**updt May 7th** PT report Madison May 2014 - dreams come true to GKTW / Disney/US/SW

[alexwick]

I thought I give a pretrip report a try too.

My name is Alex. I am originally from Germany moved to the US about 5 years ago. Me and my wife Dana have been married this year 10 years. We have 3 kids. Joshua (8) Layla (6) and Madison (3).
Madision was Diagnosed with ALL Leukemia in Oct 2012. She has been in remission close to a year now.

Thats us about 3 month before she was diagnosed.

thats Madision (the wishkid) at the same time than above

We are going May 11th - 18th to GKTW.

I am a (over) planner... and have spent many hours already on this forum

I have never been at WDW. Have been at Universal Years ago. We are leaving about 2 hours away from WDW. So we will be driving.

I don't want to do reservations unless its really worth it in order to be flexible in regards to the weather.

TO DO LIST:
This more for me, but might help other wish trippers, who have similar questions:

Trying to make a Plan what to do at what days currently: This what I have so far.

• But I am looking for suggestions on if I want to do "one Special Meal" which should we do...?
• We want to do Wishes if possible... trying to find out the best way to get a decent spot with 3 small kids.. Check if "give kids the world button" gives any advantage here?
  • **2-24 update: per GKTW: NO it doesnt**
• Want to do maybe one Parade, thought about the Electrical Parade maybe in combination with Wishes.
  • **2-24 update:EP is NOT scheduled for WED & THU*
• checking with family about family T-Shirts for the Trip / order shirts.
• • **2-28 update: looking up some designs on vistaprint and customink anybody any suggestions here? working on some designs on this weekend**
• Book hotel for additional Day (Sunday) .
  • **2-28 update: Hotel for Sunday booked... I meanly looked for a "cheap hotel" with a decent rating not to far of give kids the world... unfortunatley dont have the link right here... but will add it at some point later**
• Rent decent Camera for trip (looking at Sony NEX7 or Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
• Check if Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach Tickets are available from GKTW
  • **update 2-18: per GKTW: No tickets available for typhoon Lagoon, or Blizzard Beach)**
  • **update 2-28 probably only doing Wetnwild. possibly try to get tickets for TL or BB and use them a week later or so. We ar giving other locations priority, but want to at least go to one waterpark. W&W is included what gktw offers)**
• book Pirates LEAGUE
  • **update 2-28: booked for Tue 13 afternoon for all 3 kids**
• check how to book iFLY (Dream coordinator/gktw/directly)
  • **update 2-18: per GKTW: they will book it for us. (48hour advance needed)
• Buy Family Umbrellas
• Universal Yes or No decision
  • **2-24 update: yes ! was convinced by this video **
• Research about Strollers (where to get what kind of stroller
  • **update 2-21: It looks that we probably will borrow one from our friends / still possibly looking for one of those attachment buggyboards for our 6 year old!
• Researching Sea World Schedules deciding on attractions there / posted in Sea World Forum
  • **update 2-28: emailed with Seaworld: It seems like it is really a DINE (not lunch) anymore... It will come back in May for 4pm and 6 pm. for Sea World Orlando. Now since we only plan not necessary to stay the whole day... I am not quite sure if it is really worth the money... especially since they DO NOT do the preferred seating with the "Dine with Shamu" for the main show anymore! **

for some feedback...

** updated format for itinerary 2-24 **

To be continued . . .




ok here the latest itinerary

few changes

 

[starearedkid]

Hi! I just stumbled onto your pre-trip report. We just met with MAW last week for Reese. Her wish is to go to Disney. She was diagnosed this January with ALL as well. She is 2 and a half and luckily achieved remission fairly quickly.

I love looking at your schedule It makes it easier for me to plan!

 

[alexwick]

Alright guys we are getting closer to our Disney dates!!!

Our wish coordinator gave us our Wish Party dates in 3 weeks. 21st of April!!!

our matched wish sponsor will be a 5th grade of a private school...

So we will have around 40 5th grades attention on Maddy... I think she will like that!


Ragarding the camera rental I asked www.borrowlenses.com if they would give us a discount for a rental camera for the trip.
And they were so nice to provide a 50% off discount! Which i definitely will use!


I am trying to get the T-Shirt design ready today...

I bought myself some croft & barrows sandals at KOHLS

after discounts i paid around 30$ not to bad...
i also ordered a pair for Madison and Layla... they didnt have it in store, so they will mail it to us this week... I hope they will fit

I will try to also print out the countdown calender soon and get a grip how it works so next weekend we can put it together...

 

[alexwick]

ok, wish trip is getting closer. 22 days to go.
the photo is 2 days old from our countdown calendar... The kids really like it...

Also I have ordered

our shirts for Disney :

Things are slowly coming together...

so excited

 

[kiddupy76]

Love this pre trip report and all your planning. We are going in Oct or Nov hopefully. I am no planning too much yet. The shirts are great.

 

[MrsMeow]

Wow, your planning is very well thought out and in-depth! Impressive!!

 

[alexwick]

Thanks MS Moew...!

My wife would agree with the detailed part... not so much with the impressiv part lol

Anyways...

Maddis immune system is low for now but we retest tomorrow and hope for better numbers... also the insuarance approved her for a antibody transfusion. Hopefully boosting her imune system!

Besides that.

Ifly is schedeuled.
Major Clayton tuck in is scheduled.


shirts arrived! They look great. We used allied shirts. Unfortunately Madisons is quite long, eventhough it the smalles size they have...
Will post photos later...

also got all the dreams come true shirts in the right size!

Bought some small travel sized sanatizers. And a Mist Fan for like 8$ sinze it will be high 80s while our visit.

Also I hoped to ride Minetrain at MK, but it looks like they wont open till end of MAY Maybe they have a earlier soft open for wish kids?

Since on Friday next week the Star Wars weekends start, and none of my family really care iw ill do some changes to the plan. Probably starting with HS and Epcot on Monday. And move UV and IA to Thursday and Friday.

I alos have a simplified itenerary for my family that i will post soon...

So that they dont feel to Micro managed!

One concering thing is that wednesday it shows shower chances of 70%...
This is her main day with the BBB makeover! We hope that rain will only be short and all will work out...

 

[jessg]

Welcome home how was your trip I bet you guys had a blast didnt you!?!?

 

[alexwick]

Hey, we are actually still in our trip. Nevertheless checked out from gktw. We are going to sea world today and heading home in the pm. It was pretty awesome, still very stressful at times! We had to make some plan adjustments. Which was expected. MK wasn't as pleasurable as hoped for. Mainly because of crowds and hot weather. More details later! Still one day to go...

By the way I have about 125 GB on video and photo material.... So far be prepared for a video I the near future!

 

[jessg]

Thats awesome cont wait to see your pictures and videos of course and I am sort of worried about the crowds also as we go in August. Which means im als worried about the weather!