Surprising son with cruise while AT Disney World

[DisneyMom111]

I am taking my 15 year old son for our 6th Disney World trip in November. We have been talking about a cruise the following May but I told him I just couldn't swing it so close to our Disney trip. Well, turns out I can. I have NEVER been able to surprise him for any of our trips so I would really love to find a fun and special way to tell him we are taking the cruise....while we are actually in Disney World. Maybe have some characters or cast members involved. Any ideas?

 

[Ike&Jakesmom]

We did this last year, I had the cruise booked for 17 months (very long time to keep the secret )! We did not tell them until we arrived at the port. We rented a car from a DTD resort with a Budget office, told them we had something else we were going to do before we flew home. They played their tablets for the drive and when we could see the Wonder at the port, I said," He guys, what is that over there?" They looked around and yelled a Disney ship, then stopped and stared at me with mouths wide open as the oldest asked, "Are we going on a Disney cruise?". It was great!

 

[DisneyMom111]

That's fantastic! It's SO hard to keep the secret! I've never been able to do it. We won't be doing the cruise right from the park, it will be a few months later. I just thought there had to be a unique way to tell him while we are there. We have never done the cruise so it's so exciting!

 

[richmo]

I mis-interpreted your question the same way the PP did...I thought you were going to the cruise right from WDW, but I guess WDW is November and DCL is May.

A couple thoughts:
- It would be nice if there was a place at WDW where you could buy DCL merchandise, like a T-shirt. Then you could take him into the store and buy him a t-shirt. Of course he'd ask why, and you'd say because you're going to need it in May for the cruise. BUT, I can't think of anywhere at WDW that definitely carries that stuff. Maybe someone could chime in. I know sometimes the outlet store on Vineland Ave. has DCL stuff, but you can never count on it for sure. I thought some of the hotel gift shops might, but I'm not at all sure...
- Assuming that doesn't work, maybe order a DCL t-shirt online. I believe DCL merchandise is available now online. Pack it in with YOUR stuff for the WDW trip, not his, then pick a day for him to wear it. Same question will come up, same answer...

 

[DisneyMom111]

Yes you are right WDW in November and DCL in May, sorry for the confusion.

The t-shirt is a good idea. I thought about trying to do something on or after riding Pirates, keeping with the ship theme.

 

[Yogimund]

We are doing the same thing! And we've had it booked for over a year now... it's been very hard to keep it a secret!

We gave our kids the wdw trip for Christmas but are keeping the cruise a surprise. On our last night at the resort, we plan to bring out the Disney Cruise shirts we ordered on ETSY and say "surprise! We are heading on a cruise in the morning!" Either that or we may just wait until our bus picks us up in the morning! lol

can't wait to see their faces!

 

[adc]

You could sneak an info packet into your in room safe
You could have a character at a meal give him a card or tickets. They might decorate a plate for you.
You could take him on the riverboat in MK or a friendship boat and have the captain give it to him. They may announce it for you if you sneak them a note..

 

[DisneyMom111]

Those are both cute ideas! I love the idea of doing it on a boat and getting captain involved. That would fit right in with the theme! Thanks for the ideas!