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

[yinyanggirls]

I think your girls will love the castle!!! I think they changed dinner to all princesses now. No more show with the Fairy Godmother and Mice.

Did your girls get something in the mail from us?

YES! They loved it! I have a couple more updates to try and add tonight. Thank you so much for taking the time to think of us on your vacation.

 

[that's nice]

YES! They loved it! I have a couple more updates to try and add tonight. Thank you so much for taking the time to think of us on your vacation.

No problem!!!!!!! I was wondering if you got it because a few people we were FGMs to never wrote to me that they got their cards. I even sent a thanks for coming card to our friends and they never told us they got it either. Glad the girls card got there!!!!!!

Sorry for my bad handwriting!

 

[maroo]

Thank you Maroo for the ticker link

you are very welcome! anytime.

Maybe this is a silly question, but what is "ADR"?

Advanced Dining Reservation. I just want to add a couple of things...

You can make them 180 days out...so as soon as you know your dates (or even BEFORE they are official - go ahead and call and reserve your favorites - to make sure you get them).

The phone number is 407-WDW-DINE. But even better...use the online system. Many times I have been able to find something online when the CM on the phone could not. No idea why...but here is that link:


http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/

ALSO...If you got your dates late or maybe have an urgent wish trip and you are unable to get your reservation, PM me - I may be able to help and get some others to help try to get one for you.

And you can often do a "walk up" if you tell them you are a wish family on a wish trip. (And you have your documentation or button.)

Thank you! I did a PTR, which is mostly just what I posted on this board earlier. I tried to include it in my siggy... we'll see if I did that correctly.

Here's a couple of more questions:

1- One family had some cute Disney MAW tees in one of the threads I was reading... does MAW provide those?
2 - If Adri's wish is to meet Cinderella, is MAW going to do that ADR for us or is that something we will need to do when our dates are confirmed?

I see your pretrippie in your link and I will link that on the first page!

Check out page 2 for lots of hints and FAQ about MAW trips.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34758672&postcount=2

One of the questions asked a lot is "What is the Big Give?" and I have an answer to that one on there too...


Here is the answer:
The Big Give was inspired by Oprah's Big Give (the TV show). It is a group of ladies and men on the DISboards that make custom clothes for families that need some pixie dust. It started with an active DISer that lost a son in a drunk driving accident only days after returning from Disney World. When it was time for their family to go back to Disney, the DISboutiquers made the family clothes to help make their trip extra special.

This first Give went so well, that they have continued the tradition. Now they mainly select Wish Families.

The Big Give is not in any way affiliated with MAW, Disney, GKTW or even officially by the DISboards. It is just a group of very kind ladies and men that just want to bless families that they come to know on the DIS. It is a completely volunteer thing.

The organizers try to include every single MAW family that they "meet" and get to know on the DIS. (I am not an organizer - Lauren was actually a recipient and I now try to give back to future Gives.)

However, it is impossible to include every family. They have to have a good amount of time to organize it (so if your trip is right around the corner, then they would not be able to do one). And these ladies have families, etc and sometimes life just gets in the way of being able to organize during certain times of the year, vacation, illness, etc, can all factor in to whether they can do a give at any given time.

Anyway...You may see the term "Big Give" in Pre-Trip reports and occasionally on the Wish Trippers thread...and that is what it means!

If you have any questions about it, please let me know!




Also...if your trip is coming up very soon and you are not participating in the Big Give (some trips come up too fast, etc) - then PM me and I can see if I can get you some Wish Shirts.

I make them for Big Give families if I am able to sign up for them fast enough (those ladies are FAST).

If you get back from your trip and ever want to participate in The Big Give as a Giver, then let me know that, too, and I can get you hooked up to participate.

Hiya! I know where the tee's came from! The blue ones that say Make A Wish are the technical MAW ones and certain MAW groups give those out, some don't. And the really cute ones are from the Big Give- I will let Maroo explain that one! She explains it well! But you can also make them yourself with iron-ons. They have lots of dif cute designs that you can get on the board. Once again---- Maroo!! You know where all the cool stuff is and how to link to it. Maroo can explain lots of stuff!

You are so sweet.

I tried to explain above.

Maroo.. Sorry.. I just copied what you wrote... In know you don't have kids ... you are amazing with all you do

You are so sweet.

Honestly, I think if I had kids I wouldn't be able to do this stuff...it is because I don't have kids that I actually have time at all.

If Lauren was my child, I definitely would not have time to DIS. But I would take her in a heartbeat if something ever happened to her parents. I truly am her Godmother in that respect.

 

[maroo]

I THINK that I have all of the new Wish Trip Pre-Trip reports linked on the first page of this thread....

The boards went down for maintenance yesterday as I was updating and I am afraid I forgot someone.....

SO, if your pre-trip report is not linked on the first page, please let me know...because I think I am caught up!


I am so excited to have some new pre-trip reports to read and get caught up on!!

 

[alaskanabbott]

Here's the link to our Trip Report, there are probably loads of spoilers, so if you don't want to know what's in store, don't read. We went to all the parks, and had some "interesting" things happen...in fact something I'm pretty sure only happened to those of us at the village last week, thank GOODNESS! But it all worked out ok.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2428215

 

[pacrosby]

Hello everyone! I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself. I've spent a good bit of time reading a few PTR's and finished TR's this morning! Needless to say my eyes are all swollen and puffy from crying and my sides hurt from laughing!

My name is Leah and my 3 year old son Chase got approved for a wish! Last year my daughter Selah who is 5 got approved for a wish and without any hesitation she wanted to Go to Disney and meet the princesses!

It looks like we are lucky and blessed enough to be able to go back again. I've posted a link to my PTR in my signature!

I just wanted to wave at you all! You are an amazing group of people and I am absolutley excited to have been pointed towards the boards! (Thank you tinytreasures)

Hi Leah..............you found us I see!! Now you know why I pointed you in this direction; the support and knowledge available here is just wonderful. Looking forward to getting to know you and your family

Hey everybody... can I introduce myself? My daughter, Adri (short for Adrienne), turned 3 one month ago and her wish was to have a tea party with Cinderella. We are waiting to find out when our trip will be. My husband defends his thesis for his PhD this summer so we are hoping to do it just after that, sometime in July. I'm hoping we find out dates sooner than later. I'm so ready to start planning! I'll do a pre-trip report soon and tell more of our story. I have lots of questions to ask and wanted to go ahead and pop in to introduce myself.

Excited,
Natalie

Welcome Natalie! I saw your px................your children are just beautiful! It'll be so much fun planning for your little princess. Ask as many questions as you like. We all love to help whenever we can.

Hi everyone...

I'm new here also! My 6 year old, Catherine , wished to go to Disney and meet Sleeping Beauty. We are heading down and staying at GKTW May 17th-23rd! We are so excited at how fast MAW put all of the plans together, and now we're scrambling to figure out what we will do with our time while we are down there. I have explored these boards a bit, and I think I understand how to start a pre-trip report, so that is next on my list. I just wanted to say hello first...I'm sure I will have LOTS of questions.

One just came up last night...will we be able to get some sort of preferred seating without waiting in line for Fantasmic? We want to go to the Friday evening show, but it's a Star Wars weekend, and I'm a little worried about the crowds, getting dinner, etc. We weren't able to get any ADR for that night.

I look forward to sharing the excitement of wishes with all of you, and I will share our story soon!!

Laura

Hi Laura!! Welcome as well! And another princess to plan for My Wish child was a boy (and his older sister was a bit beyond the 'princess' stage) so I missed out on all the BBB and beautiful princess costumes and eating in the castle planning (ok, taking a moment out now for a little sniffle LOL). MAW can work fast can't they? We were approved in October for a trip in the beginning of December!!!!


Looking forward to "trying" to follow along all all the new PTR's! It's getting awfully busy here. I'm going to need a few more hours in a day LOL




.

 

[xanphylus]

I make them for Big Give families if I am able to sign up for them fast enough (those ladies are FAST).

We try! I have never made the Wish shirts yet. I may have to try for that on a future Big Give! I have been practicing on my family with the iron-ons. Now Davy has like tons of Mickey Mouse shirts and Cars shirts with his name! I even had Milliepie make him a personalized on that he loves!! She is so cool!

 

[kdzbear]

I THINK that I have all of the new Wish Trip Pre-Trip reports linked on the first page of this thread....

The boards went down for maintenance yesterday as I was updating and I am afraid I forgot someone.....

SO, if your pre-trip report is not linked on the first page, please let me know...because I think I am caught up!


I am so excited to have some new pre-trip reports to read and get caught up on!!

I am excited for all of the new Wish families too! Maroo, could you mark Tyler's report as finished so that newcomers know it is complete! Thank you!

 

[kellyw8863]

I just wanted to throw out a big welcome to all the new families!

 

[noahsketomom]

Here's the link to our Trip Report, there are probably loads of spoilers, so if you don't want to know what's in store, don't read. We went to all the parks, and had some "interesting" things happen...in fact something I'm pretty sure only happened to those of us at the village last week, thank GOODNESS! But it all worked out ok.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2428215

Alright, Amber....now I'm REALLY dying to hear what this is about!!!! You're killing me here!!!

Looking forward to hearing about the "interesting stuff"!!!

 

[noahsketomom]

Quick question for you post trippers out there.....

I might try to get a reservation for a sit down place at DHS. Many of you know Noah's story -- on a really restrictive diet and we try to minimize the food and maximize the "experience". That said, was looking at Sci-Fi or the 50's diner? He will be able to order the hot dog at both places, so I guess I'm asking what's the best "experience" and food for the rest of us non-keto folks?

Anybody have any thoughts?

THANKS!!

 

[cajunfan]

My vote is for the 50's diner, but, make sure the waitstaff know about Noah. They are know t make you eat your veggies and such...read the reviews in the restaurant thread on the main thread...it might help with your decision

 

[livndisney]

Quick question for you post trippers out there.....

I might try to get a reservation for a sit down place at DHS. Many of you know Noah's story -- on a really restrictive diet and we try to minimize the food and maximize the "experience". That said, was looking at Sci-Fi or the 50's diner? He will be able to order the hot dog at both places, so I guess I'm asking what's the best "experience" and food for the rest of us non-keto folks?

Anybody have any thoughts?

THANKS!!

With the restrictive diet, make sure you contact special diets at WDW. (Email address is in the stickys at the top of this thread)They will send you a form that you can fill out and send back to alert the staff to your needs. Mention it when you check in and also to your server.

 

[noahsketomom]

With the restrictive diet, make sure you contact special diets at WDW. (Email address is in the stickys at the top of this thread)They will send you a form that you can fill out and send back to alert the staff to your needs. Mention it when you check in and also to your server.

Thanks! I've already spoken to a chef from DHS, which is honestly the only reason I'm even okay with a sit down meal there. They have been sooooo helpful!!!! Really going up and beyond what I would expect!


Lynn -- thanks for the head's up on that one! I'll mention it before we even sit down, then. Funny but Noah always has to literally SCRAPE his food containers with mini spatulas to ensure he gets every last gram....so maybe it would be funny for him if the server made everybody else clean their plates for once!!

We'll have to see. Does anybody know off the top of their head if there's a cancel policy for ADR's that you don't need a credit card? I'm just feeling a bit anxious about sit down meals (imagine, that!!) and wonder if it's a problem if we decide it's not worth it. We just haven't eaten out too much in the past 8 months since Noah's been on this diet!

Thanks, guys!!!

 

[wishin' on a star]

Thanks! I've already spoken to a chef from DHS, which is honestly the only reason I'm even okay with a sit down meal there. They have been sooooo helpful!!!! Really going up and beyond what I would expect!


Lynn -- thanks for the head's up on that one! I'll mention it before we even sit down, then. Funny but Noah always has to literally SCRAPE his food containers with mini spatulas to ensure he gets every last gram....so maybe it would be funny for him if the server made everybody else clean their plates for once!!

We'll have to see. Does anybody know off the top of their head if there's a cancel policy for ADR's that you don't need a credit card? I'm just feeling a bit anxious about sit down meals (imagine, that!!) and wonder if it's a problem if we decide it's not worth it. We just haven't eaten out too much in the past 8 months since Noah's been on this diet!

Thanks, guys!!!

From all the ADR's we've made, it doesn't look like there's really a cancellation policy if a deposit isn't required. They only information they have is your name and phone number. But, cancelling out of courtesy to others would make your spot available to someone else.

I hope they can work with you so you can enjoy some sit down meals! I think some of the experiences sound really fun!

YOu just reminded me that I need to get on my PTR and add in our ADRs!

 

[noahsketomom]

From all the ADR's we've made, it doesn't look like there's really a cancellation policy if a deposit isn't required. They only information they have is your name and phone number. But, cancelling out of courtesy to others would make your spot available to someone else.

I hope they can work with you so you can enjoy some sit down meals! I think some of the experiences sound really fun!

YOu just reminded me that I need to get on my PTR and add in our ADRs!

Laura,
I guess that makes sense. I guess I was just worried about getting down there and having to cancel, say, day of if the "eating park food" thing just isn't working. Or if something happens and we have to modify our plans. I still only think we'll do chef mickey's and maybe one at DHS and/or Epcot?

I really stress too much about food issues and Noah -- I know! But I have to remember that he USUALLY takes things in stride and knows that he's diet is his medicine. He amazes us each day with his cooperation.

 

[Wee Annie]

First,

a great big welcome to all the new Wish trippers! I'm not as regular a poster as some, but I try to check in every now and then. Welcome!

And now that we're oh, three weeks away from Elke's wish trip, I thought I might BEGIN to plan....

So, first question: what are the sleeping accomodations like at GKTW for a family of five? Are there beds for three children? What do you sleep a three year old in, who is accustomed to a little toddler bed with partial bed rails? Do they have bed rails there? Do I need to request them in advance?

Thanks in advance for any/all assistance!

 

[cajunfan]

Laura,
I guess that makes sense. I guess I was just worried about getting down there and having to cancel, say, day of if the "eating park food" thing just isn't working. Or if something happens and we have to modify our plans. I still only think we'll do chef mickey's and maybe one at DHS and/or Epcot?

I really stress too much about food issues and Noah -- I know! But I have to remember that he USUALLY takes things in stride and knows that he's diet is his medicine. He amazes us each day with his cooperation.

Just keep WDW Dine in your cell phone and call at the time that you know you will not make it, so that they can accomadate a "walk up". Don't stress about it!

 

[wishin' on a star]

First,

a great big welcome to all the new Wish trippers! I'm not as regular a poster as some, but I try to check in every now and then. Welcome!

And now that we're oh, three weeks away from Elke's wish trip, I thought I might BEGIN to plan....

So, first question: what are the sleeping accomodations like at GKTW for a family of five? Are there beds for three children? What do you sleep a three year old in, who is accustomed to a little toddler bed with partial bed rails? Do they have bed rails there? Do I need to request them in advance?

Thanks in advance for any/all assistance!

Great question! We don't need bed rails, but we are also a family of 5. All of the pics I've seen show two twin beds and a king bed. What are the options for the 3rd child?

 

[pacrosby]

Hey guys........

You are right the villas have two bedrooms, one with a king bed and one with two twins, but then there's a pull-out sofa in the LR that sleeps two.

Don't know anything about bed rails, I suppose you could call. Also for anyone who needs it, there's also a crib.