Planning glitch - need idea's! (long)

[jmet]

OK, here's the story - it's a little long - sorry!
Our group is going to WDW the week after Thanksgiving (never been around the holidays!) and just for fun I have planned an event w/Gifts of a Lifetime that will involve each member of the group. They came up with a fun idea called "The Amazing Family Race" that was to take place in Epcot. This will be a surprise to everyone -except me of course! My original plan was to tour AK during the day, eat at Beaches & Cream (where our event was to begin) and then head into Epcot. Well, when my DH realized my plan to do AK all day and then hop to Epcot he wasn't too sure he liked that idea because he thinks people might be tired and not want to do that long of a day (his parents are going with us). I didn't want the whole thing ruined SO I called GOAL and asked about switching the event to incorporate it into the plans we have to tour the resorts one afternoon to see the decorations before heading into MK for MVMCP. Well, Jane (at GOAL) was really busy (packing up to get out of the path of Frances), but said that that she had done that before and it could work, but to e-mail her this week and we'd figure out the details, which I did. She actually responded very quickly and said that she had gone ahead and changed the date, but that it's very important at this point now to stick with the new date, which I totally understand. The glitch is that it can only be done beginning at 2:30 in the afternoon, ending at 4:30 p.m. at MK. WELL, we have a PS at 1900 PF at 10:20 that morning and the plan was to go see the resorts after b-fast (which I thought would be perfect because we could start the event right from there...) and then be at MK right at 4:00. Was planning to eat an early dinner then at Cosmic Rays and do a few rides before the party started. (We only have one other day available for MK during our trip and it closes at 6 pm that day for another party). I can deal with losing a little of our MK time, but I have no idea how to plan out where we would be at 2:30 to start our event when the plan is to sart touring the resorts as soon as we are done with b-fast! It's sticky because this day is about the only one that DH has cared to have any input. I had orginally planned b-fast (brunch!) at 11:10 and he talked me into changing it to earlier saying nobodywants to eat b-fast food that late etc. So now I don't know what to do - should I tell him that maybe we should just chill at the resort and then do lunch somewhere instead? The bottom lind is, I'm just not sure how to manipulate the day so we can BE at a certain place at 2:30 in the afternoon to start our event. DH is the designated chauffer and tends to have opinions (although not ahead of time!) about the best order to go places - based mostly on the logic of where they are in proximity of each other etc. That is why I thought it would work best to start from a spot we had a PS - but that would be a hard time to eat because I'm afraid it would leave us hungry in the middle of the party and I don't want to waste time eating a meal then! But maybe that's what we'll have to do - if I can figure out a way to sell my DH on that idea, which will be challanging, but could maybe be done. Am I making any sense? I doubt it! Trying to do something nice can be stressful sometimes LOL!
Well, if anyone can make heads or tails of this I sure would appreciate any thoughts or ideas you have for me!
Jamie

 

[WDSearcher]

Does your husband know about the "Race?" If not, then the simplest route to get you all to where you need to be is to simply tell him. If he's the "navigator" anyway, then telling him when you need to be somewhere will help assure that you'll get there.

If you don't want to tell him, then it's a whole lot more difficult because it's entirely possible that you'll get "hung up" somewhere, looking at a resort or something.

 

[kilee]

If you're planning the event couldn't you sort of manipulate it and kind of tell a little white lie (you know the kind that is actually for the benefit of everyone). Tell them there's a pre-MNSSHP event at the Grand Floridian(or wherever you start) that you booked them for. Then you'll get there and suprise them w/ the "truth". Sounds like fun.

 

[3for Me]

I agree - I think to save yourself alot of headaches and worry you need to let hubby in on the plan! I think sometimes we try sooo hard to do something nice, only to become completely stressed out!!!

 

[stacieps]

Could you change your a.m. plans and get breakfast on the go (pastry or whatever) and see the resorts - then schedule a PS for lunch (like 1:00) near where you are beginning so that you can eat lunch and go directly to the starting point of the game?

 

[jmet]

Thanks so much for the reply's - I know it seems easier to just let DH in on the plans, but I really don't want to do that. He's not as "into" this trip as I am and I'm afraid he would have a negative attitude about the event if he knew ahead of time because then he'd want to know how much it was all costing - and it's NOT cheap! I have secretly saved up the $$ from rebate checks, returns etc., so it's not like he could argue about it much, but he might be inclined to question WHY I would do this when there's not even a special occasion involved (at least not when we'll be there, and I wanted to include everyone instead of making it just about one person). I don't have a good answer for him except that I think it would make some great family memories. I DO think he'll enjoy it once it's happening, but it wouldn't be a logical thing for him to think to spend money on. As an example, last year I wanted to surprise my mom and dad for their 40th wedding ann. by having a caterer friend of ours set up a picnic on the shores of a lake that we would boat into, but he shot the idea down (he just couldn't picture it working, thought we could spend the $ on something more practical etc.). Well, later on he admitted that maybe that would have been fun, but he couldn't see it at the time What can I say? He's a little slow to warm up to ideas that seem a bit "out there"! So I really feel like I want to keep this to myself - after all, it's really ME it's for - it will be so fun to see everyone elses reactions as they solve their "clue" and claim their prizes!

Kilee - you might be on to something - I'm thinking maybe I can say there's a DIS meet!! hehehe! He knows I spend all my free time here, so he'd probably buy that! It's better than anything I've come up with that's for sure! Thanks for reply's - I'd love to hear anyone elses thoughts too...
Jamie

 

[bajanswife]

Have breakfast at 9 or 10 then, instead of lunch, do tea at the Grand Floridian at 2.30! That's what we're doing in Oct before MNSSHP. We'll get to MK by about 4, then we'll just grab counter service at the park when we get hungry.

At tea there are savouries and sweets, and you don't have to drink tea if it's not your thing - but it might be kind of different from the usual. And since it's at the GF, maybe you could make it your last resort stop along the way?