Keeping Disney a Secret

[candylover]

Can someone please help??
I am planning a Disney Vacation in April 2004.
It is to be a family surprise.
Boy is my DH going to be surprised.
If I book the room I am afraid Disney will send
information and since I can't always get the mail
this would let the mouse out of the bag.
If that happens my DH may think it isn't such a good
idea
I am trying save enough to pay for everything so
my DH will be even more happy
A little change here...no takeout there......
My question is...
How can I keep it a secret????

 

[Teri Zolman]

I did this a few years ago. Just let the CM that you make the reservation with know what you are doing. My CM fax my confirmation to work instead of sending things to the house. I good way to save money is every time you get something on sale, but what you saved in a jar or account. Hope this helps.

 

[lynetteSC]

Hiya! I did this a few years ago! Boy, was my dh surprised. He knew we were going to WDW, but he didn't know I had arranged to do a Disney Cruise the same week ... after we left WDW! I had everything sent to a relatives house. She knew what was going on! It made life much easier! Good Luck to you!

 

[SonicLogic]

Originally posted by candylover
If that happens my DH may think it isn't such a good
idea

You answered your own question, it's not a very good idea.

 

[tink2dw]

I would love to SUPRISE the family with a WDW trip someday!! Especially one I paid for!! [crossing fingers]I have recently re-entered the work force,in a new field,and we have just moved into our own offices. We are Praying that work will pick up shortly.
And our pay will reflect it. Then I want to Start a Disney fund that will pay for next trip to WDW!!!!!!!

Only trouble I see for me is not being able to keep the Secert!!LOL

 

[lwestwise]

I think it IS a good idea! Have paperwork sent to a relatives address. I buy Disney Dollars to help me save. I enjoy buying them and they aren't as easy to "dip" into, but if there is an emergency, you CAN cash them in. Good Luck!

 

[xmatt0926x]

lwestwise, where did you buy those disney dollars from? I always thought about doing that to make sure I didnt mistakingly spend the money set aside for Disney, but I only thought you could get those dollars at disney itself.

 

[Danemom]

You can buy Disney Dollars at the Disney Store also.

 

[candylover]

Guys..thank you. I never thought to buy the Disney Dollars ahead of time. That is a GREAT idea!

Oh..by the way SONICLOGIC...
No, I didnt answer my own question. I "asked" How can I keep it a secert ".not is it a good idea. I KNOW it is a good idea


tink2DW keep those fingers crossed. You never know

 

[kilee]

Can you use Disney Dollars at the Restuarants too? Like Chef Mickeys, Liberty Tree Tavern, Cosmic Rays???? Also, can you use them to buy tickets into the parks???

 

[DznyDreams]

Candylover--

It is a GREAT idea! I've done this before, and I'm doing it again this March. (My husband knows nothing about these boards, so he'll never see the countdown in my sig.)

Lately, the oh-how-nice-it-would-be-to-go-to-Disney-World talk has become almost comical, so I know it's time for a GREAT surprise of my own! DH plays our Disney World Parks Music CD's a lot, and DD (age 7) keeps asking, "Mo-om, how much longer before we can back to Disney World? Will it be years!?!"

I always check the mail, so hotel confirmations have not been a problem for me. The money, however, is different. I'm trying to do the ebay thing for my surprise-trip money, and I've set up a free checking account at our bank (for paypal) in which I plan to "hide" the trip money. Luckily, I live in a small town, so the bank will hold the statements for me until I come pick them up....just in case my husband should decide to develop some interest in checking the mail in the future.

This time, I'm REALLY keeping it a surprise until the last possible minute. DD's Spring Break is in early March, and DH has already planned to take the week off so we can do "the family thing." I'm even going so far as to come up with several local (Dallas, TX) things to do throughout the week as my cover. For the first night of our "local vacation," I plan to book a room near the airport and "suggest" we eat dinner at the Rainforest Cafe that is located in the Grapevine Mills outlet mall very nearby. After we've placed our food order, I'm certain the reminiscing about WDW will begin since the Rainforest has become a WDW tradition. THEN, as the man-oh-man-how-I-wish-we-could-go-to-Disney-World WHINEfest begins, I'll reach in my purse and pull out the plane tickets. I CAN'T wait to see their faces!!!!!

I get all giddy just thinking about it!

 

[SonicLogic]

Originally posted by candylover
Oh..by the way SONICLOGIC...
No, I didnt answer my own question. I "asked" How can I keep it a secert ".not is it a good idea. I KNOW it is a good idea

My theory was simply that a trip to WDW is rather expensive and it takes a lot of time. In consideration of the overall commitment, I think it best that all parties be at least aware of the trip far in advance. Most people I know have to put in for leave from their work in advance. I wouldn't want to be in the position of explaining a "surprise" WDW vacation to my employer at the last minute. In my line of work I have to plan out my leave at least a full year in advance (except for emergency leave). That's one of the reasons why I think it's not a good idea.

 

[candylover]

I am so excited for you Dznydreams. It certainly seems like you have everything well under control. Even down to the way you tell them. Thats great!
I am able to get so much information from the boards that I think I will be able to pull it off.
I am also going to try the ebaying. I am going to list a few things this weekend. I have my toes crossed. Every little bit will help.


Soniclogic:
Thats ok.. I understand where you are coming from.
Boy, I wouldn't want to explain a family trip to your boss either
It doesnt sound like such a happy place to work. Maybe your office needs a Disney Vacation
My husband is self employed so I think I can work something out with his boss.
I plan on telling the family a few months before so everyone has a little time to get everything together and get very excited

 

[mom2bandp]

candylover...It sounds like you have a great surprise planned, and I bet your DH will be thrilled! I had set up a "secret" savings account (in a hidden coffee can, not glamorous, but it works) to pay for our tickets for our trip in October, and when I finally told DH he was very happy and impressed. To have the whole trip paid for would be wonderful! Another way I save money is to do the online rewards programs. They add up! Hope you have a great time, and even better time surprising your family!

kilee...I believe you can use Disney Dollars anywhere at Disney, for restaurants, shops, tickets, etc.

DznyDreams...I got goosebumps reading about the way you've planned to tell your family! Have fun!

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by kilee
Can you use Disney Dollars at the Restuarants too? Like Chef Mickeys, Liberty Tree Tavern, Cosmic Rays???? Also, can you use them to buy tickets into the parks???

Yes, they can be used everywhere. The other option is to turn them in at the resort at checkin (if youa re staying on site) and than you can "charge" against it. They put it on your room bill as a payment. This way you aren't carrying a lot of cash.

 

[DznyDreams]

DznyDreams...I got goosebumps reading about the way you've planned to tell your family! Have fun!

heeheehee....meeee toooo! I can't wait to be able to tell everyone about it on the boards! Even though I'm months away from the trip, I'm extremely psyched!

 

[zurgswife]

I did this 5 years ago for dh's 40th...I saved in our famiy mickey from jan. to aug...It was a great trip...I did work out his time off with his work...no problems and he wasn't even self employed...

 

[wdisneyaholic]

Just a tip for the Disney dollars, I tried to cash them in at City Hall and they gave me a really big hassel. I was told that they do not cash them in and I could spend them anywhere on Disney property. I explained to them that the CM at the Disney store told me I could cash them in. After hasseling back and forth they finally gave in and made "one exception".

I thought it was a good idea to save for my trip but I don't want to have $200 left in disney dollars at the end of my trip. Next time I would only buy enough to pay for meals I know I will be eating at.

 

[mkandk]

And I am SO excited!! There's no way I could keep it from my husband though, both because of scheduling work, and the money factor...if he spent that much money on anything without consulting me, I'd freak out.

The kids are a different story, though. My daughter talks about DW all the time. DH thinks we should tell them a little before the trip, I want to wait until the last possible minute.

Either way, it will be fun. But I'm not telling them yet, waiting this long is almost painful!

Love your idea, Diane!

 

[candylover]

I am so excited for you Diane.
Well, my DH wouldn't be happy if I used money without telling him.
This is why I am saving it. I am a stay at home mom so
it isn't very easy. But I am trying