Want to surprise kids for Christmas with scavenger hunt.. any ideas?

[googles111]

Hi, We booked a cruise for Jan. and we want to tell the kids for Christmas. I wanted to get some Disney related gifts and do a scavenger hunt or something fun with clues. Any ideas? I have no idea what to say on the clues. Thank you for the help.

 

[seemefli]

Hi Tonya, we're on the same cruise as you and also doing this as a Xmas surprise for the kids DD8 and DS5!! I am doing a treasure hunt/word puzzle for the kids too and here's my master plan! This could get long but hang in there. I think the execution of it will take way less time to do than to actually explain it all!

I am spelling out the message "Dear (insert childs name) and (insert childs name) get your bags packed because in 28 days, we are going on a Disney Cruise!" I will cut the message up into cards so that there is only one word per card (Ours will be 19 cards long and you could shorten the treasure hunt up by putting 2 words per card if you want) and it will be folded so they can't see the word inside. I'm going to put the cards on just a few of each of the kids gifts (the fourth card for each child will be in the stocking) and let them know that these cards are the collector pieces to a very important top secret message (I may even pump them up the night before about this). They are not to open the cards until all the pieces have been collected (I'm not worring about having them collect the cards in the proper order b/c each card they collect will a have number written on the outside. This will allow them to put the cards in the proper order when they've collected them all). Instead of putting little gifts in their Xmas stocking, I will put the stocking inside of the last gift they will open (in our case the stocking will be in a new carry on bag and I will just make sure they don't open that gift until last). There will also be one of the cards in it as well but on the front of this card will be the 1st clue to start the treasure hunt. They're going to take their stocking with them on the treasure hunt b/c when they get to the next clue they will find another card but also a little gift that would have normally been in their stocking. I am just having the kids do it together in order to keep it simple and keep them both on the same page for when I'm recording it on the camcorder. There will be one small gift for each of them, per clue. Once they've collected all 19 pieces, they'll put them in number order, flip open the cards and read the TOP SECRET MESSAGE! Does all that make sense?

Now the part I don't have figured out yet is that I haven't decided if I am going to leave the last 4 words out and time it with the phone call from Mickey for that morning or just give all the words to them and then the phone call can just be a fun ending. I'm thinking they won't even really notice/truly register the phone call b/c their minds will be reeling from the shock of us REALLY going if I give them the entire message, but we'll see. I'm worried about relying on the Mickey phone message too in case it doesn't come!?!?

Anyways, I hope that gave you some ideas or a place to start.

 

[2littleprincesses]

Tuning in because my dds just went to a birthday party with a scavenger hunt and they loved it. I was just going to do some things in different boxes--1. formal dresses,
2. stuffed captain mickey
3. box with dvd, brochure and dcl pins

But I think they would love a scavenger hunt.

 

[googles111]

Hi Tonya, we're on the same cruise as you and also doing this as a Xmas surprise for the kids DD8 and DS5!! I am doing a treasure hunt/word puzzle for the kids too and here's my master plan! This could get long but hang in there. I think the execution of it will take way less time to do than to actually explain it all!

I am spelling out the message "Dear (insert childs name) and (insert childs name) get your bags packed because in 28 days, we are going on a Disney Cruise!" I will cut the message up into cards so that there is only one word per card (Ours will be 19 cards long and you could shorten the treasure hunt up by putting 2 words per card if you want) and it will be folded so they can't see the word inside. I'm going to put the cards on just a few of each of the kids gifts (the fourth card for each child will be in the stocking) and let them know that these cards are the collector pieces to a very important top secret message (I may even pump them up the night before about this). They are not to open the cards until all the pieces have been collected (I'm not worring about having them collect the cards in the proper order b/c each card they collect will a have number written on the outside. This will allow them to put the cards in the proper order when they've collected them all). Instead of putting little gifts in their Xmas stocking, I will put the stocking inside of the last gift they will open (in our case the stocking will be in a new carry on bag and I will just make sure they don't open that gift until last). There will also be one of the cards in it as well but on the front of this card will be the 1st clue to start the treasure hunt. They're going to take their stocking with them on the treasure hunt b/c when they get to the next clue they will find another card but also a little gift that would have normally been in their stocking. I am just having the kids do it together in order to keep it simple and keep them both on the same page for when I'm recording it on the camcorder. There will be one small gift for each of them, per clue. Once they've collected all 19 pieces, they'll put them in number order, flip open the cards and read the TOP SECRET MESSAGE! Does all that make sense?

Now the part I don't have figured out yet is that I haven't decided if I am going to leave the last 4 words out and time it with the phone call from Mickey for that morning or just give all the words to them and then the phone call can just be a fun ending. I'm thinking they won't even really notice/truly register the phone call b/c their minds will be reeling from the shock of us REALLY going if I give them the entire message, but we'll see. I'm worried about relying on the Mickey phone message too in case it doesn't come!?!?

Anyways, I hope that gave you some ideas or a place to start.

Thank you guys for the ideas!! I like the idea of the numbered cards. How old are your kids? Mine are 8 & 12. Is this your first cruise? This will be our 2nd cruise. We went 2 years ago and they loved it and keep asking to go back. Are you on the cruise meet board for the Jan. cruise? I don't remember seeing you on there. Are you doing the fish extenders?

Tonya

 

[seemefli]

Yes it's our first cruise ever and first major family vacation ever too. The kids have never been on a plane before either so it's going to be an exciting adventure for sure! We're really excited to surprise them at Xmas. Our daughter is 8 and our son is 5 and we're on the Characters of Wonder page under my user name. We are doing the FE, are you too? There are sooo many people I can't remember who is and who isn't participating, it should be a lot of fun though! We've been watching a lot of classic Disney movies lately and I've thrown in some travel to Mexico ones too. It's so funny, I even have them "saving" for the cruise too by organizing our bottles for the bottle depot in the off chance that "years later we will finally have enough money to go on a Disney Cruise and they will have their own spending money for souvenirs"!

Did you surprise your boys the first time you went? Have you signed up for the free character call?

Cori

 

[desamnik]

I had 4 places for them to go and find things I made a poem for each clue....

Clue one: Go into kid one's room, look high and look low! Look closely, its right within your reach...(under kid's bed)

(They find a gift of swim wear for each and sun screen)

Package says: Does someone need something to wear to the beach?

Clue two: Go to the room where the water runs fast, You'll find something here that is built to last (bathroom)

(they find gift of pirate gear)
Halloween in APRIL, but what does it mean?

Clue three: Now look where you usually sit around, your next clue should soon be found (behind pillows on couch in family room)
The time is coming up really soon,
Eighteen days and counting for a trip to......THE MOON??? (a paper chain with 18 links!)

Clue four: Your last clue is hiding in plain sight, where mommy and daddy kiss you goodnight. So head to that place and get your last clue (under their pillows)

(the post cards you get from Disney Cruise Line)!!

So put it all together this trip is for you!!

They were very excited to do this little "game"! Too bad I didn't tape their reactions, we may have made it on the new Disney commercial!

Good luck planning a great surprise for your family, it was so much fun.

We never tell them when we are going to Disney, we usually act like hmmm no plans today, well thats no fun. Anyone want to go to Disney!

 

[disneymom4evr]

We also are surprising our girls at Christmas. I have planned to give them a bunch of little gifts that they will need while on the cruise: swimming suit, sunscreen, snorkel gear, flip flops.....I haven't figured out how we're going to make the BIG announcement yet. I thought about the Mickey call, but what if our timing is off & they aren't done opening presents yet? I also thought about wrapping up the planning DVD. I don't know the scavenger hunt sounds fun too. I guess I still have a couple months to decide.

 

[googles111]

Hi Everyboday, thanks for the ideas!! I just wanted to show you what I came up with for the scavenger hunt. It will be Christmas Day. I found some of this online and added to it. The only one I wanted to try and reword is the dinner plate one.. any ideas?

Don’t worry; don't fear this is not your gift this year.
Clues will lead you to something good.
Look for a 2nd clue where we store food.


That was quick, you’re pretty smart
You and your gift aren't far apart.
Search for a clue where you get nice and clean.


Not bad,
You found me, quite a feat
You're almost there,
So don't retreat.
You'll find a clue where we relax
On cushy seats
Those soothe our backs.


Its not the end if dinner is late,
I'll wait what mom is about to create.
Put your food on me. I'm not a bowl,
I'm a___________


When your parents let you play on me,
You probably have fun.
Just be careful not to hurt my keyboard,
Or they might say you're done!


Ah ha, you've found
The final clue
You're gift is waiting
Just for you
Head over to the treasure chest
And hopefully you will like this gift the best!


1) 1st clue wrap & put under the tree
2) the shower
3) couch
4) Plate
5) Computer
6) a treasure chest we have with toys in it


In the treasure chest I was going to put this. I thought this was SO neat!! They will know once they see this. I may just put this and the DC booklet in there too.. Not sure.
http://sweeps.travel.aol.com/disney/assets/downloads/Disney_Ship_Paper_Toy.pdf

I also found trading pins on Ebay to the places we are going. I don't think they will get it once they see them. They will just think they are trading pins for their collections. I bought small things like a mickey pez, small pirate legos, those velvet mickey posters they can color on, etc.
Let me know what you think.

 

[LissaW16]

Michael's has a bunch of Disney things in their $1 section... little note pads, pens, puzzles, etc. Great for little stocking stuffers to keep up with the theme!