After our Make-A-Wish Disney World trip for Sayla, in 2016, I said I could never go back due to the royal treatment we received during our stay, and thinking no other trip could compare. Well, here we are four years later, and two more kids later, we decided to go back. This stay at Disney was very different than our last, but still just as wonderful. The hardest part was not having Sayla there to enjoy it with us this time! We found out a few months ago that children under three years old, can go to Disney for free. This is what prompted us to go on this trip now with Pax (2 years old), and Pepper (14 months), instead of waiting until they are a little older. We actually flew home the day before Pax turned three. I had several people message me during, and after our trip asking questions regarding taking toddlers to Disney World. We learned A LOT on our trip, so hopefully this post will be both entertaining, and informative!

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{Wishes Spectacular – Trip to Disney World January 2016}

Day 2 may have been the Best Day Ever, but THIS day was Spectacular from start to finish.  It was Mommy, Diddy, Nini, and Pappy’s last day with Sayla at the Disney parks, so we had a lot planned to see and do.  Most of our photos are from Day 3 and we were able to capture so many memories.  Warning: this post is mostly photos.  Make-A-Wish and Give Kids the World included a Memory Maker/PhotoPass in our trip package.  This allowed us access to photos online that professional photographers at Disney World would take of us and our adventures.  I would highly recommend purchasing this feature if going to Disney! (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/photo-pass-service/)

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{Best Day Ever – Trip to Disney World January 2016}

They say I’m a planner.  This may be an understatement when it came to planning the best day EVER!  I was packing heavy with my Disney travel tip book complete with written side notes and highlighted “must do’s.”   I had a general timeline, but not down to the minute…obviously needed to allow room for flexibility…but not much.  The pre-planning mainly focused on attractions Sayla would be able to take part in.  Disney has a very thorough list of attractions and modes of transportation access for those with mobility disabilities. (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/)  Some of the attractions have ride vehicles modified for a wheelchair.  We were able to roll her wheelchair into the vehicle and strap her chair down, as we would typically buckle up in a seat.  Some of these rides included Its A Small World, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Under the Sea.  It was so convenient!  Other rides, we would have to transfer her out of her wheelchair.  This includes unstrapping 500 straps (okay just 5), and disconnecting her feeding pump and tubing.  Not a huge deal, but a little time consuming.  Sayla would ride these attractions sitting in our lap.  Some of these included Pirates of the Caribbean, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  With our game plan and matching shirts, Mommy, Diddy, Nini, Pappy, Miss Peggy, and Sayla were ready for the best day ever.

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{When You Wish Upon A Star – Trip to Disney World January 2016}

 

On average, Make-A-Wish foundation grants a child a wish every 38 minutes.  The wishes are granted to children with a life threatening illness.  No one dreams of having a “wish child” one day, but if you do have a child with a life threatening illness…having their wish granted is an absolute dream come true!!  Sayla is non-verbal, but it is obvious how much she enjoys her Disney Junior shows, Frozen, sing-a-longs, being around lots of people, and getting special attention.  (Duh, she’s my child) Therefore, Disney World became THE wish!  It was a long process of paperwork, planning, logistics, and scheduling, but our Wish Coordinator was amazing and set it all up.  We decided to split the week in half between Sayla’s father and me.  That way, we could have our own time with her which involved our extended family as well.  Miss Peggy (Sayla’s home health nurse), Patrick (Step father a.k.a. P Diddy), Sayla, and I traveled together. Then Nini and Pappy (my parents) met us in Florida.

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