keeping a terrible secret...

[kvogel11202]

Or maybe I'm just terrible at keeping a secret? Yes, I think that is it. I have one of those secrets where the secret has layers, and not everyone knows everything even though they think they do- and it's getting hard to keep it straight- thank goodness we leave in 23 days!! My mother turns 60 this year, a pretty big deal, at least to us! We were planning to throw her a big party, but of course as brothers tend to do, my brother totally messed it all up. He plans to head to WDW with his inlaws OVER OUR MOTHERS BIRTHDAY. He's such a putz. While my mother would be happy to celebrate her birthday with the rest of us - she would have really missed my brother, but most especially my niece, who is 2. So to surprise her I thought I would plan to take her away for a "girls weekend", to be more precise, to WDW to meet up with the knucklehead brother and SIL. Did I mention they also went away over my borthers birthday with his inlaws? My mother was very upset, especially since she GAVE him that birthday! (birthdays are a SUPER big deal in our family). So what started out as a simple girls weekend has turned insane. My mother decided she wanted my dad to fly down for her birthday, then I was telling my aunt (her younger sister) and she wanted to come, aunite then turns around and invites my other aunt (older sister) and now my cousin is coming. Heres what mom knows and thinks- she and I are flying down Thursday, having dinner with the brother on Friday, Dad is flying in later on Friday night, we are staying at the AKL Villas. In reality, Dad and Auntie are flying down with us on Thursday afternoon, on Thursday evening my other aunt and cousin fly in from California as a surpise. Now my dad and auntie know that the other aunt is flying in and think the surprise ends there, no one else knows the cousin is coming- even her mom. Since I'm busting with all the surprises, even though mom thinks there are not any surprises- she knows "everything" I figured I'd share with all you - get it all out- but you have to promise not to tell!

 

[wildernessDad]

And are you footing the bill points wise? If so, is an add on out of the question?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I hope the time goes by quickly...23 days isn't too long to wait, and WOW what a great time you are planning!

Bobbi

 

[kvogel11202]

I was luckily able to book a second room, though one room is at Jambo House and one is at Kindani- but it'll be fine. Even rebooking our dining reservations worked out! So far so good, it's hard not to freak out everytime my dad starts talking about it though- he cannot keep a secret at all! I think the hardest part is keeping track of who knows what! I've been trying to avoid any and all discussions about it - it's like walking on eggshells! Did I mention I have my own husband and three children who are NOT going on the trip, so I am also planning a party with them? I have no idea how I end up being the party planner/ trip planner here. How do brothers never seem to be the ones who end up doing all the running around? Or at least, it's never mine, and it's usually him who screws up the plan in the first place!

 

[mickeyoverload]

awe thats awesome!!!!.. You sound like me.. I can never keep a secret, I always have to tell someone!!!!

But it sounds like a lot of fun... It gives me the chills just thinking how excited they are all going to see each other... Good Luck and here's some pixie dust..

 

[nolanboys]

Surprises are the best. And I am the worst at keeping them!My dad is taking my mom to WDW for her 75th birthday in November, He had me plan the whole thing, and every time I'm on the phone with my mom, I have to be careful. Your mom will have a great 60th at a magical place. Have fun!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I like arranging surprises like that! I have no trouble keeping them either. The problem is that I get so excited about them, I nearly burst until it's all "out in the open"!

 

[kvogel11202]

See- I knew you guys would get it! I love being able to surprise my family on our trips- but that's usually just one thing, totally doable, but this is just too much. My Mom is going to bust when she sees her sister, who has always sworn she would NEVER set foot in Disney, so my mom has no reason to even suspect her arrival no matter how suspicious she becomes! A group of nine of us went down in March for my daughters Sweet 16, we stayed in a Treehouse Villa, and I had Disney come and decorate the room and leave gifts, and got a cake- so if anything she'll be expecting something like that, I've used Gifts a Lifetime twice, once for Mom and once for my dad. I even surprised my boys with a "Beachcomber Shack" cabana at Typhoon Lagoon back in June. Surprises rock. Did I mention getting them all to where we need to be will be like herding cats?

 

[toniosmom]

Sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned because everyone who is going WANTS to be there. I just have one question -- how the heck are you going without taking your kids? I mean, I know (as a fellow parent) it's a nice break for you, but are they giving you a hard time for going without them?

 

[casper]

Wow! If just one half of this "surprise" is pulled off it would be GREAT! I'm excited for you. Lots of happy surprised people at one of the best places on earth. I hope you will not get so tired in planning it that when the day comes they will all see you asleep on the couch. Have an awsome trip.

 

[tea pot]

See- I knew you guys would get it! I love being able to surprise my family on our trips- but that's usually just one thing, totally doable, but this is just too much. My Mom is going to bust when she sees her sister, who has always sworn she would NEVER set foot in Disney, so my mom has no reason to even suspect her arrival no matter how suspicious she becomes! A group of nine of us went down in March for my daughters Sweet 16, we stayed in a Treehouse Villa, and I had Disney come and decorate the room and leave gifts, and got a cake- so if anything she'll be expecting something like that, I've used Gifts a Lifetime twice, once for Mom and once for my dad. I even surprised my boys with a "Beachcomber Shack" cabana at Typhoon Lagoon back in June. Surprises rock. Did I mention getting them all to where we need to be will be like herding cats?

WOW how cool..... Boy your family is very lucky to have you and in fact do you want to adopt me? You can plan my BD in WDW any time...
OH I just notice your location so It won't be very hard I'm in the next town over from you, Stoneham here

All kidding aside sending Pixie Dust for all your plans

 

[kvogel11202]

Sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned because everyone who is going WANTS to be there. I just have one question -- how the heck are you going without taking your kids? I mean, I know (as a fellow parent) it's a nice break for you, but are they giving you a hard time for going without them?

My kids spend plenty of time at Disney- My daughter had her Sweet 16 in March, then the boys got to go for Star Wars Weekend in June, in addition they are going twice next year, they realize how truly lucky they are, and don't begrudge the adults some "special" time either. My husband and I are going for our anniversary in November for a few days with my inlaws as well! In all reality I am the most spoiled of the whole group. I get to experience both sides of Disney- the family friendly ride lots of rides with the kids side and the slower visit the lounge before a nice long dinner and perhaps a trip to Jellyrolls type of trip.

 

[kvogel11202]

WOW how cool..... Boy your family is very lucky to have you and in fact do you want to adopt me? You can plan my BD in WDW any time...
OH I just notice your location so It won't be very hard I'm in the next town over from you, Stoneham here

All kidding aside sending Pixie Dust for all your plans

Too funny- I work in Stoneham! Thanks for the pixie dust! I really can't wait to go!

 

[mamaprincess]

Your brain must be in a pretzel shape by now. That's a lot of stuff to keep straight and to keep yourself from spilling. We surprised my mom last Christmas. She thought she was going to be staying with my sister over Christmas and that we'd see her Christmas day (Orlando) but we showed up Christmas Eve and told her we were taking her out to dinner. We checked her in at Animal Kingdom Villas Jambo House. She just about blew a gasket. She had never been to WDW and had only seen AKV in pictures and she always wanted to stay there. It was awesome accept she was very upset Christmas Eve day before we arrived because she thought something was going on with us that she didn't know about because we weren't returning her calls. I also had to keep my sister in the dark, to keep her from ruining it, so she thought we were acting shady. Layers are hard to keep straight.

 

[bumbershoot]

A really big family trip sounds like a lot of fun! However....

... my brother totally messed it all up. He plans to head to WDW with his inlaws OVER OUR MOTHERS BIRTHDAY.....

Did I mention they also went away over my borthers birthday with his inlaws?....

(birthdays are a SUPER big deal in our family).

I think that, maybe, possibly, your brother is sending your family a message. That, perhaps, maybe, birthdays are NOT such a big deal to him, and maybe possibly he doesn't really want or need to be part of them or have others be part of us...

I hope you have fun, but if your brother goes away next year for someone's birthday, I would say you see that he's sending a message to the family, and it should perhaps be listened to...

 

[kimberh]

A really big family trip sounds like a lot of fun! However....



I think that, maybe, possibly, your brother is sending your family a message. That, perhaps, maybe, birthdays are NOT such a big deal to him, and maybe possibly he doesn't really want or need to be part of them or have others be part of us...

I hope you have fun, but if your brother goes away next year for someone's birthday, I would say you see that he's sending a message to the family, and it should perhaps be listened to...

Or his wife is...

 

[DiznyDi]

Have a great trip! I hope all of your surprises are indeed surprises!

 

[Checkers]

Oh, what fun! Hope you and your family have a great trip. I just love traveling to WDW with big family groups.

 

[kvogel11202]

My brother happens to LOVE spending time with his family, and his wife, who is a good friend (she was in my wedding, I was her Matron of Honor) does as well. Her family is very small, and is used to it being "just them" therefore they tend not to consider how these actions may affect the rest of the family- so while I may call my brother names - please don't feel like you should come on here and make a negative comment about his actions, there is no need. He knows he's done wrong, I know he's done wrong and we have done what needs to be done to fix it. That was a minor portion of a happier tale of my mothers surprise- why must there always be someone to fiaxate on the negative? I know I mentioned it, but again- it was the catalyst to my getting to go to Disney and do something wonderful for my mother, and that was the only reason it was mentioned! Thank you to all who share in my excitment and understand my anxiety at keeping so many surprises a secret!

 

[Cee]

"...what a putz."