I Wish To Go Travel Wish Specifics Disney Cruises Verify with your Wish Coordinator as to the status & wait time for these wishes prior to visiting with your wish family. A cruise is best for kids who are in a stable medical condition. This is an actionpacked wish that consists of two days of travel and four days on the cruise. The itinerary is as follows: Day 1: Travel to Orlando, FL, stay the night at hotel Day 2: Port Canaveral, Board the Disney Wonder or Disney Dream (depending on itinerary and timing) Day 3: Nassau Day 4: Castaway Cay-Disney s Private Island Day 5: Full day at sea Day 6: Return to Port Canaveral at 6:00am. Eat breakfast on the ship, disembark at 8:30am, return to Orlando and fly home. When talking to your wish family about a Disney Cruise wish, please take the following into consideration: Medical care on the ship is not comprehensive. If there is a medical emergency aboard the ship, the child will have to be airlifted to Miami. This is very expensive and would be the wish family s responsibility. When not aboard the ship, the family will be in the Bahamas. We cannot guarantee the medical care provided there. All parties traveling will need a passport or passport card. Those over the age of 18 will also need a piece of government issued photo identification. There are no rides aboard the Disney ships. We offer the four-night Bahamas or the Alaska Disney Cruise only. Transportation from Orlando to the port will be provided by the Disney Cruise Line. Proper ID passports Every family member needs to have a valid, government-issued photo I.D. for boarding a flight (with the exception of children under 16 traveling with their parents). ALL international travelers, regardless of age, require a passport or passport card (Western hemisphere and traveling by land or sea only). To verify that families have the proper documentation, your Wish Coordinator will ask you for copies of every traveler s passport for our files. The passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the expected return date. The Wish Coordinators will also check to see if the destination requires a VISA or any additional documentation. The wish will not be scheduled until all documentation has been received in the office.
Efforts to obtain passports or passport cards should begin at least three months before the family is scheduled to leave. The Foundation reimburses families for the expenses associated with obtaining passports or certified birth certificates. When traveling, photo copies of birth certificates are not acceptable. Wheelchairs Guide/Manual wheelchairs usually do not require any special arrangements, however whether the wish child has a manual or a motorized wheelchair, several factors need to be considered: Always notify the Wish Coordinator when a wheelchair will be used or needed, or when other special equipment is required. They will need to share this information with the airlines. Extra time should be allowed before actual departure to allow for preparation of battery-operated equipment. The airline will want to know ahead of time what type of batteries the equipment requires. Please find out which of the three types of wheelchair batteries your wish child uses: 1) sealed, 2) gel (wet type) or 3) acid (wet type). The family should carry portable charging systems on the aircraft in order to ensure that they arrive in good working condition. Airline Reservations All airline reservations are made through the office. Discuss with the family the ideal date to make the wish come true. Please obtain at least three different date options for travel from your family. Your Wish Coordinator will confirm a specific date prior to booking the airline tickets. It is important to make the family aware of this policy and to carefully select dates that will be convenient for their trip. It is also VERY important that when you are completing the paperwork you are sure to have a family member write the names of the family members exactly as they appear on their state I.D. as well as their birthdates. This is important because of the new TSA regulations we must follow when booking air reservations. Please note that once airline tickets are purchased we will only change them due to changes in the wish child s medical condition. Changes of flight itineraries are done only through the office. If you determine there have been changes or a problem with the flight itinerary, notify the office immediately. Rental vehicles If the family would like to have a rental vehicle, notify the office and one will be arranged. Please be sure to verify that at least one parent has a current drivers license. ALWAYS CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATES. Itinerary and Per Diem Check Your Wish Coordinator will provide you with a travel packet to present to the family, (about seven days prior to their departure). This packet will include everything the family needs for their trip (itineraries/airline information, per diem check, buttons, etc.). Tell the family we will provide them travel money (per diem) to cover the cost of food, parking, gas and other incidentals. The family will need to sign a Wish Receipt that verifies that they received the itinerary, flight information, and the per diem check.
Getting to the Airport Your Wish Coordinator will help you determine the best way to get the family to the airport. Airport Send-offs and Welcome Backs Airport Send-off Call the airline to confirm that the family s flight is on time. If the family s flight arrangements change at the last minute, please note their new flight schedule and call the on-call Wish Coordinator with the updated flight information. (Emergency Cell Phone Number - 206-941-5820) Wear your blue Make-A-Wish t-shirt! Arrive at the airport 10-15 minutes before you are to meet the family so that you can chat with the ticketing agent and TSA let them know that you have a Wish family arriving and ask the agent how to proceed through security (often, our Wish families can use an expedited line through security and often are accompanied by a TSA officer). Meet the family at the airline ticket counter 2 hours before their flight for all airlines in Seattle and 1 ½ hours before flights in Spokane and Anchorage. Help the family check their bags, and themselves, in. Our families who are flying on Alaska Airlines can check 1 bag per person free of charge. Make-A-Wish provides money in the per diem check for 1 bag each family member on all airlines that charge for checked bags. Accompany the family to the Gate the airline will issue you a gate pass. It is particularly important that you adhere to the directions of the TSA. Please be respectful and courteous, as you are representing Make-A-Wish. Ask your contact or the gate agent if the Wish Child might be able to tour the cockpit of the plane the answer is almost always yes. Sometimes, the airline will allow you to go to the cockpit too in order to snap a few photos of the child some airline staff are not comfortable doing that. Go with the flow and be respectful. Wave to your family as they get on the plane, email your Wish Coordinator to let her know the family got off OK, and send any photos that you took! Airport Welcome-Backs (and welcome to Seattle/Spokane/Anchorage for wish assists) Call the airline to confirm that the family s flight is on time. If the family s flight arrangements change at the last minute, please note their new flight schedule and call the on-call Wish Coordinator with the updated flight information. (Emergency Cell Phone Number - 206-941-5820) Wear your blue Make-A-Wish t-shirt! Arrive at the airport 5 10 minutes before your family is due to arrive do not forget to confirm that their plane is on time before you head to the airport. Figure out the location of the family s transportation home, car, shuttle, etc., so that you will be able to guide them there easily (transportation information can be found in the itinerary) Meet the family at the baggage claim and help them retrieve their luggage and get to their transportation home.
Email your Wish Coordinator that the family arrived home OK and send any photos that you may have taken Airport Send-Off - Involving Port of Seattle Police, K9 Officers, Explosive Detection Dogs, & Port of Seattle Fire Department Description: If a wish kid/family likes dogs, it's fun for them to meet these special working dogs and their fellow officers. The dogs are so calm and patient, and allow the kids to pet & hug them, and of course, we always take pics. If you know the family well and feel it's appropriate, you can also request the Port of Seattle Fire Department's involvement. They love to show the kids & families special attention. They everyone down on the ramp around the aircraft to see their fire trucks & equipment, and sometimes they even allow the kids to spray the fire hose! Being on the ramp/tarmac is something few people experience so it's great fun, but it s important to consider that, it's tricky with really young kids (under 4), or with large families. Step One: Determine if this perk is the right fit your family, sometimes younger children (under 4) or large families may not be the right fit. Step Two: Start the Request Process 2-3 days prior to send-off o Call Port of Seattle Police Dispatch at: 206 787-5401 o Ask to speak to the Duty Sergeant o Once connected, introduce yourself by name, tell them you re a MAW volunteer, and let them know you have a wish kid going on their wish trip on day. o Request a K9 officer & dog to meet the family while awaiting their flight, and IF appropriate for the specific family, inquire about involvement from the Fire Department. o Follow Up the request with an email (provided over the phone), that includes the wish child s first/last name, # of siblings & parents, flight information, any necessary medical considerations (i.e. if they use a manual or motorized wheelchair), and the send-off volunteers cell number to contact on the day of departure if necessary. IMPORTANT NOTE: The police & fire departments really love meeting our wish kids, but of course their involvement can't be guaranteed due to the nature of their work. SO- it can be fun to keep their involvement a Surprise (you can run it by mom & dad perhaps) until they show up at the gate. Remember to: Take Photos to send to your Wish Coordinator and send a Thank You email or card to the K9 office & Fire Department as appropriate! Port of Seattle Police Department P.O. Box 68727 Seattle, WA 98168 Port of Seattle Fire Department 2400 South 170th St. SeaTac, WA 98158 I Wish to Go enhancements
Travel bag Travel guide and maps Travel journal Travel games and things to keep the kids occupied during travel Travel snacks Gift basket with things appropriate to destination, activities or season (warm weather supplies such as sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit, fins or cold weather supplies such as scarf, gloves, etc) Beauty Makeover Autograph book Scrapbook Photo Album Count Down Calendar, Count Down Chain Printed shirts I m going to (destination city) Travel Wish Surprises: Send along small, inexpensive gifts to be opened each day of the wish trip. The gifts could follow a theme such as Disney, favorite animal, Texas, etc. See Theme Party section for more enhancement ideas View the Travel Wish Enhancement Guide for more fun ideas! Disney Wish Suggestions Introduction: As the days count down, Remember your wish, Don t forget to pack your swimming suit, So you can swim like a fish! Two Weeks Until Wish: Sleep well tonight, As snug as a bug, Two weeks are left, Til you can give Minnie a hug! One Week Until Wish: One week to go, The fun s almost here, Soon you ll see Mickey, So give a BIG cheer! One Day Until Wish: Disney World awaits you, The magic has just begun TOMORROW you go to Disney To have fun in the sun! Disney Wish Activities: Tell someone going on the trip with you who your favorite Disney character is and why. What flavor of ice cream are you going to get at the Ice Cream Palace first? Are you going to ride the roller coasters while you are there? Which ones? If you could get 10 autographs, name the characters you would want to get them from. Call one of your wish granters and tell them what ride or character you are most excited about riding or meeting. Draw/color a picture of your favorite character and give it to somebody you love. Wish Presentation I wish to go presentation budget: $100 is maximum cash budget (including gratuity!) A wish presentation occurs in conjunction with a travel wish and usually takes place 3-10 days before a family s departure. The primary focus of the wish is the child s destination, thus the purpose of this gathering is to share the details of the wish by providing the family with their wish packet (travel itinerary, MAW buttons, airfare itinerary and per diem check). This celebration is
appropriate for the Wish travelers and the volunteers only. Our hope is that you can get a local restaurant excited about participating in the child s wish through an in-kind donation, or flex your creative muscle by planning an out-of-the-box way to celebrate the wish coming true!