Special 40th birthday gift for DW - HELP!

[goofyguy1958]

Thank you everyone for the information.
AnnMorin, the Cozumel information is great. Where would I find a list of the "approved stores?" How difficult are the shop owners with haggling? I hate haggling but I will not buy something if the price is not fair.
GoofyDisney, I like the idea of the tennis bracelet -- I seem to remember DW commenting a while back how much she likes them -- Any suggestions on style?

Again thanks for the help. I hope DW is excited when she actually gets her suprise as I am planning it.

 

[AnnMorin]

Here is a link to the shopping guide on dave's site, it is the type you will get onboard which shows which are the approved stores.
http://www.dcltribute.com/shopping/cozumel_p1.htm
My DH likes to haggle, I hate it but he is really good at it. The key is to not have your heart set on a certain item. Know the value of what you are buying (very important) we usually offer them about half of what they are asking and end up paying about 65%. Walk away and return later in the day. I used to get upset with Jay but he was always right, the price did come down or we got the same or similar item somewhere else for cheaper.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I'm turning 40 in May 2004 - we're not cruising til March 2005, though.

But I was thinking about what I would like if my DH were to have squirrelled away extra cash specifically for my birthday - and here's what I would want... to be able to enjoy the spa services on board without having to worry about how much it cost. Since your DW already thinks the cruise is her gift, I'm sure she's not expecting a lot of *extras* on board... yeah, maybe a single massage, but what about a manicure / pedicure to start the cruise, or if she's up for any of the other type of spa services?

Anyway, I'm not much of a jewelry kinda gal (I know, hard to believe there are gals who aren't into jewelry), so my DH would have to come up with something besides jewelry for me

Shoot - I might even prefer to just save the cash and use it as a deposit on a 2nd cruise

Whatever you decide, your DW is one lucky lady!

 

[JLSE50]

I vote for giving her a gift certificate--make it up fancy on the computer or whatever you like--for the total amount you have saved and tell her she can spend it as she sees fit.

You could give it to her on the cruise, or have it delivered to the room in a gift basket from THE PERFECT GIFT or delivered to the dinner table by the Restaurant Manager or perhaps even Mickey or Minnie would deliver it if you make arrangements ahead of time.

You can tell her on the certificate or in person or both that it is good for spa visits, excursions, jewelry, as a down payment on another cruise or whatever she wants.

My anniversary ring is zircons. My tennis bracelet is zircons. I don't want them replaced with diamonds as I would not enjoy wearing them--I would be worried about losing them or having them stolen.

If I had that much money at my disposal it would go for another cruise.

But--each to her own and that way she is the one deciding.

Jan

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I'll be turning 40+ while onboard the 11/8 Magic
Im hoping to have start the day with brunch at Palos w/DH and a few friends

 

[tombeaman]

Originally posted by goofyguy1958
I have taken the $4 a day I usually spent on coffee and a soda and been squirreling it away, without DW knowing, for almost two years now.

I think the true gift is in what you say above. Now, to deliver it...how about stuffing the total into a coffee can, or a soda box, and having her favorite character deliver it the first night at dinner? Include a little poem about how you planned it all out. I think she'll most appreciate your two years of sacrifice, and then she can spend it to her heart's content...splurging on the ship, a bracelet that she picks out to remind her of the love you have shown her, something special for the kids.

I wouldn't see it as a gift of money (considered by some tacky) but a gift in the Maji sense. She's a lucky gal.

 

[goofyguy1958]

Hey tombeaman, thanks for the complement. I have thought of giving her the cash but I fear that DW is just a bit too pragmatic. She would use the money to pay off a bill or two or three before spending it on herself. Jlse50, I like the gift cert idea. Maybe I can take part of the cash and turn it intoi a gift cert and use the other on the tennis bracelet. Do you know how I could get a charactor to deliver the gift? Maybe I could have it delivered at Palo on our celebration night. Nzdisneymom, I like the spa ideas because DW has never treated herself the way I think she should and multiple visits sounds just right. Maybe I can sneak in the jewelry (she actually loves jewerly and has always wanted a tennis bracelet) during one of her spa visits. Dws birthday is actually November 10, 2003 and we too are not actually celebrating until later in May of 2004. So, she should be truely suprised. Thanks again all for your suggestions. I have really gotten a lot of great ideas, just as I expected. How can I go wrong when there are so many great Disney centric minds thinking at the same time.

 

[moneypit85]

If you are able to buy the tennis brac. without her knowing, It may be a great idea if you could get her to do a spa treatment, since the room would be darkened and calm, either you or the therapist could place the braclet on her wrist with a small tag attached. she would be very surprised I think, to enter with just her robe and leave with Diamonds!! I think what you are planning is great

 

[JLSE50]

Call DCL and ask what options are available for having special gifts delivered. If she has a favorite character--mine are Minnie and Snow White--then ask if that character could help out whenever you want a gift delivered. If you don't ask, the answer is NO. If you ask, they might even have better ideas as they have been surprising guests for years. The ship has a shopping advisor who could also be a help. DCL may even be able to tell you how to contact her directly for ideas and suggestions as to where to shop for quality and integrity.

Since I knew just what I wanted my zircon tennis bracelet to look like, I like the idea of taking her shopping and letting her choose the bracelet. But I also like the idea of having it delivered.

Any chance you could let her pick it out while shopping at one of the ports? Make sure a certificate of authenticity and value is part of the deal as some people pay for diamonds and get home to have it appraised and find it is glass.

Go back a couple times to show your interest and see if she still likes the same one and you can encourage them to drop the price by being indecisive. (That seems to be the best way to haggle as far as I can tell, just be indecisive....and drag it out...leave, come back, leave, come back....and hem-and haw about the same bracelet. Make sure they know what ship you are on as that sometimes makes a price difference too and also reminds them of when you have to leave town, so if you don't buy by a certain time, you are not going to and they lost the sale.)

Then when she is wandering through a different store you "get lost" and go pay for and pick up the bracelet and statement of value and guarantee??

Then later when you "find her again" you appologize for losing her and she is none the wiser--until later!! when a special character shows up at dinner or in the SPA and gives her the bracelet.

Jan