Make a wish family files complaint

[Gorechick]

What I'd like to know is how long was she making a stink asking them to bend the rules to let her shop BEFORE the supervisor called her out. I doubt the supervisor told her flat out right away that she was taking advantage. I'm betting she kept demanding preferential treatment to get let in after closing time even when CM's were POLITELY speaking with her. She wasn't getting her way so SHE probably kept at it and escalated it. Wish trip or not, rules are rules and they are in place for a reason.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I am sorry, but the more I think about this the more I believe she is just looking for attention and to get something out of Disney!.

If all she wanted was a apology, she could have just asked for it and hope for the best. All she has dome now is make is likely there is much more to this story she is not telling us.

AKK

 

[bidnow5]

I can understand the stress making her be not herself at Disney but making a big deal after the fact to the newspaper makes me think she is for sure trying to get something or setting up her story to file a lawsuit

 

[cjbcam]

I hate people like this. I feel sorry for the little boy and who on earth makes children sit there and cry for an hour? I understand an emotional breakdown or whatever but putting your kids through that for an hour? People like this will eventually make wish trips no longer happen. If Disney gets enough bad press about wish trips eventually they will just say enough is enough and do away with it. Not saying they will over this one thing but if one person complains then more are more likely to.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

With all due respect, you "get" MAW families only to a certain extent unless you ARE a MAW family . . .

1) I typically let things run off my back, like water on a duck.
2) But, this one is hard to leave sit.
3) Your remark assumes others have not had MAW-type events/circumstances.
4) ONE SHOULD EXPLORER BEFORE ONE MAKES ASSUMPTIONS OR COMMENTS.
5) Put it this way, I have intimate knowledge of being a MAW Family.
6) Therefore, I do "get" it.
7) WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, of course.

 

[sookie]

I think it's important to keep in mind that the whole Make A Wish thing is incredibly difficult for those of us who go through it, and that we can't account for this mother's emotional state by the end of the trip. On the surface, it seems like we as parents of wish kids should be overjoyed that our children are chosen for wishes and we are - it's a truly awesome experience. But it's really much more complex than that, especially when your child is one who lives daily with a life-threatening, life-limiting condition. Once you get past the, "Oh my gosh, we're going to Disney," you're left with, "Oh my gosh,I can't believe my kid is sick enough to qualify because Make A Wish is only for the REALLY sick kids". And then there's a lot of pressure for the trip to be perfect, and the fear that it won't be perfect, and the idea that you'll never get to do this again for as long as the child may live. The article says this was on their last night. The last night before their lives are going back to the way they have always been - the needle sticks, the fear, the hospitalizations. Don't you think that perhaps emotions were running high? Maybe they hadn't had a great week health wise? Maybe mom knew that things were trending south and they were about to get a huge smack from reality, that she wanted one last chance to do this for her kids? We don't know. All we know is what we see on the surface, that there was an apparently unbalanced mom who just wanted more after she had already been given so much. We don't even know that this is who she really is. You spend all week as a Wish family being told if you want something, ask for it. Don't be afraid to tell people you're on a Wish trip to see if you can get some special consideration. We're told that. We're told that the Wish is for the child but the experience is for the family. It's a complex thing, one that you can't fully understand until you've lived it. In many ways, when we went back as a family this past April, the trip was so much better there were no expectations that it would be the trip of a lifetime. There was no pressure for it to be perfect. We could simply be together as a family. Again, something that's hard to understand unless you've lived it.

She wanted what she wanted, and that was it. When we were on site last month, they had busses running from the MK to DTD - it was a new "thing". The toy store there is huge and beautiful, and I believe it has everything that the Emporium does. They could have also hopped to another park and shopped / played there. I believe that when the MK has a party night, at least one other park as EMH that are extended.

The fact of the matter is, she had options - lots of them. Oh, they also had a rental car and several thousand dollars in spending money from MAW - not just the trip.

She just decided not to take advantage of her options, didn't plan ahead to get souvenirs for her kids - this was all on her.

 

[teller80]

What time would the first parade have been that night? Its usually around 8:30 isn't it?

Conveniently close to around the time it would have been after standing outside the shop with her crying kid for an hour.

I assume these timings are related to why Disney finally relented and allowed them to make their purchases.

What a horrible awkward position for all Disney CM's to be in. Rules are rules and Disney must stick to the hard ticket rules otherwise word will get around and everyone will begin abusing. Somehow Disney had to remove this family from the park without it becoming a international news headline story that a MAW family were kicked out the park! - and preferably before the parade!

I personally think Disney maybe should give guests the option "I can process your purchases, however the park is now closed to non-hard ticketed guests and so I will need to have a CM escort you from the park after your purchases. Alternatively, you can leave without your purchases and without being escorted."

I think it (the bolded paragraph) would be too hard to enforce, and thats why they do not allow it.

 

[Lsdolphin]

This is a quote of what the mom keeps posting in the story comments.

How sad to end a magical experience like this. Disney and the MAW foundation do so much for these children it appears to be another case of abusing the generosity of these organizations. One should learn from the demise of the GAC!

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

He has hemophilia. Poor little dude - he is cute.

I think it is great that MAW kids get to go and have a great time at Disney. If your 5 - and a MAW kid - your pretty much going to Disney!

However, that being said - many of these kids are not on deaths door when they walk into the gates of WDW. There are some though that look it - I saw one that was a pale little thing in her wheelchair at WDW, very thin and white, wearing a mask and blankets in October - she looked exhausted too. I'm pretty sure she was a wish kid. I felt like I wanted to just take her back to her room for a nap - her family was pushing her around at all times of the morning and night. But maybe that was what she wanted.

Anyway, you can qualify for a MAW trip by having any life altering condition or, at least at one time, a condition that was life threatening for you (a chronic disease, even if well controlled - something like hemophilia).

I think that mom is blowing this one over the top - I don't think that being a MAW kid entitles you to everything mom wishes or desires during your trip if you didn't plan for it. I mean, honestly - they couldn't spring for the party tickets after having their vacation paid for like that? Or at least asked MAW in advance for party tickets, just by doing a little planning? I bet they would have made it happen.

Even the little cancer kiddos have to be well enough to tolerate the trip (usually). It is not only for kids who are on hospice or anything else. Just - life threatening illness. So they could be recovering, have a good prognosis and doing well at that time, but still be eligible for MAW. We all just hear MAW and immediately drop because they are kids and sick. But still - the adults have to have some boundaries (and personal responsibility).

http://wish.org/about-us/making-a-difference/granting-wishes

Honestly you would probably qualify, and can self refer (if your under 18).

Ask for something good - like the top room available at the poly or something!

I am a wish granter for make a wish and wanted to clarify because I can see where this would be confusing:
MAW grants wishes to children who have a life threatening illness at the time of referral. It is not specifically for terminal illness and indeed, often the wish can have a positive effect on treatment outcomes. The important thing is that it must be life threatening at the time if referral as certified by the child's physician, if it was life threatening and no longer is at the time of referral, that child does not qualify. A well controlled chronic disease may very likely not qualify as it would no longer be life threatening. Again, we do not make the determination, the physician does.

Another thing to take note of is that kids going through make a wish are required to stay at the village. MAW des not pay for on site stays, so telling someone to ask for certain resorts/rooms can lead to disappointment.

That being said, I would never discourage somebody who believes they or their child qualify from referring. The physician will make the final determination if the child qualifies. Often if they do not qualify for us but do for another organization, we will give them that information.

 

[sookie]

I am a wish granter for make a wish and wanted to clarify because I can see where this would be confusing:
MAW grants wishes to children who have a life threatening illness at the time of referral. It is not specifically for terminal illness and indeed, often the wish can have a positive effect on treatment outcomes. The important thing is that it must be life threatening at the time if referral as certified by the child's physician, if it was life threatening and no longer is at the time of referral, that child does not qualify. A well controlled chronic disease may very likely not qualify as it would no longer be life threatening. Again, we do not make the determination, the physician does.

Another thing to take note of is that kids going through make a wish are required to stay at the village. MAW des not pay for on site stays, so telling someone to ask for certain resorts/rooms can lead to disappointment.

That being said, I would never discourage somebody who believes they or their child qualify from referring. The physician will make the final determination if the child qualifies. Often if they do not qualify for us but do for another organization, we will give them that information.

I did not know they had to stay at GKTW if doing a Disney trip.

Also, is that amount of spending money - when food, lodging, rental car, tickets, and everything else is covered - usual?

So, do you think this kid - who has been described as a well controlled hemophiliac (even though he has a significant form) and basically living a normal life at home per people on the local media website (if this were true) - would usually qualify for a wish trip usually? Going by what the website says....

http://wish.org/refer-a-child

It also seems to be very dependent on what the medical provider says for the patient.

 

[3Gsandme]

I don't think there is any reason to doubt the validity of this child's wish trip. MAW was provided with information that made them feel as though he was eligible and I think beginning to question who is or isn't worthy gets into slippery slope territory. I have no idea how long it takes to process a wish, but at the time of application this child was eligible.

I understand that a wish trip can be loaded with emotions that are difficult for families to navigate and hopefully MAW has counselor available to help families cope with the range of emotions they have during the trip. But, I don't think I'm
Not a compassionate person because I've decided the parent in question is a class A jerk. I have kids and little ones too. Had I been her and found the store closed, I'd have asked if there was anyplace outside of the MK where I could shop and then once being told where I could do that, I'd console the kids and we'd go to the alternate venue.

You can't play the tired card. How tired people were was overlooked while she fought for an hour to access something she wasn't entitled to regardless of how her trip was funded. She had a rental car and could have been at Downtown Disney in far less time than she stood outside. She wants to be acknowledged as a parent under extreme duress who needs loads of understanding and sympathy yet made decisions that didn't show that to her own children.

 

[chip611]

Let's just pause for a moment and have little compassion for the CM that had this rediculous complaint filled against her. I guarantee you she's been fired, anytime anything goes public involving CM's they're considered a liability. So now because this mother used the famous line of, "it's our last day" and threw a hissy-fit that poor woman is probably out a job. I worked at WDW for 5 years and at least 10 times a day we'd hear that excuse, "it's our last day"... And at least 10 times a day when we said no we were told, "you ruined our vacation" "how could you say no to my child" "you're a horrible person" and so on.
I have no problem with a little compassion but she had the whole vacation to buy those toys and chose not to. I'd bet you the CM's gave her a variety of options of places she could go buy the toys but she chose to make a scene. Therefore not only ruining her families night but every other family around her.

 

[disney david]

Let's just pause for a moment and have little compassion for the CM that had this rediculous complaint filled against her. I guarantee you she's been fired, anytime anything goes public involving CM's they're considered a liability. So now because this mother used the famous line of, "it's our last day" and threw a hissy-fit that poor woman is probably out a job. I worked at WDW for 5 years and at least 10 times a day we'd hear that excuse, "it's our last day"... And at least 10 times a day when we said no we were told, "you ruined our vacation" "how could you say no to my child" "you're a horrible person" and so on.
I have no problem with a little compassion but she had the whole vacation to buy those toys and chose not to. I'd bet you the CM's gave her a variety of options of places she could go buy the toys but she chose to make a scene. Therefore not only ruining her families night but every other family around her.

When you worked for Disney and let's say this happened or something close what the protocol to call security. She says the manager said the that line so just wondering what your supposed to do win a guest that arguing and causing a scene and if it different if it a maw family.

 

[lauradis]

But when people judge her as being "greedy", "entitled", and less of a mother based on one situation, especially when they haven't walked a mile in her shoes, then yes, that's lacking compassion. And with that, I'm out because it seems as though my attempts to inspire a little understanding are futile. Off to give thanks for all that I have, and the wonderful, caring people I have in my life.

Being the mother of a multi handicapped child with a rare genetic disorder, that he will have to live and deal with his physical issues till the day he dies, oh I understand to well, the emotional pain a mother goes thru.

Here's the but,
1. She ask to shop after the store was closed
2. She got to shop in the closed store.

After number 2 that should be end of the story. The witch in me hopes Disney doesn't give here anything but a letter.

 

[Granny square]

Being the mother of a multi handicapped child with a rare genetic disorder, that he will have to live and deal with his physical issues till the day he dies, oh I understand to well, the emotional pain a mother goes thru. Here's the but, 1. She ask to shop after the store was closed 2. She got to shop in the closed store. After number 2 that should be end of the story. The witch in me hopes Disney doesn't give here anything but a letter.

Wow! Agree!

 

[WantToGoNow]

I am a wish granter for make a wish and wanted to clarify because I can see where this would be confusing:
MAW grants wishes to children who have a life threatening illness at the time of referral. It is not specifically for terminal illness and indeed, often the wish can have a positive effect on treatment outcomes. The important thing is that it must be life threatening at the time if referral as certified by the child's physician, if it was life threatening and no longer is at the time of referral, that child does not qualify. A well controlled chronic disease may very likely not qualify as it would no longer be life threatening. Again, we do not make the determination, the physician does.

And we have very odd Hematoligist. My dd had an appt there on Halloween - the entire dept was dressed up as Wizard of Oz except him. He said he didn't know it was Halloween. We were specifically told by his office to apply (but we didn't someone else did, I don't know who).

My dd doesn't clot. She will always be "fine" right up until she wrecks that bike and hits her head, or falls off those bleachers she shouldn't have been climbing on, or is in a car accident, or a number of other things. We were told to always treat first and diagnose second or by the time we realize she has internal bleeding it will be too late. In the next year or so we will have a whole new set of issues when her monthly "friend" decides to make an appearance. Definitely not looking forward to that.

 

[Granny square]

And we have very odd Hematoligist. My dd had an appt there on Halloween - the entire dept was dressed up as Wizard of Oz except him. He said he didn't know it was Halloween. We were specifically told by his office to apply (but we didn't someone else did, I don't know who). My dd doesn't clot. She will always be "fine" right up until she wrecks that bike and hits her head, or falls off those bleachers she shouldn't have been climbing on, or is in a car accident, or a number of other things. We were told to always treat first and diagnose second or by the time we realize she has internal bleeding it will be too late. In the next year or so we will have a whole new set of issues when her monthly "friend" decides to make an appearance. Definitely not looking forward to that.

So scary. I'm sorry.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't think there is any reason to doubt the validity of this child's wish trip. MAW was provided with information that made them feel as though he was eligible and I think beginning to question who is or isn't worthy gets into slippery slope territory. I have no idea how long it takes to process a wish, but at the time of application.

I think this is important to remember.
The child DID meet MAW's guidelines for being eligible to get a wish granted.

Being a caring, appreciative, patient and generally nice person is extremely helpful in being parent of a child with disabilities.
But, it's not a requirement of getting a wish granted. There are parents who are all of those things and some who are none of those things.
It might just be their personality or their reaction to stress.
Even though the media usually portrays people with disabled children as almost saintly, there are some who fit more on the 'not nice' end of the scale.

We don't know from this story where this family fits - all we know is that the mom is fixated on this single incident to the point where it seems to be defining her child's MAW experience.
Maybe it happened the way she says (but there are lots of holes in her story).
Maybe she misinterpreted things that were said.
Maybe she blew things totally out of proportion.
Maybe she was in such an emotional state that she was 'ready to blow' at anything.
Maybe she was nice. Maybe she was a jerk.
We don't know.

There are lessons that can be learned from this.
No one has the ability to control what others say or do. We do have the ability to control our reaction to what happens to us. It's in our power to let go or let something that happened poison an otherwise good experience.
And, once the poisoning has started to get hold, it's very hard to get out of that mindset. So, much better not to go there in the first place.

 

[leebee]

Having read the entire thread (it's a slow Sunday morning here)...

Yes, I think the mom was out of control. I don't think they should have let her shop, but by the time they'd pitched enough of a fit, it was easier to let her shop than to continue to let it escalate. HOWEVER... this seems to be becoming Disney's modus operandi, regardless of the reason. How many times have you seen a parent/kid pitching a huge fit at Disney, and Disney "gives in" somehow, just to make it stop? My sister has a friend who's practically made a career of getting free things from Disney by pitching a fit. Last time it happened (and my sister was there so I am confident of details), everyone in the party, including my sister and her kids, got free one-day passes to WDW. The reason? RnR shut down for about an hour, her kids and husband were "trapped" inside, and nobody could give her accurate information about how long they'd be stuck in there. She knew everyone was OK, because the kids were with the dad and the dad was TALKING TO THE MOM ON THEIR CELL PHONES, but it was annoying to have to suspend her touring while waiting for the rest of her family to get off RnR. BIG scene at Guest Services, she was gonna tell all her friends not to go to Disney, she'd be talking to the press about Disney's callous attitude, and voila free passes for all to make up for time lost on this day.

People are tired, hot, stressed, disappointed, have cranky kids, are cranky themselves... such is a day at Disney. Fits are pitched, and Disney caters to them because it's the easiest way to smooth things over and eliminate a scene. It's wrong, but it happens all the time. What are you gonna do?

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Let's just pause for a moment and have little compassion for the CM that had this rediculous complaint filled against her. I guarantee you she's been fired, anytime anything goes public involving CM's they're considered a liability. So now because this mother used the famous line of, "it's our last day" and threw a hissy-fit that poor woman is probably out a job. I worked at WDW for 5 years and at least 10 times a day we'd hear that excuse, "it's our last day"... And at least 10 times a day when we said no we were told, "you ruined our vacation" "how could you say no to my child" "you're a horrible person" and so on.
I have no problem with a little compassion but she had the whole vacation to buy those toys and chose not to. I'd bet you the CM's gave her a variety of options of places she could go buy the toys but she chose to make a scene. Therefore not only ruining her families night but every other family around her.

Thats really sad