A Planning Guide to Goofy's Great Birthday Bash!

[jaycns]

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!

I love filet. I love mushrooms. And I love rolls (the garlic and butter combo also sounds devine). Thanks for the reccomendations! I will think of you when I order!

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?



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

Dh and I actually got to sneak away for a week together last year. We went to St. Martin and it was wonderful. We stayed in a beach front resort and enjoyed breakfast on our balcony watching the waves break. It was totally relaxing and I was spoiled rotten with spa time, gourmet food, sleeping in, snorkeling, sailing and shopping. It was the ultimate relaxing couple vacation. The only thing that I didn't like about it was just how much I really did miss my boys. When we were nearing the end of our time there, I told dh that I would rather just fly the boys to me there than have to leave though. I was loving being on island time!

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

That was such a sweet thing to say, Ginny! I promise I am just a normal wife/mom/gal. I am just blessed with great boys and I so lucky to have the privillage of loving and raising them. Along with dh (who is still the man of all of my dreams after almost 14 years) the boys are the reason why I smile. That's not inspirational, I am selfish. When they smile, I smile. Plain and simple. I love loving them and don't want to waste a moment of the time I have with them. But, me, I am just an average everything. Anybody could and lots of people do feel/plan/say/do the same things I do. Thank you, Ginny. That was such a sweet thing to say.

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!

Aladdin's birthday feel during the busiest time of the year, so I talked with him and we are postponing his 13th birthday bash until later this year so that we can celebrate during the slow season. The difference in price is significant and then there is the difference in crowds/lines/waits. I just talked to him about how we could go on his birthday but it would cost more money then so it would need to be a shorter trip and we would be in the middle of a very crowded time and waiting in a lot of lines. I then gave him an idea of what times 'off season' worked out to be and let him pick from there.

These one-on-one trips are the treat of a lifetime for me! I hope the boys are enjoying them as well. It's a rare treat (the extended time alone with each of them). I am so thankful to be able to take these trips!

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

Sure, one DisneyJo in the family! I need some girl time! What we need to do is plan a Disney meet!

I missed when to apply for the Moms Panel the first year. I applied at the last minute (the very last day) this past year. I doubt I will fit the demographic they are looking for any time soon. They already had another homeschooling mom of four from my state in the first year's group. That won't stop me from applying! Being on the Disney Mom's panel really would be an absolute dream. I was so happy for you that you made it and being able to read about your special training trip made me smile from ear to ear. I bet you will always look back fondly on this past year. What a GREAT treat!

I was even so excited to just be in the Disney Mom's Club BUT...somehow I get all of the emails and excitedly try each time to log on to the site but it never lets me log in. Ever. Not one single time. Maybe Mickey is not very fond of me after all. I do however love my Mickey Mom's Club fridge magnet. I guess it doesn't take much to make me happy!

The Mom's Panel is my idea of the world's coolest gig! CONGRATS AGAIN, Jo! Enjoy the rest of your time helping others plan great Disney vacations!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Dh and I actually got to sneak away for a week together last year. We went to St. Martin and it was wonderful. We stayed in a beach front resort and enjoyed breakfast on our balcony watching the waves break. It was totally relaxing and I was spoiled rotten with spa time, gourmet food, sleeping in, snorkeling, sailing and shopping. It was the ultimate relaxing couple vacation. The only thing that I didn't like about it was just how much I really did miss my boys. When we were nearing the end of our time there, I told dh that I would rather just fly the boys to me there than have to leave though. I was loving being on island time!

That was a great vacay for you. I love St Martin. The Dutch side. I've never stayed on the French side.

I don't think Don and I ever took a lengthy vacay from the girls till they were both in high school. We often say we should have done it sooner but I couldn't stand to be away from them for more than a couple of days at a time. Of course now we do it a lot but I still have to have at least one family vacay a year with everyone together.

That was such a sweet thing to say, Ginny! I promise I am just a normal wife/mom/gal. I am just blessed with great boys and I so lucky to have the privillage of loving and raising them. Along with dh (who is still the man of all of my dreams after almost 14 years) the boys are the reason why I smile. That's not inspirational, I am selfish. When they smile, I smile. Plain and simple. I love loving them and don't want to waste a moment of the time I have with them. But, me, I am just an average everything. Anybody could and lots of people do feel/plan/say/do the same things I do. Thank you, Ginny. That was such a sweet thing to say.

That truly was from my heart. And I know what you mean. Don and I have been married for 42 years in Dec and I am thankful everyday. I was 15 and he 16 when we started dating. I have never wanted anyone but him.

I know there are lots of mom's out there that love their children as much as you and I do. It is just the way you express it that makes it so beautiful.

Ginny

 

[Chelley00]

I have to tell you how much I'm enjoying reading your old trip reports. I'm in the middle of planning a trip for DD's 8th birthday, and reading about "Stitch's Great Escape" has given me some ideas!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

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!

Hey, Heather! I can't believe the oldest one hasn't figured it out yet, what with all the Disney stuff around! You're going to get them good!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Hey, Jay! That St. Martin trip sounded absolutely DIVINE! I'm with you, though, it would be hard to take a trip w/out my baby!

 

[jaycns]

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

Thank you so much! I am going to head over and check it out!

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

Being tricky is fun! I don't want to have him wake up with expectations for something special to happen. It's always so much more fun if something happens when you least expect it!

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.

I could talk about ideas, planning, ways to have fun at WDW for days on end and not grow tired of it. I LOVE talking about what people have planned. SO...make sure you do share away with me when you get down to the serious planning. Disney is such a wonderful place to celebrate!

I really hope that some of the ideas I have dug up help someone else to plan something fun as well. The possibilities at WDW are just about as unlimited as they come...it'd be a shame if people missed out on things just because they didn't know about them.

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

Why don't you just join us and film it and I will post it. You don't even have to sneak around, you can just join right in with the fun. I will save a special slice of cake just for you!

 

[jaycns]

That was a great vacay for you. I love St Martin. The Dutch side. I've never stayed on the French side.

I don't think Don and I ever took a lengthy vacay from the girls till they were both in high school. We often say we should have done it sooner but I couldn't stand to be away from them for more than a couple of days at a time. Of course now we do it a lot but I still have to have at least one family vacay a year with everyone together.



That truly was from my heart. And I know what you mean. Don and I have been married for 42 years in Dec and I am thankful everyday. I was 15 and he 16 when we started dating. I have never wanted anyone but him.

I know there are lots of mom's out there that love their children as much as you and I do. It is just the way you express it that makes it so beautiful.

Ginny

We stayed on the Dutch side too. We did spend a day over on the French side exploring, a night out on the French side and a morning of shopping/catamaran time over on the French side. The entire thing was so much fun.

I don't think we would have taken the time away together if not for an award that dh won that came with the trip. He was honored as one of the top employees in North or South America and the trip (and all that came with it) was a perk that was too hard to turn down. How often to you have an all expenses paid trip to a luxery resort? Even though I hated leaving the boys, I was not crazy enough to turn it down. It really was an amazing time for us. When we were first married, we had nothing. We didn't even have two extra pennies to rub together so we were unable to go on a honeymoon. By the time our 'pennies' had stacked up, we had kids and all of our vacations are family ones (which is just how I like it). Dh and I are planning on sneaking away together again next year (to celebrate our 15th anniversary). But...for us, St. Martin was the honeymoon that we never had.

How long ago were you in St. Martin?

I have to tell you how much I'm enjoying reading your old trip reports. I'm in the middle of planning a trip for DD's 8th birthday, and reading about "Stitch's Great Escape" has given me some ideas!

I am so glad it helped get your mind turning down the road to fun at WDW! What a special trip that will be for your DD! Stitch couldn't have loved his birthday trip anymore! Thanks for posting!

Hey, Jay! That St. Martin trip sounded absolutely DIVINE! I'm with you, though, it would be hard to take a trip w/out my baby!

VERY HARD! But in the end, I did end up enjoying myself. And the boys were lucky to be spoiled with tons of gifts upon our return home. I made up for missing them by buying them whatever I saw that reminded me of them.

 

[jaycns]

Day 5! DHS Here We Come!

This day will be much like the day before but instead of spending the day at EPCOT, we will be spending the day at DHS. I am hoping to make rope drop and looking forward to our lunch at the Brown Derby (a jaycns family favorite).

When we finish up our delicious lunch, I will once again follow Goofy's lead. If he is up for more park time, he shall have it. For all I know, he may have his heart set on staying to see Fantasmic. If so, then that is just what I will do. His wish will be my command. If he is ready to go and nap, we will relax and snooze. If he wants to spend the afternoon seeing how long you can stay in the water before you grow gills then the pool will be our destination. If he wants to shop until he drops, DTD is where we will head. Time in the arcade sounds good to him, we will compete with each other in an arcade challenge. If he wants to putter around on a golf or mini golf course we will work on our swing. Whatever floats his boat will be what the afternoon is filled with.

Dinner will be where eaten when we get hungry. Wherever we are, I will figure out what's available and we will enjoy a great meal. I don't know if we will be grabbing a CS meal, crossing our fingers to get in at a TS place or enjoying a tasty room service meal, I just know it will be great because I will have an amazing little guy sitting across the table from me.

Our evening will be spent still exploring DHS, on the Boardwalk, in the club lounge, swimming, at DTD, relaxing in our room, in the arcade or even exploring other resorts. Or maybe it will be a combination of those.

Once again, I am purposely doing NOTHING 'sneaky, sneaky' so as to throw him off of the surprise scent. The best surprises come when one is least expecting them!

 

[jaycns]

Day 6...Back to EPCOT!

I have no idea how we will be spending most of this day. One of Goofy's favorite table service meals is at the Garden Grill. I admit to loving this one too, not so much for the food (although that's not bad either) as for the characters and that the whole place revolves (I love that)! The only thing I know for sure about this day is that we will end up at the Garden Grill for dinner. The entire rest of the day is open for use as Goofy sees fit. I am really looking forward to seeing just what he has in store for us!

Once again...no surprises in sight...just a little more wool over his eyes...I am almost ready to spring the surprise of his (young) life.

 

[jaycns]

Day 7...One Wild Day! DAK!!

I love Disney's Animal Kingdom! I cannot wait for an entire day to explore it with one of my favorite people on earth. Only the fact that it is to be our last full day of Goofy's Mom and Me Birthday Bash will distract from our having fun this day. It's always bitter sweet for me, the last full day of a vacation. You know that tomorrow 'real life' is going to reclaim you so you want to milk what vacation is left for all it is worth and not even think about leaving...but that thought of "this time tomorrow" always seems to linger somewhere in the hidden corners of your mind.

I am going to make an effort NOT to think about the fact that Goofy and my time at WDW coming to an end but instead to concentrate on the full day of fun we can enjoy at DAK. And if thoughts of the end of our vacation should creep into my head, I will be sure to think of just how happy we will both be to see dh and the other boys! A week without my husband or other boys will be MORE than enough time away from them for me. I know I will be more than ready to get back to them!

But back to the plans for this day. Once again, most of it will be 'on the fly'. I am really trying to leave us plenty of time for me to simply be able to let us do whatever it is that will make him happy. I am sure you all understand just how hard that is for a planning nut like me. I almost break out into a cold sweat going in not knowing so much about the time we will spend at WDW this trip.

Dinner on this last night of ours will find us eating at Cape May Cafe. Goofy is a seafood nut so this meal seems to be a great way to fill our stomachs on the last night of our vacation.

Once again, on this day, no surprises are planned. I want to end his trip with a bang! So, I am purposefully planning a big fat nothing by way of sneaky stuff on this evening. The more sure he is that all of the surprises have already happened, the more the surprised he will be.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Jay, I can tell how much fun you are having with this one. How exciting. I know that Goofy is not the rider that Stitch is but I do hope you get to do a few rides. There are such fun ones at DHS and AK. I love seafood also, I hope the Cape May meal is delish.

We have been to St. Martin 3 times. The last time was 2001. I found it to be just as good as the previous 2. The first time we were on a cruise and we docked on the French side but took a tour of the Dutch side. I knew then I would go back to that island. How lucky to have a free trip. Congratulations to your DH. That is a huge honor in anyone's book. I'm thinking I'd keep him if he can get free trips for you. I'd keep him anyway but the perks are great.

I'm ready for the "surprise"

Ginny

 

[PrincessAlways]

OMG Jay!!!! 1:30AM!!!!! You were up quite late!!!

Everything sounds just perfect, of course! I just can't wait to find out the BIG SURPRISE!!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Ooooo, Oooooo what's the big surprise???!!!

 

[hhockman]

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!

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?

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!

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!

What is your favorite dish there?

Wow! What an awesome idea! I never thought to combine the cakes with the backpacks (which are already going to be filled with pens and pencils, a Mickey-head shaped notebook (that I made on my Cricut machine), cards, workbooks, bubbles, a pressed penny book, and a Pirates digital camera). I want them to have the backpacks on our first day in the parks, though, so now I'm thinking that Friday night after we get there I'll let DH take them to Disney Quest (which was our plan anyway) after we eat at TRex and then I'll drive over to the Boardwalk Bakery, get the cakes, and then set them out with the backpacks for them to come back to after Disney Quest. That will be SO cool! Thank you. Gotta add confetti to the list.

Now I just need to think of some kind of mid-week surprise. With the surprise of the desination and then the backpacks and cakes, Friday will be quite a day, but like you, I want them to think the surprises are done when I have a couple more up my sleeve.

You are TOTALLY contagious!

 

[jaycns]

Wow! What an awesome idea! I never thought to combine the cakes with the backpacks (which are already going to be filled with pens and pencils, a Mickey-head shaped notebook (that I made on my Cricut machine), cards, workbooks, bubbles, a pressed penny book, and a Pirates digital camera). I want them to have the backpacks on our first day in the parks, though, so now I'm thinking that Friday night after we get there I'll let DH take them to Disney Quest (which was our plan anyway) after we eat at TRex and then I'll drive over to the Boardwalk Bakery, get the cakes, and then set them out with the backpacks for them to come back to after Disney Quest. That will be SO cool! Thank you. Gotta add confetti to the list.

Now I just need to think of some kind of mid-week surprise. With the surprise of the desination and then the backpacks and cakes, Friday will be quite a day, but like you, I want them to think the surprises are done when I have a couple more up my sleeve.

You are TOTALLY contagious!

WAIT...can I update my idea? YOU HAVE A CRICUT MACHINE! **I am going to break down and buy one for myself soon...I love to scrapbook. I just never seem to find the time anymore to make it worth the investment (I need to make time somehow). You are so lucky to have one though!** ANYWAY, if you have the Mickey head shape you could use it and leave the cakes on the table (confetti all around) and then...use the Mickey head shapes (that you can so easily cut with your nifty cutter) to form a path to the backpack hidden on the far side of the bed, in the back of a closet, in the tub, or wherever. It will be like a Mickey head treasure trail! Use a different color paper for each boy and then have them follow the Mickey heads to find their backpacks! Still super easy to set up quickly and SO much more surprise bang for the buck.

Last year the club CMs did this for my boys using ribbon (instead of Mickey heads, you could do that instead if you think it would be easier or more fun) and started at the door and wound the ribbon through our suite and to a bed where gifts were waiting for the boys. That little touch added so much magic to the gifts! My boys were smiling from ear to ear!

If you do use Mickey heads, just write the name of each boy on the first one in his color so he knows which 'trail' to follow. Same thing with the ribbon (unless you want them to follow a single trail together and have the backpacks all in one hiding place). You could also use crepe paper or string or anything you might also happen to already have on hand that is easy to throw in a bag and yet will make the boys think that a magical trail has appeared.

Feel free to ignore this and any other suggestions I offer up. I get WAY carried away lots of the time. I just cannot help it. My mind just gets ahead of me sometimes.

AND you could hold off on the cakes until mid week and just set up a a 'treasure trail' from the door of your room to the backpacks. Maybe even pick up a few Disney candy treats from Goofy's Candy Store at DTD and then place those at the door with a note to follow the Mickey heads to a surprise or stash them every so often along the 'path' (like under a pillow on the bed and have a Mickey head sticking half out or the ribbon running under it) so that they end up with a few sweet treats along the way.

Then save getting the cakes until mid week and have those waiting in the room for the guys one night as a special surprise all on their own! OR maybe have matching t-shirts you make or buy at home for the kids to wear the next day set out with the cakes or a tiny stuffed animal or ????! Once again, the sky is the limit! Actually, at WDW, you can even blow past the sky and reach for the stars!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

You guys are making me want to surprise my son! Of course, surprises like that fit right into Disney, but how can I make our Tennesse vacation magical for DS4. Do you guys have any input???

 

[MrsSpratt]

...TWO shout outs from the Queen of Surprises? One in all caps?!?!?!?

I am honored I could inspire you - after all, you are the one who inspired me to become Auntie Tink for Storey's first trip!

The plans look great, Ms. Jay, and I can't wait for the last day!

Mrs. Spratt

 

[hhockman]

WAIT...can I update my idea? YOU HAVE A CRICUT MACHINE! **I am going to break down and buy one for myself soon...I love to scrapbook. I just never seem to find the time anymore to make it worth the investment (I need to make time somehow). You are so lucky to have one though!** ANYWAY, if you have the Mickey head shape you could use it and leave the cakes on the table (confetti all around) and then...use the Mickey head shapes (that you can so easily cut with your nifty cutter) to form a path to the backpack hidden on the far side of the bed, in the back of a closet, in the tub, or wherever. It will be like a Mickey head treasure trail! Use a different color paper for each boy and then have them follow the Mickey heads to find their backpacks! Still super easy to set up quickly and SO much more surprise bang for the buck.

Last year the club CMs did this for my boys using ribbon (instead of Mickey heads, you could do that instead if you think it would be easier or more fun) and started at the door and wound the ribbon through our suite and to a bed where gifts were waiting for the boys. That little touch added so much magic to the gifts! My boys were smiling from ear to ear!

If you do use Mickey heads, just write the name of each boy on the first one in his color so he knows which 'trail' to follow. Same thing with the ribbon (unless you want them to follow a single trail together and have the backpacks all in one hiding place). You could also use crepe paper or string or anything you might also happen to already have on hand that is easy to throw in a bag and yet will make the boys think that a magical trail has appeared.

Feel free to ignore this and any other suggestions I offer up. I get WAY carried away lots of the time. I just cannot help it. My mind just gets ahead of me sometimes.

AND you could hold off on the cakes until mid week and just set up a a 'treasure trail' from the door of your room to the backpacks. Maybe even pick up a few Disney candy treats from Goofy's Candy Store at DTD and then place those at the door with a note to follow the Mickey heads to a surprise or stash them every so often along the 'path' (like under a pillow on the bed and have a Mickey head sticking half out or the ribbon running under it) so that they end up with a few sweet treats along the way.

Then save getting the cakes until mid week and have those waiting in the room for the guys one night as a special surprise all on their own! OR maybe have matching t-shirts you make or buy at home for the kids to wear the next day set out with the cakes or a tiny stuffed animal or ????! Once again, the sky is the limit! Actually, at WDW, you can even blow past the sky and reach for the stars!

Oooh, I LOVE the idea of a Mickey head trail! I'll get to work on those Mickey heads right away (if ya need some, I can send them-until you get your OWN Cricut of course ). It would certainly be easier to save the cakes for the middle of the week. I'll have to think on that and look at our schedule. Maybe I can do it sometime when the "guys" are off on their own anyway. If that time comes (and it might...we'll still have the rest of the family with us at that point). Hmmm. Okay, so I need to do some more thinking. I have lots of un-matching "matchy" shirts for us, but there's one I think they will really like, so that one might go well with the cakes. Hmmm. Just got an idea about that too. Similar to yours. I'm thinking I could put numbers or colors of some kind on the cake and they'd have to find the Mickey head that "matched" their cake to find their shirt. So many ideas. I have to keep thinking. You are a totally inspiration!

I am DYING to know what Goofy's great surprise is!

 

[jaycns]

Jay, I can tell how much fun you are having with this one. How exciting. I know that Goofy is not the rider that Stitch is but I do hope you get to do a few rides. There are such fun ones at DHS and AK. I love seafood also, I hope the Cape May meal is delish.

We have been to St. Martin 3 times. The last time was 2001. I found it to be just as good as the previous 2. The first time we were on a cruise and we docked on the French side but took a tour of the Dutch side. I knew then I would go back to that island. How lucky to have a free trip. Congratulations to your DH. That is a huge honor in anyone's book. I'm thinking I'd keep him if he can get free trips for you. I'd keep him anyway but the perks are great.

I'm ready for the "surprise"

Ginny

It was my third time to St. Martin as well. I had spent two days in port there during two cruises (one twenty years ago and another just nine years ago). Staying on the island gave me the chance to really explore and discover so many wonderful things that I overlooked during both one day visits while the cruise ships were in port. St. Martin is such a beautiful place. I feel in love.

I guess I will keep dh. I would truly be lost without him!

I will be posting the surprise soon.

OMG Jay!!!! 1:30AM!!!!! You were up quite late!!!

Everything sounds just perfect, of course! I just can't wait to find out the BIG SURPRISE!!!!

Ha ha ha, I have to stay up late to find time to read/post. Sometimes the middle of the night is the only time I can find to sit down and type. Sleep, who needs it?!

Ooooo, Oooooo what's the big surprise???!!!

You guys are making me want to surprise my son! Of course, surprises like that fit right into Disney, but how can I make our Tennesse vacation magical for DS4. Do you guys have any input???

What about a stuffed bear (like the ones that can be found in the mountains there)? Have him appear the first day of vacation and then maybe he can be holding a new little treat each morning when you son wakes up? Stuff like glowsticks, a special snack, a water bottle to carry when hiking, a DVD to cuddle up and watch with mom and dad, a certificate to go somewhere fun (go carts or an arcade or something like that), a new pair of swimtrunks or arm floaties.

Or maybe you would rather do one big gift basket or box full of goodies and leave it for him to find the first evening you arrive.

Just spending time with you on vacation will make it magical for him. Some of my best memories are long lazy days spent at the lake. Grilling out, swimming, skiing, building castles in the sand. The simple things stand out all these years later as being the best.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Another island I also enjoyed was Tortola. It has huge boulders in the water and caves to explore. Totally wonderful. When we were there they didn't have any resorts but I believe they do now so I would like to check into that again. I'm working on a cruise for Don to Alaska next summer. We decided to retire Dec 2011 so we need to get some vacays in before.