How Can We 'Gift Wrap' a WDW Trip For Our Grandkids?

[Bill From PA]

Instead of a traditional Christmas present, we're going to give our 3 grandchildren a trip to Disney which will take place in 2009. I'm looking for ideas as to how we can 'give' this to them on Christmas Day. A card that just tells them this, the oldest can read? A wrapped Disney trinket they can open? We're certain they'll be thrilled, we had my daughter casually mention a past Disney trip to feel them out on this and they launched into a 'When can we go back?' campaign, we just need some creative ideas on how to pop the surprise. Any ideas?

Bill From PA

 

[randomDisneyFan3000]

A birnbaum's Walt disney world for kids guidebook. with a note saying "Are you ready to go?"!

 

[ksunnenberg@hotmail.]

Wow, your grandkids are LUCKY! One year, my parents surprised us with a trip to WDW. They made a collage out of color pics from free AAA travel guides. Then when we opened the present we quickly realized what the collage was hinting at -- and we went wild! We were middle school/high school age though. For younger children, you could wrap Disney stuffed animals, Disney pajamas, or maybe Disney backpacks with a special message tucked in the box with them. Or what about finding inexpensive Disney storybooks at bargain bookstores -- you could write a special message inside the cover (an adult may have to read it to the younger children). Good Luck!

 

[poohfriend77]

Last year for Christmas, we wrapped up Disney swimsuits, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and a few other trinkets for our daughters. But the most important parts were a letter from Mickey, inviting them to visit him in February and a "Disney bank" (empty peanut butter jar decorated with Disney stickers, with a slot cut in lid, so they could start saving money for souveniers... DH bribed them with spare change for everything -- our house has never been so clean or peaceful, LOL!) To top it off, we added a paper chain to countdown the days until our trip. My girls LOVED this, and it cut down on the "How many more days?" questions. One tip, though... next time I'll write a name on each slip of paper, so the girls know whose turn it is to tear off a link.

 

[RivaLJ]

Along with other disney related items, you can get the vacation planning DVD and how about the customized maps with their family name on it?

 

[TaraPA]

I was also going to suggest the Trip Planning DVD - cut out their pics & insert them on the cover! I'm in PA also - I have the DVD here ready to throw out if you want it. Might be last year's.

Or the Hidden Mickey book, if they know about those.

 

[poohfriend77]

Along with other disney related items, you can get the vacation planning DVD and how about the customized maps with their family name on it?

Oh, yeah! We had these too. My girl loved looking at the maps and talking about which rides they were going to ride first. Best of all, they were FREE!

 

[CindyCan]

I love the idea of the letter from Mickey, especially since the oldest can read. I'd include a small trinket for each of them of their favourite character.

We've done the paper chain since our kids' first trip in 2000. This will be their 6th trip, they're all teenagers now, but we still have the paper chain! We write the date on each link, and we use 5 different colours of construction paper...each person has a colour. By the way, I got that idea here at the DIS back in 1999!!

Anyway, I'm assuming you don't live with them, so the chain may not work, but if you know when you're going to WDW, how about a 2009 Disney calendar to cross off the days?

That's so exciting! You have lucky grandkids!

 

[Mick&Minn]

I would get a disney vacation video, a set of the special park maps
throw in a few little WDW things, like maybe purchase some T's or jackets from the disney store on line and wrap them all up in one package
sit the grand kids down and let the oldest one unwrap it in front of the rest have fun

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I kinda like CindyCan's suggestion ... get a Disney Calendar, and write in on the day that they go to WDW "(Grandkids Names) trip to Disney World" ...then wrap it up, maybe with some disney stickers.

Then, if you're there when they unwrap it, give the oldest an assignment ... take a sticker of each person in the family's favorite character and put it on their birthday. Then as he/she's flipping through the calendar, make sure they notice the day that's marked for their trip

 

[GSDRescuer]

Last year and again for next years trip, my DGD will get a new suitcase set (last year Princesses and for next year it is Ariel) full of new Disney clothes! She knows what that means!!

 

[Scrubba2]

I always think that a box to open is a great idea. One idea is to secretly give each one a box to open alone with you. Then, they'll have to keep the secret for a little while until all the kids have "secretly" opened thier present. It gives the grandparents a tiny alone moment too with each child. Otherwise they'd have to all open one big box.

We are doing the opposite this year! We are taking our parents to WDW for thier Christmas present! They will love all the fun time with thier grand child! (And us grown "kids" too! )

 

[UP Disney]

I bought a really nice postcard (it was longer than the regular and had lots & lots of characters on it) and had Mickey sign it. I wrote a note on it (in Mickey style writing) that said something like "I hear you are going to Disney with Aunt & Uncle in June, I'm looking forward to meeting you".

 

[UP Disney]

I kinda like CindyCan's suggestion ... get a Disney Calendar, and write in on the day that they go to WDW "(Grandkids Names) trip to Disney World" ...then wrap it up, maybe with some disney stickers.

Then, if you're there when they unwrap it, give the oldest an assignment ... take a sticker of each person in the family's favorite character and put it on their birthday. Then as he/she's flipping through the calendar, make sure they notice the day that's marked for their trip

This is a neat idea.

 

[mmmcq]

What great grandparents you are! My husband's parents won't even come with us to WDW. Someday we'll be the grandparents and the ones taking everyone to see Mickey. I can't wait.

All the ideas here are great. You can make personalized t-shirts at the online Disney store. Empty WDW photo albums might be a big clue.

The Birnbaum book is great or order them a Passporter which I prefer and make up a pretend itinerary about your planned trip with you as the travel agents and insert that into the Passporter. They can read the Passporter to highlight things they want to see and do with you. It will allow for many hours of happy Disney planning for the kids.

If there are certain items that you would like for each child that you can't find online, we're headed to WDW for a long 10 day trip over Thanksgiving. I'd be happy to locate the items for you so that you can have them under the tree on Christmas Day. I love shopping!

 

[suzycute]

I can't wait to be a grandparent to give the most fantastic gift you can give!

What a great present - please let us know what you decide to do!

 

[MODisFan]

Instead of a traditional Christmas present, we're going to give our 3 grandchildren a trip to Disney which will take place in 2009. I'm looking for ideas as to how we can 'give' this to them on Christmas Day. A card that just tells them this, the oldest can read? A wrapped Disney trinket they can open? We're certain they'll be thrilled, we had my daughter casually mention a past Disney trip to feel them out on this and they launched into a 'When can we go back?' campaign, we just need some creative ideas on how to pop the surprise. Any ideas?

Bill From PA

First of all - what wonderful grandparents!! Second- what about odering some disney dollars for them and maybe making a collage with a countdown of some sort on it. The collage could have pictures of the hotel where you'll be staying, characters, rides and anything else they like.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

How fun! My mom did this for all of her grandkids last Christmas! She also took DH & I along! She bought each grandkid a Disney sweatshirt. Then, she gave them each a Disney calendar with dates marked along with a card. The card said, "Grammy want to give you the World! Disney World that is!"

My kids kept telling Grammy to quit tricking them. Then, my mom explained that their cousins from Colorado would be joining us! They were so excited. My kids couldn't wait to call their cousins. The time difference about killed them!

Hope you have fun on your trip!

 

[IndianaJane]

Instead of a traditional Christmas present, we're going to give our 3 grandchildren a trip to Disney which will take place in 2009. I'm looking for ideas as to how we can 'give' this to them on Christmas Day. A card that just tells them this, the oldest can read? A wrapped Disney trinket they can open? We're certain they'll be thrilled, we had my daughter casually mention a past Disney trip to feel them out on this and they launched into a 'When can we go back?' campaign, we just need some creative ideas on how to pop the surprise. Any ideas?

Bill From PA

I would do a 12 day before Christmas...

1st day = make them rice krispie treats with a card something about how wonderful it would be to be eating rice krispis at some amusement park...

2nd day = water bottles... with either coolaide or crystal light...

so on an so forth...

then on xmas day...

find atleast 5 consecutive size boxes...

"smallest box" ~ place some mickey confettie then the ticks...etc.. wrap.. tag it "all family member.. you can write all their names..." need to rip wrapper all at the same time...

place this in the next box "tag" on this would be the "youngest son" telling him its his turn to unwrap..

place in the next size box wrap... tag middle child...

wrap in a bigger box if no more kids... have "mom to unrap the box...

the biggest box would be tagged as name of Dad to unwrap the box...

it may seem to be alot of work... but I did this to my dsis anddbil with 3 kids... it was the highlight of our xmas morning... they had help me through school and supported me all the way... and it was a perfect thank you... my nephews still talk about it upto this day and it was 4 years ago...

PS: and I signed as from Santa

 

[Mama to Three]

What a fantastic present!!!

The only thing I can think to add is if you choose to do one big box, put some helium balloons in it so when they open it the balloons will float out first. Then they can dig into the other stuff inside. I still remember opening a gift from my sister, I was probably four years old, and she had a big red heart balloon in a box for me. It was a big surprise and probably one of my earliest, most vivid memories. Now just imagine if a trip to Disney would've been thrown in...