Our first WDW trip through MAW

[mistymouse5001]

I know nothing and need to know everything . I've been reading through the forum, thanks for keeping me up until 2 a.m. crying We haven't been told anything too much, I'm wondering how much cash we should take for extra things my boy will be begging for. I'm not too internet savvy...so if someone could email me all the info I would appreciate it all too much thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi Misty and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Partway down Post #3 of the FAQ is a section with a lot of information about MAW and Wish Trips (and GKTW).

We really can't e-mail the information because we don't know what you need. It would help if you were to give infofrmation concerning who is in your party (approximate age, gender, relationships) and what are the primary and secondy problems your son has. When might you be going, etc.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

Also, you have attached your post to a thread that was 2-3 years old; I am making it into a new thread for you.

 

[wendygrace]

Welcome. I would recommend clinking on my link titled "Wish Trippers Unite" which is a thread that is frequented by people who've been or about to go on wish trips. We'd love to answer any of your questions.

 

[mistymouse5001]

Thanks!
I should share about the family then? Mom of four. Only one going on the wish trip. Heart transplant recipient. Gorgeous boy, 5 in August. We just had our meeting Wednesday. I think we will be going for the fourth of July.
My biggest concern is how much money I should bring for the trip at the moment. Seems like we picked the hottest rainiest time in Fl now that I'm researching the trip but I'm still I really love feedback thank you for noticing me! Will we need to reserve things or does MAW do it? Will he have to wait for shows? I've read about keeping cool and what not which is great because he cant get heated too much. Hid doctor is supposed to be calling about Sea World and swimming with the dolphins. We haven't done anything since his surgery too much, 3 trips to Chattanooga Choo Choo.
I'm reallt way too excited for him. Theres not much in TN to do! I thought maybe the trip would be a day or two but they let the kids stay longer I guess. Wow. I can't believe we're going!!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Hi! I'm a former CM and an Angel (volunteer) at GKTW where the majority of wish children stay.

Your tickets will be taken care of courtesy of GKTW. I don't know for sure, but I think that MAW gives you an allowance of sorts for souvenirs and meals. GKTW provides all meals for free through the Gingerbread House and Ice Cream Palace (You can have ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!) There are presents given to the kids most days of the week as well. You will be given a button for him to wear and a special GAC (Guest assistance card) which will expedite your entrance onto attractions and to meet characters. If you can, get your kid to wear the button, we CMs can spot them a mile away and always try to go above and beyond for the family.

As far as shows, you will have to arrive early just because they fill up. Lights, Motors, Action might be a problem because it is in the sun, but the rest are indoors. If he gets overheated easily, make sure that you rent a stroller which you can use as a wheelchair. There is a lot of walking. I fan mister is also a great idea for keeping cool, and you can get a cup of water for free at any quick-service restaurant.

Scout out the rides ahead of time, make sure that you are aware of what he can and can't handle since he has a heart condition. If he has specific character that he likes, you might want to consider conveying that to Guest Relations in advance as we always try to accommodate that.

That is all I can think of at the moment, I hope this helps!

 

[mistymouse5001]

I love what you do , wow! Thanks for the info! I volunteers!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Misty- you all make our days just by being there. I've done 3 internships with Disney (one in attractions and one in entertainment) and my favorite families were always the wish families. It is truly an honor to be a part of something so special for a family. I hope you don't mind if I tell two short stories:

-I was working the cookie cart at GKTW. A mom stopped by and started talking to me, and to this day I have not forgotten her story. Her 8yo son has MD. He is at the age where he knows he has some problems, but does not fully comprehend the scope of his illness. They chose to gon on his wish while he was still pretty healthy so he could get the maximum enjoyment out of it. At GKTW, you will see families like that where the child does not look sick. You will also see families where it is only too obvious which child is the wish child. The kid saw some of these families and asked his mom, "Mommy, what's wrong with these kids? These kids are SICK! I just have issues!" The mom was telling me how it was bittersweet because they knew that would be their son in a few years. She asked me, 'How do you tell your 8yo he is going to die?' These are things that sometimes families can't talk about at home because nobody understands, but at GKTW, we all understand and the families would tell us stories.

-I was helping out Mickey Mouse at DAK when a MAW boy with a walker came up to Mickey. The boy left the walker with his mom and struggled to walk up to Mickey. The mom was bawling and I noticed her talking to the attendant. When we got backstage, I asked the attendant what the issue was. She said it was the little boy's wish to walk up to Mickey Mouse. He had MD and would have to start using a WC when get got home. Those were probably the last independent steps he ever took. There's no way to have a bad day after that. It was such an honor for me to be able to help that little boy make his wish come true.

Thank you for sharing your stories with the CMs, for taking your wish at Disney and allowing us to make it as special as we can. We love you.

Wendy: I just read your trip report- I know Peter Pan, and it is awesome he was able to do that for your son! That whole thing had me in tears and reminded me why I miss Disney so much!

 

[P&B's Mom]

Have a great trip. I usually don't read this type of post, but something drew me to it while I was surfing the forum. I am the mother of a child that gave the gift of life back in 1997. I will be thinking of you and your little boy this July 4th.

The advice I read re: the fan misters--be sure to find the battery operated ones that mist water. I had a hard time finding them--of all places found at Six Flags near my house. They were $5--figured Wal-Mart couldn't be that much cheaper.

 

[twinmum]

Hello! I don't know how to post a link, but even if you do a google search for "wish trippers unite", you'll find link to the thread. THere is a lot of info there. We are just having our first meeting with our wish granter next Friday, but our son's wish is to return to Orlando and we've been told that they'll have us stay at GKTw as long as it's available.

For the CM's who have added their stories, thank you - you brought tears to my eyes. Our son was cerebral palsy and is just learning to take his first steps (at age 9). I'd bet he'd take a few of those to see Stitch!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Thursday I was working as "line greeter" outside Typhoon's gates and I saw a family going to one of the ticket windows that was a MAW family. I knew that they don't get free tickets to the water parks from GKTW, but I did a fast check with my lead, went to the window where they were buying tickets and told the ticket seller to stop the transaction, and escorted the family through the gate.

I also told them about DisBoards and disABILITIES.

 

[mistymouse5001]

EEyores Butterfly you are the shinizzle Kids are awesome. xox So are you.
Wendy I read your trip report and cry every time I tell someone about it.Give that kid hugs and kisses for me would ya .

 

[mistymouse5001]

./,

Have a great trip. I usually don't read this type of post, but something drew me to it while I was surfing the forum. I am the mother of a child that gave the gift of life back in 1997. I will be thinking of you and your little boy this July 4th.

I haven't had the chance to thank a parent who would do such a thing. Really thank you so much. I would have lost him if it wasnt for someone like you.My whole world revolves around these kids, I wouldn't have any of them if not for some parent like you

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

After reading several MAW Trip threads, I noticed that there might be some confusion about the GKTW GAC.

The GKTW GAC is the only one that is meant to expedite entrance (hence the green light). The idea is to expedite, and there are situations where you will have to wait. For instance, if the ride has FP, you will go through the FP line. If FP is backed up, CMs may bring you up the exit since the idea is to expedite whenever possible. I can't guarantee as this is up to the individual CMs and the ride. If your child is travelling with a WC, you will have the option of waiting for a special ride vehicle that accommodates WCs. Most attractions give you this option (so you can choose to board immediately instead of waiting), but certain attractions don't, such as Kilimanjaro Safaris. If you go up the WC entrance there, you will have to wait for the WC car since it is a separate boarding area.

For smaller rides without FP look for the entrance with the wheelchair symbol. All rides have alternate entrances, and your GAC entitles you to them. At every park make sure you have a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities. It has a listing with all of the WC entrances for every ride as well as a description of the ride and boarding requirements. It can be hard to find the regular WC entrance if you don't know where it is. You should never have to wait in the regular line for attractions unless you choose to.

The GAC also entitles you to cut line for the characters. We know that Wish kids do not have the stamina that other kids do, and that waiting in the hot sun is difficult for them. I was a performer on 2 CPs and every time we had a wish kid, we pulled them out of the line and brought them to the front. Apparently some people have been told the GKTW GACs don't work with characters- they are the only ones that work with the characters. As far as I know this has not changed.

I was also sad to see that one person said the CMs at Disney were not very accommodating and Universal was much better. Please know that this is the exception to the rule. When I was recruited for my first CP, one of the things they mentioned to us is that 3/4 MAW children choose WDW for their wish. They train everybody to anticipate the needs of MAW families, and most are more than happy to do so! For those of you who experienced less than friendly CMs, please accept my apologies. Most CMs love the MAW families and will do whatever they can to make it special!

Make sure you know about how tall he is so you can plan your rides since he may not make the height requirements. Some rides may als obe too intense for a 5 yo even if he makes the height requirement, so it's a good idea to get an idea in advance.

At that age, most kids love characters and have a special character they want to meet. A great place to do that is at a dining spot (although the characters are subject to change.) Communicate his favorite character to MAW and they will try to arrange some special time for you.

If he has a heart condition, I am assuming he has medication. Make sure that you have it with you at all times, and bring back up if you can! If there are any special dietary needs, communicate them to GKTW. Angels stock the villa with food and snacks before you arrive, and they will try to accommodate when necessary. The same is true for Disney Dining. They are amazing about making accommodations if you notify them in advance.

Have a general idea of what you want to do, and then be prepared to throw it all out of the window! Definitely take him to see Block Party Bash at Disney Hollywood Studios, it's our most interactive parade and the kids love it! Disney Dreams Come True in Magic Kingdom and Spectromagic are also amazing (although I might be biased, I used to perform in them.)

Be prepare to take naps in the Wish lounge or at your villa because it can be extremely tiring, especially for a child with a heart condition.

I'll post more as I think about it. I'm pretty knowledgeable about most of the rides and the parks, so if you have specific questions ,feel free to ask!

 

[mistymouse5001]

He really wants to hang out with Buzz Woody and the Power Rangers. Is this the parade where they come out? Will we be able to meet ppl from the board like you?

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Buzz and Woody are in Block Party Bash since that is strictly a Disney Pixar parade (no non-Pixar characters). Buzz and Woody also do meet and greets at Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) near the Toy Barn. Power Rangers are harder. They were in the old parade (Disney Stars and Motorcars) but are not Pixar characters so they are not in BPB. As far as I know they still do meet and greets, but the only park the do them in is DHS. This is where communicating to MAW or GR that your son wants to meet them may come in handy since they are definitely harder to find.

You may get a chance to meet DISers depending on who is down there (I know LeeLee and Bill met up with eachother and WhosYourMickey) sadly I am stuck in Missouri while earning my Master's .

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I just reread your post with your info and noticed you are talking about the 4th of July. This is one of our most crowded days and when Magic Kingdom will go to Phase 4 closing (a one for one exchange at the turnstiles.)

On the 4th, pick a park and stay in it. To me, the MK fireworks are not worth the immense, bad tempered crowds. DAK is not busy because people are going to parks with fireworks, and DHS very rarely closes. The last time I was there on the 4th I worked at DAK (not too busy) and was able to get into DHS in time to catch the fireworks and Fantasmic! I found the fireworks to be much better than MKs, it is themed to the music industry, so there are classics as well as newer songs such as "America' by Neil Diamond. It was something very different from the typical Disney fireworks, and ten minutes before the display I was able to get a good spot to watch them. On the other hand, I have worked the 4th at MK, and we actually closed Main Street because it was full to capacity, you literally could not move and guests were being directed a backstage way to get out of the park. Nobody was in a good mood.

I believe Epcot is similarly crowded, and it's hard to find good viewing spots there because of the fact it is on the lagoon and there are various obstacles that block viewing. I've hard the 4th show there is amazing though. The rest of the days should be okay, but the 4th will take some planning. You may need to take the day before or after slow since most likely you will need to be in the parks all day if you want to see fireworks. MK has their fireworks show on the 3rd as well, so if you want to see the special MK show and avoid the intense crowds, you can see their show on the 3rd and then another on the 4th.

Just be aware that this is one of our most crowded times, so maneuvering around the parks with a stroller (I'm assuming you might end up using a stroller) is going to be lots of fun!

 

[mistymouse5001]

Good luck with that for sure! Bet you can't wait to get back

 

[mistymouse5001]

Wops totally missed your post up there I guess... . I'm not sure what those abbreviations rep Enlighten me oh generous one!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Sorry, when you work at Disney or post on Disney boards, yo ustart speaking acronym. Here are some common abbreviations (let me know if I've missed any):

Parks:
-MK (Magic Kingdom)
-DHS (Disney Hollywood Studios; formerly MGM)
-DAK (Disney's Animal Kingdom)
-GR (Guest Relations)

Disability related:
-MAW (Make a Wish)
-GKTW (Give Kids the World Resort where most wish families stay)
-GAC (Guest Assitance Card, provided to guests with disabilities to help CMs know what to do to accommodate)



Entertainment:
-DCT/DDCT (Disney Dreams Come True Parade, 3:00pm in Magic Kingdom)
-Spectro (Spectromagic night time parade at MK where everything lights up! oooo, pretty)
-DAWM (Dream Along With Mickey, castle stage show at MK)
-BPB (Block Party Bash, new parade at Disney Hollywood Studios)
-DSMC (Disney Stars and Motorcars, former parade at DHS)
-Fant! (Fantasmic, night time laser light, firework and stunt show at DHS)
-HSM (High School Musical)
-Wishes (Fireworks show at MK)
-IllumiNations (Fireworks show at Epcot)

Those are all I can think of off the top of my head, I'm not even going to attempt to list the myriad of resorts!

 

[mistymouse5001]

Wow you're the biggest help ever! Who would have thought I would find all this stuff out! I love you My husbands only time off of work throught he year is the week of the fourth so they are trying to squeeze us in. I hoping it's not a mistake though now knowing about the heat , crowds rain and hurricanes I think it'll be fun though. How busy is it there? I can't imagine.There are only about 450 ppl in my town. Busy is the Walmart in townat Christmas time having full checkouts Grr!