A Warning of Sorts

[maxiesmom]

I don't see the horror. Disney mails stuff out, and puts Disney type stuff all over it. This is a surprise to some?

How about if you want to plan a surprise trip, setting up a post office box? Or even telling the kids you have some important mail coming, so you want to be the one to get the mail?

The pic the OP posted, it seems they could have easily passed it off as vacation planning stuff for a trip sometime in the not so near future. No reason the let the cat out of the bag, say you are looking at a trip sometime next year and were looking for ideas. Or it is junk mail. Asking Disney for all sorts of freebies? Wow.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Not sure if it's been stated, but ours came like that too and I just told them it was junk mail and Disney trying to get us to book again. 9&6 and they bought it fine. We get plenty of advertising and junk mail. They could totally use that slogan to "convince" you to book again as well.

 

[artemis908]

I might be in the minority here, but i love the mail from Disney. Snail mail is a lost art, I don't get much anymore and so seeing any from Disney gets me excited, especially since they personalize it. I agree with a previous commenter that I would have played it off and said, "Oh geez, Disney is trying to get us to go again?"

 

[Minnesota!]

So, play it off as junk mail? How could that ruin a surprise? We do an annual surprise trip, and so much mail comes. If the kids see it, it's junk mail. they see me toss in recycling and I fish it out later.

I don't see the outrage here. Quicker thinking on your feet would have saved your surprise.

 

[darrengs]

It is a good thing that the OP posted this as a warning, so this way if this happens to someone else they won't be caught off guard, and can nonchalantly play it off; "what's that, oh I see it is just another advertisement".

 

[sunflowerblooms]

Ok. So they know your are going to Disney but you can still surprise them with your hotel, character meals and added tours. Plus any other special extras along the way. And now they can be part of the Disney planning. One of our favorite pre-trip traditions is heading to the Disney outlet store and buying our vacation t-shirts.
I get the disappointment but OP you can totally still add surprises and fun extras to your vacation even if it's just bringing a bunch of room decorations that you bought at the dollar store.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Disney makes everything special. Even the mailings before. Perhaps one day you will get the option to get your mailing by carrier pigeon the day before your vacation but until then.... "Surprise we're going to Disney" or.. "That's junk mail" .

 

[maxiesmom]

Ok. So they know your are going to Disney but you can still surprise them with your hotel, character meals and added tours. Plus any other special extras along the way. And now they can be part of the Disney planning. One of our favorite pre-trip traditions is heading to the Disney outlet store and buying our vacation t-shirts.
I get the disappointment but OP you can totally still add surprises and fun extras to your vacation even if it's just bringing a bunch of room decorations that you bought at the dollar store.

Or if they want to go whole-hog, Disney Florist. They have some awesome packages!

 

[Pesky]

Between my Visa card and requesting vacation videos, plus our DLR stay, I get flashy mail all the time. Once, right after we got back from our DLR trip, the kids got excited and I told them to calm down, it was just an advertisement, and I had to keep saving if we were going anywhere else. They don't even pay the mail any mind now unless I have them look at it. But good to know to watch for some stuff that might spill the dates, as we're trying to surprise them on the day we fly out.

 

[vikster1]

I used a TA the past few trips. I get one big package a few weeks away from arrival from her with my reservation details, luggage tags and a gift card for me and pins for the kids. I have to say I love getting any Disney mail. The incredibles and a few other things come snail mail.

Sorry your surprise didn't work out the way you intended. Either way, you will have a fantastic time. I wish someone was planning on surprising me with a trip to WDW!

 

[IHRTWDW]

When do they usually send them out because I have not received anything in the mail?

 

[aaarcher86]

When do they usually send them out because I have not received anything in the mail?

When is your trip? Are you in the US?

 

[ATLbelle]

My kids didn't realize the booklet was from a reservation. They thought it was just an ad. I tore off the front and back covers

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We're using a travel agent and I've gotten my mail from
Disney.

Got the poly construction letter sent to my house and my magical express letter with tags.

My kids don't pay attention to the mail but if they did I would just say it's junk mail.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

How about if you want to plan a surprise trip, setting up a post office box? Or even telling the kids you have some important mail coming, so you want to be the one to get the mail?

I had a similar thought. If it's that important to you to be able to surprise someone else in the household maybe use a work address or a friend or family member (that you've let know to expect Disney mail for you)'s address as the mailing address. (My parents would do this with Christmas and birthday presents when I was a kid)

Also before it was Incredibles it had the castle on it. I think the castle would be even more suspicious it was a trip. Like others have said you could easily say it was junk mail or trying to get you to buy or go see a movie.

 

[IHRTWDW]

When is your trip? Are you in the US?

My trip is in July and yes I am in the US.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I might be in the minority here, but i love the mail from Disney. Snail mail is a lost art, I don't get much anymore and so seeing any from Disney gets me excited, especially since they personalize it. I agree with a previous commenter that I would have played it off and said, "Oh geez, Disney is trying to get us to go again?"

I actually like the colorful mail myself and have never planned a surprise trip( I know myself too well- could never keep a surprise that long!). But, I don't see how having some plain mailing envelopes set aside for surprise trips is such a hassle. Shoot, they could even charge for it. That would be right up their alley.

 

[aaarcher86]

My trip is in July and yes I am in the US.

The magnet and flash drive are random. You should have a date for shipping on MBs, roughly 30 days out.

I don't know if they still send package extras in paper form or if they're electronic now, but that's roughly 30 days out as well.

 

[IHRTWDW]

The magnet and flash drive are random. You should have a date for shipping on MBs, roughly 30 days out.

I don't know if they still send package extras in paper form or if they're electronic now, but that's roughly 30 days out as well.

Thank you!

 

[bluezy]

When do they usually send them out because I have not received anything in the mail?

Just for reference (since I don't know your travel details), we're staying on property and arriving mid June. I made our reservation through a Disney TA last September but didn't link it to my MDE account until mid-March. Shortly after I linked it I received the mailer pictured in the original post of this thread. I don't know if it was the registration that triggered that or just coincidence as we were at about 3 months out from our arrival date at that point. I received the FP+ mailer at about 70 days out (10 days before I could make those reservations). The final paperwork (coupons, luggage tags, etc) arrived last week at about the 21 day mark but I know those came directly from my TA and she purposely mailed them on the weekend so they would arrive on a week day. I never received a magnet or a flash drive -- our "important dates" were listed on the back cover of the original mailer. Hope that helps!