Help with an at-park surprise?

[gules]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, so my apologies if not. Please move me if you have to. <3

My family (all adults): Mom, dad, sister, me, and my husband (I'm the eldest so I married first) are all going to Disney this year for Christmas, courtesy of my father who has NO apparent idea how to plan a Disney trip. It's been a long time since my family has been together for a trip, and I'd like it to be special. It was supposed to be for my father's birthday, but he pushed it back so my sister could come. Now it's pretty much dead between my mom and dad's birthdays-- trip is Dec 23rd and dad's is Nov19; mom's is Jan19. I wanted to give them a nice thank you/Christmas present from us all and surprise them with it at Disney! Something that we could personalize that wouldn't take up a lot of space in their home but would be a nice reminder of our adult trip together.

Background about the recipients! My father is not a romantic and doesn't like sweets. He likes homey food, which for him is usually seafood oriented. He doesn't snack at all, and he's quite practical. He IS who got me into cartoons of all kinds as a child, as well as comic books and the X-files. My mother is an exceptional cook and avid reader, but is if possible even less magical than my father. When I suggested a romantic dinner, my mom said no because dad wouldn't like it and dad said no because mom would know he didn't want to go. Mom doesn't like a lot of "stuff" but she does hold on to a few sentimental objects, particularly from trips we took as a family. I'm afraid to give something like a picture frame because she's picky about her decor. Neither of them eats much dinner and my mother, even though she's smaller than me, insists that she shouldn't eat treats so she doesn't get fat. Both are lactose intolerant; neither drink.

I'm at my wits' end here! I thought maybe a glass slipper brought over dinner? I don't know what I'd engrave on it within the character limit. Does anyone know if we can write on it in glass marker? My normal instincts scream to make my mom a princess and say everything came from my dad so he'd look like a prince, but I know they won't like it.

I just really want to have something extra-special. The last two years have been particularly hard on us and they've given their parenting skills a workout even though their kids are grown. Any idea? Please?

 

[chris31997]

Ornament??

A simple frame(similar to what is in their house) take out the matting and have it signed by the characters

Schedule family pictures, this is always a hit with both sets of our parents

 

[laughinplace199]

Would they enjoy any of the tours? Maybe an "experience" would be better for them than a "thing?"

 

[gules]

You say "schedule" family photos. Is there a studio somewhere?

I did think of an experience, but I tried to test the waters on that and they seemed to not want it at all. Why are my parents so difficult?

 

[rachael95]

Something I did recently for both sides (DH and mine) was to take old family photos, scan them, and then make a book from Shutterfly. For DH side of the family, it ended up being a book from when his mom got pregnant with him up through DH high school graduation (those were the only pictures they had).

For my side of the family, we had a cd of scanned photos from as far back as the 1800s but me and my siblings had none of the originals since those went to a cousin. Making the book meant we all had hard copies to look at. So I made that more of a family tree type project and included all the photos up through the 1990s (the last time all of us were alive together for a big family reunion) and then also included webpage screen shots of obituaries for my grandmother, grandfather, uncle and mom.
Maybe you could create a book and then just present it to them over dinner?

Both sides of the family loved the books and they included family history stories as I could find them as well.

 

[chris31997]

You say "schedule" family photos. Is there a studio somewhere?

I did think of an experience, but I tried to test the waters on that and they seemed to not want it at all. Why are my parents so difficult?

http://disneyfineartphotography.com/portraits/index.php

The Enhanced portrait session is $350, kinda pricey but if you split with sibling not too bad.


Your parents may be difficult because they don't want to put you out. They may feel like that saying yes to something would be a burden to you.

Talk with your sister and see what she thinks about doing something for the parents. Get her take on it. See what Sis would want to do.


Maybe it is something just as simple as a card and a nice dinner with y'all or without.

Maybe schedule a dessert thing during the fire works( do that under even planning)

But I want to stress talk with your Sis and see what she thinks your parents would really appreciate.

 

[gules]

Thank you for the link!

I've already spoken with my sister, and she's on board with doing something for my parents. She's just not sure what (and neither am I!). I also know Disney better than she does, and of course I have this forum to ask for ideas! My parents have always been difficult to get presents for, but I just really wanted to make this special. I know they don't want to put us out of any money, but this is something I really want to do, and I have enough put away to afford a one-time expense.

Surprising picky parents is even harder than surprising picky kids!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Maybe do the picture package and that way you get tons of great pictures of all of you together. When you get back home, you can create whatever kind of book you want.Maybe matching sweat shirts for the whole family? Remember you will be there for the busiest week of the year, so anything that requires reservations may not be possible at this point. If you decide on something....act ASAP. Maybe a dinner show like HDDR? A carriage ride???? A firework cruise??? Have fun and be sure to plan well with FP
and meals to get the most out of that busy week.

 

[jacknsally19]

I think purchasing memory maker for the group would be nice. It would get you all the photos and you could make sure to make a photo book with it from home. Are you staying at Disney Resort? There are in room celebrations that you can arrange through the disney florist.

You could just take them to Mizners at the Grand Flordian for some drinks a after a day at the park. They have a live band and it looks beautiful at Xmas time. No reservations needed.. And you can see the gingerbread house

 

[chris31997]

Thank you for the link!

I've already spoken with my sister, and she's on board with doing something for my parents. She's just not sure what (and neither am I!). I also know Disney better than she does, and of course I have this forum to ask for ideas! My parents have always been difficult to get presents for, but I just really wanted to make this special. I know they don't want to put us out of any money, but this is something I really want to do, and I have enough put away to afford a one-time expense.

Surprising picky parents is even harder than surprising picky kids!

Oh, I understand. My parents and inlaws are horrible But we have come to an agreement because they do not see us as much as they like, pics are always good. But it has takens quite a few years to come to that.

Good luck in whatever you do.

Please come back and let us know how it went. I'm curious to know what you did for your parents and how they liked it. There have been some intersting and good ideas on here

 

[jacknsally19]

Just another thought, I bought my husband his family name "shield" from Epcot United Kingdom. We have it framed and hung up... Depending on your ethnic background, it could be quite a nice gift.

I also noticed that your parents don't drink but I still think that Mizners could be very nice at the holidays. They have light food options (including shrimp and mussels) and there is a fast pass photographer by the beautiful tree in the lobby. You guys could do a family photo and then order online then do dinner / drinks at Mizners. You could then watch the fireworks and the electric pagent from the GF.

 

[Nztara]

If they aren't magical people, they may enjoy the behind the magic type of tours that explain the way things work. It's more of a practical explanation which may suit people who do not believe in pixie dust.

 

[Marthasor]

I think Memory Maker or one of the private photo sessions would be nice. Or how about one of the private fireworks cruises? You could all go together as a family.

 

[gules]

I think Memory Maker or one of the private photo sessions would be nice. Or how about one of the private fireworks cruises? You could all go together as a family.

I didn't think of the cruise! I'll have to go look at that too. Does anyone know if the boats are big enough to belay motion sickness?

I don't think they would like a behind-the-scenes tour, unfortunately. I'll go through the backstage tours again in case something catches my eye, but they mostly wanted to go as a family since it's nostalgic for them. But they always went with me and my sister since we were children and loved Disney movies.

Thank you everyone for all the ideas so far!

 

[jacknsally19]

The boats are not that big but the movement is limited.

At the holidays, there is the Yuletide tour that shows all the holiday decorations. It might not be as obvious to find since it's not offered year round.

Also, I was on the disney stores website today and noticed personalized wooden photo albums. That might be a nice gift along with the memory maker.

 

[gules]

Thank you for the tip about the Yuletide Tour! I'm considering that one now. My mother really likes the idea of the gingerbread house, and my father likes anything Christmas-related. I'm going to bounce it off my sister to see what she thinks.

 

[jacknsally19]

Thank you for the tip about the Yuletide Tour! I'm considering that one now. My mother really likes the idea of the gingerbread house, and my father likes anything Christmas-related. I'm going to bounce it off my sister to see what she thinks.

Glad I could help If it turns out that the tour is not within budget, the website disney tourist blog has a great plan on how to tour the best Christmas decorations at the deluxe resorts. Either way, check out the grand floridian ginger bread house ! It's my favorite of the Christmas decorations.