We're back from surprising our kids– a grateful family -with pics and video.

[sherreis]

I've been reading so many great TRs and PTRs lately that I decided it's my turn to write one. I started writing a journal of a PTR so I'd be able to share it with our boys at some point....

So, here's installment #1 Why are we taking this trip?- it'll get better after this and I promise to include pics!

In 62 days, I hope to pull off one of the best surprises of all time. Surprising DS12 who will be DS13 and DS8 with their second trip to WDW.

First I’ll start off with a little background to why we’re taking our trip.

Our first family trip was Thanksgiving 2006 and it seems so long ago. I had help from DS12 (then DS10) with convincing DH that we wanted to go to WDW for our vacation. I know without DS12 the boys would still never have been there. We had a great week even though it was crowded and not a day goes by since our return that November that the boys don’t say something about Disney World and if we’re watching something Disney related they immediately say “I wanna go back.” Of course, my response, being the mean mommy that I am always says “I wanna go back too, but, Mom and Dad don’t have any vacation time from work and it costs so much money. They truly believe they aren’t going back to WDW for many, many years.

We need a vacation! At the end of August of last year, DH was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He’s had 3 surgeries since then with the last one being a month ago and thankfully, everything is fine now and I consider us to be very grateful. It’s been quite stressful around here with him out of commission so often. He’s used all of his vacation time the past year and a half with my mother’s death at the end of March 2007 and his cancer and surgeries. We did get to use a few days for a short family get away to Williamsburg at the end of last summer – 3 days before he was diagnosed with the cancer so that’s how I always remember that trip. Actually, I usually forget we made the trip at all. This trip will be to celebrate him being cancer free for 1 year and my big 5-0 which was in July. I told DH I didn’t want a party- I wanted to put that money towards a vacation. He didn’t believe me but I stuck to my guns.


Coming next....more details

 

[sherreis]

#2 - More details on the background of this trip

Earlier this year, I ordered the Disney vacation planning DVD! That’s right you’re onto something - hint, hint!. DS12 and DS8 love watching the planning videos so I figured we’ll add to the collection. Why not? It’s free!!! (not really – it ends up costing thousands of dollars). The week before DH’s last surgery in May, I asked him to figure out when he would have vacation time again and he said he’ll have a week in October – after using the time he had for this last hospital stay and recuperating.

October, huh??? How ironic that’s when I told Disney I was planning a trip when I ordered the planning video – hey, I had to put some month in that blank. I figured I’d plan subtly. I played around with looking at airfare and found $69 one way and $54 the other for AirTran. I told DH the wonderful rates and how we couldn’t turn that down. What did he think about taking the boys out of school? They'll be off on 10/17. He agreed- go figure and then he says “but, what are we going to do in Orlando for that long?” Duh? What would you say? It’s a no brainer, right? I told DH that it wouldn’t cost us anything out of the bank account cause AirTran accepts Paypal and I had a great balance in the account from last year’s Ebay sales. Woo hoo! I had to use about $25 from our checking account.

I started looking at prices for staying onsite and right before the surgery got up the nerve to approach DH with about $2200 for POP for 7 days/6 nights. Right away, he said “OK.” You can never figure him out. I finally booked the trip about 2 weeks after the surgery so we could make sure everything went well.

Alright, so now we know that we’re going to Orlando, we’re staying at POP, and we’re taking the boys out of school for a few days. But, wait a minute – we haven’t told them cause we needed to make sure DH’s surgery went well and we could afford it before we told them we’re going - wouldn't want them to get excited and not go. Then, I had a great idea – let’s surprise them! Yeah, right. Me – the ultimate Disney planner (you all have taught me well and it’s contagious) keeping all this planning a secret. So far, so good. It’s been about a month and we haven’t let the cat out of the bag.

So, shhhhh – if you know my boys, PLEASE don’t tell.

Coming next: The Cast... and pictures

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

Awesome start to your PTR!!! I can't wait to read your next update!

 

[Lambflock]

Oh My Gosh!!!! I am soooooo loving your TR!!! I was moved by your first post about it and it has done nothing but gotten better!!!!

 

[VBsHustla]

Sounds like it's going to be a magical trip! You guys definitely deserve it. Keeping that secret must be tough, but fun. Have you decided how you'll tell them yet?

 

[oklamomof4boys]

Your family certainly deserves a magical vacation! We surprised our boys with a trip to Disneyland 5 years ago- they STILL talk about it! It was so fun to surprise them!

 

[DisneyTiger]

Sounds great so far. I can't wait to suprise my kids one day with a WDW trip. They're a bit young right now (DD3 DS1.5) but one day we will just load them in the car and say "OK, we're going to Disney World!" Can't wait. And also can't wait for more of your PTR!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Great PTR so far. It's so fun to plan a surprise. Any idea how you're going to tell them and when?

 

[sherreis]

Awesome start to your PTR!!! I can't wait to read your next update!

Thanks for being my first reader. It’s been fun putting it into writing. I’ve been enjoying reading yours as well.

Oh My Gosh!!!! I am soooooo loving your TR!!! I was moved by your first post about it and it has done nothing but gotten better!!!!

Thank you. Last year was absolutely horrible and we thought things would get better when 2008 started but DH started having pain again in March and by April we knew he would be having surgery again because he developed an incisional hernia from where his kidney was removed. The good part is now – the knowledge that part is over and that now we’re going to reward ourselves and celebrate.

Sounds like it's going to be a magical trip! You guys definitely deserve it. Keeping that secret must be tough, but fun. Have you decided how you'll tell them yet?

Thanks. Keeping the secret is tougher than I thought it would be. But, just like when I was on bedrest when I was pregnant with the boys – I keep my eye on the prize. And, I know it will be so worth it. Stick around the “how we’re going to do it” will be coming soon.

Your family certainly deserves a magical vacation! We surprised our boys with a trip to Disneyland 5 years ago- they STILL talk about it! It was so fun to surprise them!

How did you surprise your boys? I love hearing everyone elses’ stories. Even DH, who does not like when I talk about the DIS all the time, loves to hear the stories.

Sounds great so far. I can't wait to suprise my kids one day with a WDW trip. They're a bit young right now (DD3 DS1.5) but one day we will just load them in the car and say "OK, we're going to Disney World!" Can't wait. And also can't wait for more of your PTR!!!

Thank you. It’s a lot more work doing it this way, but, it will be worth it. Definitely wait until they’re old enough to remember it. DH was telling me this morning about one of his coworkers who surprised her 6 yr old last summer and that they got some great pics to capture the event.

Great PTR so far. It's so fun to plan a surprise. Any idea how you're going to tell them and when?

Thank you. I was going to post how we’re going to pull of the surprise soon – so , stick around. I started writing this note earlier today but then got a phone call from my stepfather’s “lady” friend that he was in the Emergency Room so ds8 and I left in a hurry. My stepfather is 90 yrs old and fell and bashed up his face pretty good and luckily, is OK, but will be in the hospital a couple of days. It’s always something. Just got home.

 

[sherreis]

#3 - So, who’s going on the trip? And, who’s not?

Our cast:

From left to right: DH, DS8, some Mouse who we kept seeing all over the place who snuck into our family pic - some nerve!, DS12, and Me.

Me – Disney World lover since it opened. I was 14. It was only MK then and I remember learning one important thing- that Disney World in August is a killer. Mean Mommy who never likes to have fun. Loving mother who loves watching her boys get excited, do new things, reach monumental milestones and will do ANYTHING for her boys. Wife to DH for 19 yrs. We’ve been through a lot together and he’s stuck with me. I changed jobs this past October in the middle of everything with DH- it’s a great job with much better hours and I get to work from home (more Disboards without supervision). I have been a nurse for 26 years – that’s a lot! My hobbies used to be scrapbooking, sewing, and quilting and I haven’t been doing them for quite some time due to life. I’m in the process of getting back into everything and setting up an area next to my home office that I can use for crafting.

DH – we called him “Grumpy” on our last trip and the boys often call him. DH never knew from Disney until our honeymoon in 1989 when we went for 3 days while we were in Florida for a week. It was DH’s first ever vacation. DH didn’t know anything about how fun a vacation could be. DH does not understand why you need to plan a trip to WDW and why can’t you “just go and do it.” No matter how much I explain, he still doesn’t get it. I still love him – and, of course, after all, he said yes to this trip. It’s been a rough year for DH – 4 hospital stays and 3 surgeries and he’s worn out. He suffers from chronic back pain and used an ECV on our last trip and was tired of seeing Disney World after seeing everyones backsides first. He’s hoping that he doesn’t need an ECV this time around or if he does it won’t be as hard to drive through the crowds since it isn’t Thanksgiving week. We have kids that range from almost 30 to 8. DH has 2 girls from his first marriage who are all grown up now but I raised them as he had custody of them. Our 2 yr old granddaughter must know something about DH that we don’t know – she calls him “Happy.” Not grandpa, not Pop Pop, not anything else – Happy! Go figure.

DS12 –a great kid! He’s very easy-going, eager to please, and has become a lover of all things Disney. Thanks to him we were able to go last time because he had to plead the cause to DH who will do anything for DS12. We’re Jewish and DS will be Bar Mitzvah’d next year and he has asked for a Disney cruise instead of a big party. I told you he’s a great kid! It saves us money and lots of stress in planning that party. Still loves watching classic Disney movies, POC, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones and loves putting together Legos and is always asking to be able to get back to the Lego store at DTD. He believes us when we tell him that we don’t have vacation time due to me changing jobs and DH’s surgeries. He just got his black belt in karate in January and he’s starting 7th grade this year. In 6th grade, he brought home straight As once and ended the year with 1 B and the rest As. He’ll be shocked when we arrive at school at Noon on 10/15 to pick him up.

DS8 – a Captain Jack wanna-be. A sweet boy with an infectious smile and as DH says “a momma’s boy.” Can’t wait to see his face when we surpise him cause he is so expressive. He loved his first trip to WDW and still sleeps with Sorcerer Mickey every night as well as a blanket from Mickey fabric. Is always talking about wanting to go back and is already talking about his Bar Mitzvah celebration trip in 2013 to Disney World for 2 weeks. Such a smart boy! He also believes us that we don’t have any vacation time. DS8 is starting 3rd grade this year. He will also be completely shocked when we pick him up at school at 12:15 on 10/15.


DS12 the night he got his black belt in January. This Friday he's testing for his first belt in the next category.

DS12 (then DS11) watching Wishes on our last night in Nov. 2006 and DH on his ECV watching Wishes and behinds.

Wishes and behinds.

DS8 on our last trip - Cap'n Jack Wanna-Be

Who's not coming?

Tenshi – he’s the dog. Doesn’t know much about Disney and I’m sure he’s not going to like it cause he’ll have to spend the week at the doggie hotel.

Coming next - the surprise plan!

 

[pillow]

How fun! We surprised our kids once. We had the van packed but they couldn't see the suitcases behind their seat. We told them we were running errands. The airport we were using was about 1:15 away, and I kept wondering when they were gonna start asking why we were driving so long. After about 45 minutes, I started handing them clues on little slips of paper that I had made up beforehand. They didn't figure out where we were going until they heard the airport ticket agent say Orlando.

It was funny. We asked them if they liked being surprised. One kids said yes, and the other said the anticipation was part of the fun. He said he would rather know beforehand.

Have a wonderful time on your trip! I bet the weather in October is wonderful!

Jodie

 

[alwayslisad]

AWESOME THREAD - keep it coming -

<3 Lisa <3

 

[sherreis]

Thanks Lisa and Jodie. I always love hearing how everyone else did their surprises. I have a slight feeling that Joey will be a little upset that he didn't know beforehand but he'll be too excited to care. Nice to see my cruise "buds" visiting over here.

 

[sherreis]

Our plan for the surprise -

With our flight at 3 PM, we need to leave for BWI around Noon in order to travel, park, and get to the airport. We’ll pick up DS13 at his school and tell him we need to go somewhere and couldn’t wait till school gets out and then go to DS8’s school and pick him up. We’ll have the luggage covered up in the back of the car so they won’t see it. They won’t figure anything out until we get to the airport – they haven’t been there that often so they won’t recognize too many things and they’ve never been in the long-term parking area. When we get to the airport we’re telling them they’re going to visit Aunt Diane and Uncle Marv and they will be super excited at that point cause we all love my aunt and uncle. Knowing my boys, they won’t think anything of it cause that’s what we (just me and the boys) did last summer – stayed with them, went to SeaWorld one day, went to Daytona one day, went to DTD one day). When we arrive at MCO, we’re going to act like we're lost finding the luggage area and the car rental area and we’ll go to the ME place (I have no idea about that cause I’ve never used ME before). That’s when the surprise will happen- we’re planning on printing a letter and handing it to the CM and have him/her read it to the boys that they are on their way to Disney World for 6 nights. I often tear up when I picture the looks on their faces. We WILL have the cameras out at that point. I hope we can do it and not let it out ahead of time. It’s probably the only time we’ll be able to do this and I’m always excited when I’ve read other TRs or threads about parents’ success at surprising the kids.

If anyone has any other ideas, please tell them! We’re open to all suggestions.

DS8 when we arrived at MCO last summer:

DS12 and DS8 in our room at the Hyatt MCO. Our flight didn’t get in till around 9:30 so we stayed here for the night cause it was too late to get out to my aunt and uncle’s house. Thankfully – we got a great price on Priceline - $45/night. Great deal, huh?

DS12 and DS8 coming down the elevator at the Hyatt. It’s amazing how something like a glass elevator can captivate a kid….

Good night. It's 11:50 PM and it's time to go to sleep. I gotta work in the morning and the boys didn't want to go to sleep yet. DS12 is having SEVEN baby teeth pulled tomorrow. Wish him luck.

 

[Lambflock]

Make sure to take a picture of their faces when they find out. You could do one of those Priceless commercials!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Sounds like it's going to be a great surprise, I can't wait to read more!!!

 

[sherreis]

I was going to post more last night but I was busy with DS12 who had SEVEN teeth pulled yesterday to get ready for braces. OUCH is right! DS12 didn’t get his first teeth until 12 ½ months old and didn’t lose his first tooth until 10 yrs old. His mouth is a mess and will require lots of work by the orthodontist. Can you say OUCH to our checking account?

Make sure to take a picture of their faces when they find out. You could do one of those Priceless commercials!!!

We’re actually shopping for a new camera now. My digital is 4 yrs old and occasionally not taking some good pics anymore and we just gave our camcorder to DD so she can film DGD. We might bring the camcorder but I think I’ll end up using the video from whatever camera we get. Any suggestions anyone????? I’ve never done too much video with our current point & shoot.

Sounds like it's going to be a great surprise, I can't wait to read more!!!

Thanks. I’m really excited and so is DH in his DH kind of way.


Starting to Plan – thank you travel channel

Back in the beginning of May, I rejoined TGM because I found it so helpful in our last trip and came up with a schedule so we could make ADRs. I didn’t have DS12 helping this time, but, I got lucky one night cause there was a special on the Travel channel about dining in Disney. Perfect time to talk about where we ate last time and seeing some of the restaurants they would want to eat at on some future trip. It’s less than 180 days to go and I wonder will I be able to get anything good. I asked DH where he wanted to try and he gave me as short list of requests – Le Cellier, Biergarten, Marakesh, Clam Bake Café, and Boma. When I worked out our schedule, I told him there was no way I was even trying for a dinner ADR for Le Cellier and asked him about Biergarten for this trip. He was happy because he wanted to eat there on our last trip. Clam Bake was a must for this trip cause DS12 has always insisted about going back since the first time he ate there. DS8 only wanted to go back and eat everywhere – isn’t not being picky a good thing?

So, when I was in the waiting room when DH was having a procedure to get ready for his last surgery, I called Disney dining. The other person in the waiting area probably thought I was crazy for asking for reservations for meals in OCTOBER. I felt so lucky as I was getting all the times that I wanted.

Our first round of ADRs – – there will be some minor changes made later:

10/15- arrival – CS at resort
10/16 – Dinner at Biergarten
10/17 – Dinner at 50’s Prime Time
10/18 – Dinner at Chef Mickeys
10/19 – Dinner at Whispering Canyon
10/20 – Dinner at Clam Bake Café
10/21 – Breakfast at CP – 8:05 AM!!

 

[pillow]

10/20 – Dinner at Clam Bake Café
10/21 – Breakfast at CP – 8:05 AM!!

Where is Clam Bake Cafe and is it good? Never heard of it??!!

Jodie

 

[shoppgirl]

Hi Sherreis!
I just followed your pretrip report here and I wanted to let you know you're off to a great start! How exciting it must be to plan the most incredible surprise an 8 and 12 year old could ever have! I'm so glad to hear that your DH is doing well now, and you can celebrate many good things at the "most magical place in the world" together.

I would love nothing more than to do a Disney Cruise next summer too!

Great photos from your last trip. I love my Panasonic...and I'm sure the newer ones out there now are even better!! Try to convince DH that it is the right camera. I can do great video clips on my old one...can you imagine what the new TZ5 can do??!?!?

 

[sherreis]

Where is Clam Bake Cafe and is it good? Never heard of it??!!

Jodie

It’s in the Beach Club. We ate dinner there on our last trip because it was the only place I could get an ADR for 10 people at a reasonable time of day. I called for ADRs 3 months advance. I was an ADR virgin at the time. Now, I know better. You’ll read different reviews on it. It’s supposedly a seafood buffet but they don’t have a lot of seafood, and, believe, me coming from Maryland – we know our seafood. The salads were fresh and good. Some of the entrees and sides were good – I just don’t remember what they had on them. Desserts were good too. DH and DS12 loved it. DS12 ate 4-5 bowls of steamed clams and he is always talking about wanting to go back and beat his record. In fact, he was talking about it earlier today when I gave him clam chowder for lunch. Little does he know….

Hi Sherreis!
I just followed your pretrip report here and I wanted to let you know you're off to a great start! How exciting it must be to plan the most incredible surprise an 8 and 12 year old could ever have! I'm so glad to hear that your DH is doing well now, and you can celebrate many good things at the "most magical place in the world" together.

I would love nothing more than to do a Disney Cruise next summer too!

Great photos from your last trip. I love my Panasonic...and I'm sure the newer ones out there now are even better!! Try to convince DH that it is the right camera. I can do great video clips on my old one...can you imagine what the new TZ5 can do??!?!?

Thanks shopgirl. I was showing DH pics of your girls earlier this evening – especially, the one with them walking hand-in-hand up to the castle and I told him it was with the Panasonic. He hasn’t taken the TZ5 off the list yet. I just cashed in some points on MyPoints for a $100 gift cad for Amazon and yesterday, I got $100 in VISA checkcards from AT&T for our rebates from our new phones. I had my special birthday in July and my stepfather gave me a nice cash gift and I would like to use a little of it towards my camera and the rest towards the trip so the camera will be paid for easily. As for the cruise – that’s how I’m convincing DH it’s time for a new camera. We have 2 BIG trips to use it on and they’re both places to take LOTS of pictures with good quality. Our cruise is the 7 day Magic to the eastern Caribbean and we’re going Thanksgiving week 2009. We didn’t want to take the kids out of school. Boy, how times have changed from December when we booked the cruise to April when we started planning this trip. This is the first time in my life I’ve had 2 vacations booked at the same time, and, I’m figuring it’s really going to help the post-Disney depression when we come home from this trip knowing that I’ll be able to start doing more research and planning for the cruise.

When you're ready to start thinking about a DCL cruise, I highly recommend the DCL threads. I have learned so much and it's really neat getting to know some of our co-cruisers beforehand.