Special Way to say Thanks

[SillyOleBear]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but I'm hoping you all have some great ideas. This December, my entire family (14 of us) will be heading to Disney for a grand gathering. My parents have graciously told my husband and I (as well as my brother and his daughter) that they'll be paying for our ENTIRE trip (airfare, hotel, food)!

We wanted to do something extra special for my parents while we're in Disney as a way to say thank you for the trip. I know Disney has a florist, but I was looking for something more unique and special. My parents will be 52 and 56 at the time of the trip. They're not gourmet food type people (i.e. Victoria and Albert's wouldn't be their "thing") and are looking forward to spending time with the entire family during the trip. This is their first time in Disney since I was in 7th grade (I'm 28 now so that was a LONG time ago).

Anyone have some unique ideas? We're fairly open as far as price range goes. Thanks!

 

[Shells9]

A fireworks cruise!

 

[afsi3838]

Could you set something up with gifts of a lifetime? I've heard that they provide wonderful services

 

[SB in KY]

I think an EPCOT fireworks cruise would be terrific...if you were thinking of something slightly more permanent...I love those engraved crystal things they do at Journey to Imagination (and some other places)....where faces are holographically engraved in the center of a crystal piece....don't think all 14 of you would fit in one... but maybe the grandkids (that's who they are doing this for anyways=) )...they also include the dates, etc.

One time when my Mom took all of us my SIL (a great photographer) and I put together a nice scrapbook of the trip for her after we got back. SIL made the pix and I did the scrapbooking. My mom loved it and she still keeps it out to look at. It isn't often that she gets to have all the GK's in one place at one time and she loved watching them have fun together and has had a lot of fun remembering the trip. The GK's also have enjoyed looking at it with her when they visit.

You can get the album while you are there, they also were selling a lot of scrapbook items at World of Disney in DTD last fall when we were there.

 

[HaleyB]

I second the firsworks cruise. You can all go and make it a special group memory. You can book one through the Great Gatherings thing that included dessert at $29 each (I think, and I have no idea what the child price is).

Another fun thing would be one of the tours at MK or Epcot. Or the special personal cm guide ($300 for 4 hours I think)

You could upgrade their room as a surprise.

Flowers, ballons, cake... can all be set up in their room.

 

[christinadei]

I think you should set up something with gifts of a lifetime. You can fill out an application and tell them what you are doing it for and they can come up with some suggestions.

 

[Disney Debbie]

The fireworks cruise would be great and another idea is to have an "official" picture made of the whole family. I'd combine that picture with the scrapbook idea. I've done one scrapbook in my life - it was from our trip to Yellowstone 2 years ago - and I TREASURE it!

 

[DennisP]

How about giving them a "Leave A Legacy" tile in Epcot Center?

 

[Autumngirl]

I would hire one of the Disney Photographers. Our Travel Agent did it for us on our Honeymoon and we LOVED it. They took us to places where others couldn't go to get pictures and even hunted down Mickey and we got our picture with him! We love it! You get the proofs in a nice book and the opportunity to order more if you want. We loved it soooo much that we are hiring one again in October when we go down for "My Big Birthday".

 

[jaysue]

Fireworks cruise, Horse n Carriage ride at POR, Backstage tour (the AK one is great)....

thanks
jaysue

 

[ColoradoDis]

I think you can also rent a pontoon boat from the CR. You could do a lunch cruise - Might be easier to book than a fireworks cruise.

 

[4greatboys]

I think the fireworks cruise is an awesome idea but keep in mind for Illuminations they only have 4 boats and many people call for them. I personally have never managed to snag one but Poly concierge snagged one for me . They do also have a Wishes cruise that would be easier to get. They also offer several Grand Gathering events that sound great, you could book one of those. I also think the photographer is a wonderful idea. You would get pictures with everyone in them (Im left out of most of ours because Im the photographer).

 

[bethbuchall]

I thought that the boats for the fireworks/IllumiNation cruises held only 12.

I love the idea of having the Disney photographer. I wish I could work that into our trip budget but not this time.

Beth

 

[dpratt68]

Our parents did the same for 23 of us 5 yrs ago. We bought them(among other things) a block in the "walk of..." at the ticket and transportation center. You know those concrete squares that they engrave family names and dates. They LOVED it. I think we just called the 1800# for ordering that is listed in hotel rooms. good luck!

 

[Beca]

I echo the "Disney Photographer". Since they are paying for everyone, I think a professional photo of the group would be "magical"!!

 

[zurgswife]

I like the illuminations cruise....I have snagged 2 boats before...If you all call the chances of somebody getting through are higher...just request 2 boats...

 

[SillyOleBear]

You all have some excellent suggestions - my sincere thanks for your ideas. We already had plans for a grand gathering Fireworks Cruise so that wouldn't be much of a surprise in our case. I thought about maybe a Spa treatment/massage at Grand Floridian - do you have to be a guest there to reserve that?

 

[chamonix]

Just curious, the Grand gathering fireworks cruise you mention--is that for Wishes at the MK? ...and I thought those cruises (the grand gatherings ones) were large boats which held more than one family/gathering at one time....? Although that still sounds special, the Illuminations cruises are very different--you are closer to the whole spectacle of the fire and fireworks, and you will have a boat all to yourselves. Even if you have two boats it will be fine, all the boats tie up together under the bridge, and you could arrange with the captains to be tied up next to each other. It's so close you can walk back and forth if you want to.
One special thing you might consider is to schedule a private dining event. You can plan a special private dinner (or dessert buffet) to be catered to your group in a special private location. France and the UK each have a space available for dessert receptions if you want to do Illuminations (which might be good if you already have a wishes cruise scheduled) or you can plan a private dining experience nearly anywhere--on the point at the Poly, on the dock at the GF, I even saw one (I think) on the terrace high above Fantasmic at the top of the theatre. Call the Private Dining people (can't think of what they're called--try the GF) and see what they can come up with. I know the Magical Gatherings sounds great, but I was under the impression that many of the events are held with other guests families. (not that that's necessarily a bad thing) of course, I could be wrong on that!! Anyone know?
Oh, one other place I saw a private gathering was along the lake near the Boardwalk there seemed to be a private open air pavilion of some sort that had an affair going on as we went by on our boat. They even had characters there dancing with the guests, and our captain remarked on "how expensive" that is to book characters for parties/receptions, etc. OOhh. That might be fun, book a character to come to an event--last time I checked, I think Mickey was about $700-800 dollars or so--I think we saw Goofy and Donald Duck--they must be a bit less!
Have fun planning something!!

 

[Duet]

SillyOleBear,

My parents are doing the same thing for my family (12 of us) next spring and I have been thinking about surprising them with either a cruise, Disney photographer, or both.

One thing that my husband and I are doing to surprise them, and everyone else in the family, is we are secretly upgrading our towncars to a stretch Hummer. The kids are going to freak!

Keep us posted on what you decide and how it all goes. What special parents you have.

 

[SillyOleBear]

chamonix - yes, it's for the Wishes fireworks at MK. I've been on the Illuminations fireworks cruise (on Breathless) and it was wonderful. I'll keep your suggestions in mind.

Duet - it's too funny that you mention the Hummer option. I actually thought about that because I saw the stretch Hummer on the Happy Limo site. I wasn't sure if we could afford to do that (it's very expensive as you know). Were you going to upgrade through Happy Limo or is there another company?