Need creative ideas. How/when to tell Fiance I bought him the Petty Experience!

[Shelle&Dave]

I have been telling him we don't have enough money for it and he was being cool about it. He wasn't upset. I am the one that handles all the money so I've been going over and over the numbers and decided it will be ok. So I just called and booked it for Sept 17th!

How and when should I tell him? He's going to flip out! I don't know whether to tell him before we go or after we get there. I thought about on the plane, but I wouldn't want him to start screaming on the plane.

I don't know how long I can even keep this a secret! I'm not even the one doing it and I'm going to explode I'm so excited! Then he can watch Mark Martin drive and know exactly what he is experiencing. I'm going to take a TON of pictures!

(As I mentioned in the other Richard Petty Experience thread, Dave doesn't read these boards. He only reads the posts that I point out to him.)

 

[B'rer Karen]

Wow, this is really cool. I'm a big Nascar fan and I would love to do this some day. I have to learn to drive stick shift first!

I know it will be super hard for you to keep the secret, but this is what I would do. I wouldn't tell him anything until you arrive at the track. I would tell him that you guys are going to the MK that day. Then the way you tell him is to show up at the track.

Now, if you can't hold out that long, I would still wait until you go to WDW. I would see if you could arrange to have a gift waiting in your room. It could be something as simple as a balloon wrapped around a "scroll." The scroll would be an invitation to the Richard Petty driving experience with all the particulars.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm sure he'll be psyched!

 

[WDWAurora]

Could you find a matchbox car (or whatever brand) Petty racecar? Tell him that he may not be able to drive that one, but he'll be able to drive the real thing soon!

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I like the idea about having something waiting in the room. I'll think about that one some more.

My first thought was to just take him to the track, but I don't know if that would work. How do you even get there? I think I read they have some type of shuttle that takes you. I don't know how close to the track we would get before he figured it out. Plus, maybe this sounds corny, but I want him to be mentally prepared. If he has to sit through safety class right after he finds out I'm afraid he won't really be listening. Maybe I worry too much.

 

[Chicago526]

I've been thinking of doing both the above suggestions myself!

I'm either going to blindfold him until we get to the track, and surprise him.


Or I'm going to find a NASCAR matchbox car, wrap it, and give it to him the morning he's scheduled to do the ride. He'll open it and look at me strangely. Then I'll tell him where we are going!

I've told BF I have a surprise for him one morning while in WDW. Since we're going in Dec. it's going to be his Chirstmas present.

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I wish I had time to plan this out a little more. I don't know if I can find a Matchbox of a nascar, but if I had more time I could find a diecast on ebay.

Do they sell nascar Matchboxes at Walmart?

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I don't know about your BF, but the blindfold thing wouldn't work for my Fiance. He would know right away where we were going.

Isn't it going to be hard to keep a secret that long? I'm about ready to bust and it hasn't even been a day! He will never forget that present though!

 

[B'rer Karen]

Originally posted by Shelle&Dave
I wish I had time to plan this out a little more. I don't know if I can find a Matchbox of a nascar, but if I had more time I could find a diecast on ebay.

Do they sell nascar Matchboxes at Walmart?

I have a #48 Jimmie Johnson matchbox car that I got at Toys R Us. I don't remember what all drivers they had, but I know it was more than just this one.

 

[Schminston-Mo]

I gave the Driving Experience to my DH for Valentines Day several years ago.

I had lots of the kid valentines and had him open them up one at a time. I drew pictures on each one that he had to put together and it spelled out "You are going racing with the king" The final envelope was the confirmation information.

Turns out DH is not so great at puzzles or my clues stunk...but he was very excited about it. Maybe you can give him something a little at a time on your trip?

 

[Shelle&Dave]

Clues a little at a time. That's a great idea. They will have to be very subtle or he will catch on right away. Hmmmm.....

Thanks for the tip about Toys R Us. I'm going to try to get over that way and check it out.

 

[wdarling]

i think the toy car is a super cute idea. i would also make something on the computer like a fake ticket with all the info. i did this for my parents this yr when i treated them to dinner for thier anniversary made it look like an invitation and my parents showed our waiter....lol! you could also leave a message on the room phone with all the details for when u first arrive. while ur unpacking have him check the messages and he'll be shocked to hear the news!

 

[vjc715]

Oh My....you are doing somewhat the same thing as I'm doing.

DH "THINKS" we are going to Disneyland. Low and behold I changed our vacation to WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!

Got our plane tickets, resort ressies, etc......

I plan on giving him our itinerary on Thansgiving all wrapped up as a suprise! Although I feel like I'm going to BUST at the seams keeping it a secret! 3 more months to keep my trap shut. Which is VERY VERY VERY hard for me!

I LOVE the idea of wrapping up the car....even getting a pic of Petty too. Maybe pretend you are going somewhere else, and really go to the Petty experience then give him a package to open up....a little car and a pic of petty and tell him that you are sorry that you can't give him the real experience....THEN wait 15minutes or so and have him open the tickets!!!! YIPEEE

 

[Fire14]

I bought my Tony matchbox car at walmart.

 

[Kellydelly]

My husband did this on our trip last year. I don't know which package you are buying but I suggest the one where they actually get to drive the car. My husband opted for the cheaper one where you get to ride with a driver around the track but not drive yourself. He wishes he had paid the extra $250 or whatever more it was so he could have done the driving. If you're gonna do it, do it right !

Kelly

 

[Lollipop Mom]

We're doing this as a birthday/Christmas present for my Dad at our trip New Years week (his birthday is 12/23). I like the toy car idea. We may have to do that. What Mom and I had been planning was to have my DS give him a card that said something about that he had to be at where ever it is that the van will pick you up from the parks (I think the TTC) at whatever time for a surprise. We'd go with him to make sure he made it on the van. Either that or DH and I go early with the kids and tell my parents we'll meet them at the TTC at whatever time with Dad thinking he's just doing the "park thing" and he'll be off to the track.

My Dad used to race some other sort of car before I was born and has said it's had always been a dream to get to drive a Nascar car. He doesn't even know they have this at WDW so it will be a BIG surprise for him!

an aside...KellyDelly, your sig pic is too cute!

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I booked the Rookie experience for him. That's only 8 laps (him driving), but I definately couldn't afford the bigger packages. I read in another thread about a discount that brought the price down from $350 to $199.99. What a deal! It came to $211.92 I believe with tax. If they have to cancel it because of weather we will be given a chance to reschedule during this trip. Since we are doing this at the end of our trip I doubt that can happen. If we can't then they will give us some sort of voucher and we can go to a track closer to our home to do it.

I know Dave will be driving and will have to follow the pace car, but will there be anyone else in the car with him or will he be by himself?

Thanks for all the ideas....I've got something in the works right now and I couldn't have done it without the DIS board. I'll try to get a picture of his reaction when he finds out and post it on here. Hee hee!

Michelle

Vjc715, that's a HUGE secret you got there! I could never hold that one in for long. Good luck!