Getting welcome packages to the kids

[carrielovesdisney]

We have decided to fly to Disney. Just wondering, how do you get the packages to the rooms. Do you ship them ahead of time? Thanks for the input.

 

[carrielovesdisney]

BUMPING

 

[jtanddolly]

Some people cram everything into their luggage or take an extra suitcase that is just for all the Disney things they have made including a "grand welcome", but you can mail packages in advance to your resort so that they are waiting for your arrival. Hope that helps!

 

[Mallorysmom]

I was wondering the exact thing. I'm thinking of taking it in my bag if I can fit it all without going over weight limits. Boy do all of these extra treats add up.

 

[revwog1974]

I hope you don't mind me jumping in with a related question. I can't figure out how to have the notes, coupons and other gifts from the characters come for my daughter. If I just give them to her, she'll know I made them. I'm trying to preserve some mystery! How have others done this? I don't want to pull the grand welcome stuff out of my suitcase.

 

[Monknmom]

We have decided to fly to Disney. Just wondering, how do you get the packages to the rooms. Do you ship them ahead of time? Thanks for the input.

For this do you mean like a welcome package? We are driving but I guess that you could do this if you are flying.... someone gave me the idea to have DH stall my DS with something (like we are staying at ASMo so the Toy story statues) and I am going to sneak up set it up and then get back down quick so he doesn't suspect anything. I am going to wrap/bag everything before we leave the house so I just have to pull it out and set it up quick. If you mail the package to yourself at the hotel they won't set it up for you, if I am correct they don't even bring it to your room until you get there and check in. PLEASE someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think that's what I remember getting told!

I hope you don't mind me jumping in with a related question. I can't figure out how to have the notes, coupons and other gifts from the characters come for my daughter. If I just give them to her, she'll know I made them. I'm trying to preserve some mystery! How have others done this? I don't want to pull the grand welcome stuff out of my suitcase.

I am going to put it under his pillow at night or on the dresser for when he wakes up and tell him that sometimes Tinker Bell is asked by her friends to bring gifts to the kids from the park. If they ask why her just say she's the smallest that can fit into your room without waking you up- you could even leave some "pixie dust" with some glitter from the $1 store so it's more believable!

 

[Mallorysmom]

I never thought about the "stall" technique. We might give that a try or do it in the evening as a surprise for when we come home. My 8 yr old is pretty smart but still in love with the mystery of it all. I'm so excited to surprise them with the trip and all hte goodies.

 

[carrielovesdisney]

Some people cram everything into their luggage or take an extra suitcase that is just for all the Disney things they have made including a "grand welcome", but you can mail packages in advance to your resort so that they are waiting for your arrival. Hope that helps!

Thanks! I've been trying to weigh the benefits fo mailing. Will they set them up for us, I assume there would be a charge.

 

[Cinderella909]

I hope you don't mind me jumping in with a related question. I can't figure out how to have the notes, coupons and other gifts from the characters come for my daughter. If I just give them to her, she'll know I made them. I'm trying to preserve some mystery! How have others done this? I don't want to pull the grand welcome stuff out of my suitcase.

I kept all the invitations and coupons in a large manila envelop. I placed a little sticky note on top of each one so that I could easily recognize the appropriate envelop (in case I had forgotten which stamp). Then all I did was pull out the envelop and drop it by the door. I kept gift bags hidden in the closet, and little gifts, and would place them by the door at night. My DGD usually fell fast asleep after her bath. I was able to drop some envelops while she was playing in the room.

As far as welcome baskets, I had them all made up and placed in large opaque (white or black) trashbags. If flying I would use a small foldable gift bag and place the goodies in a bag, separate bags for each goodie basket, in the suitcase to keep them all together. Then I would send everyone out to explore while I settle in the room, and would meet them by the pool, gift shop, etc. When we returned to the room, they were so surprised! It only took a minute to set everything up. I had everything together in one box.

I was worried that I the room might not be ready and wanted everyone to have a welcome letter and coupons for DTD, so when checking in, I asked the conceige (sp) if he would give out the welcome letters containing coupons for DTD, which is where we were going first. He was great, and it was a big surprise.

And, if there was a single parent who did not feel comfortable with having the little ones on their own, you could easily do the goodie baskets at night when they fall asleep. I don't think kids care as much about the welcome basket on arrival as they do about the magical surprise to find the welcome basket. (hope this makes sense).

My DGD was so excited about all the 'things the faires left'! Good luck with your magic.

Karen

 

[ilovemickeymost]

I love all the ideas. I'm doing a mommy & me trip w/ DS & was trying to figure out how to do all the surprises. I like getting the cast members in on the magic. Those are the things that make their experiences at Disney magical too. When I sent the "We cant wait to see you letter" DD could read & would have known they were sent locally. I went to a craft store & found a postmark stamp from the North Pole, but the writing was really tiny. I just used that to post mark the letter over the stam'p & she was none the wiser. By the way for all of you thinking the kids out grow the magic, she's 17 now & still checks the mailbox for her letters.

 

[Bungle]

What I'm doing for this trip is bringing the welcome baskets in my carryon. I usually check my bag (so I can put all the shampoo etc in it) and just put surprises/gifts in my carryon so that no one can peek! But this also gives you a bag for souveneirs on the way home.

 

[tinksgilrs251520]

I shipped everything down 7 days before our arrival date and when we got to our room our boxes were waiting in the room for us .......I am doing a girls only trip and I have two 14 year olds when we go so I am hoping that I can stall them at the pool or something.

 

[jtanddolly]

I don't believe Disney charges for boxes you send in advance.

For the surprise letters and invitations. We went in a larger group so we had several rooms. I generally would slip them under the doors at night right before I fell asleep and would run. After the kids fell asleep, I would leave them at our door like they had been slipped under the door as well.

My dad commented towards the end of the trip what a great "concierge" we had and he wondered how he/she always knew our schedule. I never told him it was me.

I would also find a reason to run back to the room before we would leave to go to the World and I would leave little gifts and letters from different characters.

One day I left some letters and gifts at the front desk just so the kids could enjoy going down and asking for "something that was left for our room".

I saw that another mom had a mailbox that she made and the letters would mysteriously appear in the mailbox. She had a red flag that would be up when something was left in it.

For the grand welcome. I made a "hotel scavenger hunt" and sent my husband and the kids on the hunt so that I could set up the room.

Hope that helps!

 

[Sue's Mum]

There are some wonderful suggestions/ideas here. Thank you everyone.