Christmas Away Fr om Home

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We will be in Orlando from December 23 to December 30. It will be our family's first Christmas away from home.

We are staying onsite at SeaWorld and will be visiting SeaWorld on Christmas Day. We have free all-day dining so meals are covered . On Christmas Eve, we are doing Santa's Fireside Feast (dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus) and Dine with Shamu later in the week.

What I am trying to figure out is how to do something "special" for my DH and DS for Christmas morning, to make it feel more like a traditional Christmas. My DS will be almost 17 by then so its not like he's little and needs the Santa focus, but both DH and DS think we are doing the trip in lieu of gifts so I would like to surprise them with something special (God love 'em both, they leave all the budgeting to me.....so I can literally do or spend anything and DH wouldn't have a clue).

I would LOVE to have some sort of little tree, but not sure how feasible that would be to do as a surprise. We are flying so there's no way I can pack one in the suitcase.

I was thinking about trying to work in stockings for everyone. That might be an option. Just wondering how I would get things to fill them (I could probably hide some stuff in my suitcase....but would have to watch weight and space limitatinos). I would love a selection of gift cards for my DS (to the outlet malls or the Florida Mall) but not sure if that's workable. Maybe I will check the websites for each.

Anyway......just wondering what some others have done as surprises for the family on Christmas morning when you are far from home. I am open to any and all ideas......and would kiss someone who could point me in the direction of a company who might provide a fully decorated Christmas tree, delivered, for a reasonable price rotfl: ... I know...I don't ask for much).

 

[Lori1960]

Are you taking carry-on -luggage or check in luggae.Since it would be hard to put a small tree in luggage without it getting damged.Buy some garland and hung it in your room.Like the stocking idea.Remember you can"t have gifts wrapped.SAre you only going to seaworld

 

[DakotaRose]

Been there, done that but the kids were 10 and 13 and we went to Florida to visit my mother. We had our little family Christmas at home two evenings before we left, so they still had presents, tree, homemade sweets, etc. They missed the snow and the big family gathering, but not for long. For us keeping tradition meant getting up early for church on Christmas Day. We followed that with an un-traditional terrific brunch in a lovely restaurant, and ambled down to the pool since it was sunny and hot. One of my favorite memories is all of us playing keep-away in the pool, and over the pool radio Bing Crosby croons "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." When the song was done all of the Northerners applauded and cheered. It was 20-below at home.

Things at Sea World were so dripping with decorations and lights and music that we didn't mind not having a tree in our room. Sea World is beautiful by day at Christmas time, but definitely stick around to see the lights after dark!!

For carrying in your suitcase, try a couple of strings of twinkle lights and some 3M Command hooks for hanging them without damaging the walls. It's surprising how much they warm up the room. Stockings lie flat. Bath and Body Works has some great holiday room freshener sprays that are quite small and packable.

For shipping a small box ahead of time, get a couple of 12-15 inch trees and lights and tiny decorations. Keep in mind you'll probably dispose of them rather than ship them home.

Plan 3 - See if a florist will deliver a potted rosemary (Christmas tree shaped), or an evergreen wreath (for scent), or an evergreen/holly centerpiece. Your hotel may have an opinion about disposing of a Christmas tree, so maybe check with them if you're still interested in one.

Above all, have fun making new holiday memories!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Are you taking carry-on -luggage or check in luggae.Since it would be hard to put a small tree in luggage without it getting damged.Buy some garland and hung it in your room.Like the stocking idea.Remember you can"t have gifts wrapped.SAre you only going to seaworld

We will each have one checked bag and one carry on.

We are going to SeaWorld and Aquatica. We will also be going to Gatorland and taking an airboat ride, as well as seeing the Orlando Magic/Toronto Raptors game at the Amway Center. We have plans to visit Downtown Disney (we have an ADR for T-Rex ) and we have an ADR for the character breakfast at Ohana as well. Oh yes, and mini golf on I-Drive (one of my son's favourite pasttimes). A little mix of a whole bunch of different activities.

Been there, done that but the kids were 10 and 13 and we went to Florida to visit my mother. We had our little family Christmas at home two evenings before we left, so they still had presents, tree, homemade sweets, etc. They missed the snow and the big family gathering, but not for long. For us keeping tradition meant getting up early for church on Christmas Day. We followed that with an un-traditional terrific brunch in a lovely restaurant, and ambled down to the pool since it was sunny and hot. One of my favorite memories is all of us playing keep-away in the pool, and over the pool radio Bing Crosby croons "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." When the song was done all of the Northerners applauded and cheered. It was 20-below at home.

Things at Sea World were so dripping with decorations and lights and music that we didn't mind not having a tree in our room. Sea World is beautiful by day at Christmas time, but definitely stick around to see the lights after dark!!

For carrying in your suitcase, try a couple of strings of twinkle lights and some 3M Command hooks for hanging them without damaging the walls. It's surprising how much they warm up the room. Stockings lie flat. Bath and Body Works has some great holiday room freshener sprays that are quite small and packable.

For shipping a small box ahead of time, get a couple of 12-15 inch trees and lights and tiny decorations. Keep in mind you'll probably dispose of them rather than ship them home.

Plan 3 - See if a florist will deliver a potted rosemary (Christmas tree shaped), or an evergreen wreath (for scent), or an evergreen/holly centerpiece. Your hotel may have an opinion about disposing of a Christmas tree, so maybe check with them if you're still interested in one.

Above all, have fun making new holiday memories!

All good ideas....thank you so much.

I think mabe you are right....there will be so many wonderful and lavish holiday decorations every where we go, we probably won't even miss having our own tree.