We were able to to to Florida for a week to do Disney World and more as part of Ruby's wish to "get a bike from Elsa". We originally planned to go in Sept/Oct, but on June 7, when we found out the tumors in Ruby's lungs had grown, her doctor agreed we should go sooner as we don't know how she'll feel as the months go by.
There is a resort about 25 minutes from Disney called Give Kids the World. Like Make a Wish, I'm amazed that it exists. 125/1000 people who work there are actual employees, the rest are volunteers. LOVED those volunteers. Teenage girls who drive 45 minutes to get there, older more seasoned women who have been coming for years.
Give Kids was full, so we stayed at Disney's Polynesian Resort. I didn't feel bad for us, it was really nice :) We were still able to have access to everything there was to do at Give Kids. We left Friday July 8th in the morning. After mechanical problems on the first flight, and missing our connecting flight, we still got to Orlando later in the evening that day. There are so many details I'd love to share, but I'll type what I can, while I can :)
We got to be at Give Kids resort as much as we wanted, and everything is free. The food, carousel, ice cream, parties. They really do their best to give kids all they'd want. We went to breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Universal, Animal Kingdom, and Sea World. We pet dolphins, saw the oraca show, were in a few downpours and lightning storms, rode rides, walked a ton, sweat even more, didn't have to cook/clean/laundry/yardwork/dr appts. We got to be together and have fun.
We never waited in any line more than 10-15 minutes. I kept reminding the girls where the normal line was and about how long they'd be waiting. "Once in lifetime, Mom" Siri kept saying. She's right, it was a once in a lifetime trip for sure. We met Anna, Elsa, Tiana and other princesses. Baymax, Joy and Sadness. We got to cool off and get a drink in the Siemens private lounge in the big Epcot ball. A free stroller rental at each park. We didn't worry about money, or time, or calling anyone back.
Considering I'm pregnant and we were pushing around 3 kids in the thick of the summer Florida heat, I was glad we only had one or two moments of frustration with each other. We checked out a video camera at Give Kids that we took back before we left and they made a DVD and CD of pics from when we were there. Ruby got to make a start to put up on the ceiling at Give Kids, along with thousands of other stars from all the kids that have been there. They did horse back rides, Jane and Ruby flew on a plane for their first time.
Because of bad weather and missing connecting flights, we didn't get home until about 1:30am the next Friday (or Thursday night). The only benefit of the hard time getting home was that it made me excited to be back, in my own bed, our house. Before we left Ruby said "I want to live at the Polynesian forever". But when we got home, we were glad to be back. It's a trip we would likely never do or afford. Grateful to Make a Wish, Heidi and the other volunteers there, for making it happen. We loved it!
As I thought about the trip, some of our favorite times were just swimming at the hotel pool, or seeing the girls play "America Ninja Warrior" as they jumped across the hotel room beds. I'm grateful I have even more I can give the kids than ice cream and rides. I can read to them, love them, teach them about God. I loved being in the same room waking up with them and their morning faces, or just watching them snooze in the clean white sheets. Shushing them, but not caring too much, as they ran up and down the hotel hallway and elevator. It was the best escape!
Meeting Flik at Animal Kingdom
lobby at the Polynesian
Give Kids the world
loved the plane ride to Florida
view from our room
Breakfast at O'hana
Stitch!
Ice cream, anytime you want from 7:30am-9:30pm at Give Kids
meeting Rapunzel
Siri and Mark getting a wand at Universal
Mark grew up watching The Simpsons :)
lounging :)
Meeting Elsa at Epcot
By the end we learned that the hotel express cafe was ok, very expensive, and we'd rather get a bag salad, fruit from the store, and order Papa Johns to deliver to our hotel :)
Ruby and I got a front row seat for the parade
(while Mark, S & J were riding Space Mountain a few times)
Swimming at the Polynesian and more ice cream at GKTW
Jane got to play the part of the Beast when we did story time with Belle. We ate at "Be Our Guest" which is the Beast's castle. Don't do breakfast, but lunch or dinner would be good. Ruby was so sad the Beast wasn't there when we had breakfast, but we got a special card to go back and meet him in the evening.
Meeting friends at Give Kids
Mickey gave me the biggest hug :)
Castle of Miracles. Where each Wish kid gets their star placed. Its cool and nice in there.
The girls loved to color and play there.
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