Would like to surprise niece on Make-A-Wish trip

[WannaBeAtDisney]

My niece has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the ripe old age of 16. We would like to surprise her by joining her family on their Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in October. I do not expect Make-A-Wish to pay for our trip. I'm just trying to plan. Does anyone know which resort this organization uses? My sister-in-law does not know where they are staying and I don't want to raise suspicions by asking too many questions. I prefer to stay at the same resort so we can maximize time together. (Our part of the family will only be able to join them for a long weekend.)

Does anyone have any inside knowledge to how this works? I'd appreciate any direction you can give me. Thanks!

 

[DISNEYNV]

I am so sorry to hear about your niece! I wish you and your family the best and have a magical trip with them.

I am not sure which resort the foundation uses. Give Kids the Workd has their own village for families, but I have heard of MAW using Disney resorts also.

 

[Sillyminny40]

http://www.wish.org/
http://www.gktw.org/aboutUs.asp?a=1
Sorry to hear this. Hoping someone has a lot more info. I imagine that Give Kids The World Village is because the kids may need special care. They work with Make a Wish Foundation (who is a "corporate sponsor" I believe and link to the site).
My friend's son did this and that is the info I have. They were only in WDW for a day as well.
Unfortunately, you may not be able to surprise them. A whirlwind time of happiness!

 

[HeatherN]

I am sorry to hear about your neice. We are a former wish family.If your neice is going through Make a Wish it is more than likely that they will be staying at Give Kids the World.This is a resort only for wish families.It is about 15 minutes away from the Disney properties.One thing to keep in mind is that as a wish child they recieve special passes that allow then to the front of lines.This allows the family to maximize the rides and shows and character greets in the time they have.You would not be allowed on the pass so your family would have to wait in the lines.I am not trying to be discouraging, but to make this a suprise will be VERY difficult.The time on the wish trip is super busy and filled with activities.If you are considering this I honestly would tell your sister about it before hand.I don't mean to burst your bubble but it would be super hard to do this as a suprise.Wish families recieve passes to disney(3 day passes for 4 parks), 3 days at Universal and IOA and one day at Sea world.We planned our days arround the activities at the village.So if they chose to do the other parks on a day you had Disney tickets it would not work.I hope I didn't dissapoint you too much, just trying to help you inderstand how it works.Please feel free to PM me or post here with any specific questions.Also if you want to see the village there are tons of pictures in my trip report listed in my siggy.I wish you all luck, and will say a prayer for your neice.

 

[Sillyminny40]

Your post is wonderful Heather and I just took a peek at your wonderful reports and photos! Lovely children. I love the photo where the rabbit tucks you all in bed!

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with HeatherN that this is one thing you don't want to surprise their whole family with. Most of the MAW families who have posted trip reports have said the same things as HeatherN - there were so many things to do and they were so busy that they felt they were not able to fit in all the things that were available to them. Even if you talk to your sister-in-law ahead of time, keep in mind that she really does not know what is in store for them and she could easily say it's OK, but find out once they are in the trip that it just won't work.

There are also lots of links in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread about MAW and other WISH trips. It includes a link to a WISH trip planning thread on the Community Board. You may want to ask your question on that WISH Planning thread since many people who have gone on WISH trips hang out there to give advice to people who will be going on trips. It's a sweet sentiment that you want to spend time with them on their trip, but don't be surprised if the past WISH Trippers give the same advice as HeatherN did.
The disABILITIES FAQs thread is near the top of the disABILITIES Board or you can use the link in my signature to get there directly.

Many kids on MAW trips stay at Give Kids the World Village, but some stay elsewhere. It might be because there is not availability when they are going. When that happens, there is no specific resort that is used.
Some kids want to stay somewhere else as part of their wish, so that is why they are not staying at GKTW village.

The village has a lot of advantages - first, it is supported by volunteers and has a lot of things that are free to the family - a restaurant with free food, an ice cream shop. Second, the whole place is wheelchair accessible, so no one has to be concerned about being able to get everywhere. Third, the villas are like houses, much better for many people's needs than staying in just a resort room (no matter how nice the resort). The last point is that everyone staying there has a child (children) with a life threatening condition, so it is one place where the family is 'usual', not unusual. Some people have posted that was a very nice advantage.

 

[WannaBeAtDisney]

Thank you for your information-packed reply! You have a wonderful family. Where in Upstate NY are you? I am in East Aurora (Buffalo area) and work for BOCES. It never occured to me that some of my students might qualify for a make-a-wish trip. Hmmmm. You have me really thinking now!!

 

[HeatherN]

We are from the Lake George area.y brother lived in Buffalo while he attended Daemen college so we have been to the area many times.I never thought my daughter would qualify for a wish either.I had friends urge us to apply for a long time and I always brushed then off.Then finally one of her Dr's talked to me about it and I contacted them on a whim.I was told that a child is qualified based on a past or present life threatening illness or injury.I am sure there are a tom of kids who would qualify but don't realize it.That is neat that you work for BOCES.Hannah attends in the summers and I work for our local school district in the special education dept.BOCES is such a fabulous place. I hope I didn't upset you by my replies, It might work out for you but would be difficult to do it as a suprise.

 

[WannaBeAtDisney]

Thank you for your responses. I will not try to surprise them, but would still like to plan a trip. Where exactly is the Village, so we can find nearby housing? Any advice anyone?

 

[SueM in MN]

I never thought my daughter would qualify for a wish either.I had friends urge us to apply for a long time and I always brushed then off.Then finally one of her Dr's talked to me about it and I contacted them on a whim.I was told that a child is qualified based on a past or present life threatening illness or injury.

At one point, the qualification was "terminal illness" and a lot of people still think of that as the qualification. A lot of illnesses that used to be terminal in childhood have been turned into life threatening illnesses or terminal after childhood (i.e. advances have been made in treatment for childhood cancer so more children are surviving; the average life expectancy for Cystic Fibrosis was not even into the teens, while the last time I looked, it was into the 20s and beyond).
The qualifications were changed so some of those kids who would no longer qualify because they were not terminal will be able to go.

Thank you for your responses. I will not try to surprise them, but would still like to plan a trip. Where exactly is the Village, so we can find nearby housing? Any advice anyone?

If you go to the website, www.gktw.org you can find a map and directions.

 

[WannaBeAtDisney]

Just one more question: Does anyone know of a good online resource for finding inexpensive vacation rentals while we're in florida for this trip? I saw that Give Kids the World Village is somewhere in Kissimmee, so it would be nice to have a place to stay nearby.

Again, thank you to all who have responded and wished Victoria well. Who knew 2 months ago our world would be turned upside down?

 

[Broadway Duchess]

I'm so sorry to hear about your niece; she is in my prayers. We are a former WISH family, as DS9 was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer at ten months old.

He got his wish granted through the hospital. We had gone to WDW earlier that year and that was the only time his counts stayed reasonable, post-chemo, so the staff got together to surprise our family. We had a pre-scheduled doctor's visit at a clinic, but we did have to spend a few minutes at Arnold Palmer Hospital for blood, platelets, fluids, etc.

One thing to note (grain of salt, because this was almost nine years ago), but MAW doesn't always place families at GKTW Village. We thought that we'd be staying there, but when our packet arrived in the mail, we had ressies for DI (now SSR).

Best of luck and to your family!

 

[SueM in MN]

One thing to note (grain of salt, because this was almost nine years ago), but MAW doesn't always place families at GKTW Village. We thought that we'd be staying there, but when our packet arrived in the mail, we had ressies for DI (now SSR).

Best of luck and to your family![/SIZE]

That is true that not all families get to stay at GKTW village. Sometimes it is full and they need to send families somewhere else. That might be especially likely to happen in the case of an urgent trip like you had (sorry about your family's situation).
And, if it the family did not request to stay somewhere else as part of the child's wish, they may not find out until the final packet, like your family did.
All the WISH families can visit GKTW village though, even if they are not staying there. And, if they come back to the area, they are welcome to visit again.
I DON'T know if visitors (like other family members not on the WISH trip) are allowed to visit GKTW village while the family is there on their wish.

 

[mjmoon]

I am so very sorry about your niece. I think you should definitely discuss this with your family rather than trying to make it a surprise. Everything is going to be overwhelming enough.. as happy as I am sure a surprise visit would make them, it would likely overwhelm them even more. Tell them immediately that you would like to go and help making it a wonderful trip for your niece. Get your tickets and room but outside of that I think you need to follow their lead on the rest.

 

[crashbb]

the average life expectancy for Cystic Fibrosis was not even into the teens, while the last time I looked, it was into the 20s and beyond).

Actually, we've gotten it up to 37 years in the US and Canada. Still far too young an age, but definitely a vast improvement. Sorry, for the OT note, but it is pretty amazing that the median age of survival is 37, considering what it was even 10-20 years ago.

OP - Good thoughts to Victoria and your entire family.

 

[SueM in MN]

Actually, we've gotten it up to 37 years in the US and Canada. Still far too young an age, but definitely a vast improvement. Sorry, for the OT note, but it is pretty amazing that the median age of survival is 37, considering what it was even 10-20 years ago.

OP - Good thoughts to Victoria and your entire family.

It's been a while since I looked. I thought it was in to the 30s, but I thought it would be better to give a low estimate than a high one.
Thanks for the update.

 

[jtopp]

Good luck and God bless to your niece. GKTW village is just off rt 192 in Kissimmee, and is a wonderful place for families with special needs. It is only a few minutes from WDW, so you may be able to visit and/or coordinate some time together without too many problems. Hope all goes well and her condition improves.