Surprise Christmas Gift for Mom- need help

[Eyore4Ever149]

For our next trip to Walt Disney World we just purchased a DVC membership at OKW. Our baby will be a year and half and we thought it would be helpful and magical to invite my Mother along (my Father said no). We thought she could help with the baby, and get to see WDW for the first time since 1975.

We are already taking care of the room (2 Bedroom Villa) but we plan to buy her 5 Day Park Hopper tickets as well. We want to give these to her for Christmas. I want to include some other things in the package- any suggestions?

I thought perhaps an easy to read guide book. I think I still have time to order stuff from Walt Disney World if I need to if I want to go that route.


it will be me (33) DH (36) Mom (63) DD (1.5yr)

 

[dana1003]

yes i have an idea- you can take her to the coral reef restaurant in epcot...when you make the reservation w/ the restaurant(you have to call them directly) let them know you have a bday surprise you'd like to give someone and request a diver..the restaurant is located next to a huge aquaruim. you can request a table near the tank and a diver will come down in the water by your table w/ a sign that reads happy birthday..all for free1 good luck!!!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

that sounds fun, but I hear that restaurant is really loud, but I love the idea! maybe we can just do dessert there!

Christmas gift- Any ideas everybody???

 

[princssdisnygina]

It depends on the cost. If you want to include some things with the ticket then you could get small things like an autograph book, mickey ears, a pen, some snacks and so on. If it doesnt have to go with the ticket then you could get her something from www.disneyflorist.com!! I have used them before and they are wonderful! If they dont have what you are looking for just call them and if they can get it they will! OR... if cost is really no issue and you want to go all out... you can use Gifts of a lifetime! I did this for my mom last year and it was wonderful! It cost me close to $300 but was worth every penny!!! You can look on www.giftsofalifetime.com to see what they have to offer but again if you dont see what you are looking for just call and they will hook you up! We did a scavenger hunt at MGM! I picked the gifts and made it Beauty and the Beast themed. There were 4 gifts and the last one was a really nice disney watch. You never see the ladies who do it and it was really cool to watch my mom try to figure out the hint to find her next gift! I wrote my own hints and they just printed them and placed them. They were really nice! If you have any questions about this please ask because I could go on and on! I hope that helps! You could also do something special in the room like get a birthday cake and have a little party! Alot of the Disney restaurants will acknowledge birthdays as well. Hope you figure something out!

Gina

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

The birthday ideas are great. I do actually use DisneyFlorist everytime I go- aren't they great!!!!! I have a basket sent to the room the first day we arrive with fruit, snacks, bottled water, Mickey ears, chocolates, etc it was really nice when we were in a hotel room at night and had the munchies!

I need something to put in her Christmas present- just opening a box with tickets doesn't seem like much fun. I had thought of a headband with tigger or mickey ears, maybe a hat. She has a polished appearence, she doesnt wear t-shirts, shops at Talbots and Coldwater Creek (to give you an idea of her taste) Disers always have such great ideas, I think I should have just posted one question about what to put in her present with the tickets...

 

[eowensby]

What about a nice Hallmark Disney ornament or a lenox disney figurine?

 

[lovesdumbo]

How about a Mickey polo from Disneyshopping.com? They are very subtle and on sale for a really great price. They also have some cute tote bags. Or perhaps some luggage. I was also thinking photo album to put pictures of the trip but you may want to purchase one at WDW.

They have a tote bag that you can put photos in that might be cute.

Photo Tote

 

[Stitch#1]

How about requesting the free planner video from Disney (hopefully it shows up before Christmas). Or "The Official Guide to Disney World" by Steve Birnbaum.

Some others suggested a polo , ornament, or photo album which are great idea too. For the photo album you can include a note saying something like "to be filled in after your magical trip" or something like that.

 

[princssdisnygina]

All of those are great ideas as well! You can order customized maps to the parks on the WDW website that are fun! They are free under my disney vacation! There are a lot of cute things you can order on disneyshopping.com! Or... gifts of a lifetime sells things from the parks! You could get a mickey tote bag like someone suggested that holds pictures, buy a disposable camera and a card and put everything in the bag like it is a gift bag! You can also put some snacks in there with tigger ears or something! How about a disney frame? you can put the ticket in the disney frame then when you get home you can replace it with a picture from the trip? I can go on and on! I do lots of things like this for my mom as well! BTW...I know what taste u r talking about... my mom shops at coldwater creek as well! Lets see... I have bought cd's and cut a slit in the side and slipped concert tickets in them... I have done the same with dvd's. Let me know if any of this helps! If not, I can give you more ideas!

Gina

 

[a37027]

How about a massage or manicure at the Saratoga Springs Spa and let her have a little down time one day? There is a Peppermint Manicure (or something like that) that plays off the theme of the Peppermint Pig that is famous at Saratoga...

 

[a37027]

PS We love DVC - you made a great choice there!

 

[Boncho]

Why don't you invite Dad too?

 

[blessedby3]

Why don't you invite Dad too?

OP said that dad didnt want to go.

I also agree with the tote bag or luggage. My mom sounds like yours as far as tastes and she bought a Disney tote bag on our last trip and loves it. My DSis ordered the Mickey luggage and really likes that too. This way you are giving her something functional too.

 

[Boncho]

OP said that dad didnt want to go.

I also agree with the tote bag or luggage. My mom sounds like yours as far as tastes and she bought a Disney tote bag on our last trip and loves it. My DSis ordered the Mickey luggage and really likes that too. This way you are giving her something functional too.

Sorry, a misunderstanding. I thought he meant that Dad didn't want Mom to go. My mistake.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Yeah, my Father doesn't feel Disney is for him and he doesnt want to go, I've asked him numerous times to reconsider (I was also told on the side by my Mother that my Father would under no circumstances let us pay for the room, I said he could take care of meals or give us money if it really made him feel better) He is a hyper-tense individual though and doesn't do well in lines of any kind- even in the grocery store and is convinced he would not like it at all. I suggested he just enjoy OKW, but no, he didn't want that either. The really sad part is he has cancer and while he's doing well at the moment they say he has about 5-7 years at best.

I suspect he's right, he wouldn't open up to even try to enjoy it and would problably make everyone else's trip miserable. We are paying for my mom's park hopper tickets so that he wont give her a hard time about spending so much money on a trip that he's not going on. That leaves her with airfair ($160) meals- I will be buying the food for the kitchen at the villa so that shouldn't be too bad, and then a ticket to the water park and a ticket to sea world, ($60). rental car, room, park hopper and food at villa are on us.

I'm not sure my Mother would actually carry anything with Disney anything on it- tote or shirt. I was like that once myself but, I hope once she gets to WDW she will loosen up a bit. The new planning DVD, a Birnbaum guide book (they have great photos) and A photo album might be great ideas. I would love to own a Disney World album myself!!! but for Mom I think a sedate navy with gold trim or something, I think all their photo albums match so I will have to check it out or ask my Father what they look like.

I had an idea of a sort of "first aid" type kit I could put together, I know moleskin is good for blisters, what else might you include in a kit??? Then I could find Disney themed makeup bag and put it all in, it would be Disney but not something she would have in public til she gets to WDW.