We are off!!

[Anne MN]

We leave in the morning- VERY EARLY!
we are going to be staying at GKTW-

I will post a trip report and pics (if i figure it out!)
when we get back-

does anyone have any questions that need to be answered while we are down there?

just post and I will try to get them answered

 

[JinniLynn33]

I just want to know everything!!!

1.How easy it is to get between parks from GKTW?

2.Best thing to do at GKTW

3. How was the food?

4.How many beds are in the villas? (yes I am crazy, lol)

5.I am sure I will think of more!!!!!!!111

Have and awesome and safe trip!!

Virginia

 

[Anne MN]

I will let you know when I get back-

I know that at GKTW they are 2 bedrooms-

I have heard that one has king/ or queen
other has either bunkbeds- 2 sets or 1 set and a double/queen
or 2 queens

I will find out the answer to that for you.

I am just north of you here in MN!

I have printed maps with directions from GKTW and the parks- I will see who has the better route!

 

[mcmom]

Virgina

I haven't been yet we are scheduled to go in Feb 05 but I just got off the phone with our wish granter and she was telling me some of the scheduled events that happen each week at the villiage. (I hope she is right)

Monday and Thrusday breakfast with the characters from Disney at the GKTW.

Monday night's Sea World Pool Party at the Villiage

Thursday nights is Christmas at the Village

Friday nights is Barney and Friends visit the Village

I was also told that food allowence is $25 per adult per day and $15 per child per day as well as $50 film allowence for the trip, 75 souv. allowence per child and 45 souv allowence per adult. She said there is suppose to be an odds and ends amount for gas, tips, and whatever little things that always come up.

I am still waiting on answers as far as park tickets. She said there is an itenerary we are to follow. Day one arrive and do check in at GKTW and get all tickets and information for our trip. Day 2-5 is spent at the Disney parks (MK, Epcot, AK, MGM) and day 6 is at either Sea World or Universal (your choice) day 7 is check out of GKTW and fly home.

If I found out more I will let you know.

Lori

 

[roseprincess]

Anne MN,
Have a great trip full of happy times and memories!
I pray no hurricane will come by.

Rosemarie

 

[SueM in MN]

Have a great time and.....
if I don't catch you before you leave, I hope you had a great time.

 

[debbiemomto4]

HI
Hopefully I caught you. Take an extra bag with you. They give you so many things at GKTW for all your kids that we needed to buy another bag over there. Maybe a tote you can throw into your suitcase for now. You'll need it. Have a great time. It's a trip of a lifetime!!!!
Debbie

 

[Anne MN]

I will post more tomorrow- we are really tired- we ended up driving home because our flight was cancelled on sat and they could not get us out till tues evening!

and we really didn't want to "experience" a hurricane up close!


We had a great time and will give more details later

Anne

 

[JinniLynn33]

I am so excited!! I can't wait to hear EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!


V

 

[cuddlebugz]

I am so happy you had a wonderful time and got home safe... I also can't wait to get all the details...

Tammi

 

[SueM in MN]

I was worried about your family in the hurricane.
Glad to hear you made it home OK.

 

[Anne MN]

Here goes-

Orientation is the first night at about 7:30pm

you get tickets and other info there- takes about an hour or so.

Villas- 2 bedrooms one very large bathroom with roll in shower and whirlpool tub with 2 sink vanity- this is in the room with 2 twin beds. there is also a roll away in the closet that is twin sized.

master- king size bed- ours was VERY comfortable!

washer and dryer
smaller bathroom shower and sink- has a good blow dryer!

kitchen- has table and chairs dishwasher microwave and 2 burner stove- full sized refridgerator- works very well keeps everything cold-
they start you with some sodas and milk

getting between all the theme parks was really easy- we had a rental car- you get the bunny book when you check in and it give you specific directions to each theme park- like take 192 for 2.7 mile to xxx road and turn left at the stop light- go xx.x miles to this and turn right- it also give you the exit number that you need to take

you will get the info at orientation- you can use your tickets in any order you choose- we chose disney first 3 days- some like universal and would do 2 days there- the tickets are hoppers for both universal and islands of adventure.

the village is great

the schedule was the same as posted earlier-
they give you a day, monday or thurs for your family portrait with the Mickey and Minnie

Barney, BJ and Baby Bop are there on friday morning-

christmas was on thursday- santa was there and the kids get presents-

the merry go round at the castle was a big hit with my kids- older kids would like amberville- video games

we went to the smaller pool- audreys i think it is called both pools have the water squirters built into the pool

the food was really good- had breakfast almost every morning- there are volunteers there to carry the kids trays so you don't have to make 2 or 3 trips-

look up and you will see all the dolls and for the boys, there is the circle room with trucks around it.

there is also a schedule at the main building for mayor claytons wife to do tuck in- they come to your villa and tuck the kids in bed-all the late ones were taken so we didn't get to do it-
they also have pizza delivery at the village till 10:30 pm
pizza is made at the village and they bring it to your villa or you can pick it up down by the main pool

all the staff were wonderful!

we borrowed a video camera from the village- they let you have it for 2 days- and they put it on a DVD for you.

i can't think of anything else right now- just ask and i will answer if i can

 

[MarieS]

Thanks for posting Anne! My boys have been granted a wish for next fall--we don't know what dates yet. Can you tell me about the meals ? What types of food was offered? I ask because one of my sons is limited in what he can eat due to oral motor problems. Did they have stuff like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese? I know that when the time is closer I'll have to call and get specifics so I know what I need to bring( we plan to drive there).
Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

 

[Anne MN]

they had mac and cheese

there was jello for dinner-

breakfast was eggs, sausage or bacon (they alternate days) buscuits, gravey potatos (the square kind) yougart,cereal, fruit, there was also bananas in a like jello sauce- the kids loved it. there was also ham very small cubes.

 

[Anne MN]

One thing about driving-

we were considering driving both ways, but we were told that we would only have 5 days at the village if we drove- they were counting the 2 days travel time as part of the trip.

just make sure that if you live far away that they will give you the full 7 days and not cut it down if you drive.

 

[JinniLynn33]

Marie! I know from a review that I posted on here that the food is donated by Perkins.

OMG they deliver pizza to your room? Is it yummy? LOL
and do they have a lot of video cameras or do you have to sign up for certain days?

 

[Anne MN]

the pizza was good- had it quite a few nights! got back late, and dinner was over, so you could either go back out or order pizza.

yes- the food is donated by Perkins- it is good and has a variety, not too much changes for breakfast, but dinner has a different main dish every night- or they rotate them- like meat loaf on monday and thrusday, chicken on tuesday that was just an example.

video cameras- there was a sign up sheet at the main desk- I do not remember how many they check out, but i know that there are at least 4. we had one and i stopped to ask a question and saw 3 more waiting for pick up by families.

I think they transfer all to DVD now. I think they have VCR casettes, but did not ask because the ones we have the girls use. also most newer computers have a DVD drive now, I asked and they put ours on a DVD+ this is so you can play it on your computer. that is something to ask also if you have acomputer- I am going to copy it for grandparents

 

[MarieS]

Anne--
They know we are driving, but I will ask about it for sure. It seems odd that they would count that. I really can't imagine flying with my two though. My oldest just couldn't do it.

Thanks for the info on the meals. My younger son has really low tone and can't chew. This will help me be prepared.

 

[Anne MN]

You could also look at their website www.GKTW.org and get a phone number and ask specific questions about their menu. this is as you get closer to your dates.

I don't know where you live, but our chapter said that is their policy- fly you goet 7 days, drive you get 5 days. they are counting driving time from up here on the tundra!
They would have paid for our gas and hotel on the way down, but we just wanted to get there.