Squirrels, Ducks and Coconut Butts!!! A Wish Trip Report *LATEST UPDATE 05/2011**

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Mother's Day, Melissa!!!

What an exhausting travel day!!! I would have been dead on my feet by the time I arrived anywhere. Too bad Tim was the lucky one to score two sleeping girls.

 

[wish_upon_a_star35]

Happy Mother's Day Melissa! I hpe you have a wonderful day!

 

[TokyoDina]

Happy Mothers Day!!!

 

[GeminiAngel]

Great start! Can't wait for more.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

 

[MaryAz]

Great start! You are a grea storyteller. Cute pics.

 

[rcq925]

Great start! What a long day! It makes no sense why you would fly all the way to Chicago and then to Orlando! But you got there, that is all that really matters

Can't wait for the next installment and the girls reaction to GKTW!!!

 

[wishin' on a star]

You're off to a great start...but I want MORE before I leave next Monday!!! Your pictures are great.

Regarding the tip conversation, our wish packet actually tells us that gratuity has already been paid for for the transportation. I like what Beth's skycap said!

 

[Momofwishkid]

Page 4 but I made it. Great start! I love the pic of Phobe so excited about the limo. Sorry you didnt get your nap on the plane isnt that the way it always works

 

[yinyanggirls]

cool, glad you got this started, I was dieing (there is no right way to spell that is there???) from suspense.

I'm in! Can't wait

I made it over woot woot! Can't wait to read all about your trip(s)!

OH YEA!!!!!!!!

You are on your way!!!!!! Looking forward to reading all about your trip!!!!

I'm here...now get writing before we leave on our trip!

I'm here too!! Can't wait to read all about your trip!!

awesome!!!

Great start! Great intro!

Can't wait!

You know I wouldn't miss this for the world! Great start!

First time I am in from the start of a TR! Looking forward to reading, the intro has me hooked!

Blessings,
Judy

Wow, good timing.

I'm here!

I'm IN!

I am in, can't wait to read more.

Me tooo!!! YAY!!!!

Woo hoo, you started! I've been watching for you

I'm buckled up for the ride.

Can u help me animate my trip when I get back?
Great Job

can't wait to read more......subscribing.

Joining in!

I'm in! Beautiful intro.

Geez I've been so busy! With worth and getting ready for the Disney trip. I didn't get to be first to reply haha!

I can't wait to read the rest of your report!

I'm glad I made it in the first day!! Can't wait to hear all about it! The girls look beautiful by the way.

Great Intro!!

WooHoo! I can't wait.

Thanks for joining me everyone! I'm humbled to see so many new faces as well as the more familiar ones!

 

[yinyanggirls]

You have great pictures! Especially on the plane. Chicago does seem a bit out of the way, doesn't it.

Just a LITTLE...

It sounds like travel day was a long day for you! You must have been beat by the time you arrived!

Looking forward to hearing about your arrival at GKTW!

I was looking forward to arrival too, believe me!

Present!
Can you do a trip report for me while you're at it? You're off to a good start. You should have seen our limo driver trying to figure out where to put all of our bags. We ended up with some under our feet and on the seats inside the limo. On the way back the limo company wised up and sent a van. Not luxurious, but it sure did the trick!

Can't wait to hear more, and possibly see a photo of Elke actually SMILING. (She smiled plenty as the trip went on, but we never were able to catch it on camera!).

I tried emailing some pics to you but I think they were too big. I'll resize them and try again. I got 3 out of your 5 smiling. Never got you or Maggie on camera.

You are off to a great start. I can't wait to read more. Your girls are adorable!

Thanks! Most of the time they are.

YAY!!!!! I've been waiting for your TR!! I am so excited and ready to read more!! The girls are so gorgeous!! I LOVE Phoebe's sad face :lol: Too cute!! Also I know I will be posting many pics of "Messy Marvin" ala Chase when I get to do my TR! He is sooo messy but cute!!

She's always done that silly face since she was a baby. It's so extreme! I guess kids can still get away with being messy and cute at the same time.

Great start -- YAY!!

So sorry to hear about the seizures while traveling -- it's can be tough in public- but it sounds like you guys handled it like champs!

She gets real tense and her movements are pretty small so most of the time no one even notices.

PS - Funny but our "tips" went in reverse -- the limo driver accepted it, but the skycap said..."Aren't you with Make a Wish? No thanks, spend it on the kids!"

How funny. Nice of the skycap to say that.

Loving your reports and the pics of your beautiful girls. Can't wait for the next installment.

Me too! It's hard spending my time doing other things 'cause I just want to be on here typing up the next installment!

Great start to the trip! Your girls are just adorable.
I was looking into flights from Dallas and OKC and wondered why they would go to CHicago then Atlanta before getting to Orlando. Umm, could I have a direct flight please?

SWA goes through Dallas, and at least that would have been "on the way". I guess they were trying to find us an early morning departure.

Creepy! I have to say, we are going from Tucson to Chicago then to Orlando too. Same flight I suppose. I would like to know why we have to fly all the way up there and then south. Makes no sense but it was the earliest flight I could get. Gonna try that Potbelly place you report about now. Whee I can't wait to go!

What a coinky-dink! I hope you land earlier than we did though. Otherwise the early flight is useless.

TMI but it's okay we're all adults here we understand when we forget important things like that! I know I've forgotten a number of important things like that. Some of which could have potentially been a very unlucky out come if things had gone differently that trip.

Yikes!

Another great update. It sounds like you had a very long travel day but you're holding up well. Your daughters are both beautiful! I can't wait to read more.

It was long but I guess the adrenaline of starting our trip was keeping me going.

Alrighty, all caught up! I’m so glad you started your TR!! Pheobe is a little angel…as is Tessa, in her own way right?! LOL!! They are sooo adorable! I’m glad you got to “see” Oprah! LOL! So funny! Well, can’t wait for the next installment!

I'm a huge Oprah fan! Since I was a kid, which was a looong time ago.

I just noticed you changed your picture! Too cute!

Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks! I hope your day was great!
That pic of them in their winter coats was making me sweat.

Happy Mother's Day, Melissa!!!

What an exhausting travel day!!! I would have been dead on my feet by the time I arrived anywhere. Too bad Tim was the lucky one to score two sleeping girls.

Thanks! I hope you had a great day too!

Guys have all the luck don't they?!

Happy Mother's Day Melissa! I hpe you have a wonderful day!

Thanks!!!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Thank you!!! Did Drizzt make you breakfast? Yeah, my kids didn't either.

Great start! Can't wait for more.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Thanks!!!

Great start! You are a grea storyteller. Cute pics.

I just love having people who want to hear the stories.

Great start! What a long day! It makes no sense why you would fly all the way to Chicago and then to Orlando! But you got there, that is all that really matters

Can't wait for the next installment and the girls reaction to GKTW!!!

I think I can do our arrival tomorrow.

You're off to a great start...but I want MORE before I leave next Monday!!! Your pictures are great.

I'm trying! At least you'll have plenty to read when you get home.

Page 4 but I made it. Great start! I love the pic of Phobe so excited about the limo. Sorry you didnt get your nap on the plane isnt that the way it always works

I can never sleep when there's stuff going on around me so I wasn't really expecting one. It would have been nice, but oh well!

 

[yinyanggirls]

I received our PhotoPass CD in the mail today! Hurray!!! Thank you so much for getting us that fantastic discount Maroo! I'm ready to share them ALL with you.

 

[All7OfUs]

Yay for the CD arriving!! Now we can REALLY get this party started!

 

[Wee Annie]

I tried emailing some pics to you but I think they were too big. I'll resize them and try again. I got 3 out of your 5 smiling. Never got you or Maggie on camera.

I'm sort of like a vampire -- I don't show up in pictures. I guess Maggie inherited it.

 

[TokyoDina]

Haha your funny! Did the girls try to help make breakfast? DH made me some while I got us some chai from the local Bruggler's.

 

[that's nice]

Looks like the girls loved riding in the limo.

Sorry you didn't get a nap on the plane.. hopefully the adrenaline kept you going!

Chicago... oh Chicago.... I still can't believe that was your route to MCO.

Great pictures from the plane.

HURRAY for the photopass CD arriving!!! Can't wait to see those pics!

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

I can't wait for the next installment!

 

[yinyanggirls]

Our limo delivered us to TUS around 6:00am, but we didn't land at Orlando MCO until 6:55pm (local time) equaling 10 hours of airplanes and airports that day. Man were we tired, but we had arrived! We were excited to really start this trip! I previously had talked to a DISer name Sarah (the one who made our girls those amazing quilts for the Big Give) about meeting up that night at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Downtown Disney. I thought since we would still be on PST that we would have plenty of energy to explore a little, and what fun to not even need a park ticket to do it! It all depended on whether or not I was able to make the 7:45pm orientation at GKTW. I knew it would be close, but I was hoping!

We followed the crowd to the monorail to get to the baggage claim. Tessa thought it was the first official ride of the trip and shared her excitement with the other kids who shared the window seat with her.

Tim was really bothered by the fact that this thing had no operator.

We quickly found our Give Kids the World greeters and took the obligatory photo.

They were very sweet and knew the airport like the back of their hand. They took us to baggage claim, retrieved a cart, all the luggage and then took us to the Avis rental counter. The gentleman took Tim up with him and within a couple of minutes they had keys and told us to wait where we were. I was curious as to what type of vehicle we would end up with and was happy to see Tim driving a red Ford Explorer towards us. A minivan would have been easiest but I'm pretty sure they were out. We had been talking about what type of vehicle to replace my van with and "how to make the wheelchair fit" is always the bottom line requirement. I've always been a "truck" girl. I figured this would give us a good trial, and even if we had to take the chair apart every time we could see how big a pain that would be for every day living. So Tim loads up the trunk while I load up the kids and we're ready to go! The GKTW couple had recommended Gatorland and gave us a few other tips and then said good bye. At this point it is about 8:00pm. I guess even with things going smoothly it takes a while to get out of the airport. I've always been an overly optimistic judge of time. I get it from my dad. He's had SO many close calls, and a few missed trains and planes as well. Oh well. No orientation tonight. But we should still have some time to relax and play around.

It was just getting dark and we used a combination of the map on the Give Kids the World sign along with the GPS we brought along. They agreed for the most part. It did take us through a less than appealing part of town though. We are just yards away from our destination when we see this sign:

I suddenly realized why everyone uses the stock photo of this sign...it sneaks up on you and it's right on the main street. Trying to capture it while driving (at night) would have been tricky. But it meant we were here! Okay, so now it's about 8:30 and I'm really getting anxious to have some FUN. I just want to find out which villa is going to be ours, throw some suitcases in it, change clothes and go DO something! We call from the gate and they buzz us in. We pull up to the carport by the office. (Another stock photo)

I run in by myself thinking someone is going to come back out with me and tell us to follow along to our villa but instead I'm greeted at the front desk and told to bring everyone inside. HUH? But we'll do orientation tomorrow. We all have to come in right now? To be honest I just wasn't thrilled that they were asking us to make a pit stop there in the office. I feel silly about it now but I was really irritated. I go back out and tell Tim we need to go inside. We decide to leave Phoebe's wheelchair in the truck rather than assemble it for what I thought would be a few minutes of mini-orientation. (stock photo)

Tim thought it was ceremonious, Phoebe walking in the doors for the first time, so he started taking photos.

My expression is pretty obvious in this shot. I'm actually embarrassed thinking about it now, and I really hope that the people in the office didn't notice any particular attitude from me! The guy behind the desk asked us to wait for a minute for someone to come out and talk to us. There were two other families already sitting at the tables in the room, only one of which had someone official talking to them so I figured this could take a while. It was all I could do to be patient at this point.

And then something happened. This place is magic in such a subtle, unimposing way. While we are hanging out in the office I hear music outside. Apparently we have arrived in the middle of Mayor Clayton's birthday party. Mayor Clayton is the iconic character of GKTW. Similar job description as Mickey Mouse. I started to relax. We didn't have to rush out somewhere to go find some fun. The fun was right here. Some of Mayor Clayton's friends came into the office to say hi.

Phoebe was enjoying this little guy (and boy was he little!).

Tessa wasn't a big fan of the furry guys but she quickly found some entertainment for herself. Right outside the back door of the office are a coupe of these cars which she LOVED.

The guy behind the desk saw me trying to keep Tessa inside so he told us to go ahead and join the party outside if we wanted to. I could see the other families still weren't finished yet so why not? We went out the back door to find a huge patio area filled with party goers dancing and having fun. There were people up on this little stage (the grey area) leading a line dance of some sort. (stock photo)

Tessa joined in the crowd and was playing along the wall after the music ended. They had birthday cake out on one of the tables and I told Tessa she could go ahead and have a slice. Tim grabbed one too to share with Phoebe and sat down on the wall. At this point a cute, perky, strawberry blonde comes up to us and says hi. It was Ann (WeeAnnie) from the DIS. She had recognized Tessa from pics and followed her over to the rest of us. Ann had just finished the evening orientation which I was still bummed about missing and having to do in the morning. I told her I wished I had known where it was so I could sneak in the back at the end and pretend all the info I've learned here on the DIS was actually obtained from the orientation. Ann's reply was that I should have, because it was pretty boring. I look at Tim, holding Phoebe, and see that she is having a seizure. He holds her through it while I chat with Ann for a couple of minutes about our flights and such. Ann said they were put in the new "Fairytale" section by the playground in a white villa. She said there is one near them that doesn't have a name placard on it yet and she thinks it could be ours. I hope she's right.

Ann takes off to join her family back at the villa and I go inside to see if they are ready for us yet. Not quite but the other families are gone so I figure we're close. We go inside where Tessa finds a rocking horse to play on and then the man who is to welcome us "home" for the week comes out from the back with gifts in hand. He gives Phoebe a big ole Mickey Mouse and Tessa gets a small Shamu. He gives both girls a Tshirt which Tim promptly uses to replace Phoebe's messy one from today. The front says Panama Jack, which apparently is a big sponsor of the GKTW charity. The back has a drawing of the "Castle of Miracles" here at GKTW as well as their logo. After going over a few basics he asks us if we've eaten dinner yet to which we both quickly replied no. He leads us over to Katie's Kitchen, a take out counter restaurant run by Boston Market. The menu is limited so the choices are easy. I order a half and half dinner, half chicken half meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, and spiced apples plus a couple of sodas and lemonade. They offer to deliver it to our villa in about 15 mins. We love the idea of delivery but realize we don't know our villa number yet!

Back to the office to meet up with Mr Man who then goes out the front door and asks some of us to join him on the golf cart while Tim follows behind in the truck. Tessa enjoys the ride, but tried to stand up a couple of times. She's fearless at times. We drive through the lovely village and then stop right at the corner of the new section. Our guide poses us by the sign and takes a couple of photos.

Don't I look so much happier now?

I can see the playground in the distance but we definitely aren't close. Oh well. If we want to swing or see Ann's family we will just have to walk a little. The food from Katie's Kitchen arrives about the same time we do so after we unload the car and eat some (yummy!) dinner we decide to go ahead and take a walk now.

Tessa sees a little frog and insists we "pet" it.

Phoebe's not so sure.

As we passed a tree with Spanish Moss hanging from it Tim had to go investigate. None of us had ever seen this stuff in person before. It's not attached to the trees at all so we can't figure out what it is exactly. He took a small clump off of a tree and threw it at Tessa who SCREAMS! I really felt bad for her. This stuff does look kinda spider-like and she was so scared to touch it after that. He tried to show her it was soft, not alive, etc, etc but she would not touch it.

The playground was closed for the night because it was after 9 before we got to our villa (more like 9:30) but it was fun to see in person and we couldn't wait to go play on it. We went back to the villa and started settling in.

 

[kellyw8863]

Great update! I LOVE how expressive Phoebe is. That first day is such a long day that I'm sure no one thought anything of your reluctance to get everyone out of the car. I know we were exhausted and we had nowhere near the travel time that you did. I had no idea that you were in the new section, or I would have come stalking you.

 

[dawnbu40]

What an incredibly long day! I can't believe you all had the energy to take a walk after that day!

Great update

 

[wish_upon_a_star35]

I definitely understand why you were a little miffed when you arrived!! But I am very glad that some pixie dust was quickly sprinkled along!

I'm with Phoebe...I am extremely afraid of frogs!!

The playground is very nice!!! We only got a chance to visit it once. But we were there for like two hours!!! The kids love to swing and the volunteers there were very nice to us!!!

Can't wait to read more