Trying to decide.... is this too much $$$

[nosy parker]

I have spent a lot of time planning some special touches for our vacation. We will be going to MNSSHP and I have ordered the kids their dream costumes (Mario & Luigi) that I am having made. They are going to be sooo surprised. They've been asking to be M & L for the last three years.

I was lucky enough to get a diver with the personalized menus on the night we dine at Coral Reef. And in keeping with the theme, I will give DH his gift - a day at Discovery Cove where our entire family (5) will do the Dolphin Swim. He's a total marine mammal lover! There will also be a cake. After a beautiful day at Discovery Cove, I will be putting the kids at Neverland and Dh and I will be having a private dinner on the third floor terrace at the Grand Floridian, complete with butler. I hope this will be very romantic.

So all of this costing quite a bit, but I have managed to save over the last year, so DH knows nothing about it. I was going to order a few things from Disneyshopping.com and have it sent to the resort. this would be a surprise for the kids. Some t-shirts and plush guys. I was just going to pretend that it came from Mickey or something. But that's a bit difficult to pull off, and I'm not really sure how to go about it. Anyway, there are new packages available at Disney Florist where 'Mickey' comes into the room and decorates it with a welcome theme. Here are the details:

It includes:
A festive balloon decoration and welcome banner to set the stage for celebration.
An autograph book with a personalized Mickey Mouse signature.
Mickey Mouse footprints leading the way to the welcome gift with a 22" Mickey Mouse plush.
Inside the large, Mickey Mouse-themed gift box on the bed, several goodies await.
A pair of Mickey Mouse mitts holds a special “Hidden Mickey” book so you and your group can enjoy a secret hunt around the Disney theme parks.
Mickey Mouse has also left behind some other playful essentials: a Mister Fan, a glow necklace, a Mickey Mouse buzz wand, some temporary tattoos and Disney character playing cards.
A character frame featuring Mickey Mouse and the gang with a welcome message personalized to your family.
And don’t forget Tinker Bell – if you take a peek around, you’ll find Tinker Bell’s shadow twinkling with pixie dust in celebration of your arrival.

It looks really cute from the photo on their site. This is the smaller package and costs $200. Do you think this is worth it? They will also allow me to add my own stuff to this package, so I could have the items from Disneyshopping sent to them to include in the room. Including the items from Disneyshopping, this would run me about $350 -$400. I am wondering if I should do this or not. I would have to add a duplicate of some of the items in the goodie box because I have two DSs 6&7. One set of Mickey hands will never do! I realize I will be getting the value as far as my items from Disneyshopping are concerned, but I'm not really sure if a welcome banner, balloons, a mickey plush, some goodies and some footprints is worth $200. It's the 'idea' of the whole thing for the kids that entices me.

Any thoughts? My 'extra secret budget' is dwindling and I'm trying to get the most out of it.

Thanks!

 

[design_mom]

To be honest, it sounds like you've planned a fabulous vacation for your family. They are going to be overwhelmed with all the "extras" you've planned for them. I do not think the Mickey footsteps, etc are going to make it $200 more magical.

I have heard of other people making their own gift baskets and shipping them to themselves at the resort (HOLD for guest [Your Name], arriving on [Arrival date]. I'm sure you can get send DH and the kids off somewhere (ahead to the bus stop, to et some ice, to check out what's available in the food court?) and you can 'spread some pixie dust' in anticipation of your return, and it won't cost $200.

You can save your extra $200 for whatever-it-is that they see and want at WDW... or to do something special after you get home and have those post-Disney blahs.

p.s. Please post pics of your boys in their M&L costumes when you get them. My DS would *love* to be either one!