that rates diffrent ride per age group of children. It also tells your about attractions that are loud and scary for small children.
Have fun!!!

 

[blessedmom4]

I'm very new to all this. First thing, I love reading all the pre-trip and trip post. Most of all my question about are upcoming trip are answer by reading.. My daughter, January(3yrs old) wish trip is May 6-May 12 2011, she will be taking her mommy(me), dad, and baby sister(Kaitlyn 10month at the time of trip.. As you can tell I will be traveling with baby and would love a tips for that.. Also, with her only being 3yrs old what part of the trip should we stay always from because it just wouldn't be fun for her.. We are thing about not going to epcot because she just too young to enjoy it.. Any info would be great..Again, I enjoy reading about everybodys trips at nap time..

We LOVE Epcot, even for Little ones...we love it all , to tell you the truth!

I feel you on the ER thing...

Anyone that has read Lauren's TR may remember that she spent a night in the ER and that everyone on our trip got "sick" at some point. Not fun.
I remember!!!
So...we are taking Lauren back! In 11 days!! woo hoo!

ELEVEN DAYS!?!?! Is there a PTR??? Will there be a TR???? I want to read along!!! Have a wonderful time if we don't hear before then!

 

[Mom2mitokids]

to the wish trippers thread!!!

Honestly - all of the parks have a lot to offer all ages of kids. I love the Seas for small ones - Turtle talk with Crush is awesome! But...I guess of the four parks, it probably has the least for little ones.

and I have no clue on babies...Except to locate the first aid stations at each park - they are great places to rest and you can use an exam type room to do any diaper changes and such (this works for older kids, too!). They also have a Baby Care area in many of those First Aid stations, too!



aw!!! How sweet!!!!



We will be there in 12 days and it looks like 9's and 10's for us too. I think our dates overlap??



Thanks!!!

Mary...we will be there in 13 days, so we will be there at the same time. What day will you be at DW? We will be there on the 15th(DW). I'm so scared for the crowds

On the staying at GKTW with guest...They can stay there and eat, but they can not get theme park tickets. The only way is if the Wish child is an only child and they can invite a friend and they will get all passes to all parks. Korissa's friend is coming and staying at GKTW with us and she can eat all meals, but she had to pay for her flight, theme park tickets, and souvenirs/food money.

 

[luvmygrlz3]

OMGoodness!!!!! LOOK at my ticker!!!!!

 

[CeraMomof3]

Us too! THREE SLEEPS!

We are meeting sleeping beauty at 9 am then BBB at 10:30...j..... we don't get into Orlando until 6:30... boy do I hope we make the 7:45 orientation LOL.

AT any rate, we are SO excited!

 

[LVMom23]

cross posting this on my ptr....

I just finished our countdown calendar!! I cannot believe our 30 DAY countdown begins tomorrow!!!

I cut out 30 Disney characters and stuck them on this posterboard.

That is just so dang cute!!!! If we get our MAW to Disney granted, I would love to do something like that!

 

[maroo]

I think this is right

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=40133620#post40133620


Question: How do you subscribe to someones thread to get updates

Awesome! I will add this to the list!

Go to the blue band at the top of the page (Just above your post) that says Thread Tools and click on it and click subscribe. Decide how you would like to be notified and that is it .

yep! perfect!

We LOVE Epcot, even for Little ones...we love it all , to tell you the truth!



ELEVEN DAYS!?!?! Is there a PTR??? Will there be a TR???? I want to read along!!! Have a wonderful time if we don't hear before then!

no PTR yet...and not sure on the TR part?!? Still writing my TR from Sept... but i will give an update on this in my next little post here...

Mary...we will be there in 13 days, so we will be there at the same time. What day will you be at DW? We will be there on the 15th(DW). I'm so scared for the crowds

I am a bit nervous about the crowds - but just for things like fireworks and shows...the lines won't be as much of an issue - especially for you guys!! The button and GAC will work wonders!

I will give a tenative schedule here in a bit...

OMGoodness!!!!! LOOK at my ticker!!!!!

Us too! THREE SLEEPS!

We are meeting sleeping beauty at 9 am then BBB at 10:30...j..... we don't get into Orlando until 6:30... boy do I hope we make the 7:45 orientation LOL.

AT any rate, we are SO excited!

 

[maroo]

So....

We are going back!

Most of you guys "know" Lauren - former wish child from 2008. She has had a lot of challenges over the past year and should find out on Friday if she is going to be able to have a "big" - I think it is huge - surgery on her neck and hips. She is already fused (with rods and screws) from the lumbar region up through the thoracic region. But her neck is now very crooked. Normally they do not do this type of surgery on the neck - they usually do PT and the children (who are usually much younger) just grow out of it.

But so far Lauren has not really responded to anything we have tried to do to help her - PT, swimming, and two different chair modifications.

So...she is meeting with two neurosurgeons on Friday to see what they can do to help her. I will keep you posted on that.

I believe the surgery will be to put rods and screws in her neck up to the back of her head AND to fuse her spine to her hips. Which would hopefully get her straight and keep her straight. But the doctors don't want to do the surgery. Evidently it is a very difficult recovery and the surgery itself is dangerous since the upper spine is a lot smaller and she could lose all function below her neck. This would be terrible for her - but the way it is now is not working for her either.

Anyway...all that to say...Lauren needs a break (and so do her parents and little brother!)...

Lauren's little brother and her Dad are going on a church trip over Spring Break - so we planned an all girls getaway to Disney.

The CAST:

Lauren - former wish child - "unknown" diagnosis - they are positive now that it is not CP, it is too progressive to be called CP, but they really don't know what it is - she has been tested for mito, but we won't know those results for another few weeks. (her medical records all say CP because they don't know what else to call it)

Jessica - Lauren's best friend - also uses a wheelchair (spinal cord injury from a car accident)

Jordan - Jessica's sister - she is coming to help Jessica and be an extra set of hands and because she is just cool and we will have fun!

Lisa - Lauren's Mom - who really needs a break!

and me!


We scheduled this last year...then our church started this cool campaign called "Outlive Your Life" that focuses on missions...so Lauren caught on to that and really wanted to go to Mexico on a mission trip for Spring Break - so we canceled Disney.

But...turns out it was not safe to go to Mexico and the church eventually canceled the whole trip (and every other trip to Mexico for the near future).

So...then Lauren wanted to go with the middle school students on their mission trip - but it was just going to be too much to try to get her in all the places they were going and she can't do as much as they would like to have her listed as a chaperon (is that how you spell that??) - which I understand.

So...last week - last Thursday night - we decided that if all else fails she should just GO TO DISNEY!!

So the trip is back on!

And I have a whole three weeks to plan...which is now down to less than two weeks!

Here is our tentative schedule:

Thurs March 10 - pack and get luggage from the girls to make sure it fits in the van

Friday March 11 - right after school - head to Disney! the van will be packed - we will take care of all bathroom stops at the school before we leave town. We will try to make it half way or more.

Sat March 12 - sleep in some, drive the rest of the way, check in (we are staying at Bonnet Creek on points from Jessica's family in a 2 BR condo), go to the store for snacks, food, etc...

Sun March 13 - MK

Mon March 14 - Epcot

Tues March 15 - AK

Wed March 16 - MK and AK - depends on what we missed at either - may end up with a Park Hopper so we can do both if we need to.

Thurs March 17 - DHS!

Friday March 18 - DHS or whatever park we missed

Sat March 19 - drive back. Lisa wants to leave before Dawn to get on the road. We will drive all the way back - no overnight stop.


I say all of that here so that you guys that are going to be there can check your schedule and see if there is a way we could meet up - if you want! Or we can at least keep an eye out for you guys. We may not be hard to miss - since we will have two wheelchairs in our party.

It is going to be an interesting trip for us, because Lauren can only ride certain rides and Jess and Jordan can ride the big stuff...so we will be doing some splitting up. But we are hoping for a relatively stress free time since we have twice the amount of Disney time this trip than we did on the wish trip - and hopefully Lauren will stay WELL (and hopefully the rest of us will too!)


I have ordered T shirts for us and we have had some cool designs made by the awesome folks on the DISign board - so now I just have to plan the details, get some ADR's (ha!) and go for it!

 

[jwallaceent]

Hello all...I have been absent for some time as Brooke's third birthday was Sunday!! I was so busy with that and planning that I put Disney on the back burner....or as Brooke says..DISANEE!!

Yesterday we went to DC for labs and her liver is very happy! After leaving the lab we went to the pediatrician. She was not herself on Sunday took a 3 hour nap and very congested! Pediatrician said it was viral but gave antibiotics to give her a boost. They wanted to give steroids but transplant team said absolutley NO! Thank goodness I always call them with the plan from pediatrician before I go forward! This would have immuno-suppressed her even more and her EBV(virus that can cause lymphoma to transplant patients and hers has been elevated lately) would have went CRAZY!! I really love my transplant team and they are there for me at the drop of a hat!

With that all taken care of I did do a little shopping and Miss Brooke is pretty much packed and ready to go! As for the other four of us...hahahahaha. We have three weeks and I will do a little each day. I did make a shopping list for my other two kids and my dear hubby.

Our Make A Wish volunteer called last night and our send off party is schedule for March 15th! WOW so very exciting and so very close! We are getting super excited!! I do have family that wants to be there for our party and I will buy extra pizza and drinks for them but is this something we can ask? Will they allow me to have my family there?

I am still working on our itinerary and hope to post that tomorrow sometime for input, suggestions and comments! Thanks again for such a wonderful site that has helped calm me and make this so much easier and less stressful!

 

[mommy2girlswv]

Awesome! I will add this to the list!


Thank you, I would have never figured it out without your first page info. The wish child is January and we are stay at GKTW

 

[brookerene]

Well I am glad Lauren is going back to DISNEY! Yay... she has had is tough and I know with the surgery decisions and everything else, it'll be a good break for everybody! I hope it all goes well!

 

[that's nice]

to all the new Wish Trip posters!!!!!


I am so excited for all of you who are leaving in the next few weeks!!!!





Maroo... Get PLANNING GIRL!!!!!

I'm so happy Lauren is getting to go back to Disney. I know you guys will have a magical trip.

I hope the doctors can come up with a good, SAFE plan for her surgery.

 

[fulseasmama]

Hi All,
Just a quick probably very silly question...I am trying to go through and edit the photo pass pictures to add borders, autographs and what not but I feel like there must be a better way. I have a pretty new Mac and good high speed but it is taking so long...I feel like I am back on dial up. Did anyone else experience this?

Any tips on making it go faster that you might have found I would really appreciate. Thanks so much and have a great day!

 

[that's nice]

Hi All,
Just a quick probably very silly question...I am trying to go through and edit the photo pass pictures to add borders, autographs and what not but I feel like there must be a better way. I have a pretty new Mac and good high speed but it is taking so long...I feel like I am back on dial up. Did anyone else experience this?

Any tips on making it go faster that you might have found I would really appreciate. Thanks so much and have a great day!

No way to make it go faster.... I wish I could help you there. It is a very frustrating site... just like all the other Disney sites. You would think a multi BILLION dollar company could have a more user friendly site.

 

[maroo]

Hi All,
Just a quick probably very silly question...I am trying to go through and edit the photo pass pictures to add borders, autographs and what not but I feel like there must be a better way. I have a pretty new Mac and good high speed but it is taking so long...I feel like I am back on dial up. Did anyone else experience this?

Any tips on making it go faster that you might have found I would really appreciate. Thanks so much and have a great day!

It does work better later at night, though. When there are not so many people on it. I think some folks do it at work since it takes so long to pull up - so once the people leave work, the website works a bit better. And...it works better toward the end of the week for some reason, too.

 

[shruley]

Hope she has a wonderful trip, she deserves it!

So....

We are going back!

Most of you guys "know" Lauren - former wish child from 2008. She has had a lot of challenges over the past year and should find out on Friday if she is going to be able to have a "big" - I think it is huge - surgery on her neck and hips. She is already fused (with rods and screws) from the lumbar region up through the thoracic region. But her neck is now very crooked. Normally they do not do this type of surgery on the neck - they usually do PT and the children (who are usually much younger) just grow out of it.

But so far Lauren has not really responded to anything we have tried to do to help her - PT, swimming, and two different chair modifications.

So...she is meeting with two neurosurgeons on Friday to see what they can do to help her. I will keep you posted on that.

I believe the surgery will be to put rods and screws in her neck up to the back of her head AND to fuse her spine to her hips. Which would hopefully get her straight and keep her straight. But the doctors don't want to do the surgery. Evidently it is a very difficult recovery and the surgery itself is dangerous since the upper spine is a lot smaller and she could lose all function below her neck. This would be terrible for her - but the way it is now is not working for her either.

Anyway...all that to say...Lauren needs a break (and so do her parents and little brother!)...

Lauren's little brother and her Dad are going on a church trip over Spring Break - so we planned an all girls getaway to Disney.

The CAST:

Lauren - former wish child - "unknown" diagnosis - they are positive now that it is not CP, it is too progressive to be called CP, but they really don't know what it is - she has been tested for mito, but we won't know those results for another few weeks. (her medical records all say CP because they don't know what else to call it)

Jessica - Lauren's best friend - also uses a wheelchair (spinal cord injury from a car accident)

Jordan - Jessica's sister - she is coming to help Jessica and be an extra set of hands and because she is just cool and we will have fun!

Lisa - Lauren's Mom - who really needs a break!

and me!


We scheduled this last year...then our church started this cool campaign called "Outlive Your Life" that focuses on missions...so Lauren caught on to that and really wanted to go to Mexico on a mission trip for Spring Break - so we canceled Disney.

But...turns out it was not safe to go to Mexico and the church eventually canceled the whole trip (and every other trip to Mexico for the near future).

So...then Lauren wanted to go with the middle school students on their mission trip - but it was just going to be too much to try to get her in all the places they were going and she can't do as much as they would like to have her listed as a chaperon (is that how you spell that??) - which I understand.

So...last week - last Thursday night - we decided that if all else fails she should just GO TO DISNEY!!

So the trip is back on!

And I have a whole three weeks to plan...which is now down to less than two weeks!

Here is our tentative schedule:

Thurs March 10 - pack and get luggage from the girls to make sure it fits in the van

Friday March 11 - right after school - head to Disney! the van will be packed - we will take care of all bathroom stops at the school before we leave town. We will try to make it half way or more.

Sat March 12 - sleep in some, drive the rest of the way, check in (we are staying at Bonnet Creek on points from Jessica's family in a 2 BR condo), go to the store for snacks, food, etc...

Sun March 13 - MK

Mon March 14 - Epcot

Tues March 15 - AK

Wed March 16 - MK and AK - depends on what we missed at either - may end up with a Park Hopper so we can do both if we need to.

Thurs March 17 - DHS!

Friday March 18 - DHS or whatever park we missed

Sat March 19 - drive back. Lisa wants to leave before Dawn to get on the road. We will drive all the way back - no overnight stop.


I say all of that here so that you guys that are going to be there can check your schedule and see if there is a way we could meet up - if you want! Or we can at least keep an eye out for you guys. We may not be hard to miss - since we will have two wheelchairs in our party.

It is going to be an interesting trip for us, because Lauren can only ride certain rides and Jess and Jordan can ride the big stuff...so we will be doing some splitting up. But we are hoping for a relatively stress free time since we have twice the amount of Disney time this trip than we did on the wish trip - and hopefully Lauren will stay WELL (and hopefully the rest of us will too!)


I have ordered T shirts for us and we have had some cool designs made by the awesome folks on the DISign board - so now I just have to plan the details, get some ADR's (ha!) and go for it!

 

[shruley]

So excited for all those who are leaving soon! I'm hoping for some new trips reports to read when you get back!!!

 

[fulseasmama]

Thanks Mary and Tim...at least I know it is not just me losing my mind.

Mary, I hope Lauren and all of you have a very magical trip! I am so glad you all are going...safe travels!

 

[Shellyplus4]

MAW emailed and asked us how we would like to get to Disney. They have offered to let us fly or drive. We are in GA and I believe it would be about a 9-10 hour drive for us. If we drive I thought we might be able to extend our trip a little bit if we are very frugal. I just wanted to see what everyone's experience with driving vs flying has been. I appreciate any advice.