December 11, 2004 Eastern cruise thread

[jwann]

By the way, thanks to some of our DIS friends, we now have a second and a third prize for the game. A Disney DVD holder and a Beauty and the Beast Magnet.

THANKS

 

[Disneyfan37]

SQUIGGLE(Fran)I am wearing a tropical dress that I had already bought for pirate night.DH is doing the same he is wearing his tropical shirt we had already bought.We won't be pirates that night<GRIN>.

 

[DisneyFam5]

Hey mbuckles,
Why don't you "bore" us with some of those details on what Angela has to do to find out about her surprise trip? You've got me very curious!

 

[mbuckles]

Originally posted by DisneyFam5
Hey mbuckles,
Why don't you "bore" us with some of those details on what Angela has to do to find out about her surprise trip? You've got me very curious!

Michele... You're cruising in 3 weeks.. You're actually begging for boredom? lol

Her day starts with a wake up call (day before departure) from Mickey Mouse. Mickey gives her instructions on what to wear for the day, tells her that her schedule at work has been cleared for the day and that he will call her again at 7:30am. (The time she normally leaves the house).

At 7:30am, Mickey calls again and tells her that he has a Magical Journey planned for her and gives her clues to find a certain person. That call is the first in a series of calls that gives her clues to find certain people throughout the day.

Over the past 3 weeks, in my spare time, I purchased and have worked the 1000 piece Mickey Mouse photomosaic puzzle (have you guys actually ever worked that? Oh My, It's a Chore!) - Anyway, because she would never be able to work that puzzle in a single day, I worked it, then used puzzle glue to put larger sections of it together. Then I flipped the puzzle over and wrote a special love note from Mickey to Minnie. Then I disassembled the puzzle in about 12 smaller segments. On her scavenger hunt, each person she encounters will have a wrapped birthday gift (all are various Christopher Radko Blown Glass Disney ornaments, which she collects). Each person also has an envelope containing a section of the puzzle. Her destinations throughout the day include the restaurant where we shared our first date. Her mother, my mother. She'll be having lunch with our daughter's classroom at school where our DD will have a gift and puzzle segment for her.

After each stop, she gets another call from Mickey giving her the next destination. At the end of the stops, she gets a last call that tells her that "I thought a beautiful lady like you needed a picture of me. Go home and put my picture together. Oh, and don't forget to look at my backside".

The message to Minnie on back of the puzzle gives her instructions on what to do to prepare for departure. At this point, she still won't know anything about the Cruise. It just tells her that "At 5:45pm, A Carriage & Driver Will Arrive For You. Wear the outfit I've layed out for you and take everything left out for you. You will be gone overnight".

Bored yet? haha

 

[thejenjens]

No not bored yet...however jealous that you have thought of all of this for your wife.

Keep it coming. How will she actually find out about the cruise? How did you pull off getting her off of work?

GREAT JOB!!!

Jen

 

[mbuckles]

Originally posted by thejenjens
Keep it coming. How will she actually find out about the cruise? How did you pull off getting her off of work?

Jen

As soon as she departs for the day, that's when my "plan of action" goes into full steam. I need her to be gone for several hours so that I can pack. I've spent quite a bit of time making lists, putting together outfits, trying to anticipate every need she might have while we're gone. I've done a "last minute" trip as a surprise for her before, but in that case, she had a couple of hours before departure to get anything I may have overlooked to throw in the luggage and go. This will be a little more challenging because she literally won't know that she'll be gone for a week until it's too late to grab anything last minute. I guess my margin for error here is pretty narrow, but I know my wife, so I'm pretty confident. I've even bought new books that she's been eyeing so that she'll have things to read. But when she finally leaves the house on 12/10, that's my chance to get everything together and get it out of the house and off to the hotel. We have a 7am flight on Saturday, so we're staying near the airport and near the location of the surprise party. I can't move anything she currently owns before she leaves or she'll notice that it's missing. Needless to say, the hours after she leaves will be fast and furious for me.

As for getting her off of work, that's actually the easy part. We own a media company that owns radio stations and internet properties, and we work together. So I have access to her calendar and know what needs to be delegated and what can be pushed back. Not to mention that by the 2nd week of December, our year is pretty much over. We're already in transition mode to 2005 starting the first week of Dec.

If any of you have spotted holes in my plan, or you have any guidance, feel free to PM me. I'm pretty confident that I've not overlooked anything, but you won't be overstepping your boundaries if you want to PM me with anything. You ladies will appreciate the wardrobe challenges. It's hard enough to solve those issues for yourself, let alone someone else trying to do it for you. Like the question of... "Do we go with the adhesive or strapless version?" I guess I've got a 50/50 chance of getting it right! lol - I'm taking some of her new clothes off to the seamstress today. I'm snuck some of the clothing out of her closet this morning so that they can be used to fit some of the new stuff.

 

[Disneyfan37]

mbuckles-No we aren't bored yet.Your wife is very lucky to have you!We want to hear more!Great planning!

Maria

 

[mbuckles]

Originally posted by Disneyfan37
mbuckles-No we aren't bored yet.Your wife is very lucky to have you!We want to hear more!Great planning!

Maria

I just noticed that I failed to answer Jen's question. The "how will she find out" one. I'm going to wrap up the box that the travel docs came in. I thought the little mini-suitcase was neat. I'll wrap it up and have the Group Sales Coordinator at Morton's present it to her right after dinner, right before the cake. I'm hoping that the party will be in full swing enough that if someone quietly presents her with a gift, she'll just think it's from the restaurant instead of the other shoe dropping, so to speak.

 

[jwann]

PIXIE DUST FOR MBUCKLES THAT HIS PLAN GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH!!!!!!!!!

 

[mbuckles]

How many DH's are going the "Rented Tux" route for formal night? Personally, I'm good on suits/ties that are fairly formal, so I had steered clear of it, but after the Travel Docs showed up and there was the brochure for the rental, I started having second thoughts. I can see some benefits to it, mainly convenience, but I'm a little indifferent to it.

Anyone else have a strategy and care to share it?

 

[Disneyfan37]

mbuckles, This is DH of Disneyfan37. I bought a tux off of eBay instead of renting. Our thinking was if we go again, no when we go again, I will already have one and won't have to rent. I have worn a tux only twice in my life. So I am taking advantage of the situation. I figure, why not. Only rent a tux if you feel comfortable, not because you feel pressured.

BTW, the surprising your wife plan is awesome. I surprised my wife about 5 years ago with a plane trip to Minnesota right after Christmas. However, I had to spill the beans before we left. She would have known anyway. I'm sure we all will want to know how it went.

 

[mbuckles]

Originally posted by Disneyfan37
mbuckles, situation. I figure, why not. Only rent a tux if you feel comfortable, not because you feel pressured.

would have known anyway. I'm sure we all will want to know how it went.

Thanks for your input on the tux. Part of my deliberation is trying to anticipate what she would want. She has several things she owns that says she doesn't have anyplace to wear. So trying to imagine if she'd prefer I go the extra distance is a question mark.

As for finding out how it went, I'm hoping each of you have an opportunity to ask her yourself Thanks for your kind words.

 

[Villaness]

Mark,

This an unbelievable plan. I can't imagine putting all of that together. My DH could never pull this one off. I am soooooo jealous!! It would be interesting to know how many DH could pack for their wives for a cruise. Mine would definitely have trouble.

Your wife is very lucky. I'll add my pixie dust to help it turn out perfect!!!

 

[smchan]

Still no cruise docs. I'm starting to get mildly concerned.

Anyone else in my boat?

Sam

 

[Disneyfan37]

mbuckles-I can't wait to hear about how it all went either.She is going to be so happy and excited!

smchan-Have you called Disney Cruise line?I would call them up to see what they have to say.We just got ours last week,so yours should be coming this week.Fingers crossed you get them this week!

Maria

 

[momto2dkids]

smchan-
We're in the same boat- no cruise docs for us yet either. We booked through Costco though so I know they are sent to them first before being sent to us. SOON I hope!!!

 

[DisneyFam5]

Smchan - My parents just got their docs today. I just got mine Friday. It will probably be any day. If you call they can tell you if they've been mailed or just processed yet

 

[DisneyFam5]

I knew eveyone would enjoy hearing your birthday story, mbuckles! Of course you are probably going to have to steer clear of the husbands, because you are making them all look bad! You may be on a couple of hit lists! It sounds like a very fun day (& week) you have planned. It also sounds like you have had almost as much planning it as she is going to have discovering your plan.

I'm a little jealous and depressed, now! I think I'll get over that as soon as I get to the MVMCP on the 10th.

We all ordered our buttons. Seven of us will be playing the game. We will be submitting our questions soon.

Good work!

 

[smchan]

Any Demon Deacon fans on this cruise? They'll be playing Temple on 12/13 @ 7:00 on ESPN2. As soon as dinner is over, I'll be down in Diversions watching the game - hopefully with my lucky sweatshirt on if my wife will let me pack it.

Sam

 

[DisneyFam5]

Go Illini! I'm an Illinois Alumn and my husband is a Badger. I hope to see them play some good basketball this year! Hopefully we'll see you guys in March or very early April!