Give Kids The World

The "Make-A-Wish" trip was WONDERFUL! It was such an extraordinary trip that I will not be able to
fully explain just how "magical" it was really was; I will try.

Our first surprise was to find some very special people waiting at our departure gate to send Jessica off on her "Make-A-Wish" (MAW) trip with lots of hugs and cheers. It was so nice to be sent off by Jackie and Judy, the wish volunteers, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Reese, and Aunt Denise and Uncle Jeff-THANKS! When we arrived at Orlando Airport, Jessica was met by a Greeter from "Give Kids The Word" (GKTW), which is where we would stay. Our Greeter, Steve, helped us find our bags, then escorted us to our "Budget" rental car, where we were loaned a nice 4 door Ford Taurus for our entire stay. Then off to "GKTW"!

Although we arrived at "GKTW" with cameras in hand, the photos and video that we took will never truly express the beauty, the magic, the specialness of this village. As we walked through the doors of the "Welcome Center," we knew immediately that Jessica had been given a trip to a place just for kids, a place where kids are first-class, a place where parents come second for a change. We were seated at a table built for kids, with chairs just the right size for tiny legs. Around us were pastel walls, toy upon toy, and through the window we saw more fun waiting for us. As the manger explained all that awaited us, the children were taken outside to play in court-yard. Once our paperwork was complete, we were whisked off in a golf cart to our Villa (#181). This was only one of 96 villas on 50 acre resort (Village)..

The Villa was spectacular. The outside was done in English Tudor style. Inside, well let me say, this villa is a kids dream come true. The kitchen table was covered with candy, the fridge full of soft drinks, juice, and milk. The counter was covered with snacks. The Villa had 2 full baths, a full kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, and washer and dryer. The kids room was done in pastels, and they had there own bath. Their bath had a spa tub, a separate double headed shower, and double sinks. Our bath was very tiny and located in the hall. We all found the bath-room configuration very amusing. Most of the Village's magic was waiting for us outside of our door. Sometimes the children were simply entertained by the many friendly lizards residing outside the villas.

"Give Kids The World" is such a great place that Jessica wanted to spend an entire day there, so we did. The "Village" has an ice-cream Parlor that opens at 8 am and closes at 9 pm daily. They serve all sorts of ice-cream, sodas, and hot dogs. The kids delighted in eating ice-cream before meals, or even as a meal. And, if I did not already mention it, everything there is free. In fact, there is nothing sold on premises, except for stamps (from a machine), no money ever changes hands. When one day we ran out of film, one of the volunteers found a roll for us to use. Near to the ice-cream parlor is one of two pools. This pool is large and has a water park/water play area to the side. On Monday nights the pool area is host to a pool party with food, dance, games, and Characters from "Sea World." Down the cobblestone walk from the pool is the "Castle Of Miracles."

Jessica and James spent an entire evening in the castle, each with his/her own companion, as Mom and Dad had a night out. We were treated to a delicious dinner, by "The Hyatt." The kids companions/sitters were volunteers who came from the Magic Kingdom. The took the kids to dinner, for ice-cream, to play, and to the Theater (also on site) to see a magic show. In the castle is a video game room, a castle room with dress-up clothes, and a room with toys, drawers filled with surprise sounds, a cave-like room with passages and a slide. And, on the ceilings are hundreds of stars. Each star contains the name of a wish child who has stayed at "GKTW;" these stars will remain forever. And Jessica proudly placed her name on a star, deposited it into a golden box from which, each night, a "Star Fairy" would take each star and magically place it on the ceiling. every child is welcome to come back in later years and look for his/her star. It was awesome to see all of those stars shinning there on the castle ceiling. As you walk around the Castle, you soon discover a wonderful treat. There on the side of the castle, under a red mushroom with white spots, sits a Carousel filled with whimsical mounts, and even a place or two for a wheel chair to snuggle in. The Carousel runs from 8am-10am and again from 5pm until 9pm. We usually rode the Carousel after breakfast each morning.

We ate most of our breakfasts, and a few of our dinners, in the "Gingerbread House." The is the buffet style restaurant on site. The food is provided by Perkins Restaurant. And, let me tell you, they have provided all the foods kids love to eat, the kind of foods kids dream of! If you don't put enough on your plate the server will scold you. The volunteers and staff there are such nice people, always ready to lend a hand with our trays or with anything else we needed. And, as you may have guessed, all the grown-ups were bumping their knees on the kid sized tables. Not too far from the Gingerbread House" is the "Ammerville Station."

"Ammerville" is a train depot around which a train offers rides to the kids each morning and again each evening. Inside is where we spent a great part of one day driving remote control boats, playing arcade games, shooting hoops, working with legos, blowing train whistles, and watching a working model train as it made its way through a huge interactive model railroad village. Of course, this is just not enough trains for most train loving kids. And, so that everyone gets his/her fill, "GKTW" has a second train that rides though the curving, tree lined streets, picking up passengers at their individual villas, or at one of the many stops around the "Village." This train will whisk you off to any of the many attractions on site, including the new "Theater" located across from across from "Ammerville."

"Give Kids The World" has so much to offer; as much, maybe more than some of the parks. We felt that even if we'd never left the "Village" that we would have had just as wonderful of a time. We had lots to do there, were even able to meet "Goofy," "Pluto," "Mickey Mouse," "Minnie Mouse," and "Barney" and his friends while at "GKTW," and some kind volunteer was always standing ready to take a photo for us with our favorite characters-now that is service! Even spending an entire day there did not allow us to visit the lake, to go fishing, or to hike the nature trail. So much to do.

One thing we brought with us on this trip, besides the strong desire to have fun, was a sense that we really needed to not feel rushed, to take things slowly, to allow for family time, bonding, time to reconnect with each other, to become a normal family for a week. "Give Kids The World" allowed us the time, the space, the atmosphere in which we could accomplish these goals. We left this village with a sense of fulfillment. And, although we would have loved to have stayed forever, and the kids did cry when we drove off, we left this trip without that usual longing we get, that feeling that we left something undone. "Give Kids The World" gave Jessica, it gave all of us, "the world" for a week; and memories for a life-time!