Tinkerbell gifts each day vs first day gift basket...

[bellebud]

For our summer WDW trip, I've been buying little gifts for ds6 and dd8. They know we're going in the summer, but they don't know when, so the morning we're leaving they'll each be surprised w/ a small plush (mickey for ds and minnie for dd) at the breakfast table to 'tell' them we're going that day (and maybe a note that says "please get in the car, we're going to WDW now!")

Then I have other small gifts, and I can't decide if I should do 1 gift each day as a tinkerbell gift, or have them bundled as a gift basket hidden in my suitcase and place them out as a surprise on the first day. I just know the 'stress' of setting out the gifts each night will totally bug me. I sometimes fall asleep before the kids do, and I can't count on dh to help. It's like waiting up on a holiday or accidentally leaving the windows locked so the tooth fairy can't get in and the child doesn't get their money in the morning... I feel like i'm setting myself up w/ tinkerbell gifts to just stress myself out each day as to 'when' they'll get put out. And keeping them 'hidden' and being able to get to them easily w/out the kids knowing is getting harder and harder as the kids get older.

What do you guys do about tinkerbell gifts for kids this age? any input would be appreciated!

 

[ssdeverell]

I have thought about the same thing - morning gifts vs. gift basket. I read another post on here the other day that said she had either done it this way or was going to try it - put the gifts out as you are leaving that morning (DH can go ahead and take the kids out and you set them out quickly). That way, when you come back for your afternoon rest, it will be there. I liked it because I think I can remember to do that better than the night before. Plus, if your children do not like to come back for an afternoon nap, it may help encourage them. I thought it was a great idea.

Of course, if you prefer not to do an afternoon rest, then this would not work for you. In that case, I think I would lean towards the basket on the first day to relieve the stress issue.

 

[kristasmom]

We are going on the Disney Cruise in a couple of weeks and have decided to do all the gifts in a basket the first day, but with a twist, all the gift will be wrapped and there will be a note with the basket telling DD that she can open 1 gift per day. That way she will get a little something everyday without me having to sneak it out after she is asleep.

 

[ssdeverell]

We are going on the Disney Cruise in a couple of weeks and have decided to do all the gifts in a basket the first day, but with a twist, all the gift will be wrapped and there will be a note with the basket telling DD that she can open 1 gift per day. That way she will get a little something everyday without me having to sneak it out after she is asleep.

Oh, I really like that one, too. Decisions, decisions . . .

OP, are we making it harder for you instead of helping?

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

This year we have decided on a surprise trip right after christmas. This will be the girls present along with a few things for the trip down and to use during there stay (coloring books, autograph books etc.) I also plan on giving the girls a small gift each morning of our stay or each night. Each gift will be a clue to what we will do that day or the next. For example a pooh stuffed animal will be the day we eat at the Crystal Palace and some lip gloss will be our day we go to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

 

[tchrrx]

I wrap a small gift (toothbrush, p.j.'s, lip gloss) for DD each day & give it to her in the morning. It's a gift from mom & dad, not Tink. I figure fairies & others get credit for every other holiday. I may as well get credit on vacation.

 

[turnlisa]

My 6 year old would be crushed if Tinkerbell only arrived on the first day. After Miss Tink visiting us everyday for the last 3 years, he has totally come to look forward to returning to our room to see what she left us. Tink usually visits once each day but not at an assigned time. It's usually when I can sneak away for a few minutes - this way if Tink doesn't make an appearance right after we return from the parks no one is disappointed. This year he did throw a wrench into it since Tink has never visited on the last morning before - and he was looking forward to a final gift. It had me scrambling at the gift shop for a last minute gift. I have already purchased next year's gifts and we aren't going until February!