I Wish to Go... to The Great Wolf Lodge

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What is the perfect wish for a child who loves princesses, dressing up, tea parties, swimming, and staying in hotels? The obvious answer is a trip to Disneyland. But when the child is too medically fragile to travel long distances, how can you provide an outstanding experience without leaving the state?

This was the dilemma facing Make-A-Wish volunteers when they were helping 3-year-old Naomi choose a wish. Naomi is battling End Stage Renal Disease, which makes her feel exhausted and has resulted in a weakened immune system. "She is delicate and gets tired quickly," her mom Monica said. "Disney would be too overwhelming for her."

After some brainstorming, the volunteers suggested the idea of The Great Wolf Lodge. "I had heard about it from family and the ads on TV," said volunteer Carolina Ayala de Freeman." She could be a princess there and really enjoy the water. That is her thing."

Great Wolf Lodge is located within a two hour's drive from Naomi's house, and boasts an indoor water park. With a room temperature of 84 degrees, and a special section of the water park devoted to the smaller set, it seemed like the perfect place for Naomi.

Volunteers celebrated Naomi's wish with a special tea party at the Fairmont Hotel in Seattle. "This was the first time she had ever had a tea party," Carolina said. "She was so well behaved, and you could tell she was having a good time because of the little grin on her face."

When the day of Naomi's wish arrived, her family drove down to The Great Wolf Lodge. Upon arrival, they were given a very special greeting: The Welcome Howl! All available members of the Wolf Lodge Pack met them at the door and howled like a pack of wolves. "We were really impressed that lots of personnel and managers came out to meet Naomi," Monica said.

The team at The Great Wolf Lodge was dedicated to making Naomi's experience at the resort magical and memorable. As a gift for their special guest, they shut down their MagiQuest Store and let Naomi, her twin, and her brother pick out wands and outfits. Naomi picked out a princess outfit and then enjoyed some time in Scoops Kid's Spa, where she and her twin sister both had manicures. Feeling perfectly pampered, Princess Naomi then went to enjoy another tea party where an affable Wolf made an appearance. "She became very friendly when they brought him in," Monica said.

Naomi likes hotels, but truly loved her special room which looked like a log cabin with bunk beds. She also enjoyed splashing in the water park and eating French Fries in the restaurant every night. The Lodge has a nightly story time, and one night they dedicated the story to Naomi. They read Sleeping Beauty, and gave her the book as a keepsake of her time there.

"All of us really enjoyed the special treatment," Monica said. "I can't imagine anything else they could have done that they didn't."

The folks at Great Wolf Lodge were thrilled to be a part of Naomi's wish experience. "Our pack members had so much fun putting together all of the activities for her family," said Maggie Moore, Director of Brand Experience at Great Wolf Lodge. "I think that she and her sister really transformed into magical princesses by the time they left the Lodge."

Naomi has many joyful moments to recall as she continues battling her illness. "I'm sure she will remember it for a long time," Monica said. "It was very special. She will remember being Princess Naomi."

Naomi is currently waiting for a kidney transplant.

Special thanks: Great Wolf Lodge for their help making Naomi’s wish come true.

Special thanks: Volunteers Carolina Ayala de Freeman and Nan Cleveland.

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