Make a Wish trip and Guest Assistance Card

[SueM in MN]

My friend had her child on a Wish. They Had the buttons, shirts and GAC with the appropriate stamp. They went to space mountain and handed the CM the GAC. She told the family they were quite busy and come back in 30 minutes!

The family was surprised and they didn't bother going back. I not sure if the the CM was new and didn't know protocol.....

We are a previous Wish Family and I was surprised when my friend explained what happened....


Charleyann

Please note: There is more then one Wish organization that Disney and GTKW reconizes such as Children's Wish Foundation of Canada and the Star Light Foundation. There are more. These give out different style buttons which are different color and sizes. They are given GAC with the approppriate stamp and are often given out by GTKW...

You you may think these are fake button or shirts, but they maybe infact a different Wish organization other then, Make A Wish..

Disney treats them the same. We were part of the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. The nations largest Wish making organization...

There may be many different types of WISH trip buttons.
Guest Relations CMs have been on here at times and PM'd me to explain that the button is supposed to be kind of an 'alert' for CMs, but you need to carry whatever paperwork you were given (like a GAC) to show if asked. That is what really gives the WISH treatment.


For the person with Space Mountain - my guess is that they had too many people with special needs either waiting to board or on the attraction. Because of fire safety and evacuation rules, there are limits to the number of people that can be in the area at one time. Sometimes there are too many wheelchairs for the space or sometimes it's just more people total for the space than will fit. That has happened to us occasionally when we came back with a Fastpass and were told they had too many wheelchairs at the time.
That does happen sometimes and the only option is to give people a 'come back' time.

Hi All!

We are a wish family that were lucky enough to have our trip to DW in December of 2007. DS was sick through part of it, and has always talked about wanting to go back. DH and I surprised him with tickets to DL (we live in Oregon) for this next week. I have read through the GAC thread and through this one as well. But, I still have a few questions. DS has a heart condition, he can't exert himself or become overheated. So no stair climbing or long waits in the sun. He does appear to be a "normal" (for lack of better words) 13 year old boy otherwise. I think these circumstances would be appropriate for a GAC. But would appreciate any honest feedbacks.

Also, would it be appropriate for him to wear his Wish button? Our Wish coordinator gave us extras for "later", but I can't recall what exactly she said. They are in an envelope with "for later" written on the front. What about wish lounges, etc. Anybody have knowledge on DL and wishes, is there something like GKTW, or hidden VIP spots anywhere? Everything I find is for DW, we would love to go back there but this is all we could afford (and are super grateful for the opportunity).

Thanks so much for any feedback and insight. You all are great

Guest Relations CMs have written in the past that the WISH special treatment is meant for that once in a lifetime trip. He may be able to use special lounges with the button as a former WISH trip child, but he would not have the MAW GAC to go along with his button. There was someone on this board a long time ago who was going to WDW many times after the WISH trip and was using the button each time. After a while, she was told that it would not give any 'special treatment' after the first trip and that she would have to get a GAC for any accommodations she needed. One of the ways they have gotten around people using the button over and over was dating the button.

I agree that the best option for him is going to be a wheelchair - that will avoid him exerting himself or having to climb any steps. Because he has additional needs besides just an accessible way in, I would suggest a GAC. He/his family would just explain his additional needs to the CMs at Guest Relations and request a GAC to help meet those needs. Also, keep in mind that the same conditions (sun and heat) exist outside of the lines, so they should have ways to handle them while going from place to place.

 

[PrincessGraceKelly]

Hi everyone!
I wish I found this forum sooner. We are leaving for our Make-a-Wish trip to Disney on 4/4/09. We'll be staying at Give Kids the World.

I was wondering if GKTW has tickets to Disney's water parks? My daughter has had brain and spinal surgeries and cannot go on many regular rides.
She is allowed on many water rides though so we were hoping to spend time at the water parks. I didn't realize until just yesterday that they aren't part of the hopper tickets.

My daughter Gracie is the wish child... Her brother Mike is also a wish child, but he hasn't made his wish yet. He can't decide
Myself and all 3 of my children have the same brain and spinal malformation, so we all have very low stamina and are limited in the types of rides we can go on. What I was wondering is if Disney helps accomodate all of us or just the wish child?

Gracie's actual wish was "To meet Cinderella, ride in her carriage and stay in her castle". I know that's probably the same wish every 7 year old little girl wishes. I understand that the carriage ride and castle stay is impossible, but I wasn't told until a few days ago that it was my responsibility to arrange a meal with Cinderella. They're of course completely booked

Any advice about how to make this a special Cinderella trip for her?

I'm also looking for ideas/tips for a "send off party" because our MAW chapter doesn't arrange that. What have you guys done for your kids?

 

[PrincessGraceKelly]

do MAW kids get to do the special early/late park hours?

 

[dclfun]

Hi All!

We are a wish family that were lucky enough to have our trip to DW in December of 2007. DS was sick through part of it, and has always talked about wanting to go back. DH and I surprised him with tickets to DL (we live in Oregon) for this next week. I have read through the GAC thread and through this one as well. But, I still have a few questions. DS has a heart condition, he can't exert himself or become overheated. So no stair climbing or long waits in the sun. He does appear to be a "normal" (for lack of better words) 13 year old boy otherwise. I think these circumstances would be appropriate for a GAC. But would appreciate any honest feedbacks.

Also, would it be appropriate for him to wear his Wish button? Our Wish coordinator gave us extras for "later", but I can't recall what exactly she said. They are in an envelope with "for later" written on the front. What about wish lounges, etc. Anybody have knowledge on DL and wishes, is there something like GKTW, or hidden VIP spots anywhere? Everything I find is for DW, we would love to go back there but this is all we could afford (and are super grateful for the opportunity).

Thanks so much for any feedback and insight. You all are great

From what I understand, No, it is not appropriate for him to wear his wish button unless he is on his wish trip. A "wish" is once in a lifetime where special treatment is given, otherwise one must use the same accommodations granted to anyone with the same need. I agree that renting a w/c is the best way to address stamina concerns and if there are needs to stay out of the sun, sometimes there can be an accommodation to wait in a shaded area, although this is not always possible. Since your son missed part of his trip due to illness, I would contact the wish coordinator from the organization you used and ask what he is now entitled to- perhaps they can re-issue a new dated button or comp admission, etc.---Kathy

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The tickets from GKTW do not include the water parks. However, last year I was at work and I saw a family with MAW buttons in line at one of the ticket windows; I just told them to come with me and I passed them through one of the gates so they did not have to buy tickets. So it is sort of the luck of the draw; who is working when you are there.

 

[maroo]

Hi everyone!
I wish I found this forum sooner. We are leaving for our Make-a-Wish trip to Disney on 4/4/09. We'll be staying at Give Kids the World.

I was wondering if GKTW has tickets to Disney's water parks? My daughter has had brain and spinal surgeries and cannot go on many regular rides.
She is allowed on many water rides though so we were hoping to spend time at the water parks. I didn't realize until just yesterday that they aren't part of the hopper tickets.

My daughter Gracie is the wish child... Her brother Mike is also a wish child, but he hasn't made his wish yet. He can't decide
Myself and all 3 of my children have the same brain and spinal malformation, so we all have very low stamina and are limited in the types of rides we can go on. What I was wondering is if Disney helps accomodate all of us or just the wish child?

Gracie's actual wish was "To meet Cinderella, ride in her carriage and stay in her castle". I know that's probably the same wish every 7 year old little girl wishes. I understand that the carriage ride and castle stay is impossible, but I wasn't told until a few days ago that it was my responsibility to arrange a meal with Cinderella. They're of course completely booked

Any advice about how to make this a special Cinderella trip for her?

I'm also looking for ideas/tips for a "send off party" because our MAW chapter doesn't arrange that. What have you guys done for your kids?

do MAW kids get to do the special early/late park hours?

First...congrats on the Wish Trip! You will have a wonderful time!

If you want to join a group of fellow Wish Trippers, you can check out the BLUE thread below in my siggie...It will take you to a thread where you can ask all of your questions and meet some other families that are also going on a Wish Trip. Some, I think, will even be there when you will be!

GKTW, I believe, DOES have water park tickets, just ask them and they can give some to you.

Call every day to ask about the Cinderella meal. I was able to get Lauren in at the very last minute...with just Lauren and her Mom, but they got to go.

Each time you call, make sure you tell them this is a wish trip and that your daughter wants to meet Cinderella. You might get lucky and find a CM that will allow you to book it.

If you can't get a meal...then when you get to the Magic Kingdom, go to Guest Services and see if there is a place where Cinderella will be so that your DD can meet her! They should be able to make sure that happens.

Send off parties totally depend on the child's interests...I don't really have any ideas there? Favorite restaurant and let her invite some friends? Our MAW does not do it really, either, and Lauren didn't really miss it.

I am going to PM you these answers, too...in case you don't see this post...

 

[Leeds-Josh]

Hello

I recently found out that I am going to have a wish granted.

We are currently in the process of sending passport details, insurance info etc...
I am oober excited because Me and my family never dreamed of having this experience.

My wish was to go to WWOHP because I am a massive Harry Potter fan.
We have been told we will be give Orlando Flex Tickets. And because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity we are going to get the disney tickets ourselves.

Do Universal and Seaworld have the GAP for wish children?

Are only certain wish charities eligible or any wish charity?

 

[kellyw8863]

You will receive your GAC at the GKTW orientation. We were told that each GAC had a green light stamp indicating FOTL access for all rides and attractions, but not character meet and greets. It was clearly my impression that all GACs carried the same stamp and was exclusive to wish families that were accommodated through GKTW. I would be extremely surprised to learn otherwise.

 

[SueM in MN]

Since this thread is very old, I’m going to close it at this point and send people to the MAW thread which is always pretty close to the top of this board.

The Guest Assistance Cards for guests on Make a Wish trips are specific for children on WISH trips and do provide a different level of access than other Guest Assistance Cards.