Give Kids the World, a nonprofit resort offering children with life-threatening illnesses a free place to stay with their families while visiting Orlando-area theme parks, has renewed its partnership with Universal Orlando.
The “storybook resort,” which rests on 70 acres with 144 villas in Central Florida, offers free transportation, accommodations, theme park admission and meals to families with sick children who want to visit the area to provide wishes for their children. Families with healthy children are encouraged to volunteer to help with upkeep, serve breakfast, assist with makeovers for kids (including face-painting, makeup and manicures), and help package food. In order to provide free accommodations and meals to families with sick children, Give Kids The World (GKTW) requires 1,200 volunteer shifts per week, mainly in the morning, between 7:30 a.m. and noon.
In an effort to support the village, Universal Orlando has renewed its partnership with the organization by providing special vacation packages for families. The package starts at $359 per adult and includes three nights hotel accommodations, two-day park-to-park tickets with third day free and early park admission, and free roundtrip transportation to and from GKTW. Guests can choose to stay at an on-site hotel starting at $625 per adult. Universal Orlando will also donate $100 to GKTW for every package booked.
Volunteers must be 8 years old and over to participate, and adults must complete a background check. Vacation packages are available for travel through December 17, 2014, and must be booked by December 12. However, the free park ticket must be used by May 22, 2014.
–Lissa Poirot
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