That is exactly how you feel when you are here…home away from home. The staff here at GKTW bends over backwards to make sure you have everything you could want.  Once inside the parks, Ally was treated like royalty, especially at Disney World.  If you ever doubt the kindness of humans, spend the day with a wish child.  If you ever need to witness the strength of the human spirit, come spend the day walking around the village at Give Kids the World.

Tomorrow we return home.  I am sad Ally’s wish has come to an end.  Since her diagnosis, we have been looking forward to this week for almost two years.  While this is the end of her magical wish week, we look to the future when we hear the words, “Ally is cured!”

It was off to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure today!  We didn’t realize we had to walk 17 miles to the entrance – YIKES.  It was so far from the parking garage!!  Ally has some kind of luck.  I think she got to meet every character that is in the park.  Honestly, we would just happen upon the characters as we were walking about.  WE had a line jumper pass at Universal too, so she didn’t have to wait in any lines to meet any of them.  It was awesome! 

Two milestones for Ally today.  She went into the Barney theater and sat through an entire show (loud singing and everything), in the FRONT row (again, the workers see you are from Make-A-Wish, and they put you right in front).  At first, she was a little agitated, but she settled and was fine!  She loved it!  She got a personal meeting with Barney after the show.  – Milestone number two…she rode her first roller coaster!  Yes, you heard it correctly…Ally rode a rollercoaster in the kiddie area at Universal.  It was pretty fast for it to be in the kiddie area. 

We ate an awesome lunch at a restaurant called Mythos (recommendation from Brad’s brother, Bert).  I highly recommend it if you happen to be at Universal/Island of Adventure and are looking for a place to eat.

We left the park and went to a brand new water park that opened this May.  Sea World has its own water park called Aquatica.  Ally was so excited to float around in the lazy river!  They have a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) kiddie playground in the water.  It was amazing.  Her favorite part was the water guns. 

Tonight was the Halloween party at Give Kids the World.  It was awesome!  Ally got to trick-or-treatng up and down the walkway as well as play several games.  They had a parade too. 

When asked Ally what her favorite part of today was…Halloween!

 We jumped into the car and made our way to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Our neighbor’s, Gerry and Linda, told us to go straight back to the back of the park and get on the Safari jeep tour.  We did that, and really didn’t have to wait but a few minutes (the “god” pass is awesome).  Ally got right on and was so excited to see animals!!  We got some really good pics on that ride.  Ally also rode a kiddie dinosaur ride (just like Dumbo in Magic Kingdom).  She loved it! 

 We wandered down to Camp Mickey/Minnie Mouse and stumbled upon none other than Pocahontas herself!  She is one of the princesses Ally wanted to see!!  We took a little walk down the path, and there were many more characters.  We were looking for Donald Duck, but we didn’t see him.  I went up and asked one of the “cast members” where he was.  She said, “Hey, you are with Make-a-Wish.  You don’t wait in lines!  Go up the exits, and they’ll fit you guys right in.  Better yet, I’ll take you there.”  So, we got an escort to Donald, and then it was snack time for Ally.  That woman also told us that if we waited just 20 more minutes, Daisy would be coming out.  She only comes out once a day, and usually not there.  Too cool!  We walked up the exit and got right in to see her too!  Later that day, we also got to see Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore. 

 We left Animal Kingdom and went to Epcot.  Ally was TIRED.  Thankfully, because Ally is a wish child, we had a VIP pass to the Siemans VIP lounge inside Spaceship Earth.  VERY NICE!!  We were in there for about a half hour.  When we were ready to leave, the receptionist told us to follow her.  Little did we know, we were going down the VIP entrance to the ride, Spaceship Earth.  It is about a five minute ride through that big sphere at Epcot!  If you know Ally, you are probably have some idea what we were thinking.  She jumped right in a car with Brad and rode the entire ride – even when it got REALLY dark!  What an accomplishmen!.  Later that day, Ally also rode the Finding Nemo ride.  – She never ceases to amaze us.  We never thought she’d take to rides like she has.  We’ve learned to never under-estimate her! 

 Brad and I have been able to ride some really cool rides!  With Ally’s line jumper pass, we bypass all the lines and go right to the front.  We got to ride Soarin’…AWESOME simulation ride.  We also got to ride Test Track (a not-to-be-missed ride according to Brad’s sister, Jessica).  It was really cool! 

 Ally is such a trooper.  She lasted all day long!  Tomorrow, we are off to Universal and Sea World’s new waterpark, Aquatica.   

Ben - He started school this year at The Morgan School.  He LOVES his teacher, Ms. Rosa.  He really, really likes it, and he’s doing quite well.  When we first arrive at school, he looks for all his friends (in particular Spencer and Avery - I think because they usually arrive about the same time).  He has Spanish language class twice a week, and he really enjoys that too.  The other day, he was counting in Spanish instead of English, and on the way to school he said, “Buenos dias!”  Too cute!

Ally has started kindergarten at Twin Chimneys Elementary School.  She is doing GREAT!  We are thrilled.  She is learning to write her letters now.  She can write her name and has been able to do that, but now she’s learning the other letters too.  It is fun to see her try to write letters while she’s coloring.

We are two weeks away from Allyson’s Make-A-Wish trip to Orlando.  We will be staying at Give Kids the World (a village designed especially for wish kids), and we’ll get tickets to Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, etc.  She is excited to see the princesses and the princess castle.  Each day she talks more and more about her “trip”!  I think we are all looking forward to it.

Here’s the website for Give Kids the World if you are interested in taking a look.  http://www.gktw.org