Help! Need some clever ideas on how to surprise the kids

[AnnaB]

Hi everyone...I'm looking for some clever ideas on how to surprise our 2 kids ( ages 9 & 6). We will be in WDW for 6 day prior to sailing and originally I was planning not to tell them at all and just drive up to the ship. Now the more I think about it I am wondering if it might be fun to get their reaction on tape and maybe tell them while at WDW. IF anyone has any cute ideas..I would love to hear them. BTW - we will be there for Halloween so it could involve Trick or Treat.

 

[*Huey*]

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have Mickey (well, anyone will do!) personally invite you to join him on a cruise following your wonderful vacation in the 'world'! If you're planning a character breakfast or something, see if someone else in your party could secretly speak with one of the characters and have them present the kids with a ticket or certificate or something inviting them to join the gang on a cruise. Since the characters don't talk, whatever you decide to give them should be clear that you are taking a cruise. You wouldn't want to have them receive one of the promotional videos and not put two and two together. (Oh great, instead of going on a cruise, we get to see how fun it would be...)

Hope this sparks some ideas!!

allie

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

We surprised our 4 year old twins with the cruise on their birthdays. I wrapped up the DCL brochure and had them open it up last at their party.

 

[SweetSpot]

Last year when we went to WDW everynight when the kids got back to the room we somehow managed to have something waiting for them on their beds that would help them remember the day and continue the "Disney Magic". My boys were older and were doubting until we finally got them but my DS6 truly believed that she was "the lost princess" and that her fairy godmother was sending her presents. (That's a whole other story, several stories actually!) You didn't say if you had girls but if it's Halloween and the kids will be dressing, have them dress as princesses and bring some part of the costume they weren't execting (like a crown) and have a message attached from their fairy godmother. Have the envelope filled with glitter (pixy dust, etc)

I do like the idea of having a CM, especially in costume, present the cruise to them. I don't see why if you handed the CM the envelope they wouldn't hand it to the kids.

This year on formal night on the cruise the fairy godmother will have a ball gown, slippers and crown waiting for the "lost princess". The magic continues.

 

[albiats]

We weren't going to be at WDW before the cruise and we wanted to tel our two DGDs (12 and 9) beforehand.

My DW had me take them and their parents out on an errand while she 'decorated'. My DW had purchased a large sand pail and had placed some cruise related items in it, like sunglasses, sunscreen, and a copy of the cruise video from DCL.

She also made some tropical punch and had some of the little umbrellas in tall champagne glasses for them.

After we came in and they spotted the big sand bucket, we told them all about it. We watched the video twice with them and then they were up past midnight asking questions.

If I were going to be at WDW, I think I'd try to go for the one with the 'character hand the child the envelope', but they may have rules against it. I'm thinking along the lines of 'Mommy, Mickey gave that girl a cruise and he didn't me anything! I want one too!'

 

[AnnaB]

Thanks everyone...I love the ideas..keep them coming

 

[Twinave]

How about this: on the last or second to last day of your WDW vacation have a basket or beach bag filled with "cruise stuff" sunglasses, sunscreen, beach towel, etc. placed in your room. So that the kids find it when returning from a day at the parks. You could have it made up in advance and leave it at Guest Services, leave them with the maid, or sneak back yourself. ( I forgot the camera!) So just when the kids think thier vacation is coming to an end, they find out the fun is about to begin again.
By the way, how do you feel about adopting a 40ish female Disney fan? LOL

 

[Cyberkashi]

Since you will be there for Halloween, perhaps you are going the the Mickey's Halloween party. When you get back to the room, hide a cruise suprise (ticket, invitation, etc.) in their trick or treat bags. They say to them "How did you make out? Let's see what you got in there..." Go through the bags with them and help them find the surprise.