Make A wish - Staying at Hotel versus GKTW

[lawblond7]

I have 3 boys with mitochondrial disease. Clay - now 13 had his wish granted about 8 years ago when he was very very sick. Now his 17 year old brother and twin are having theirs granted.

His twin wants to go on a cruise to the Medeterrean and see Greece - he loves mythology BUT my 17 year old is the happiest when he is at Disney and Disney World is where he wants to go for his wish despite having gone the last 2 years.

We stayed at GKTW when Clay went BUT Jake wants to stay at a hotel and the wish granters said he could. I am looking to see where people who did not stay at GKTW have stayed. We stayed at the Polynesian 2 years ago and then last year we stayed at the Old Key West. Jake wants to stay at one of the monerail hotels at it is easier with Clay's Covaid Stroller/wheelchair and if my mom comes with us for her scooter.

He also wants to have dinner with the Princesses - go figure why a 17 year old boy wants to eat with the gorgeous ladies. Also, what else is there to suggest for a 17 year old who loves Disney that would be special and not something he would normally do.

So I am looking for stories from people who went on a MAW BUT did not stay at GKTW - but rather at a Disney Hotel and also different things to do. Also if you do not stay at GKTW what about Dinners. etc. The last couple of times we have been to Disney we have done the dining plan - not sure MAW can offer that - anyone know?

Thanks so much

Sharon

 

[PatMcDuck]

Well, my daughter was 16 when she went on her MAW trip. Because we go to WDW every other year or so, she chose to go to DL in California instead. She also wanted to see the Pacific Ocean at Sunset, which we did one afternoon, we drove over to Newport Beach. And they also gave us free admission to Universal Hollywood, and Knotts Berry Farm (we did not go there, she was too tired and needed a day of rest). We live in NJ, so it was a big deal for her to go to California.

At DL, we were put into the Paradise Pier Hotel, on property. We were also told that for WDW trips that they sometimes place the kids in a Disney Hotel if they wish, vs the GKTW village.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

Dolphins In Depth at Epcot is a great program. My DS25 has a Traumatic Brain Injury. We went 4 years ago. The program is about 3 hours long and very interesting. I was worried that it wouldn't hold his attention, but it did. He loved it. When it came time to get into the water with the dolphins, they transferred Jared into their wheelchair and placed divers weights on him to hold him in the chair. The dolphin came up to him for a very magical picture and everyone got to give the dolphin commands to do tricks. It was a great experience.

 

[maroo]

GKTW was full when we went in Oct of 2008 and they put us at The Contemporary.

One thing to make sure the wish granters know are any needs you have for a handicapped accessibility in the room and make sure they know how important it is to relay that information to Disney.

We HAD to have a roll in shower and ended up being moved from the Poly to the Contemporary because they actually didn't have a roll in shower room at the Poly and had just put us in a "handicapped" room.

I have seen Wish families stay in value resorts, AKL, AKV (Animal Kingdom Villas), Grand Floridian, etc...

If your son has somewhere he really wants to stay, just let them know and I am sure they will do everything they can to accomodate you guys.

Not sure how your organization will handle it, but everything for our trip was still booked through GKTW and we went there to do orientation and get the tickets and such (and the magic button), but I have also seen wish granting organizations book free dining (to save them money on food costs) and do a value resort without any involvement with GKTW - so it all depends on your organization as far as how they handle it.

We did help MAW and GKTW with some fundraising after Lauren's trip because we felt like the accomodations we got were probably more expensive than it would have cost them to just do GKTW and that really was excited for Lauren, too.

 

[lawblond7]

We stayed at the Polynesian 2 christmas ago. I had actually booked 2 reason and All Star Sports thru special services so we would have 2 handicapped rooms (as my mom also uses a scotter and he have Clay's covaid). When we checked in they did not have ANY handicapped rooms let alone 2 connecting rooms - so they moved us to the Polynesian -- the BOYS loved that and last january we stayed at Old key West and that was wonderful too. We stayed at GKTW with Clay's wish trip and visited it again 2 years ago BUT Jake at his age did not want to stay there- he prefers the Disney hotels. So we requested that He also wants to have dinner with the princesses (of course he wanted to stay at the castle but do not think that will happen) as he thinks they are HOT - he is 17. Also he wants to see fantasmic as all the times we have gone he has NEVER seen it. He also wants to stay at a Disney hotel - especially a monorail hotel - he requested that - as the boys ALL get real tired easily - due to their mitochondrial disease so it makes it easier if we can go back to rest. He also asked for the Dining Plan - not sure what they will do. Jake and Cole's wish are being granted by MAW MidAtlantic (Northern Virginia/DC/Maryland and Delaware.

I just spoke to the Wish Coordinator and she said she is now sending the paperwork back to the doctor so that the boys neurologist can say that they are able to medically go on the wishes that they want and then the board will approve their wishes and they can start planning and get the dates. They have been medically ruled eligible BUT now their specific wishes need to be medically approved - Jake's for Disney and Cole's for a cruise to Rome and Greece - they said this can be granted and their is a Royal Caribeean cruise that starts in Rome and goes to Athens and Crete, Sicily and Turkey. They are also a MAW partner so hopefully this will happen.

She also said Jake can stay at a Disney Hotel -- I loved GKTW last time we stayed there with Clay but when we went back a few years ago to visit all the wish kids were young and Jake did not think he would enjoy staying there as much as he would in a Disney hotel. She said she loved Jake's quote that despite the fact that he has been to Disney several times he wants to go back as it is the "happiest place in the world and it makes him smile all the time he is there." Cole specifcally said he wanted to go to Greece and Rome because he loves history and mythology and fell in love with mythology thanks to Percy Jackson and the Lightening Theif series - I helped him work thru the book during the summer.

I just heard from the boys neurologist and she said that as soon as she gets the paperwork from MAW she will fill it out. So hopefully in the next week or so we will know if the board approves the wishes and when we can go.

Thanks
Sharon
www.caringbridge.org/visit/claytonandcole

 

[casper_jj11]

Sydney wanted to stay with the princesses as well. We were given our choice of the deluxe resorts and chose the Grand Floridian because its where the princesses visited for their meals. We were there last August and it was absolutely amazing. Disney was wonderful and upgraded us to a magic kingdom view. We also extended our trip by 4 days and they ensured we could stay in the same room, with the complementary upgrade, for the full duration of our stay. The two pools are wonderful. The setting is fantastic. We were able to watch the electric water parade and fireworks from our balcony which the kiddos just loved. I highly recommend it to anyone.


We ate with the princesses many times: castle, GF park fare dinner, and Akershus. The castle was by far the best interaction for us. We did ask to be in the main room and it was accomodated although we didn't get a seat by the window which was just fine. They also continuously filled our platters. It was nice not to have to get up for a buffet. The next fav was akershus. We had a nice experience here before and we enjoyed it this time but the wait to get in was excrutiating. There were terribly delays (45min) so our 1015am ressie turned into a 11am ressie, they removed the breakfast food from the buffet and while we could eat the lunch food, they couldn't provide pastries, etc and really seemed to want us to leave. The princesses were wonderful and we would go back again but we'd make the ressie closer to opening time. It may not be as bad when the heat isn't so strong. Park fare was our least fav. We spent a brief amount of time with Cinderella. The sisters were nice but we were so far removed from the main room that it was hard to get a feel for the place. We couldn't actually see the first dance which Sydney would have liked (even tho our ADR was for opening time at 5pm). It was ok but we did breakfast a few years ago there and I don't think we'll do it again. Once we bought the pic, it was actually the same price as the castle and not nearly as well done or as nice.

Any questions, just ask!

 

[lawblond7]

Thanks Joanne -- I will ask more once we get more details. Jake loved the Polynesian BUT said he would ask to stay at the Grand Floridian as he wants to sue some of his spending money to get mom a spa day. I am a single mom of 3 chronically ill boys. I thought that was so sweet.

At 17 - I am sure his view of the princesses is a bit different than your daughters BUT as he said they are all so pretty and HOT that he just wants to have dinner with them all I love Disney so I am happy that he loves all things Disney. On the other hand he loves sports and I sowre he would want to wish to go to ESPN but he goes mom as much as I love sports I do not want to go to Bristol Conneticut. I want to go to Disney. Hopefully it will all work out. They did tell us that we would have to go to GKTW to get all our tickets etc.

hugs
Sharon
www.cairngbridge.org/visit/claytonandcole

 

[casper_jj11]

Hi Sharon

You will need to go to GKTW to get the tix. When I was there, there were 3 orientation meetings that day and we got there just in time for the second so we were at the resort just past dinner time. I was really worried getting from point A to B but it worked well. Your son is older and obviously is familiar with GKTW already but my kids loved it and we came back mid week for Christmas. They were a great help when the battery on my camcorder caused problems and they helped me figure out how to extend our rental car for the extra part of our trip. It was a bit of a pain having to go there first but overall, it made me feel more secure knowing they were there even though we've been before.

I think its great that your son loves the princesses LOL. I can see my boys being like that as well. They're already quite a flirt with them.