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

[Mom2mitokids]

Were going back!! I mentioned on Ty's TR that we were going to try to go back to Disney in December and I made the reservations today. We are going to take the grandparents to see GKTW because we want them to see it before they get to where they can hardly walk. Both of my parents have problems walking and sitting for long periods of time so we decided it was best to go soon. We don't expect this to be anywhere near as amazing as Ty's wishtrip because we could never compare to that nor do we want to as that was trully a trip of a lifetime. We also want to use his passport and take him to Kennedy Space Center as he is a huge space fan.

I started my ptr and it is linked (after 20 attempts) at the bottom of this post. I hope you will follow us along on our journey to show our family what a trully magical place Give Kids the World is.

I'm so glad you are able to go back to Disney World. How exciting to be able to go with your parents. my mom is at the point she can not walk, so i know how important that is. I will be following your TR.

 

[jbrnhrt]

we still haven't received our pre-arrival packet from gktw. we leave saturday morning, so there's no point in calling gktw to request one because it won't arrive in time, is there anything important in there that we will need before we arrive there? is it possible we're not supposed to get one for some reason? thanks!

 

[Mom2mitokids]

THANKS GUYS!!! Did they update the GKTW site? I have never seen that page!!

I just know because we already did a trip before. I actually just showed the GAC from DW and Universal that GKTW gave us and thats all they needed. Kylee wore her button and she was in the middle seat in van.

 

[Mom2mitokids]

we still haven't received our pre-arrival packet from gktw. we leave saturday morning, so there's no point in calling gktw to request one because it won't arrive in time, is there anything important in there that we will need before we arrive there? is it possible we're not supposed to get one for some reason? thanks!

Hopefully you will get it tomorrow or friday. I believe it did have important info in it, but than it's been since Nov 08 when we went. I know it's filed away for a keepsake.

 

[Haybuggsmom]

we still haven't received our pre-arrival packet from gktw. we leave saturday morning, so there's no point in calling gktw to request one because it won't arrive in time, is there anything important in there that we will need before we arrive there? is it possible we're not supposed to get one for some reason? thanks!

We never recieved ours either!! I had called about 2 weeks ago about it and was told we would get it last week.
I called Tuesday about it ( I still want it as a keepsake) they lady was not happy!! They said they will have it for me at registration!!
If you call they can have it for you then. No good for preplanning but at least youget it.

 

[dlewish]

we still haven't received our pre-arrival packet from gktw. we leave saturday morning, so there's no point in calling gktw to request one because it won't arrive in time, is there anything important in there that we will need before we arrive there? is it possible we're not supposed to get one for some reason? thanks!

We just received ours. It is a pamphlet about GKTW, a map of the village and directions from the airport. All of this information is on the GKTW family site. It sounds like you have already been to the family site. So probably not any new information. Maybe you can print the diretions from the website so you have them. I thought others have mentioned the airport greeter gives you directions too.

The pamphlet gives phone numbers of the airport office, village, websites for disney, seaworld, etc., mentions orientation, etc., etc. I don't think you are missing any info if you have already been to the family website.

Unless others received other info, that is what we got from GKTW. HTH.

Have a wonderful trip

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

I agree with the above poster. If you can print the directions I think getting it when you arrive is fine. That way you can have it for a keepsake. When we met our airport greeter she had a sign with the directions to GKTW as well.

 

[wishin' on a star]

we still haven't received our pre-arrival packet from gktw. we leave saturday morning, so there's no point in calling gktw to request one because it won't arrive in time, is there anything important in there that we will need before we arrive there? is it possible we're not supposed to get one for some reason? thanks!

I don't think there's anything in the packet that you don't already know. The big sign that the greeter has that says "Welcome" has a map and directions on the back of it. The most impt stuff comes from orientation! Have a great trip!

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

I'm so glad you are able to go back to Disney World. How exciting to be able to go with your parents. my mom is at the point she can not walk, so i know how important that is. I will be following your TR.

When we were planning Ty's trip my mom just kept saying how amazing she thought this place is. I really wanted them to go but there was just no way they could keep up.

We had wanted to take them out west next summer but with Ty's surgery coming up there just is no way we could do it.

 

[jen-y]

we still haven't received our pre-arrival packet from gktw. we leave saturday morning, so there's no point in calling gktw to request one because it won't arrive in time, is there anything important in there that we will need before we arrive there? is it possible we're not supposed to get one for some reason? thanks!

Sounds like us. We did receive our expense card along with a packet from GKTW about a month ago, but we have not gotten our shirts, buttons, ect from MAW yet and no itenerary and we leave on Monday

The packet we got from GKTW was basically just a brochure of the property and some info on the parks (which I already knew) along with our flight number and pick up time (which I am sure you already know).

 

[maroo]

A Trip Report - Non Wish Trip - Maroo went to Disney with Strangers!

As promised here is a link to my last big trip! It will be a really fun TR (I can say that, because I am not writing it...well, I will be writing parts of it...but the fun comes from Liesa!)

Feel free to join us!

 

[maroo]

we still haven't received our pre-arrival packet from gktw. we leave saturday morning, so there's no point in calling gktw to request one because it won't arrive in time, is there anything important in there that we will need before we arrive there? is it possible we're not supposed to get one for some reason? thanks!

I would call GKTW (800-995-KIDS) just to touch base with them...Personally I would feel better knowing that they have us on the list and have our correct address.

A lot of things there are done by volunteers...so I can see how a new volunteer may miss something and possibly not get something sent out?

But I would want to make sure they are expecting you guys.

Sounds like us. We did receive our expense card along with a packet from GKTW about a month ago, but we have not gotten our shirts, buttons, ect from MAW yet and no itenerary and we leave on Monday

The packet we got from GKTW was basically just a brochure of the property and some info on the parks (which I already knew) along with our flight number and pick up time (which I am sure you already know).

Shirts? Which shirts are you referring to? Make a Wish ones? Not all chapters give shirts, I don't think...? You will get shirts at GKTW, though.

The button is something you get a GKTW during your orientation (or maybe right when you check in).

Do you know when your flights are??

 

[jen-y]

I'm not sure. The volunteer girls said they had a box of stuff for us, but just waiting for them to drop it off. My info from GKTW said to wear the MAW shirt to the airport so that the volunteer in Orlando could find us.

 

[maroo]

**took out your quote...Something is wrong with the DIS - it didn't match...?? I am so confused. lol

so they DO have shirts...you just have not gotten them yet.

Hmm...

Which questions were you left not answered? I guess I am wondering how important those are?

Do you have your expense check for the trip?? Because that is pretty darn important!

That is unfortunate...I don't think we got Lauren's stuff till a few days before either...but they came by with a cake and such for Lauren and made a party out of it...so maybe they have something planned for you guys but want it to be a surprise??

Are you corresponding with the volunteers that are your wish granters? Or with the official MAW office? If not the office, you may want to call them? I usually called the office...

You really should be fine finding your Greeter...although I would definitely wear something Make a Wish if you have it to the airport because that will help with any possible pixie dust they want to bestow.

But the GKTW greeters stand right outside the security gate - you really can't miss them. They get to stay further in than the Limo drivers and such so that they find you guys and you don't have to search through multiple people.

 

[wishin' on a star]

For those who may have MAW chapters who do not provide shirts (ours didn't), here is a link to the Make A Wish Marketplace so you can buy your own with the official logo. I hope it's okay for me to post the link here!

www.makeawishmarketplace.com

They have shirts, luggage tags, hats, etc.

 

[Wee Annie]

For those who may have MAW chapters who do not provide shirts (ours didn't), here is a link to the Make A Wish Marketplace so you can buy your own with the official logo. I hope it's okay for me to post the link here!

www.makeawishmarketplace.com

They have shirts, luggage tags, hats, etc.

Our chapter only provided one shirt in a size many times WAY too large for my wish child. I bought them on-line from MAW too, for the whole family, and would seriously urge anyone who has the resources to do so to make this purchase. The MAW shirts in the parks got us a lot more noticed, and earlier, than the button.

 

[syammt]

Sounds like us. We did receive our expense card along with a packet from GKTW about a month ago, but we have not gotten our shirts, buttons, ect from MAW yet and no itenerary and we leave on Monday

The packet we got from GKTW was basically just a brochure of the property and some info on the parks (which I already knew) along with our flight number and pick up time (which I am sure you already know).

Ok I am getting nervous now from reading all the stuff about people not getting there info. We don't leave for 5 more weeks, but I am thinking maybe I should start calling soon to make sure we get all that we are supposed to have.

 

[jbrnhrt]

thanks for all the replies! I called gktw and the lady said that there's nothing in the packet that we won't receive again at orientation. She also said our greeter will have directions at MCO, but I looked at our info from MAW and the directions are already in there. So we're ok then.

only our son(wish child) received a shirt, but all 4 of us received maw buttons, and genie stickers from disney to wear also (on balloondoggle's blog there's a picture of Kayla's mom wearing one). We also received a maw backback, so I guess it really depends on your chapter, but it sounds like maw and gktw will make sure that the cm's know you're on a wish trip

 

[Haybuggsmom]

thanks for all the replies! I called gktw and the lady said that there's nothing in the packet that we won't receive again at orientation. She also said our greeter will have directions at MCO, but I looked at our info from MAW and the directions are already in there. So we're ok then.

only our son(wish child) received a shirt, but all 4 of us received maw buttons, and genie stickers from disney to wear also (on balloondoggle's blog there's a picture of Kayla's mom wearing one). We also received a maw backback, so I guess it really depends on your chapter, but it sounds like maw and gktw will make sure that the cm's know you're on a wish trip

I think our flights come in at the same time so maybe we will see wach other at the airport!!

 

[balloondoggle]

Our chapter only provided one shirt in a size many times WAY too large for my wish child. I bought them on-line from MAW too, for the whole family, and would seriously urge anyone who has the resources to do so to make this purchase. The MAW shirts in the parks got us a lot more noticed, and earlier, than the button.

We had matching shirts from the MAW Walk for Wishes we participated in back in May so we all wore those. The orange made it easy to pick out each other at the airport too, which was handy.

At orientation it was recommended that the tallest person wear the GKTW button as that will make it more visible. With Kayla in her chair we didn't have too many concerns about not being noticed anyway, but I wore it just to be sure. The only time it wasn't noticed was when we met Stitch at Epcot, but as soon as I pointed it out the CM apologized and sent us to the front of the line.

To be honest, I think the wheelchair did nearly as much for us as the button, but since not everyone has that "luxury", just be sure the button stands out in the group somehow. Maybe have the person wearing the button in a shirt of contrasting color to help it stand out a bit. Most of the CMs are looking for a variety of buttons - birthday, anniversary, 1st visit - so it shouldn't be an issue really.