During our Redington Beach vacation, we knew we wanted to visit Give Kids the World. Give Kids the World Village is a non-profit resort in central Florida. They provide weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families, usually when a child’s wish is to visit one of the theme parks in Orlando.
We had a chance to stay at Give Kids the World in 2003 when my then 4-year-old made a wish to meet Donald Duck through Make-A-Wish. He had been diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric kidney cancer in 2002. After seven months of cancer treatments, we were ready for a vacation!
Give Kids the world isn’t your average resort. The families staying here are provided with a fully stocked two-bedroom family villa for the entire week. Volunteers take care of most everything and money is not needed. Kids get the chance to play, have fun, and make awesome memories.
Once a Wish Kid – Always a Wish Kid
Ben was only four when we stayed at Give Kids the World!. He has seen the pictures, but he doesn’t remember much about the trip. It was fun going back seeing the resort fifteen years later.
Four times a year, families can come back for an alumni visit. Walking into the House of Hearts (welcome center) brought back a flood of memories. It was comforting to see that some things were as we remembered. Right away we recognized bright decor and the friendliness of the volunteer staff! Whether you are a wish family or alumni, GKTW staff treat you like royalty. Tammy, our excellent liaison, set us up for the day, acquainted us with the activities and gave us all some good laughs.
Ice Cream Palace
GKTW is not the place to worry about your sugar intake. Ice cream is available all day! And we are not talking a soft-serve machine. Oh no! Real ice cream scoops with a ton of toppings and whipped cream, of course. At GKTW it is mandatory to have ice cream at least three times a day! Who were we to say no?
Enchanted Carousel
The huge red and white mushroom is hard to miss. Underneath is the wheelchair accessible carousel. See the turtle?
Alyssa found her favorite animal, a unicorn!
Castle of Miracles and Star Tower
The Castle of Miracles is an extraordinary place. Every wish kid is given a star to personalize. Then it is placed on the ceiling of the castle or the adjoining star tower by Stellar the Star Fairy. The stars are a permanent part of the castle.
Thousands of stars decorate the star tower! Each one represents a child with a life-threatening illness.
Ben’s Star from 2003! The scribbling in the middle is all Ben; I helped him out a bit so we could find his star later.
Towne Hall and Gingerbread House
One one end of the village sits Towne Hall. The building looks delicious with its swirly lollipops. Inside is the Hoppening Place, the perfect gathering spot for many of the village’s activities. Towne Hall is also home to the cafe and dining room.
Yay!! On Thursday Disney characters visit. I was thrilled to get at least one photo of all of us with Pluto!
Thursdays are also Christmas at GKTW! The little kids were thrilled to see Santa. He even brought presents!
Park of Dreams
Wow! Park of Dreams looked nothing like it did fifteen years ago. The upgrades made it feel like a 5-star resort! The pool and splash pad are wheelchair accessible so everyone can enjoy! And of course, there is more food! The kids took full advantage of the endless slushies, popcorn, and hot dogs.
Amberville Station
Isaac’s favorite spot in the village, Amberville Station. This place is a 10-year-old boy’s dream. Inside we found remote control boats, arcade games, pool tables, and Xbox and Wii games. There is also miniature golf and a wheelchair accessible train ride.
The big boys had fun too! Although Ben might have outgrown this ride!
Thanks, Mickey for lending Ben a hand.
The evening was topped off with a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Village.
Our villa looks good with a fresh paint job.
Our Give Kids the World Alumni Visit was one of the highlights of our vacation. We planned to stay only a few hours but ended up staying into the night. This place has our hearts. We will be making plans to come back and volunteer in the future.
Are you planning a visit to Central Florida? Think about spending a day volunteering at Give Kids the World. Learn more HERE. There are other ways to help too! More information HERE.
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