Surprising boys...it will be their xmas gift!

[antkim]

I remember reading a thread last year where someone had surprised their kids with a cruise for xmas. They had set up something like a "treasure hunt" with clues around the house that the kids needed to find. I can't seem to find the thread and was wondering if anyone knows what I am talking about! We are giving this as a gift this year as well and I would love to do the treasure hunt...now of course I know I can make up my own but this one was really cute!

Thanks!

Kim

[HFC1969]

Our DS (9) who will be 10 at Christmas gets this surprise every year.

He hasn't figured it out yet... We started going on the DCL Christmas Cruise when he was 5.

Its easier for us though... His birthday is Dec 19, so we can surpirse him either as a B-day present or Christmas present.

We pack and hide the luggage in the basement, and the day we leave; we usually say lets go! And he is like

Last year we picked him up at school, they were having their Christmas party and he said what are you two doing here? We said we are going on the DCL.

We will keep surprising as long as we can...

[hgon76]

We're giving our kids a DCL cruise for the 2nd year in a row for Xmas. We don't do the scavenger hunt, but rather wrap up a bunch of clues in boxes for them to open. Last year I wrapped up pirate costumes, & other pirate accessories, buckets, sunblock, shorts, sandals, sunglasses. As my kids opened all this stuff on Xmas morning they looked at me like i was nuts. Then for their last gift I got 2 huge boxes & put a "fake" DCL ticket w/ their names, dates, & cruise info in the box w/ tons of tissue paper for them to dig through. Probably just doing that again this year. I think they'll catch on a lot quicker though.

[stlkeeler]

Here is my favorite "Surprise" thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2034142

Have fun!

[antkim]

I can't wait to surprise them!! We are also going to WDW for 2 nights so that will be somewhere within the "hunt" as well!

I sure hope they are as excited as I am..this is better than any transformer figure! LOL

I am going to keep searching for that thread because it was really really cute!!

[antkim]

Originally Posted by stlkeeler

Here is my favorite "Surprise" thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2034142

Have fun!

yes yes yes!!! That is the one!!!! THANK YOU!!

I think we will do the scavenger hunt and then in the last box have the "decoder" spell out something!!! Or maybe the puzzle....decisions decisions!!! LOL THANK YOU!!!

[mommyofthreeboys]

We are doing the same thing--surprising our 3 boys with our first cruise ever--and it's Disney!!!
I am so worried that they won't be satisfied since the cruise won't be until March. I mean--I know they'll like the cruise but not sure that they'll be happy with the fact they won't get other gifts from us. Santa will be bringing 3 gifts each for them to open. Oh well--I am liking the idea of a really simple Christmas and get back to the true meaning of Christmas. If they aren't happy with it, then I know I better do a better job teaching them appreciation for the things they have and for the reason for the season. Yet--I still worry about it!!!!

[devores]

We plan to suprise our kids with a cruise for x-mas as well. We are on the 27 Dec 3 nighter. This will be thier first DCL (they have hounded us to take them ever since we went in Mar).

We are picking them up from thier mother on the 26th in Tallahassee and driving straight to PC. No mention of why we are going there, we figure they will have been driving for 4 hours allready, why not an extra 2, they shouldnt even realize we are off the beaten path. Then we will visit grandma for the night and drive to the terminal in the morning. This is when we will tell them. I love the look on thier face when they realize we are doing anything Disney related.

This summer we took them for a week long camping trip to FW and didnt tell them where we were going. It wasnt until we passed under the gateway that they figured it out and started shreeking with joy (they are 16 and 13 btw). They caught on to that and now as soon as we get anywhere close to WDW they know where we are going. So that suprise is out. Theyve never been to PC so it should be an easy suprise.

We do plan to get them some gift cards for x-mas to go along with the cruise, so they wont be empty handed and they can get whatever they want.

They prentend that they are too old for Disney, but when they found out we are going to MNSSHP, they instantly gave us a list of what they wanted. Pictures of this villian, autographs, pins, little things they miss about Disney.

Disney is now a Daddy Daughter thing. Thier mother has never taken them to Disney, but I have had the pleasure of taking them to EVERY Disney attraction except China and DCL. So this is a momentus cruise for us and Im sure they will not even care that they didnt get anything else for x-mas.

I turned my girls into Disaholics, and proud of it.

[antkim]

Originally Posted by mommyofthreeboys

We are doing the same thing--surprising our 3 boys with our first cruise ever--and it's Disney!!!
I am so worried that they won't be satisfied since the cruise won't be until March. I mean--I know they'll like the cruise but not sure that they'll be happy with the fact they won't get other gifts from us. Santa will be bringing 3 gifts each for them to open. Oh well--I am liking the idea of a really simple Christmas and get back to the true meaning of Christmas. If they aren't happy with it, then I know I better do a better job teaching them appreciation for the things they have and for the reason for the season. Yet--I still worry about it!!!!

OMG!!! I was going to say the same thing but then I erased it because I was afraid people may think my boys are unappreciative!! LOL I worry because they have certain toys/gifts they pick out for Santa to bring. My oldest is really careful about what he asks for because he knows "Santa" has to bring things for all of us! Youngest has no clue so his list will be a mile long! LOL Of course, my youngest is also saving his change so that one day he will have enough money to go on a Disney cruise! (I think he has about $3.56 saved so far ).

I think they are going to be SUPER excited and we are tacking 2 nights on to go to WDW as well...short but better than nothing! My family will be thrilled also because they won't have to go crazy trying to find them something....Disney gift cards will be what they are all giving this year! That way the boys have their own spending money as well. They certainly are a lot more careful about spending $$$ when it is their money!! We actaully came home with souveniers that have lasted instead of every plastic doo dad they saw in the parks!

[wheelerkidz3]

we did this last year, and it was so much fun!!! i love to watch the video of the kids running up and down the stairs searching for clues. we used alot of the clues that were listed in the other thread. our first clue was a scroll from santa that we rolled up and placed in a huge gift bag with lots of tissue paper. it said:


Dear Wheeler children,
You’ve been a good girl and good boys
But I didn’t want to leave too many toys.
This year is different, my gift will be fun,
You must figure it out,
Please walk…don’t run.
I’ve hidden clues all around,
Look high and look low.
Now, come on children, let’s get on with this show!!!


1. With this gift, you’ll be treated like kings and a queen
To find your next clue,
Go to where you get clean. (hidden upstairs in the bathtub)

the rest of the small clues were wrapped into scrolls and placed in small gift bags:


2. If you like to listen to music and watch a good show,
You will have lots of fun, at this place you will go.
Now go back downstairs, and have a look,
Your next clue can be found by mom’s library book. (back downstairs to end table)


3. Where you are going, it will be hot.
Look in the dryer to find the next spot. (back upstairs to dryer)


4. Santa knows this gift will fulfill many wishes,
Your next clue can be found with the dishes.(back downstairs to the dishwasher)


5. Are you tired yet?
Need to rest your head?
Then go and look underneath a bed (back upstairs to search thru all 3 bedrooms to find the right bed)


6. On this trip, you will see mice
Now go and look where we keep the ice. (back downstairs to freezer)


7. You’ve searched all over,
What could it be?
Go find your reward underneath the back room tree. (hid the last scroll in a gift box under our 2nd tree)



our reveal was a scroll wrapped in a big box with shiny christmas paper and lots of tissue paper:


That was the last clue, your search is all done,
In 3 short weeks, is when you’ll have fun!
You’ll be flying to florida with your mom and dad
How much more fun do you think can be had?
Gramma Gloria and Papa Bob will come along too
What kind of trip is this? What will you do?
You’ll embark a ship that you love and know well
You’re all so lucky because this gift is real swell.
The ship where you’ll stay is the Disney wonder
You’ll have 4 days onboard to scavenge and plunder.
You need to be good like I know you can be.
I’ll be watching you all while you’re out to sea.
I love you all and I hope you enjoy
I’ll be back next year, with my bag full of toys.
Merry Christmas!!


my youngest almost burst into tears when he realized we were cruising again. they were all so happy! you def want to make sure someone has a video camera, cuz the expressions are priceless!!! they only had a few gifts to unwrap under the tree, but because we tied all the scrolls with ribbon and put them in gift bags, they were unwrapping through the whole scavenger hunt.
now this year, i'm out of ideas, and we are cruising for thanksgiving. the only bad thing about surprising them last year is that this year i can't top it!!!! LOL!

[babycakes01]

Originally Posted by mommyofthreeboys

We are doing the same thing--surprising our 3 boys with our first cruise ever--and it's Disney!!!
I am so worried that they won't be satisfied since the cruise won't be until March. I mean--I know they'll like the cruise but not sure that they'll be happy with the fact they won't get other gifts from us. Santa will be bringing 3 gifts each for them to open. Oh well--I am liking the idea of a really simple Christmas and get back to the true meaning of Christmas. If they aren't happy with it, then I know I better do a better job teaching them appreciation for the things they have and for the reason for the season. Yet--I still worry about it!!!!

That is the most amazing warm fuzzy I have read in a while! I too am having the same issue; we are booked on the March 6th Magic sailing and our final payment is due 12/15-they know about the cruise-they are 8,5 so it's kind of vague to them that it's sooo far in the furure and it's mom/dad's present to them. but it will be cutting into the Christmas budget abd I was looking for a way to put it into perspedtive. Thanks for the reminder that God is the reason for the season.

[mommyofthreeboys]

Ohhh Shannon! Do you mind if I use some of those lines? I have some that are similar but I like the beginning and ending paragraphs. TIA.

[antkim]

Originally Posted by wheelerkidz3

we did this last year, and it was so much fun!!! i love to watch the video of the kids running up and down the stairs searching for clues. we used alot of the clues that were listed in the other thread. our first clue was a scroll from santa that we rolled up and placed in a huge gift bag with lots of tissue paper. it said:


Dear Wheeler children,
You’ve been a good girl and good boys
But I didn’t want to leave too many toys.
This year is different, my gift will be fun,
You must figure it out,
Please walk…don’t run.
I’ve hidden clues all around,
Look high and look low.
Now, come on children, let’s get on with this show!!!


1. With this gift, you’ll be treated like kings and a queen
To find your next clue,
Go to where you get clean. (hidden upstairs in the bathtub)

the rest of the small clues were wrapped into scrolls and placed in small gift bags:


2. If you like to listen to music and watch a good show,
You will have lots of fun, at this place you will go.
Now go back downstairs, and have a look,
Your next clue can be found by mom’s library book. (back downstairs to end table)


3. Where you are going, it will be hot.
Look in the dryer to find the next spot. (back upstairs to dryer)


4. Santa knows this gift will fulfill many wishes,
Your next clue can be found with the dishes.(back downstairs to the dishwasher)


5. Are you tired yet?
Need to rest your head?
Then go and look underneath a bed (back upstairs to search thru all 3 bedrooms to find the right bed)


6. On this trip, you will see mice
Now go and look where we keep the ice. (back downstairs to freezer)


7. You’ve searched all over,
What could it be?
Go find your reward underneath the back room tree. (hid the last scroll in a gift box under our 2nd tree)



our reveal was a scroll wrapped in a big box with shiny christmas paper and lots of tissue paper:


That was the last clue, your search is all done,
In 3 short weeks, is when you’ll have fun!
You’ll be flying to florida with your mom and dad
How much more fun do you think can be had?
Gramma Gloria and Papa Bob will come along too
What kind of trip is this? What will you do?
You’ll embark a ship that you love and know well
You’re all so lucky because this gift is real swell.
The ship where you’ll stay is the Disney wonder
You’ll have 4 days onboard to scavenge and plunder.
You need to be good like I know you can be.
I’ll be watching you all while you’re out to sea.
I love you all and I hope you enjoy
I’ll be back next year, with my bag full of toys.
Merry Christmas!!


my youngest almost burst into tears when he realized we were cruising again. they were all so happy! you def want to make sure someone has a video camera, cuz the expressions are priceless!!! they only had a few gifts to unwrap under the tree, but because we tied all the scrolls with ribbon and put them in gift bags, they were unwrapping through the whole scavenger hunt.
now this year, i'm out of ideas, and we are cruising for thanksgiving. the only bad thing about surprising them last year is that this year i can't top it!!!! LOL!

AWESOME!!! MAN am I glad I asked for this thread again!!!! I would love to use some of your ideas...hope that is OK!!!

[kkmcan]

Here's what we plan on doing for our surprise. We will be sailinig on the Dec 20th three night plus 4 nights pre cruise at POP.

We will put up the Christmas tree as a family, like we normally do, the day after Thanksgiving. I will put a huge wrapped box under the tree when we finish as the first gift of the season. The kids will open it and it will contain some helium disney balloons, pins individually wrapped, a plush Christmas Minnie and Mickey (got from target last year on clearance) and an envelope with some DCL and WDW info inside and the planning dvds.

This gift is from their dad and I. We wont be getting them anything else but Santa will come while we are gone so when we get home on the 25th we get to open a few things.

I'm really excited about this surprise! We did the clues thing a few years back and it turned out okay. No screeching or jumping up and down but definitely lots of disbelief and smiles.

[wheelerkidz3]

Originally Posted by mommyofthreeboys

Ohhh Shannon! Do you mind if I use some of those lines? I have some that are similar but I like the beginning and ending paragraphs. TIA.

Originally Posted by antkim

AWESOME!!! MAN am I glad I asked for this thread again!!!! I would love to use some of your ideas...hope that is OK!!!

i don't mind at all! i hope you have alot of fun with it. it was so much fun to watch my kids run and open each clue. it was by far one of our best gifts ever!!