Celebrating and Adoption, what to do at Disney??

[KJMAX1]

Ok we are celebrating our 5th childs adoption who is 19 mos. My sister in bringing her two kiddos who she is adopting this Friday. They are 9 years and 2 1/2 years old. Is there anything we can do in the park special for them?? We will be eating at Crystal Palace, Ohana, Biergarten, and Sci-Fi. I am willing to plan something outside of eating but I know they have things for kids who have birthdays.

Thanks

 

[livndisney]

Ok we are celebrating our 5th childs adoption who is 19 mos. My sister in bringing her two kiddos who she is adopting this Friday. They are 9 years and 2 1/2 years old. Is there anything we can do in the park special for them?? We will be eating at Crystal Palace, Ohana, Biergarten, and Sci-Fi. I am willing to plan something outside of eating but I know they have things for kids who have birthdays.

Thanks

Stop in at Guest Services and they can give you "We are celebrating" Pins. Call and have them add to your ressies that you are celebrating your adoptions. We just celebrating my DD's adoption-Congrats to you and your sister!!!!

 

[KJMAX1]

OK we are renting a vacation home big enough for all of us, so its offsite. Do I tell them to add it to our ADRs or what?

 

[Aliceacc]

Congratulations!!! My son's 10th Gotcha Day was January 12.

Is it still possible to get in on the Dessert Party at the MK??

 

[MomTo4+more]

Congrats to you and your sister! What a great way to celebrate! I have adopted three children. How fun that you and your sister are both adopting!

 

[livndisney]

OK we are renting a vacation home big enough for all of us, so its offsite. Do I tell them to add it to our ADRs or what?

Oh Yes! call Disney dining and ask them to add that you are celebrating your adoptions to your dining ressies. Every time I call to make an ADR they ask if we are celebrating anything. Disney's thing this year is "What will you celebrate".

 

[thegreggersmom]

Adding my CONGRATS to the mix! We are celebrating the 1st Anniversary of my DS's adoption when we go.

 

[Aliceacc]

How about planning a dinner at 'Ohana, since " 'Ohana means family."

 

[KJMAX1]

Thanks everyone. I will mention it to the dining reservation Cm but is there anything I can do like buy a cake or something?? I thought Disney used to have buy a birthday package with a little cake etc?


Maybe there isnt anything I really can do? Its the 9yr olds first time, along with her sister, but really, its a huge thing to this 9yr old. Id love to have something special for all our kids to enjoy, but especially her.

 

[PoohGal05]

Oh I LOVE all of this! We have been a foster family for almost a year and the baby we have we found out in May that we are going to get to adopt him! How about making special shirts for the trip to wear during one of your ADRs? We are making some that say : mine ~ We. On the baby's shirt ~ R. On the back of my mom's ~ Family! On the front of the shirts we are having monogrammed 'Disney '09'

 

[livndisney]

Thanks everyone. I will mention it to the dining reservation Cm but is there anything I can do like buy a cake or something?? I thought Disney used to have buy a birthday package with a little cake etc?


Maybe there isnt anything I really can do? Its the 9yr olds first time, along with her sister, but really, its a huge thing to this 9yr old. Id love to have something special for all our kids to enjoy, but especially her.

You can order and pay for a cake. You can also get the 9 year old a pin at GS that says "1st trip". The Disney website does mention some special "add ons" you can book.

 

[KJMAX1]

Oh I LOVE all of this! We have been a foster family for almost a year and the baby we have we found out in May that we are going to get to adopt him! How about making special shirts for the trip to wear during one of your ADRs? We are making some that say : mine ~ We. On the baby's shirt ~ R. On the back of my mom's ~ Family! On the front of the shirts we are having monogrammed 'Disney '09'

Thats really cute. All of our children plus my sister's came through foster care, so each one was a special journey.

Thanks for the ideas. Are there delivery services available for special things or does someone have ideas to make it seem like a fairy stopped by our vacation home or something?

 

[tinkslite]

I am an adoptee (closed adoption @ 2 1/2 months).
I am an adoptive parent (my daughter was our foster child @ age 3 and adoption was final 1 month after her 5th birthday)
I was a foster mom for 6 years, serving in 2 separate states.

Tarzan was adopted by his Ape Mom, Kala. There is a lovely lullaby in that movie called "You'll be in my heart," performed by Phil Collins. A recording of that is nice.

Lilo and her sister Nani adopted Stitch (from an animal shelter). Their unusual family is a bit on the "alternative" side! The social worker assigned to the case is even kind of "non traditional." I would make a big deal about "O'hana means family" on the day/night you eat at O'hana.

Dumbo was parented mostly by a mouse.

In the "Rescuers," Penny is adopted by new parents at the end. The lullaby in that is called, "Who will Rescue Me." Penny has a wonderfully positive attitude throughout the movie, and I especially remember her saying that, "If at first you don't succeed try again."

Aurora, from Sleeping Beauty, was "adopted" by her 3 Fairy Godmothers. She was raised from infancy to age 16 by the adoptive Moms, then returned to her bio family at the palace.

Perhaps these stories will help you to plan some fun and appropiate celebrations. I would particularly want to make a big deal about it for the 9 year old!

Congratulations to all of you. How lucky your families are to have added these wonderful children to your number!
Have a magical celebration!

 

[tinkslite]

check it out on the disney world site, but the disney world florist has all kinds of cute gift arrangements, room decor celebrations and YES they make it seem like a fairy or mouse or whatever visited and left these special items!

If their prices are prohibitive.....
My hubby and I arranged for him to take my son and daughter to the pool one afternoon, while I "pixie dusted."
I spread glitter on top of the made beds and in a streak (like a flight path) to where the "treasure" of candy, pins, lanyards and new dis themed fanny paks (bought from the dollar store and wally world back home) was sitting. We had a few balloons and a "welcome note" from Peter Pan (my sons favorite character at that time).
I met the gang at the pool and we had a dinner at our hotels quick service restaurant. When we went back to our room after dinner the kids were delighted to see that they had been "visited."
We've done similar things on holidays etc........

 

[tinkslite]

Depending on whether you have a girly girl or a tomboy you might consider having your 9 year old splurge a bit for a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique @ the Magic Kingdom (girly). My 14 year old daughter and I are going in for Mother/Daughter makeovers! Way fun!
If she is more of a tomboy you could take her to the Pirates Lair. They deck them out as pirates and have them "join the crew." Kinda like she has "joined your crew" this year!
If you do this be sure to tell the CM's that you are there to celebrate her adoption!!!!!!
The littler ones might get a haircut at the Harmony Barbershop @ Main Street USA. Lots of babies have their first haircuts there, and the hairstylists make it special. Mickey glitter, balloons, even a My First Haircut Certificate! It may be their first "in YOUR family haircut" but thats a first TOO!

Hope these ideas are helpful

 

[mama2mulan]

Congratulations! What a wonderful way to celebrate your new families. I have two daughters and both were adopted so I know how important marking this special occasion can be. I would definitely tell everyone and anyone that works at Disney about your special occasion. As they say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Someone you run into may be adopted or be touched by adoption somehow and make a really big deal out of it. You never know. Have a fabulous trip!

Julie (me) dh dd (7yo) dd (5yo)

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We are looking into adopting someone and would love advice. I would rather not go into it here, but if anyone can pm me, I would really appreciate it.

 

[tinkslite]

We are also wearing homemade "What are we celebrating?" tee shirts.

THE Front: What are the Hansens Celebrating?

The Back: Mom & Dad: Married 15 years!

You could do something similar to announce your new family members to all! They could sport adoption finalization dates, or whatever. The 9 year old could help to design them!

 

[nettii]

We are celebrating my 1 year adoption when we go down in Sept. Im 39 and my step father adopted me legally last year!

 

[PistonsFan]

We are celebrating 4 years since we adopted our son - I have added it to all of our ADRs so I'm hoping they'll do a little something. The CM on the phone said they would make him the center of attention.