Date: Fri 06-Mar-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Katelyn-Wise-Disney-Sears

Full Text:

Local Fourth Grader Wins Her Family A Vacation To Remember

(with cut)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

When Carol Wise went to the Sears store at the Danbury Mall last September to

pay her bill, she saw a box for a free drawing for an "Imagine the Vacation of

Your Dreams" sweepstakes. She filled out entry forms for herself, her husband,

Jeff, and their daughters, Katelyn, 9, and Kim, 13, then promptly forgot about

it.

"I was completely surprised when Katelyn got a certified letter announcing

that she was one of the 75 grand prize winners," Mrs Wise said. "In fact, I

made some telephone calls to be sure it was legitimate before I told her about

it."

Katelyn had won an all-expense-paid trip for four to the Walt Disney World

Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on February 1-7 as part of the Sears

sweepstakes.

"We actually had a choice between Disney World or a vacation on the Disney

cruise ship to the Cayman Islands," Mrs Wise said. "But we had never been to

Disney World and that's where Katelyn wanted to go."

The Wise family lives on Huntingtown Road in Newtown. Katelyn is a fourth

grade student at Middle Gate School; Kim is in the eighth grade at the middle

school.

Sears customers across the country entered for a chance to win a customized

vacation for four. The 75 winners were able to create their own seven-day,

six-night vacation. Among the experiences Katelyn and her family chose were a

$1,000 shopping spree at the World of Disney, and a $200 shopping spree at the

Virgin Megastore in the downtown Disney area. Plus they received $700 in

Disney bucks to spend throughout the resort.

"We arrived at the resort on Sunday, Sears [personnel] gave us a gift bag with

T-shirts, hats and Disney jackets in a nylon Disney bag," Mrs Wise said. "By

6:30 am on Monday -- it was still dark outside -- we boarded a bus for the

shopping spree. The World of Disney was actually 12 stores within one,

everything from men's, women's and children's clothing to housewares."

Katelyn had an escort who carried a calculator on the shopping spree and only

went $14 over the allowed $1,000 total. On Thursday, the $200 shopping spree

was at a store which sells items like CDs, books and computer software.

Although the weather was cool, windy and often rainy during the week, the Wise

family had enough to do that it made up for not being able to use the outdoor

swimming pool at the new Coronado Springs Resort where they stayed.

"We enjoyed a dessert party at Epcot with the Disney characters, then went

outside to watch the illumination," Mrs Wise said. "We had passes for all

parts of Disney World."

"And when we left, we received two Disney Mickey Unlimited backpacks, and

gifts certificates to Sears. They covered it all," Mrs Wise said.

Katelyn and Kim had to miss a week of school, but they felt the experience was

worth it.

"I had a great time," Katelyn said.