Where do you hide your Christmas presents at WDW

[jenshell75]

Hello,

I was just reading the "room decorating thread" and was thinking about decorating our room for our Christmas trip to WDW, we will be staying at ASMo. I was getting so excited thinking about decorating a little christmas tree and the room and than it hit me!!! Where will I hide the Christmas presents for my children, DD will be 6yrs and DS 4yrs, so they still believe in Santa and I don't want them to spot the pressies before Christmas.

We live in Sydney Australia and we will be flying to the US on the 8th of December we will be in WDW from the 14th of December till the 27th. We can't bring gifts with us as we will be travelling and I don't think they would be safe from little eyes.

I was thinking of having a Disney Theme Christmas and buying all things Disney when in Florida and then when we get back to Australia I will have a few things that Santa will have left here under the tree for us.

Can anyone please help me with hiding spots and where I can purchase Disney Items off site ( I am hoping to get some items cheaper off site) and other suff like wrapping paper and cards ribbons close to WDW, is there a Wallmart close to Disney??? We will have a car so distance won't matter really.

If anyone has photos of their Christmas Decorations or Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning I would love to have a look at how you set up you room for this special occasion.

Thanks in advance
Jenny

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Not sure if you want to do this, but you could tell the kids that Santa will be dropping off most of their presents at home, and they will be there after the trip. This assumes you have someone you can trust to go into your house while you are gone to put the presents under the tree. Then you can buy a couple of things at the shops in Disney, and have them sent to your hotel gift shop. See if they can wrap them there for you, sneak them into the room and hide them, you can put them out after the kids go to sleep. That's what I would try to do if I was in your situation.

[MichelleinMaine]

Never been at Christmas, but how about tucking them in your suitcase? (Assuming you'd put your clothes in the drawers/closet once you're there.)

[ilovedevin]

There are a lot of really cool outlet stores in Orlando not to far from Disney World that cater to Disney lovers. They are about 15 to 20 minutes away on International Drive. You state that you are going to Orlando prior to staying at Dianey so maybe you and sneak some alone me time and going shopping and hide them in the trunk of you rental.

[disneycruising]

My family has not been home on Christmas morning for the past 10 years. We always go to my parents house to celebrate. We have a big Christmas of our own the day before we leave. This way my kids get to open all of their presents before we go and I don't have to carry them with us. No matter where we are on Christmas morning 'Santa'... leaves them a small gift and fills their stocking. I pack all their gifts inside a small suitcase...that my DH know is not to be opened for any reason.

I have done Easter on the Magic. I just put a few easter items in my suitcase hidden inside a black bag.( I try to buy things that my kids could use on the trip: disposible camera, candy, books & disney gift cards.) When I unpacked... I left the 'easter items' in the suitcase until they were needed.

I have also celebrated my DS (12th) Birthday at Disneyland. We celebrated at home the night before we left. This way I didn't have to take all of the birthday presents. But I didn't want his 'real birthday' to go by without a 'surprise'. So, I bought a disney gift bag and filled it with a few (small) toys, small lego set, snack food & a disposible camera. I also brought a happy Birthday sign. After my DS fell asleep, I hung up my sign and put the gift on the table. He was very surprised in the morning. I also planned to special meals on his real birthday: Goofy's Kitchen & Hookes Pointe.

**If it was me I would try to think of things that they can use at the parks so you don't have to carry a lot of extra things home. Candy, Disney Gift cards, small toys, t shirt, etc. What about a meal with character on Christmas as part of their gift? You could have Santa leave them a 'coupon'.

[billwendy]

Totally FUN!

There is a walmart very close to Disney - they have a LOT of Disney themed gifts there - you could also get your decorations, wrapping paper etc. Just remember what ever you get, you do have to carry home. A string of Christmas tree lights would be fun too!!!

You could also try some small gifts with maybe a gift card to the arcade, or a coupon to do the Pirate Leage or a you can pick what you want - the cards could all be from Santa - and then he could leave a message that he left their big gifts at home so you wouldnt have to carry them home...it'd be cool if you could sneak your gifts out at home under the tree and maybe snap a picture so they could see their gifts there - would be cool!!

Also, what about like a movie for their portable DVD player? Mickey Crocs? Maybe some goggles or a beach ball for the pool? things they could use on the trip -= you will have so much FUN!!!

[iluveeyore]

We're going this year for Christmas too - I can't wait!! My kids are much older now, but when we went in '99 I had the same dilemma as you. But with the kids so young, it was easy enough. I packed a few small things and hid them in the suitcase - when we unpacked I simply kept the suitcase locked and added stuff to the locked suitcase when I could sneak it in - hubby taking the kids to the pool while I got sneaky was great. I also packed their stockings and hung them up on the pegs on a shelf in our room and when they went to sleep Christmas Eve I snuck out to DTD for a last-minute Santa gift for each of them, then filled their stockings just before lights out for me and hubby. They were so excited Christmas morning for just one gift to open from Santa and then a stocking full of smaller surprises, so I didn't have to worry about a bunch of presents. It will be easier this year for us since our kids are older and they know the trip is their present. Of course, being Mom, I will sneak in a few 'Santa' gifts as a surprise!

[seashoreCM]

Don't remember whether any Disney resorts have beds of this kind but some hotels have beds with wood frames that go all the way to the floor and are hollow inside. Lift the box spring and mattress and hide things inside.

[kbheap]

My recommendation would be to ship a box of gifts down before hand. Mark the box with your name, room number and confirmation # on it and the front desk will keep it for you. Just let them know when you check in that you will return for the package on "x" day to hold it until then. You could already have the gifts wrapped in the shipment box that way you are ready to go when you pick up the package.