Disney Christmas Present - Looking for ideas

[have2getaway]

We are planning to take our boys, all age 7, to Disney in early January and surprise them with the trip at Christmas. Our older son, who is 14, is going with his father and will be getting his surprise news Christmas Eve. We are telling his brothers Christmas morning. We do plan to give them some small gifts from Santa, but their big gift will be from us to Disney. We are looking for ideas regarding what to give them and how to surprise them with the trip. Just putting the magic bands in their stockings didn't seem enough. What have others done for a Christmas surprise?

 

[IrishNYC]

We are doing the same for DD's birthday next year. Her birthday gift will be a Jack Skellington magic band, along with a few possible vacation items we would have bought anyway. You could give them Disney autograph books, pressed penny albums, reading books about their favorite characters, Disney shirts to wear, etc.

 

[2Gma]

Perhaps turn the Christmas surprise into a Christmas treasure hunt with clue #1 being in their stockings, clue #2 someplace else, clue #3 wrapped in a certain color of wrapping paper, etc. It will fill them with wonder/anticipation of what "big" thing is! If you start now, you could probably come up with some really well worded clues/riddles. Have fun!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Ah I miss this type of stuff. We first went to Disney for Christmas (and as a Christmas gift) when I was in college. My mom called be during a "hey, we're going to Disney for Christmas, is that good with you?" "of course!" "okay cool, talk to you later."

I can't wait to one day have a family and pass on the tradition. Here's a few ideas I'd use:

- Do your kids have favorite Disney characters? I think the MB idea is fantastic.

- Another idea could be to buy your kids things they'll need for Disney. It could be cold (it could also be hot!) Depending on where you're going from, I'd do a hoodie for each kid, travel tooth paste and tooth brushes in their stocking, etc. As they seem underwhelmed, claim that Santa couldn't fit the last gift in his sleigh. Or, do something fun like "you don't like these gifts? But they're gonna come in handy for your big gift!"

 

[lauradenise4779]

We did this for our kids several years ago, so this was pre-magic bands. (They were maybe 8 and 6 years old at the time?) They got a few presents, but the trip was the last present and they were to open it together. It was a really big box with a riddle/letter on top. I remember saying something along the lines that we were taking a trip- we'd see mountains, far away lands, etc.- just little riddles about the parks. They couldn't figure it out until they opened the box and then they knew- I had wrapped a big cardboard box filled with latex mickey shaped balloons (I filled them with one of those little helium tanks from the party store), so when they opened it, all of the ballons floated out. That was a lot of fun!

 

[cosmicmommy]

I am wrapping new luggage for each of them with fake tickets printed and stuffed inside a mini stocking at the bottom of the suitcases with Disney t-shirts and various "stuff" like autograph books, passports, lanyard for pins and entertainment for the trip (movies, coloring books, etc).

 

[have2getaway]

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions, and sorry it's taking me so long to respond.

Yes, right now the boys are really into Darth Vadar so I guess we could get them Star Wars Magic bands. I like the idea of luggage and travel items for the trip. I think I might use the someplace warm or cold and do hoodies and swim suits. I'm also planning to give them autograph books to sign. I like the idea of a big box with a surprise you're going to Disney inside. Thanks so much!