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

[PunchkinPatrol]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I'm not too good at keeping up with things. I just posted an update on my trip report but I'm not sure if anyone is even reading it so I'm putting it on here as well Hope that's ok!

Wow, I'm horrible at this updating stuff. For a while I couldn't find this thread at all Anyway, I wanted to share that we told Holden about his Wish this past weekend. We surprised him in the morning with a giant box. In the box there were balloons that came out as soon as he opened it and one balloon read "Your Wish Came True" and the other said "Mickey Mouse Boat - August 18th". When his older brother, Trey, read them, he got so excited! We then had a small cake and a gift from Mickey for him to unwrap (it was underwear, I really need him to potty train!!!). We made it a family affair just us and the kids (and well, Ana was there too, she helped with everything). Here's a picture:

Our Volunteer told me she'll stop by the house a few days before the trip to drop off our itinerary and spending money so I guess that is next. We are saving up our pennies to pay for all the "extras" (we are not sure what exactly MAW pays for so just in case we are budgeting for everything). Everyone is so excited about this and Holden is really looking forward to getting on an airplane for the first time and seeing Mickey!!!

 

[2specialkids]

Indiana Children's Wish Fund is granting my DD a Wish trip! They called today to let us know. We are going Sept 26-Oct 2. We're so excited because Daddy is going too. I'm excited but part of me is a little sad that both of my kids have qualified for trips. Still, I'm putting that aside a we're going to make this trip AMAZING for her.
I'll start our pre-trip when I get home. Typing on this kindle is making me crazy lol!

 

[JasmineOtt]

Hi! My name is Jasmine. My brother Jesse was just granted a wish from Make a Wish! We haven't met with his wish granters yet, but we are excited to start the planning process! We have a lot of questions we are anxious to have answered and would love any info or tips you can give us.

I posted the beginning of a PTR, because I thought I had to do that first, but we're just so excited to begin planning and ready to have all our questions answered! It's under the Pre-Trip Reports and Plans Forum under "Jesse's Wish Trip MAW!!!"

 

[Happy Dreams1]

I don't exactly know how visiting as an Alumni Family works. We really want to visit and return for the first time after the wish trip (2011) in January 2014. We also want to do a couple days at Universal and IOA.

Can anyone shed some light as to how we have to present ourselves and what to expect? It will be the same people visiting ( same # too) as when we were on the wish trip.

 

[livndisney]

I don't exactly know how visiting as an Alumni Family works. We really want to visit and return for the first time after the wish trip (2011) in January 2014. We also want to do a couple days at Universal and IOA.

Can anyone shed some light as to how we have to present ourselves and what to expect? It will be the same people visiting ( same # too) as when we were on the wish trip.

You can visit the village as an Alumni Family, look around etc. Some families even go back and volunteer.

 

[Kktraylor]

We just made it home from our trip. Wow!! It was simply magical!!!

Kristy

 

[taliasmom]

We just made it home from our trip. Wow!! It was simply magical!!!

Kristy

So fast! Sigh...wish they were longer

 

[taliasmom]

Talia got a box of goodies from MAW today! Pretty cool! All smiles tonight, although she wasn't interested when we opened it, lol. She's happy now.

 

[NEmel]

We just made it home from our trip. Wow!! It was simply magical!!!

Kristy

Yea! Can't wait to hear more!!

 

[4pmama]

How have families with toddlers in tow handled naps during their wish trips? DS will be 23 months on our trip in Nov. He's 19 months now and naps once a day usually in the morning after being up about 3 hours. We are on the west coast, so between the time change, age change, and MAW magical fun-filled days, I'm stuck with how to work in his naps in my plans. If we stick to an AM nap, I worry he won't go down because its 3 hours ahead of normal from the time change. Midday would be better. Winging it kinda scares me! Ha! How have other families approached this?

Ramona naps too, but in that regard she's easy. She can sleep any old time during the day! Night is rough at times, but naps are always good!

 

[taliasmom]

How have families with toddlers in tow handled naps during their wish trips? DS will be 23 months on our trip in Nov. He's 19 months now and naps once a day usually in the morning after being up about 3 hours. We are on the west coast, so between the time change, age change, and MAW magical fun-filled days, I'm stuck with how to work in his naps in my plans. If we stick to an AM nap, I worry he won't go down because its 3 hours ahead of normal from the time change. Midday would be better. Winging it kinda scares me! Ha! How have other families approached this?

Ramona naps too, but in that regard she's easy. She can sleep any old time during the day! Night is rough at times, but naps are always good!

I was thinking the wish lounge for Talia's feeds, naps might work there too. But as far as non Disney parks, I don't know. I think we will spend afternoons at gktw in the villa due to the heat and do the parks morning and evenings, naps can get worked in that way. I'm trying not to over plan and remain flexible, it's hard, lol.

 

[Jessicalynne]

Hi, I am Jessica and I have been lurking for awhile, but we finally got our dates for our MAW trip today, so I am going to introduce myself. My daughter is Jordyn, and her brother is Jeremy. Jordyn is my wish kid and she was diagnosed on June 12th, 2012 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We are going on our wish trip on October 4th, 2013, and are super excited to get away and enjoy ourselves!

Here is my daughter:

Here is my son:

 

[taliasmom]

Hi, I am Jessica and I have been lurking for awhile, but we finally got our dates for our MAW trip today, so I am going to introduce myself. My daughter is Jordyn, and her brother is Jeremy. Jordyn is my wish kid and she was diagnosed on June 12th, 2012 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We are going on our wish trip on October 4th, 2013, and are super excited to get away and enjoy ourselves!

Here is my daughter:

Here is my son:

Welcome! Cute kids, and great dates! Perfect time of year, I'm a bit jealous!

 

[JasmineOtt]

Hi, my name is Jasmine and we are just at the beginning of our journey with my brother Jesse's wish trip. We have a date to meet with his Wish Granters! August 11th. I have so many questions to ask. Jesse is non verbal, and we are worried they'll think we're asking for things that we want, not what he would want. How does a wish granter visit normally go? What should we expect and what questions should we ask?

Thank you,
Jasmine

 

[taliasmom]

Hi, my name is Jasmine and we are just at the beginning of our journey with my brother Jesse's wish trip. We have a date to meet with his Wish Granters! August 11th. I have so many questions to ask. Jesse is non verbal, and we are worried they'll think we're asking for things that we want, not what he would want. How does a wish granter visit normally go? What should we expect and what questions should we ask?

Thank you,
Jasmine

Talia is non verbal, she really doesn't communicate much other than smiles or crying,(she doesn't walk or have use of her hands either) they understand, and are really cool about working with the family. I didn't need to stress half as much as I did.

 

[taliasmom]

Hi, my name is Jasmine and we are just at the beginning of our journey with my brother Jesse's wish trip. We have a date to meet with his Wish Granters! August 11th. I have so many questions to ask. Jesse is non verbal, and we are worried they'll think we're asking for things that we want, not what he would want. How does a wish granter visit normally go? What should we expect and what questions should we ask?

Thank you,
Jasmine

Oh, and Welcome!

 

[JasmineOtt]

Thank you!

Jesse is the same way, non verbal, cannot walk. He is 18 years old and 50lbs. But he smiles. He rarely cries, except in extreme situations. He loves visual and auditory stimulation. Big, bright colors, and loud music and noises. We went to Disneyland December 2010 and were amazed by how much he was able to do there. So we think that Disney World is perfect for his wish. We would never be able to afford it ourselves, even just the cost of flying with everything he needs. He's on the Ketogenic diet for seizure control and is tube fed. He is also on oxygen a lot of the time. I'm sure MAW is used to flying kids with all of their equipment, but we're not! Jesse's never been on a commercial plane. He did have a life flight in 2009, but that's a different story.

Anyways, we're so excited! Has anyone asked to stay anywhere other than GKTW? When we first found out Jesse was getting a MAW we started dreaming around the internet about what we would do. We hadn't heard about GKTW yet, and saw the new Art of Animation Resort and thought Jesse would absolutely LOVE that. We also thought it would be easier to stay onsite.

Any info is greatly appreciated!

 

[taliasmom]

Thank you!

Jesse is the same way, non verbal, cannot walk. He is 18 years old and 50lbs. But he smiles. He rarely cries, except in extreme situations. He loves visual and auditory stimulation. Big, bright colors, and loud music and noises. We went to Disneyland December 2010 and were amazed by how much he was able to do there. So we think that Disney World is perfect for his wish. We would never be able to afford it ourselves, even just the cost of flying with everything he needs. He's on the Ketogenic diet for seizure control and is tube fed. He is also on oxygen a lot of the time. I'm sure MAW is used to flying kids with all of their equipment, but we're not! Jesse's never been on a commercial plane. He did have a life flight in 2009, but that's a different story.

Anyways, we're so excited! Has anyone asked to stay anywhere other than GKTW? When we first found out Jesse was getting a MAW we started dreaming around the internet about what we would do. We hadn't heard about GKTW yet, and saw the new Art of Animation Resort and thought Jesse would absolutely LOVE that. We also thought it would be easier to stay onsite.

Any info is greatly appreciated!

We took Talia to Disneyland early last year, and yes, she too just lit up while we were there. So yes, no other wish made sense to us. She is tube fed formula but on meds for seizures, suction, but no oxygen. The flights aren't always easy, but they can be done. You can request off site placement, but I know it costs less for families to stay at gktw. I've heard of it though. It is a nice resort(AoA).

 

[Jessicalynne]

What are some absolutely can't miss things to do by and at Disney World? My daughter is 4 and my son is 2 and a half. Only my hubby has been before.

Also, what are some fun things to do to prepare for Disney? I have heard the chain thing, and that sounds easy and super fun, and I think we will do a Disney movie or two a week to lead up to it, but I really want to come up with some more fun things to do. What have you all done to get the kids super excited about the trip? I may do a theme night with each movie, but I would love other ideas to really make this trip and the time leading up to it really special for my little ones. I want them to really get Disney and who the characters are and everything. Is there a thread somewhere that you know of or something that I could look at for ideas? Maybe something to help me figure out what to do for my Disney themed nights, or activities to do that are Disney themed?

 

[Jessicalynne]

Does anyone know if it is possible to change the title of a thread I started for my pre-trip report?
Thanks!