03/18/2026
Oakie Jo’s Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in Florida was truly beyond anything we could have imagined with every moment about her ✨
From the moment we arrived, seeing her light up, smile, and giggle so freely just melted my heart. These are the moments you hold onto forever 💕 Of course, we still had our share of “typical Oakie” moments—meltdowns and times when everything became a little too overwhelming—but even those were easier to navigate this time. The mesh tent hideout mama made for her stroller ended up being an absolute lifesaver. It gave her a safe, cozy space to decompress and reset when all the excitement got to be too much, and it made such a difference in helping her enjoy more of the experience.
Oaklynn was completely in her element with the princesses 👑 She had a magical half-hour private visit with Elsa & Anna that felt like a dream come true. She walked, hopped, and skipped alongside Rapunzel like they were best friends, and meeting Snow White was another special moment she won’t forget. She had her heart set on meeting Belle, but we didn’t get the chance this time—so we’re holding onto that for “next time” 💛 She definitely prefers characters where she can see their real faces—anyone with a full costume coming too close was a little too much—but she was perfectly happy watching them from a safe distance and soaking it all in her own way.
She was tall enough to try a few rides, which was such a big milestone! Even though she was nervous and a little scared, she was so brave—and the best part is she’s still talking about them and saying she had fun. That says everything 🥹
One of her absolute favorite parts of the trip was Animal Kingdom. She LOVED all the animals, but the giraffes completely stole her heart 🦒 Watching her excitement and pure joy in those moments was just incredible.
We also did a character dinner with Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy. She was definitely unsure at first and took her time warming up, but she handled it so well—and best of all, no tears! That felt like such a huge win for her.
We stayed at Give Kids the World Village, and I truly can’t say enough about how amazing it was. Every single person there went above and beyond to make our family feel loved, supported, and cared for. It’s such a special place filled with kindness and magic. If anyone is ever looking for a meaningful way to give back—whether through volunteering or donations—I wholeheartedly recommend them.
This trip gave us memories we will cherish forever. Watching Oakie experience so much joy, on her own terms, in her own way, was the greatest gift of all 💖
