Our Surprise Disney Fantasy Cruise

[Msbmommy99]

I have been reading these Disboards for the past few weeks. I am addicted! All I want to do when I get home from work is log on here and read about everyone's trip and experience. Tonight, while reading in the PTR's, I thought I would add our PTR.

Our vacation is a surprise for our DS12 and DS7. They think we are going on a 5 day WDW vacation with our best friends and their DD 11 and DD6 (who also think we are going on the 5 day WDW trip). Our school will be on Fall Break during this week so we planned our vacation in the spring of this year. We had just paid our final payment for our WDW vacation and were at dinner discussing our plans. We were excited about our trip because we got the free dining plan and had never done that before. The adults were a little apprehensive because it would not be a relaxing trip because we would be going from park to park for 5 days. We all love Disney and were looking forward to it but knew it wouldn't be so relaxing.

We discussed looking at DCL for our Fall Break 2013. We cruised during Fall Break 2011. It was relaxing and so much fun even thought it wasn't DCL. We have always wanted to do a cruise on DCL but didn't think we could afford it. I came home from dinner and started researching for 2013. I accidentally left 2012 in the date field. When it came up, the price was only $212.00 more than what we had paid for 5 days at WDW. I did a double take. I pulled up another screen and searched again. It came up with the same price. I wanted to shout out loud!!!! I texted my bff and said we could get a 7 day DCL cruise on the Fantasy, DCL's newest ship, for $212.00 more than what we paid for our WDW trip. She didn't believe me!!!!

To make a long story short, we called our travel agent and she said the deal was real and that she would book it for us that night. Needless to say, I didn't sleep that night and have been losing sleep ever since. Our reservation is for GTY, Category IGT, Inside Stateroom with Restrictions. We didn't care what room we were in because we would only be sleeping and showering there. Our room has not been assigned yet. I check everyday. I have also been reading all of the posts on here everyday.

We are not telling our kids because we want to surprise them. When we discuss our cruise we discuss it as our "Disney Vacation". I would love some suggestions on how to reveal the surprise to them. Please let me know if you have any cool ideas.

I will be posting more tomorrow. I am going to try to get some sleep tonight.

Thanks for reading and hope you will follow our adventure to surprise our children.

 

[cblack]

Sounds like fun! Can't wait to hear how the surprise goes!

 

[Msbmommy99]

About 2 weeks ago, DH was out of town. The boys and I went to dinner so that I wouldn't have to cook. We were sitting there talking about our Disney vacation and what all we were going to do - the whole time I have butterflies in my stomach because I have a surprise and they don't know it. In walks DH's friend from childhood. He walks over to our table and we started talking. He says "I heard you are going on the same cruise with us"......my heart dropped to my feet. I looked at him like he was crazy and said "no we are going to WDW not a cruise. We are thinking of cruising next year." We quickly changed the subject to something else. Come to find out, DH and friend had talked earlier in the week about Fall Break. They will be on the same cruise with us along with 25 of their closest friends. As soon as I got in the car (before I started driving of course), I texted DH and said please text your friend and let him know I am not crazy but that he almost gave our surprise away. DH was horrified that he forgot to tell him it was a surprise. On the way home from dinner, the boys and I talked about what parks we were going to and what we were going to ride at each park. I had to keep up the whole WDW act. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions.

 

[Cheryl726]

How exciting-a surprise Disney Cruise! You will love it! Where are you from that you have a fall break? I wish we did, it's cheaper in Sept! Which cruise line did you sail with last year? It will be hard to go back after Disney! Have a great cruise!

 

[Msbmommy99]

We live in McDonough, GA. We went back to school this year on August 6 (which is a week later than we normally go back and our Fall Break is later than normal - it's usually the second week in September.). We usually get a break every 6 weeks - balanced calendar is what it is called. We love it because just when you are going crazy with school, you get a week off to chill. We cruised Carnival last September and in 1998. It was fun but I have heard that once we cruise with Disney we will never go to another cruise line. Thanks Cheryl726!!!!!

 

[ksinglet]

How fun. I've been cruising since 1999 & just stumbled upon this board this year & i'm addicted!

 

[disneydreamer82]

We live in McDonough, GA. We went back to school this year on August 6 (which is a week later than we normally go back and our Fall Break is later than normal - it's usually the second week in September.). We usually get a break every 6 weeks - balanced calendar is what it is called. We love it because just when you are going crazy with school, you get a week off to chill. We cruised Carnival last September and in 1998. It was fun but I have heard that once we cruise with Disney we will never go to another cruise line. Thanks Cheryl726!!!!!

I wouldn't say that is entirely true about never wanting to sail another line after Disney. Well at least it is not true for us. We love sailing on different lines and can't wait to one day have tried them all!

 

[kimmcbee]

we surprised our boy swith their first disney cruise. we were going to disney for a week, and drove to the port to "show them the disney boat". when we got to the guard at the parking lot and he asked if we were cruising that week, and said yes, that is how the boys found out! We are going in 2 weeks and all of us are very excited this year!!!

 

[pjstevens]

I'm so excited to hear how your boys react! We'll be cruising on the Fantasy in early December. I can't wait. So glad your hubby's friend didn't ruin it for you.

 

[racingfandj]

I would love some suggestions on how to reveal the surprise to them.

I'm sure you've probably seen it, but on the Disney site, you can schedule character calls that tells your kids they are looking forward to seeing them. Another idea would be if they know how to get to WDW, you could comment on missing an exit and then just keep driving and driving and driving... We're also planning a surprise for the kids as a Christmas present and will be on the Dream in early January. I fight the urge every day to tell one of them. I'll be out of town and in primitive camping on our check-in date. I'm already trying to figure out where I can get WiFi and plan to drive there at midnight to check-in.

 

[Msbmommy99]

Great idea of missing the exit and keep on driving. We were thinking of telling them our room may not be ready early on Saturday so our travel agent has arranged for us to tour the ship. The only problem with that is all of our luggage in the shuttle. I don't know. Just so excited"

 

[JimGA]

About 2 weeks ago, DH was out of town. The boys and I went to dinner so that I wouldn't have to cook. We were sitting there talking about our Disney vacation and what all we were going to do - the whole time I have butterflies in my stomach because I have a surprise and they don't know it. In walks DH's friend from childhood. He walks over to our table and we started talking. He says "I heard you are going on the same cruise with us"......my heart dropped to my feet. I looked at him like he was crazy and said "no we are going to WDW not a cruise. We are thinking of cruising next year." We quickly changed the subject to something else. Come to find out, DH and friend had talked earlier in the week about Fall Break. They will be on the same cruise with us along with 25 of their closest friends. As soon as I got in the car (before I started driving of course), I texted DH and said please text your friend and let him know I am not crazy but that he almost gave our surprise away. DH was horrified that he forgot to tell him it was a surprise. On the way home from dinner, the boys and I talked about what parks we were going to and what we were going to ride at each park. I had to keep up the whole WDW act. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions.

What a close call! We are surprising our kids Christmas morning with a Disney cruise, we have told hardly anyone, but those that we have told we make it clear that it is a surprise and not to say anything. Glad you were able to recover.