A Planning Guide to Goofy's Great Birthday Bash!

[tommygirl79]

Jay!!!!

Hopped here to the PTR board just to see if you were started yet! So excited to get to start reading about Goofy's trip! Sounds so great so far! I am PSYCHED to hear what you think of The Boardwalk - this is one I've always to stay in so your reviews will be fun for me!

BTW, love your tip about getting one of the mini cakes at the Boardwalk Bakery and surprising the kids with them in the room - I may try to sneak off for a bit the first day and have them waiting in the room when we get back that night! Thanks!

Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[PrincessAlways]

A day just for Goofy!!! He will definitely love that! Can't wait to see the birthday cake!

Jay, come on over to my little PTR & see if you can make some suggestions. This is going to be my ____th birthday celebration with 5 other DISfriends! I can't wait!

 

[kafitty]

yay! another Jay trip report! can't wait to see how it all unfolds!!

 

[jaycns]

Now that will be a fun day for Goofy. He will feel so special as all your boys do. The cake sounds like it will be really cute. I know he will have a totally great day. Good job again Jay.

I hope he loves this day! I know I will! I have had so much fun planning this entire trip.

That sounds like the most wonderful day. That's the beauty of being with only one child at a time - no weighing everyone's opinions - just saying "yes " all day long! I can't wait to see a picture of that cake! I've read the most wonderful things about the Boardwalk bakery on these boards, I'll bet its going to be like something you'd see on Food Network's Challenge! And room service to top it off- perfect ending to a perfect day.

The just saying yes thing is going to be so much fun...it was when I took Stitch. I don't know who gets more joy out of it...them or me!

I sure hope the cake is wonderful. I haven't had a Boardwalk Bakery cake before. Our personalized treats have always come from the GF bakery before this. I must say, I have had really spotty luck with the GF this time. To the point where I want to scream and pull out my hair and working with the Boardwalk Bakery was simple, easy and fun. I cannot wait to see what they create!!

Hi Jay! I was thinking about your Boardwalk Inn hidden mickey search and I thought of the Allears.net site. One of the bloggers is the Hidden Micky guy, Steve Barrett. You might be able to check his posts or even write him directly to find out some fun locations.

Thanks for the tip! I will check that out!

Every day gets better and better! How in the world are you ever going to get Goofy to come home?

The question is how do they always drag me out of WDW.

Jay day 3 sounds so wonderful! I can not wait for our trip, reading your PTR is getting me so excited! We get to WDW on October 30th and I have a few surprises up my sleeve for my DH and My DS and DBIL. It should be great!

I can't wait to see what Goofy picks to do with his days!

I cannot wait to hear about how it all turns out for you!

Thanks for reading along. Writing it gets me so excited for all of the fun that is sure to come.

I've been lurking around your past Trip reports and this Pre-trip and finally popped in to say Hello and I really enjoy your reports!! Can't wait for the Post-trip report.

Hiya Lilpapsgirl! I am glad you jumped in and said hello! I cannot wait to write the POST trip report either! I am really looking forward to this trip!

Oh, I can't wait to see the cake. You always get great custom cakes.

We have been very fortunate in the past. This time around I am trying out a totally new place (the Boardwalk Bakery) since I have had such a hard time getting anywhere at the GF. I have my fingers crossed that it will be an amazing cake!

I love the idea of a photo scavenger hunt. Check out the Hidden Mickey book--I bet there are tons of ideas there. Some of my greatest treasures are the pictures that my kids took on our last trip--it's great to see things from their point of view. Wish I had done it wen they were younger.

I am really looking forward to seeing the world through his eyes. Nothing is more fun then getting a glimpse of their amazing little selves. I am going to remember what you said and try to let them be 'in charge' of the pictures a little more often.

I can't wait to see pics of that cake. It sounds so lovely.

I can only imagine you're having as much fun cooking up these plans as you will have with Goofy on the actual trip! This is the perfect thing for a "planner"! Goofy will love it!

Planning is so much fun in and of itself. I would love to be a Disney travel planner/surprise giver/magic maker one day! How much fun would that be! To get to help others plan out magical times as your JOB! I cannot think of much better than that. All of the smiles you could be part of putting on people's faces. What a rewarding job that would be!

Love, love love the idea of a photo scavenger hunt! And, the cake sounds amazing - can't wait to see it.

I need to get cracking with typing up the clues. I am starting to feel a time crunch already. We have so much going on here at home (three boys playing soccer, school time, a toddler and all the other stuff) that I feel like I will blink and the time to leave will be here! I need to get moving on things!

Hi Jay--

Day 3 sounds like another great one. I am sure Goofy is going to sooo appreciate what you have planned (or not planned) for him. I am sure the two of you will have an awesome time in MK. How can you not?!? And the scavenger hunt is a really cool idea I will definitely use once my niece gets a bit older. But definitely going to use your idea about a present from different characters under her pillow!

I too am a big fan of the cakes you pick out and fun cakes in general (think Food Network Challenge and Collette Peters)....I was even trying to think of a way to get a cool one for our pre-Christmas trip over at the Poly. I know for GR you have to be a guest or eat there, have to investigate what they will do there....My niece loves the taste of cake and I love the look of fun cakes (ok, the taste too)!!

I am not personallyl having any sort of luck over at the GF this time around. In fact, I am annoyed and frustrated with the lack of them even returning my phone calls or emails. And the one time I did track someone live down, I was not very happy with how the conversation went. BUT...I have heard others who have had great luck recently and the cakes they are posting over on the cake thread are still very amazing indeed. I have my fingers crossed that you have much better luck than my latest tries.

Sounds like a perfect third day!

Thanks!

Jay!!!!

Hopped here to the PTR board just to see if you were started yet! So excited to get to start reading about Goofy's trip! Sounds so great so far! I am PSYCHED to hear what you think of The Boardwalk - this is one I've always to stay in so your reviews will be fun for me!

BTW, love your tip about getting one of the mini cakes at the Boardwalk Bakery and surprising the kids with them in the room - I may try to sneak off for a bit the first day and have them waiting in the room when we get back that night! Thanks!

Can't wait to read more!!!

Wouldn't that be a fun surprise? I love the thought of that! Tiny cakes with Mickey's happy face on them just waiting to bring smiles to the kids. So much fun! How are you surviving the summer?

I think that the Boardwalk looks simply stunning in the pictures. I am excited to see it all in person and will take loads of pictures and be sure to post them for you to see too!

A day just for Goofy!!! He will definitely love that! Can't wait to see the birthday cake!

Jay, come on over to my little PTR & see if you can make some suggestions. This is going to be my ____th birthday celebration with 5 other DISfriends! I can't wait!

WOW a birthday celebration with other DISers...what fun! That's great! I subscribed to your TR and will make time to read it soon. Make time, I wish I really could produce just a little bit more of it! Ha ha ha. I love having such a full life that we stay so busy and I am so happy that I am no longer stuck on bed rest but at the same time, I do miss having free time to play around on the DIS, read books and scrapbook. Those things seem to get crammed into stolen minutes these days.

yay! another Jay trip report! can't wait to see how it all unfolds!!

Thanks for jumping in early with me! I am really looking forward to this one!!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Jay, you'd make an AWESOME trip planner. I agree, what better to earn a living than doing something you love and making other people so happy???

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Jay, if you didn't have so much going on in your life you would make a perfect Disney planner. You seem to know the ins and outs or at least who to contact to get things done. My friend has a travel agency and wants to sell it. I always wanted to do that but not at this age. We are talking retire in 2 years. Who would want to take on such a big project now?

Ginny

 

[jaycns]

Day 4...Another Day of Fun!

Our park of the day will be EPCOT. We have a lunch at Chefs de France and a dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. We might keep those...we might not. As much as I know he enjoys a good meal, if he seems to be enjoying something else more, I will call and cancel our reservations and allow the fun to continue. Once again, I want this day to be all about following his lead.

Our evening will be spent watching Illuminations (or the high parts of it at least) from the BWI and relaxing in the lounge.

Not a surprise to be found...but that's just how I want it...I want to lull him into thinking all of the surprises are all behind him.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Jay, you are the tricky one. Restaraunt choices sound yummy. And you knowing it is all about Goofy and his wants. What a Mom. It will be a good day. I'm anxious to see how this plays out. Just barely a month away.

Ginny

 

[hhockman]

I love that you're trying to make him think all of the surprises are behind him. You are just too much fun! He's going to be in heaven.

I'm really thinking I'm going over to the Boardwalk Bakery and getting some cakes for my kiddos. It will be a small surprise, but a surprise non-the-less. We'll be at ESPN club for lunch on day 2, so that's probably a good time to get them.

Of course, my biggest surprise is that we're going at all...and bringing DS's friend on top of that. Despite the fact that I'm on the DIS all the time, I'm in the middle of reading the UG, I've made them backpacks and am in the middle of making them travel journals, and there are two large boxes of Disney-type stuff in the middle of my computer room they still don't seem to have a CLUE. Matt and I have decided we're telling them that we're going to the beach when we leave that morning, so they hopefully won't get it until we drive through the gates. I hope that's the way it goes down at least!

 

[Amy7979]

Day 4...Another Day of Fun!

Our park of the day will be EPCOT. We have a lunch at Chefs de France and a dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. We might keep those...we might not. As much as I know he enjoys a good meal, if he seems to be enjoying something else more, I will call and cancel our reservations and allow the fun to continue. Once again, I want this day to be all about following his lead.

Our evening will be spent watching Illuminations (or the high parts of it at least) from the BWI and relaxing in the lounge.

Not a surprise to be found...but that's just how I want it...I want to lull him into thinking all of the surprises are all behind him.

I LOVE the Yachtsman!

 

[jaycns]

Jay, you'd make an AWESOME trip planner. I agree, what better to earn a living than doing something you love and making other people so happy???

Why thanks! Maybe one day I will be lucky enough to call that my job. I am loving my current job though too. I LOVE being a wife and mom. Best gig ever!

Jay, if you didn't have so much going on in your life you would make a perfect Disney planner. You seem to know the ins and outs or at least who to contact to get things done. My friend has a travel agency and wants to sell it. I always wanted to do that but not at this age. We are talking retire in 2 years. Who would want to take on such a big project now?

Ginny

Ha ha ha. I wish I could cram a few more hours into each day already so I totally understand what you mean about taking on a big project...especially when you are so close to being able to retire! Having a travel agency (or working for a good one) also appeals to me. I just love the whole travel planning experience (although, Disney travel is still my first love).

What will you do with all of your time when you retire?

Jay, you are the tricky one. Restaraunt choices sound yummy. And you knowing it is all about Goofy and his wants. What a Mom. It will be a good day. I'm anxious to see how this plays out. Just barely a month away.

Ginny

Hee hee hee. I REALLY want him to think the surprises have stopped. It will only make what will come all the more special!

I have my whole life to make a trip all about me. I only have such a short time with my little guys as 'little' guys to make trips all about them. It's a no brainer. And I think I might be getting more joy out of it than anyone. I adore the peek into my boys' minds and seeing the WDW through their eyes is a priceless treat! A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH! I am so excited! I wish I could share my countdown with the boys but loose lips sink surprise birthday trips. I am forcing myself to be quiet. It is a form of torture!

I love that you're trying to make him think all of the surprises are behind him. You are just too much fun! He's going to be in heaven.

I'm really thinking I'm going over to the Boardwalk Bakery and getting some cakes for my kiddos. It will be a small surprise, but a surprise non-the-less. We'll be at ESPN club for lunch on day 2, so that's probably a good time to get them.

Of course, my biggest surprise is that we're going at all...and bringing DS's friend on top of that. Despite the fact that I'm on the DIS all the time, I'm in the middle of reading the UG, I've made them backpacks and am in the middle of making them travel journals, and there are two large boxes of Disney-type stuff in the middle of my computer room they still don't seem to have a CLUE. Matt and I have decided we're telling them that we're going to the beach when we leave that morning, so they hopefully won't get it until we drive through the gates. I hope that's the way it goes down at least!

It doesn't have to be a small surprise. Make it 'big'. Grab the little Mickey head cakes (are those the ones you were meaning?) add a small stuffed animal (the under $10 ones), a small figure, a toy car, a lollipop or some other little trinket (hey it's Disney, trinkets your boys want will be EVERYWHERE) to each cake.

Before you go, decorate a paper lunch bag with stickers/print out images and glue them on. Theme each bag to the boys' favorite character or just Disney in general and then insert a little bit of confetti or glitter into each bag. Maybe even pre buy a few glow sticks or other small treat to put in.

Stuff the treats in the bags and put the bags out on a table behind the little cakes. Your dh could have the boys in the pool or playing on the playground or in the arcade or maybe just walking slowly to the room while you run ahead to get it done). Sprinkle a small bit of the confetti or glitter on the table around the bags/cakes. Then make a break for it and rejoin your family and pretend you hadn't been to the room.

When the boys enter the room...how excited would they be to see that!! Personal cakes and a surprise package from Mickey (or whatever character you want each one to be from)!!

OH or maybe since you have made them backpacks...use those instead! Or skip the lunch bag all together and just make a little tag like "To DS7 Love, Mickey" and stick it next to the cake and whatever small treat you have secreted for them. No matter how it turns out...it would be anything but 'small'. I bet your boys would flip!!

It's great that they still don't have a clue! And I think that's a 'boy' thing to not notice even with all of your piles of stuff. I have piles of stuff in my bedroom and Goofy (although he knows he is going, he doesn't know when) has not connected the fact that I have started to gather stuff with the fact that his trip is coming up soon.

Just imagine the looks on their faces when you do drive under that sign! And even if they do figure it out when you start to get close (from the many Disney signs) the look of sheer joy/surprise/excitement will be just as precious then too! What fun you will all have! Make sure you have your camera or camcorder ready! It would be awesome if you were able to capture their reactions!

I LOVE the Yachtsman!

What is your favorite dish there?

 

[Amy7979]

What is your favorite dish there?

I always get the filet and we usually get the mushrooms to share to go along with it. My most favorite thing there, though, are the rolls with the garlic and butter they put on the table - I mash the garlic and butter together. Yummy!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

What will you do with all of your time when you retire?

I will find more ways to do more family things and make lots more surprises for us all of course.

This trip for dear Goofy is going to be wonderful and then Aladin and Buzz will be so excited for their turn. Then that Dear, sweet, wonderfull hubby and you will need a turn for yourselves. Won't that be fun to plan?

I have my whole life to make a trip all about me. I only have such a short time with my little guys as 'little' guys to make trips all about them. It's a no brainer. And I think I might be getting more joy out of it than anyone. I adore the peek into my boys' minds and seeing the WDW through their eyes is a priceless treat! A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH! I am so excited! I wish I could share my countdown with the boys but loose lips sink surprise birthday trips. I am forcing myself to be quiet. It is a form of torture!

That is why you are such a wonderful loved mom. Not only in their eyes but ours.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

I have to tell you Jay, I have 2 heroes in my life. One is my wonderful husbands sister Donna and the other is you. You have brought such joy to your family that it has shown me how to bring joy to mine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ginny

 

[jmamom]

Day 4...Another Day of Fun!

Our park of the day will be EPCOT. We have a lunch at Chefs de France and a dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. We might keep those...we might not. As much as I know he enjoys a good meal, if he seems to be enjoying something else more, I will call and cancel our reservations and allow the fun to continue. Once again, I want this day to be all about following his lead.

Our evening will be spent watching Illuminations (or the high parts of it at least) from the BWI and relaxing in the lounge.

Not a surprise to be found...but that's just how I want it...I want to lull him into thinking all of the surprises are all behind him.

Jay, you always have something up your sleeve - even when its nothing! Such a trickster. You really make me want to do one-on-one trips with my kids - so much so that I even went and priced one out for my oldest's 13th birthday. It was crazy expensive (February birthday - school vacation week too ), but you never know with all the deals and codes around. It would be so lovely to just do whatever she wanted, while she still wants to do it with me. Well, anyway, you are really inspiring me!

 

[DisneyJo]

Just catching up Jay and your plans are amazing or as you guys say awesome I know there is a long list but can you adopt me too please

As others have said your planning skills are fantastic I hope you'll be applying for the Moms Panel this year

 

[stitch's buddy]

Hey! Sounds like Goofy is going to have a fun time. If you are looking for a list of hidden mickey photos try Steve Barret's site hiddenmickeysguide.com

 

[PrincessAlways]

Goofy better be watching you closely. Making him think all surprises are over!! You are tricky!

 

[lazydoxy66]

Hi Jay!!!
I just got on to this. All I can say is "WOW!" Goofy is going to be so thrilled with everything you are doing. I especially love the carousel cake and the Illuminations cruise!!!

Like everyone else, I am getting some great ideas from you. Don't be surprised if I ask for some tips from you when I plan my 15th anniversary visit to WDW. It's a few years out yet. I'm taking notes now though.

 

[MouseTriper]

YOU ROCK THESE BIRTHDAY BASHES!!!



Everything sounds so exciting and fun. I just wanna hire a private detective to follow you two around and videotape it all so we could see Goofy's adorable reactions!!! Hahahaahha....Disney should just film it and sell it to all of us. Hahahahahaha