A Planning Guide to Goofy's Great Birthday Bash!

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Hey there! I was turned on to your report by Ginny and Heather. Now I've gotta go back and read the entire thing.

Lisa

You will love it Lisa. I don't think she has ever had the troubles you get into but she writes a fine report and has beautiful children

 

[LexisAuntieLala]

You have seriously outdone yourself this time...surprise boatrides, surprise cakes, surprise limos...nothing compared to this one....Seems like you were just preparing for the big surprise! I never saw this one coming! I am so excited to read your post-trip report to see how this all goes down....And if you keep planning all these surprises, you may still be down in Disney by the time I get there in December!

 

[SoonerGirl]

OK Jay, you're getting way too good at this sneaky surprise thing - you totally shocked me!! Will you have your video camera rolling? I'd love to see Goofy's reaction!

 

[Goldeelox9]

OMG what a great surprise....You blew me away with this one! They are all going to be SOOOO excited!!!!!

 

[DisneyJo]

Jay you are the biggest sneak ever, Goofy is going to be absolutely stunned when the rest of his family turn up and then you'll have another week there, how fantastic

 

[Aburns8]

Goodness, the family joining you is the best surprise!!!! Can you adopt me so that I can be part of your family?

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

That's AWESOME, Jay! Seriously, Goofy will never see it coming. Can I be honest? I'm JEALOUS! Just a teensy bit, but you are getting the best of both worlds here. A week alone with just you and Goofy, and then the whole family joins in. That's just the most wonderful thing I can possibly imagine!
I can't wait to see how the TR reads and see all the pictures that go along with it!

 

[jaycns]

Well, I've been sitting here waiting for you to post the "surprise" and I somehow missed when you did. I noticed Ginny posted, but figured it was in response to the first part.

I'M GLAD I CHECKED!!!!
I am completely speechless. I had NO idea (though I did like Ginny's idea when I read it). The funny thing for me is, you are coming in 4 or 5 days before we will be there. I couldn't find anywhere that you mentioned exact dates, but I tried to figure it out based on your ticker.

Then I figured I MUST be wrong because every time I did the math there was NO MNSSHP on the day you said you were going! At least I know I can still do math.

You

are

amazing!

Truly.

So do we now get another week's worth of PTR?

I do that sometimes, miss updates I mean. Actually, I do that all too often and then I will come back a day later and see it was there when I last checked. I guess I do qualify as scatterbrained.

I am just hoping that the club level CMs will play along with the whole MNSSHP thing. The IPO CMs assure me that they will be delighted to help me surprise him like this. I have my fingers crossed that it all works out.

What day do you arrive?

And yes, I am going to share more PTR!

It was sure too funny.

I think this is the perfect plan and the perfect time for you and your family. You know your dad would want you to have your family time.

Having lost my dad so many years ago I know exactly what you went through. He was my real hero and saviour. I don't know if you had read on my report that my mom and I don't do well. My dad was my protector and I felt like I lost the world when I lost him.

You will have such a grand time at the Poly. Soaking up Disney as it is supposed to be. With the people you love most in the world. I can't wait to see pictures. That dh of yours deserves big kudos for bringing 3 boys in a van alone for those hours. I'd be keeping him for sure.

You have made memories to last a lifetime. Good job mom. You have outdone yourself once more.

Ginny

He does deserve a LOT of praise for that. I hope little Buzz does well. Although I am hoping he can get in about 6 hours before any of them are even awake for the day. That should help a whole lot.

Knowing that my dad would want us all to enjoy some purely fun/magical time together led to me booking for all of us. I just know it would be what he would want for us to do. So, it feels good to be doing it. I am so sorry for the loss of your dad. It's never easy.

My question is, how in the World (pun intended) is she going to top THAT is December with Aladdin?

Ha ha ha. I will make that trip all about what will make him happy and that will be just perfect for him. I have a few ideas for him already...they are just in the very early dream stages vs. starting to plan yet.

I think you shocked us all!!! I was giving myself a headache trying to figure out your MNSSHP night cause by my calculations there wasn't one that night!!!

Your DH may want to invest in ear plugs for when he lets the boys in on the surprise... I think there will be a lot celebrating!!!

I must say you have got some serious will power keeping all of these secrets... I am very jealous, I can't keep my mouth shut....

HA HA HA Nope not a MNSSHP on the books but it hopefully will fool my little Goof.

I think dh is looking forward to hearing those whoops of delight! I know I wish I could hear them! He might want to have earplugs for the rest of the trip down though. I think it will be fine for him though, our boys have done a lot of long drives and are sort of trained to just sit and bear it.

I have NO self control. Seriously, I cannot keep a surprise a secret to save my life. I just make sure that I say stuff like "next year when we all go to WDW" and fill in what I want to say about this year's trip. And I NEED the DIS as an outlet for my planning talk so that I keep my lips sealed here at home.

Hi Jay,
Great surprises, and I love the scavenger hunts! I knew what your big surprise was from the Poly thread, and I didn't dare comment before now. I am not nearly as good as you at keeping a secret!!! That is going to be the most amazing surprise for Goofy, to suddenly see his dad and brothers on the beach! And then to realize that he'll be in WDW for another whole week! It just doesn't get any better than that for a kid.
You guys really deserve a nice relaxing week on the beach, its been a tough year. But, please do me a favor, and don't wear out the concierge staff too much! (we arrive right after you have left ) Then again, after a week helping you and your lovely family, I'm sure they will all be in great moods for my family's visit.
Now, can I ask, how has the staff been about shopping for you? I've seen on some threads that the shopping service has been kind of hit/miss lately. I'm trying to think of a small surprise in the room for my family, but I'm not sure what yet. I don't want to go all out with the florist package, I was thinking along the lines of a beach towel and sand toys, but then I heard that the shopping service had stopped, so I never looked into it. I am curious to hear how your experience with them has been. Thanks!!

We will get them ready and rarin' to go for you! I hope you have the best visit ever! Thank you for keeping my secret!

They have been GREAT about shopping for us. I have asked them to purchase a couple of things and they have been more than willing. I would just call in and ask them to pick up the towel and sand toys for you. It's a great perk (and I am going to use it as long as I can). No surcharge (you only pay the actual price of whatever items you want) and they are really good about making sure it gets where it needs to be when it needs to be there. It's always fun for the kids to walk into a room with surprises waiting for them at the end of a long park day.

 

[jaycns]

I am actually crying real tears here!!

That is the best surprise evah!!! I can't even begin to comment! (I too was going crazy trying to figure out your HP night...) What a great surprise for Goofy, but also what a gift for you!!

I know how it is to lose your Daddy and have your whole world go upside down. I lost mine when I was 27, and I think all the time about what he would think of his beautiful grandchildren. What a great chance for you to gather ALL your boys close and just enjoy them! I can't wait to hear about it!!!

(and kudos to you for being able to keep the surprise. I'm going crazy trying not to tell my best friend. Speaking of that, I'm taking her to DW in December for her 40th birthday. Any suggestions of ways I can surprise her?)

It really is a huge gift for all of us! I love the thought of that moment in the sand. I have fallen asleep more than one night dreaming about it!

I am sorry about your dad. It's hard no matter how old you are. I lost my mom when I was 23. She was able to meet Aladdin but, sadly, none of my other boys.

Send her on a scavenger hunt! They aren't just for kids. I would LOVE it if someone did one for me. If that's not her style, what about tea at the GF one afternoon? A private dinner at the GF one evening? Pick up a counter service meal at Capt. Cook's at the Poly one night and then have a picnic on the beach while watching the fireworks/water parade. Design a personalized birthday t-shirt for her and order it from the disneystore.com before you go. Schedule a surprise birthday breakfast, lunch or dinner in Cindy's castle. Surprise her with going to see Cirque (at DTD) or the Blue Man Group (at Universal). Look into heading to Discovery Cove for the day if she is a huge fan of dolphins/sting rays/fish. Take her on a DTD shopping spree. Surprise her with a special cake at dinner one night. Buy her a small stuffed animal of her favorite character and have it waiting for her one night when she comes back to her room. Buy her (and you) a tiara and wear with with pride. Treat her to the House of Blues gospel breakfast. Enjoy a picnic in the park at AKL. Watch Wishes from the Contemporary's observation deck on floor 4 (open to the public) or walk up the fire stairs (right next to the observation deck) and watch from a landing. Get a mini cake from the Boardwalk Bakery (priced $3.99 each) and surprise her with it while watching Illuminations from the resort (only the higher fireworks are visible). Make her personalized Mickey birthday ears. If you will have a car there, sneak away and get her a balloon bouquet. Make sure that she gets her birthday phone call from Goofy. Treat her to a pedicure at the GF spa (or a massage or manicure or whatever you think would float her boat). Make her your own version of spa time in your room. Bring some nail polish/lotion/relaxing music and stop by to buy her an assortment of bath bombs at Basin and then draw her bath for her. After she has a relaxing soak, you guys can play teenagers and do each others nails. The Basin store at the GF has an amazing little product. It's a lotion candle. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. You light them for a bit and then pour the warm wax into your hand and use it as a lotion. SO decadent (and priced under $20). Take her para-sailing at Sammy Duval's (at the CR). Rent water mice. Take her on one of the fishing excursions. Set up a tee time on one of the golf courses. Bring a few decorations from home and decorate the room after she has gone to bed one night so she wakes up to festive room. SO MANY IDEAS...it all depends on her. Think of the sorts of things she loves best and dream from there.

OMgoodness, it's fabulous! I'm surprised and it's not even my trip!!

I sure hope he falls for it!

Hey there! I was turned on to your report by Ginny and Heather. Now I've gotta go back and read the entire thing.

Lisa

Hi there Lisa! Welcome! It's good to have you here. You can help me keep Ginny in line. Just joking, Ginny.

Love the suprise of DH & the rest of the boys meeting you there.

Way too cool.

Barb, I miss you! LOTS! Come around more often. I am also hoping for a PM to hear how things are going. Hope your kids are ready for the start of school.

You will love it Lisa. I don't think she has ever had the troubles you get into but she writes a fine report and has beautiful children

I will try to get into some trouble just for you! Thanks for pointing me to Lisa's TR. I am enjoying it! I love her details!

You have seriously outdone yourself this time...surprise boatrides, surprise cakes, surprise limos...nothing compared to this one....Seems like you were just preparing for the big surprise! I never saw this one coming! I am so excited to read your post-trip report to see how this all goes down....And if you keep planning all these surprises, you may still be down in Disney by the time I get there in December!

Don't I wish I would be able to stay for a few months! Imagine the fun that could be had!! Nah, it's easy to keep finding interesting and fun treats at WDW. I see no end in sight to the fun that can be had!

I promise to get cracking on my trip report very shortly after I return!

OK Jay, you're getting way too good at this sneaky surprise thing - you totally shocked me!! Will you have your video camera rolling? I'd love to see Goofy's reaction!

Hee hee hee. I was planning on NOT mentioning our extra week at all and then having it be a surprise addition to the trip report when I wrote it. Notice I couldn't hold it in. I am going to try to have the video camera rolling! I want to be able to revisit that moment for sure! What surprises have you set in motion for your boys? I am hoping for another trip report. Your last one is one of my all time favorite trip reports!

OMG what a great surprise....You blew me away with this one! They are all going to be SOOOO excited!!!!!

*I* am so excited! If they are even half as excited as I am over this one then it will be a HUGE success!

Jay you are the biggest sneak ever, Goofy is going to be absolutely stunned when the rest of his family turn up and then you'll have another week there, how fantastic

Happily stunned is just what I am aiming for!

Goodness, the family joining you is the best surprise!!!! Can you adopt me so that I can be part of your family?

Welcome to the family! There's always room for one more. Glad you are reading along!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

I wondered if after I said what the ultimate surprise would be that if I were right that #1. She's going to be angry I figured it out or #2. She is gonna laugh and say we are two sneaky people when it comes to surprising those you love.. I was so glad it was the latter. I can't believe I came that close.

You are so awesome. Can't say it or think it enough.

My kids were always good travelers too and so are the grandkids. They just remember what they are going for and it is all good.

Ginny

 

[jaycns]

That's AWESOME, Jay! Seriously, Goofy will never see it coming. Can I be honest? I'm JEALOUS! Just a teensy bit, but you are getting the best of both worlds here. A week alone with just you and Goofy, and then the whole family joins in. That's just the most wonderful thing I can possibly imagine!
I can't wait to see how the TR reads and see all the pictures that go along with it!

Ha ha ha. YOU CAN DO THIS TOO! Plan a few days alone with your DS at WDW. Switch resorts (or not) depending on your personal tastes and then have DH meet you guys there to surprise your son with adding in a family vacation! I know you said you were a bit nervous about a trip alone with your ds but if you give it a few years I am sure that will evaporate. Actually, if you went without 'other' people to try and stay on their schedule, I bet your son would do tremendous even now. Even if you just snuck in a mom and son weekend before being joined by dh for the majority of vacation I think you would be able to have an amazing trip full of happy surprise!

And yes, for me, having my entire family at WDW for a 'surprise' extra week is my idea of a dream come true! A most wonderful thing indeed!!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Ha ha ha. YOU CAN DO THIS TOO! Plan a few days alone with your DS at WDW. Switch resorts (or not) depending on your personal tastes and then have DH meet you guys there to surprise your son with adding in a family vacation! I know you said you were a bit nervous about a trip alone with your ds but if you give it a few years I am sure that will evaporate. Actually, if you went without 'other' people to try and stay on their schedule, I bet your son would do tremendous even now. Even if you just snuck in a mom and son weekend before being joined by dh for the majority of vacation I think you would be able to have an amazing trip full of happy surprise!

And yes, for me, having my entire family at WDW for a 'surprise' extra week is my idea of a dream come true! A most wonderful thing indeed!!

I'm really happy for you! A great mom like you deserves it all - and that's a fact! I think all of us on here would attest to that.

I think my son would definitely do a lot better now, without the "others", for sure. I never would have thought to have done a solo trip w/out DH, but you have def inspired me. I will wait until he's a bit older and can appreciate the surprises more, but I seriously want to do it.

I will use your TR's and PTR's as my motivation and inspiration!

 

[jaycns]

Day 2 of Goofy's Family Birthday Celebration!

I am sure that the boys who haven't already spent a week in the parks will be eager to put some park time under their belts. I know I would be! So, after a quick breakfast in the club lounge, we are going to head to Disney's Animal Kingdom for the day. All of us love this park and I know we will have a very fun day!

I am thinking of trying out one of the new picnics in the park that are available at DAK. Other than that, I plan on us riding, watching shows, catching the parade, visiting characters, enjoying the animals and maybe even giving some of the carnival type games in Dinoland USA a try.

Upon our return from the park, we are going to let our bitty Buzz take a quick nap (fingers crossed that happens) while the rest of us kick our feet up too. After our brief refresher, we are planning on heading to one of our new favorites. , Artist Point at the WL. YEP, all six of us. I figure by eating early and bringing Buzz in well rested we can enjoy a delicious meal with a well behaved little guy enjoying it as well.

Our evening will be spent enjoying the Poly. The club lounge with it's view of the castle, the beach, the pools. Just a relaxing time to spend with each other enjoying each other's company.

Oh and I forgot to mention a surprise. When the boys get back from dinner they will each find a special gift awaiting them. An assortment of stuffed animals and books will await them. Once again, thank you IPO for doing a bit of advance shopping for me!

 

[DisneyJo]

I just suddenly thought, now you're there longer do we overlap??? I get there on Sept 24th!

 

[LexisAuntieLala]

I just suddenly thought, now you're there longer do we overlap??? I get there on Sept 24th!

Sorry to highjack your pretrippie a bit, but I just realized that DisneyJo was responding to your report and hers was the first trip report that I ever read on Disboards (and got me addicted to reading them I might add).....The fact that she is from the UK (my favorite place outside of Disney) and loves Disney started me reading/lurking!!!

 

[disneydusted]

Ok, Jay...you've done it again! I was catching up on your report, reading along about Goofy digging in the sand and then I read your surprise and I actually think I squealed! I have never squealed before but I do believe you got that out of me! I am sooooo excited for your surprise! I am sitting here a bit misty eyed thinking about it. I just love the whole idea of everyone being together! Super wonderful!!!! I don't know how you are not bursting at the seams with this secret! I love it!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hee hee hee. I was planning on NOT mentioning our extra week at all and then having it be a surprise addition to the trip report when I wrote it. Notice I couldn't hold it in. I am going to try to have the video camera rolling! I want to be able to revisit that moment for sure! What surprises have you set in motion for your boys? I am hoping for another trip report. Your last one is one of my all time favorite trip reports!

Awwww, thanks! I am definitely planning on doing a TR for this trip, I so enjoyed reliving the trip with the last one and it made for a perfect way to remember all the little details. Thanks for inspiring me to write it in the first place.

I've got a few little ideas for our Christmas trip. I'm planning on having Memories by Betsy deliver a gift basket for each of the kids for our arrival day, and I'm kicking around the idea of having Gifts of a Lifetime decorate the room for Christmas, it's a little pricey though so I'm still debating - I'm afraid DH would get mad at me for this one. I'm also planning on taking them to do a couple of little things that they know nothing about, but will really enjoy - cane pole fishing @ POR and for a "sleigh" ride @ the WL. Our last night we will be taking a Wishes Cruise, I'm going to contact private dining @ the CR to see what kind of treats I can have waiting for us to enjoy as well.

I must say, I probably never would have thought to throw little surprises into our trip if it weren't for you, so thank-you! I so can't wait to see their little faces light up!

 

[momoftriplets]

Barb, I miss you! LOTS! Come around more often. I am also hoping for a PM to hear how things are going. Hope your kids are ready for the start of school.

I'm still here. Always reading, rarely posting. Yes, kids are getting ready for school. 7th grade this year. holy cow!

Sorry about the lack of a PM. Overall, life is very good right now. Things are going well. Finally. Will PM soon.

Hey- where's Heidi been? Maybe we can lure her out of hiding, waddya think?

 

[hhockman]

We arrive on the 18th, so I know we'll be there at the same time for at least part of the time now. We'll be there the 18th-26th. And I am SO looking around for you guys. I can't wait to see you and tell DH, LOOK! There's that mom I told you about! I don't tell him everything about the DISboards. I actually don't tell him much at all, but I've told him about you. Even he is impressed.

You have so inspired me that I'm already thinking of things we can do for our next trip (next June, just the four of us and MIL as opposed to this one which is the four of us-friend isn't coming anymore, my mom and dad, my brother, SIL, and nephew, my grandparents, and SIL's mom. Yeah. So we're planning fun things for the next trip! ). I've already decided we're celebrating BOTH my DS's birthdays (we'll actually be there for one, but not the other-older DS is March) and DH's and my 10th Anniversary (which is actually in April). And I'm going to think of something to do for MIL too. I'm just in the initial planning stages, but I'm already excited...and we haven't even left for the September trip yet!

I tell ya, you ARE an INSPIRATION!!!
(who agrees with me?)

I am so glad Ginny pointed me to your TR.

 

[DisneyJo]

Sorry to highjack your pretrippie a bit, but I just realized that DisneyJo was responding to your report and hers was the first trip report that I ever read on Disboards (and got me addicted to reading them I might add).....The fact that she is from the UK (my favorite place outside of Disney) and loves Disney started me reading/lurking!!!

Sorry for hijacking too Jay but awww you're so sweet, I'm glad you got addicted to the DIS as it's a great place, BTW have you read my most recent TR? It was my training for the Disney World Moms Panel and I got to stay in Cinderella's Castle Suite the night