Make a Wish (and other organizations) - Wish Trippers UNITE! Volume SIX!

[ember303]

I am not sure if they provide something "extra". His actual wish was to have a birthday party with Mickey and the gang, we are going to be there on his actual birthday, I am not sure how they were or if they were going to try to include that somehow in his trip. I suppose I should ask. His name is Casper so the MNSSHP kinda "goes" with him.

BTW I emailed GKTW about the waterproof mattress cover and heard back. They said they don't normally provide them but they will if asked so they will have one for us when we arrive. If you wanted one you could email to ask them also.

I am actually taking a waterproof pad. They said they will have Goodnights in his villa when we arrive since he wears those most of the time. I am going to ask about having formula shipped there along with his other supplies.

 

[ember303]

That's awesome you guys get to go!! The kids will have a ball! Have you told them yet or will it be a surprise?

I was told they will be covering one character meal so far. Not sure if that's our something extra though. Told them we have no interest in BBB for Tyana because her hair will be braided. Wish I could get in on the conversations between the wish granter and the coordinator (who apparently is the one that makes all the decisions and arrangements...). If it's a toss up between a character meal or the party we'll take that party please! I'm not going to bug our wish granter but I sure would love to know. We'll see.

I dont think you would be bugging if you told them if it was only one then you would prefer the party for her!

 

[mamaVonna]

I'm beginning to have ADR remorse...
As of yesterday I have the following scheduled:
Akershus (breakfast); Teppan Edo (lunch) Candlelight Processional Pkg; Crystal Palace (breakfast); and Tusker House (breakfast). Plus we plan to eat at Earl of Sandwich, Bubba Gump's (dh really wants to go), and surely many carts selling horrible-for-my-thighs-but-oh-so-tasty treats. Just added up the costs of the meals (plus tax and gratuity)...plus a guesstimate of snacks and QS and I was shocked to see over $1k!!! Wow
So I'm up, middle of the night debating whether or not to cancel the Candlelight Processional Package. For 6 of us, it was well over $300.
DH wants to go to Teppan Edo, which is fine by me. I'm sure I can schedule a lunch without the show. Ooh, plus there will be a new dining package available to schedule the first week of August. It's a holiday meal at Hollywood & Vine featuring the Fab 5 (I think) and Santa Goofy!
I guess my question is: Is the Candlelight Processional worth $300+? Is it THAT difficult to get into the show without a meal package?

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

I'm beginning to have ADR remorse...
As of yesterday I have the following scheduled:
Akershus (breakfast); Teppan Edo (lunch) Candlelight Processional Pkg; Crystal Palace (breakfast); and Tusker House (breakfast). Plus we plan to eat at Earl of Sandwich, Bubba Gump's (dh really wants to go), and surely many carts selling horrible-for-my-thighs-but-oh-so-tasty treats. Just added up the costs of the meals (plus tax and gratuity)...plus a guesstimate of snacks and QS and I was shocked to see over $1k!!! Wow
So I'm up, middle of the night debating whether or not to cancel the Candlelight Processional Package. For 6 of us, it was well over $300.
DH wants to go to Teppan Edo, which is fine by me. I'm sure I can schedule a lunch without the show. Ooh, plus there will be a new dining package available to schedule the first week of August. It's a holiday meal at Hollywood & Vine featuring the Fab 5 (I think) and Santa Goofy!
I guess my question is: Is the Candlelight Processional worth $300+? Is it THAT difficult to get into the show without a meal package?

When we went in the beginning/mid Dec it wasn't difficult at all to see the Candlelight Processional without the package, this was a couple years ago mind you, but I really don't think it would be that hard. It's beautiful but really does have a limited audience as it is a more "religious" type event and not everyone celebrates Christmas.

 

[mamaVonna]

When we went in the beginning/mid Dec it wasn't difficult at all to see the Candlelight Processional without the package, this was a couple years ago mind you, but I really don't think it would be that hard. It's beautiful but really does have a limited audience as it is a more "religious" type event and not everyone celebrates Christmas.

That's great news, thanks so much for responding! I'm going to cancel the show pkg tonight.

 

[SirDuff]

That's great news, thanks so much for responding! I'm going to cancel the show pkg tonight.

Check who the narrator is (if it's known yet). I think the popularity of a performance is highly dependent on the narrator. A Neil Patrick Harris performance, for example, is always hard to get into. I know that that are always thread about it - maybe in the Strategies forum.

 

[ember303]

That's great news, thanks so much for responding! I'm going to cancel the show pkg tonight.[/QUO

I know it is so hard not to go crazy and book EVERYTHING! Since Jackson can not eat I feel he cant eat.

 

[mamaVonna]

Check who the narrator is (if it's known yet). I think the popularity of a performance is highly dependent on the narrator. A Neil Patrick Harris performance, for example, is always hard to get into. I know that that are always thread about it - maybe in the Strategies forum.

Thanks, I'll start checking the list of narrators more often. I already canceled the ADR and just rescheduled for around the same time without the package. I can always reschedule it if there's a great narrator, thanks for the suggestion!

 

[mamaVonna]

What days have you requested? My little guy is beyond scared to fly. He has flown a couple of times, but he wishes to drive! So this is his trip, so we will drive. *sigh* Does any of your little ones use a wheelchair? My little guy does due to stamina and weakness. If so are you planning on taking or renting one? I am including a picture of my little guy. It is just a picture of him getting his infusions.

We've requested 12/9-12/15. Wish we could extend but we can't. DS has exams the day after we return.
We have 2 girls in wheelchairs. Katyana and baby Keira are both non-ambulatory.

 

[mamaVonna]

Has anyone requested any free designs from the DISigners boards? I jumped the gun and bought cute tees for the kids MONTHS ago and now I'd really like to get some cute custom shirts. If you have, do you have any DISigner you'd recommend? I'm mostly interested in t-shirts but would love some cute notecards and other stationary as well. Thanks!

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Tomorrow is the big day for us. Our BIG wish reveal is tomorrow, our little guy has been asked to be the wish kid ambassador at our chapters annual golf classic. His wish trip is being sponsored by the country club that is hosting the event. I am so excited, I had his MAW tee which was WAY too big made into a romper so he could actually wear it and it's so cute. I am happy that I will FINALLY be able to talk about the trip around the kids. I can't wait to see their faces when they find out.

 

[mamaVonna]

Tomorrow is the big day for us. Our BIG wish reveal is tomorrow, our little guy has been asked to be the wish kid ambassador at our chapters annual golf classic. His wish trip is being sponsored by the country club that is hosting the event. I am so excited, I had his MAW tee which was WAY too big made into a romper so he could actually wear it and it's so cute. I am happy that I will FINALLY be able to talk about the trip around the kids. I can't wait to see their faces when they find out.

That is sure to be exciting, can't wait to see pictures!! I bet you're bursting at the seams, ready to tell them all about wdw!!

 

[ember303]

Has anyone requested any free designs from the DISigners boards? I jumped the gun and bought cute tees for the kids MONTHS ago and now I'd really like to get some cute custom shirts. If you have, do you have any DISigner you'd recommend? I'm mostly interested in t-shirts but would love some cute notecards and other stationary as well. Thanks!

I posted on the disboutique and only one person responded with their etsy shop name. I wanted to give our business to a fellow diser. Was hoping for a couple of more options : )

 

[ember303]

Tomorrow is the big day for us. Our BIG wish reveal is tomorrow, our little guy has been asked to be the wish kid ambassador at our chapters annual golf classic. His wish trip is being sponsored by the country club that is hosting the event. I am so excited, I had his MAW tee which was WAY too big made into a romper so he could actually wear it and it's so cute. I am happy that I will FINALLY be able to talk about the trip around the kids. I can't wait to see their faces when they find out.

How exciting! Did they not understand about it when the make a wish granters came? That is so exciting! I cant imagine keeping that secret! I bet you are so excited to share!!!!! Let us know how they take it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ember303]

We've requested 12/9-12/15. Wish we could extend but we can't. DS has exams the day after we return.
We have 2 girls in wheelchairs. Katyana and baby Keira are both non-ambulatory.

Okay we are flying! The wish granters talked him into it! I cant believe how amazing the wish granters where! I mean they where amazing!!!! The kids loved them, and frankly so did I! Jackson has recently been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis along with the other list of things. He went and picked out his new wheelchair today. He has a stroller now. He is excited because it is orange. Where you all able to take a helper?

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Oh my GOSH GOSH GOSH our day today was just fabulous. We arrived at the Golf Course in the morning and right away were treated like royalty. They had us join the golfers to eat breakfast before the event started and then they brought us out to start the tournament. Our kids didn't know that our little guys wish was granted yet so this was the BIG reveal.

They had the golf carts all lined up and had the golfing teams set to go in front of us in the carts. THEN the music started on the loud speaker, the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme, Casper (our wish kid) started getting so excited. The announcer came out and our wish granters from MAW came out with minnie ears on and carrying HUGE Mickey balloons and a Mickey hat for Casper as well as family shirts they had made for us all. This is when it got extra special, the announcer started reading a letter from THE MICKEY MAN himself letting Casper know that he was getting his wish to spend his birthday with Mickey and the gang. It was so special.

The country club that hosted the event has adopted our son as "their" Wish Kid, and sponsored his trip. They presented a special plaque to the country club with a picture of Casper and his name and a little about him.

After this we got to spend 2.5 hrs helping them run a donation putting draw to help raise funds for MAW. The golfers were all so nice and patient with Casper as he was VERY excited to help them golf. They treated him like he was a Prince and were just amazing. We also got to hand out ice cream and play on the golf course. After ward we got the final itinerary for our trip, we have our boarding passes, insurance and spending money as well as all of our details for the trip. They also sent us home with a TON of goodies including a Sony digital camera for the kids to take pics on the trip and a memory card and a bunch of other MAW goodies, sunglasses, shirts, hats etc. Plus toys of course.

I can honestly say they went above and beyond, if we only got to experience that then we would be happy it was just such a great time. It really makes you realize that there truly ARE caring, loving people in the world. Our little guy has had a really hard past almost 2 months so this was a nice little reprieve for us, now I feel like WE CAN DO THIS again.

 

[ember303]

Oh wow!!!! That is super fun and exciting! I am impressed that you kept is such a secret! There is no way I could do that!!!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my GOSH GOSH GOSH our day today was just fabulous. We arrived at the Golf Course in the morning and right away were treated like royalty. They had us join the golfers to eat breakfast before the event started and then they brought us out to start the tournament. Our kids didn't know that our little guys wish was granted yet so this was the BIG reveal.

They had the golf carts all lined up and had the golfing teams set to go in front of us in the carts. THEN the music started on the loud speaker, the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme, Casper (our wish kid) started getting so excited. The announcer came out and our wish granters from MAW came out with minnie ears on and carrying HUGE Mickey balloons and a Mickey hat for Casper as well as family shirts they had made for us all. This is when it got extra special, the announcer started reading a letter from THE MICKEY MAN himself letting Casper know that he was getting his wish to spend his birthday with Mickey and the gang. It was so special.

The country club that hosted the event has adopted our son as "their" Wish Kid, and sponsored his trip. They presented a special plaque to the country club with a picture of Casper and his name and a little about him.

After this we got to spend 2.5 hrs helping them run a donation putting draw to help raise funds for MAW. The golfers were all so nice and patient with Casper as he was VERY excited to help them golf. They treated him like he was a Prince and were just amazing. We also got to hand out ice cream and play on the golf course. After ward we got the final itinerary for our trip, we have our boarding passes, insurance and spending money as well as all of our details for the trip. They also sent us home with a TON of goodies including a Sony digital camera for the kids to take pics on the trip and a memory card and a bunch of other MAW goodies, sunglasses, shirts, hats etc. Plus toys of course.

I can honestly say they went above and beyond, if we only got to experience that then we would be happy it was just such a great time. It really makes you realize that there truly ARE caring, loving people in the world. Our little guy has had a really hard past almost 2 months so this was a nice little reprieve for us, now I feel like WE CAN DO THIS again.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Oh wow!!!! That is super fun and exciting! I am impressed that you kept is such a secret! There is no way I could do that!!!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am pretty sure it's the biggest secret I have ever kept, it was hard for sure. It's so nice that we can talk about it now and not have to worry. LOL

So the biggest thing we found out today is that we don't get a rental car during our stay. Instead we have to take the GKTW Mears shuttle to the parks. I looked it up and while it's nice to not have to drive and worry about parking and gas etc. the shuttle to Disney doesn't leave until 10am every morning. You get one return trip per day per park and the earliest you can call for the shuttle home from the park is 3pm.

Our family wakes up daily at 6am. We are early risers and would really like to get to the parks at opening, with the ride to the park I am guessing you are likely not to get there until 10:45 or so. The info from GKTW also says that our daily shuttle itinerary has already been planned for us, so what parks what days for transportation, so if you want to change it after you get your schedule during the info meeting you have to call the day before. Not a big deal but still a pain for a planner like me, I hope they have us going to Magic Kingdom on his birthday day. Also it kinda puts a crimp in our plans to pick up diapers, some snacks and other things we need for the villa when we arrive. We have to pay for our luggage too so I definitely don't want to bring much extra.

Has anyone had experience with the Mears GKTW transpo, what's it like? Am I worrying about nothing?

We are looking into how much a rental car would be to see if we might be able to swing it if we wanted to do that instead.

 

[potsiemom]

we used the mears shuttle it was ok he late depart gave us time to have breakfast at the village and to se ethe characters and do the morning activities like horse back riding.

 

[mamaVonna]

Oh my GOSH GOSH GOSH our day today was just fabulous.

Wow, what an amazing day! I'm so happy you all were able to to enjoy such a fabulous start to Casper's wish come true