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

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Didn't know if anyone has heard about this but thought it might apply to a majority of us who are taking kids on MAW trips. Stroller Rules Changing On American Airlines

Hopefully they will make exceptions for strollers for kiddos that MUST have them to make the trip through the airport but are not classified as "Special Needs Strollers". :confused3:
 
We would like to join the fun and participate in the Big Give. However I do not sew, can I still do this? I thought I would include DeAnna, she enjoys giving more than any child I know. Always taking her "surgery money"(money that comes from grandma each time she has another surgery) and buys things for the other kids in the hospital. She wraps them her self, places them in baskets and had delivers them to the kids. Anyway I thought this would give her something exciting to participate in as she waits for her MAW trip. Can someone inbox me how to get started and if we can buy and send things instead of making them (although DeAnna will most like send her art work along with her package) ;)

Thanks

Tried to send you a pm, but this thing would not let me for some reason.... go figure. I guess others could use this info too.....

I love doing Big Gives with my kiddos- and I did not sew to begin with. I kinda do now, but I am still learning. :goodvibes I always did "pixie dust" or little gifts and such for the kids that I would find at the dollar store or the Target dollar spot and other random places. You can send anything you think the kids will like or need on there trip, it doesn't have to be sewn or handmade. :thumbsup2

Head on over to disbiggive.proboards.com to get signed up and look around there. Most of it is explained over there quite well. And Happy Giving!!!
 
We would like to join the fun and participate in the Big Give. However I do not sew, can I still do this? I thought I would include DeAnna, she enjoys giving more than any child I know. Always taking her "surgery money"(money that comes from grandma each time she has another surgery) and buys things for the other kids in the hospital. She wraps them her self, places them in baskets and had delivers them to the kids. Anyway I thought this would give her something exciting to participate in as she waits for her MAW trip. Can someone inbox me how to get started and if we can buy and send things instead of making them (although DeAnna will most like send her art work along with her package) ;)

Thanks

We do pixie dust. I can not sew. I have a small stash of toys that I started. I get things off of clearance from The Disney Store or Target has some great deals. Bigger families I usually send a GC. You can pick a choose who you want to do. I wish I can do everyone, but like this month is very hard because I have Kylees birthday party I need to do.
 
Was wondering if anyone know if there is a place to keep my daughter's tube feeding supplies when at the parks? Can I just feed her at the wish lounges? Has anyone gone to Disney with a tubie child?

Thanks
Melissa
Mom to Emily (wish kiddo) and Abby

My daughter is on continuous feeds. She wears a backpack with the pump. Disney World was the only park we got a locker to store her extra stuff. Just in case we had leaks. We also brought extra clothes. The other parks..we parked so close to the entrance that if we needed to go to the van we could. In my bag I would have extra Pedialyte and I always carry extra mic-key buttons..just in case. You can feed her in the Wish lounge. We didn't have a chance to the Wish lounge at DW, but we did go to the one in Epcot.
 

Each airline handles strollers different it seems! I emailed our directly and got confirmation that I will be able to check our stroller at the gate. I prefer to use ours, as there is no way G will be able to walk all the way into the airport much less all the way to a gate, so, if gotta bring, we'll just keep using it.

I was going to ask something and now it has completely vanished from my head. Guess that means I should call it a day! :yawn:
 
Just wondering if anyone knows of a website that has some good quality maps of the parks on it?

I know that you can create customized maps and have them delivered to your home from the website, but WDW don't send them outside of the U.S. I tried printing the maps off the website, but the quality wasn't very good and the details were difficult to see.

Thanks.
 
Does anyone have experience in adding someone to your trip who are paying their own way?

My dad was born to be a papa. He loves it. He really really really wants to come with and understands that he needs to pay his own way. What are the odds that he could stay with us a GKTW should Devs wish be approved?
 
Does anyone have experience in adding someone to your trip who are paying their own way?

My dad was born to be a papa. He loves it. He really really really wants to come with and understands that he needs to pay his own way. What are the odds that he could stay with us a GKTW should Devs wish be approved?

Contact your MAW chapter.... many people have done this... and He should be able to stay at GKTW as long as it doesn't make more than 7 people.
 
Hello!!

Long time no see!

LOTS and LOTS going on in my little world - sorry I have been gone so long!

We have done Senior Day, Graduation, the Youth Group Choir Trip and Homecoming Concert. I am tired! Her parents are exhausted!!!!

I also have a few work sort of related things going on that are taking a ton of time with no real end in sight, really. So my DIS time keeps getting foiled! :upsidedow


We have CONFIRMED DATES....after two postponements and countless medical delays...we are scheduled for our trip October 13 to October 23!!!!!!


Maroo, PLEASE move us to the confirmed dates list....FINALLY!!!!!!!!!! I thought I would NEVER be able to say that!!! I am incredibly happy!

certainly! :)

Like my post from yesterday said, we just found out that Em's is going to get her wish yesterday. I was wondering when did you all start telling people. We told people closest to us, but I was wondering when you told everyone else?

Thanks!!

Melissa

Mom to Emily (amazing wish kid) and Abby:)

:welcome: to the DISboards!

This is totally up to you! We had some explaining to do because many of our friends thought MAW was only for children who were about to die. There were so many questions around Lauren's prognosis (still are) and that is why she was granted a wish - lots of people didn't really understand why she was being granted one with "just" a diagnosis of CP. We waited till we had dates to really start telling people.


Hi super new to this.

My son is in the MAW system and right now still waiting to meet with the wish granters. Dev already decided that his wish is to go to Disney World and skip every line. Perfect dream for an 8 year old.

awesome!!! :welcome: to the DISboards!! :)

This is somewhat unrelated to MAW in many ways. I was wondering if any of you lovely parents out there have any book suggestions on the topic of being a parent of a chronically ill child. I was trying to find something on Amazon and couldn't really find much. Thanks!:hug:

Good question...did not see if you ever got an answer?!

My son is awaiting his wish granters visit. He already knows he wants to go to Disney world, but his paperwork says he has to have a second choice also. He said he doesn't want to do anything else. Does he really have to have a second choice and if so, does anybody have any ideas since he can't come up with any? Synovial:idea:

When they come, they will help him come up with a second wish, too...maybe to meet someone famous?

Has anyone taken that tour with Mauiva Air Tours? If so do I have to book it before I leave? An old GKTW newsletter said you must book before you come. I called the air tour place and the res agent said I must call GKTW before I come and get them to send an email back to the air tour so they can book it before but when I talked to GKTW she said I book it when I get there. I know the other activities are booked while there but is the air tour a little different? Thanks so much.

I would call GKTW back if you still have not been able to schedule this. Sometimes a fairly new person will answer the phone and not be totally up on the procedure for this...so if the air folks are saying you need to book before...I would call GKTW back and see if they are willing to do that.

How long does it take from the time you see your wish granters until you get your wish? Synovial:wizard:

This varies widely by chapter and even within the same chapter...

Sometimes a child will have a "rush" wish - and they can come out pretty quickly for that...but the rest depends on volunteer wish granter schedules and amount of funds the particular chapter has.

I have finished our PTR/TR!!!

awesome! I gotta come read!!


As I plan Bridget's wish trip, we are struggling with what events to plan around at GKTW. I know we want to be there for "Christmas". Bridget spent last Christmas in the ICU so we thought that would be really neat for her. She fatigues easily and we want to make sure we don't over do it. To those of you who have been to GKTW what would you not want to miss? Also, it will be my son's birthday while we are at GKTW. Is there any way to celebrate a birthday at the Village? Thanks!

Christmas has definitely been special to several families. Some plan to have a short park day or even a rest/GKTW day on the same day as Christmas at GKTW.

I have seen some families really enjoy other parties that they didn't really plan to attend, too...the GKTW parties are fun! :)


Yes we are part of the Ohio/KY chapter. Our wish granters were new, so maybe they do not know. The text read the following

"MAW can do a 5 day disney vacation and u get to go to sea world. They can do October or December. Which is your preference?"

I asked if we were at GKTW and reminded her we wanted to say a few days more at our expense. She texted back "I am pretty sure all MAW KY kids stay at GKTW. I have emailed them about the extra days."

I hope you folks are correct in that GKTW trips are a week. This forum has been such a great resource.

This can vary by chapter...I have heard of another family getting 5 nights...most get 6 nights if they are in the continental US and international families usually get 7 nights. So it definitely varies!

I think I might have figured out how to do links! and add a ticker, (which I hope actually ticks down now)

We have begun planning some here...so many decisions! :)

Less then 5 months can't believe it!!

Does anyone know for sure a place where Jasmine would be? She is Gabbie's favorite!

When you get to the parks, go to Guest Services and they will give you a specific time and place when you guys can make sure you can catch Jasmine. Your button should get you to the front of any line. With any luck, you may get even more pixie dust than that. :)

We received a choice of two dates in December. We can leave December 19 and move out of GKTW on Christmas day or leave the 20th and move out on the 26th. We are taking the 2nd choice to keep from moving on Christmas day. We did hear they can delay our flights home until the date we requested. We are planning to stay another 6 nights and fly home on 1-1-12.

Does GKTW do something special on Christmas?

If I remember correctly...GKTW is actually pretty quiet on Christmas Day. Every day is special at GKTW - but it is a bit hard, I would guess, to find volunteers that are willing to work on Christmas which makes it hard.

In fact, if Christmas Day fell on a Thursday, they usually will have Christmas on a Tuesday or another day of the week to have as many volunteers as possible there.

It would be really cool to be there on Christmas Day, though! :)

Has anyone ever moved out of the state during the time that they started the wish and the time they recieved the wish? We are moving from WA state to Arkansas next month, my MAW chapter said it won't be a problem but I don't know when we find out dates and such. Will it be once we get there or will our current chapter work with the other one to get dates?

Also please check out my PTR! I know we are a lil ways out but what the heck :lmao:

This is a new one! Let me know how this works!

I am from Little Rock originally!

I will find your PTR and link it!

Was wondering if anyone know if there is a place to keep my daughter's tube feeding supplies when at the parks? Can I just feed her at the wish lounges? Has anyone gone to Disney with a tubie child?

Thanks
Melissa
Mom to Emily (wish kiddo) and Abby

I would use First Aid at the parks - they can put things up for you and even refrigerate things if you need to.

I have seen kids being fed on rides, in restaurants, anywhere, really. But if you want privacy, then First Aid is the best way to go! :)

Just wondering if anyone knows of a website that has some good quality maps of the parks on it?

I know that you can create customized maps and have them delivered to your home from the website, but WDW don't send them outside of the U.S. I tried printing the maps off the website, but the quality wasn't very good and the details were difficult to see.

Thanks.

I would see if you can order a good WDW book - a 2011 version...because the parks are always changing locations of things. All of the good books have maps that should be pretty detailed and have info about each ride.
 
hey guys!

i am finally back online after some internet problems!:cool1:

finished day 2 of our TR, come on over and see!!!
 
I think this varies by chapter but we saw our wish granters in March over Spring Break and we are leaving Thurs. I think it has to do with when you want to go. Perrin wanted to go for SWW and they wanted to send us last weekend but I wanted him to finish out the school year!
It also has to do with how urgent meeting the Wish is. For children who have limited time, MAW can move very quickly.

and you also need to make sure you ask where to park because we did and were always directed to the handicapped parking..... which we always had awesome parking...
WDW calls it 'Medical Parking.'
If you don't have a handicapped parking permit, it's important to not park in any spots with blue painted lines, a handicapped parking sign or a wheelchair symbol. A handicapped parking permit is required to park in those spots and without one, you could get ticketed.
There are spots in those lots with white painted lines that you can park in without worrying.

The lot at the Studio is small and if you arrive late at the park, there may be no spots. If that happens, part of your group can be dropped off and the driver can go park in the regular lot.
When we went to Animal Kingdom in April, we also found the lot was full, so my husband dropped us off and went to park.
She does appear daily in Morrocco in the World Showcase of Epcot. The times she is available is listed in the times guide. If it rains, there is an inside spot in Morrocco for her too! She is also sometimes out at Magic Kingdom, but it is more hit and miss. Just ask a cast member when you arrive at the park and they will call and find out when and where she will be for the day! You will be able to find her! :cheer2:
Yes, we have seen her a number of times in Morocco. The park schedule for the week has the characters for the week and locations listed, but they don't list exact times.
My daughters will be 4 and 18 months when we go on my eldest's wish trip. We will definitely be getting a stroller (hopefully a double one that reclines!) as they have such little legs and simply can't be expected to walk everywhere. On top of that, Brooke's legs were weakened while she underwent chemo, at the end she had drop-leg syndrome. She seems to have regained much of her balance since she completed treatment, but her legs still tire easily. Who knows if this will be the case come September, but still--better safe than sorry, so a stroller it is!

Just wondering how it works at the parks with strollers? Can you take them into lines or do you have to park them oustside of lines or attractions? I don't want to miss getting photos or watching Brooke on a ride just because Avie is too young and we have to wait outside because of her stroller.

Also, I've heard of ''Stroller as Wheelchair'' tags but I'm not really certain how they work or if we should get one. I think Brooke would be fine getting out of the stroller to go rides when we got there and hoping back in when she's done. What do other parents recommend?
Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread ( you can also find it close to the top of this board).
Post #6 of that thread explains about using a stroller as a wheelchair.
Post #3 has information in various categories - one link is a height calculator. Your little one will be able to go on any attraction that she is tall enough for. Children who are too short too ride the 'less gentle' attractions are not allowed in line. For those attractions, you can do a 'Rider Swap' which allows the older child to ride with one adult while the other adult waits outside with the smaller child. After riding with the first adult, the child can ride again with the second adult.
This is not just for kids on MAW trips, but can be used by anyone. One thing you will need to think about is whether riding twice will be too tiring for your child.
We did the stroller as wheelchair at all WDW parks!!!! This is a must!!! Most rides we went down the wheelchair line and park the wheelchair outside the ride!! All the shows that we did we use the stroller as wheelchair! We sat at the wheelchair seats. January just can't walk far without getting tired. (She gets tired just walking around the house.) Kaitlyn had her own stroller and we would park her. Put her in the double stroller with the tag. Some rides don't let stroller as wheelchair tags. You have to change to a reg. wheelchair. On the way to the car, we had to carry Kaitlyn and put January in kaitlyn's stroller because she just couldn't walk that far!! We wish we had a double stroller from the park to the car.
The wheelchair accessible lines are at least 32 inches wide, so if a double stroller is smaller than that, it will fit. The few attractions that won't allow a stroller as wheelchair are either not accessible (like Tomorrowland Transit Authoritiy) or don't have a good way to get personal wheelchairs from the boarding area to the unload area (Pirates).
I don't believe the Disney strollers recline. I am sure I saw pictures of them somewhere on this forum. They are not typical strollers. If you need something for the whole trip, I would look to Orlando Strollers. They were great. Check with your wish organization and see if they will cover it for you. There is a lot of walking once you drop off the wheelchairs at most parks. I also imagine you would want to have one for GKTW.

We used the stroller as a wheelchair tag for DD on our last trip. There were a few attractions she had to walk a little. I would definately get one from what you have shared about her fatigue. I don't know if they give you the tag at GKTW, but any park guest can get one at guest services.

Also, I don't know if a double stroller fits through the lines. Anyone used one of those with the tag?
Meant to put the information about double strollers here , so see above.
The park rental strollers don't recline and are made of a firm plastic. That said, I have seen lots of kids sleeping pretty peacefully in them, especially smaller kids who like to sleep on their sides or curl up. It's not possible to curl up in a reclining stroller and I have seen kids who keep waking themselves up when then try to turn in the reclined stroller.

There is a picture of the WDW park rental strollers in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is also information about offsite rental places for strollers and special needs strollers in that post.

Having a stroller you can use all the time is helpful though, because then you will have it to get to and from the park and also at GKTW.
Was wondering if anyone know if there is a place to keep my daughter's tube feeding supplies when at the parks? Can I just feed her at the wish lounges? Has anyone gone to Disney with a tubie child?

Thanks
Melissa
Mom to Emily (wish kiddo) and Abby
Each park has a First Aid station with private cubicles or rooms with cots. You can use First Aid for doing treatments, to lie down for a while or just to get out of the heat.
They will store medications, feedings and equipment for you or you could rent a locker at the front of each park.
Didn't know if anyone has heard about this but thought it might apply to a majority of us who are taking kids on MAW trips. Stroller Rules Changing On American Airlines

Hopefully they will make exceptions for strollers for kiddos that MUST have them to make the trip through the airport but are not classified as "Special Needs Strollers". :confused3:
Airlines are required to do things to meet access needs of people with disabilities. This would include gate checking a stroller for a child who needs it because of a disability.
and, just to clarify if people can't read the link, American is stopping gate checking of strollers that weigh more than 20 pounds. So far, the other airlines have not joined in and are still gate checking all sizes of strollers.
 
Thanks everyone for answering my questions about Em tube feeding things and other random questions. I know I will have many more the more into her wish we get! Hope you don't mind. We are all looking forwrad to her wish granters coming soon I hope. We got in the mail on Friday the name of her 2 wish granters and the parent handbook. This is giving her and all of us something to look forward to. Em's brain surgery in this Thursday so it is really helping to have such a fun adventure ahead of us.

Again you are all welcome to read about Em on her Caringbridge page. It's under Emilywallace.

Thanks again!!:)

Melissa mom to Emily (wish kiddo) and Abby (best little sister)
 
Stopping in to say hello...I have been swamped updated the PTR though...

Also asking that you keep Hannah and her family in prayer...They have had a lot going on since their trip and can sure use a bit of sunshine!
 
Just jumping in to introduce myself.

My DD is 13 and currently on treatment for leukemia. She was diagnosed nearly a year ago (7-14-10), and has had major complications since diagnosis. She should be into her LTM phrase of treatment by December. Her onco has told us we can travel once we get into LTM, so we have a trip planned for March 31 to the 7th. This is not a WISH trip (she has not made her wish yet), but I figured some of you might have experience with traveling with a kiddo on chemo.

-Karen
 
Hi Karen! I think I know you from LLS boards...I I have the right Karen....cause the Karen I knows' daughter has had a crazy rough time! And thats putting it mildly.

Gabbie is going on her wish trip in October. She will be 6 months into LTM...we are going on a week where she will only need to be on 6mp which she has been doing OK with. It'll be her 4th week cycle too so hopefully at her very best. I will be sure to let you know how it goes when we get back!

We toyed with waiting until she was done with chemo, but, she/we need something to look forward to, think about, plan for. Otherwise cancer is the only thing dominating thoughts. A wish trip is pretty exciting replacement. AND it happens to coincide with three of our family birthdays. Its going to be an absolutely incredible week. Its nice to at least at times put cancer on the back burner sometimes.
 
Hi Karen! I think I know you from LLS boards...I I have the right Karen....cause the Karen I knows' daughter has had a crazy rough time! And thats putting it mildly.

Gabbie is going on her wish trip in October. She will be 6 months into LTM...we are going on a week where she will only need to be on 6mp which she has been doing OK with. It'll be her 4th week cycle too so hopefully at her very best. I will be sure to let you know how it goes when we get back!

We toyed with waiting until she was done with chemo, but, she/we need something to look forward to, think about, plan for. Otherwise cancer is the only thing dominating thoughts. A wish trip is pretty exciting replacement. AND it happens to coincide with three of our family birthdays. Its going to be an absolutely incredible week. Its nice to at least at times put cancer on the back burner sometimes.


Kathy!

This is Karen (Leann's_mom) from the LLS boards!

How is Gabbie doing? I hope she is doing well!

Leann is doing great right now, as we her on her built in chemo vacation in between IM 1 and DI 1. We are scheduled to start DI 1 on Monday, so I am pretty much freaking out. We are getting close to our 1 year diagnosisversary (a little over a month away!), and that has me filled with mixed emotions too!

Our trip we have planned *should* fall at the end of Leann's first cycle of LTM, so she also should only be on 6-MP. Our onco has said it will be fine for her to travel by then and God knows Leann (and we) truly need our Disney fix. The last trip we took was about a month before Leann started first getting sick and about two months before DX, so we really need this.

Have you all ever been to WDW before?
 
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