This past week Universal Orlando unveiled a truly unique vacation package.  One that truly embodies their new slogan “vacation like you mean it!”  This 3 Day vacation package includes 2 Days at the Universal Orlando resort and one 4 hour volunteer shift at the Give Kids the World Village.  Give Kids The World  (GKTW) is a 70-acre, nonprofit resort that is designed through the eyes of a child and immerses kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families in joy, hope, laughter and non-stop fun at Central Florida’s world-class attractions.

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

Families who book this vacation package will be treated to a 4 hour volunteer excursion, where you will get the experience of a life time spending your day “dream making” for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

MiceChat spoke with Public Relations Manager, Colette Krahenbuhl, about this incredible vacation experience:

MiceChat: How would you describe the mission of Give Kids the World?

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

Collette Krahenbuhl: It is a very simple mission, it is to provide the happiness that inspires hope, and we do that through picking a child and putting them in an environment of pure happiness. We do not say no to anything, if you want to have 8 ice cream sundaes for breakfast the answer is yes! … If you want to have just ice cream for dinner, or if you want to ride the carousel 25 times and then swim in the pool and then go to Disney,  and comeback and see Santa, we can make that happen!  … Our Mission is to provide one week for the family where they don’t have to worry about the medical bills piling up, they don’t have to worry about the doctors visits .. put the weight on our shoulders and we’ll make these magical memories.  We truly believe that when you are really really happy you can conquer the world.  If we can provide that happiness to that child, they might have the power to go back home and fight their illness.

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

MC:  What do volunteers do at the Give Kids the World Complex?

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal


CK:  We can accommodate up to 140 families at our facility.  In order to operate and keep costs down, we rely on volunteers to provide some of the required services.  Starting at the moment the family arrives at the village helping them check-in, helping them with a family orientation, putting them on a golf cart and driving  them to their villa, serving them breakfast and dinner in the Ginger Bread House Restaurant, clearing their plates, operating the carousel, train, serving ice cream, and every night when they get from the theme parks [thanks to complimentary admissions]… the village comes to life with a party, like Halloween, Christmas, Village Idol, Pirates and Princess, the World’s Largest Candyland Game, we rely on volunteers to put on these events, to partake in the dressing up, trick or treating, face painting.  Every week more than 1,400 shifts are filled by our “angels” or volunteers.

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal


MC:  Can you share with us how this new and unique vacation package (allowing Orlando visitors to volunteer at Give Kids the World) got created?

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

CK: This volunteer vacation came about partly because of Universal’s commitment to us.  Not only has Universal been providing complimentary tickets to us for many years, but they are also very active in our volunteer program.  Their employees come over several times during the week to come over on their own time to fill our volunteer shifts.  Universal also sends their characters out several times a week so that families can get pictures without having to wait in a long lines in the parks.  Through this relationship, Universal approached us and said, ‘we would like to be more involved, how can we help you?’  and we suggested this volunteer vacation package.

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

MC:  Families who book this vacation time get 4 hours of volunteer time. What could a family expect to do in those 4 hours?

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

CK:   There are a couple different options for volunteers.  One is to work in our Ginger Bread House Restaurant serving breakfast to our families where they would greet the families; they would carry the trays for the families, and then bus the table afterwards or serve the food.  The other option is working in the Oh La Ti Da Spa; this is a spa just for our little princesses and princes.  In the spa they can get their nails done, makeup application, or airbrush tattoos.  We also need volunteers to assist with our character programs.  Universal sends out their own characters so that the families can have a more intimate meet and greet than waiting at the parks.  The last place to volunteer is at our express breakfast station and that is in our ice cream palace and that is a quick stop breakfast location for families that want to get off to the parks.

 give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

MC:  What is the biggest take away for volunteers at Give Kids the World?

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

CK:  Knowing that you made a difference for a child with a life threatening illness and their family.  A family could have come from three weeks in a hospital and hearing the answer “NO.”  No, from insurance companies, no from doctors, and all of a sudden they ask you a question and you answer YES!  I believe that from the moment you walk into the gates at Give Kids the World, you become a better person.  I have seen it day in and day out, and there is something about the village that brings out the best in each person.  Everyone has that side of them that is the best person they can be… and when they come through the gates at Give Kids the World you become selfless, giving and happy.

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

MC:  Is Gives Kids the World always looking for volunteers?

CK:  We always need volunteers! Always!  On any given day we need 300 people to show up!  If only 100 volunteers show up, in some way our families’ experience will be compromised.  It is very critical for us that on any given day of the week to fulfill those necessary shifts so that the families are given the most perfect magical week that they could have!  A shift runs anywhere from 3 hours to 4 hours.   We have a job and a need and a position for anyone’s skill set!

give kids the world, If you Give Kids the World, it’s Universal

Packages start at 589.00 per Adult and must be booked by August 29th, 2013 and travel by December 31st 2013 and includes accommodations at any of the 3 Universal Orlando hotels.  Universal Orlando has committed to donating $100 to Give Kids the World for every package booked!

Give Kids The World Volunteer Vacation Package

Package includes the following benefits:

  • Three nights of accommodations at one of three AAA Four Diamond Award winning on-site hotels at Universal Orlando2-day Base Ticket – one theme park, per day
  • A four-hour volunteer opportunity at Give Kids The World Village
  • FREE scheduled round-trip transportation to and from Give Kids The World Village
  • Early Park Admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the rest of the general public
  • Universal Express ride access to skip the regular lines at both Universal Orlando theme parks

**Pricing starts at $589 per adult, tax inclusive. No additional fees to volunteer.

To Book This Package Call
(855) 275-4955

Vacation package must be booked by August 29, 2013, for travel through December 31, 2013.

The next time you consider taking a vacation to the Universal Orlando Resort, consider donating a few hours of your time to making another family’s vacation a little brighter.  Donate your time, save money, and be a hero.

Please do us the favor of sharing this post with your friends and family, you never know who out there might just be looking for an opportunity to take a great vacation and help make magic for a child very much in need. We hope that Give Kids the World is flooded with bighearted volunteers. We’d love to hear from you when you get back. I’d bet that for most of you, those 4 hours at Give Kids The World will be the cherished memories you take home with you from this vacation.

Eric Davis
By day, Eric is in Marketing and Social Media. But on the weekends, he's a theme park addict. Eric is a frequent contributor to MiceChat's Orlando Parkhopper columns and tends to focus his efforts on what's new and what's news at Universal Studios and SeaWorld.