An 89-acre non-profit resort in Kissimmee providing week-long wishes to critically ill children and their families is back open. Give Kids the World Village reopened Sunday after being closed for 10 months.


What You Need To Know

  • Give Kids the World Village Opened in 1986

  • It has granted wishes for more than 176,000 critically ill children and their families

  • It has been closed since March because of COVID

Pamela Landwirth, President & CEO of Give Kids the World, said nearly 6,000 wishes were postponed since the closing in March.

“My heart is just soaring right now,” she said.

Vincent Jones and his family were among the first to arrive Sunday. It was a long trek from Cleveland, and they are ready to have some fun.

“We are going to have a great time. They have given us a gift – really cannot say thank you enough,” Vincent's Uncle Michael White said.

The family will be staying on the property for a week, checking out all of the fun rides and things to do in the area.

“They got so much to do for the kids, and Vincent's excited.”

They will also get to check out Disney World and other local attractions thanks to the non-profit.

“It's hard. We are going to make the best of it – enjoy, every minute we got with the kid, because it’s a special time for us. And we have been gifted this nice thing from this whole group,” White said.

Landwirth said, for now, Give Kids the World Village is starting with just a few families at a time. They are hoping to bring the number up to around 30 families by March.

The village first opened in 1986. Since then, it has welcomed more than 176,000 families for the week-long fun at no cost.