Wish Trippers...Unite!! Volume One

[Momof2wCF]

Hotmamac, to the boards! Let us know how everything goes with your DD when you can. We can't do a lot for you, but most of us have spent time in the hospital with our kids (big understatement!) so we know that life and we can send you smilie hugs and encouragement. Since Wendygrace so kindly started this thread, this is a great place to hang out!

How many kids are we talking about here on this board? A dozen?

Two here, Linda. Although sometimes it feels like a dozen!

Does anyone know what it is going to cost my MIL to eat at GKTW? Or granter said maybe $2-3 a meal?

Karla, I'd call GKTW, because when my DM talked to them, they said if the wish organization okayed it, they could eat with us even though they're staying in a hotel. for free. When I talked to our Wish Manager, he offered them the option of staying in our villa free, too. GKTW's phone #407-396-1114 Just ask them how much it costs and hopefully they will step up with an offer for DMIL.
I'm going to try to PM you a picture after I finish this post, I'm not doing too well on the techie front lately. If it doesn't come through, look for a short round woman with a tall moustached husband, a disgruntled teen and a chatty DD with a bob. Boy, I do I hope that picture comes through!

So I was wondering when everybody else recieved their packages before the trip?

Hi Winnielover, to the boards to you too! We just got our package Monday, and we drive to the airport Saturday!! It's rough to wait so long, believe me, but they have put everything into a little bound brochure, with the hotel name, reservation #, Google Map, and instructions for the Park and Fly shuttle. They even tell us when to arrive at the airport and how to pack, what kind of rental car is reserved, current TSA guidelines,everything. They have every detail stone cold solid. My DH is feeling much more secure about everything, so now I don't have to know it all. *just look in Ally's Wish booklet, it's in there!* It IS really cool, truly.
BTW, how old is DD? DS is 17, so I will try to post the things he liked about GKTW right away after we get back so you will know.

after reading the many reassuring posts on this thread, I think I'm lightening up about it a little. (I have control issues! )

Camster0307, I think we all have control issues. That is why we are here.

 

[LeeLee2U]

Hi all.
Thanks to Bill for letting me know that this exsisted!
My DD was just granted a wish...we haven't really made any specific plans yet. We're actually going to have to put her wish on hold for a while. DD has Tuberous Sclerosis and has uncontrolled seizures that have recently gotten worse. Meds aren't helping, so now she's being considered for surgery. We're going to have a lot of hospital stays and testing over the next several months. Which will just make our trip that much sweeter, I'm sure!
So, my planning is on hold, but I really enjoy reading everyone's reports!!
I may not be posting much for a while, but I'll be lurking!
Much love to everyone!!!
Misty

We'll be here for you. Just to lend an ear, err... I guess you'd say an eye??? Let us know how things are going every now and then, please? And you can start pre-planning which is what I did, before we got our dates. You can start looking at places you might want to eat at and start looking up the diff. shows and rides to decide which ones ya'llmight want to hit. If there's one that you're not sure about, I found youtube a great place to preview some of the rides and shows. I even let my kids watch some of them to help prepare them. This really helped with Fantasmic as the noise and lights really freaked Braeton out at first.
Will be sending prayers and you're way!!!

Hi All!!! I'm new to Disboards. Well actually not all that new. I've been following along a lot of the Make A Wish Trip stories but have finally got myself signed up. I'm not very computer related so you will all have to bare with me while I try to figure this out!! I'll be leaving on my daughters Make A Wish trip on November 10. We will be gone through to the 18th. We are all very excited to be going.

We are actually taking the wish through children's wish foundation of Canada. Since here in Canada they don't have A Make A wish Foundation or at least one that I'm familiar with anyways.

We will be staying at Give Kids the World as well. We are all really excited about that. It sounds like such an amazing place. Although my daughter is older so we don't know how much time we will be spending at GKTW. I'm sure we'll check out the christmas party and get our pictures taken with mickey. After that I'm not sure what else we will do. I know there's a movie theatre but we where wondering if they play movies that are for teenagers? Because I'm not to sure my daughter would like watching barney or rugrats, if you know what I mean. The swimming pool also sounds fun and we plan on spending lots of time cooling down in there.

All your pre-trip reports have sure been helping me out with things we should do and everything I need to buy. Although I have to say we are definitely a wing it kind of family so I'm pretty sure most things won't be planned out. We did buy our 1.30$ poncho's at Wal-mart and are set with hats and bathing suits. I know there is a Wal-Mart down the street from GKTW so I figure I'll be able to buy anything we might forget from there.

We talked with our wish coordinators yesterday and they said our package isn't in yet with our tickets etc. So I was wondering when everybody else recieved their packages before the trip? It's three weeks from our trip so we still have time, but I would feel better if that darn package came in and we had some idea's of what was happening. We also haven't met out wish granters. I have talked to them on the phone many times but we have never had a chance to meet these lovely people. We plan on getting together with them soon if everything works out.

Well, Thats about all the questions I have right now. I'm sure I'll think of more as the days grow closer.

Thanks everyone!!!

WELCOME!!!!! Hey thats what this is for!!! Ask away!!!

i recieved my package at the airport!!!! We stayed at a Disney resort and we recieved our tickets, luggage tags for the Disney transportation to recognize, all our room info, our spending money etc....less than an hour before we flew away!!!
And it all worked out great!! I was bery stressed about getting it and it worked out just fine, except for the fact that I had to pay Disney prices for sunscreen and stuff I wasn't able to get w/out the expense money. But they allowed for those prices and we even had money left. And trust me, I was NOT a tight wad!!!!!

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Karla, I'd call GKTW, because when my DM talked to them, they said if the wish organization okayed it, they could eat with us even though they're staying in a hotel. for free. When I talked to our Wish Manager, he offered them the option of staying in our villa free, too. GKTW's phone #407-396-1114 Just ask them how much it costs and hopefully they will step up with an offer for DMIL.

I'm going to try to PM you a picture after I finish this post, I'm not doing too well on the techie front lately. If it doesn't come through, look for a short round woman with a tall moustached husband, a disgruntled teen and a chatty DD with a bob. Boy, I do I hope that picture comes through!

love your description!!!!!

Just called GKTW....MIL is not down as staying with us!!! Got to call our wish coord.....but they did say that she would eat free staying there with us.

 

[Momof2wCF]

Just called GKTW....MIL is not down as staying with us!!!

Akkk! Good thing you called! Glad they okayed food, I think the staying thing is just a formality, b/c it won't cost them any extra for DMIL to stay in your villa. They offered that option to my parents just 10 days ago, so that would be pretty last minute Hope your Wish Coordinator hops right on it, though, so you can relax!

 

[alizesmom]

Curious, does GKTW hand out GACs or did you get them at the park? How far is the master bedroom from the kid's room in the villas. I would really like to post pictures with my report but I must have been really bad somewhere. I have never had the right to post attachments. PMed one of the moderators with no answer. PMed the webmaster, no answer. Maybe you shouldn't hang out with me Karen

 

[wendygrace]

Welcome to the new people!

Curious, does GKTW hand out GACs or did you get them at the park? How far is the master bedroom from the kid's room in the villas. I would really like to post pictures with my report but I must have been really bad somewhere. I have never had the right to post attachments. PMed one of the moderators with no answer. PMed the webmaster, no answer. Maybe you shouldn't hang out with me Karen

If I remember correctly, we received our GAC's for US and WDW from GKTW. I did have to get the stamp for stroller as a wheelchair at Guest Services for WDW. I don't remember for US. The Master bedroom and Kid's room in our suite were adjacent to each other. You walk into the living room which leads into the kitchen/dining area with a swift turn down a small hall that has the master bedroom on one side and the laundry and small bathroom across from it followed by the kids bedroom at the end of the hall and the big bathroom attached by a door to the kids bedroom. I assume they have a few different models though as several different companies voluteered to build the villas and they have such different designs on the outside.

I think you can't post picture until you have 100 posts. So start posting!!

 

[Eeyore's Mom]

I think you can't post picture until you have 100 posts. So start posting!!

No, that can't be it because I have been able to post pictures on my pre- trip report and I don't have 100 post yet. I know you have to have a min. number of post to PM someone (10-20?) but I don't think the picture has a limit. Sorry, this isn't much help

For all of you that didn't get your information packet until the last minute (week) did you know the time of your flight ahead of time? This makes a big difference in our planning. If it's early we will have to stay overnight in Anchorage but if it's later in the day we can leave from home. Everyone has been REALLY nice at MAW here but for some reason I have the hardest time calling and asking these questions. I feel like I am being a pain or ungrateful.

I love the comment about being here because we have control issues. SO TRUE!!

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

For all of you that didn't get your information packet until the last minute (week) did you know the time of your flight ahead of time? This makes a big difference in our planning. If it's early we will have to stay overnight in Anchorage but if it's later in the day we can leave from home. Everyone has been REALLY nice at MAW here but for some reason I have the hardest time calling and asking these questions. I feel like I am being a pain or ungrateful.

I love the comment about being here because we have control issues. SO TRUE!!

All I can say is CALL THEM!!! I knew about our airline times because I called them, plus MIL had to get her ticket. Once we found out our times, it was necessary for us to stay overnight in Minneapolis, which MAW is paying for. So just call!!! They may not have even looked at flights yet. I know.. I know... But it took persistance by me to finally get them around to doing something with our flights. I do remember that they did ask for preferences on what time we wanted to leave and come back.


Control issues...who me?...nah...

 

[Camster0307]

Our MAW wouldn't book our flights until they checked with me first. They gave me choices of time that I preferred to leave - that was nice!

 

[Winnielover]

Thanks to everyone who posted information. This helps out a lot!!!!!

I feel much better knowing that people didn't get their packages till just before the trip. I think I just might be able to breathe a sigh of relief for the moment

Momof2wCF: My DD is 16years old. So I would love to hear about all the things your DS liked at GKTW and also at any of the theme parks. I hear there is so much to do and I know we won't get it all done. But hopefully we can all pick out some stuff we really want to see and start with that first.

From reading these posts I've heard about something called a GACs. I was curious to what that was? And does GKTW supply it? Sorry if these questions have already been answered!

Also, one last question before I leave. Has anyone ever heard of a Dole Whip? If so could you please explain to me what this is? So many people have told me we have to try it. Yet I'm not quite sure where to get this or what it is.

Thanks everyone!! Sorry for all the questions!!!!

 

[LindaBabe]

Dole whip is pineapple juice and soft serve -or maybe fresh pineapple soft serve is a better description. or both. IT's YUMMY

 

[Holly Sox]

Hi All!!! I'm new to Disboards. Well actually not all that new. I've been following along a lot of the Make A Wish Trip stories but have finally got myself signed up. I'm not very computer related so you will all have to bare with me while I try to figure this out!! I'll be leaving on my daughters Make A Wish trip on November 10. We will be gone through to the 18th. We are all very excited to be going.

We are actually taking the wish through children's wish foundation of Canada. Since here in Canada they don't have A Make A wish Foundation or at least one that I'm familiar with anyways.

We will be staying at Give Kids the World as well. We are all really excited about that. It sounds like such an amazing place. Although my daughter is older so we don't know how much time we will be spending at GKTW. I'm sure we'll check out the christmas party and get our pictures taken with mickey. After that I'm not sure what else we will do. I know there's a movie theatre but we where wondering if they play movies that are for teenagers? Because I'm not to sure my daughter would like watching barney or rugrats, if you know what I mean. The swimming pool also sounds fun and we plan on spending lots of time cooling down in there.

All your pre-trip reports have sure been helping me out with things we should do and everything I need to buy. Although I have to say we are definitely a wing it kind of family so I'm pretty sure most things won't be planned out. We did buy our 1.30$ poncho's at Wal-mart and are set with hats and bathing suits. I know there is a Wal-Mart down the street from GKTW so I figure I'll be able to buy anything we might forget from there.

We talked with our wish coordinators yesterday and they said our package isn't in yet with our tickets etc. So I was wondering when everybody else recieved their packages before the trip? It's three weeks from our trip so we still have time, but I would feel better if that darn package came in and we had some idea's of what was happening. We also haven't met out wish granters. I have talked to them on the phone many times but we have never had a chance to meet these lovely people. We plan on getting together with them soon if everything works out.

Well, Thats about all the questions I have right now. I'm sure I'll think of more as the days grow closer.

Thanks everyone!!!

Winnie Lover,

We'll be there at the same time! My son Cody (my wish kid) is 16... we arrive on 11/5 and leave on 11/11. So, maybe we will meet on your 1st day down. 2 1/2 weeks for us!!!!!!



Holly

 

[patticake3]

Ooh, I am so glad to find this! Thanks to everyone for all the great ideas and info. Sending positive thoughts to everyone! I have a lot of reading to do, but have made some progress! My son Joey (he's 13 and had a heart transplant a little over a year ago - I can't even believe it's been that long!) put in for a wish to go to Disney during ESPN weekend in March, but stay at the Hard Rock Hotel. Kind of interesting, huh?! We haven't heard back yet so we don't know if it has been approved. His first 2 wishes (related to the Yankees - he's a huge fan), didn't come through, but we haven't been to Disney since the kids were little, so we're all excited about this idea. I'm anxious to find out if they have approved it, but don't want to drive the Make A Wish rep nuts (yet), so I'm trying to keep myself from calling (again). I want to start planning, but I won't get started until I know it's been approved. Until then, I'll keep reading and learning!

I do have some questions, but will be back later with them! I am still not dressed! I am meeting a friend for lunch today and I'm still in my bathrobe, glued to the computer! Thanks again for all the info - I am taking notes!
-Patti

 

[LindaBabe]

Winnielover, what kind of shopping did you want to do? I wouldn't say Cocoa Beach is exactly a shopping mecca - except for Ron Jon's surf shop.

 

[Camster0307]

Welcome to the thread Patticake3

When you're ready -- ask away! I've learned so much here. My daughter's wish trip is Nov.24th; staying our whole week at the Boardwalk Inn at Disney. Once you get confirmation of your wish, start planning - that's half the fun!

BTW - I'm a Jersey girl too -- born and raised! (just stuck living in here in Mass. for the past 15 years! My girls and I are still die-hard Yankee fans though! (going to miss Joe )

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Do you ever have one of those days where you just don't know how to feel???? Exactly four years ago today my daughter was diagnosed with HLH. It was a day when my world came crashing down around me. How can my 2 month old be dying?????? I had never felt such dispair but yet I knew that we had to overcome it because I was not going to lose my baby!! I was relieved that we finally knew what was going on with her. We had spent two weeks in a different hospital (where they could not figure out what was going on) before they transferred us to Iowa City. But my relief quickly went away when I found out that she was going to have to recieve chemo. Chemo in a two month old???? You want me to put that poison in my baby???? Then to find out that chemo alone was not going to cure her, that she needed a bone marrow transplant to save her life. All I could think was how am I going to get through this, but I knew I needed to, for my daughter, and that I would with the help of family and friends.

Looking back, that day changed the rest of my life and my daughter's life. Seeing how far she has come since then just amazes me. And to be going on her Wish Trip in 4 days.....just amazing.

Thank you for listening to me ramble. Here are some pictures of DD when she was first diagnosed. The one thing that always got me was that she never "looked" sick. (yup that is my DH in the one photo)

 

[patticake3]

Those baby pictures are precious! She is obviously quite the fighter - all our kids are such heroes, they really are. Enjoy every second of your wish trip!
-Patti

 

[patticake3]

Hi Camster! Your wish trip is so close! You must be so excited! I need to find some more of your posts to learn your story. I have been reading many trip reports and have already gotten great info from the wish trip reports! I've been laughing and crying through all of them!

By the way, we have a ton of family in New England (MA and RI) and we've got quite a baseball rivalry going on! We sure are going to miss Joe T, that is for sure!
-Patti

 

[Momof2wCF]

Do you ever have one of those days where you just don't know how to feel????

I know just what you mean, Karla. Last week I was feeling very mixed feelings about our Wish Trip.. Not that I wasn't grateful or happy we're going, just sad that we are able to do this b/c this disease will kill my baby one day. I don't think I can explain it, it's just hard sometimes... I'm better now, and I wouldn't say that to just anyone, I'm hoping you guys know what I mean.

 

[Camster0307]

Iluvmickeymouse - You're daughter is beautiful! Never underestimate her strength - or yours! Have a wonderful trip!

patticake3 - I'm fairly new to these boards and have really never posted "our story", so I guess this is as good as time as any.

Amanda started seizing at 3 days of age. By 3 months, she was in ICU on a ventilator. We went thru so many diagnosis - but nothing definitive. She has been labeled as having a "metobolic disorder" although no test confirms exactly that. She underwent a tracheotomy and also received a g-tube by 4 months. We were told she would never breathe on her own and should put her in a residential facility. NO WAY! With 24 hr.a day homecare nursing we took her 2 days before her first xmas. I'm proud to say that by her first birthday, she was breathing on her own and not using the ventilator! By the age of 3, her trach was removed.

She is still seriously disabled and cognitively functions at an infant level. She is very much aware of her surroundings and her mom and little sis of course! Unfortunatey, the past few years have been tough. Amanda has an inoperable severe scoliosis which affects her respiratory funtion. She became very ill last fall and needed a tracheotomy again - it's made a world of difference for her and I'm so glad we did it. I know her scoliosis will continue to worsen which will eventually make it harder and harder to breathe, but we all just take it one day at a time. She is truly an angel and I believe this child came into my life for a reason. My younger daughter and I are truly better people for having Amanda to take care of. If there's one thing I've learned through all of this is that doctors DO NOT know everything and our children are stronger than we could ever realize! (ok, that's 2 things!)