Presley: Day 4- Give Kids the World Village

After a day of traveling and two FULL days of amusement park, the kids needed a break! Well, we all needed a break! We spent the day at GKTW Village and explored all the amazing things they have to offer. Today was a little rainy but the rain didn't stop us from exploring.

We had breakfast the Gingerbread House and then went to see the Disney Characters at GKTW. We saw Mickey first! Then we saw Goofy. They both signed the bottom of the feet on Mickey and Minnie. They spent so much time with our kids it was so nice.

This is Jojo she is one of the volunteers at GKTW. Jojo was waiting for us at the airport! The kids were excited to see her!
The people (volunteers) here are so kind and compassionate. They are so helpful. They say there are no rules at GKTW! A kids dream. Each week more that 1,500 volunteers donate their time to the village to support the kids and families. Some volunteers travel to Florida for vacation and spend time volunteering at the village. Collage groups and high school kids also earn money and come spend their week at GKTW. The smiles that are always given to you by these wonderful volunteers are the best part of the day!

Next was swimming! Having a heated pool helped so the kids were not too cold as it was overcast and rainy today.

We then toured the "Gallery of Hope" here we were able to learn a little more about the man who started GKTW. Henri Landwirth started GKTW in 1986. I read his biography the month before we came. I'm so glad that I did this. A fellow cancer mom sent me the book and a sweet letter. They too spent a week at this amazing place. It made my experience at the village complete. I knew the story and the history of this amazing man. Henri is a Holocaust survivor. He knows what it is like to give up his childhood. He spent 3 year as a prisoner in the Holocaust. Both of his parents were killed. His story is much different from mine or Presley's but I could relate. I can relate to some of his fears and anxiety. A few years later Henri made his way to America and worked in the hotel business. Years later while working at a hotel he knew of a little girl fighting Leukemia and her wish was to go to Disney World. She sadly passed away before her wish could be granted as they were waiting on a hotel for her wish. This is where the story of GKTW began. Henri made a decision that he would never let this happen again. With the help of friends and so many people, GKTW is what it is today.

We woke up the sleepy owl and he gave the kids a pillow.

We did Presley's star in the "Castle of Miracles"

More than 100,000 stars! Each Wish Kid that has stayed at GKTW has a star in the Castle or the Star Tower. They have filled the Castle with stars and have moved to the Star Tower. Here is the back of the castle where you find the Star Tower.

Come with me on a tour of the rest of GKTW. Some of these places you have already seen in pictures. I have heard it before that Give Kids The World is the 8th Wonder of the World. I would have to agree. Each wonder is unique for something and this one is so special to those who have stayed here and found healing and hope!

Under the "mushroom" which is part of the Castle of Miracles" is where you find the carousel. This was a favorite for Presley and Crew.

Her is the La-Ti-Da Royal Spa that the girls can go and get fingers painted, face painted, and pedicures.

Here is the Ice Cream Palace. "Ice Cream for Breakfast". It's open from 7:30-10pm. This was a favorite of all of ours, the kids and especially daddy.

Here is the train that goes around Amberville.

Here is Amberville.. inside is a train set, game room, TVs and pool table etc.

Here is the theatre "Julies Safari Theatre"

The concessions for the theater

Here is where we watched movies

The Garden of Hope where you find a butterfly garden and miniature house. Presley still talks about this little fairly house. She loved it!

This is the newly remodeled "Memory Makers" building. This mural was designed by Disney as part of the new "Extreme Makeover". Its beautiful. If you look close you will see the face of many of the volunteers who have helped make GKTW what it is today. The volunteers (memory makers) are what set GKTW apart from any other resort.

Here is the House of Hearts. This is the first building we entered when getting to GKTW. This is where the front desk of the resort is located.

This is the inside of the House of Hearts. This is where the information desk is and also where we checked in!

This is one of my favorite parts of the resort, the pool! The Park of Dream! This is the entrance to the pool!

This is the splash park inside and the pirate ship in the background.

Matthew's Boundless Playground.. This is such a fun park with lots of shaded areas. On Sunday nights everyone gathers together to play the World's Largest Candy Land Game here at the park.

Here are a few of the other villas. All of the villas were just remodeled in the past 2 months.

The landscaping is beautiful and well groomed. The village is very clean and inviting.

I cannot express enough how each and every detail in this place is made for kids. Everything from the bathrooms, to the sidewalks, the chairs and tables (kid size), were designed for little ones. This is one of the awesome garbage cans they have. Its nose is a suction where you'd put the garbage. It would say "feed me some garbage please" and "I love you"

This is the Gingerbread House.
More than 130,000 families have visited and stayed at the village from over 50 states and more than 74 countries around the world.

The tables in the Gingerbread House feature over 27,000 peppermint candies.They have a whole section just for kids. Chicken nuggets, hot dogs, broccoli, carrots, pickles, green beans, and mac and cheese! Its a kids dream!

Over 2,000 dolls line the top shelves in the gingerbread house they were donated y families from all over the world.

I stepped back to give the whole picture. You can see the Gingerbread house in the very left back. I'm taking this picture in front of the House of Hearts and to the right is the Train station and the Theater. This is the main area of the Village. All around these buildings are 150 villas.

Your name goes on a stone if you have donated more than $200.00 to the village. We tried to find Joes' name..he donated 1000.00 in Presley's honor. Thanks so much Joe and Elliot and Annie (therapy dogs)

It's been said that GKTW is the "8th wonder of the world". I would have to agree. I never dreamed that one day I might have a child with a terminal illness. I also never dreamed there was such a place for children. A place of healing, of love, a place that understands what has been taken.

And the Mayor of the Village happens to be a 6 foot-tall rabbit, Mayor Clayton. He takes such good care of the kids and the village with his bunny-bride Ms. Merry. They even tuck the kids into bed at night!

Nap time was 3 hours today...having so much fun can be exhausting! Poor us right?

No naps in two days is rough on Crew. Thankful for naps today. I enjoyed walking around taking picture of the village.

Today at the Village is Christmas. Everyday is a holiday! Christmas music has been playing all around the village today! We went on a horse drawn carriage ride around the village. Then went to sit on Santa's lap and pick out a toy. After that we decorated cookies and made ginger bread houses. We danced with Mayor Clayton and Ms. Merry. They have a new outfit for all the different activities at the village. Presley loved seeing all of Ms. Merry's different dresses!