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

[jojuvanlaanen]

12/9 (day of arrival) we're going to downtown disney for ADR at T-Rex Cafe at 4. We'll hit Once Upon a Toy to do the Mr. Potato head box and Build Your Own Light Saber; Goofy's Candy Co.; LEGO store; Ghiradelli's; Disney Pin Traders then back to GKTW for the night.
12/10 Universal and Islands of Adventure, lunch at Bubba Gump's at CityWalk then back to GKTW for the Christmas party
12/11 Epcot, breakfast at Akershus at 9:45, Park for the rest of the day; Illuminations at 9:30
12/12 MK, all day. Undecided on Character dining here. Planned to pack nutritious snacks & buy junk like the infamous turkey leg, mickey bars, popcorn, etc.
12/13 Downtown Disney, souvenir shopping. Drop the teen at Disney Quest while we shop. Maybe the DH too!
12/14 Animal Kingdom (hoping to snag an ADR at Tusker House for breakfast); leave around 2 or 3 and head to HS
12/15 Departure day if time allows, we will go to either Sea World for a few hours or the outlet mall
I'd love to extend our trip, I'll ask them Friday. Not getting my hopes up though.
We have another dd with the exact same condition. She will likely qualify for MAW in the future.
This will be our very first vacation since our family has been complete. Last vacay was Gatlinburg in 2008!

Ok, I wanted to comment on your itinarary because you gave me some great ideas, and we have done some of them so maybe I can help too!

12/9 (day of arrival) we're going to downtown disney for ADR at T-Rex Cafe at 4. We'll hit Once Upon a Toy to do the Mr. Potato head box and Build Your Own Light Saber; Goofy's Candy Co.; LEGO store; Ghiradelli's; Disney Pin Traders then back to GKTW for the night. - we did the Mr. Potato Head box thing too! It was (and still is) a big hit for our kids. Last time we were there was 2012. Best bargain ever! Do you collect pins? Are you going to do pin trading??
12/10 Universal and Islands of Adventure, lunch at Bubba Gump's at CityWalk then back to GKTW for the Christmas party - You are only doing 1 day for both parks? They say you can do one day at EACH park... because it's that big. Especially if you have older kids who like the thrill rides. I've also read (but not confirmed) that this is not a park hopper ticket, so if you do both parks in one day than that's it. There is no second day.
12/11 Epcot, breakfast at Akershus at 9:45, Park for the rest of the day; Illuminations at 9:30 -I'm so jealous of your Akershus reservation! I hope we can secure a spot there. I hear THIS is the place to go for a princess meal.. that its way better than the one at the Magic Kingdom. Also, IMO, Illuminations is the best nighttime show of all the parks. I think the best view is in Mexico, drinking margaritas while watching the fireworks! Another fun thing is the Coke place.. I think it's by Test Track. You can try FREE coke from all over the world.
12/12 MK, all day. Undecided on Character dining here. Planned to pack nutritious snacks & buy junk like the infamous turkey leg, mickey bars, popcorn, etc. - The castle is BEAUTIFUL during Wishes in the Christmas season. gives me teary eyes every time I see it! Also be sure to add a Dole Whip to your snack list. I never had a turkey leg, so I'm excited to try one!
12/13 Downtown Disney, souvenir shopping. Drop the teen at Disney Quest while we shop. Maybe the DH too! - I totally forgot about Disney Quest!!! This a fantastic idea! I brought this idea up to my hubby and 13 year old and they are WAYYY more excited about Disney Quest than they are to shop in Downtown Disney. Boys go play games, girls go shop!!!
12/14 Animal Kingdom (hoping to snag an ADR at Tusker House for breakfast); leave around 2 or 3 and head to HS - Animal Kingdom is pretty neat, but IMO HS is way better. We are going to do HS first, and Animal Kingdom last. I'm fine to spend just 2-3 hours there... Just make sure you ride Everest... and I hear the Lion King show is amazing.. we've never seen it but I think we will this time!
12/15 Departure day if time allows, we will go to either Sea World for a few hours or the outlet mall
I'd love to extend our trip, I'll ask them Friday. Not getting my hopes up though. - Hopefully you can extend. Do you know about the pass thing they give you when you checkout of GKTW? There are soo many things you can do with this card, and it's all free! I hear you can also pick up Legoland and Bushgarden tickets and Kennedy Space Center tickets at GKTW... Pretty sure those are complimentary as well.
We have another dd with the exact same condition. She will likely qualify for MAW in the future. - I'm so sorry to hear this. Do you think she will pick Disney as well? Maybe it depends on how much she loves this trip!
This will be our very first vacation since our family has been complete. Last vacay was Gatlinburg in 2008! - I really hop you have a fantastic time!!! Vacations are so important!

Also...I found a list of AWESOME souviners that cost very little money, and are very unique. Lots of great ideas. I'll find it and send it to you!

 

[jojuvanlaanen]

I called give kids the world and asked about the tickets when we decided to extend.They told me the disney tickets expire 14 days after you arrive.So we are doing universal,seaworld and aquatica doing the wish trip and saving our disney tickets till we move onto disney property.I added the meal plan to that part so we will be able to try out alot of disney restraunts doing our extension.

hmmm...It also says on the GKTW website that it is RECOMMENDED that you use your tickets during your stay. I assumed they were able to be used later... Maybe our MAW chapter just doesn't know this. That's a great idea to call GKTW. I just may do that. That's great that you are able to stay on disney property after!!! woo hoo! I also read about the National Car rental and that they have some deal with them. So when you extend you can keep the same car, they just transfer the rental to you. And there is also supposed to be a discount on the rental. Is that correct?

 

[potsiemom]

We are not doing a rental car I have anxiety issues so will not drive in orlando and my husband had a stroke 2 months ago so he opted not to go on the trip.He is still recovering and trying to catch up at work so it will just be me and the 5 kids.We will be using mears shuttle from give kids the world to the parks and then disney busses once we move onto property.My biggest thing now is make a wish is flying us into sanford our plane is due to land at 6 and orientation at give kids the world is at 745.Its over a hour from airport to give kids the world so we will probally have to do orientation the next day which then makes us miss the shuttle that morning.I guess we can just pay for a cab that day.

 

[jojuvanlaanen]

I'm really suprised at they way they are handling things. Why fly you into an airport that is an hour away? And why is your flight not getting in until 6 pm? And referring to previous posts... why are they not doing a sendoff party? Where is your chapter located?

 

[potsiemom]

Our chapter uses frontier airline because they give them the best deal and they only fly into sanford.We have to drive over a hour to get to the airport here to when a bigger airport is just 10 minutes from my house that flyes into orlando but they say they book where they can get the best rate.They have never mentioned a send off party I was hoping they would when they got our stuff ready but the other day she called and said our stuff was ready they would be sending it ups and gave me a tracking number.I dont know if its no volunteers or because my daughter is older (17) or maybe just lack of funding But the whole thing while still be wonderful has been very inpersonable.we are in west virginia.

 

[SirDuff]

hmmm...It also says on the GKTW website that it is RECOMMENDED that you use your tickets during your stay. I assumed they were able to be used later... Maybe our MAW chapter just doesn't know this. That's a great idea to call GKTW. I just may do that. That's great that you are able to stay on disney property after!!! woo hoo! I also read about the National Car rental and that they have some deal with them. So when you extend you can keep the same car, they just transfer the rental to you. And there is also supposed to be a discount on the rental. Is that correct?

I wonder if the person you spoke to/texted with was thinking about the Genie Pass/whatever other places have. My understanding is that those can only be used during the actual Wish Trip - not during an extension (though, obviously, one could get a DAS if needed).

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

I know if you look at the Wish Step by Step guide on the GKTW website it says the tickets need to be used during your wish trip, what that means exactly IDK. I would think it would be like the genie pass.

I went ahead and booked an ADR at Chef Mickey for the day that we will be there that is his actual birthday day. Do you think I should let MAW know since having a birthday party with Mickey and the gang was part of his actual wish?

 

[jojuvanlaanen]

Twice_as_nice....I think in the GKTW guide is where it says they "recommend" you use the cards during your trip. I believe that's where I read that.

Our trip will probably be October 21 or 24, but all character meals are booked! all of them!!!

 

[jojuvanlaanen]

Tickets are only intended for use on the wish. Regardless of the printed expiration date, the family is encouraged to use the tickets during wish dates. - That came straight from the GKTW page. I think MAW and GKTW are encouraging people to use the tickets during the wish trip, but it is probably not required and they are probably the 14 day tickets.

 

[potsiemom]

I see character meals available on the 21 and 24th even a chef mickey for the 24th so just keep checking and I am sure you will find what you need

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Twice_as_nice....I think in the GKTW guide is where it says they "recommend" you use the cards during your trip. I believe that's where I read that.

Our trip will probably be October 21 or 24, but all character meals are booked! all of them!!!

I guess the thing to do is to call GKTW maybe and get it straight from someone there, if you wanted to be 100% sure, the specifications.

I wish we could do more than one character meal but we don't have the money so we will be packing lunches and dinners to bring to the parks and trying to eat at GKTW where we can. We are doing one character meal because we will be there for our MAW child's actual 4th birthday so we thought it would be a way to celebrate. We are going Sept 24th - Oct 1st.

 

[jojuvanlaanen]

I did book at 1900 Park Fare, but other than Ohana's and tuskan House that's all I found! She loves the princesses so I'm hoping to secure a reservation at Akershus.

Twice_as_Nice, doesn't MAW pay for your character meal(s)? They should also give you money for in the parks as well. Our coordinators said they pretty much count on you eating Breakfast and Dinner at GKTW, but they give you some money for food in the parks during lunch.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Twice_as_Nice, doesn't MAW pay for your character meal(s)? They should also give you money for in the parks as well. Our coordinators said they pretty much count on you eating Breakfast and Dinner at GKTW, but they give you some money for food in the parks during lunch.

The info I saw was that GKTW suggests 45/per day per person for incidentals like food, gas for the rental car you get, snacks, drinks and souvenirs. Some MAW give less some give slightly more it sounds like, from other trip reports, it depends. $45 wouldn't pay for won't leave very much for gas and other needed things after a character meal I don't think.

 

[jojuvanlaanen]

I don't think it includes the rental car. I'm pretty sure that and one character meal are separate...and paid for desperately. The $45/ person (approx.) Is supposed to be for souviners, food, gas, tolls and other incidentals. That's how I understand it anyway.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

I don't think it includes the rental car. I'm pretty sure that and one character meal are separate...and paid for desperately. The $45/ person (approx.) Is supposed to be for souviners, food, gas, tolls and other incidentals. That's how I understand it anyway.

No I meant the $45 includes gas for the rental car. As far as I know the family or the wish granting organization have to pay for any character meals separately, or with the money allowance that is given they are not included in the wish from GKTW. If you go to page 18 in this document it talks about character dining http://www.gktw.org/wgo/pdf/wish-step-by-step.pdf

 

[jojuvanlaanen]

I really do think it depends on your wish chapter. If your child's wish is to be a part of the Indiana Jones stunt show, then they will probably set that up. If the wish is to dine with the characters, then they will set that up. My daughters wish was to be a princess and then have dinner with Ariel....so maybe that is why they will cover the character meal for her. But I know in my wish granters handbook they read to me that they will include 1 extra thing (meal, BBB, show...etc.)

 

[potsiemom]

our chapter would pay for one extra
we choose lanouba over a character meal

 

[marvelmom]

Hi everyone! This is my very first post, though I've been lurking for awhile and enjoying everyone's tips and stories. I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of MAW granting a trip to Disneyworld only and not include Universal? My DS has been approved for a wish. He was recently diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as well as being moderately Autistic and having developmental delays. Chronologically he is 16, however, developmentally he is closer to 7 or 8 years old. We met our wish grantors last month. He wished for a trip to Florida to visit Disney AND Universal because Mickey and Spider-Man are his two favorite characters in the world. I was excited to read that the MAW trips usually include both parks, so i was sure he wouldn't be disappointed. Fast forward to this week.....Our wish grantors called to let me know that his wish was approved, but only for Disneyworld because MAW considers Universal a second wish. Has this happened to anyone else? My DS's wish reveal party is Saturday and I'm afraid he'll be more disappointed than excited if they tell him he's going to Florida but can't go to Universal. Could the wish grantor be mistaken? Or has this been the case for anyone?

 

[potsiemom]

do you know if you sre staying at give kids the world i believe they always include disney,universal and seaworld

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

I don't think it's one extra per day though I think it would be one extra thing total but I honestly don't know. It does seem to vary by chapter and by situation.