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

[yinyanggirls]

Well, we didn't spend a lot of time in the Future part of Epcot, so that might be why we missed it. I don't feel too bad since we met most everybody at some other time.
The characters are fun in World Showcase because they are in their "homeland". Plus, I think it's the only place that some of them appear (like Mulan and Beast....).

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

Hey guys! We got back last night and I'm working on my Photopass pics. A photographer gave us another photopass card while we were seeing the characters. Can I link these two together and still use my free Photopass code somehow?

Also if I add my camera photos onto the photopass will that be on the disk too?

 

[casper_jj11]

Hey guys! We got back last night and I'm working on my Photopass pics. A photographer gave us another photopass card while we were seeing the characters. Can I link these two together and still use my free Photopass code somehow?

Also if I add my camera photos onto the photopass will that be on the disk too?

Welcome back! Yes, we end up with several cards. When you go to see them, they'll ask for the numbers. You can have several numbers for one account. The payment, or lack thereof, is for the account and not the specific card.

Not sure about personal camera pics.

 

[maroo]

Hey guys! We got back last night and I'm working on my Photopass pics. A photographer gave us another photopass card while we were seeing the characters. Can I link these two together and still use my free Photopass code somehow?

Also if I add my camera photos onto the photopass will that be on the disk too?

Yes - You already got the answer - but you will just keep adding photopass card numbers until you have them all added.

It will also let you upload your personal pics to use to make things or add borders (I think you can add borders to those?).

I am so glad you had a good trip and are back!

 

[J'sMum]

Hey guys! We got back last night and I'm working on my Photopass pics. A photographer gave us another photopass card while we were seeing the characters. Can I link these two together and still use my free Photopass code somehow?

Also if I add my camera photos onto the photopass will that be on the disk too?

WB ! can't wait to see photo's and hear your tr

 

[SueM in MN]

I really would not worry about this at all - If you have ANY trouble getting them to seat a Wish Kid - then ask for the restaurant manager - I promise you there will be no trouble with this. Especially with a party that big. Really...don't worry!! I promise they will take care of you. You don't even have to call anymore - I am 100% sure that they will seat you all.

If you had trouble at the restaurant, which I really highly, highly doubt - then at the front of the contemporary lobby there is a Guest Services counter - go there and tell them what happened and they WILL fix it. I promise. They moved mountains for us on our trip.

The restaurant manager can do much more on the day that you visit than someone at the Disney Dining phone number can. Since the Disney Dining person only knows what is listed as available on the computer, they may not be able to help you if the restaurant is listed as ‘full’ for the time of your reservation.

On the day of the meal, the hostess or manager will know if there are any cancellations or other changes to the ‘schedule’ and will work to try to get things set for you.
They will try, but it’s best to be prepared just in case they can’t get any magic to work for you that day. It probably will work out.

There is a Character Spot at Epcot that is indoors that has a lot of the big ones (Mickey, Minnie, etc). It is on the right hand side of the fountain as you enter the park. If you were going to Soarin, it would be on your left as you go through a covered walkway between 2 buildings. I can't remember what the building is called - but I like going there because you can use your GAC (even a non wish GAC) and they will get you in line and then you don't have to wait long to see each of them - you can see them all in a short amount of time and it is air conditioned.

But it isn't the same characters that you saw in the WS - the WS is a GREAT place to meet lots of characters.

The building is called Epcot Character Spot on the maps. The other building on the right side of the covered walkway is Innoventions West.
Depending on what exactly the GAC says, they may have you go into the regular line (which is wheelchair accessible) or give you a slip/ticket with a time written on it and have you wait in a part of the building outside the line until a CM comes for you. The building is air-conditioned to a very comfortable temperature and once you have started with one character, you move along the line from character to character quite quickly and without waiting in another line.

 

[Happy_dreams]

wow this is all amazing.

 

[Happy_dreams]

I have a question about MAW trips to Disney, specifically Disneyland. Do you have to pick up a MAW pass at City Hall so you dont have to wait in line or is the MAW button actually the "pass." Im really quite confused in this. What if the CM doesnt see the MAW buttons or just not paying attention? How does this all work? Thank you!

 

[SueM in MN]

I have a question about MAW trips to Disney, specifically Disneyland. Do you have to pick up a MAW pass at City Hall so you dont have to wait in line or is the MAW button actually the "pass." Im really quite confused in this. What if the CM doesnt see the MAW buttons or just not paying attention? How does this all work? Thank you!

The MAW button is sort of a 'marker' that shows you are on a MAW trip. The Guest Assistance Card (GAC) is the actual thing that shows what assistance you need.

I am not positive how it works for Disneyland. At WDW, for families staying at Give Kids the World Village, the GAC is actually issued there.

For any type of GAC, it is up to the guest to show it to the CM at the entrance to the line for the attraction. Just show them and they will send you to the correct place.

Also, a GAC (even a GAC for a MAW trip) doesn't always mean no wait.

 

[yinyanggirls]

I remember reading somewhere that the official meaning of the GAC that wish families get is to "expedite the guests experience as much as possible". It doesn't mean front of the line specifically and even when they do see it they try to be subtle about it, not taking away from the other guests experience. We had very few experiences where they didn't allow us in the fastpass line, in the exit or right to the front of the line. And in that case, if there was a long line we would just decide to skip it and try again later.

 

[that's nice]

Hello everyone...

Welcome to all the 'new' families and a great big HI to all the 'old timers'.

We have been in contact with Juliana's (DD) wish granters and have found out that Connecticut MAW does not allow you to extend your trip. We were thinking of adding on 2 days to try to fit everything in and to visit with family too. I know many of you have extended your trips... so, ummm, how did you do it? Did you ask for 1 way tickets and buy your own for your return trip? Did you have round trip tix and just not show up for your flight home?

Our granters also told us that we will not be finding out if our dates of Dec. 1-7 are even approved until OCTOBER! So I guess I have to plan a trip I hope we are going on? They said GKTW doesn't give them any info till then. I donno..

I know some of you have had MAW chapters that were very helpful in planing, but it looks like we are on our own here.

 

[SueM in MN]

I remember reading somewhere that the official meaning of the GAC that wish families get is to "expedite the guests experience as much as possible". It doesn't mean front of the line specifically and even when they do see it they try to be subtle about it, not taking away from the other guests experience. We had very few experiences where they didn't allow us in the fastpass line, in the exit or right to the front of the line. And in that case, if there was a long line we would just decide to skip it and try again later.

Pretty much that is it.

Some guests will get actual "Front of the Line", even ahead of other people with disabilities who are already waiting. This is usually for MAW children who are very medically fragile. We have had some of those situations where a family is brought in a back way ahead of those of us with disabilities who are already waiting; those of us already in line saw the MAW button and understood the need.

Many of the kids on MAW trips are not medically fragile, just need to have conditions arranged to meet their needs while they wait. In that situation, there may be a lot of other guests with disabilities waiting and the MAW family will be waiting in a longer line.

 

[casper_jj11]

Hello everyone...

Welcome to all the 'new' families and a great big HI to all the 'old timers'.

We have been in contact with Juliana's (DD) wish granters and have found out that Connecticut MAW does not allow you to extend your trip. We were thinking of adding on 2 days to try to fit everything in and to visit with family too. I know many of you have extended your trips... so, ummm, how did you do it? Did you ask for 1 way tickets and buy your own for your return trip? Did you have round trip tix and just not show up for your flight home?

Our granters also told us that we will not be finding out if our dates of Dec. 1-7 are even approved until OCTOBER! So I guess I have to plan a trip I hope we are going on? They said GKTW doesn't give them any info till then. I donno..

I know some of you have had MAW chapters that were very helpful in planing, but it looks like we are on our own here.

I found it so stressful trying to figure out how to extend our trip. Our group also doesn't arrange extensions. What we were unofficially told was that if wanted to do it on our own, we could but that they couldn't do it for us. In most cases, its just a fee change per ticket but it could also be the increase in fare from the time the ticket was purcused as well. One option was to change the flight of the return ticket at the airport. For me, too chancy... I mean, what if theprice of the tix was up by hundreds of dollars each? So, yet again, I contacted our wish coordinator... she said she'd provide the flight and rental car reservation numbers to me. But she could do no more. She did and I contacted the airline myself. I explained the situation and I changed the return flight by four days, paying only the change fee because the cost of the new flight was actually lower than at the time of booking. Honestly, I'm still really worreid that when head office prints out our itinerary to send us next week that they'll see the date change and change it back!

I think it makes sense that they won't book the flights until October, that's why you won't have dates. As soon as your dates are confirmed and you know the flights are booked (our coordinator asked us to confirm that the times were ok before they booked), ask for the reservation number. Go online, find flights for the day you want and call the airline. Tell them the situation and ask to change the flights. I've been told that the reservation is OURS. We can do what we want with it. Indeed, the reservation is in DH's name. Try not to worry too much at this point. But ask again next month. I was told we wouldnt get our itinerary until the week before we left and I learned from taking Sydney to Chicago for testing that in the run of two days, that close to departure, the flights on Air Canada, which we're flying on for the wish trip as well, can change by $500 per ticket in a day... it really worreid me... so I contacted them again and was given the ressie number even though we don't technically have the itinerary from the wish foundation yet. HTH

 

[maroo]

I have a question about MAW trips to Disney, specifically Disneyland. Do you have to pick up a MAW pass at City Hall so you dont have to wait in line or is the MAW button actually the "pass." Im really quite confused in this. What if the CM doesnt see the MAW buttons or just not paying attention? How does this all work? Thank you!

to the DIS and the wish trippers thread!

I can tell you from personal experience and from reading dozens of TR's on here how it works at Disney World. The families are issued the special button at GKTW and the GAC. The GAC has a special stamp and comes in a special lanyard, so it is easily spotted by CM's. Some CM's see the magic button and it alerts them and they basically go from there and some CM's are used to asking for the GAC card and want to see that and don't really acknowledge the button. So, normally we keep both with us at all times.

As far as DisneyLAND - I can only tell you what I have read on here - and that is that buttons are issued from the MAW chapter before the families leave - other than that I have no idea.

We have had a few families come on the wish trippers thread and had wish trips planned for Disneyland, but off the top of my head, I can't think of any that actually did detailed trip reports. I will go back and look at the first post, though, and see.

Problem is - each MAW chapter is so different that it could be handled differently depending on the chapter.

ETA! I forgot about Devon! His mom did a great TR and it was a DisneyLAND trip. Here is the link:
Devon's Trip Report to DisneyLAND

It looks like he took the paperwork to Guest Relations and they issued a special GAC. And it sounds like LOTS of magic happened on their trip that was a direct result of them visiting the Wish Lounge and talking with the CM there. Magic happens on every wish trip, but they are all different - but I think I would make a point to stop by the wish lounge (because it is a great place to rest), but also to see if they can help with anything the wish child would want to do, people to meet, etc. Special treatment is not guaranteed, but you never know.

 

[Happy_dreams]

to the DIS and the wish trippers thread!

I can tell you from personal experience and from reading dozens of TR's on here how it works at Disney World. The families are issued the special button at GKTW and the GAC. The GAC has a special stamp and comes in a special lanyard, so it is easily spotted by CM's. Some CM's see the magic button and it alerts them and they basically go from there and some CM's are used to asking for the GAC card and want to see that and don't really acknowledge the button. So, normally we keep both with us at all times.

As far as DisneyLAND - I can only tell you what I have read on here - and that is that buttons are issued from the MAW chapter before the families leave - other than that I have no idea.

We have had a few families come on the wish trippers thread and had wish trips planned for Disneyland, but off the top of my head, I can't think of any that actually did detailed trip reports. I will go back and look at the first post, though, and see.

Problem is - each MAW chapter is so different that it could be handled differently depending on the chapter.

ETA! I forgot about Devon! His mom did a great TR and it was a DisneyLAND trip. Here is the link:
Devon's Trip Report to DisneyLAND

It looks like he took the paperwork to Guest Relations and they issued a special GAC. And it sounds like LOTS of magic happened on their trip that was a direct result of them visiting the Wish Lounge and talking with the CM there. Magic happens on every wish trip, but they are all different - but I think I would make a point to stop by the wish lounge (because it is a great place to rest), but also to see if they can help with anything the wish child would want to do, people to meet, etc. Special treatment is not guaranteed, but you never know.

Thank you so much!!!!!! Im definitely going to visti this more often.

 

[that's nice]

I found it so stressful trying to figure out how to extend our trip. Our group also doesn't arrange extensions. What we were unofficially told was that if wanted to do it on our own, we could but that they couldn't do it for us. In most cases, its just a fee change per ticket but it could also be the increase in fare from the time the ticket was purcused as well. One option was to change the flight of the return ticket at the airport. For me, too chancy... I mean, what if theprice of the tix was up by hundreds of dollars each? So, yet again, I contacted our wish coordinator... she said she'd provide the flight and rental car reservation numbers to me. But she could do no more. She did and I contacted the airline myself. I explained the situation and I changed the return flight by four days, paying only the change fee because the cost of the new flight was actually lower than at the time of booking. Honestly, I'm still really worreid that when head office prints out our itinerary to send us next week that they'll see the date change and change it back!

I think it makes sense that they won't book the flights until October, that's why you won't have dates. As soon as your dates are confirmed and you know the flights are booked (our coordinator asked us to confirm that the times were ok before they booked), ask for the reservation number. Go online, find flights for the day you want and call the airline. Tell them the situation and ask to change the flights. I've been told that the reservation is OURS. We can do what we want with it. Indeed, the reservation is in DH's name. Try not to worry too much at this point. But ask again next month. I was told we wouldnt get our itinerary until the week before we left and I learned from taking Sydney to Chicago for testing that in the run of two days, that close to departure, the flights on Air Canada, which we're flying on for the wish trip as well, can change by $500 per ticket in a day... it really worreid me... so I contacted them again and was given the ressie number even though we don't technically have the itinerary from the wish foundation yet. HTH

Thanks for the info!

When I called her granters I asked about paying OOP for any difference in flights and it seemed like they didn't want you doing that either. I will give it a few weeks and try to contact them again. I don't want to seem like a pain but only having 6 days in Florida trying to fit all this in is making me a little crazy.

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

I have started our TR. Please see my link at the bottom of my post. I hope you enjoy reading our Wish Trip memories

 

[jen-y]

I am trying to figure out the schedule for the day we arrive. Our flight lands in Orlando at 11:30. Can someone give me an estimate of how long it takes to get from the airport to GKTW, and how long the orientation takes and how long it takes to get from GKTW to Disney?

I am hoping to go to Studios that day. I'm sure most people stay around GKTW the first day, and noramlly that would make sense, but we will have family at Studios that day, so I am hoping to be able to catch up with them, but at a reasonable time.

 

[maroo]

Thanks for the info!

When I called her granters I asked about paying OOP for any difference in flights and it seemed like they didn't want you doing that either. I will give it a few weeks and try to contact them again. I don't want to seem like a pain but only having 6 days in Florida trying to fit all this in is making me a little crazy.

I have actually seen several trips where they really were not allowed to extend.

It drives me crazy, too. But there are several chapters that have had issues with extensions (people keeping cars, charging the organization for things after they were supposed to be home, etc) and some of them have liability issues with extensions - so it is possible that they will highly frown upon an extension and may really not "allow" it. Just wanted to throw that out there, for what it is worth.

It is definitely worth asking about, though - see if you can talk to the President of the chapter? Maybe?

If you only get the 6 days...then I think you guys really would have enough time to do the big wish stuff - it would just need to be some focused touring. You are at a distinct advantage, though, because you have been to Disney before and done a lot of the stuff...so you could focus on the things you can only do on a wish trip and skip the other things.

You are also allowed to go back to GKTW on your future vacations, too - so you don't even really have to "finish" everything there, either.

If we were doing it all over and were in the position to take Lauren back to Disney (or had already been) - we would focus on doing the big rides over and over (like Toy Story) - as the button is great for stuff like that. And seeing bunches of characters, since most CM's will allow wish families to cut character lines. I would skip most shows, since the button doesn't help as much with saving time on those (unless it is something she could be "picked" for or just really wants to do.

I am trying to figure out the schedule for the day we arrive. Our flight lands in Orlando at 11:30. Can someone give me an estimate of how long it takes to get from the airport to GKTW, and how long the orientation takes and how long it takes to get from GKTW to Disney?

I am hoping to go to Studios that day. I'm sure most people stay around GKTW the first day, and noramlly that would make sense, but we will have family at Studios that day, so I am hoping to be able to catch up with them, but at a reasonable time.

My guess...is that you would arrive at GKTW around 1:00. You could grab lunch and get settled and hopefully go to orientation at 3 or 3:30 - if they don't have an orientation at 3 or 3:30, then you could see if they can do a private one. The orientation is about an hour.

The problem is that you get your tickets at orientation, so you will have to be "done" with that in order to get your tickets to even get in the park.

 

[alaskanabbott]

Honestly I would recommend just playing at GKTW that first day. Otherwise you're going to be so rushed, it won't be fun. It will take another 30-45 minutes to get to US after orientation, and then after parking and walking, and walking and walking to the gate, you're only going to have a little time. Our kids were 5-17 (wish boy was 12) and everyone of them, and us wished we would have spent more time at the village.