Need Some Advice, Please

[toystoryduo]

Hello,

We have 14 people going to WDW in December. 10/14 are WDW rookies. For the past year, I have been buying little Disney things to surprise everyone with. Okay, here's my question.... Do you think I should give them everything at once or should I give them Disney packages daily???? Also, can you share with me how you have given Disney surprise packages to your families? Thanks!

 

[ErinInCT]

I say daily. Everything at once is a bit overwhelming! Or you can give the gifts as needed (for example, give glow sticks at night when going to the fireworks as a little surprise!!). Unless they will need the gifts all at the same time I think a gift a day is more fun. I know when we go to awards trips with dh's company, they leave little gifts in the room & when we get back from dinner (or our evening activity) the gift is in our room with a little note. Once we realized we were getting something every day it made it that much more fun to come home to see what we got!! Maybe you can try to arrange for someone in the hotel to deliver the gifts while you are out so you don't have to.

 

[Amirah95]

For the adults I'd give them their gifts all at one time in a gift basket form. For the kids, I'd do it daily for excitement sake. Just my opinion.

 

[frstimer128]

In our room, "Tinkerbell" will be making nightly visits to drop off a little gift for my DD4....puzzles, bubbles, candy...

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

hi - first time posting - I have been quite a lurker and should introduce myself sometime - somewhere

but to my question - frsttimer - how do you plan on leaving the gifts - I think it is a great idea - things from tinkerbell in the room to look forward to, might help with the gimmies (let's wait and see if Tinkerbell has left anything in the room - ) but with mousekeeping coming in - where would you put the gifts - I intially thought under their pillows - but would that work??

Thanks for the great idea - hope you don't mind my "stealing" it

 

[frstimer128]

Steal all you want! That's why I shared the info!!

Right now I have everything unwrapped in a box packed in my suitcase. (Not wrapped is the best way to travel with it since the airport may need to unwrap to check for security). Once my DD is asleep in our hotel room, I am going to wrap one gift and leave it out on the table or dresser for her to find in the morning....Santa style...
I printed up a bunch of little notes from Tink telling her what the days plans are and how excited she is that my DD is there. I am going to keep the stash in my suitcase and take one gift out every night.

BTW, my DD's name is Tori. Do you have one too?

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

Oh my gosh - that is so cute and little notes are such a nice touch - I am sure she is going to be thrilled - just adds to the magic

Yes - I have a Tori she is 5 and in kindergarten this year. This is her first trip to WDW - she will be 6 when we go in May of 2005 and her sister will be 4 (whoops - edit here Bess will be 5 - she is 4 now

)

How old is your Tori

 

[frstimer128]

Mine is 4. She is so great and just loves tinkerbell so this should be pretty magical for her. Enjoy your trip! We can't stand waiting...I am so excited!

 

[gigi1313]

i wrapped each gift in a colored "lunch bag" and had stickers that i printed off my computer (in disney script, of course) and left them on the table each night after the kids fell asleep... it was great fun hearing the kids thanking the characters who left them a gift (each day was from a diff't char) and asking how they got into the room w/out them hearing them and with the doors double locked... it was one of the highlights of our trip!

now, if you are not staying in the same room, you might want to take an adult from each room into your confidence and have them be your magical helpers to plant gifts each night/morning... another option would be to have each day's gifts in a bag (marked w/names if it matters) and distribute gifts each morning before you leave the rooms or at breakfast (saying that it was left in your room/on your door)... i definitely think one a day would be better than all at once... makes it more special... esp if you coordinate it w/the day (underwater camera for water park day... water yo-yo w/a note from tigger [tiggers don't jump, they bounch] on the day you're going to crystal garden... glow sticks/necklaces for a parade or fantasmic night, etc)

 

[ellyn2000]

I agree that a Disney gift basket for the adults and daily gifts for the kids is the easiest way to do it. Maybe you can have the parents leave the little gift on their pillow for them to find when they return to their room each day or give it to them at breakfast each morning. That's very thoughtful of you to do for those who have never been to WDW. I enjoy doing that when we have a group going and someone's never been to WDW. I hope you have a wonderful trip and that everyone is as gracious as you are.