Samantha’s Dream Lights Up the Galaxy
Ten-year-old Dreamer Samantha and her family experienced a memorable adventure to Disney, Universal, and Give Kids the World Village, filled with exciting attractions, family fun, and plenty of time to simply enjoy being together.
For Samantha, the adventure began with a first of its own. It was her first time flying on an airplane, and she enjoyed the experience from her window seat as the family headed to Florida for their Dream.
Once they arrived, Samantha quickly discovered one of the sweetest parts of the trip, unlimited ice cream at Give Kids the World Village. The Village became a favorite place to return to after busy days at the parks, giving the family a chance to relax and enjoy time together without the extra stress of planning every detail.
There was plenty to keep everyone entertained at the Village. The family visited the spa together, played games in the arcade, and explored the Imagination Lab, where they made pins and LEGO stamps and raced robots. Samantha even met a wizard who challenged her to compete in robot duels, adding another fun and unexpected memory to the experience.
At the theme parks, Samantha embraced the excitement of the rides. Tron was a favorite, and she enjoyed riding it twice. The Mummy, Space Mountain, and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure also brought plenty of thrills. Another special family memory came when Samantha, her siblings, and Dad each created their own lightsaber, using souvenir money to make something they could take home and remember the adventure by.
For Mom, however, the most meaningful part of the Dream was not any single ride or attraction. It was having the opportunity to slow down and enjoy a true family vacation together. “It was a really good time to just hang out as a family with the kids. With everything happening, we haven’t had the chance to make a vacation.” This Dream gave the family a chance to celebrate a period of calm, have fun together, and create memories they had been missing.
From Samantha’s first airplane ride to thrilling coasters, robot races, lightsabers, and plenty of ice cream, her Dream was filled with experiences that brought the whole family together. Most importantly, it gave them something they had not had the opportunity to enjoy before, a vacation where they could simply be a family.
Toby’s Dream is grateful for Chartway Promise Foundation, our funding partner, and the Heart of Giving Grant, a new initiative from Chartway Credit Union created for medically fragile children from military families. Thank you for helping us make Samantha’s dream come true.
