For those of you who have arranged suprise trips

[jodistar]

How did you do it? I would love to do this for my husband - not for next year but 2007. I know I'm a little early in the planning or even looking into it but I would love to do it and make it a complete suprise.

So my first question would of course be, how did you make sure that your husband would be able to take off the time? I don't want to give anything anyway if I decide to do this.

Any advice?

TIA,

Jodi

 

[Honeybehr1]

The only suprise trips involving my DH being the one who was suprised was for weekends. I called his boss and told him it was a suprise and asked if it was possible if he could have it off and if she would cover the emergency pager as well. It wasnt an issue at all. She was very accomadating.

The morning of, I simply said I was driving him to work so we could go out after work with only one car and kept on driving to Cape Cod.

 

[jodistar]

Does anyone know, if I do this, can I have all of the information shipped to my work address......instead of home? As my husband would probably pick up the mail before I would.

 

[Perdie]

I planned my husband's 30th birthday trip without his knowledge and we are going in feb.
One VERY important thing you absolutely MUST do:
When you call WDW Travel the VERY first thing you tell them is that you are planning a surprise and they NEED to transfer you to Guest Relations right away-do not give them your address until they know it's a surprise otherwise the surprise is ruined before you do anything.

I had the unfortunate experience of having a CM who did not follow these rules (and I didn't know about these rules) so even though I gave her my parents address (I had already given mine as a billing address) but asked that everything be sent to my parents home. She took my address but god only knows what she did with it because little Disney envelopes kept arriving at my house. I forbid my hubby from getting the mail but I was out of town one weekend and it had been at least 5 days since I had rec'd anything (they send you TONS of stuff) so I thought it was safe...but it wasn't and now he knows.

Anyway, besides that your questions on how to get days off for him...I did have to tell him that I was planning a trip for him because it's going to be 2 weeks. I told him it was for his 30th birthday but wouldn't tell him where. he imagine romantic getaways to Hawaii or Greece-it was great and it was driving him nuts!!

Once he found the envelope, he didn't open it so he was guessing between a cruise and WDW, but I still got him! I took him to DL over Labor Day and we went to a character breakfast....I had the Mad Hatter bring him a cupcake and Sing A Very Merry UnBirthday and then I asked him what he wished for when he blew out the candles...and he looked confused (since it was not his b-day) so i asked him if he wished for a trip to WDW for his 30th!! So I was still able to surprise him even though he already sort of knew...by the way, I called WDW Travel to complain about the letters being sent to me and they had no record of my parents address or anything-they did compensate me by giving us VIP seating to Illuminations...sorry for the long story hope this helps! good luck!

 

[jodistar]

Thank you Perdie - Great information.....I really appreciate it! Sounds like you have a wonderful surprise for your husband!

 

[Dznypal]

my DH pulled off a surprise for me and even had AAA in on it.

we had our summer vacation planned--it was 3 nites in Niagra Falls Canada-
2 nites in Cooperstown NY for the baseball Hall of Fame ( DS was a big baseball fan) Baltimore for the Camyden yards for a game --from there we were going to Virginia Beach--since we drove DH had AAA map out our trip actaully 2 trips one to Virgiania Beach (fake one to throw me off the track )
and the real one to the auto train station that is outside of Washington DC I cant think of the name and Sanford FL on the way he asked DD to put a different cassette in the player and DH DD DS had made a tape for me--they started out by saying all things related to WDW--rides shows hotels -anything then they sang the "WEre going to disney world were going to disney world!! then they said and thats where were going right now!!!!

thats how I got my surprise trip--everything went to parents house they even got a the phone call asing if we would like to be upgraded to the comtempory for the same price as the CBR

I still have the tape and play it every once in a while--the kids sure sound young--still they were this was in 1994--the kids were DS was 13 and DD was 10!!! They are now 24 and 21!!! Man do I feel old

 

[jodistar]

my DH pulled off a surprise for me and even had AAA in on it.

we had our summer vacation planned--it was 3 nites in Niagra Falls Canada-
2 nites in Cooperstown NY for the baseball Hall of Fame ( DS was a big baseball fan) Baltimore for the Camyden yards for a game --from there we were going to Virginia Beach--since we drove DH had AAA map out our trip actaully 2 trips one to Virgiania Beach (fake one to throw me off the track )
and the real one to the auto train station that is outside of Washington DC I cant think of the name and Sanford FL on the way he asked DD to put a different cassette in the player and DH DD DS had made a tape for me--they started out by saying all things related to WDW--rides shows hotels -anything then they sang the "WEre going to disney world were going to disney world!! then they said and thats where were going right now!!!!

thats how I got my surprise trip--everything went to parents house they even got a the phone call asing if we would like to be upgraded to the comtempory for the same price as the CBR

I still have the tape and play it every once in a while--the kids sure sound young--still they were this was in 1994--the kids were DS was 13 and DD was 10!!! They are now 24 and 21!!! Man do I feel old

What a fantasic surprise --I'm hoping I can pull one off on my husband like that but for right now - I am just researching and getting ideas. We both can't wait to go back to Disney World!

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

I surprised DW for our 10th anniversary. First, I called her boss to get her time off scheduled. I then created a hotmail account so NOTHING trip related would be emailed to our home account. I used our ingdirect account to save for the trip, writing in "ATM withdrawl" in our checkbook when it was actually a transfer to ING. I used my work address for anything that had to be mailed (we rented DVC points, so I didn't have the concern of getting mail from WDW Travel). All of my planning materials stayed in a folder at work (I did a lot of my planning during my lunch break, eating at my desk).

I gave her the surprise three days before our departure date. She thought we'd be going to NY City for a night. So I wrote a short story (with a sealed envelope attached to the paper on which I'd typed the story) about how I was really sorry, but I procrastinated and couldn't get a hotel or dinner reservation in NY, but I found another restaurant she might like, told her to open the envelope (which contained a picture of Flying Fish). It took about three seconds before she realized that we were off to WDW!!

 

[bedgraynexl]

This is very cool. I am in the beginning of planning a surprise trip, so hopefully I can pull it off. I appreciate reading all the ways of sneaking around that you all are providing.

Here is to Disney Surprises!!!

 

[JuneCleaver]

Very Cool Very Cool!

Let us know how you make out. I so wish my husband would surprise me!

 

[jodistar]

I surprised DW for our 10th anniversary. First, I called her boss to get her time off scheduled. I then created a hotmail account so NOTHING trip related would be emailed to our home account. I used our ingdirect account to save for the trip, writing in "ATM withdrawl" in our checkbook when it was actually a transfer to ING. I used my work address for anything that had to be mailed (we rented DVC points, so I didn't have the concern of getting mail from WDW Travel). All of my planning materials stayed in a folder at work (I did a lot of my planning during my lunch break, eating at my desk).

I gave her the surprise three days before our departure date. She thought we'd be going to NY City for a night. So I wrote a short story (with a sealed envelope attached to the paper on which I'd typed the story) about how I was really sorry, but I procrastinated and couldn't get a hotel or dinner reservation in NY, but I found another restaurant she might like, told her to open the envelope (which contained a picture of Flying Fish). It took about three seconds before she realized that we were off to WDW!!

OMG - that is so sweet !

 

[Perdie]

This isn't Disney related but I thought I would share...Back in February of 2004, my then boyfriend (now husband) said we were going away to San Fransisco to celebrate our birthdays (they are one day apart)....He had books on San Fran, a print out of what I thought were hotel confirmations at a Westin downtown and I decided to surprise him with a nine hour wine tour on his b-day while we were there....turns out we were not going anywhere near San Fransisco! He took me to Vegas first (I knew about this...telling me something about cheaper rates to fly to vegas for one night and then San Fran) I bought it,,,I am gullible!! We were staying at the Paris Hotel and we had this HUGE suite for one night!! He said he wanted to take me to the top of the fake Eiffel Tower to check out the view..so off we went! When we were up there he said "Wouldn't the view from the real Eiffel Tower be so much better?" And then he turned to me and said, I want to give you your b-day present early.....And he handed me an envelope. I opened it up and inside was a printout of our itinerary to go to PARIS, FRANCE!!!!!!! FIRST CLASS!!! I was shocked!! So the very next morning we flew first class to Paris and I thought the BIG surprise was over (I am gullible) when we got there we had a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower AND he insisted w go there for my birthday dinner (it was now my birthday) and yeah I had to cancel that wine tour I was going to surprise him with!! Anyway, we go to dinner and then we get to the top of the Eiffel Tower and we are walking around and I pull him aside and say I can't believe we are here! And then HE says I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you and get down on one knee and PROPOSES!!!!!!! I was crying. It was so romantic and wonderful!!!! It was the best surprise ever-part of the reason I wanted to surprise him for his birthday at Disneyworld...he's the best : )

And I had to come up with something for us to do the next day in Paris for HIS birthday since I now had nothing planned but I took him on a cruise of the River Seine and then to a Parisian show called Lido : )


So that's my great surprise story (and we weren't living together and didn't share a bank acct so it was easier for him to surprise me).....

 

[Humphrey53209]

My wife surprised me with a WDW trip this past October. Basically she pulled it off by enlisting a group of co-conspirators:

1) She enlisted my co-workers to cover time missed at work.
2) She enlisted my daughter who made all the arrangements from her home and had everything sent to her and charges put on her credit card (my wife and I paid her back upon our return).
3) She told no others about this trip,including my MIL, and managed to keep those who did know quiet.

Regards,
Humphrey53209

BTW it was a great trip.

 

[Lois Denominator]

I did a surprise 30th trip to Disney for my DH (I won't reveal exactly how long ago, but let's just say it was less than 8 years ago, but more than 6).

I recruited my MIL, FIL, SIL (and her boyfriend at the time) to come along with us, and exchanged my OCD planning skills for their complicity in the ruse. Of course, what they didn't know was that I had a surprise or two in store for them, as well. I think that I frightened myself with my capability for deceit... Here's what I remember went down:

Room:
MIL booked the room through Disney (we rented a Grand Villa at the Boardwalk for all of us to stay together). That way, no paper trail for my husband to "stumble" onto. I paid her our portion in small enough installments that DH wouldn't notice...

Finances:
I set up a fee-free savings account and would withdraw a little cash now and again from our joint account and deposit it into that account. I also was reimbursed for travel expenses from work on a monthly basis, and I had the reimbursement be split equally into two checks - one went into our joint account and one was deposited in the "secret" account. (Should I be concerned that DH never noticed that the reimbursements suddenly were smaller (by half!)??? And he's in charge of our finances!!??!!) I also started buying Disney Dollars in small amounts and tucking them away safely. I was surprised how quickly they added up, but then I had a year to plan (and buy)! I think that I also recall "demanding" my portion of our tax refund for "clothes shopping" - then I'd buy an item or two (on sale), and put the rest in the secret account.

His Work:
I called his boss, explained what was going on, swore/threatened him to secrecy and was able to secure the time off with no problem. I also enlisted the help of his assistant to make sure that there weren't any "emergencies" while he was away. Additionally, it gave us something to giggle about when I called his office the usual 200 times a day.

The Flights:
As DH's and my birthday are within a month of each other, my in-laws purchased our flights as our birthday presents. Again, no paper trail. DH was presented with his tickets at a family brunch 5 days before we left for Florida. I told him that because of the trip having been a secret, and my not being able to blow the budget without him knowing, we were staying at All Star Sports (which will be important later). I also told him that his sister had put the room on her credit card, and we had to pay her back (which will also be important later). He was so very stoked...

The Journey:
Our flights were at the crack o' dawn from LaGuardia (I remember it being dark going over the TriBoro Bridge - so that's got to be early). My SIL, who lived several blocks away from us, called the night before we were leaving and left a message asking me to drop off the "payment" for the room that she charged for me, as she needed to pay her credit card bill ASAP. So, I diligently made a fake envelope and told my husband that we would have to swing by her apartment building on our way to the airport and leave the envelope with her doorman. (Seriously, why does this man still trust me??) We pulled in front of her building, and out walks his sister with her suitcases. His jaw hit the floor. He had NO idea. I think he even got a little choked up - we all did, really.

The Hotel(s):
We rented a sweeeet electric blue Chrysler Sebring, put the top down (even though it was January and probably 50 degrees, but it was FLORIDA, dammit!) and headed off to our destination - All Star Sports. Bwaaahahahahaha. My SIL thought that we were just going there to continue the charade and kill time before we headed to the BW, but little did she know that when we parked the car, and headed into the lobby to "check in" (DH was SOOOO confused why we were leaving the suitcases in the car during check in... I just pulled the "I've been planning this trip for a year. My friends online told me that the best way to check in is to bring the luggage later!! Don't question me!" trick. Hee!) that I had arranged for her boyfriend to be waiting for us! He had flown in from business school in Chicago just for the occasion. Her jaw hit the floor. She had NO idea. I think she even got a little choked up - we all did, really. Hugs, kisses, laughter all around. THEN, SIL, her BF and I informed my DH that since there were ACTUALLY four of us, we had done the research, and it was cheaper to split a 1 bedroom DVC room and that we would switch off sleepling on the pull-out sofa. So back we pile into the Sebring and head over to the Boardwalk. We pulled into the driveway to drop our bags off, and there are MIL and FIL standing at the entrance. His jaw hit the floor. He had NO idea. I think he even got a ilttle choked up - we all did, really.

The Room:
We had a beautiful villa overlooking the Boardwalk. From the time that I started planning, I would buy little trinkets and things and began making 3 baskets (one for each couple). I had the baskets shipped down about a week before we left and they were waiting in the room for us, along with some chocolate covered strawberries and the chocolate carousel that I had ordered from the BW. The baskets had tons of little things - Shout Wipes, Breath Mints, sunscreen, disposable cameras, I had sent away for park maps (and had them sent to work) so they were in the baskets, I had also ordered Mickey ponchos for everyone, so I put two in each basket, and I put a little plastic figurine of Tigger (DH's favorite character) in each basket and asked everyone to try and incorporate tigger into as many photos as possible. We got some HILARIOUS shots, and after the trip, I made everyone an album with handwritten comments about every photo. Now that we were settled in, I was just happy that (almost) all of the surprises were done. After dinner on the first night, I told everyone to meet me at the boat dock. What none of them knew was that I had reserved an Illuminations birthday cruise. I think the quote from my MIL when we were in front of the bridge watching the show was, "I feel like I am in a movie." I think that's how Disney makes me feel too...

This turned out more as a trip report from 100 years ago than I had intended, but perhaps you can find something in it that is helpful! Have a wonderful time planning (I enjoy it almost as much as the actual vacation, I think!), have a great time plotting and most importantly, have a great time in The World!

 

[jodistar]

I did a surprise 30th trip to Disney for my DH (I won't reveal exactly how long ago, but let's just say it was less than 8 years ago, but more than 6).

I recruited my MIL, FIL, SIL (and her boyfriend at the time) to come along with us, and exchanged my OCD planning skills for their complicity in the ruse. Of course, what they didn't know was that I had a surprise or two in store for them, as well. I think that I frightened myself with my capability for deceit... Here's what I remember went down:

Room:
MIL booked the room through Disney (we rented a Grand Villa at the Boardwalk for all of us to stay together). That way, no paper trail for my husband to "stumble" onto. I paid her our portion in small enough installments that DH wouldn't notice...

Finances:
I set up a fee-free savings account and would withdraw a little cash now and again from our joint account and deposit it into that account. I also was reimbursed for travel expenses from work on a monthly basis, and I had the reimbursement be split equally into two checks - one went into our joint account and one was deposited in the "secret" account. (Should I be concerned that DH never noticed that the reimbursements suddenly were smaller (by half!)??? And he's in charge of our finances!!??!!) I also started buying Disney Dollars in small amounts and tucking them away safely. I was surprised how quickly they added up, but then I had a year to plan (and buy)! I think that I also recall "demanding" my portion of our tax refund for "clothes shopping" - then I'd buy an item or two (on sale), and put the rest in the secret account.

His Work:
I called his boss, explained what was going on, swore/threatened him to secrecy and was able to secure the time off with no problem. I also enlisted the help of his assistant to make sure that there weren't any "emergencies" while he was away. Additionally, it gave us something to giggle about when I called his office the usual 200 times a day.

The Flights:
As DH's and my birthday are within a month of each other, my in-laws purchased our flights as our birthday presents. Again, no paper trail. DH was presented with his tickets at a family brunch 5 days before we left for Florida. I told him that because of the trip having been a secret, and my not being able to blow the budget without him knowing, we were staying at All Star Sports (which will be important later). I also told him that his sister had put the room on her credit card, and we had to pay her back (which will also be important later). He was so very stoked...

The Journey:
Our flights were at the crack o' dawn from LaGuardia (I remember it being dark going over the TriBoro Bridge - so that's got to be early). My SIL, who lived several blocks away from us, called the night before we were leaving and left a message asking me to drop off the "payment" for the room that she charged for me, as she needed to pay her credit card bill ASAP. So, I diligently made a fake envelope and told my husband that we would have to swing by her apartment building on our way to the airport and leave the envelope with her doorman. (Seriously, why does this man still trust me??) We pulled in front of her building, and out walks his sister with her suitcases. His jaw hit the floor. He had NO idea. I think he even got a little choked up - we all did, really.

The Hotel(s):
We rented a sweeeet electric blue Chrysler Sebring, put the top down (even though it was January and probably 50 degrees, but it was FLORIDA, dammit!) and headed off to our destination - All Star Sports. Bwaaahahahahaha. My SIL thought that we were just going there to continue the charade and kill time before we headed to the BW, but little did she know that when we parked the car, and headed into the lobby to "check in" (DH was SOOOO confused why we were leaving the suitcases in the car during check in... I just pulled the "I've been planning this trip for a year. My friends online told me that the best way to check in is to bring the luggage later!! Don't question me!" trick. Hee!) that I had arranged for her boyfriend to be waiting for us! He had flown in from business school in Chicago just for the occasion. Her jaw hit the floor. She had NO idea. I think she even got a little choked up - we all did, really. Hugs, kisses, laughter all around. THEN, SIL, her BF and I informed my DH that since there were ACTUALLY four of us, we had done the research, and it was cheaper to split a 1 bedroom DVC room and that we would switch off sleepling on the pull-out sofa. So back we pile into the Sebring and head over to the Boardwalk. We pulled into the driveway to drop our bags off, and there are MIL and FIL standing at the entrance. His jaw hit the floor. He had NO idea. I think he even got a ilttle choked up - we all did, really.

The Room:
We had a beautiful villa overlooking the Boardwalk. From the time that I started planning, I would buy little trinkets and things and began making 3 baskets (one for each couple). I had the baskets shipped down about a week before we left and they were waiting in the room for us, along with some chocolate covered strawberries and the chocolate carousel that I had ordered from the BW. The baskets had tons of little things - Shout Wipes, Breath Mints, sunscreen, disposable cameras, I had sent away for park maps (and had them sent to work) so they were in the baskets, I had also ordered Mickey ponchos for everyone, so I put two in each basket, and I put a little plastic figurine of Tigger (DH's favorite character) in each basket and asked everyone to try and incorporate tigger into as many photos as possible. We got some HILARIOUS shots, and after the trip, I made everyone an album with handwritten comments about every photo. Now that we were settled in, I was just happy that (almost) all of the surprises were done. After dinner on the first night, I told everyone to meet me at the boat dock. What none of them knew was that I had reserved an Illuminations birthday cruise. I think the quote from my MIL when we were in front of the bridge watching the show was, "I feel like I am in a movie." I think that's how Disney makes me feel too...

This turned out more as a trip report from 100 years ago than I had intended, but perhaps you can find something in it that is helpful! Have a wonderful time planning (I enjoy it almost as much as the actual vacation, I think!), have a great time plotting and most importantly, have a great time in The World!

Wow - Another great idea! I love this one the most

 

[Dznypal]

actually it was for my DD from her DBF---he set everything up and took her to WDW in Sept and proposed!!!!

everything was sent to our house--he set it up with her boss for time off (they were only there for 2 nites/3 days since they were just there in Aug for a week) he had it set up they were taking a friend of theirs to the airport--when they were checking in at the airport and the clerk asked were they were going DBF says Orlando DD pipes in no Detroit were their friends parents live that they were taking I thought for sure they were going to call security since these 2 were giving 2 differnet cities finally there on there way to the gate and DBF had a tape made explaining they were going to WDW since he had gotten them a brick and as surprise and wanted to show her she was so happy they were going to WDW that nite they went to the Japan to eat he proposed on the bridge!!!

She was so surprised she was shaking and crying!!!

there was only 3 other people that knew my DH and myself and his friend they took the airport!!!

we had 2 close calls where she could have suspected something but covered them up. It was just the greatest surprise!!

they are getting married 8-05-06!!

good luck with your surprise jodistar it can be done!!!

let us know how things go--Im sure to you can get alot of ideas from your friends here on the DIS

Happy New year everyone

 

[smola09's mom]

What great ideas. We are planning a surprise trip for our 3 boys this coming September and can use all the helpful advice we can get. So far we know we will have to involve their teachers as we are taking them out of school. Hopefully this will become a very long thread with more ideas.