First time going and autograph book

[Bravemouse]

Hi Everyone!

I've been planning a trip to go to Disney World for five years now with my little sister,we never had the money to go because it was so expensive to fly all the way from the Yukon, but this year i made over what i needed to go She is nine going on ten this October and for Christmas i want to surprise her with the trip (and take my family, but they already know that they are going). I have the money and mostly everything planned out, but i'm going in March of 2014 and i don't think i'm allowed to book my trip yet :/ I'm going with my mom, my younger brother and maybe my step dad. I have four questions that have been nagging at the back of my mind the entire time i have been planning and here they are.

1) Have you ever told your kids two months or even later that they have been going? If so how did they react? Happy they get to go or un-happy because it's two months away? (or later)

2) How did you surprise your kids with a trip to Disney World? Last minute spontaneous trip or they knew for a while? I would love some ideas on how to surprise my little sister with the trip!

3) I want to buy a Surprise in room Princess package (we are suppose to be staying at the art of animation, in the finding Nemo family room) have you gotten the package to surprise a loved one? If so was it easy to book? was it everything you hoped for? Can you book more than one "in- room celebrations" if so what would you recommend if i could get one for not only the princess package but something for my family?

4) If i can book the in room celebration package for my little sister there is suppose to be a autograph book that comes with it, should i chance it and not buy one and hope there is one big enough for autographs? or should i buy two online for my little sister before we go?

Any tips would be amazing! this is my first time going and i would love to have any feedback on it! Also if anyone has tips on what i should buy before i go or tips on a familys first time going! I would love to make the trip magical for my little sister!

 

[Tortuga Rob]

I can help you with 1 and 2. I have no experience with the others. Telling them gives them something to look forward to and even creates a fun way to "countdown" using a calendar or other method. I seriously doubt that someone would be upset but it happens. For number 2 we planned a trip without telling our kids in 06 using the ruse of doing a shopping trip over the border which is not unusual for our family. I slipped in a note with our passports to the border guard and he played along. They finally figured it out later when we went too far. Hope this helps.

Rob

 

[lady_bug_888]

So far I have only taken my kids one time to Disneyworld. I wanted to surprise them the day of the trip but my son has a variety of issues and does not always do well with surprises. Also, it was KILLING me inside to keep it a secret! I wanted to share the excitement and get some feedback from DS (I told DD right away but she was under a year old when I booked...she had no clue what was going on!).

I ended up keeping it a secret for 6 months and then 34 days before we left I surprised the kids with gifts. They got some new summer clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a bunch of little Disney themed stuff and a giant plush Mickey and Minnie doll. Before I gave the gifts I told them that the gift contained a clue about where we are going on vacation. I had also been watching the planning DVD with DS (he was 7 and it was his favourite 'show') over and over saying 'one day I want to go there'. DS didn't get the clues until the Mickey doll and then he freaked out! He had been saying how this summer was going to suck for weeks and he was pretty surprised. We made a countdown chain and mousekeeping envelopes that day and it was really fun having him help plan.

Our next trip isn't for 4 years (but I might be able to swing it in 2!). We live in Northern Alberta, so it's quite expensive for us to travel that far. I have told him little bits about when our next trip is, but I haven't decided yet if I will surprise him or not. Maybe this time I will surprise DD instead, since she now knows what's going on!

As for question 3 and 4...I was considering doing an in-room celebration but I decided not to in the end because I felt it was just too expensive and we were on a tight budget. My son celebrated his birthday at WDW so we got him the birthday badge and he got quite a bit of magic that day. I think giving her a cash gift to spend at WDW would be better because then she can choose what she wants. Or maybe take her to tea or something. I'm sure whatever you decide will be magical!

Autograph books...it is definitely cheaper to pre-order, but I personally liked choosing the ones for our family while we were down there. My favourite autograph book has a place for a photo across from the actual autograph! We ended up needing two autograph books and next time we go we will probably need 1-2 more!

Have a magical time on your vacation! It is the best place on earth. I still dream about my time there almost every night and it's been 2 years! In fact, two years ago today was my first time visiting MK at WDW!

 

[terri33inne]

1) Have you ever told your kids two months or even later that they have been going? If so how did they react? Happy they get to go or un-happy because it's two months away? (or later)

2) How did you surprise your kids with a trip to Disney World? Last minute spontaneous trip or they knew for a while? I would love some ideas on how to surprise my little sister with the trip!

I have done both... my favorite though was surprising her for our first trip last year... If I knew how to upload the video I would.

I had told her she & I were going to have a 'special day', and she wouldn't be going to school & I wouldn't be going to work... we talked about things we would do on our day, etc. So the day before my parents picked her up from school, and I called her on the way home & said there was a package for her on the front porch. When she got home she ran over to open the box, and I had a Minnie Mouse balloon in it with a card that said "We're going to Disney", and then a Minnie rolling carry-on suitcase for her filled with stuff for the plane ride! She was 5 so it took her a few seconds to process what it all meant but then it was awesome.

For this upcoming trip I ended up telling her when our TA sent us a little package in the mail with some gifts for our trip... we were looking at everything & I was just asking her what we would use these things for. It has been fun counting down with her, and talking about what we're going to do,etc.

However, my preference is the surprise.

 

[maplevale]

So exciting!

Our first trip I told DD when we booked (she was not quite 4) and it was kind of fun to plan things with her. She didn't really 'GET' it though. This trip (she will be 6) I am holding off until Christmas - I think it will be a nice way to surprise her and it is just over a month before we go. I figure it still gives us enough time to plan our days a bit (keeping in mind I already have 'planned' a lot!). I think part of the fun of a big vacation is the anticipation!!

I have never done any of the packages - our last tirp I brought little gifts to leave in the room each morning. I got things at the dollar store/walmart and she was just as excited! (And WAY less $$!)

Autograph book - I was just going to do photo mats - however she REALLY wanted an autograph book. We found one at DTD that was a photo album/autograph book. Perfect amount of pages (we saw a lot of characters due to meals and some duplicates too) and we printed a picture with each character for the opposite side. It is much more of a memorable souvenir then just the autographs! They have them online or in the parks too.

 

[suziespice]

we are going in December and booked our trip last March and told our kids right away, and its kind of been torture because its such a long time away...I kinda wish I had waited until later to tell them..my 4 year old keeps saying, I wish we were going tomorrow mommy...and its still a few months away!! eek! I just bought 2 autograph books at the Disney store, 1 Mickey Mouse and 1 Princess.

 

[minnie mum]

You probably want to get this booked soon if you want a particular resort or room category. Especially since you are going during Spring break. Not sure why you think you can't book yet- 2014 prices have been out for a while now.

We always told our children about the trips when we booked them. It was a surprise no matter when they were told, and this gave them something to look forward to. It was also a great way to keep their behavior in line- gave us something to hold over their heads.

We didn't do extra special surprises for the kids. They found the trips to WDW to be special and magical enough! Plus we were on a budget. Those packages are way too expensive and IMO aren't a great value. But if your budget will stretch to it and you want to do it, go for it. Just don't overdo it to the detriment of your budget. It's an 'extra', not a necessity.

Autograph books are ubiquitous. You can pre order. You can buy them from a Disney store or Walmart. You can buy them from almost every single vendor in WDW, including your resort. You can get another one at the drop of a hat if you need another.

My one tip is to just do your research. And don't OVERPLAN. No need to pile on tons of extras. If this is everyone's first trip to WDW, just experience the Disney Magic for what it is, without a lot of superfluous embellishments. Save them for another trip when you think you will need something more. (And BTW, after 35 years of going to WDW, we very rarely feel the need for something 'more'. )

I hope you all have a very magical vacation.

 

[sasamong]

Great to hear that you've planned for Disney!!! I know i'm still in the hype because I'm going this Oct (well end of Oct to early Nov). I have no kids but I am a constant lurker on trip reports! (you learn a great deal there) So from what I've read.. i can kinda help out.

0. I believe you can book for the March2014 trip now on the Disney website (with or without a package)

1. I've seen trip reports where the kids went to school the day they are leaving and the parents went and took them out of school after recess or after lunch. I'm not too sure why the kiddo would be unhappy even though it's 2 months away.. YOU GOING TO DISNEY!!! be thankful!!!

2. I read in one TR where the mommy told the daughter that she had a 'dentist appointment' and told her this was the gift for being brave on going to the dentist. It was a package with hints like mickey ears and other disney stuff. At the end, there was a note saying "Do you know where we're going?" I thought that was so cute!!!:bride

3. Sorry no info on this

4. As i said, no idea about the in-room celebration. However, if you look into this thread, you can DIY an autograph book to use and save the ones the package comes with (if it does) for memory's sake.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2323160

Hope that helps jump start your trip planning !!!

 

[s u]

We surprised our daughters the morning we left. They had no clue we were going. Some wonderful people on these forums helped us with letters from Ariel and Tinkerbell.

Every morning there was a small gift related to the days planned activities and again letters from various characters that were made on this site. These were items I had purchased at the dollar store, the Disney Store or at Walmart. Much cheaper!

The autograph book was a photoalbum I bought at the dollar store. I printed up character pages from this site and the characters would sign them. When we got home, I printed the picture of my daughter with that character and the autograph would be right next to it.

 

[Babooagain]

Many years ago when my kids were little we gave them each a special Christmas present. When they opened the box a helium Disney balloon floated out with our park tickets attached. We were staying offsite and bought the tickets from UT. You could do basically the same thing with a card saying "we're going to Disney!" we were going in January so there wasn't a lot of time in between, but they were younger than your sister and she might like taking part in the plans and countdown.
By the way, you are a terrific sister to be making this happen not only for her, but all of your family!

 

[Bravemouse]

Thanks you guys I've been stressing about it but you have all helped me out! now i just need to book it!