Wish Trippers...Unite!! Volume One

We were told no that we didn't get the Extra Magic Hours.

Thanks for answering both. We chose to stay an extra night. Called GKTW and they gave the name of a nearby place that gives special room rates. $65 for an extra night isn't bad at all.

So now we will wait for MAW to make our reservations. We asked for early Saturday Morning Departure, Late Saturday Evening Return.
 
Thanks for answering both. We chose to stay an extra night. Called GKTW and they gave the name of a nearby place that gives special room rates. $65 for an extra night isn't bad at all.

So now we will wait for MAW to make our reservations. We asked for early Saturday Morning Departure, Late Saturday Evening Return.


We stayed an extra night and we gota great deal and stayed at Disney All Star Movie Resort for only 59.00 a night!!! Keep check the codes and see if you can get one to stay really cheap! We were able to use Disney transportation and it was wonderful with Hank's wheelchair!!!
 
Got some questions:

What time are the rules seminars you must attend at GKTW?

We have an opportunity to stay an extra night, but have to leave GKTW and check in elsewhere. Is it worth the extra effort for another day? I was thinking a fun day at the beach or space center or something might be nice. We get four day park tickets, two day US/IOF and one day sea world, correct?

It's THREE park hopper Disney passes, 2 days US/IOF and one Sea World.

The orientation times vary. We had this issue when we went and here is what they told me: The orientation times are 9:00 AM, 3:30 (ish), and 7:45...BUT...they cancel the one at 9:00 am if there are no families checking in late that need the 9:00 am orientation. And they don't always have the one mid-afternoon either. But the one in the evening is a sure bet each day.

You can call in the evening the day before and they can tell you the orientation times. You can't really "do" anything in the parks until after the orientation.

I would definitely do an extra day! Even two or three...since they are paying for your transportation...you could have a "down" day and not feel like you are wasting your "time"...If we could do it again...we would have added 3 days. We would have done one travel day...3 days in the parks...one down day...3 more days at the parks...and then the travel day. :) You basically get 6 full days of park passes...so that would be a good schedule. But you will have to pay for the room and food, etc for the extra days. Our days would have been easily covered by our MAW expense check, though. ?? But each state is different about that.


Another question do you get to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours with the tickets supplied by MAW?

You don't get to take advantage of the EMH...BUT...I have to say, that honestly, you really don't want to. All of my research has indicated that the parks that have EMH are VERY, VERY busy...so I would literally AVOID the parks that have EMH.

What dates are you going to be in the parks? I will look at the crowd calendar that I have paid for on the internet and make some suggestion as to which parks may be good on the days? This worked VERY well for us - well, for the three days we actually were at the parks! (Since we got sick. :)) PM me if you are interested!

And anyone else reading this... you can PM me your dates if you are interested in this...the basic strategy is to avoid the parks with EMH, since many people don't have the park hopper option and have to stay at one park all day. But it is a "logic" problem...and I LOVE logic problems! I will be glad to help you plan this aspect.
 
AJ's last in-patient treatment is going on right now! Next Tues. will be his last outpatient. Woohoo! We're going to be so ready to cruise in Feb! :dance3:
 

AJ's last in-patient treatment is going on right now! Next Tues. will be his last outpatient. Woohoo! We're going to be so ready to cruise in Feb! :dance3:


Yeah!!!! GO AJ!!! :)

I made a decision today...and your story helped me take the final plunge!

I am going back to DISNEY! And in a REALLY cool way, too!! :)

I am going to join the "team in training" with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (they do a lot of stuff with the adult cancer patients at my work, so I totally love them...plus all the stuff they do for kids!) and do the half-marathon in January 2010. I am planning on walking most of it...you won't catch me sprinting me around the castle! :) Woo Hoo! I am going back!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
 
on a side note
the doctor's nurse just called and the doctor just signed the papers and sent it back to MAW
hopefully we get our dates soon
YAY!! I hope you have them soon
So now we will wait for MAW to make our reservations. We asked for early Saturday Morning Departure, Late Saturday Evening Return.
I wish we would have done that. Our travel days will be just that. We don't arrive in FL until 10:30pm and coming home our plane leaves at 11:30 am
AJ's last in-patient treatment is going on right now! Next Tues. will be his last outpatient. Woohoo! We're going to be so ready to cruise in Feb! :dance3:
YAY!!!!! WTG AJ
and do the half-marathon in January 2010. I am planning on walking most of it...you won't catch me sprinting me around the castle! :) Woo Hoo! I am going back!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

How cool is that Mary!! WOW half-marathon huh. Someday I'll have to look into doing that. I'm trying to decide if I want to do my first 5k just before we go. A bunch of people from my WeightWatchers group are walking together. I think it might be good practice for Disney
 
AJ's last in-patient treatment is going on right now! Next Tues. will be his last outpatient. Woohoo! We're going to be so ready to cruise in Feb! :dance3:

That is awesome!!! It's such a great feeling to leave that hospital behind! :woohoo:

Yeah!!!! GO AJ!!! :)

I made a decision today...and your story helped me take the final plunge!

I am going back to DISNEY! And in a REALLY cool way, too!! :)

I am going to join the "team in training" with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (they do a lot of stuff with the adult cancer patients at my work, so I totally love them...plus all the stuff they do for kids!) and do the half-marathon in January 2010. I am planning on walking most of it...you won't catch me sprinting me around the castle! :) Woo Hoo! I am going back!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

Wow, how cool, Mary!! :cool1: Going to Disney AND helping a good cause at the same time? Can't get much better than that!!! :)


I'm starting to feel that last-minute panic here. Amber, you with me on that? Most of our stuff is packed but I still need to finish packing me and dh's stuff into the suitcase and tomorrow I really want the house to be all the way clean (I hate coming home to a messy house, post vacation blues are bad enough :laughing: ). I still need to wash a couple of things too and buy snack for our trip. And I'm sure a good part of the day will be making and taking phone calls before our trip. :)
 
I made a decision today...and your story helped me take the final plunge!

I am going back to DISNEY! And in a REALLY cool way, too!!

I am going to join the "team in training" with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (they do a lot of stuff with the adult cancer patients at my work, so I totally love them...plus all the stuff they do for kids!) and do the half-marathon in January 2010. I am planning on walking most of it...you won't catch me sprinting me around the castle! Woo Hoo! I am going back!!!!

That is so awesome!!!!!!

Khalana, no good advice from me on packing. Have you seen the I Love Lucy episode where they set out for CA? Yep, that's me! Everything but the kitchen sink!!!! :rotfl:
 
I'm starting to feel that last-minute panic here. Amber, you with me on that? :)


PANIC does not even begin to describe it. Sebastian and Savannah and possibly Siennah are going to have surgery tomorrow (Thursday) and we leave on Saturday. I am freaking out. :scared1:
 
PANIC does not even begin to describe it. Sebastian and Savannah and possibly Siennah are going to have surgery tomorrow (Thursday) and we leave on Saturday. I am freaking out. :scared1:

Surgery? Tomorrow?? :scared1: Nothing major, I hope? Is Sebastian getting tubes? I would be running around like a chicken with my head cut off I were you now. Poor you!!! :hug: I'm sure you are more organized than you think, though. You just seem the type (a look at your itinerary will give a hint ;) ). I really hope you get a chance to rest and that everything will fall into place just nicely. I'm praying for your little ones that they have VERY speedy recovery and that your bags will be packed and ready in no time! :)
 
Yeah!!!! GO AJ!!! :)

I made a decision today...and your story helped me take the final plunge!

I am going back to DISNEY! And in a REALLY cool way, too!! :)

I am going to join the "team in training" with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (they do a lot of stuff with the adult cancer patients at my work, so I totally love them...plus all the stuff they do for kids!) and do the half-marathon in January 2010. I am planning on walking most of it...you won't catch me sprinting me around the castle! :) Woo Hoo! I am going back!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

GO MARY!!!
My sister just finished her first marathon and she intends to keep doing them. I'm the type that doesn't run unless being chased by someone with a large weapon, so my hat is off to you!!!

PANIC does not even begin to describe it. Sebastian and Savannah and possibly Siennah are going to have surgery tomorrow (Thursday) and we leave on Saturday. I am freaking out. :scared1:

Amber ~
What kind of surgery???
I'm thinking of you guys all the time and I will step up the prayers for good measure!

Wendy ~
I forgot to multi-quote your post...but we're doing the AK on Thursday the 18th too!!!! I'd love it if we could meet up somewhere!

Tomorrow is single digits for us!!! I'm beside myself with excitement! But now I have a ton of things to do and the clock is ticking. I'm a procrastinator by nature, so the last minute is when I do my best work :rolleyes1.

We got a fabulous package from the big give today! It's the best feeling in the world to look at this amazing outfit and think that someone took time out of their busy life to make it just for my dd. I will get pictures posted as soon as I get my camera to cooperate (or as soon as DH gets home from his business trip!)

I'll be back soon.

Misty
 
Yep, Tubes on Thursday. I posted about in in our PTR. Please have a read and say some prayers we make it to Disney on Saturday.
 
PANIC does not even begin to describe it. Sebastian and Savannah and possibly Siennah are going to have surgery tomorrow (Thursday) and we leave on Saturday. I am freaking out. :scared1:

:grouphug:

Tomorrow is single digits for us!!! I'm beside myself with excitement! But now I have a ton of things to do and the clock is ticking. I'm a procrastinator by nature, so the last minute is when I do my best work :rolleyes1.
Misty, I am the same way. My kids would like to have packed weeks ago. I still need to buy another suitcase. One of ours bit the dust on our last trip.

Yep, Tubes on Thursday. I posted about in in our PTR. Please have a read and say some prayers we make it to Disney on Saturday.

Most definitely will say some prayers for you all for the next few days.
 
That is awesome!!! It's such a great feeling to leave that hospital behind! :woohoo:
Wow, how cool, Mary!! :cool1: Going to Disney AND helping a good cause at the same time? Can't get much better than that!!! :)


I'm starting to feel that last-minute panic here. Amber, you with me on that? Most of our stuff is packed but I still need to finish packing me and dh's stuff into the suitcase and tomorrow I really want the house to be all the way clean (I hate coming home to a messy house, post vacation blues are bad enough :laughing: ). I still need to wash a couple of things too and buy snack for our trip. And I'm sure a good part of the day will be making and taking phone calls before our trip. :)

Thanks for the comment on the half-marathon! I can't wait to get really into it. I have started slow...just 15-20 min of walking a day for the first week...and it goes up from there. :)

Big bit of advice for you guys that are about to leave...this was CRITICAL for us...not taking this advice could have contributed to our getting sick? Immune system down, etc.

Try as much as you can to REST as much as you can before you go. Like...avoid the urge to clean the house totally before you leave. You know...take any time you have to REST...because the trip will be tiring and if you are tired before you start...it won't be as much fun! :)

How cool is that Mary!! WOW half-marathon huh. Someday I'll have to look into doing that. I'm trying to decide if I want to do my first 5k just before we go. A bunch of people from my WeightWatchers group are walking together. I think it might be good practice for Disney

Honestly...it was ALL about going back to Disney! And this gave me a purpose and great incentive to DO IT...:) I did Weight WAtchers once (online) and I lost a TON of weight. But then I let it go and let myself go. I had dropped 90 lbs...but too much of it is back on. :( Hopefully this new goal will allow me to lose some weight...but that is not my primary goal, really.

PANIC does not even begin to describe it. Sebastian and Savannah and possibly Siennah are going to have surgery tomorrow (Thursday) and we leave on Saturday. I am freaking out. :scared1:


Oh my gosh...Wow... bless your heart! Hugs!! :grouphug:


GO MARY!!!
My sister just finished her first marathon and she intends to keep doing them. I'm the type that doesn't run unless being chased by someone with a large weapon, so my hat is off to you!!!

We got a fabulous package from the big give today! It's the best feeling in the world to look at this amazing outfit and think that someone took time out of their busy life to make it just for my dd. I will get pictures posted as soon as I get my camera to cooperate (or as soon as DH gets home from his business trip!)

I DEFINITELY don't plan on running that whole thing!! I might jog some...but it helps my knees and joints to walk rather than run. But we have a pace to keep and that will require me to run some of the time. It would take a gunshot to make me run, too!

Somewhere I had come across a letter to give the schools about going on a MAW trip. Does anyone have an idea where?

I have not...but our chapter wrote a letter to Lisa's work so that she could take the time off to go (heck, they owed her over 6 weeks...?)...so they may have one. Lauren's school did not need a letter...we just told them about it. And they were cool.
 
I haven't posted on this thread in awhile, so I will reintroduce myself:

I am Jessi. I have done 3 College Programs with Disney. One was in Fantasyland attractions and the other two were in entertainment, so I have lots of experience with wish trips from the cast member side.

I was also an "angel" (volunteer) for the Give Kids the World Resort, the village where most kids stay. I am now a grad student in special and elementary ed. I currently teach fourth grade special ed half days and next semester will be doing my internship in a special ed classroom.

If you have any questions about wish trips at Disney or GKTW, I can answer most of the questions you have from a CM or Angel perspective. Wish families were always my favorite to work with.
 
FINALLY I found the letter I had seen months ago. My boys school is fine with the trip. My niece is in High School and a few teacher have been hesitant about the 3 days she will miss. This will just cover bases and leave it to the administration to excuse her time.


I added "for a family Make-A-Wish trip" to the line about being out of town.

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SchoolExcuse/SE1.shtml
I'm glad you found it because I had looked around a bit and could not find it.

Hope you have a great time.:goodvibes
 
Just wanted to let you guys know Amber updated her PTR and the two kids came out of surgery fine. The middle child was not able to get tubes in but the meds should kick in in time. One more day til her trip!! I wish I could be there to help her.

Hi Jessi! Welcome to our thread. I know your help will be invaluable!!

Only 9 more days til our trip "and 8 days left this evening" as Michael says! LOL We are so excited. I am trying to finish cleaning and finish Christmas shopping before I start packing. We are so excited. We also got a package from a disser named April for Danae. It is sooooo cute!! I have to get to Walmart to empty my memory card so I can take pictures of her. She just loves it! I have so much to do. And so little time. Although, not as tough as Amber! If she can do, I suppose I may be able to too! LOL
 














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