The Little Extras

[smithmom]

For Christmas, my parents bought my family a trip to Disney World. So come Sept we are all going to Wilderness Lodge for 8 days!!
My parents, my husband, my two boys (3&4 - first trip) and me! I am so appreciative and want to thank them for the memories we will have forever. Any suggestions for extra special gestures for them before/during/after the trip??

 

[DisneeMommee]

A really nice scrapbook could be put together after the trip. Include some photos, momentos and a trip report. Be sure to carry around a little note pad to jot down all the cute things your boys say and all the special moments during the trip. (If I don't write them down, by the time we return to the room, I can't remember exactly what our children said.) Goodluck and have a terrific vacation!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I second the scrap book or the photopass book...even the photopass CD. If your parents are into the family matching t-shirt crazy, you could order some before hand for everyone.
Does you family have to be together 24/7? Especially if you are not on the dining plan (or even if you are) make ADRs (and pay for them) for just the 2 of them in a romantic resturant.

 

[2girlsR2good]

My Inlaws gave us a trip. I made my MIL a "disney kit" for the trip. I gave her a cute stylish backpack and in it I had a collapsible umbrella, 4 dollar store rain ponchos, mini anti bacterial hand lotion, hand sanitizer, a travel size pack of wipes (not baby wipes), granola bars, travel first aid kit, water bottle "huggies" and some other stuff I can't remember right now that would be handy to have on a trip. She loved it, and said that she would never have thought to bring those, but used them all.

Have a great time!

 

[asoko]

My Inlaws gave us a trip. I made my MIL a "disney kit" for the trip. I gave her a cute stylish backpack and in it I had a collapsible umbrella, 4 dollar store rain ponchos, mini anti bacterial hand lotion, hand sanitizer, a travel size pack of wipes (not baby wipes), granola bars, travel first aid kit, water bottle "huggies" and some other stuff I can't remember right now that would be handy to have on a trip. She loved it, and said that she would never have thought to bring those, but used them all.

Have a great time!

I think that's a great idea. My MIL wouldn't have a clue as to what to bring. I don't think they've been down to Disney since the 70's. They are giving us a trip later this year. I think I'm going to do something like this for them.

 

[jlindemer]

Have you thought of doing a Wishes or Illuminations Cruise while you are there? It will cost a bit more than a scrapbook (well, maybe not--I tend to overspend when I work on scrapbooks)!

 

[adventure_woman]

I know I know I know!! - make sure you do the silhoutte of the boys where the artist cuts out their profile with the little scissors. I did that for my DD and I LOVE IT!! It made me cry. It only takes a 1 1/2 minutes for them to do the cutting and it is cheap! For 2 prints, it was around $12? and then the frames were only $6? each. We did it at MK, off Main Street (on what used to be called Center St) and also in Liberty Square. It was so much fun - I got a total of 4 prints/frames.

 

[smithmom]

Great suggestions! Thank you so much. I was also thinking of having some flowers sent to their room through the Disney florist. Anyone ever use them?

 

[mejkjj97]

We did the photobook for my parents. they took us this past August and I was able to make a great book with our pictures and the photo pass pictures. I made a copy for us and a copy for them.

 

[disneybridetobe]

Great suggestions! Thank you so much. I was also thinking of having some flowers sent to their room through the Disney florist. Anyone ever use them?

We did, I was going to suggest this anyway! We got a nice basket with a bottle of champagne, and two wine glasses with mickey heads etched on them. Disney Floral does some beautiful things. Check out their website, and I'm pretty sure if you need to alter a basket to suit their likes/dislikes that they will happily do so. Give them a call!

(PS-- what a great gift!)

 

[eliewriter]

What a thrill to share memories with such a wonderful family!

This will be my first trip in a very long time but it sounds like there are tons of options, depending on your budget and how long you have to prepare.

Maybe get some official Disney trading pins and lanyards on eBay if they're into that, or T-shirts with certain characters they like. Any souvenier you bought them while shopping together there would probably be really treasured too.

You could take crayons and things and let your children make them a picture each day of their favorite moment, then write their names and describe the moment the way your child describes it to you.

If you have a good digital camera that shoots video, it might be nice to take a few memory cards, shoot lots of memorable video and still footage and load it onto a digital photo frame later (I'd highly recommend the Opteka, got ours from Amazon) so they can relive some of those moments whenever they want.

I hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[smithmom]

These suggestions are great! I'll buy a few extra memory cards for the videos and pictures and put something fun together with those...

And I LOVE the idea of having the boys draw them a pic of their favorite things. I'll bring some envelopes that we decorate here and slide it under their door at night so they'll have a fun surprise each morning.

I'm hoping to have a tee-shirt made up for all of us to wear one day - they would love that (and who am I kidding - so would I!)

Keep the great ideas coming!

 

[Karenj2]

This isn't on the budget side, but what about scheduling them a romantic dinner somewhere just for the two of them? Victoria and Alberts, if you want to go hog wild, or even somewhere like LaCellier, etc.

Even if you're on the DP, you could probably call and ask for a special dessert to be sent to them as a thank you.

Or have the kids pick out something special for your parents at a gift shop. (that could be funny )

OH!! At the MK on Main Street, at the crystal shop (can't remember the name), they have a glass blowing demonstration... If you get there early enough, you can have something made specifically for you/your parents, and then it'll either be delivered to your room a few days later or (if you wait too long like I did last year) it can be sent to your home. I think I'm going to be making that a yearly tradition - I love handblown glass!

 

[scrapbookmom]

How about scheduling a family photo shoot at one of the resorts? I have not done this personally, but it sounds like a great way to have some beautiful family shots done. You are getting them a great gift of memories and you get some pictures too!

 

[smwslp]

I love the idea of the family photoshot! I don't know if they still do it, but my parents had silhouette drawings of my brother and I done at Disney when we were there as kids and they still hang in their house. It brings back Disney memories everytime we look at the pictures...especially now that we are both adults!

 

[mom2faith]

Have you thought of doing a Wishes or Illuminations Cruise while you are there? It will cost a bit more than a scrapbook (well, maybe not--I tend to overspend when I work on scrapbooks)!

Oh you are speaking my language girl!!

DH is positive the scrapbook is going to cost more than the trip!! I have been scrapping last year's trip since we returned, I am not done, and I would HATE to total the cost!!

 

[smithmom]

I know I know I know!! - make sure you do the silhoutte of the boys where the artist cuts out their profile with the little scissors. I did that for my DD and I LOVE IT!! It made me cry. It only takes a 1 1/2 minutes for them to do the cutting and it is cheap! For 2 prints, it was around $12? and then the frames were only $6? each. We did it at MK, off Main Street (on what used to be called Center St) and also in Liberty Square. It was so much fun - I got a total of 4 prints/frames.

I have put this on my list of 'To Do's. THANK YOU!

 

[Baloosgirl23]

How about scheduling a family photo shoot at one of the resorts? I have not done this personally, but it sounds like a great way to have some beautiful family shots done. You are getting them a great gift of memories and you get some pictures too!

Scrapbookmom -- do you know more about doing this or was this just a suggestion??? Either way, I LOVE it and want to do it now...

 

[cuppycake]

Something fun and cute that you can do before you leave is go to the sticky at the top of the family boards for the "fairy godmailers" and have someone send a postcard to your parents from one of the characters. It could say they are excited to hear that your parents decided to share such a wonderful gift with their family and they can't wait to see them in Sept!! Every year that we go, I have a postcard sent to my girls (and to whomever happens to be going with us...my parents, my ILs, our friends), and it really adds a little touch of magic, no matter the age!!

You could also do this for your boys. Then, offer to do it for a few families while you are there...it feels so good!!

ENJOY YOUR TRIP! Sounds like it's going to be a super blast!! (my 4 year old wanted me to add the banana )

 

[hmdelf]

I can help w/info on the photo shoot. You prebook it 30 days in advance. the sitting fee covers a 30 minute session at the Beach club, Polynesian, Animal Kingdom, or Saratoga resort. I think the fee is $90.00. We did it on our honeymoon and will also be doing it on our grandgathering in Oct. the pics are awesome. There is a thread on here somewhere with [eoples pics and some hints about time booking.

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