Re: Re: Questions on wishes

[Guest guest]

We are staying at the Give the Kids the World Village

and I have been on there site but I was wanting more

information than the site could provide. We have 3

children (and one on the way) that are going all under

the age of 5 so I am not even sure what would be best

for them, we can't really go on any rides as our

daughter is in a wheelchair, but could not support

herself in the straps of the rides. Our five year old

will be able to go on some small rides. I guess we

will mostly just sight seeing. What would you all

suggest doing? This is our first time to Disney World

or Florida. We do have a Sea World where we live but

never have been. What is best for small children? I

have gotten some books but still unsure on what to

plan.

Thanks again the Paytons

=====

Thank you!

Heidi Payton!

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi,

I didn't get a chance to answer your original post and I haven't read

all the replies, but this is what happened on our wish trip to Florida. We

also had one to Chicago.

We went to WDW as well. We stayed there for 5 days and GKTW for 2. We

got a van, money and film to last us the entire trip. The money depends on

where you are staying and the amount of people in your party. We got more

because we had to buy our meals more often than if we stayed at GKTW the

whole time. You eat breakfast and lunch (or dinner?) for free there. It's

been a long time since we've been there. We also got tickets for Sea

World and Universal Studios. That's where we got our free lunch and t shirt

(for Billy) at the Hard Rock Cafe. We saved SW for the last day since our

flight wasn't leaving until later that night and we had no where to store

our luggage. It was very hot and humid that day!! We also has to wait a

while our first day so GKTW gave us tickets to Gatorland USA. That was fun.

We also found (on our own) an American Gladiator's dinner show we bought

tickets for. That show was very popular back then and the boys LOVED it!!

As for your daughter not going on rides because she's in a wheelchair,

I say nonsense!!!! Both our kids are in wheelchairs and they went on all

types of rides. We even take them on the roller coasters-Thunder Mountain

Railroad (or what ever it's called) and the Mattahorn (sp?). We rode with

them and put our arms around them. They cannot support themselves one bit

either!! I just took the kids 2 years ago to Disneyland and while they

were nearly 75 pounds, I still managed to get them on several rides. We did

mostly stay in the the little kiddie ride area ( Pan, ET, Alice in

Wonderland, etc) as that was the rides they liked, but we were adventurous.

Plus there is no waiting in line, for the most part, because your

daughter is in a wheelchair. We didn't wait more than like 5 minutes for

any ride. We also had a private meeting with Micky and his friends for

pictures. The kids liked that. The pin your daughter gets and wears

prominantly will tell the folks she gets special treatment.

We did the character breakfast and that was really fun. One of the

pics is still up on our website I think. Do make reservations early for

that.

Just go and enjoy. Also, I don't know what airline your flying, but

you might get upgraded to first class. We've been upgraded several times

without asking and it's wonderful!! Be sure when you are checking luggage

you have your daughter there and you work into the friendly conversation why

you are going to Florida. Are you flying out on the red-eye? If so, you

will be very tired when you arrive and you may not have a hotel room. Ask

the wish people if you will or won't so you can make plans. That happened

to us in Florida, but when we went to Chicago we did have a room when we got

there.

Have a great time and let me know if there is anything I can help you

with. I do have a page that tells about our trips on our website if you

care to have a peek.

Sue & Jack, worn out parents to the greatests kids on earth, Las Vegas, NV--

(14) & Billy (13)--both with Leigh's Disease (?), MR (mild), g-tube.

Billy--fundo, trach (larynotracheomalacia), vent 24/7, spinal fusion,

baclofen pump. Chris-no left hip socket! Visit us!

http://members.cox.net/jscb

[Guest guest]

We are staying at the Give the Kids the World Villageand I have been on there site but I was wanting moreinformation than the site could provide. We have 3children (and one on the way) that are going all underthe age of 5 so I am not even sure what would be bestfor them, we can't really go on any rides as ourdaughter is in a wheelchair, but could not supportherself in the straps of the rides. Our five year oldwill be able to go on some small rides. I guess wewill mostly just sight seeing. What would you allsuggest doing? This is our first time to Disney Worldor Florida. We do have a Sea World where we live butnever have been. What is best for small children?

Heidi

When we went... was six (but nto really), Gaige was 3 and Bliss was 18 months old. Besides Fred and I, we also took a third adult, which MAW paid for b/c all of our kids have spec needs. used a chair (although he could walk for 3-5 minutes at a time), Gaige is autistic and soooo hard to keep up with...and Bliss has mild CP and used a stroller so we had to have a third set of hands to keep up with Gaige.

Since you asked, I will tell you what I wish I had done...and its largely due to my kids ages. I would have spent ALL the time we needed/wanted in the Magic Kingdom. Its really geared towards younger kids. I would have skipped Epcot...its really geared towards adults...mostly exhibits and no rides and the exhibits are not interesting to kids under ten at least...unless they are knowlege sponges. MGMs stuff is geared towards teens and tweens I think...there aren't too many kid friendly rides there. Animal Kingdom was neat...there are a couple of things that they would enjoy. I bet she could do the safari...its really cool...you are just riding through the jungle with live exotic animals. Also the Lioni King show is very cool...a shorter version of the broadway one. I think thats all we did there. Seems like there was something else we were going to do but got tired. Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom seem best suited to small children, in my opinion.

Universal is much like MGM but they do have Suessville which is a kiddie park and it was pretty cool. Otherwise the rides and stuff are more geared towards teens and such. If your kids love nickolodeon cartoons there are LOTS of characters at Universal to see. My kids loved that best...at both parks. GKTW gives your wish child a button to wear and they characters go out of their way to make it special for them. IN fact you will be thrust ahead of those waiting.

When you arrive at GKTW, the first night you will be asked by them for one parent to attend a little info meeting. They will tell you everuthing then. They often have tickets to other attractions for a limited number of folks.

There is also -------- city (forgot the name) that we went to the first night...its shopping and eating...I think we went there a few times...it was neat. Good if you are just walking around and not able to do a whole lot.

One hint from us that I have heard others had problems with too (but I think depends on your wish group) is to make sure they understand the amount of stuff you will be bringing so you have a big enough vehicle. We had a stroller and wheelchair and luggage and it was a tight fit to and from the airport...but if they think you are only five people and put you in a car, that would be hard. They do give you a washer and drying at GKTW if that helps cut down on luggage and there is a walmart at the end of the main road that the village is on. Its actually the busiest walmart in the nation, we heard.

Feel free to ask any more questions.

deb...mom to three great kids and wife to one amazing guy!http://www.lifeofloveproject.org/http://www.debwells.com/

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi,

I second what Sue said about your daughter being able to ride most of

the rides at Disney World. When my girls were her age, they rode

everything they wanted (they didn't want to do the big coasters) even

though both are in wheelchairs and neither has good head or trunk

control. Your daughter can stay in her wheelchair for some rides--Buzz

Lightyear, Aladdin's Magic Carpets (if she uses a manual chair), the

Jungle Cruise, and the Safari (at Disney's Animal Kingdom) are some I

can think of off the top of my head. For most of the others, she should

be fine on the seat next to you, so long as you are able to pick her up.

Of course, there are lots of shows, too, and they all have designated

places for wheelchair seating, as do the parades.

Here's a web site that has info about wheelchair access at WDW:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/Plain?id=PlainHomePage

You can also ask questions at www.disboards.com in the disABILITIES forum.

I think your family will have a wonderful time!

Mom to Emilie, 18, Complex IV

Kaitlin, 18, CP

Ian, 23