Surprising the family with Disney

[dusty-the-disneydad]

This is my first time posting a pre-trip report but I am so excited that I wanted to give it a try.

Some background: I am a happily married 28 year old dad with an almost 2 year old little boy (this is going to be his AND my birthday trip). My whole life I wanted to go to Disney but it never happened until I met my wife. After our son was born her mom took us to Disneyland as a gift for a "babymoon" and 6 months later we took a very belated "honeymoon" with baby to WDW (we never got a honeymoon because of work/time restraints, etc.), our first trip to WDW. It was so overwhelming we just barely made it through 3 of the parks (MK, HS, Epcot) with our mouths gaping open. It was so magical. So much of that pixie dust people talk about was sprinkled on us. We stayed at POR and loved that resort. Our son enjoyed the trip so much. He squealed with delight every time we saw a character. He was even given a certificate and sticker by a CM acknowledging that he was an honorary prince for the day. We made sure to stop by the Harmony Barbershop for his 1st haircut. I highly recommend this. They give children a special Mickey ears hat, certificate, lock of hair, and take the time to take some really neat pictures with your family. I guess it is not surprise one of our son's first words was "Mickeys". He is definitely a Disney baby.

We wanted to go back but time and money were scarce. I wanted to surprise my wife because she is always working and she is totally selfless. I blew it and missed getting her presents or anything the past couple birthdays, anniversaries, etc. (mostly because money was tight) so I had a lot of making up to do. I also look at it like this: work, work, work...we need family time and to live a little. What better place to get away from it all and celebrate than WDW?? This may be the last trip for a long time for us considering the economy. I got a pin code in the mail for the $500 gift card, checked to see if I could take vacation from work, and booked a package in April for the family on a whim. We will be staying at All Star Music for 5 nights and GF the last night. When I told my wife she gave me this look like I was kidding and crazy and then her first comment was "what about work!! I can't leave." I convinced her to take a week off and now she is starting to get excited. I want to try to figure out something nice to surprise her with. I am still thinking about it. Our son will be turning 2 and I will be turning 29 during the trip so it will be a very birthday disney vacation. Although my birthday will fall the day before we leave so I don't qualify for the birthday promotion and our son is too young to qualify.

My wife told me yesterday that she booked tickets to La Nouba for my birthday present which I am happy about because I always have wanted to see that show. She also ordered a Mickey head cake for our sons birthday dinner at CRT. I called to make our ADR's and this is what we have on the menu:

Crystal Palace
Pinnochios Village Haus
Cinderellas Royal Table (son's birthday dinner)
Sci-fi Dine in theater
The Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic Package
Le Cellier
The Garden Grill
Teppan Edo
Planet Hollywood
Tusker House
Tea at GF

I am most excited about Sci-fi dine in and my wife is most excited about the tea. I am thinking about surprising her with that chocolate glass slipper dessert at the end of the tea. If anyone has any ideas (romantic, fun ideas) to surprise her I am all ears!!!
I am so excited to spend this week with my family and am planning on getting the photo pass again to capture it all.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Yay........a Disney Daddy! How fun to get the trip planning from your perspective!

I totally agree with the statement about work. That is exactly what prompted my DH and I to plan our 2007 trip. Family time IS important and worth investing in. Good for you for making your family a priority!

 

[dusty-the-disneydad]

Well we added a couple resturaunts to the menu. Our son loves the movie Ratatouille so the closest thing I could figure we could get to that for him was to eat at Chefs de France. I read there were child menus that kids can fold into chef hats. Our son is very active so any distractions to keep him busy are good things! The other new addition is tea at the Grand Floridian before we leave. My wife has been wanting to do this and it looks like a good relaxing way to unwind before the 9 hour plane ride home. My wife booked tickets to La Nouba for my birthday and a Mickey head birthday cake for our son who will be turning 2 years old. We are getting excited with less than 2 months to the vacation and I think I have most of the plans in place now so we can sit back and relax. I was thinking about booking an illuminations cruise but think that with the crowds being heavier this time of year I better save that for the next trip.