Grad trip for my daughter .. need special ideas!

[chipndales]

My daughter will be graduating in June and she's asked for a family celebration in Disney rather than a huge grad party! Family from Arizona are planning to come out to help us celebrate. We've been to Disney a few times but haven't ever done anything really special (other than Tea at the Grand Floridian). What could I book that would be really super special for her and the family to do. It can be somewhere special to eat, or I know they used to have a dessert party (not sure if they still do). I know this is the ONLY place to post and ask since you all have spectacular ideas. We are looking to go after her birthday in early July but haven't ruled out August. It will definitely be summertime. TIA.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

How many are in your party - would you fit on one of the fireworks cruises? I think a fireworks cruise would be really special (expensive, but if the whole party enjoys...) and I think they can decorate too. (Not sure on the decoration, just thought I'd seen it somewhere.) Maybe a dinner show if they do shout outs to those celebrating - again, I don't know. Maybe everyone take a tour together? I'm sure others have more and better ideas but these are what came to my mine so I thought I'd start the ball rolling.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I second the fireworks cruise. You can also order a custom cake and have it delivered to a restaurant for a graduation celebration. The info is on a cake thread in the restaurant section.

 

[cgattis]

Third on the fireworks (Wishes) cruise!!! It's like your own personal private showing . It's my favorite thing we've ever done at Disney. If you don't like cake, you could always have dessert first (or dinner and dessert, like we did) at whichever resort you cruise from. I can't say enough about how special it was.

 

[chipndales]

That sounds fantastic! We're a party of at least 8 so I think that would work. I'm looking it up now. And the cake idea is great.

Any other cute ideas I could do to make her trip magical and memorable? I'm open to all suggestions.

 

[BelleBriarRose]

I don't know how big your party is, but if you wanted to do something different or special for this trip you could book one of the special backstage tours (Keys to the Kingdom, etc.) or try to get a reservation at one of Disney's best restaurants. Victoria & Albert is really special but expensive and everyone in your group has to be a pretty adventurous eater, as there will be no chicken tenders there my personal favorite is Be Our Guest, but it's really hard to get reservations there!

 

[Itinkso]

If everyone is 14 or older, Lunch with an Imagineer at Hollywood Brown Derby is a fun experience. Years ago, everyone received a commemorative plate signed by the Imagineer.

 

[gzmtlock]

I echo the fireworks cruise idea! I also recommend Cirque du Soleil, combined with dinner in DTD. Cirque is WONDERFUL!

 

[mouserly]

My own favorite Disney things that I've done are:
1. The fireworks cruise - this was amazing and I would highly recommend it! So special.
2. Dinner at Victoria and Alberts. Expensive. But one of the best meals I've ever had. If she's a foodie, this might be a special treat - maybe with just you and her...make it intimate and something special that just the two of you do together. It is several hours long...but spectacular.
3. The night time safari offered at Animal Kingdom. It was completely awe inspiring and so much fun.
4. The spa at the Grand Floridian. One year a friend and I spent all morning at the spa. It was one of my favorite days ever.

There are also other little things you can do. Tell the staff at the desk of your resort that you are celebrating a graduation. They will usually arrange for a surprise to be in your room one day. Or stop at the Harmony Barber Shop on your way into the Magic Kingdom. They will do her hair and put glitter in it (I just had this done on our last trip and it was so fun!). Make sure you stop by Guest Relations at your first park and get her a "I'm a Graduate!" pin. Make her wear it every day and she will find herself getting all sorts of magic from cast members. Not just "Congratulations", but perhaps even an occasional move to the front of lines or good seating at events. Cast members focus on those things and make it very special.

Sounds so much fun! Good luck! And let us know what you decide to do.

 

[conandrob240]

I would vote on the fireworks cruise too. Won't break the bank and will be something very, very special. Then maybe also the Spa at Grand Floridian for just mom and daughter time. V&A is nice but I doubt all 8 people will have that refined a palate and it will cost you probably close to $2k to take everyone there. If she is an adventurous, foodie- type, maybe the two of you or her and her father could eat there.

The dessert party would be nice but it is a big crowd and won't be personalized or private. Depends on what she's into.

 

[georgina]

Special things I have done with my DDs on various trips were an Illuminations cruise, Hoop-dee-doo review, and para-sailing. This was 10 years ago, I don't even know if they still do para-sailing, but we loved it.

My younger DD asked to go to Discovery Cove on her special trip with Mom, which is not Disney but was a great time.

 

[vicb]

This is not a big idea but a little grad trip tip.... we did a quick trip after my DD graduated last May from college, I let some of the restaurants we had reservations at know it was a grad trip and she got a few nice "Congrats" or "Good Luck" desserts... just kept the magic going through out the trip.

 

[momimouse27]

Congrats to your daughter! I agree with the idea of a fireworks cruise. I've never done it, but it sounds wonderful!

My daughter is about to graduate high school also and all she wants is a trip to Disney. My oldest went to London, this one...well, its all Disney for her! I want to do something special also. I'm thinking the fireworks cruise, but have also thought of letting her do the Keys to the Kingdom tour, i think she'd love it.

Good luck!

 

[cleophus12]

For my DD's graduation we did a scavenger hunt from Gifts of a Lifetime. At the end of the hunt was a special pair of earrings that I had previously picked for her. While the hunt would be for her, the other family members might enjoy tagging along and helping figure out clues.

 

[RustManFan]

We celebrated my DS's HS grad a few Julys ago and we drove out to Daytona and went to the NASCAR race.

Make sure she gets a celebration pin so all the CMs will be aware of what you are celebrating.

Dinner near fireworks time at the CR? Have you done any backstage tours? That might be an idea too.

 

[chipndales]

All such fantastic ideas! I will definitely grab the special pin for her and let the restaurants know she's a grad!! I'm so proud of her too, and with college looming large around the corner, I want this to be something memorable and really special!

I'm going to book the fireworks cruise and hope it doesn't rain! If it rains and gets cancelled, I'm guessing no way to reschedule it probably, right?

The scavenger hunt sounds fantastic!

We've never done any backstage tours. My nephew will be with us and he's 10. Will he be bored? He's one of those kids that has to keep moving forward.

Parasailing!!!!!!!!! She loves that. Maybe it's something her and I could do, or her and my nephew.

The mani-pedi is a must, for sure, at GF.

We've done Cirque but it was fantastic.

I would love to do the Imagineer but my nephew is under 14. She's an artist, though, and would probably love that. I hadn't thought of it. Is there a minimum to how many people need to reserve that?

The nighttime safari sounds incredible! I didn't even realize they did this! I'm going to look it up right now.

I can't thank you guys enough for these suggestions! She's going to be so surprised and have such a wonderful time!!

 

[Itinkso]

The minimum age for the Imagineer lunch is now only 3 (?) according to all ears. DD lunched with the Audio Imagineer for Rock n Roller Coaster who shared many Steven Tyler stories.

Here's info from all ears:
Join a member of the creative team behind our latest Theme Park and Resort projects for an informal, one-on-one lunch chat at the Disney's Hollywood Studios' legendary Hollywood Brown Derby or dinner at the Flying Fish Restaurant located at Disney BoardWalk Resort.

You'll get a fascinating glimpse of the creative process as these talented men and women share what it's like to work in the most magical place in the world. In addition, each party will receive a souvenir designed exclusively for this experience that can be personalized by the Imagineer.

RESERVATIONS: This experience may be booked up to 180 days in advance by calling WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).

Where: Hollywood Brown Derby at the Disney's Hollywood Studios
Time: 11:30 a.m. Lunch
Ages 10 and up - $60.99, plus tax and gratuity
Ages 3-9 - $34.99, plus tax and gratuity

Where: Flying Fish Restaurant at Disney's Boardwalk Resort
Time: 5:30 p.m. Dinner
Recommended for ages 14 and up: $85, plus tax and gratuity
Wine pairings $30
Commemorative plate: $75

 

[MermaidMommy]

The minimum age for the Imagineer lunch is now only 3 (?) according to all ears. DD lunched with the Audio Imagineer for Rock n Roller Coaster who shared many Steven Tyler stories. Here's info from all ears: Join a member of the creative team behind our latest Theme Park and Resort projects for an informal, one-on-one lunch chat at the Disney's Hollywood Studios' legendary Hollywood Brown Derby or dinner at the Flying Fish Restaurant located at Disney BoardWalk Resort. You'll get a fascinating glimpse of the creative process as these talented men and women share what it's like to work in the most magical place in the world. In addition, each party will receive a souvenir designed exclusively for this experience that can be personalized by the Imagineer. RESERVATIONS: This experience may be booked up to 180 days in advance by calling WDW-DINE (407-939-3463). Where: Hollywood Brown Derby at the Disney's Hollywood Studios Time: 11:30 a.m. Lunch Ages 10 and up - $60.99, plus tax and gratuity Ages 3-9 - $34.99, plus tax and gratuity Where: Flying Fish Restaurant at Disney's Boardwalk Resort Time: 5:30 p.m. Dinner Recommended for ages 14 and up: $85, plus tax and gratuity Wine pairings $30 Commemorative plate: $75

I just made a reservation for Dine with an Imagineer a couple of weeks ago, and when I made my online reservation, it said that the minimum age is 14. I think it's a new policy.

I tried to see if I could make a reservation for a family member who's 12, but it won't let me. You have to enter an age when you make the ADR, and the only options available are 14-17 and 18+.

 

[Itinkso]

I just made a reservation for Dine with an Imagineer a couple of weeks ago, and when I made my online reservation, it said that the minimum age is 14. I think it's a new policy.

Thanks for clarifying for the OP. I was surprised to see the age limits on All Ears because it had always been 14 for the last ten years.

 

[chipndales]

The minimum age for the Imagineer lunch is now only 3 (?) according to all ears. DD lunched with the Audio Imagineer for Rock n Roller Coaster who shared many Steven Tyler stories.

Do you chose what Imagineer or do they just send one? For instance, my daughter is into animation/drawing so she'd flip out with excitement to speak with one of them. The Audio one is awesome, but I was curious if they pick for you.