Calling Clever Posters: Help w/ a Disneyland Riddle

[FarmBoy78]

So, my wife and I were lucky enough to make it to DL earlier this year. We fell in love (we're WDW vets). We'd love to take my mom to DL, as she would love it too (and hey, it's an excuse for us to go).

We're trying to think of ideas on how to give her such a gift this coming Christmas. One vague idea we've had is to give her a bunch of really small stocking-stuffer type things, or smaller gifts, that hint to DL. Then at the end of gift opening, we'd tell her there's one more gift, but she has to solve the riddlepuzzle or something.

We haven't dug deep into yet as we've been busy...so I figured I would go to you good folks for some ideas/help. If it proves not worth it, we won't do it and come up with some other unique way of "telling her."

So what am I talking about? Well, for example, in my mom's case...she love's tomato juice or V-8. So a can of V-8 in her stocking or a 6-pack would subtlety reference Flo's V-8 cafe for example. Or if we wanted to do something like a dinner at Napa Rose, we could give her a bottle of wine from the Napa region and a rose accompanying it. It wouldn't directly point to DL at all, but if she looks back when we tell her, she'll have some trouble (we don't want it too obvious of course), but eventually get it because we told her all about it, or she can Google, etc.

We just thought it might be a neat idea. Again, if we can't figure it out, nothing lost, but figured the bright minds here might help with some pieces to the riddle.

Thanks,
FB78

 

[DisneyFan13US]

I don't have anything to add. Just wanted to say I really like the idea and would love to hear how it turns out.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

It's a great idea. My family did that for me once when I was a kid. I don't remember all of the items included (there was one for each land plus Main St.), but I know there was a pewter castle (Fantasyland), a teddy bear (Critter Country--Country Bear Jamboree) a western themed keychain (Frontierland), a puka shell necklace (Adventureland back when the Polynesian restaurant existed), and a Victorian porcelain doll (Main St.). Can't remember what they did for Tomorrowland or New Orleans Square. Does your mom drink rum? Or an empty bottle of rum with ship in the bottle? Great Pirate's reference there. Good luck!

 

[chickapin parterre]

petrified wood, oranges, palm oil or dates, mona lisa, any book by dumas other than the sandwhich,

1964 world fair postcard, Ferde groef, the word "parterre" with womans garden gloves and small garden tools, carnation seeds,, a tiny rope with 12 knots and a lead fishing sinker tied to one end.

abstract drawing from a Charles Dodgson book without any reference to the park, she may connect the mock turtle and walrus to the literature but not the attraction,

burbank seeds, dole pineapple can, sparrow picture, Johnny weissmuller photo, NBC logo, pictures of shepherds painting on easels or canvass,

Photos of Fess parker, and Buddy ebsen in same envelope.

photo of mary tyler moore and the question, "who was she the Belle of......?"

bottle of gold glitter, envelope of letters and numbers from Star Wars, round rock in a box of bats, rats and spiders,

horseshoe painted gold, pennies and five dollar bills, swiss chocolate bar with fake snow sprayed on the package,

feather with the lyrics, "she's got a ticket to ride"

 

[rwu]

That sounds fun! Here are some ideas I came up with:

* A CD of Linda Ronstadt's greatest hits [Blue Bayou]
* A carnation [Carnation Cafe]
* A book of Mark Twain short stories [Mark Twain Riverboat] (if it includes "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", you'll get in a Storyteller's Cafe reference too!)
* Some accessory from Columbia Sportswear [Sailing Ship Columbia]
* A fedora [Indiana Jones Adventure]

I'm not sure if you were looking for DL/CA refs only -- if not:

* A small globe keychain/desk accessory/etc.

I once did a puzzle where the answers were letters, ranging from A to G. The solver had to play the notes and figure out the tune was "yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me". It was pretty challenging since there was no octave or timing info, but something along those lines might be fun if your mom's musically minded.

 

[AHGB]

I thought this had to do with an actual, true riddle. Maybe one will come along.

 

[AHGB]

Like this:

http://m.sporcle.com/games/disneian/disney-princess-riddle

 

[DLfan4]

what about a happy 60th birthday mug? (just like disneys 60th)

 

[Kittyskyfish]

How familiar is she with Disneyland? Park-regulars would catch clues like carnations and V8, but newbies would be confused over the obscure clues because they have little idea what's inside the parks, other than the classic headliners.

If she's never been, or hasn't been there in many years, I suggest themes that pretty much anyone can understand:

California, castle, and a mouse.

Maybe a vintage California magnet, then a new remote mouse for her laptop, and finally a carry-on piece of luggage with an id tag that has a castle and some trip paperwork inside.

 

[FarmBoy78]

Great ideas so far. Many thanks. It's obviously 6 months away, but I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out.

She's familiar enough that although they won't be immediately obvious that there's a tie-in, she'll be able to figure it out once we tell her to "solve the puzzle" or however we do it. So ideas like carnations are a perfect example. I'll keep thinking myself, but definitely enjoy the ideas so far.

 

[FarmBoy78]

Oh, and for the poster that asked, it can be DL and DCA and even DTD for that matter. Anything related.

 

[wind in the willows]

How about little gifts that refer to characters?
A teacup ( Alice )
A honey stick or small jar of honey ( Winnie the Pooh )
White gloves ( Mickey )
A polka dotted hanky ( Minnie )
(She might think of an afternoon tea at this point)
Just throwing this out there...a small jar of hot sauce ( Donald's fiery temper ) It might throw her off...

The riddle- We like to think that these little gifts are perfectly suited for you,
But there are some others who'd like them as well, can you figure out just who?

If you solve this riddle, we'll all take a trip to visit with these new friends.
Come on, take a guess, cuz we'd sure like to go where the magic never ends!!

Mary

 

[AHGB]

How about little gifts that refer to characters?
A teacup ( Alice )
A honey stick or small jar of honey ( Winnie the Pooh )
White gloves ( Mickey )
A polka dotted hanky ( Minnie )
(She might think of an afternoon tea at this point)
Just throwing this out there...a small jar of hot sauce ( Donald's fiery temper ) It might throw her off...

The riddle- We like to think that these little gifts are perfectly suited for you,
But there are some others who'd like them as well, can you figure out just who?

If you solve this riddle, we'll all take a trip to visit with these new friends.
Come on, take a guess, cuz we'd sure like to go where the magic never ends!!

Mary

Not bad. Needs some work.
Keep working at it. Lol

 

[FarmBoy78]

Love the ideas so far. Kicked around these things to date, with help here and my own thoughts.

Flo's V-8 Café: V-8 drink
Carnation Café: Carnation Flowers
Napa Rose: Wine from Napa Valley & Rose
Dole Whip: Pineapple Juice
Enchanted Tiki Room: Tiki Torches
Matterhorn: Swiss chocolate bar, hot chocolate, Macaroons, something
Paradise Pier: Bird of Paradise Plant
Bakery Tour: Sourdough Bread Mix
Aladdin Play: Coupon Book for 3 Wishes
It's Tough to Be a Bug: Bug Spray/Pest Treatment
Corn Dog Castle: Corn dog mix / sticks, hot dogs, batter?
Mint Julep Bar: Mint Julep Mix
Delta (Plane -- usually what we have to take form where we are): Delta Faucet Accessory for sink/bathroom
Pirates of Caribbean: Rum

Just some early thoughts.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Fireworks: A firecracker
Fantasmic! and/or WOC: A spray bottle of water (yeah, that's really stretching things.)

I like the idea of practical stuff she can use on a trip, like sunglasses and luggage tags, snacks for the plane, etc.

 

[azdisneylover]

You have been given so many great ideas! I am hesitant to post mine. Here goes:

A snowflake ornament and a picture of Betty White = Snow White
Recipe with the word "splash" circled and a picture of a mountain = Splash Mountain
A copy of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
One of the Indiana Jones movies
(If she has the movies, give her the sound tracks to the movies)
Any of the sound tracks/movies made by Disney/Pixar. (especially ones that also have a connection to a ride)
A Disney gift card
A Starbucks gift card
A Ghiradelli gift card
Her favorite Disney character plush
A Disney Dooney purse
A Disney charm bracelet watch (you can find a very good selection on Amazon reasonably priced)
A picture of Disneyland with the saying... what is missing..(her, of course)
Have her finish the rest of the line "Who's the leader of the club That's
made for you and me ............."
If she still doesn't guess it, ask her something like "Now that you had the
best day of 2015, what are you going to do now"..Hopefully, she will say \
"I'm going to Disneyland".

 

[FarmBoy78]

Many thanks to all for the ideas. Keep 'em coming if you think of any in the middle of the night.

 

[Micahisgood54]

so imo I would do California specific things that have to do with Hollywood so like gold stars and camera products like memory cards or camera case. you could also do a photo album with pictures of DL with pictures of you and your fam there. and last page put and now you get to go too! I also just surprised my wife with a new travel bag and a letter with two fake plan tickets to DL. hope this helps!

 

[FarmBoy78]

So, here is what my wife and I have come up with so far, theme wise. You'll notice I've tried to keep all the gifts relatively cheap, and completely non-linked (directly) to Disneyland or California. Feel free to make fun of us. Some context, my mother is essentially at a second home in New Orleans, so you see a lot of NOLA items. There is actually a hot sauce called Blue Bayou...it's the only one that is maybe a little too direct, but I don't think she'll put 2-and-2 together since we all like hot sauce and spicy and it's not an unusual type stocking stuffer in our family.

 

[DisTXMom]

You all are so creative!!! I tried to surprise my kids with clues for WDW trip. A Princess dress, then a suitcase filled with some Disney t shirts and such. A power point slide show with pictures from our previous trip- not nearly as clever as what's above. My kids never caught on until the very end of the slide show (which told them we were going). Hope she catches on quicker than my kids lol- you'll have fun with it!!