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

[pnutallergymom]

I keep wondering why you guys all think April will be HOT, then I noticed Shannon's location (NH). I keep forgetting most of you are northeast. We will be coming from similar temps by April, although no humidity, so I don't expect to be overwhelmed by the heat. We do have some cold days in winter (today is a cool 58/34) but in summer it's often over 100 and with monsoons, we even have humidity. So. AZ is a weird climate. Anyway, hot for my girls is when the swings and slide are too hot to touch and you can't set foot outside without shoes on.

I LOVE this Melissa!! I picked this weather specifically because of the temps!!! We just plan accordingly. When we went that time in February, I was NOT a happy camper with the weather!! To me there is nothing worse than going away to a "tropical" place and freezing your rear end off!!! But, Brigitte also doesn't have alot of issues with regard to her body temperature either. She probably won't be overly comfortable, but I don't expect the rest of us to be either. I never find the heat to be a problem in the parks unless you are standing in lines for a LOOOOOONG time. Like I said, we will do parks in the morning, go back to the hotel and cool off, relax...and then go back at night time anyways. Avoiding the peak heat times!!!

BTW...we are having a "warm" day here today. Its 32 right now. Yesterday was 19, wind chill -2!! Its going to warm up and be in the 40's for the rest of the week here!!!

 

[that's nice]

I keep wondering why you guys all think April will be HOT, then I noticed Shannon's location (NH). I keep forgetting most of you are northeast. We will be coming from similar temps by April, although no humidity, so I don't expect to be overwhelmed by the heat. We do have some cold days in winter (today is a cool 58/34) but in summer it's often over 100 and with monsoons, we even have humidity. So. AZ is a weird climate. Anyway, hot for my girls is when the swings and slide are too hot to touch and you can't set foot outside without shoes on.

58 huh? That's nice!!!

Today it hit 34 here- it was the first day over freezing since December 28th! At night it's been in-between 0-25 degrees. In April it is usually in the 60's here, except last year we did have 2-3 days that hit 90! Coming from AZ, I think the weather in Florida will be similar to what your used to in Arizona.

 

[kellyw8863]

Kelly, apparently my "subscription" to touringplans.com ended with the new year. Maybe Maroo can still get the numbers for you? Sorry! I do remember that the weekend we leave it was surprisingly lower than earlier in the week. I want to say 4's through the weekend.

No worries! Thanks!

My water situation...

Is horrible.

For those of you guys not aware...the City of Jackson, MS has had no water since Monday. Today is Thursday! URGH!

Over 100 city pipes burst during the major cold snap we had a week ago and they are still thawing out and breaking and the city just can't keep up. So many broke that the water pressure in the city went so low that now very few people have running water in the city. Those that do have water are all under a strict boil water alert (which will probably last for days AFTER we get water back).

School have been closed, restaurants, all goverment buildings, even medical clinics are closed all around the city. The larger hospitals have their own water supply (this was done after Katrina), so they are all fine and have water, but the external clinics (like us) still don't have water.

To make things just that much better...it STINKS today. Someone messed up something somewhere. It smells like a sewer pipe in my office today. Gag.

Oh my gosh! I had no idea! I hope that things start looking up soon!

wow! I haven't posted in awhile and then stopped getting emails. Volume 3! I'm out of the loop lately. I do have something to share though. It took me a year, but I finally put an album together about AJ's MAW cruise. I'm going to find his post trip report and post it there as well.

AJ's Magical MAW Cruise Album

I can't wait to look at the pictures!

Hi Kelly,

Just wanted to let you know, that according to TGM (he does it by blue people days, 5 being the highest) April 11-17th is 4 blue people and then the 18th-30th is 3 blue people.

As you know, we are going the 4/24-5/5.....this is the exact time we went in 2007...it was crowded, but manageable. If you remember, I followed the touring plans to a T and we had a great vacation...we did have the GAC for Brigitte but obviously not the "GKTW Golden Ticket" , and we were perfectly fine.

I guess my only concern for you is going to be the heat. It was in the 90's everyday when we were there. Brigitte was only 8mo old, so it wasn't much of an issue for her then, I know it will be now. My older kids, who are perfectly healthy wanted to stay at the pool ALL day it was so hot. We made it a point to do the parks early in the morning (like rope drop everyday early) and then went back to POR EVERY day for the afternoon for naps/pool. We would then go back to the parks at night when it cooled off and the sun was winding down. If we were not going to be able to extend this trip, I would not be taking Brigge down in April. I would go more around Dec/Feb/March. But then again, you never know what the weather will be. We were there last year in February swimming in the pool (got sunburns mid-80's) but woke up to frost on the windshield the next morning and spent the rest of the week in sweatshirts/hats/mittens.

It's such a hard call. Have you guys thought at all about putting it off until the fall? If Brigitte ends up having heart surgery again, and we need to postpone, I wouldn't be upset at all about going down during the holiday season.....we have friends who leave on Thanksgiving Day every single year, and wouldn't EVER go at another time. They LOVE waking up the day after thanksgiving and seeing the parks decked out for the holidays!! If you went that week, you would only miss a few days of school. I'm just "writing out loud" now!!

Sending you a ...I know this wasn't expected for you.

Thanks, Shannon. We really are okay with the 20th-26th. I think I was just reacting to the idea of change (even though we didn't have dates in the first place), and I'm incredibly stressed about having to ask work for the time off. Every year, I use every single one of my sick days. Every. one. But Ali has so many appointments, hospitalizations, surgeries, etc., that it can't be avoided. I'm afraid I won't even have a personal day left by the time of the trip. As for waiting until next year, it sounds like we'll have the same issue because she kept saying it had to do with wanting our trip to coincide with a school vacation week and the increased cost of airfare. So, it is what it is, and we're so incredibly grateful that we even get to do this in the first place.

I keep wondering why you guys all think April will be HOT, then I noticed Shannon's location (NH). I keep forgetting most of you are northeast. We will be coming from similar temps by April, although no humidity, so I don't expect to be overwhelmed by the heat. We do have some cold days in winter (today is a cool 58/34) but in summer it's often over 100 and with monsoons, we even have humidity. So. AZ is a weird climate. Anyway, hot for my girls is when the swings and slide are too hot to touch and you can't set foot outside without shoes on.

There are a couple of us on here from the great Northeast, and it's been cold lately! Today felt downright balmy because it hit 30 degrees. 58, and I'd have all the windows open! For Ali, anything over 80, or so, is going to cause some problems. We do have a cooling vest for her, but it doesn't work in humidity. Running ice water through her GT helps somewhat, but the heat is definitely a concern.

 

[cleostar09]

Well, after a month I finally got started on our Trip Report!!
click here to follow: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2372124

 

[momma_mouse]

Handy Manny normally rotates with JoJo and Goliath. So, you will see one group for a designated time period and then they switch. The Little Einsteins tend to be Leo and Annie since Quincy and June are at the Hollywood and Vine restaurant. However, this can also change by the day. Mater and Lightning McQueen have their own meet and greet spot on the Streets of NY.

Then on non-Fantasmic days you can find lots of characters by going through the Inside Animation store and out the back entrance that puts you in an inside character courtyard. The characters vary, but they rotate every 15 minutes between two sets of characters. Generally, you can meet about 30 characters in an hour here.

Woody is out at the Magic Kingdom in Frontierland sometimes. The only time I have heard of meeting Bullseye is at MVMCCP, but he is often in parades so your son could at least wave to him!

Why on non-Fantasmic days? I had planned to be there on a Fantasmic day. If character appearances are going to be low then I'll have to swap that around.

 

[maroo]

Well, after a month I finally got started on our Trip Report!!
click here to follow: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2372124

Great start!!!!!

I am so impressed with how well you planned everything for your large family. It is so nice to see someone as young as you take up so much responsibility! And to take time to share your trip with us (and hang on to the memories for yourselves, of course, is a great thing to do!)

We will be glad to follow along! Can't wait to hear more!!!

 

[Savannah's Mami]

Will anyone be at Disney next week? My mom has surprised us with tickets for next week and I plan to take Savvy to GKTW.

 

[momma_mouse]

Will anyone be at Disney next week? My mom has surprised us with tickets for next week and I plan to take Savvy to GKTW.

We will be getting there Saturday late morning/early afternoon!

 

[Savannah's Mami]

We will be getting there Saturday late morning/early afternoon!

This Saturday? I am headed over M-F and just called GKTW to double check that we can visit...that place is so magical!

 

[kellyw8863]

Has anyone had success getting foster children approved to attend with the wish child? Gabe was denied - I'm floored.

 

[pnutallergymom]

Has anyone had success getting foster children approved to attend with the wish child? Gabe was denied - I'm floored.

Oh Kelly, I am so sorry. What do they expect you to do? Leave him home, or place him with another family, while his family is on vacation?? That seems so wrong on so many levels.

Did they tell you that you could bring him if you paid out of pocket?? I know that would be a huge expense. Ugggh!! This makes me so sad.

 

[kellyw8863]

Oh Kelly, I am so sorry. What do they expect you to do? Leave him home, or place him with another family, while his family is on vacation?? That seems so wrong on so many levels.

Did they tell you that you could bring him if you paid out of pocket?? I know that would be a huge expense. Ugggh!! This makes me so sad.

I don't think we can go if we don't get approval for him. We can't afford to pay out of pocket, but at the same time, we can't go and not bring him. As far as we're concerned, he is a member of our immediate family, has been for the past year, and will be for as long as he needs us.

 

[pnutallergymom]

I don't think we can go if we don't get approval for him. We can't afford to pay out of pocket, but at the same time, we can't go and not bring him. As far as we're concerned, he is a member of our immediate family, has been for the past year, and will be for as long as he needs us.

I can't even believe this is happening to you guys. Like I said, I am so sorry. Of course he is a member of your family!! I hope in the very least they feel bad about it. This is just wrong.

 

[Wee Annie]

Kelly,

I am speechless after reading this. I am so sorry. What is their justification? I mean, he resides full time with you, right? I have a friend who decided not to do the trip with MAW when they denied one of her step-daughters who she and her husband had shared custody of. She was really upset, because this step-daughter lived with them half the time and was part of the family, and she couldn't imagine going on a trip like this without her. But her MAW chapter (it was in VA) justified it by saying only children that lived in her home full time were allowed.

How could a foster child be denied?

Btw, my friend is probably going to try pursuing a trip with another wish organization.

 

[kdzbear]

Why on non-Fantasmic days? I had planned to be there on a Fantasmic day. If character appearances are going to be low then I'll have to swap that around.

I am not sure. I guess on Fantasmic days they need all of the characters for Fantasmic. I was there on non-Fantasmic days in both September and November and there were tons of characters right at about 4:35-4:45. I have read on these boards that it is not the same on Fantasmic days. My kids have seen Fantasmic in the past and Tyler is deathly afraid of loud noises and fireworks so we chose not to see it again. However, he loves soft and furry characters!

Well, after a month I finally got started on our Trip Report!!
click here to follow: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2372124

I am heading over to read your report!

 

[momma_mouse]

This Saturday? I am headed over M-F and just called GKTW to double check that we can visit...that place is so magical!

No, next,the 23rd. Sorry about that. LOL!

 

[maroo]

Has anyone had success getting foster children approved to attend with the wish child? Gabe was denied - I'm floored.

Oh no!!

I don't think we can go if we don't get approval for him. We can't afford to pay out of pocket, but at the same time, we can't go and not bring him. As far as we're concerned, he is a member of our immediate family, has been for the past year, and will be for as long as he needs us.

Oh no!

So...what was the deal? He is not legally adopted at this point? Right? And has he reached the age of 18? Maybe that is the deal?

Oh, please do keep us posted.

Kelly,

I am speechless after reading this. I am so sorry. What is their justification? I mean, he resides full time with you, right? I have a friend who decided not to do the trip with MAW when they denied one of her step-daughters who she and her husband had shared custody of. She was really upset, because this step-daughter lived with them half the time and was part of the family, and she couldn't imagine going on a trip like this without her. But her MAW chapter (it was in VA) justified it by saying only children that lived in her home full time were allowed.

How could a foster child be denied?

Btw, my friend is probably going to try pursuing a trip with another wish organization.

I agree with this...if MAW's rules won't allow it...maybe Dream Factory or another similar organization would allow him to come with you guys.

I know you guys have really reached out to Gabe and that he is a member of your family...I am so so sorry to hear this.

 

[maroo]

Will anyone be at Disney next week? My mom has surprised us with tickets for next week and I plan to take Savvy to GKTW.

Oh my gosh!

And here I was thinking that you had not started a TR...and you have been writing on your blog!!!

I can NOT believe you guys were some of the people STUCK on the monorail!! I heard about that and thought..."It would be BAD to have a wish kid on there!"...I had NO idea!

But it looks like Disney made it up to you guys!

 

[dmbfan]

Will anyone be at Disney next week? My mom has surprised us with tickets for next week and I plan to take Savvy to GKTW.

Oh How exciting.... Are you going to go back and volunteer ith her?

Let us know how it goes, we are going back next month to volunteer as a family and we can't wait...Have a great time...

 

[dmbfan]

Has anyone had success getting foster children approved to attend with the wish child? Gabe was denied - I'm floored.

Are you KIDDING.... I do not even know what to say Kelly... This just does not make any sense....do you have legal papers saying that he is living with you full time, even though I know we know he is. I hate to ask you this, and you do not have to answer this on an open board, but do you get money from the state to care for him? If so, that she should be enough proof for them to see he is part of your family.

Gosh I do not know what to do say, I never say this being an issue for a second. So now what? Do you have any leg to stand on to get him approved?