Need some adviceabout little girl activities

[bryan&natesmom]

Hello all,
I am a new Wish Granter for the Make-a-Wish organization. I am working on my first wish and was THRILLED when my four year old wish child choose Disney! I know that she will have an amazing wish come true! However, as the mother of two boys, I'm having a hard time knowing how to make her trip extra special. She really wants to meet the Princesses. I can book her (and her 8 year old sister) a character meal. Any suggestions on which one? Also, do many of the little girls wear Princess dresses to the character meals? If so, is eight too old to wear a Princess dress? They are both girly-girls.

Thanks!

 

[Melanie98]

A little off topic, but...
I am a first grade teacher, and one of my students went on a Make-a-Wish trip to Disney a few months ago. It was such an wonderful experience for her and her family. They had such a great time, and all of the girls (three sisters) got such awesome gifts. Immediately after returning from Disney my student had to have very severe brain surgery (with a long hospital stay). Disney souvenirs were used to decorate her entire hospital room. Although she cannot speak she definitely responds when I ask her about the Disney items.

Oh, and she was released from the hospital a couple of weeks ago and she made a grand exit in a sparkly princess dress! I was at the hospital when she was released, and I was able to get pictures of her feeling like a princess again. It was awesome! You'd really have to know the child to understand what it was like to see the princess in her coming out. She is a very girly-girl, and after losing her hair because of several brain surgeries she became very self conscious. She did not want others to see her with her head shaved. However, the day that she put on the princess dress she began acting like a diva. She was eager to pose for the camera (even with half of her hair missing).

I'd imagine that all little girls would love to feel like a princess!

 

[bryan&natesmom]

Thanks for the response! A first grader should be 6 or 7, so 8 doesn't seem that old, does it? I, too, know first hand the power of a Wish! My then 9 year old son (also a brain tumor survivor) had a Wish granted and he chose a Disney Cruise. It was an unbelievable experience! He was thrilled to dress up for the big pirate party, but I wasn't sure how fast girls grow up these days!

 

[DizzyErin]

I have a daughter who is 9 and still (just about) loves to dress up and be princessy .. I have heard that Akershus in Epcot is a great Princess character meal to do And yes she dressed up for character meal and will dressing up for the party we have tickets for

 

[1hero2princesses]

Cinderella's Royal Table- Magic Kingdom for Breakfast or Lunch. This is actually a meal in Cinderella's castle. Only problem is it is pretty hard to get ADR's too. I am sure under the circumstances they should get you in somehow. Askerhaus in Norway also has princesses for all three meals but only the breakfast is completly american fare, the other two meals are a mixture. I don't think 9 is too old to dress up if they are girly girls. I think a lot of kids dress up. Maybe 25% to even half of the girls? More? Someone else will have to answer that. I will be dressing my two little girls for both meals.

 

[Melanie98]

I definitely think 8 is not too old to want to be a princess!

I hope that your son has fully recovered. I have dealt with a lot when it comes to tumors and brain injuries (with family, friends and students). It can be very unpredictable and scary. My student actually did not have a brain tumor. She has a degenerative (sp?) brain disorder. She had to have half of her brain removed. It was horribly scary for me (as her teacher), so I can only imagine how her family must have felt. It was so nive that they were able to spend such great family time together at Disney just prior to going into that surgery. They knew that they were facing the possibility of never really having their little girl again. Luckily, she has progressed better than expected. Just the fact that she still has memories of her Disney experience is a miracle!

As for the wish you are currently working on, I'd say go ahead and make this little girl a princess!

Thanks for the response! A first grader should be 6 or 7, so 8 doesn't seem that old, does it? I, too, know first hand the power of a Wish! My then 9 year old son (also a brain tumor survivor) had a Wish granted and he chose a Disney Cruise. It was an unbelievable experience! He was thrilled to dress up for the big pirate party, but I wasn't sure how fast girls grow up these days!

 

[skw444]

As a mom to 2 girls, I think a meal at Cinderella's Royal Table would be good. Nothing better then eating in the castle with the Princesses. If you choose CRT, pick breakfast or lunch since there are multiple Princesses there. My 6 year old will be dressed up as a Princess for our CRT meal in September so I don't think 8 years old is too old.

 

[bryan&natesmom]

Thank you all so much for the responses. I will try to get her into Cinderella's Round Table. What could be better than eating in an actual castle?! Only problem is, I will have to wait to see when MAW books her trip. I'm hoping that they are able to go late June. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Does anyone have any other ideas to "kick it up a notch"? I don't have a very big budget, but I should be able to get them both a dress. However, I know with my own kids, sometimes the little things really add a lot.

ps- Thanks for asking about my son. Thanks to an unbelievable doctor at the Mayo Clinic, he is doing great! I certainly understand the feeling of sending your child into surgery wondering if you will ever experience "normal" again. I'm happy that your student is doing well.

 

[goldenears]

I believe at the World of Disney Store and the Emporium in the Magic Kingdom, you can make your own wands. I am not sure of the price. Maybe someone else can help me with that, but I don't think it is too expensive. This would be something fun for them to do.
There is also the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique...not sure what your budget is. I know you said it is limited.
You could make an appt. here before having a meal at CRT. You could cut costs here by doing a cheaper package and buying dresses at the Disney Store or an online retailer before the girls go to Disney.
Have fun....Make-a-Wish is such a wonderful organization!!!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

BBB is fabulous and they will treat her like a QUEEN, but will she have hair?check into that.

Def get them princess dresses, those are perfect ages! They will be adored in every park by many of the CMs.

 

[vbilello]

I read a review somewhere of BBB (maybe it was Allears) from a mom of a DD with cancer who went to BBB- sounded like they made it quite an amazing experience-despite the fact she was bald (and didn't even have an ADR). I think they will make their magic work for anyone & I am sure she would love it- especially if she was dressed up, too!

Any of the princess meals (1900 PF dinner, CRT, or Askerhaus) would be perfect- Don't know your budget - but maybe the tea party, too? HEard good things about it. Here's to a magical trip for her!

 

[skw444]

I thought of another thing....will they be staying at a Disney Resort? If so, the Port Orleans resorts do carriage rides throughout the resort. That might be kind of neat if they were dressed up as Princesses. Also, as mentioned by some Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique does hair and makeup. I took my dd there last year and just did the basic package (around $45) and brought our own princess dress. Also, at Magic Kingdom they have a photo studio where you can have your pictures taken after getting dressed up for BBB...but I believe you can also get your pictures taken there even if you decide BBB is out of your budget. There is also a photo shoot done at Grand Floridian.

 

[hopesmommy]

At MK, there was a reading with Belle. I don't know if it is still there, but the readers use to include some of the audience.

If you are the first one to ask, you can wake Tink up at Tinkerbell Treasures at MK.

You can also make crowns at the resorts and parks.

I hope she gets better.

 

[mmeb144]

You could create a special autograph book to go with the meals (and just general autograph hunting). We took an autograph book that we found online and added pictures of the characters. The characters really liked seeing their pictures on the pages.

 

[bryan&natesmom]

Thank you all. A friend of mine had mentioned the Bippity-Boppity-Boo Boutique. I am pretty sure that I would have to either do that or the Princess meal. Sounds like a great fall back if I can't get them a reservation for the meal.

They will be staying at the Give Kids the World Village. It is a special resort just for Wish kids and their families. I know that they will have lots of surprises for them at the Village as well.

I am just having such great time "paying it forward" and getting to shop for little girls!!

 

[Grandmax3]

Is there any way you can talk to a Disney representative to find out if the wishes girl could get added to places like the castle even if they are no ADR's available.I know that they do things behind the scenes to help the wishes children.

 

[Rora]

You're never too old to dress up like a Princess. You might want to consider taking her to the Bibbity Bobbity Botique so she can have a Princess makeover!

For the character meal- go to Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom for breakfast or lunch. If you can't get a reservation go to the Akershus in EPCOT for breakfast or lunch. If you wind up in Magic Kingdom, let her go to the Princess meet and greets in Mickey's Judges Tent in Toontown. Find the thread or talk to a Cast Memeber about where she can meet more of the Princesses. I'm sure no matter what you do she will love it and it will be so magical. Good luck!!

 

[PrincessTigerLily]

We enjoyed our lunch at Akershus with the princesses, lots of good interaction and the children's meal has American food. Try right away for any of the princess meals as they tend to book very quickly. What a wonderful volunteer opportunity! I would love to hear a report if you get any info!

 

[somethingblue]

My ideas are less about things to do at Disney and more about how to make the experience extra special, but I think you'll like them anyway.

Making the girl and her sister a special Princess Kit before the trip could be fun. Decorate a pink or purple pail with stickers and other sparkly items and then fill them with things to entertain them on the plane like colours, colouring books, little candies, lip gloss, maybe magic wands or Disney Princess memorobillia.

Try and find out if the girls have a favourite princess. If you found this out, you could purchase them small things to make into a gift basket for them specifically with their princess. You can find great Disney stuff for very cheap at Hobby Lobby, Big Lots, and the dollar store.

I'm not sure if you'll be going on the trip with the girls, but think about doing the 'Tinkerbell' thing...every night Tinkerbell comes to visit and leaves the girls goodies. Then, when they wake up, they have a special prize. Think hats with their names on them, little purses with small goodies inside like temporary tattoos and stickers, and hair accessories.

Also, personalized autograph books to use for the characters are a great activity the girls can do before visiting the parks. Get stickers, glitter, glue, and foam shapes and have them decorate small flip books for the characters to sign.

I know you have a limited budget, but I hope these ideas will help spark your imagination on how to make their trip extra magical!!

-x-

 

[catgirl]

I agree with something blue about the tinkerbell thing. I took my neice and friend in February and Tink brought them: rhinestone tatoos, princess pens, stickers, notepads, inexpensive princess necklaces from wal-mart, glow necklaces & bracelets. Most items were from the dollor store or dollar bind at Target. They also dressed up and went to Alice in Wonderland Tea-party at GF - I think it was $30 each. The were given lunch, decorated a cupcake, received 8x10 and four 4x6 photos with Alice and the Mad Hatter and had bouquet of flowers to give to their parents afterwards. The girls loved it!