Need Suggestions

[Terk-1]

My family & I just suffered the painful loss of our mom recently. My sister & her family planned a trip to WDW several weeks ago prior to my mom getting sick. After my mom's passing, they asked my other sister and I to join them on their trip and, of course, we said we would be thrilled to. There will be me, my sister, my other sister, my brother in law and my 3 nephews (9, 6 & 4). My brother and his wife may also join us. All of us (except my brother & his wife) have been to WDW, but the rest of my family has not been since 2002.

I'm looking for ways to make this trip special and magical for everyone. Any suggestions? Special event, meal, activity, etc.?

 

[xAmarisx]

So sorry about your loss My thoughts are with you and your family. Heres one suggestion: Spend time with your family during wishes. Its a great feeling when you watch all those fireworks with your family.

 

[disneyjunkie]

No matter what make sure you catch Mickey's Philharmagic.

How about booking an Illuminations Cruise?

 

[chyam]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, I too lost mine in Oct.
I think it will probably be hard to keep you guys all together all the time so perhaps scheduling an Illuminations cruise one evening and a Wishes evening and perhaps a Character dinner for another night, that way if you kinda go your separate ways during the day you all can meet at specific times to reflect on the day. And with the events mentioned above people can do what they want during the day and then meet in the evenings. Cause you know there is always someone who wants to do something different! And really vacations are for enjoying the time.

keiki,binky&mouse the 3 best white kitties in the world!

 

[maine_jennifer]

Maybe an IllumiNations cruise. Or a nice quiet dinner. Or a nice rowdy dinner.

For a special rememberance, this is what we do. It's basically a "waste" of money, but this is what we do.

My nephew was stillborn just three weeks before he was supposed to join our family. We all feel he is a part of our family, even though we never got to meet him. Whenever we have a special occasion, we send him a balloon.

When my parents, my brother, SIL & their two girls (4 & 18 mos) went to WDW together in January, my niece and I bought a Mickey Balloon at MK. We carried it around for the day and let it go at our hotel the day they went home. It floated around for a bit, did some loop-de-loops and when it was out of sight, my niece (4) ran back in to tell her mom and dad that Ryan played with his balloon.

So, maybe have each of the kids get a balloon and send it up to Grammie (in front of the Castle, or a private moment at your hotel) to let her know how much fun you're having?

 

[yasuern]

First I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your Mother

Just being at WDW is special - every show - Illuminations, Wishes Fantasmic and all the attactions when done with extended family are so much more MAGICAL! if I had to choose something it would probably be Wishes viewed from somewhere on Main st after we had just had dinner at the Crystal Palace. I also like the idea of having a picture taken with everyone in each park - when you get home pick the best picture and make 5x7 and wallet pics up for everyone - put the larger ones in a frame and the wallets in a keychain frame - so that everytime any of you look at the picture you will remember your special trip!


just suggestions
Sue

 

[Terk-1]

Thank you for your recommendations. I think we will probably start the day together, then have lunch and break off for the afternoon, then meet up later for dinner. I did this the last time I went with family and it worked out well. With everything that everyone is going through, I just want to help make this trip special.

Thanks again for your ideas and keep them coming.

 

[maine_jennifer]

Maybe an IllumiNations cruise. Or a nice quiet dinner. Or a nice rowdy dinner.

For a special rememberance, this is what we do. It's basically a "waste" of money, but this is what we do.

My nephew was stillborn just three weeks before he was supposed to join our family. We all feel he is a part of our family, even though we never got to meet him. Whenever we have a special occasion, we send him a balloon.

When my parents, my brother, SIL & their two girls (4 & 18 mos) went to WDW together in January, my niece and I bought a Mickey Balloon at MK. We carried it around for the day and let it go at our hotel the day they went home. It floated around for a bit, did some loop-de-loops and when it was out of sight, my niece (4) ran back in to tell her mom and dad that Ryan played with his balloon.

So, maybe have each of the kids get a balloon and send it up to Grammie (in front of the Castle, or a private moment at your hotel) to let her know how much fun you're having?

 

[Aroura]

Originally posted by maine_jennifer
Maybe an IllumiNations cruise. Or a nice quiet dinner. Or a nice rowdy dinner.

For a special rememberance, this is what we do. It's basically a "waste" of money, but this is what we do.

My nephew was stillborn just three weeks before he was supposed to join our family. We all feel he is a part of our family, even though we never got to meet him. Whenever we have a special occasion, we send him a balloon.

When my parents, my brother, SIL & their two girls (4 & 18 mos) went to WDW together in January, my niece and I bought a Mickey Balloon at MK. We carried it around for the day and let it go at our hotel the day they went home. It floated around for a bit, did some loop-de-loops and when it was out of sight, my niece (4) ran back in to tell her mom and dad that Ryan played with his balloon.

So, maybe have each of the kids get a balloon and send it up to Grammie (in front of the Castle, or a private moment at your hotel) to let her know how much fun you're having?

My kids do this all the time for my dad... Everytime they get a balloon they end up " giving it to papa"... They started this all on thier own about a year ago, and the funniest thing is, they never got to meet my dad. He was killed in a car crash two days before my 16th birthday.. But by my talking about him and stuff, they like to do nice things for him..lol.. so they give him thier balloons.

 

[Terk-1]

The balloons & cruise are nice ideas. How much is this? Where does the boat dock? How many people can fit on one? Do you see everything or just parts of it?

I was also thinking about a nice dinner either at O'Hana's or the California Grill. What about renting water mice? A character meal at the Crystal Palace? Dinner on the patio at the Rose & Crown, then view Illuminations?

Anything else?

 

[minmate]

I like the balloon idea too. We do this for my grandmother every year on her birthday since she passed away.

As an alternative to the Illuminations cruise, if you are able to book your rooms and group as a Magical Gathering, you could be eligible for the Magical Wishes Cruise with Peter Pan/Hook. I have not done this but have read about it and it sounds fun -- if you like these characters. Basically they join you on a cruise in the lagoon for a viewing of the Wishes fireworks.

I also second your idea to split up during the day. With that many people, you would be hard-pressed to please everyone all day long by doig all the same stuff. Get some walkie talkies or good cell phones to stay in contact though.

 

[maine_jennifer]

Here is a great thread with lots of info about the IllumiNations cruise.

<http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=560160>


Quick Facts:

Price: $120 + tip for the driver
Leaves from Boardwalk or Yacht/Beach Club docks
Holds 10 adults or 12 if some are kids
Kids required to wear personal flotation devices that WDW provides
Quick cruise past Swan/Dolphin, Boardwalk, etc., before docking under bridge between France & UK
You see and hear everything

I've done this twice and have another planned for July. I totally think it is worth it. Of course, I've never seen IllumiNations from inside Epcot, so I can't really compare. If you have any more questions, just let me know. They are VERY popular and unfortunately, sometimes hard to get.

One downside to the Wishes cruise is that you can't hear the music.

And about Rose & Crown to watch IllumiNations, just remember that there is no guarantee that you will get a patio seating.

If you rent water mice, there are new ones that go MUCH faster now and you have to be 16 to drive. DTD still has old ones that 12yo's can drive.

HTH,

 

[Terk-1]

That's not a bad price for the cruise. We plan on spending some time together and some time apart. This way we don't get on each other's nerves, but still spend time with each other. We did this on our last trip together and it worked out great. We also rotated dinners out so that 2 of the 3 of us ate out at a nice place without worrying about finding something the kids would like or entertaining them during dinner. One night my sisters went out for dinner, then I went one night with one and one night with the other. This trip, I would like to give my sister and her husband a night out to have a nice dinner for just the two of them (date night).

Thanks again everyone.

 

[LuvTigger]

I think the balloon idea is great too!

Just wanted to make a couple of other suggestions for different things to do. One year I went to WDW with a bunch of friends and we rented a pontoon boat from WL and boated around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon (you can also rent these from PO). They all had a blast, and it was neat to see MK and the resorts from a different view.

If you go to the Restaurants Board, there's a couple of threads about Cinderella slippers and Dalmation bones (desserts) at the restaurants at GF. You could surprise them by booking a ressie at one of the restaurants there and ordering the desserts (apparently they have to be pre-ordered). I think the kids would esp. like them, but I'm sure the adults will too! I think I even read about one person who asked for their childrens names to be written in chocolate on the plates, and they were happy to oblige.

 

[Terk-1]

These are all great ideas.