We just visited GKTW for My son's wish trip. We stayed October 18-24 2015 and it was amazing. Even though we didn't utilize everything GKTW had to offer I can tell you this.... THEY OFFER SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH TO OFFER!! My son recently went into remission from Rhabomyosarcoma (cancer) but he also has Autism. He was so excited that he could have pizza delivered EVERY NIGHT if he wanted! The villas are spacious and gorgeous. The people who work/volunteer there are so nice and helpful... Did I mention they also have a Cookie Cart that comes to your villa with awesome cookies??? I could spend hours telling you about this wonderful, magical world. Thank you GKTW and everyone who has a part in making these kids smile!
I'm a proud volunteer and I look forward to the time I get to spend at GKTW. The Village is run like a well oiled machine with lots of happy, smiling faces and friendly people. An amazing blessing in the heart of Central Florida!
In 2009 my child had his wish and we stayed here. The kids loved it so much that they skipped several days at the Disney Parks to stay at Give Kids The World Village! We went back to FL in 2013 & are returning again this month. We stay close to GKTW and go back to visit. This place is almost 100% volunteer! I have never seen such a wonderful group of people, companies, corporations and employees band together for a single purpose and make it beyond great! When my Special Needs children are old enough we will be taking family volunteer vacations to go back and pay it forward! No words can accurately describe what an amazing place this is!
My family and I volunteer by our adoption of 2 villas (we clean & landscape multiple times a year plus put up/take down holiday decorations) and I additionally volunteer my social media expertise promoting GKTW Village. We see firsthand how much joy the place brings to families. They share their heartfelt joy every time we meet them and are so impressed with the entire operation. I've not yet met a single soul who has been there who isn't blown away by the generosity of spirit reflected by the volunteers and staff. Every family I've met, likewise, is overwhelmed with acceptance and love.
There's another place in the Orlando area that's considered the "Most Magical Place on Earth." With all due respect to the mouse, I'd have to disagree and proclaim that it's REALLY Give Kids The World Village. While families do enjoy tickets to WDW, SeaWorld, Universal and more, the magic is in the day-to-day stay at The Village where every child is special, and for one week mom and dad can relax for just a bit. They'll deal with their child's life-threatening illness all-too-soon when they're home again. But for just one week they have Give Kids The World Village.
My daughter had a make a wish trip from August 4-10. Her wish was to go to disney, and we were fortunate enough to stay at give kids the world village. When I first heard other families talking about the village, I was skeptical. How could a place you sleep at be better than a theme park? Well let me tell you. Of all the things we did, the activities at gktw are the ones the kids talk about. Not sea world, or seeing the mouse. Rather, swimming like mermaids and a shark. Being able to swim early in the morning, or late at night. Eating ice cream from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm. Riding on jj's express and seeing the original dinosaur from Jurassic park. Then playing mini golf right with the dinosaurs. Having something going on every single evening, Halloween, Christmas, mayor claytons birthday, tea party, and so much more!! The gifts they received every day was something they talk about. Where else does all of your kids get included in stuff like that? The horses they did both days. That was a first for my kids riding horse back. Being able to eat 3 great meals a day for free was unbelievable. For a family of 6, that was extremely helpful. From Italian night to Christmas dinner, each meal was delicious. The volunteers were amazing. We had one guy take time out of his day just to talk to my kids and involve them in his "job". But the great thing about gktw is that this isn't a job. These volunteers want to be there. They all smile and wave at everybody like the families are royalty. The castle, with all the stars in. So very emotional. It makes you stop and thank god for a place like this, somewhere that a sick child can come and live for one week like they are a normal child. The carousel and loris flight , being able to accommodate wheelchairs is amazing. It leaves no child out. Having not one, but two swimming pools. Matthews playground. Who doesn't like to just go at your own place. Fishing right there at the village, and maybe snagging yourself a turtle (everything catch and release of course). A personal tuck in from either the mayor or his wife, pillow fight included. These...these are the memories that my kids talk about.
Our family was fortunate enough to move to kissimmee at the end of July. As it was, they did not want to leave the village. They want to live there forever. As a result of our move, my husband and I have been able to become volunteers at the village. This is something we do not take lightly. We cherish the times that we are able to come and spend time with the other families. We are able to share our experience with them, and answer any questions because after all, we have been in their shoes.
We cannot wait until the day our kids can volunteer right there beside us. Until then, we go once a week as a welcome back family, and trust me, they treat you just like you were there for the first time
Although we had heard of GKTHW we didn't know much about it. Then, our very dear friends were guests and invited us to visit. We were overwhelmed. Such a wonderful, special place for children and their families. Everything there is geared towards helping these special families have fun. To help them forget, even for a few minutes, the illness and/or disease that affects their child. This is truly a worthwhile charity/nonprofit.
As part of my sons make a wish trip with First Things First and Kurt and Brenda Warner, the next best thing to our trip was GKTW. The service was beyond anything we ever could have imagined, this place is a Wonderland of fun for our kiddos who just want to forget about meds, doctors and hospitals and just be for awhile. The people who work and volunteer are the most wonderful people I could ever meet. My son enjoyed every moment he was there and they had a color fan in his room which sent him over the moon and to this day he still talks about his trip. We are truly blessed to have stayed here and we thank everyone for all they do for all the families. I cannot say enough about GKTW. It really is a magical place.
My son and his family stayed there last April. They loved that more than Disney World. My grandson, Blake, has leukemia and he was treated like a king. They opportunities were wonderful. Just staying there would have been enough of a treat. Blake was so happy and temporary forgot about all the chemotherapy and the pain. I can't thank you enough.
My grandson wanted to go on a vacation like other children. His doctor said vacations were a privilege not a right. He can only go to certain countries due to emergency medical attention he may need. Like many other children with life threatening illnesses, travel is not an option. The insurance alone is more than any trip would cost. Give Kids the World allowed my grandson the opportunity to be privileged, and forget about monthly transfusions, week long hospital and missed holidays with family. The attention that they give each and every. Child and family member that walks through the door is truly amazing. Without this facility, none of these families would experience the privilege of leaving their home and experiencing the excitement of travel, and the fulfilling of a dream. Yes, these children are sick, some won't live long,, but Give Kids the world gives these children and their families an opportunity to forget for a week, and meet other children that are also sick. We met so may other families from different countries that we still keep in contact with. GKTW looks after most needs of the sick child and their famies and gives them a truly amazing experience, one that they will never forget. Without GKTW, my grandson would never have experienced all he did, he still talks about that trip and what a life altering experience it was for him. That trip was three years ago and unfortunately one of his friends he met there has since passed away, but each time he talks about him, he says "remember when we were at Give kids the world and...."THANK YOU Give Kids The World for allowing my grandson to be a child.
This is a picture of my kids hanging out by the theater at give kids the world in Florida. We took this trip for my son Justin (wearing the cars shirt) He has had a hard life, lived in and out of hospitals. At the time of this picture he had four open heart surgeries and a pacemaker. Two days before the trip we were in a hospital room wondering if he would make the trip and another very invasive heart surgery looming. We didn't know what our outcome would be or what the future would hold, so we packed up and went to Florida. Although GKTW was not out original destination (he wanted to go to Disney) it became a destination in itself. We ate at a cafeteria shaped like a gingerbread house, ate at a table covered in star mints, looked at hundreds of dolls donated to them. Surrounded by the nicest people who seemed to want nothing more than making them happy. After we went to the castle, to see thousands of stars from other wish kids. Really an overwhelming thought when you look at it. A fairy room, a tree that makes you your own pillow and a merry go round that he rode dozens of times. Ice cream was eaten at a shoppe with giant bananas, and ice cream scoops. They got to eat as much as they wanted and one day they did the famous "ice cream for breakfast" and ate it outside in a giant bowl. Putt putt golf course with cool dinosaurs was a big hit, and it connected to the train station where you guessed it they had train rides...but not only that they had a huge train set. The kids loved it. And they also had boats they got to race around. Each night was different..mayor clatons birthday.. Christmas, complete with santa and gifts. And in the evening before bed they had a wonderful pool and splash zone. One day there was horses to ride...and we will never forget ole Elmer the sleeping tree...so many memories were made there. It was an awesome week where for just a little while the world revolved around our family being together and not around a hospital room
My granddaughter was granted a wish. To Sea World and Disney we went. The whole family stayed at "Give Kids the World", and we visited every day. Not only were the facilities top notch, but the care and services provided were amazing. The volunteers were working hard and glad to be doing it. That was the real story. Everyone working there wanted to be. We are planning a trip to Florida soon,, and plan to spend several days volunteering. They made a wish come true and took care of the whole families needs. Even the two other children and parent. You can see the extra effort put into everything the do.
In 2006 my son was a wish kid and we stayed at GKTW. We went to a different theme park everyday (Disney-Sea World- Animal X Kingdom etc) My second grader couldn't wait to get back to the Village every night - that's how magical it is.
Give Kids The World is an amazing organization and I hope to go back someday to volunteer. They made my daughters Make a Wish trip truly memorable and they certainly deserve all of the recognition they can get!
Our son Christopher has severe autism and epilepsy. Because of it, he is a 20 year old trapped in a 3 or 4 year olds' mind. He loves everything Disney. When he was granted a Dream from our local wish granting organization, there was no question. Disney World is his favorite place. His first unprompted words were spoken there at 13. "Small World". Well, we were excited to visit the parks and had no idea that the best part of our trip would actually be Give Kids The World. Our whole family was treated like royalty. We had no stress about anything. If you have a special needs child, you know that stress is constant. Everything has been taken into consideration to make families have a truly enjoyable week. It has been almost exactly two years since our visit and we talk so often about our trip. Christopher added so much to his speech since our trip. He tries to talk about it to the best of his ability. That is just another gift gained from our amazing trip! I miss the beautiful, peaceful and joyful village every day!
THIS IS THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR CHILDERN. THEY SHOW LOVE PEACE CARING FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS. EVEN THE PARENTS CAN FEEL FREE FOR THEY KNOW THE CHILDREN ARE SO CARE FOR NO MATTER WHAT THE NEEDSARE . I TRULY LOVE THIS PLACE THEY MADE MY GRANDSON ,HIS MOTHER ,SISTER AND BROTHER AND MY SELF(GRANDMOTHER) SO ,SO HAPPY HE WANTS TO COME BACK THERE....THEY WANTED TO STAY THER MORE THAN GOING TO THE DIFFERENT PARKS. I THANK YOU FOR SHOWING SO MUCH HAPPYNESS TO ALL CHILDREN THAT COME THERE.. YOU TREAT THEM ALL THE SAME ..NO ONE SO ILLNESS JUST SMILESE
Our family was at GKTW the first week of September for our son's Make-A-Wish trip. We are so thankful for everyone's kindness and generosity!!!The staff and many voulenteers were wonderful and very helpful. My two boys felt like they were in a dream. They loved the Dino Golf, train, Pool, splash park.... They loved everything there! Our experience was re energizing and our strength is renewed! Thank you GKTW!
There is only one word, that said it all for me and that is HUMBLE!! You cannot go or leave The Village without a heart full of love. God Bless Henry.
We were blessed to stay at Give Kids the World in October 2014. It was a truly wonderful experience ! The sheer happiness of the place rivals that of Disney World itself! There is something there for all children, from toddlers to teens, and of course my husband and I loved it, too! So many smiles from children, families, staff, and the awesome volunteers! My son suffers from two chronic illnesses, but for that week, we were happy and stress-free. We plan to go back to visit sometime, and hopefully to volunteer as well!
I could not say enough great things about this place. Every single employee and volunteer were so friendly, kind, and willing to smile. They would ask us about our day and remember the next time we would see them and they'd follow up with us. My children love this place. In fact, they would have rather spent all our time here than at any of the parks. We hope to be back in a few years as volunteers. Give Kids the World, they truly live up to their name!
Wow, GKTW is amazing! What an outstanding place to have stayed! All I can say is thank you! My 5 year old son had a blast! We are very blessed to have stayed there. We were able to take a break from treatment and it made him feel like he was in a fairytale!
My son chose Give Kids the World village for his Make-A-Wish trip in 2008. Every minute of his trip was magical. It was the happiest week of his life, from the ice cream for breakfast to the pool to the little treats in our villa every day. The village is mostly staffed by volunteers, and it is incredibly well run.
I am returning to Florida in a few months for a business trip, and I have planned it so I can volunteer at Give Kids the World while I'm there.
My brother has been gone 10 years now but my entire family still has the memories from his wish trip to WDW. Our stay at GKTW made our trip so much more enjoyable. We really didn't have much to worry about. Handicap accessible, ice cream anytime, great breakfast, even at 15 I looked forward to all the surprises left for us. My personal favorite is still the carousel. Some of my favorite pictures of my brother from that trip are on that carousel. My hope is to one day be able to return to GKTW as a volunteer.
My daughter had make a wish and we were blessed to have stayed here. The staff and volunteers are angles from God! We never wanted or needed for anything! It has changed our family in more ways than we could ever have imagined. Our spirits have been lifted and we got to live a normal life that week, we talk about it all the time and smile and laugh. The kids want to come and volunteer as soon as possible so that they can help other kids have the same blessing they had! God bless everyone at GKTW for your are truly Gods Angels!!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
My son Joshua Long got his make a wish last year in August 2014. He has kidney disease, needs a new kidney one day. He went to Walt Disney World, universal/Island Adventure, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, had the most amazing time thank you making my child happy, enjoying life without being in the hospital. God bless this wonderful place. Called Give the kids the World.
Give Kids The World made it so easy to have fun as a special needs family. They spoke to our children first and paid them all the attention. Everyone was nice and always had an answer for our crazy questions. The best place ever. Wish I lived close so I could volunteer there, one day I hope to. I'm sad that our sons illness made it possible to stay there but their accommodations were so great it made the trip so memorable. They are tops in my book- everything about Give Kids The World is amazing!
My son was 10 when he got diagnosed with AML. Leukemia We spent 7 month's in hospital and he was rewarded with a trip for the whole family of 6 to spend 7 days at give kids the world..and what I learned that week was the name is exactly what they do! My son is 21 now and STILL talks about his visit..this place makes dreams come true more so then any theme park ever! Thank you for the experience of a lifetime.
The Lovett family
I went to Give Kids the World for my wish trip back in May of 2005. Honestly that was the best home away from home. The food was fantastic, the staff were amazing, and the themed days were awesome. We went to Disney World for my wish trip and every night when we got back there was always a giant basket of goodies waiting for us. Sadly it was my last vacation with my family ever, but the memories from that trip make my heart whole. If I ever go to Florida again I intend visiting Give Kids the World. Its such a magical place and a positive experience with a positive atmosphere where all the volunteers always have smiles on there faces, the village makes you feel more like a kid and less like a kid thats sick.
I have traveled with a small group from Massachusetts to Give Kids the World for three years in a row to volunteer in memory of our friend who was a guest there. There truly is no place in the world like it. I have met the most incredible people with the most inspiring stories, from other fellow volunteers to these amazing families and of course, the children. It is the greatest privilege to donate my time to this organization.
Give Kids the World strives to put a smile on every child's face, to make everyone feel included and relaxed and cared for, and to ensure that they have a magical and memorable trip. As a volunteer, it is so humbling to be able to serve this mission for such deserving children and families. Even for me, I have made some of my closest friends and fondest memories on my volunteer trips there--and the experience isn't even about me. The way Give Kids the World makes families feel welcomed and loved is unlike any other place, it takes away the pain, stress, and worries they typically feel and replaces those feelings with so much joy, many laughs, and lots of smiles. I have had parents tell me how grateful they are to have volunteers like us, and to have a place like Give Kids the World to put a spark back in their child's eye. But in all reality, we are even more grateful for the opportunity to be there and to be a part of their memories.
I cannot wait to return in the summer of 2016 for our fourth volunteer trip. It's so terribly difficult to leave every time because Give Kids the World creates an environment that is a joy and honor to work in and a magical and memorable place to visit. I only wish that I was closer and could volunteer more often and that more people could know all that Give Kids the World has to offer.
Best place on earth for sick children to have fun! We stayed here for our daughter's Make a Wish trip when she was 3-1/2 and undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia. We were amazed by the amenities and the love shown to everyone there by the amazing volunteers. We will be returning as volunteers ourselves once our daughter is old enough to volunteer. We want to pay it forward and hope that we can make someone else's stay there as magical and memorable as our visit. They really do give kids the world while they are there and all for nothing except a smile and maybe a hug in return. Truly magical!
we miss give kids the world we were treated like family and it was an awesome place to visit we went there in dec of 2010 for our daughter's wish trip . and we didn't want to leave . we left with tears in our eyes because it is such a peaceful and awesome place
My family stayed at GKTW back in May and I cannot say enough good things about how truly magical our stay was. My daughter had such an amazing time. She still talks about going back to visit all the time. This charity is such a blessing.
My family and I visited GKTWV December of 2014, for my daughters dream come true trip. GKTWV was so great to us, we loved everything about our stay. The staff made us feel so special we talk about how wonderful everything was quite frequently
It's been 4 years since our visit and not a day goes by that I don't think about GKTW and the utter joy they brought to my daughters face. What an absolutely remarkable place this is! I get emotional every time I think of all the selfless volunteers and their mission to make this world a better place. I'm eternally grateful to GKTW, thank you for letting my family forget about cancer if only for a week it was the best! Emma is now 9 and we can't wait to come down and give back to GKTW!!!!
We visited GKTW in July 2015 for my granddaughter, Emma's, Make a Wish trip to the Orlando area. For us this was a celebration trip to mark the end of her treatment for ALL. We already felt blessed because Emma has remained in remission throughout her two year battle with her leukemia. Our visit to GKTW made us feel so special & cared for & I'm ashamed to say that I had never heard of this amazing place before our trip. GKTW gave us lasting memories & a desire to give back to others. We look forward to returning to a place that now feels like home & helping others feel the same magic that we did. I love this place & all the people who make it available to families like ours. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.....
My family was so blessed by the week we spent at Give Kids The World village. There are not enough words to thank the oodles of volunteers that assisted us with "everything" during our stay. And the love shared with new friends and families visiting at the same time is a lifelong gift. Thank you for all you do for families like ours. We never could have given our "wish" child and her brothers the gift you gave us. Blessings to all. And Thank You for your life and vision Henri Landwirth. You earned a special place in Heaven for sure.
I found out about Give Kids The World through one of my friends from high school and it changed my life. I went by myself so it really gave me the chance to connect with other volunteers and also the kids and the parents. There are so many activities for the kids to do and the parents are just happy to see their kids happy and laughing and smiling. The best memory I have with my first visit was when a little girl made a drawing and gave it to me because she liked how I sat down with her and talked to her while she drew. This place gives kids fighting for their life a sense of normalcy but it also encourages them to fight. This place shows them what they have to fight for and let's them know it's not just their family and friends that has their back. It's everyone.
We love Give kids the World! We recently went in February. The staff is very friendly and always have a smile on their face. This place go above and beyond for ALL the kids there. From Mayor Claytons Birthday party, ice cream served all day long, a special star for each wish kid/special needs child, horse back riding for all kids, heated swimming pool that is handicap accessible, the arcade room, to trick or treating. They have special "fairies" that come clean and leave special gifts for the kids. They go out of there way to make every kid happy and forget about the crazy medical issues they have even if it's just for a little while. I'm so glad we got the opportunity to stay here. If I could I would move down there just so I could be a volunteer and see all the amazing kids that come in and to put smiles on kids faces. Give kids the world is a great place and think more people need to know about them!
My daughter Meghan has spina bifida and other things that came along with it. She was granted a wish from make a wish Michigan. Our whole family was lucky enough tonto with her to Give Kids the World. It was absolutly amazing!!! The àngels ara truely àngels. The villas and other famílies are wonderful. Everything from the dino putt to the playgrpund ara handicap accessible. That means so much. To bé able to go and just enjoy fishing or the marry go round for número us times was unbelievalby great. All of the kids looked forward to going and they still talk about it being the best vacation years later. It amazes me when the kids ara talking about It and the little things that' thwy remember that are really big things to them.It was a great week of rest and rejuvination not only for Meghan but for the whole family to have a break from the everyday appointnents was so nice. I will bé forever greatfull for the generousety that mare It possible for us to go
Give kids the world is a great place. There are no words to describe the welcoming feeling we felt there. Everyone always had a smile on their face and a helping hand in what eber it was we where doing. My kids loved the gift fairy. It made our trip great.
Our daughter has a rare genetic disorder and was granted a Disney wish through Make-A-Wish Foundation. While we were so excited for the entire family to have a Disney experience like no other, we were completely taken off guard with the magic of Give Kids The World. From the daily special events, ice cream for breakfast, daily gifts left on our kitchen table, AMAZING pool and spray pad... we ended up staying at the village for a full day instead of exploring one of the theme parks. Our family had the best vacation. When it was time to check out, we were all in tears. No one wanted to leave. To this day, the kids reminisce more on the time spent at the village than any of the theme parks we visited. They still remember Mayor Clayton and Miss Merry tucking them into bed at night. And we won't forget the time when a volunteer opened the carousel for out daughter to take a few last spins before we headed home. Do you know they have volunteers that use their own vacation time off of work to spend time at the village to work? Every morning we went to the ice cream palace and a volunteer would dish the most amazing ice cream concoctions for all the kids. Oh, and the horse volunteers who bring their horses every Wednesday for horseback riding. That was the first time our daughter was not afraid to get on a horse and the look on her face was priceless! Our family has been fortunate to benefit from several non-profits and Give Kids The World is on the top of our list. They are simply the best!
After volunteering 10 years for this truly one of a kind place, there is nothing like the magic here. The most common wish in the world is to visit Orlando. Give Kids the World is a village that makes these wishes come true. I've seen pure joy here.
GKTW is AMAZING!! We went in May 2013 & absolutely LOVED it. We went to Disney World during the day & went to GKTW early enough to enjoy all the activities they had every night of the week!!! It is amazing for children with life threatening diseases because it gives them their dreams come true!!! We didn't want to leave!!! Our children still talk about it to this day. It is an experience they won't ever forget!!
GKTW....the most beautiful place in the world to children with life threatening ilnesses and their families. Oyr entire family went in Oct. 2012, and Lige will never, ever forget that wonderful, magical place oe the Angels that work there. What beautiful hearts these people have, we are so thankful that we were able to experience the love that they have for these children.
Smiles. It's about the joyful smiles. I don't know the story that each Wish Kid could tell, if asked. What I do know is that when I give a little encouragement, a smile, a friendly voice, what I get back is...priceless ! For some Wish Kids, it's harder to open up, but once they do - it's all worth it. For a short time, kids get to be kids; parents and siblings get to relax; they're allowed to forget some of their normal worries, and have some fun. It seems we don't get over to the Give Kids The World Village to volunteer often enough, but when we do, I feel lucky to have helped spread smiles. Whether it's Ice Cream for Breakfast or a few rides on the carousel, the GKTW Village is a place, and a team, that wants to make a difference for every Wish Kid and their family. I wish I had learned of the Give Kids The World Village sooner.
where to begin...our family visited GKTW in 2002. from the moment we stepped off of the plane, til the moment we pulled away from the GKTW village, crying, it was perfectly amazing!! absolutely everyone we encountered was delightful, helpful, encouraging, and just plain fun. yes, we were treated like royalty, just like all of the families and made to feel so special. from ice cream in the morning, snowing at christmas and seeing santa, the merry-go-round, the special star and pillow, the restaurant, the theater...it was just stunning! so much fun and relaxation! our daughter, now 23, still speaks of mayor clayton coming to wish her a good night and tuck her into bed with a tickle fest!! we get to see one of her rare smiles and hear her laughter at that memory. i would volunteer at GKTW in a heartbeat, if only we lived closer. it is a magical place that helps families focus on the now and the positive for a little while and gives them glorious memories to hold on to when they return home. henri landwirth, the creator of GKTW, is an angel sent from above for our children. thank you does not begin to measure how we feel, but it is heartfelt!!
There are no words and not enough space to describe how GREAT Give Kids The World is. Here are a few, PERFECT, EXCEPTIONAL, LIFE CHANGING, EXCELLENT, MAGICAL just to name a few. Give Kids The World truly gives kids the world. An opportunity of a life time for a special needs child to be a different kind of special. Although there are many other families there at the same time you are, you feel like you are the only ones, like royalty! EVERYONE goes out of their way to make families comfortable, feel welcome and for a time, not to worry about a thing. It's so much more then a trip for a child. It really is a miracle in my opinion.
I volunteered with GKTW back in 94-95 when I was an undergrad working on the WDW co-op program. It's still to this day the most gratifying and memorable volunteer work I've had the privilege to be a part of. The Village and staff were wonderful, and seeing first hand what GKTW did for the guests who came - not just the kids who were ill but their siblings and parents - hard to measure that kind of magic. Keep on truckin' and God Bless GKTW
We were blessed with a trip to GKTW when my daughter received her wish trip to go to Disneyworld. GKTW is a magical place filled with amazing memories
Our family of 5 plus grammie and grandad were blessed to stay here for my son's Wish trip to Disney. How can I say it...this place is amazing. I almost have no words to describe how overwhelmed (in a good way)we felt during our time here. We were made to feel like we were royalty as soon as we arrived until we left 7 days later.
"Icecream for Breakfast" was one of the things my kids LOVED, as well as the food carts that drove around outside by the cottages where they could choose a cookie or muffin or bagel... all the food was wonderful.
Around every corner there was something new and exciting to find or explore.
Every night there were gifts left on the beds to discover and play with.
The staff and volunteers went out of their way to make our trip a beautiful experience none of us would ever forget. And we never will.
Thank you GKTW!
My daughter Alexandria was a "wish kid", we stayed at the magical give kids the world, while she was on her wish to have a wonderful family vacation. Boy was it wonderful. someone met us at the airport with a sign that said her name, they helped us with navigating the airport, to car rental agency and then had us follow them to GKTW village. The village was clean, full of different daily activites for the kids and famlies, they had free video cam usage, and even took the tapes and transfered them to dvd for us. Alex is now in college, president of wish makers on campus, and has gone through the back ground check a few years ago so she could volunteer when she goes on spring break. just a way to give back she said. the wonderful thing about gktw village is even tho your going through something so horrible, while you are there you will forget about doctors and hospitals, pokes, and blood draws. your family will experiance wonderful love, understanding, help to have wonderful memeories. hugs to all the village volenteers.
Hi my daughter tanesha was a wish child in may and spent 7 days at gktw its the most magical place on earth she loved riding the lion on the carrousel everyday and ice cream for breakfast she met lots of characters including her favourite woody n buzz I can never thankyou enough for giving her this opportunity and we hope to see you in the future when we come bck to see her star and would love to volunteer there x
My daughter was a "Wish Kid" in 1999, when she was 6 years old. Our family of nine (9 !) had a magical experience which was quite literally "life changing". Through the years, we support GKTW events when we can, and were HONORED to volunteer last summer.
To see our sick little girl, now a 21 year old college student, sharing the magic and joy she felt herself as a child, with other families was beyond "awe inspiring".
We hope to be able to travel back to FL (we live in PA) soon and volunteer again.
EVERY family we spoke to while volunteering was happy, hopeful, and joyful. When they learned my daughter was "an alum", they often broke down crying. It is SO HARD to live with the reality that your child may not become an adult. Seeing our Christine working as a volunteer and sharing her love for GKTW still... after so many years and so much "medicine", gave many of them hope for the future of their own families.
We are so, SO, grateful to GKTW for the opportunity to share our time, treasure, talent, and wisdom. xoxo
This is a magical, spiritual, place.
Keep On Dancing*
Our family of 5 was blessed with the opportunity to spend a week at GKTW in December of 2013. Our youngest son who is now 10 is currently an 18 month cancer survivor! He started fighting the battle against Burketts Lymphoma in December of 2012, just two short months after loosing his grandmother to small cell lung cancer. So for over two years our family has been fighting one form of cancer after another. This trip that was granted to us by Make A Wish Oklahoma came at just the right time. The week we stayed at Give kids the world was the most anazing memory filled time of our lives!! It was an awesome adventure that we would have never been able to have in our life without GKTW!!!
This place was amazing! All the staff where fantastic, and it helped our family have a week that was carefree. It let us bond after all the traumatic events that we had been through. Such a magical place couldn't have been happier!
Our Family got a chance to got to GKTW in June 2014 after we found out our youngest age 7 was Diagnosed with Ganglionueroblastoma in Oct,2013. It was so much fun Meeting Mayor Clayton and Mickey Mouse and everyone.There was always so many activity's everyday at GKTW. We could stay there all day if we wanted to but our children wanted to go to Disney world,Sea World and Gator land.We never had to worry about anything just having fun and not thinking about our son's cancer and scan's & testing we was gonna have to face when we got home. We also went to the beach which was so much fun.We would totally go back to visit and volunteer. WE LOVE GIVE KIDS THE WORLD VILLAGE. if we had one wish to do as a family it would go back to GKTW.
THE EHRGOTT FAMILY
We just came home from our stay at Give Kids the World Village, which was to fulfill our daughter's wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They are a phenomenal organization that is excellent at caring for the families they serve. They have anticipated the needs of almost everyone and anyone who could be there and have the systems and processes in place to keep everything running without a hitch. We were always treated with such care and kindness, and everyone is focused on creating the most positive environment possible.
We went to this wonderful place in August 2012 when my son was fighting Ganglionueroblastoma. From the warm welcome at the airport to all the hugs goodbye on our final day it was so much more than we expected! My boys would have much rather spent all of their time there than going to all the theme parks. Every last thing was thought of from the little gifts every night to the tuck in by the Mayor. The even video recorded the meeting my mom had with her long lost brother that she hadnt seen in over 30 yrs. We would definately go back to visit or volunteer.
Went here for my daughter's wish trip to Disney. Give Kids the World is AMAZING from the time you check in until you drive out the gate you are pampered. They provided our meals from the bay volunteers with smiles and would carry our trays to the table even. Every night a gift was waiting in our home (because it really felt like home for that week ) for my girls this had them so excited every night. So many fun activities for us to do and see at the resort you really didn't have to leave. Everyone there really made this a Wish come true for our daughter. This place is better than any 5 star resort. And the volunteer are the best!
Our family had the honor of visiting GKTW in 2003 when our youngest was in treatment for leukemia at age 5. It is difficult to find words adequate to describe the experience. It was truly magical, a pure slice of heaven to stay at the village and visit area attractions such as Disneyworld after the months of dealing with doctors, hospitals, drugs, lab tests, etc. Our entire family was treated like royalty because GKTW knows that when one child in the family has a life threatening illness, all family members are profoundly affected. The volunteers and staff at GKTW were never less than fantastic without exception. Some of my daughter's favorite memories include ice cream for breakfast in the Ice Cream Palace, talking trash cans, model trains, the Gingerbread House, putting her star in the Castle of Miracles, and the beautiful swimming pool. I could go on and on and on. This is without a doubt the most incredible place for children anywhere on the planet. My only regret is that we have not been able to travel back to GKTW yet to volunteer and give a little back, but someday we are determined to make it.
We were blessed with the opportunity to stay at Give Kids the World in 2011 when my daughter's wish was granted. We were humbled by the wonderful experience. Every day was magical and there was always a smile on everyone's face, from ours to the volunteers who we met each day. Every event planned is designed so that all children can take part to the fullest extent possible despite their disability or illness. For one week, we were able to be treated and behave as though we were just a normal family, away from hospitals, tests, treatments, and therapies. The accommodations were comfortable and welcoming. Every detail is planned by a caring and dedicated team of staff and volunteers whose mission is inspire hope through happiness.
We had the privilege of staying at Give Kids the World when our daughter's wish was granted in May of this year! What an amazing week for our family! Every worry, every weight lifted. They think of everything. The volunteers are genuinely caring and happy to be there! Everyone was so friendly and helpful! The villas are beautiful and really make you feel at home. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the ice cream palace. Our children had ice cream for breakfast everyday! They really loved that!! We are so thankful the time we had to spend at Give Kids the World!
I was fortunate to accompany my grandson and family to GKTW in August. To say that the experience was made magical through the efforts of this organization, with every detail addressed and all conceivable attention focused on the comfort and enjoyment of the guests is deserved acclaim, and gratefully appreciated, but, beyond that, I was awed by the feeling that the staff and volunteers were thrilled with the opportunity to serve, and that they all shared the warm feeling one gets when they see joy in the eyes of a child....or grandchild. Thank you for granting Liam's wish!
I'm a grandmother of a little girl who beat leukemia. She was granted a wish trip to Disneyworld.. we stayed at GKTW...wow! It was a trip of a lifetime. Everyone was so nice, the gifts on the table every day, the ice cream, pizza delivery, just everything ...was so much more than we ever expected. We can't thank Make a Wish and GKTW enough. I always talk purple who are looking for a charity to donate here. Seeing kids with overwhelming challenges smile and laugh at the characters and fun things to do is priceless.
My family spent this April at GKTW in Florida. My 6 year old Ayden picked this for his wish and he couldn't of picked a better wish!! I'm telling you we couldn't tell the difference between Disney World and GIVE Kids the WORLD!! There was so much to do at GKTW and no matter what it was the volunteers were so nice!!! I've never been around so many nice people at once ... The staff did everything in their power to make sure that every family that was there was happy and had everything they needed... Thank you GKTW for everything you do!!! I follow you on Facebook and you make so many kids smile!!! Keep up the good work!!!
Give Kids the World, their partners and the caring volunteers and employees are THE BEST ever! Both of my children were granted Wishes to Florida theme parks and our time there was remarkable. Everything is so well thought out and executed, they have thought of and taken care of everything. When you spend weeks, months and years in a hospital setting watching your children endure so much pain, there is a lot of pressure to really deliver and make your child's wish come true. And boy do they! We still talk about it and look at the pictures. They gave us so much more than a week away from the hospital. They gave us time together, they gave us happy memories to be cherished, they gave us hope, laughter, they gave us a chance to be a regular family. Thank you!
My family and I had the opportunity through make a wish foundation to be in this wonderful place ten years ago. The staff and volunteers make you feel so special. My daughter was so happy to see all her wishes come true and we always said if someday we were living here we'll be volunteers. So is a reality now we are volunteers in this magical place. We are giving back what they gave us one day and we feel awesome. The smiling faces of the kids makes you feel loved. We are blessed to be here
I love this place! I would live here if they let me! I have been with a church group 2 times already and we leave for our third trip on October 2nd. I have also been twice with just my husband.
I cannot even tell you what a wonderful place this is to volunteer at, words just do not suffice. We live in Maryland and recently bought a vacation home in Florida, so several days of volunteering is a must before or after each trip down. You will not be sorry you took the time to volunteer here.
Everytime here has been a life changing experience for me.
My daughter was granted her wish to visit the Florida theme parks in 2013. We had heard about this place where Wish Families stayed while in Florida, but the actual experience surpassed all of our expectations. The villa was spacious and comfortable attending to all the requirements a family with a child with special health care needs might have. The food was wonderful and my daughter still talks about the Gingerbread House. The activities offered on the grounds were so enjoyable after a fun but tiring day at the parks. Most days we returned to the village in the mid afternoon to relax and rejuvenate for the next day of park excitement. We were so moved by what Give Kids the World does for families like ours that we bought a paving brick and continue to support their work with annual donations. I also read the biography of Henri Landwirth, the founder of Give Kids the World, and learning the story of how it came about makes it even more amazing. This is a place where miracles are a common occurrence and magic happens every day.
My daughter received a wish trip to Give Kids the World Village in 2012, it was a dream come true. The staff and volunteers at the village made sure every need and want was fulfilled. We still talk almost daily about our experience there. Kaitlyn especially loved the gingerbread house restaurant and ice cream parlor. We were given tickets to Disneyworld, SeaWorld Universal Studios and numerous other great places. We were also given passes that allowed my family to move to the front of the line for rides, shows and meet and greets, without this Kaitlyn wouldn`t have been able to see and do all she experienced due to exhaustion. We will always be thankful to GKTW.
We stayed at GKTW in November 2012, the week of thanksgiving and it was amazing!!! My daughter is a cancer survivor and her wish was granted through Make a Wish foundation a year after her last chemo...our experience there was just beyond words, my daughter had a magical time at GKTW, the kids would have a surprise everyday we came back to the villa, they have activities every single day, and they have Christmas every week!!! Thank you to all the angels at GKTW, it would be an honor to come back some day in the future to volunteer with my daughter, just a magical world there ;)
Give Kids The World, a truly amazing place. My daughter's wish through Make-a-Wish, was to go to Disney and we were given the wonderful opportunity to stay at GKTW. I'm so glad we did-we spent the majority of our time at GKTW, we didn't want to leave the grounds! It was the best experience of our lives. Everyone there had a smile on their face and to see all these children so happy and laughing, despite their hardships, it made my heart so happy. We plan on volunteering here and giving back as soon as my daughter is old enough. I truly cannot express the gratitude that we felt (feel!!) at having been given the opportunity to stay at this place.....awesome place, awesome staff, awesome volunteers!
We visited Give Kids The World in June of 2014. My son had just finished up his chemotherapy for a brain tumor on his optic nerve due to his neurofibromatosis. Not only did they spoil him but his sisters as well. We had a blast doing all the different activities planned to all the different character meet and greats. The villas are just beautiful. It was a amazing time! I would love to go back someday and be a volunteer, and to be able to see my son's star on the ceiling In the castle
I volunteered at GKTW for the first but not the last time last year, what a wonderful experience, so much so that I'm returning in a few weeks for another three weeks. I am English and live in the UK but am more than happy to pay my flights, hire a car and rent a villa to volunteer at this wonderful place. The whole experience was amazing, the families were all so lovely and the happiness that is shared by everyone is unbelievable. I had such fun volunteering at the Village and made lots of new friends, other volunteers and guest families too. If anyone is wondering about volunteering at GKTW, my advice is just do it, you will gain so much.
I so wish I lived in or near Orlando so I could volunteer at GKTW all the time! Last year I turned 50, my husband asked what I wanted for my BIG birthday. The only thing I could think of was to go to GKTW to volunteer. So that's what we did. Our experience was awesome! This place truly is the most Magical Place! We went back to volunteer in January & will be there again in November! You can volunteer while visiting the area, just get your paperwork done ahead of time! Grateful for our experience & can't wait to get back there. It's an experience I have shared over & over again. The volunteers or Angels as we are called there, are warm. & welcoming. Thank you GKTW for all that you do!!
In August of this year we had the honor of going to GKTW for our son Joseph's Make a wish trip. All of our children had more fun at GKTW than the actual parks. Everything aout GKTW far exceeded anything we could have imagined. Not only did my son have a week of forgetting about being sick but since coming home he has seemed happier and more energetic. Everything GKTW provides is magical nothing will ever compare to the experience we had.
My son was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2004. Dream Connection sent us to GKTW. It was an amazing time that we will never forget. Justin had so much fun in the village that he did not want to go to Disney
World. They have lots of amenities. My boys still talk about GKTW and what a life changing experience we had there. We would someday love to go back and visit again. Thank you GKTW
6 years ago, my son was granted a wish by Make-A-Wish. He chose Disney world. We stayed at Give Kids the World and I cannot begin to tell you how amazed we were at the entire experience. Our villa was perfect. Clean and cozy. It was simply a blessing to not have to worry about all the things that you need to think about when you stay away from home. But what impressed me the most was the compassion that was shown to not only my son, but to his 2 sisters as well. The kids enjoyed themselves at the village so much that we actually decided to forgo a day at the Disney and spent the day swimming and being entertained and cared for by the awesome volunteers at GKTW. These people made a lasting impression on our family. There aren't enough ways to thank them for giving our family a week of happiness and stress relief. GKTW and everyone who made our stay such a great experience will FOREVER hold a very special place in my heart. Thank you all, a million times!
Our daughter was granted a wish through Montana Hope Project to go to Disneyworld. We stayed at Give Kids the World and It was fabulous. It was our first trip to Disneyworld and GKTW really helped us have a place to relax and treated our family amazingly. There were so many thing to do just at GKTW - the ice cream shop and star gazing, She loved the gifts left for her at night. It was really a special place
Our daughter was granted a Make-A-Wish and we got to stay at Give Kids The World. The place ,staff , and the volunteers were amazing. There is a ton of stuff to do there, especially the evening parties. My other daughter also had a ball there. We also passed on a day at the Theme Parks to stay there and get our handicapped daughter in the pool. The place is amazing and the people there are just as great! We will go visit when we go back to Disney and hope to volunteer there some day!
After visiting GKTW with my son as a wish child, I can't thank them enough for making our trip so amazing. It was so much more than a holiday. From the meet and greet at the airport where we were told to 'pick a car, which colour would you like' to breakfast with helpers to carry your tray, every moment here makes you feel special. We were thrilled to be able to return a few years later and volunteer ourselves. It is an amazing experience that will truly humble you and there is nowhere like it. I can't recommend it enough.
My daughter was granted her wish spring of 2014 through the childrens wish foundation of canada and she wished for Walt Disney World. From when we stepped off the plane on Orlando to the time we left at the end of our trip was nothing short of magical. The staff, volunteers, food, villa, time spent in the village and everything to do with the village will always hold special meaning with me and my family. I feel privileged that my family was given the royal treatment and will never be able to thank you all enough for everything.
Our son Lukas was having severe headaches, &then half his vision in his right eye was going half white, half normal for a few seconds at a time off &on.The morning he was in the shower 10/21/2013,he yelled for me because it switched to have black. He went on to school,as I called his eye specialist at Children's. They said to bring him in the very next day!
October 22,2013, my mother &I picked him up early from school for his appointment at Children's. DR. Bloom took one look in his eye, without even dialating it, &told us he could see spinal fluid behind his eye. They walked us down to imaging for an immediate catscan. We didn't leave the hospital again until November. Lukas had 3tumors &the spinal fluid on his brain was killing him. Dr Kleiner his Neurosurgeon, performed surgery the very next morning at 7am. He said his spinal fluid hit the ceiling &all over his shoes.HE took 4samples of the tumors. 3 days later he went back into surgery to place his shunt! ! It took another 3 1/2 grueling week's to get his final diagnosis. Due to the different ^one very odd one It took 4 pathologist to diagnose him. Children's, then ST JUDE, then Sloan Kettering,Cleveland CLINIC.
He has HIGH GRADE III GLIOMABLASTOMA, neurocytoma, &pineal tumors. He did his 6 weeks straight, everyday severe head radiation, along with every day TEMADOR (Chemotherapy pills) !!!!! He was fast graded due to his prognosis for his SPECIAL WISH. WE arrived at GIVE KIDS THE WORLD on February 28,2014!IT was the best place in the world! !!!! We flew there for 7days 6nights! ! We spent more time there than at all the other park's that were a part of his gift! !!! We want to go back a volunteer, as soon as we can! !!! The HALL FAMILY
My daughter had been hospitalized 7 times between October 2013 and July 2014. It was a rough time and she was granted a wish in July. Give Kids the World is an absolutely amazing place. It is a much needed break for children with life threatening illnesses. The people there are above and beyond helpful and truly try to make it a kids paradise. For five days my daughter got to be a kid, but more importantly she was in a village with other kids and families that understood what she was going through. She says "it was the best time of my life and it is the greatest place on the earth." I think our whole family agrees it was the only time since her diagnosis in 2011 that we as a family just got to be a family with no worries and the stresses of everyday life. This is an amazing place that really brought our dreams to life.
My son was granted a make-a-wish trip in December, 2010. We had the privilege of staying at GKTW, and will be forever grateful! The staff and volunteers showed nothing but love and compassion for every family there. They made my son feel like he was king of the world by making every day fun and exciting. For the first time, he was able to forget about all of his scary surgeries and doctor visits. He was able to focus on just being a kid and he loved every moment of it! We plan on coming back someday soon for a visit, and to once again thank everyone for their kindness. We were more than pleased with our stay at GKTW!
My daughter was a Children's Dream Fund child that was sponsored to spend a week at the Village. I can't say enough about GKTW. They made a week of memories for my family that will be cherished forever. The staff is second to none. Smiles everywhere you go.
Went on my make-a-wish trip to Disney world in 2009 and stayed at give kids the world with my brothers and parents- amazing place!! We talk about GKTW more than Disney! Every small detail was amazing and the love was so appreciated!
We can never thank the people at Give Kids the World enough for our wonderful stay there. People don't understand the financial strain of having a child with a life threatening disease. These families wait years to be able to afford a vacation. GKTW makes it possible for families to have these much needed vacations from treatment and hospitals. Seven years after her stay there my daughter will still tell you it is her favorite place in the world!
Our daughter was diagnosed with a rare blood disease known as Fanconis Anemia with bone marrow failure at the age of 3 in January 2011. We visited give kids the world that summer, after 6 months of being in and out of the hospital 4 days a week and not being able to take her out in public due to low blood counts. To say we were stressed is an understatement. When we arrived we realized quickly that we had literally nothing to worry about here other than spending quality time with our family...and Bella got to have actual FUN!!!! There were parties every night, meals and ice cream whenever we wanted, Disney came to us, a pool to enjoy, mini golf, makeovers and so much more. The staff and volunteers were wonderful and my girls begged to go back there every summer:) But it got better, now nearly 4 years later my daughter is still in treatment. She has had a hard road, but since grandma moved to Orlando we now visit GKTW village every spring break and are welcomed back to enjoy the village just as warmly as we were on that wish trip. Bella jokes that GKTW is the one good thing about getting sick... I think that speaks for itself.
I love Give Kids The World! From the moment Kadyn's social worker told us that she had referred him to Make A Make-A-Wish Mid-South, I knew his wish was going to be to meet Buzz Lightyear and all the other characters he who helped occupy his time when he was getting chemotherapy. Disney World is a common wish for MAW kids, and I'm so glad we made it too. It's not all about Disney though. Ask any MAW parent and I'm sure they would agree. Disney World was magical, but Give Kids the World (the 70 acre resort where MAW families stay) truly was the most AWESOME place on Earth. Every guest is a MAW family; you feel as though you are surrounded by people who understand. The grounds, the villas, and the architecture are all wonderful and whimsical. The staff and volunteers are beyond measure. They truly are the heart of GKTW. Volunteers come from all over to be a part of the magic. We talked to one young man who came all the way from Germany to volunteer for a whole month! All the children, including siblings, are made to feel so very special at every turn. I could type for the rest of my life and never say enough good things about what amazing things the people at GKTW are doing everyday for these children and their families. There is always something for the kids to do: a party every night, mini golf, swimming, arcade, train, playground, the list just goes on. Every where you look there is a little touch of magic to make you smile. I can't wait to come back and find my son's star on the ceiling of the Castle of Miracles.
My family and I were at gktw back in 2007. The memory's they made for my family is unexplainable. We turned down several theme parks just to spend the day at gktw. We lost our wish child a year after our visit. Then this year we got to go back and see his star. Nothing has changed in the seven years that has past. Everyone greets you with a smile, makes you fill at home. There is just no other place like this in the world. I know when me and my husband retire exactly were we will volunteer our time.
My sons Make-A-Wish trip was to visit theme parks in Florida. When we were told we would be staying at GKTW we looked it up and it looked amazing. When we got there in May 2014 it was so much more than we could have ever imagined. They not only treated my son wonderfully but also never left out his 3 siblings. With one sick child sometimes the others don't get all the attention they should but GKTW treated all of them the same. They still talk about like it was yesterday. Everyone there is so kind and helpful. I just have too much good stuff to say about them.
We visited GKTW in April this year as my little boy has Muscular Dystrophy. It is the most amazing place with first class facilities and volunteer staff. Everyone is made to feel so special and there are some truly wonderful volunteers that work there. My son has his special star placed in the tower that will be there forever. We didn't want to leave after a week and my children all talk about it all the time. One day I would love to go back and volunteer myself. Thankyou GKTW for the special memories.
Give Kids the World is one of those places that is so amazing that when I look back on our time there I wonder if it really truly happened. My daughter's Disney wish was granted in June 2010, and before we even set foot in the village we experienced its magic- a volunteer greeter met us at the airport, helped us get our luggage and rental car, and sent us on our way. It's like walking into a fairytale, every single person in GKTW is there to make sure that the wish child and their family feel like the most important people on earth. The village looks like something straight out of a storybook in all of its buildings and decor. What stands out the strongest for me is on our last night there, a Friday, it was Pirate and Princess night. My daughter has multiple disabilities and uses a wheelchair, so I am used to hanging out with her on the sidelines at parties, etc. But the hosts were having none of that, as we were pulled into the middle of a circle of dancing, singing children. At that point in her life, I had never before seen her be part of the action, part of the fun. I am weeping now just seeing the moment in my head. Soon after I was able to wheel her across the stage as she was crowned a princess. That crown and certificate still sit on a shelf in her room, a reminder of the moment that I truly realized there is more than just "existing" out there for her, there is joy. Her wish came after a very difficult period in her life, multiple surgeries and a 3 week hospital stay, and it refreshed our entire family in a way I can't even explain. God bless the volunteer angels of GKTW for giving us something I'd never thought we could have.
This place is magical!! My son was born with half of a heart and has had 3 open heart surgeries in his 6 short years of life. He has also been living in heart failure for the past 3 years. He was granted a wish with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and chose Disney World. You have the choice to stay at Give Kids the World or a Disney Resort. We chose Give Kids The World and I am so happy we did. This place was beyond amazing. They have the best Volunteers and staff. They always have activities going on there so you are never short on the fun. They have Christmas, Halloween and Birthday celebrations every week. They have a great pool, horse riding and playgrounds, along with mini putting and arcade room. This was the trip of a lifetime. My son and the rest of our family will NEVER forget this vacation.
In February 2008 for my brother's 13th birthday we went to Florida an stayed at GKTW. It was our last holiday with him. I cannot explain what this holiday meant. They treated him like a human, an ordinary person and he felt normal. All his dreams came true and he loved it so much. This place spoils the whole family and it is so magical. There is no place like this and there should be more places this. The staff are amazing, the parties, the food, everything.
My daughter was given a Make A Wish last year. She loved water, wind and horses. The Gift Kids the World facility and people there gave her all she wished for and more. My daughter will bite and cry and grab when upset. This happens several times a day every day. This did not happen at all at GKTW. It's magical and no one talks about the challenges the kids and families are dealing with. We are all there to have fun. She was smiles the entire time. Its amazing what happens at this place. From the youngest volunteers to the oldest, we were welcomed. Not one item was overlooked.
My family and I were there just a few weeks ago. Truly is an amazing place. My kids loved it so much, that we skipped the parks one day and spent the day at GKTW enjoying the carousel, train, pools, amberville, and the nightly activity. The villa was beautiful, and they went above and beyond to accommodate everything they possibly could. For nearly a week, my 7yr old who has been on chemo for the majority of her life got to be a "normal" happy child. Her siblings thoroughly enjoyed it also, and talk about it daily.
My husband and I are the proud parents of a 16 yr old and 13 yr old identical twins. The twins have autism and life threatening seizures. I'll call them twin a and twin b for privacy reasons. Twin A was granted a wish trip through A Special Wish Foundation last Sept/Oct! We spent a wk at GKTW, and let me tell you, oh what a wk it was! For the first time we had no worries, no dr appts, no medical tests, no details, no work!!!! Instead we had ice cream, boy did we have ice cream!!! We had fun, we had angels waiting to help in any way they could! We had tickets to all the amusement parks, but I'll be honest, GKTW is where the real magic is!!!! We had two pools, our own villa, game rm, carousel, train, mini golf, the list goes on and on! We made so many memories that wk, memories we will forever cherish!!!! We are heading there again for twin b's wish trip this coming Sunday, and we cannot wait!!!! Some people ask, why go to the same place? You can go anywhere!! I say, because this place is where dreams are fulfilled, where Knowone is an outcast!!!!!
My daughter was granted a wish to go to Disney World in 2008 and we stayed at GKTW. Initially, I had hoped they would let us stay on Disney property, but after actually being at the village for only a few hours, I knew the magic at the village was even greater than at WDW. One of the things that struck me initially was the mix of volunteers...there were retired folks who lived in the working alongside great numbers of college students who had given up part of the school break to come help. And even though this was my daughter's wish trip, they treated my son just as wonderfully as they did her. They treated us ALL like royalty. My kids never stopped talking about it after we left. We went back in 2012 to visit and were welcomed like long lost family.You really can't imagine how wonderful it is until you are there. It's a place that speaks directly to your heart. The smiles on the kids' faces tells you everything.
As a student studying child life I have had opportunities to volunteer in many different enviornments, but my favorite volunteer sight is Give Kids the World! They are so appreciative of there volunteers and truly care for every single child and family member who enters the village. I was touched by the magic that the village provides for every family by going above and beyond to make this the perfect, stress free experience. I am always looking for excuses to return to the Orlando area so I can experience the magic of volunteering at Give Kids the World again.
Our family visited GKTW in August of 2013. Words could never explain how amazing this place is. Our son's Make-A-Wish was to visit Disney World and GKTW accommodated us through the week. Every single aspect of this place is just awesome. Our family didn't want to leave after our week here. Our children absolutely LOVED this place. I think they actually enjoyed GKTW more than Disney. Just seeing all those other families that are there as well just warms your heart. So many unfortunate things happen to kids and to know there is a place where they can go that can put a smile on their faces is just awesome.
My daughter has significant brain damage and had a stroke when she was an infant. Because of that, she has many health concerns, most significantly she has 40 seizures a day and has a trach. She wished to go to Disney through Make A Wish, and we were able to stay at Give Kids the World. GKTW truly was the MOST incredible, magical place in the world. They took care of everything... When we got there, there had been a mix-up in getting some medical supplies down there, and they immediately got to work to get us what we needed for my daughter. The character meet & greets in the mornings were awesome, the nightly parties were so much fun, and we were all treated so specially. The most meaningful part for me was that my daughter normally stands out and is stared at by everyone, and everyone feels sorry for her. At GKTW, everyone staying there has a child with an illness, so she didn't stand out and we didn't receive any "pity looks" while we were in the village!
I visited Give Kids the World for a week in July 2013, alongside my patient and their family, as their personal RN. I was amazed with the magical atmosphere and the attention to detail within this wonderful place. There are vibrant colors, intriguing pathways, adorable characters/statues, and beautiful landscaping as far as the eye can see! The staff was eager to give assistance and were full of energy; answering all of our many questions (keep in mind we arrived VERY late) to the best of their ability. There were so many activities available. We were still exploring the grounds and seeing new things on our last day, such as the pool and game room. The water areas/pools were especially fun. I was able to witness my patient enjoy swimming in a pool for the first time, and boy was it cute!! We also enjoyed meeting characters, like Mary Poppins and Belle on the grounds of Give Kids the World and getting their autographs. The housing was clean and comfortable, with in suite laundry, which was very helpful. The extra spacious bathing area was particularly nice for my patient, who is wheel chair bound. Oh, and the daily gifts were a wonderful touch for the kids (Okay, I was excited for them too!). The food was delicious, fun, and served to us by kind and smiling faces in entertaining themed rooms. The on site ice cream parlor was the cherry on top to our once in a lifetime experience. I cannot thank Give Kids The World enough for their remarkable hosting job. They thought of everything, which allowed our experience to be worry free!
I was lucky enough to be able to go down to Give Kids the World for a week and volunteer. As soon as I got there I knew this place was an amazing place. I was able to meet some of the families that were there on there wish trip and with talking to all of them there was one thing that they all were saying, This was a place for their child not to have to worry about being sick or having to worry about going to the doctor, for that week they just got to be kids. For a lot of these families a trip like this would be out of the question because there are so many medical bills. I am so fortunate to have gotten to go down to this magical place, and I cant wait until my next trip down there to volunteer again!
We got the great honor of being part of Give Kids the World through the Metro-NY Make a Wish Foundation. As soon as we touched down in Orlando, all of our needs were taken care of. A volunteer assisted us with our car rental and ensured that we knew the directions to get to the resort. When we got there, we were greeted warmly at the reception desk and escorted via golf cart to our villa and given thorough instructions on what to expect and how our week was going to be. We didn't have to think or wonder about anything because everyone was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in ensuring that our time there was as magical as it could be. There were parties and activities each and every day, everything was free and the people were so nice. There is nothing better than your child turning to you in the midst of all the fun and saying "Mommy my wish came true". Because of GKTW, they helped to make that happen!
My daughter has Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect called atrioventricular canal defect, she also has a pacemaker. For the last 7 years she has had 10 heart & pacemaker surgery. We visited GIVE KIDS THE WORLD this past September 2013. This was the perfect time for her WISH. She wanted to meet the princesses and with the help of A Wish Come True my family was able to go to GKTW and Disney. This was a once in a life time opportunity for my family. We had such a wonderful time. GKTW treated us so special. Such a magical place! The volunteers and workers are all amazing. We can not wait to go back and visit for a day. When my daughter gets older we would love to volunteer at GKTW.
My daughter and our family came to GKTW a year ago this October though the Make A Wish foundation. Olivia has a chronic condition that has us spending more time in hospitals and doctors offices than at home, much less a vacation. That week gave us renewed spirit, healed our souls, and provided hope for our future. My child had nothing to worry about, except being a kid, and a great one at that! We look forward to giving back in the future. In fact, we hope they are around for years to come, as my husband and I plan to retire in Kissimmee so we can spend as much time giving back as we can!
My family came to Give Kids the World through the Make A Wish Foundation. My son, Wyatt, is undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The minute we arrived the entire place stole our hearts!!! From the greeter at the airport to the volunteers serving dinner, everyone's purpose was to make our stay the best time in our lives. There are activities daily for the children to participate in. The entire week was packed full of fun!!! Everyday my children started the day with a ride on the merry go round. They couldn't get enough of it. We will forever cherish our time spent at GKTW and we all hope to go back someday as volunteers. My children still ask about going back to their "Florida House". They definitely make you feel at home!!!
I didn't want to go on the trip with my college, Pfeiffer, and tried to get out of it. I went anyways and my life was changed. I was humbled and fell in love with GKTW and all the children. I have found my dream job and now want to come back here for the rest of my life.
It was an unfathomable experience for our family. After watching our 3 1/2 year old daughter spend a year fighting a Stage IV cancer with horrible medications and life altering radiation, spending a week at Give Kids The World with other families who have children that are fighting similar battles and watching the kids and their siblings play and be "normal" is an incredible feeling. Give Kids The World is truly one of the greatest organizations on Earth!
Incredible visit to GKTW, creating precious family memories.
From start to finish, every part amazing, accomm great, staff brilliant.
Amazing place for kids from around the world
One year after our youngest son had brain surgery to removed he was granted a wish trip. We came to Give Kids the World not knowing what to expect. When we came we were blown away! The staff both paid and volunteer immediately embraced our family. Everything done at GKTW is done with excellence. It was such a special place for our three children but also for us too. There is a special element that is hard to put into words. I felt so blessed to spend a week there with my family. It was the perfect location for a wish trip!
My daughter was diagnosed with brain tumors and after radiation and during her year long chemo treatments was given the opportunity to have a wish come true through Make-A-Wish. She chose to go to the theme parks in Florida. We stayed for a week at Give Kids The World. We were able to make short trips to the theme parks and spent time at Give Kids The World. It was wonderful not having to worry about arranging meals and activities for a week so we could spend time together as a family. We played in the pools, ate meals onsite. We enjoyed having every need possible taken care of while we were in the middle off a traumatic situation.
I was lucky enough to volunteer one evening here with some coworkers. Just setting foot on the property was uplifting-we all knew this was a special place indeed. After a tour and some background information, we were let loose in the Ice Cream Parlor. And what fun we had-milkshakes, sundaes, banana splits. Ice cream for breakfast, anyone? Families laughing, kids trying to make up their minds what flavor, how many scoops. We were busy, we worked hard, but boy it was the very best volunteer experience of my life, and I have done many. Saw many families that evening, but I never knew which child in the family was ill. And I didn't want to know. Because that is what is truly wonderful about Give Kids The World-a week to come to a magical place, with a delight at every turn; houses and buildings guaranteed to make the Grinch smile, a staff that does everything possible to make it the trip of a lifetime. When I say it was a life changing experience, it was. I literally cannot talk to others about this place without tearing up, that is how impressed I was with everything. I moved too far away to volunteer now, but I wish when I retire I could go live here and help every single day.
We participated in the yearly mAAgic Flight this year via Dream Factory and stayed at GKTW Sept 20-26 2013. The kids had a wonderful time and so did us parents! It was very relaxing and we even spent a few full days at GKTW!!!!
My son has kidney failure and a subsequent kidney transplant. We had our trip to GKTW about 6 mo's after his surgery. It was a dream come true to be there. The people were awesome, the service was awesome, the grounds were amazing, and words really cannot express our experience.
This place is amazing and far exceeds expectations! We stayed at Give Kids the World in September 2013 while visiting Florida for my 6 year old daughters' Make A Wish trip. The kids loved Disney World & Universal Studios, but their favorite part of the trip was Give Kids the World! They have thought of everything for creating a magical experience all about the children...unlimited ice cream, a wonderful handicap accessible pool, tasty food at your convenience and fabulous fun entertainment every night. The accommodations are clean, cozy and modern!
My daughter who suffers from congenital heart disease received some very unfortunate news regarding her health just days before leaving for Give Kids the World. The experience put a smile on all of our faces and hope in our hearts. Just what our heavy hearts needed to heal and muster strength for the fight ahead.
When my son was four months old he was diagnosed as a failure to thrive. After many tests he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at nine months old. His whole life has been a lot of doctors appointments, very little good news followed by a lot of bad news and bad expectations. In August 2013 Jacob was approved for a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World and we had no clue what to expect. They provided EVERYTHING that we needed. We got to stay at Give Kids the World Village. It was AMAZING. We had a whole week of no worries about any personal or medical problems. They provided us with three free meals a day and Jacob could have Ice cream anytime he wanted it. He also got to "drive" their personal train. They left a gift on the table for Jacob every day we went out. We all played putt putt golf and participated in their daily activities. He really enjoyed it and had a great time. There was so much to do at the Village that if we wanted to just stay at the Village it still would have been a fun filled and relaxing trip. It was his first ever vacation and it was honestly the best trip we could have imagined for him. He was the center of attention for the whole week everywhere we went. We were so grateful to have been blessed with this trip and Give Kids the World Village, their staff and their volunteers were so amazing and made the trip so much better!! We thank them SO much.
Our son was diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism not considered compatible with life. Though it was predicted he would not survive birth, he not only survived but was released from the hospital at six month of age. Initially, he need 24 hour nursing care. When he was three years old, we were blessed to be nominated for a wish with the Make A Wish foundation. The wish was to go to SeaWorld. The foundation arranged for us to stay at Give Kids The World during our week stay. 1.) I was extremely touched by the volunteer staff...their kindness, warmth and loving acts of service surpassed all expectations. Our son, though the only child there on a ventilator, was greeted kindly by every member of the staff. 2.) The accommodations were first class...a kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms and a bath with a walk-in shower able to fit a wheelchair and a sunken tub. Breakfast, lunch & dinner, served by volunteers with donated food from Perkins Restaurant was a treat. The all you can eat ice cream parlor was a hit. My son ate his first bite of ice cream there. He got his first brain freeze too. Disney character's came to take pictures with us. There are so many wonderful things about the village, I'm just touching on a few wonderful things. 3.) The surprise for us was learning how to travel with our extreme special needs child. We went out three times a day (at home it was once a week). We learned how to be sure we always had his emergency equipment with us including oxygen, suction equipment, ventilator and a fan which mounted on top of his stroller. I (Mom) was so protective, I didn't want to take my son out anywhere. The trip to Give Kids The World opened my eyes to the possibilities and changed our families life for the better. That week was like experiencing heaven on earth. It was truly a blessing for all of us.
While we were on my son's Wish Trip in Orlando we were able to stay at Give Kids The World and we loved our stay. As soon as we arrived the volunteers gave my children stuffed animals and played with them while we read through the paperwork and checked into the village. Next they showed us to our villa and the place was so well thought out. A full kitchen with some dishes in case we wanted to fix a meal ourselves but we didn't because there was plenty to eat throughout the day. An ice cream shop that opens at 7am encourages everyone to have ice cream for breakfast at least once. Daily! Yummy! There is also a bigger cafeteria that serves a full breakfast and full dinner. Also there is a smaller walk up window that serves Boston Market during lunch hours, there is a pizza delivery service and a cookie cart that delivers cookies to wherever you are. Don't forget the poolside party and cook out. All of the food was delicious and the entertainment throughout the village is so amazing that during our first hour there, the kids thought they were already at Disney! Give Kids The World provided a stroller for us to use while we were in Orlando so we didn't have to pack the one from home. When my son barfed on the floor in the ice cream shop the people volunteering in the shop handled the entire incident so well and told us we could just take care of our child and they would take care of the throw-up. I really appreciated that because I know it's hard to clean barf, especially when it belongs to a complete stranger. My kids still talk about how they thought it was cool we were able to drink whatever we wanted throughout the day while we were at The Village. Everything there is amazing. The carousel, the miniature train, the put-put golf course, the game room, the castle.....and everyone working in those areas were so enthusiastic and loved playing with the kids. I was very impressed with everything.
Our family came from Australia to have a week in the most magical place on earth. Our son had battled Leukaemia for over 3 years and spents 20 months straight hospitalised, so this trip was very special to us all. The Village is a place that dreams are made of! We honestly spent each day with the biggest smile on our faces, in complete awe of how a place and it's workers and volunteers could be this incredible! Nothing was too much trouble for anyone, there were themed parties for the children every night and everyone guests and staff alike, always had smiles on their faces. There will never be a holiday for our family like our week at Give Kids the World Village....we will treasure it always :)
Give Kids the World Village is the greatest place on earth! My family was lucky enough to spend our son Grant's Make a Wish trip there in July 2011. Grant was diagnosed with a very high risk form of leukemia in May 2009. He spent more than 200 nights in the hospital; spent dozens of days in the clinic; received very high doses of chemotherapy and suffered significant side effects of treatment. Our trip to GKTW took place 2/3 of the way through his treatment but at a time when he was feeling good and strong. My wife and worried constantly for the 2+ years between Grant's diagnosis and our trip to GKTW. Sometimes the worry was paralyzing. Because of the wonderfulness of GKTW we spent an entire week worry free. It was the greatest week of our lives. It was like we were in a different world, protected from all of the horrible things we had experienced. The volunteers were amazing. They treated us, especially Grant, like royalty. We spent every day at the theme parks but every night there was a wonderful activity at GKTW. And every morning there was ice cream for breakfast! We will always love GKTW. We miss it so much and we talk about it all the time. We even had a chance to go back for a day in March 2013 and volunteer. That was a very special day. We will be back to volunteer again.
We were there in April of 2013 with our daughter who was a wish kid!! We all had such an amazing time and could not have asked for anymore! The volunteers and staff were absolutely amazing. Words cannot express how greatful we are to everyone that was involved. Thank you!
Give Kids the World went far above and beyond what we expected. My daughter was granted a wish to go to Disney World and meet the princesses, and we were told we would be staying at Give Kids the World Village. I thought it would just be a "hotel room" type place, but when we arrived we realized it was sooo much more! The kids almost didn't want to leave the village to go to Disney World there was so much for them to do. The volunteers/staff were welcoming and amazing. There was nothing my daughter or I could have asked for that was not already thought of and done. Again...AMAZING!
my family was awww struck , bye the service , kindness, , the dedication of all the staff volenteers , my son felt like a king the whole week ! we could of stayed there just for our trip it was so nice !the food and condo was also amazing ,and the museum and stars in the building really bring life into focus and changes everything for me and my family .I couldn't thank these people enough in a life time for all it meant to me and my family !!1
My daughter, age 11 was granted a wish to go to Disney World. Give Kids the World did an awe inspiring job with that- but that is not what makes this organization so special. My daughter wanted a family vacation, she wanted more than anything for us to all have a good time. And that is where Give Kids the World excels. I never had to worry about a thing. Even on check in when my wish child was given a gift her sister also was given a gift, and that theme continued. Siblings are not left out at all. And while the wish child is made to feel super special the siblings feel special too. As a parent I loved the free meals, ease of access and fun and parties around every corner. They called and made sure we had everything we needed. Not one detail was lacking from the most amazing trip of my families life.
My son was born with a life threatening heart condition and in partnership with Make a Wish,we stayed at Give Kids the World. It was an absolutely amazing place we never wanted to leave! the grounds are wonderful and well maintained,the staff are all excellent with people,the food,services,accomdations and amentites could not have been better. it truly is "heaven on earth". the volunteers that run this orginization do an amzing thing. we can't wait to go back to add our volunteer time.
My daughter had the pleasure of spending a week at give kids the world village. We travelled their in june from the U.K. From the momment we arrived she was treated as the princess she is. The staff members and angels along with the kids that volunteer are truely remarkable. Their generousity of spirit is never forced. They truely do care. My daughter (Ella-Rose) truely came alive and her personality shone through. With all the problems she has to contend with for the week she was there not once did she stop smiling and laughing. I cant thank GKTW enough
I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful time for my daughter. EVERYTHING about the Village was absolutely great! The people were all more than helpful and very, very nice. Everyone couldn't do enough for you. I've never experienced anything like this before.
This was truly an experience to remember. From the Make a Wish Foundation making this happen at GIve Kids the World, to everyone that helped to make this a true wish, we will be forever grateful.
If children could visit again, my daughter would be one of the first in line!
Thank you ALL SO MUCH!
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My daughter has been diagnosed with a terminal illness for which there is no cure. When I heard this, I was devastated. She does not know this. I submitted her name to Make a Wish Foundation because she wanted to desperately go to Disney World. Because her illness (Juvenile Hunington's Disease) takes away you ability to do everything, including walking, talking, eating, etc., I was hoping that she would have an opportunity to go before she became too immobolized to do so. Make a Wish set us up at GIve Kids the World and spoke so highly about it. I watched the video before hand and was in awe. They literally take care of everything for you. Everything is geared toward the children. The workers were phenomenal, all staff was as well, and the volunteers were eager to help in any way. The little apartments that we stayed in were perfect. The kids had the big bedroom and bathroom, with a whirlpool tub and all! There were pools all around to swim in and little snack bars along with the kitchen. One of the biggest attractions was the ice cream store that opened at 7:30AM so you could literally have ice cream for breakfast .... and we did! This was truly a dream come true and I can't recomment staying here highly enough! Thank you so much for all that you do for our children :)
Our only child, Helena, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, medulloblastoma, within a week of her sixth birthday. Following two surgeries, six and a half weeks of radiation and nine cycles of chemotherapy, all of which spanned nearly fifteen months of treatment, we were given the opportunity of looking forward to something which would bring her some happiness ... a stay in Florida with trips to the Disney parks & SeaWorld, which otherwise would not have been possible as I gave up contract work to care for our daughter and my husband was finishing a university degree. Give Kids The World gave our family the chance for Helena to be a kid again, to forget about cancer for awhile and enjoy life. After our week's stay in August of 2011, we returned for a brief visit in early 2013 and spent the day touring their site. The volunteers and staff are tremendous and go out of their way to make one's experience to remember a lifetime.
Our 14yo son, Ben, had Sea World as his wish. Give Kids The World was the gift to the entire family!! We were in the midst of his devastating illness, and this was a week of complete spoiling and pampering for all of us.
The boys were 14 and 17, and we even had Grandma & Grandpa visit us from their Florida home. What an unforgettable week we were given!
While that was THIRTEEN years ago, our family still feels deeply connected to GKTW.
*Grandma & Grandpa go back and visit there now and again.
* Family members still buy Christmas Cards from GKTW and donate.
* Some of our most memorable times and photos are from GKTW and are always prominently displayed in our home.
Bless you who give and make these moments possible. I can say it is a week that lasts a lifetime.
GKTW is truly the most amazing place on earth. We were blessed to stay there while on my son's Wish trip a few years ago. It was truly the best week of our lives and that was thanks to the amazing staff and volunteers at GKTW. Everyone was genuinely friendly and compassionate, treating my son like he was the most important person on earth. They had tons of amazing activities for the kids every day as well as many a gifts waiting for us when we returned back to our villa for the evening. They think of everything you could possibly need to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for everyone. Everything can be modified so that no matter what the child's abilitities and restrictions are, he or she can still make the most of everything they offer. When we arrived the told us their goal was to spoil us like we had never been spoiled before and they did just that and then some. It truly was an amazing experience and has given us so many great memories that will last us a lifetime. We will always be grateful to GKTW and all who helped give my son a week to just be a kid and have the week of a lifetime!
It is difficult to put into words the way I feel about Give Kids the World. My family and I were residents there for one week in August as part of my son's Make-a-Wish trip. While we loved Disney World, Universal Studios, Seaworld, and other major Orlando attractions, all of them put together cannot begin to compare to the experience we had at Give Kids the World. Hundreds of volunteers, young and old, permeate this lovely place, all with the exclusive purpose of making our trip one to remember. And remember it we will. How could we forget daily carousel rides? Or the many gifts that would show up in our villa while we were out each day? Or free ice cream every day? Even the Castle of Miracles had my husband and I believing that magic really exists.
Because it does in this place. We are so blessed to have had the chance to experience it.
GKTW is one of the most magically places in the USA! They have helped my family not once but twice, my cousin who suffed from bone cancer in the mid-90's and now my son in 2012. They brought such joy to us on our visit, the whole villa was amazing, the staff & volunteers were nothing but close to being angels. They provided nothing but the best while we were there. The thing the touched my family the most was when my skn's father was unable to make it they opened there arms and hearts to my sister and nephew! That made my son very happy because when all was said and done it was about him and they achieved that. They made such a huge impact that in plan on volunteering in the near future!
My family and I stayed at Give Kids the World during my son's Make A Wish. It is the most amazing place I have ever visited. My kids have been begging me for a year now to go back and visit/volunteer. If I had a chance to do our Make a Wish all over again we would chose to go to Give Kids the World again. It was the best part of our whole trip passing all the parks and activities we did outside the village. We have made lifetime friends/family. For the first time in my sons life he didn't feel left out or different and the whole family felt special. I can't wait to be able to go back and volunteer, it truly is the happiest place in the world. Dreams really come true at this special village.
GKTW is the best place we could of went on vacation....They made us feel like we were at home and family! My family has decided once all the kids get old enough to volunteer we plan on doing that as much as we can. They make all kids of any size, shape, medical condition, etc feel like they are NORMAL! Not to mention GKTW gives parents a piece of mind that everything will be OK no matter what and give the parents a break from their daily routines of caring for their children and just to HAVE FUN!!! There was a Youth group from Minnesota that was there the week we were at GKTW and they make us feel like we were part of their family and took to our kids like they were one of their own. I could not thank that youth group enough that week for everything they had given to us.
After dealing with our Daughters life threatening illness, each member of our family needed time and a place to heal. Give Kids the World Village provided us with the perfect place to not only get over the events of the past but make memories that would last for a life time. Our family, Leah along with her four brothers , were treated like royalty! Every need was looked after and more. What a blessing it was to be given the privilege to stay at this wonderful, magical, hope-inspiring village. From the moment we landed at the airport until the time our plane lifted off for Canada, Give Kids the World took great care of us. We will be forever grateful to GKTW and have a special place in our heart for this amazing charity.
By far the most amazing and magical place for children with major medical issues! Truly a place where your dreams come true!
The most amazing place on earth. The wonderful angels made all members of the family feel precious and appreciated. One angel told us that we too were special and it was their honour to help us. A beautiful place filled with beautiful people. Thank you for our visit from the bottom of our hearts. An experience never to be forgotten x
My family(my husband, self, twin 1.5 year olds, 4 year old wish kid and two Aunty helpers) spent an amazing week this past August at GKTW on my 4 year old daughters Wish trip to DisneyWorld and We feel beyond blessed to have been given the entire experience. GKTW is seriously one of the most amazing places on this Earth, full of Angels of every shape and size!! Wish we could go back!
I volunteered here over a year ago and it was the best experience I ever had! I was in florida for my annual Disney vacation and I decided the help out. I heard about Give Kid the World by accident , I was looking through you tube videos and I would watch make a wish videos and some of them mention make a wish village. So I decided to look into it and I was in awwww!!!! This village is amazing!! My volunteer position was to drive tractor that looked like a train and I drove around the village many times picking up wish families and bringing them to their destination with in the village , I saw many smiling faces from the kids, parents and the biggest smiles were from the volunteers. This place is magical !!
We were blessed to have a week vacation at GKTW last November. This is the truth: We would pay to go back there again. My son, who was 3 at the time, always refers to our trip (in which we went to all 4 Disney parks, Sea World and Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure) as the one to Give Kids the World. He still asks, a year later, when we can go back to the "blue house where we drove the white van and played 'dinosaur miniature golf' and ate ice cream."
From the time he made his Wish known to go to Orlando and Disney World, we felt a part of the GKTW Family. No place on this earth has made us feel more special. I cried during our debriefing at check out time! We were fortunate to be able to extend his Wish trip by a few days (we stayed at a hotel and paid out of pocket) but he missed GKTW so much that, on our departure day, we took him back for a quick visit before we headed to the airport. Note, out of all those other wonderful parks and experiences, he wanted to go back to Give Kids the World! They were so sweet, upon our return. They let him play golf again at Marc's Dino Putt and eat ice cream until it was time for us to go.
The volunteers are what makes this wonderful place go round. They are amazing and selfless and just made our experience magical! From being waited on in the Gingerbread House to having my son comforted prior to meeting Mickey Mouse, they were so wonderful and accommodating! He even got a behind the scenes look at the expansive model train display in Amberville!
Did I mention that we did not have to pay a dime for any of the wonderful things we enjoyed there? Three meals a day, free camera/video camera rental (they even put pictures from my personal memory card on discs for me!), character meet and greets, wonderful parties, a birthday celebration for our son...just so wonderful! I have tears in my eyes as I type!
A testimony to how much GKTW means to us? We are surprising our son with a trip back to Walt Disney World next month on his Wish Anniversary (never would we have dreamed we would be going back so soon!). I can assure you the highlight of the 9 days of our trip will be the one we spend at GKTW as an Alumni Family! We are having to rent a car or hire a taxi to get us from our resort and back, but we can't go to Orlando and not visit our favorite place on earth!
We've always felt our boy is special (what parent doesn't?) but we've never had an entire group of people do so much to make us ALL feel special! Not only will we visit as often as we can, but we also plan to volunteer once our little boy gets older. You just can't help but want to give back once you leave. I encourage whomever is reading this- if you want to find a place "Where Happiness Inspires Hope," go volunteer at Give Kids the World. You won't be the same!
My 6 year old daughter has a heart defect. She was granted her wish through Make-A-Wish and we were able to stay at Give Kids the World. GKTW was more than I ever expected and really was one of the highlights of the trip. To say the volunteers are amazing is an understatement. Everyone made each child feel special and wonderful. During the activities each night, all of the children were included, mobile, non-mobile, special needs, all of the kids felt special. GKTW has something for everybody and really has paid attention to the details, including the special soaps for the guests and wheelchairs for the swimming pool, so that kids who have never been in a pool can enjoy the fun. There were days when my daughter picked GKTW over Disney. She really loved the carousel and even rode it 11 times one evening. We became friends with Bill and Anabelle who volunteer every April and run the carousel in the evenings. They even made sure my daughter got one last ride before we headed out to the airport. We also received a picture disc with all of our photos from our stay, and then they emailed us with a couple that were taken the morning we left. We loved every minute of it.
Give Kids the World is a magical place. Some say that Disney is the most magical place on Earth, but I strongly disagree with that. There's no other place like GKTW. This 70 acre storybook village gives kids that are battling illness HOPE. It gives them a week of pure bliss. These children make life long memories at GKTW and it is something they will never forget. I've never seen a child that wasn't running around with a smile on their face. Give Kids the world is not a place that can be described and summed up in words. It's a place that you have to physically go to in order to experience this magic. Words just do not do it justice. Give Kids the World is the best non for profit organization I have ever come across.
Give Kids the World is an amazing place... I went on my make-a-wish trip there with my parents and brothers, it was our first ever vacation because of my illness- we felt so much love from all of the volunteers, it was even better than Disney World. I'm an adult now and we still talk about it!
I was granted my wish to visit Disney world in December 1996. My family had no idea about GKTW prior to our trip. We were picked up at the airport by 2 volunteers and taken to our rental car. We arrived at the village and I am not even sure my brain was able to process all the wonder in front of my eyes. Our villa was amazing, and much better than the hotel we expected. Every meal was hot, delicious, and free. My favorite part of the village was the Ice cream caboose. What 10 year old doesn't love ice cream any time of the day?! My sisters and I enjoyed the arcade and I remember riding the carousel every morning before we left the village for the day. We thoroughly enjoyed the pool area. Being from Ohio, swimming outside in December was unheard of! It was such a novelty to me. I have just as many fond memories of our stay at GKTW than I do of Disney. In 2009 I contacted GKTW about hosting my wedding. They did so, and took our group on a tour around the newly renovated property. I can not even express the joy I experienced that day. Not only to get married to my love, but to share the village with him. It's our happy place. I am taking my friend this year to the Gingerbread 5k! I cannot wait to show her where dreams come true. GKTW makes dreams possible for so many children and families who have given up hope. There is no place on earth like Give Kids the World. Amazing, awe-inspiring, magical. There are not enough adjectives in the english language to describe it.
Was delighted by all the kind hearted individuals we encountered. Had a million fun things to do with our boy, in a friendly/accessible atmosphere, among other lovely families. We simply did not want to go home! One of the best experiences of our family's life, and we are eternally grateful.
Absolutely amazing experience for families with kids who havelife threatening illnesses. Our lives consisted of Doctors, chemotherapy, medications, vomit, ER trips way too often, and overall concern wether or not our babygirl would even survive. The week we spent at GKTW was life changing!! No worries what so ever. And so many memories made. Love, laughter, & HOPE are the words I would use to describe this magical place!
GKTW is the most beautiful place on earth for familly with sick childs. Our son was born with a cardiac condition and had 12 chirguries in is first two years. He is also autistic. We applied for a dream vacation at Disney with Children's Wish in Canada and they send us to GKTW! A place full of volunteer always smiling and giving. Never asking or talking about Diseases. One week of pure happiness living in a house just for us
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Our son just see is wish come true in September! Seing Mickey was wonderful for him AND for us too see is little face illuminate was priceless. But to discover GKTW was also a dream! That organization, there history, there smiles and there kindness is a drem in itself! Not sure if i was criyng because we were living Disney or GKTW! Love you all! Gendron Familly
My daughter was given the chance to visit orlando and GKTW and sadly we arrived home last week. Our whole experiance was amazing but the difining moments were the ones spent at Give kids The world. The place is beautiful set out in large grounds and the outside of the villas beautifully painted bright and vibrant. There is so much to do with the 2 swimming pools, splash zone, crazy golf an much much more. The people made is feel special every second of every day. Nothing was ever too much. Give Kids the World touched our lives in a way I never dreamed possible.
From the time of our arrival to the time of our departure, we were made to feel special. GKTW was clean, welcoming, entertaining, the volunteers are outstanding. We have been back for an alumnus visit twice now, and we have recommended my niece and her family to stay there as well with their child with cancer. They still speak of it today. I cannot put into words how wonderful our stay there was.
My daughter was diagnosed with her 2nd malignant brain tumor in 2009,after her treatment we applied to make a wish because it was her dream to go to Disney.We were sent here by our organization.I can not possibly say enough wonderful things about GKTW.It is a truely magical place.We spent and incredible fun filled week here just full of surprises.We stayed in a wonderful little bungalow that even had a whirlpool tub that the kids looked forward to every night,we would come home after a day out at the parks and find surprise gifts left on the table everyday.The place itself always has something fun to do , horseback riding, playground,arcade,huge pool,train rides free ice cream all day!!! But they also have parties, parades, character meets from the parks.They provided us with more park tix than we got to even use and also had cameras and camcorders for us to use to record our trip and put them on disks for us at teh end that was especially special for me as I did not own on of my own and those are the best souvineers..We were fortunate enough to go back this year for an afternoon visit and it was like coming home, we were welcomed back, given lunch and let loose to play all afternoon my only regret was not getting there earlier in the day to really take it all in.Everyday that we were there in 2009 was filled with so many special things I still get teary eyed looking back and both of my kids still remember every detail of that trip, it will stay with them forever! We look forward to the day when we can go back and give back by being volunteers.
it took a Caribbean Cruise and dynamic dinner table mates to introduce us to the Magical Place called "Give Kids the World Village". Since that time we've had the honor and pleasure of volunteering at GKTW. The staff makes us volunteers feel welcome and important, that is good. However the families we are there to welcome and make them feel at home give us so much more than we ever expected. My husband and I have done almost everything, ice cream for breakfast, the carousel, Gingerbread House for breakfast or dinner, Katie's Kitchen, train rides, gift givers, we were even pool attendants. The magic is anywhere you look. We are "snowbirds" and when we are up north we miss our times at the Village. We can't wait to get back to Florida to volunteer. Henry founded this awe inspiring place to provide a trip of a lifetime for those families dealing with devastating illnesses, does he know what he provided to those of us who are fortunate enouogh to volunteer? God Bless the families and God Bless Henry and family. Not only are we Volunteers, we are donors as well.
The slogan for Give Kids the World Village is "Where Happiness Inspires Hope". This is a great slogan for this wonderful place. It is the most positive place that I have ever spent time at. Everyone there is happy to be there, and very supportive of the guest families, from the volunteers, to the staff to the families themselves. I honestly come home from every shift, feeling that I have just met or worked with some of the nicest people on the planet. I am very proud that I just broke the 500 hour mark for volunteer hours since April 2011. The more time I spend there, the more I want to be there. The local community is so very supportive of this organization, which is apparent when you hear that they fill over 1400 volunteer shifts - per week! I have the pleasure of working as Guest Services volunteer, and it is such a thrill to be able to greet the families and introduce them to the Village, show them their home-for-the-week and to tell them how spoiled they will be. The whole family is treated like royalty there, and there are so many details that are taken care of to ensure that every single guest has a wonderful stay. My other favorite shift is with the Characters. The families can sign up to have one of the bunny mascots come over at bedtime, in their bunny pajamas, to tuck the children into bed for the night. It is so wonderful to see that interaction with the families.
I'm a retiree who had time on his hands. Several neighbors introduced me to Give Kids the World. Thanks to them, I have been volunteering for about six months. What a great experience it has been! The staff and the other volunteers have been exceptionally friendly and patient. My volunteer hours have been relaxing and worthwhile. The guest families have been wonderful and seem to deeply appreciate us. I look forward to spending many years helping out at Give Kids the World. It makes me feel good about myself. George W. Bush (No relationship to the ex president)
Volunteering at GKTW always brings a sense of purpose to our lives. It's impossible not to be passionate about their mission and every volunteer opportunity brings you closer to that mission. Serving breakfast at the Gingerbread House and the character program are our favorites! We love GKTW and will continue to support the program any way we can!
My husband and I were there in early October with our daughter and grandson, Liam, for Liam's Make A Wish fulfillment - going to Disney World. We had a wonderful time visiting all the parks, but what really captured our hearts is Give Kids the World Village. We didn't even know where we would be staying before we left, but it didn't take long to fall in love. All the people are so wonderful, giving themselves selflessly 24/7. Simply put, it is Heaven on Earth. Thank you Give Kids the World for all you do! I hope to go back some day and volunteer. From Cindy B. in Texas
My 6 year old daughter who was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 2 and later on relapsed at she 5 asked to visit the princesses in Disney world. We had no idea we were going to be staying in such a magical and wonderful place. I think staying here was what my daughter liked the most. The people here were so nice! This place helped build memories that will last us a lifetime. Every time my daughter is asked what was her favorite part of the trip her reply is"staying at the mushroom house!!" Thank you for the wonderful memories and magical experience. You guys are awesome!
My son was almost 8 when his wish to Disney was granted!!! It was not only a dream come true for Kyle but also for me & his siblings:) Kyle is 18 now and still looks at those pictures everyday and smiles!!! We loved every second at the Give Kids The World village!!! We have a lifetime of memories in just that one week:)
My son was 2 1/2 years old when we stayed a week at Give kids the World. We had no idea what to expect , other than hearing it was a magical place. My son and his 3 siblings had a blast. It far exceeded our expectations. All our kids were treated as VIPS. Not once did anyone stare or show us pitty. Our son and all of us - were treated as a normal/typical family- no stares, no pitty. They enjoyed every twist and turn and couldn't wait to see what the next day offered. My husband and I were so greatful for all the donors and volunteers that support this place. We did not relaize til we were there how much this magical place helped heal out family. It was the best medicane our family could have asked for. To this day- once a month we do Ice Cream for Breakfest and talk about our trip in November 2011. We so want to go back and visit someday and volunteer. Thankyou to everyone who helped to make my son/families dreams magical. My 2 1/2 year old was granted his wish because, he has Down Syndrome, a trach, o2, vent, gtube and was literally at deaths door from AML M-7 Leukemia- all by the age of 1. He was not able to finish chemo due to Acute Respitory distress syndrome. Thank God his remission is currently holding and we noticed a turn around in his health AFTER our trip to GKTW.
Amazing place! My son, when presented with his one wish, wanted to go to Disney in Florida. We had NO idea that not only would my son have the time of his life, but that our whole family would. From the time we got there until the time we left we were treated like royalty. Imagine going to breakfast (or lunch, dinner) and go to pick up your tray to take it to a table and someone say "Let me take that, your not going to lift a finger while your here..Enjoy being on vacation. You do so much all year round that this is the least that I can do for your family"... I was in shock. I actually had a hard time getting my kids to stay at the Theme parks because they wanted to get back to the village. Whether it was riding on the carousal, eating ice cream at 7am, or playing pirates and princess they were just surrounded by so many wonderful, loving, caring people who volunteer. No one makes them be there. In our times I often say that you can't find any good people in this world, well that's not true. Just seeing the love that Give Kids the World had for each and every child and child's family brought me to tears. During my son's hospital stay following brain surgery, we watch the video's of the village and the time we had. It really kept his spirits up during such a rough recovery. I wish I lived closer so that we could go volunteer to give back just a little of what they gave us...My son's star will forever live in that wonderful place so I know that part of him is still there, reminding everyone who see's it just how magical of a place that it is. God bless Give Kids The World and all of the volunteer's as well as those who donate to them!
I work at the Village and thus do not have an objective opinion, but I will say that this is the best group of professionals I have ever worked with. We really live by our core values of Compassion, Dedication, Credibility, Integrity and Teamwork.
GKTW is absolutely AMAZING!!! We came several years ago because our son was granted a dream trip through The Dream Factory. They don't leave any detail unattended. They went above and beyond to make sure we were happy and that our son was having a wonderful time. All of the ammenities and the grounds itself were spectacular and the rooms were clean and well maintained. My children loved everything there and didn't want to leave. My son became completely enamoured with Miss Merry and loved to give her hugs every time he saw her. Everything that they had every night we were there was amazing. We loved them all--Mayor Clalyton's birthday celebration, Christmas night, Pirates and Princess night. Meet the Disney and Universal studios characters. I don't really have words to describe the greatness of our experience! Not to mention we were able to go back to Florida another time and true to their word--we went back to GKTW and they gave us our day passes and we were able to spend yet another wonderful day there. My son was able to ride the train again and play at Dino's putt putt and we went looking for his star. We will have these memories for the rest of our lives and for that we just can't say Thank you enough! Thank you!!
My son described it as 'better than heaven' and I think he is right. It is such a happy place right from the start of your visit and long after you leave. The memories will stay with us forever. There is nothing they haven't though of, supplying a loan of camcorder, putting photos and videos on disc so you can take more, the villas are so well laid out with the en-suite in the kids room and juccuzzi, my son asking if he could have a juccuzzi at 6am as we had flown in from Ireland and were still jet-lagged. They had laid out an itenerary for us but when we wanted to change it, there was no problem and they were more than accommadating with alternative arrangments. Nothing can come close to competing with it. I can't think of words that do it justice, awesome, amazing, fantastic are all too weak to describe the experience we had and what it did for not only the wish child but for the whole family.
This place is simply phenomenal. The experience and mission they provide for volunteers and the kids is priceless. GKTW is a wonderful organization that deserves the top recognition!
My daughter, Izabella, was granted a wish in June 2012. It was by far one of the greatest experiences our family has received. It was Izabella, her brother, sister, myself, her grandmother, uncle, and great grandmother. Everyone at the village was wonderful and the parks were so sweet to help all of us. We made so many amazing memories during this magical trip. I never would have imagined we would be able to make such a trip. The village is truly a magical place. We could have spent all week there just enjoying all the activities. It was very convenient for her and her wheel chair and she loved just noticing new things everyday. It is so heart warming for our family to know there are such wonderful people in the world. She spends so much of her life sheltered from certain things. Give kids the world village was centered around her and she got to see that she isn't the only child in a power chair and she was treated like the princess we all feel she is. Her brother and sister were treated just as well. I get reset anytime I tell about our magical vacation. Thank you all so much. It was a dream come true thanks to give kids the world and make a wish.
We stayed at gktw when we went for my sons make a wish trip. Our stay by far exceeded our expectations. Every aspect of the village was accessible to all children with disabilities and catered to making a week filled with memories and enjoyment. All the volunteers were friendly and helpful. It was the most amazing place filled with wonderment, love and joy. The special touches were made by the time the volunteers spent with all of my children ensuring they were having a fabulous make a wish trip. Thank you, the St Germain family
I am lucky to have found GKTW 8 years ago.i have spent many hours there over these years and done all sorts of volunteer positions,and also have become an angle ambassador. To see how happy the children and their famalies are when they stay is amazing. It is the most magical place on earth.
My daughter was granted a wish in march to disney and Give Kids the world. Until we arrived, we had no idea that such an amazing place exsisted. The kindness and generosity that the volunteers showed us was amazing. We had the best time there, and someday, we hope to go back and visit. Most people say that disneyworld is the happiest place on earth, but they clearly havent stayed at GKTW
hello are son had a wish granted feb 2011 and we stayed at give kids the world village and they welcomed us with open arms and a week full of amazeing adventures and full days of fun and exciting places to go and things to do everyday in there village and allso out in the theme parks as well from morning until late night everynight we had a great time and yes it was a trip of a life time we as a family will never for get from the bojin family loved it a few big words GREAT PLACE ! GREAT PEOPLE ! GREAT FUN !
We stayed at Give Kids The World in October 2010 for my sons wish trip, they treated everyone of us as though we were royalty, the anger and bitterness that had built up inside over the years of hospital stays and treatments just seemed to melt away with each and every smile the volunteers gave. We arrived as a worn down, tired family just going through the motions and left feeling as a family united, renewed, with hope and most of all happiness which at one point had left us all. It's been 2 years and we still find ourselves laughing more, smiling more and when a rough patch comes along we think back to the moments GKTW gave to us. The volunteers and staff at GKTW are angels for sure. Words can never describe how grateful we are for the memories that have been made with their help :) no amount of thank you's could ever suffice.
Our son was granted his wish in February 2011. Give Kids The World is the most magical, wonderful place on earth. From the minute our family arrived, we felt so stress free. It felt like coming home. Our very own villa, ice cream all day long, all of the wonderful volunteers, special gifts left each day not only for our son but for his siblings too, everyone felt so special. My son's favorite was the Ice Cream Castle, where he enjoyed ice cream for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between!! The Castle of Miracles was another very special place, where our son got to leave his very own star. Our family still talks of our time there, and my son can't wait to go back for a visit and his new wish is to some day volunteer there. Thank you so much to Give Kids The World for making our son feel so happy and carefree for an entire week. We will forever be grateful for all the wonderful memories of such a wonderful place!!
Our stay was in May of 2012 between two major surgeries for our son Quentin. He has Neurofibratosis(NF1). He has a plexiform tumor on the right side of his head wrapped around all his facial nerves and muscles. His Wish was Disney World,but give kids the world was the icing on the cake. They think of everything and for an entire week we celebrated Quentin, his brother Brendan and our Family. The staff and volunteers are outstanding and inspirational. Our lives have forever been changed and we have plans to go back and volunteer ourselves. The kids loved it all..the carosel,the sleeping tree,pools, activities,character visits and ice cream for breakfast! We smiled the entire time and no one stared at his scars because each child had thier own scares and each family had a story. I will never forget seeing his star on the ceiling for the first time. To us GKTW...was the most magical place ever! P.S. We have ice cream for breakfast at least 2x a month!! Thank you with all my heart!!
Our precious daughter, diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, was blessed with a stay at Give Kid's the World Village in the fall of 2007. I believe that wonderful experience helped to change our lives, giving our daughter the joy and hope to carry on and overcome her life-threatening illness. At no time, at no place in our lives have we ever experienced such love, compassion and joy. The volunteers and staff made our week there seem like a too-good-to-be-true dream. But it was true. The Village is a real place that daily brings beauty and strength into the lives of children and families who need it most. Bless you Henry Landwirth for changing the world with the World you created.
Give Kids the world is the most wonderful place that you could ever go to with your children. It is magical. My son Tyler was granted a wish in 2007, we loved it so much we had to come back. His little brother was only three when we went the first time , we had wonderful pictures and memories. So in 2011 Zachry just had to have the same wish. Once again it was the most magical experience. Words are not enough to describe exactly what give kids the world does for you and your family. Would love to come back again, but that would mean that i would have another sick child, and nobody wishes for that.
My daughter was granted her wish in May 2009. Little did I realize what adventures lay ahead. We felt as if we were royalty from the start. My daughter and her brother and sister were showered with gifts daily. We stayed in a beautiful room that is beyond words. I know we wish that the week would have never ended. We plan to as soon as possible to visit and volunteer. Our whole family benefited from our week there. The staff made our week "perfect."
LOVE Give Kids The World. Our son Ayden was granted his make a wish trip back in 2010 . We came from Cincinnati Ohio with Ayden and our daughter Faith both suffer from a Mitochondrial disease Leighs in which theres NO cure. As soon as we walked into the main room we were lost in the make believe. TRULY the entire week I didnt think of anything Medical for either Faith or Ayden. truly a magical place. So many wonderful caring volunteers. We are coming back for Faiths Wish hopefully soon. She's been granted hers. During Aydens 2010 trip Faith was going through her bad spell and didnt get to enjoy anything her vision was nt there for her and she had no muscle tone to look around or hold her hed up. But thankfully with the new drug trial they both have been on this past year she has improved. We've lost her twice now and hopefully it doesnt happen again but I want her to get to Give Kids The World and give her and her family all the wonderful memories that Ayden got to bring back to Cincinnati with. God bless all the volunteers and especially Mr. Landwirth for making this beautiful place happen. I will forever be greatful to such a wonderful man.
We stayed at Give Kids the World in May of 2012 when my son Aidan, 5 years old, was granted a wish through A Wish Come True, Inc. to visit Disney World. From the moment we arrived at GKTW, we were treated like VIP guests! Our villa was beautiful, warm and welcoming. Aidan's younger sister Alannah, then 3 years old, absolutely fell in love with Mayor Clayton and Miss Merry, and looked forward each day to seeing them around the village. Both children were so excited each day to find the special gifts left in our villa for them. Aidan's favorite part of each day was swimming in the Park of Dreams. Throughout our week we enjoyed the nightly parties, the delicious food, and all the fun we could fit in. But there was nothing more special than the many volunteers and staff who worked so diligently to ensure we enjoyed the best vacation ever. When the time came to pack up and get ready to return home, it was really hard to leave. It was the first time since Aidan's birth that our family had been given the opportunity to truly relax and enjoy a week together. It was a priceless gift to be given that time together. Since returning home the kids have put up some special tokens of their time at GKTW in their bedrooms so they are always reminded of our wonderful experience there.
My daughter Chasity, mother and I stayed at GKTW for a week recently when Make-A-Wish sent us to Florida so my daughter's wish of going to Disney World could come true and we were AMAZED at how wonderfully AMAZING the village is!!!! My daughter loved riding the train and Amberville train station, as well as the Merry-Go-Round at the Castle of Miracles. She was excited to eat ice cream for breakfast at the Ice Cream Palace and absolutly loved seeing everyone dressed up in their Halloween costumes on their Halloween night and seeing santa during their winter wonderland and playing a live game of Candyland at Matthew's Boundless Playgroud!!! It was such a busy week between the village and visiting the parks and I wish we had more time at the village. The workers and volunteers were great and extremely helpful!! My father paid for himself and my niece to come on the trip with us, they had to stay at a hotel but they were able to visit the village everyday and enjoy the experience with us. I can't wait to go back one day and visit and possibly volunteer in the future!!!
Our family stayed at GKTW for a week in June 2009. We were plucked out of a life full of doctors' appointments, hospital stays, and stress, and plopped down in a magical place. GKTW thought of everything down to a footstool in the bathroom so our youngest could reach the sink. My son was becoming more dependent on his wheelchair, and we found that GKTW was truly accessible. Not once did we have to go around to the back to get to a ramp or squeeze the wheelchair between tables. During one activity, we had a diaper emergency and to our relief, we discovered that there was an adult sized changing table in the public restroom. These little details did as much to make our stay magical as many of the touches that were intended to. Three years later, my daughters are still talking about our week there and remembering the kindness, caring, and generosity that we experienced at every moment of our trip. My son can't speak, but we have photographs of his trip up on his wall, and he loves to stand and look at them. Even if he can't truly remember his trip, we will never forget the smiles it put on his face!
Our son was granted a wish through Make A Wish to go to Disney World and meet Buzz Lightyear. We were blessed to get to stay at Give Kids the World Village. It was the most amazing week of our lives. Everyone at the Village treated our entire family like we were special. No request was too much for them. They have the most amazing volunteers and staff. John Robert preferred being there even to being at Disney! Every day at the theme parks he spent the entire day asking when we could go back to Give Kids the World! The memories that we made there will be cherished forever!
Our son who recently had his maw trip in the beginning of Oct loved it. The staff and volunteers were terrific. He continues to ask to go back to his "bunny house". They are truly angels.
My Daughter Elizabeth was a make a wish child and we got to stay at "GIVE KIDS THE WORLD" It was an amazing place and a fun filled trip to get away from life threating illiness for a week.. and when she was sick from having so much fun they went out of thier way to make sure we were ok and had fun.. Thank you for such an amazing place for sick children and thier families to go and get away from it all for a week..
Our son Uziah had his wish granted by Make A Wish NH, we learned of Give Kids the World, but had know idea what it really was like to stay there. When he was 3, we made our journey to the most miraculous place we have ever been. Give Kids the World truly is a dream come true for children and families. People often ask us (parents) "what was the best part of the Make A Wish experience?", and by far it was Give Kids the World. Sure, we loved to see our sons dance with Mickey, splash with Shamu and roar with the lions, but nothing compares to the joy at Give Kids the World. You see this is a place of pure love, unconditional love with full support, no judgement no limits! Everyone there is present with an open heart to offer the biggest smile and positive energy you could ever imagine. So often as parents with children who face life threatening illnesses, we see each other at children's hospitals when we just received news we thought would never be a part of our lives, here- all of that was left behind. At Give Kids the World, you celebrate life for all that it has to offer. This is a place that if you visit, whether as a family or as a volunteer, you will never see or experience life the same. Thank you Give Kids the World for all that you offer to children and families!
My family stayed at GKTW in May of 2012. GKTW is the most amazing place in the world. My family is forever thankful for the wonderful week we spent there. My son received his wish through Make A Wish and chose to go to Disney. I knew nothing about GKTW until we were told that's where we would be staying. The website doesn't do any justice to how beautiful, it is. The staff is the most wonderful, big hearted in this world. The week we spent there, stress free and worry free will remain in our hearts and memories forever. As a parent of a child who was born with a rare disease that constantly limits all his abilities, to see him run around with his older sisters and others and not have a care in the world for that week, still to this day brings tears to my eyes. GKTW did something very special for my son that week...they made him forget that he struggles daily and allowed him to be himself with no judgement. From the bottom of my families hearts, THANK YOU GKTW!
We lived in central Florida for many years and my son was a member of the GKTW Kids Club. We were able to spend lots of time at the Village, taking part in Christmas , Easter and summer parties. We were there when Mayor Clayton got "married" too! Kenneth took part in several ad promotions and was even photographed for a P & G coupon insert at Sea World! I cherish all the memories the staff and volunteers gave to us, including a stone paver in his memory. GKTW is truly the best place to visit to experience the love and compassion that is needed and given to every member of the family!
My son was granted his wish in 2010. GKTW is the most amazing place to experience. It's like you step into a child's dreamland, where they can be a kid and not worry about all the things they are going through.We were in total "awe" as we entered the front gates. As a parent, I saw a smile reappear on my son's face. It disappeared for awhile. My other children got to experience the same magic as my son. For that week, everyone was in pure bliss. I had tears of joy as they had tons of fun! I wish that we could have had one more week there to truly experience everything that they had to offer. The volunteers are inspiring, very caring people. They have inspired my husband and myself to volunteer when we're older and the kids are all grown-up. I tell people of this wonderful, magical place. I almost feel sorry for those that can't see this beautiful play land.
My brother went on his wish trip to Disney World 5 years ago. We stayed at GKTW and it was the best week of my life. All stress was forgotten and the 5 of us got to spend time together without worrying about doctor visits, therapy, etc. And even though my brother had also been diagnosed with Chron's about a week before we went, we still had an amazing time. The staff and volunteers went out of their way to do whatever they could for us. To this day, we still talk about our trip. While Disney was a lot of fun, GKTW was fun in itself. My brother loved the pool. We also enjoyed the parties every night. Playing life size CandyLand was his favorite. But the best part had to be when Mayor Clayton came at bedtime for tuck-ins. Mayor Clayton taught my brother how to bounce on the bed and he still does it all the time. My brother's health has gone down since our trip and these memories will last forever. I cannot say enough about how much we love GKTW!
My son Elijah was diagnosed with Leigh's syndrome at 5 months old. When he was 2 1/2 we visited Give Kids the world! Our little family of 3 had such a good time and made lasting memories. The property, people and accommodations are beyond expectations. This place is magical! Our sweet Elijah passed away a month after we visited. We will always be thankful that we were able to have a family vacation with him at GKTW!
My son was granted a wish through Make a Wish Foundation , we had the pleasure of staying a week at Give The Kids The World and it was AMAZING everyone from staff to volunteers go above and beyond for our children and families. they deserve every award imaginable. My son has muscular dystrophy and that whole week there we never worried about anything and we just cannot say enough good things about this place. We are planning on going back to volunteer next summer :)
I am so blessed to be a volunteer Angel at Give Kids the World. I see first hand how the wish children and their families are the most important thing to every staff member and volunteer. I see the passion to make every day better, I see where the money goes, 93 cents of every dollar goes to making the experience so special. I see the support of amazing companies like Disney and Universal and how they make a difference every day. Come and see for your self, your life will be changed for the better I promise.
Oh my goodness, GKTW was the best thing that ever happened for my boys. I have two boys that have Cystic Fibrosis. My youngest had been granted a wish through the Starlight Foundation to go to Disney. I had never heard of the place till they gave us our itinerary for the trip. When we arrived both of my sons were greeted with gifts of Disney stuffed animals and goodies. Even though my youngest was the one with the wish, they treated my older son just the same. We were then given the royal treatment from there on. My son wore a button that showed he was from GKTW which gave us access to all rides and shows immediately, which made it easier to get around the park and not wait in long lines. The weather and fun would tire him out and we could get a lot in because of it. He even would get immediate access to the park characters for autographs. At first we really felt bad jumping in front of people, but the park people reassured us that GKTW children were special visitors and that it was fine to be taken to the front of the lines. Everyday after coming back to a bungalow each day at the parks, there would be gifts and goodies galore left on the kitchen table. It was like Christmas everyday. My youngest fell in love with one of the young teen volunteers and enjoyed her company while we were there. We kept in touch with her for a year till she moved. We then finally found her on Facebook after about 9 years and still talk about the time we spent there. Each day we enjoyed games, pool parties, movie nights, the ice cream parlor from morning to night each day, mini golf,fishing, crafts and trips to all of Disney parks, Universal Studios and Sea World. They even offered to watch the children and give us parents a night off to go to dinner, but we were having so much fun with the kids that we didn't want to missed anything. But it was truly nice to able to do so if we wanted. And the best was when the mascot Bunny came to tuck my son in for the night. We loved it so much, we wish we never had to leave. The week went so fast. I was actually in tears when we had to leave, because they gave my sons the most spectacular week of his lives. They didn't have to think about their medication, breathing treatments or their constant coughing the entire week they were there. From the time we got up to the time we went to bed, it was just fabulous. We just loved it there. It is truly a kids wonderland. Best to GKTW.
My daughter was granted a wish from The Make A Wish Foundation and we had the privilege to stay at Give Kids The World. It is one of the most magical places on earth! There are really no words to adequately describe this place. The name fits the place because they do try to give kids the world for the week they are there. They have many activities for the wish kids as well as the siblings. It was the best experience we have ever had!
GKTW is truly a magical place. They helped us forget what we have been through and to be more hopeful of the future. We will always have a place in our hearts for GKTW. I think my families favorite thing they do is they let you make your own star, and they put it up in The Castle of Dreams, and when you go back you can find it from when you were there. We just had the most amazing time at GKTW Village. We will definitely be back SOON, at least to volunteer to give back a small portion of what they gave to us. Even though we will never be able to make it up to the people and volunteers at GKTW, it is still helpful and really appreciated by them to volunteer. We all think it would be fun to volunteer at all the amazing places in Give Kids The World. We had the best time EVER.
The most magical wonerful place on the planet its been a year since our visit and we will never forget any part of it the kindness and understanding of the people at give kids the world was second to none it was overwhelming amazing place amazing people amazing time !! Xx
I am a parent of two wish kids, Jonathan received his wish in 2004 and Anastayja received her wish in 2012. Both kids chose to got to Florida and stay at Give Kids The World. This was such an amazing experience for both children along with us parents. It was amazing to go to a place that had all the accommodations for a child in a wheelchair. Jonathan was 6 when he went on his wish, he has Cystic Fibrosis along with severe stomach deformities. We were told that he would never be able to tolerate food in his stomach and he had to be fed through his intestines. While on the trip Jonathan watched other "sick" kids eat by mouth and he decided to try it for the first time ever. This was such a great accomplishment for him. Now he is 15 and all feeding tubes are removed as he eats only by mouth. The trip changed his life and allowed him to look at being "ill" in a different view. Anastayja turned 9 while on her trip. We were told by physicians that they didn't think she would live to see the trip as she had to be revived several times before we left. Not only did she go on the trip but she only had one seizure which is a miracle in itself because she has hundreds daily, she stayed awake 18 hours a day instead of sleeping 18 hours a day, and her heart stayed strong along with her breathing was stable. She smiled and celebrated for a week. This break in her health gave us parents a time to smile and make memories. She stayed so strong for the trip and once it was over and we were in the airport her heart started to fail again and she stopped breathing. While on the plane she had seizures non stop for hours and stopped breathing again. We have been home for a week and she is still very weak. She sleeps most of the day and her seizures are back along with her heart and breathing problems. We do not know how much longer we will have Anastayja with us here on earth but I do know that we made so many great memories at Give Kids The World and that will last us a lifetime.
My son was granted a wish to go to Disney in 2009. We had the most wonderful week at Give Kids the World. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us. We didn't have to worry about anything. My son was able to be a normal kid and we could be a normal family! Thank you for all you do!
My family and I stayed there during march 2011 and had the best service anyone could have! entertainment for the kids was wonderful it has special activities that will suit any old and will make them forget they are sick. We were a family of ten and they did absolutely their best when accommodating us! The always had little surprises waiting on the kitchen table every morning when kids woke up and had something for everyone. Give Kids the World is one of the bet places on this earth the kindness of volunteers and staff is so comforting and it just makes you happy to see that there are great people on this earth lending a hand! While we were there , there we college students all the way from Ohio and young teenagers, seniors all coming together! It's a wonderful place!
My daughter was granted a wish to Give Kids the World in 2006. There is not a word big enough to say our gratitude to GKTW and all the amazing experiences we had. My daughter was confined to a wheelchair and it was one time in her life that something was just PERFECT for her and adaptable to her. You never had to worry about people staring....you were all the same there. The staff treated everyone like royalty!! It is a trip we continue to look back on and remember. We made so many amazing memories there! Our daughter sadly passed away in June 2008....we have since been back to Orlando twice and visited GKTW Village and were able to find our daughters star. It's wonderful to be able to go back and visit and relive those amazing memories! We will be visiting again over Thanksgiving and looking our daughters start again. Thank you Give Kids the World....you make dreams come true!!
My family spent a week at GKTW last January when my daughter was granted a Make-A-Wish. The experience truly changed our lives. After my daughter diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, our lives were turned upside down. A week at GKTW world changed that. We smiled non-stop, our daughter danced and sang again and we felt normal for the first time in a very long time. There were no doctors, hospitalizations, poking, or prodding. We met other familes like us and made some forever friends through the experience at GKTW. This is definitely the most magical, amazing place on earth.
We were lucky enough to be granted a week at GKTW last year, for my son who was recovering from a bone marrow transplant. We visited from the Uk and had the most amazing week, surrounded by kind, gentle and understanding volunteers. We were given the chance to be together as a family, after three years of constant hospital stays. It was the start of our "new life" and the staff and especially the volunteers, made sure that we were made to feel special and above all, made to feel normal once more. The whole family were touched by he kindness and compassion of everyone at the vilage. We have since been back, as volunteers, in the hope that we can "pay forward" the kindness and love that we experienced. My son, now 16 (and fully recovered) has also volunteered as he feels he wants to give back. This is the most amazing place, where you get the chance to be able to relax, without constantly having to explain why your child is "different"... certainly a life changing experience for our family.
Our week at Give Kids the World was even more than we expected. Our 3 girls loved walking out of our villa in the morning and playing on a dream of a playground, going horseback riding, or having a turn on the carousel. While we were at the amusement parks they talked about the amazing activities Give Kids the World had planned for us that night.
For our family Give Kids the World is a little slice of heaven. A place where our family could all be together to relax, laugh, play and make memories. Memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.
Words can not express the amazing kindness and generosity that Give Kids The World gave us during such a discouraging time in our lives. My son was granted a wish that consisted of 8 days in Orlando seeing all of the amazing sights and participating in the joys of the surroundings. He, along with his older sister and brother only wanted to stay and spend the days at GKTW. It is so magical and carefree. Smiles were placed on every face in my family when we were so used to tears and worry. I wish every sick child could experience such relief from every day doctors appointments, poking and proding....to this day, my son will sit and look at his photo album and say "Mom, can we go back some day?" God Bless EVERYONE involved in such a gift to those of us in need of a "brighter day".
Sometimes I wish there were better words in the English language to describe something so wonderful as Give Kids the World.
To be express this place with a mere word doesn't seem good enough, it would never do it justice.
So I can scratch the surface with just a few adjectives to describe this place.
Give Kids the World Village is compassionate, inspiring, remarkable, heartwarming, lovely, complete, charming, bittersweet yet hopeful, cosmic, precious, inviting, magical, incredible, delightful, graceful, captivating and special.
For this place to be described properly, it would be to mix the collective of humanity at its best with the magic of childhood and bottle it into one perfect mixture where miracles happen every day and life is at very best.
Give Kids the World should be described as the most special place on earth.
We have been to Give Kids the World twice for two of our children who received Make-A-Wises. It is heaven on earth for everyone in the family for different reasons. It's so much fun for the kids with ice cream available all the time even for breakfast!! The pools are beautiful and Dino-Putt is really fun. I could write all day about it. For parents it is the joy of watching children who have had to do so much in their short lives just watch them have FUN without having to worry about the cost. It is very unreal while you're there. It's so magical and lovely. Cannot say enough. Words just aren't good enough.
It is truly a JOY to volunteer at Give Kids the World. The grounds and facilities are amazing and it truly is a magical place. I have done all volunteer jobs there from gift giving to the ice cream palace and always leave with my heart so full. Take your children, take your friends, take your family and give your time to this wonderful organization. They will leave there feeling like they gave you a gift.
I work for Perkins Restaurants and have done fund raising for this organization for over 15 years. I was lucky enough to visit the Village and do a volunteer shift a few years ago. It is an amazing, happy place dedicated to terminally ill children AND their families. To be able to bring smiles to the faces of these families that have endured more doctors and hospitals than anyone should have to is priceless!
Review from Guidestar