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**WifeofBill** · 05-05-2012, 04:20 PM

Okay, now I'm looking for advice. Helping a family plan their first Disney trip provided by Make a Wish. They are doing 3 days at Disney, and 2 days at Universal. I have only been to Universal twice and that was 15 years ago so I'm pretty clueless there. MAW provides tickets, meal vouchers, hotel, and I think transportation. I've told them about the guest assistance card, so they can avoid most lines. I've sent them links to all the menus and suggested at least one character meal. I'm working on a goody box to mail out to the kids with stickers, Mickey key chains, a pen, and a Mickey digital camera. I had the camera and stickers, the rest I got for $.50 at a garage sale. Going to also include maps of each park for each kid. Going to make princess and Minnie Mouse hair clips for the girl. What other advice would you give? What else should I include in the box?

**Natalie** · 05-05-2012, 05:33 PM

That's awesome that they're getting to do this! I say to everyone going to Disney the first time to pace yourself. Take your time and take it all in.

**Natalie** · 05-05-2012, 05:36 PM

And I don't know if you have a Disney Store but ours does close out park stuff for cheap.

**laurat99** · 05-05-2012, 07:22 PM

(05-05-2012 04:20 PM)WifeofBill Wrote: Okay, now I'm looking for advice. Helping a family plan their first Disney trip provided by Make a Wish. They are doing 3 days at Disney, and 2 days at Universal. I have only been to Universal twice and that was 15 years ago so I'm pretty clueless there. MAW provides tickets, meal vouchers, hotel, and I think transportation. I've told them about the guest assistance card, so they can avoid most lines. I've sent them links to all the menus and suggested at least one character meal. I'm working on a goody box to mail out to the kids with stickers, Mickey key chains, a pen, and a Mickey digital camera. I had the camera and stickers, the rest I got for $.50 at a garage sale. Going to also include maps of each park for each kid. Going to make princess and Minnie Mouse hair clips for the girl. What other advice would you give? What else should I include in the box?

You and your kids writing down your favorite Disney memories. It might give them something to look forward to. "Oh here is the ride Mrs. Bill says is her favorite!" "This is the restaurant Mr. Bill likes best!" This will help personalize it for them.

**WifeofBill** · 05-05-2012, 08:50 PM

(05-05-2012 07:22 PM)laurat99 Wrote:
(05-05-2012 04:20 PM)WifeofBill Wrote: Okay, now I'm looking for advice. Helping a family plan their first Disney trip provided by Make a Wish. They are doing 3 days at Disney, and 2 days at Universal. I have only been to Universal twice and that was 15 years ago so I'm pretty clueless there. MAW provides tickets, meal vouchers, hotel, and I think transportation. I've told them about the guest assistance card, so they can avoid most lines. I've sent them links to all the menus and suggested at least one character meal. I'm working on a goody box to mail out to the kids with stickers, Mickey key chains, a pen, and a Mickey digital camera. I had the camera and stickers, the rest I got for $.50 at a garage sale. Going to also include maps of each park for each kid. Going to make princess and Minnie Mouse hair clips for the girl. What other advice would you give? What else should I include in the box?

You and your kids writing down your favorite Disney memories. It might give them something to look forward to. "Oh here is the ride Mrs. Bill says is her favorite!" "This is the restaurant Mr. Bill likes best!" This will help personalize it for them.

I like that idea. I sent her our favorite character meal, Garden Grill at Epcot. It's more low key, yummy food, and the restaurant revolves Wink

I'll have to look to see if we have Disney Stores here. Not in the main mall I go to. I think there is one closer to Disney but its touristy. I don't like tourist!

**pastor's wife** · 05-06-2012, 03:16 AM

My parents took me to Disney World when I was in 6th grade, my siblings a couple years younger. I was too old to care about seeing the characters, but it was a wonderful trip. I still remember the hilarious patter of the Jungle Cruise guide, the terrifying fun of Space Mountain, the weird sweetness of It's a Small World, and riding the beautiful big horses on the carousel in the warm Florida night right before the park closed. I can still sing "In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room [repeat]... where the birds all sing and the flowers bloom, in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!" They've changed it all around now! I think it's Timon and Pumba now!

We took our older kids. We have lots of friends in FL and we did it as cheaply as possible. I'd like to be able to go for a week and stay on site and not feel so rushed to try to get everything in!

My youngest is almost five and I'd love to take her. She adores princesses; I think she'd be thrilled seeing them in real life! I don't think I'll be able to though.

On our visit, we were watching Chip and Dale cavort in the street and one of them grabbed my hand and pulled me out to dance with him (or her). I gamely tried and laughed; he couldn't have known that I was a fundy pastor's wife (fundy-lite; I was wearing capris!) and I DIDN'T dance, didn't know how to dance, and had never danced! I felt like a fool, but I knew it was all part of the fun so I went along with it, although I'm sure I looked ridiculous!