What did I get myself into? Suggestions for 15 yr old girls please?? (very long)

[CinderellaIam]

Okay, so about a month ago my Dsis and Dbil say to me, we want to take the kids to Disney this summer. I say great! Let me know if you have any questions. (I have been 12 times, they have been 2x, and never have a good time). They look at each other, look at me, and say: Well, actually, we were hoping you could plan it for us, and maybe, would you want to come with us? Our treat? Well, a free trip to Disney, I nearly jumped out of my seat. I said great, DD will be in college the week they want to go so it would work out just fine. They have two DD's 14 & 9 . I love them to death and always have a great time when I am around them.

So, the week they want to go is the same week my Dsis turns 40 and DN turns 10. Great! I have booked the flights and hotel and purchased park tickets. Have planned a great dinner at Spoodles for DSIS and ordered the Castle Cake (which I will pick up before hand), and arranged for a gift to be delivered to the room while we are at dinner. For DN I will try my best for breakfast at CRT, if not the very least I want is lunch, here I plan to order her the Cinderella Slipper desert. Also to celebrate her BD we plan on taking her to the MK Barbershop to get her hair done, and I have reserved our space for the Family Magic Tour that morning. Of course they will both wear Birthday Pins.

Okay, so the rest of the planning is a piece of cake, after all, I am a professionl event planner, and WDW planning is my passion!

Saturday, my DBIL comes to my house to pick up stuff that Dsis has tried to hide for the girls Easter Baskets. He asks me if it's possible for him and Dsis to renew their vows at WDW. I say sure, they do weddings, I'm sure they do this. He says great! I have XXXX in mad money put away, I'll write you a check so you can make the arrangements, but I want it to be a secret. Maybe you should talk to your mom and dad and see if they want to come. Okay, so I am fine with this, I can plan the trip and the vow renewal, not a problem. I have contacted Disney Weddings and have started on the vow renewal plans and am very excited. Mom and Dad are also excited and want to come, and now DD wants to miss school for this, still not a problem.

Today my DBil calls me at work, here is where my problem is. He says: I appreciate everything you are doing, I know I am putting a lot of pressure on you. I tell him, no, I'm fine really, piece of cake He says: yeah, well, I've been thinking, you know the trip is going to be great, Dsis Bd, Dn BD, vow renewal, but I am starting to feel like DN (14) is going to feel very left out, nothing will be special or "about her". Can you do something special for her??

Aaaaccckkkk!!!! this is where I am loosing my mind. What can I do to make my Dniece (14 almost 15) that will make her feel special and not left out?? She is already a part of the vows ceremony, and her BD is not until December. I thought about setting aside a day and celebrating her un-birthday similar to her DS, but I am just not sure.

Any ideas???

 

[kyirish25]

How about a trip to Discovery Cove to swim with the dolphins?

And kudos to you for doing all the planning for your family and making this so special for them

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

I like the unbirthday idea - get her a gift basket wishing her a "very happy unbirthday" and fill the basket with some cool things that teens like. I'm not sure what to fill it with. Maybe a t-shirt saying it's my unbirthday or something like that....

 

[javaj]

What a great trip you're planning!

How about gift baskets for both the birthday niece and non-birthday niece? And maybe a generous gift card or Disney Dollars for the non-birthday niece? At that age, that's what I would've appreciated!

 

[jckdisneybound]

When are you going? Can you celebrate her half birthday?

 

[greenyskp]

Depending on what kind of teen she is...

If shes into Video Games - A day at Disneyquest would be awesome. (just stressing this day is for HER)

If she's actually into Disney, as we are, A Keys to the Kingdom Tour could be great.

The unbirthday thing sounds neat as well. I would include a Pal Mickey in the basket. That way the whole trip SHE is the one with access to all the disney secrets, games etc. That would make her feel special to be in charge of dispersing the secrets.

Cirque Du Solei is another option, assuming shes never been. Having been there when I was 15, I was astounded, it was cool.

Or simply take a day and ASK her what is the thing shed love to do the most.

You could also arrange a spa treatment for her at the Grand Floridian, and you could have everyone do the winterland/summerland golf thing. Or the Fantasia Golf.

I think if you approach whatever you do by making a gift basket with a "coupon" or card for the event, it will feel like it is HER event, even if everyone else is joining you.

Good Luck!

 

[CinderellaIam]

Thanks for the great ideas...I knew I could count on you guys!

We will be going the last week of August, so no, it's not her half birthday, that is why I thought celebrating her un-birthday might be fun.

All of these ideas are great but I am interested on hearing more, so that maybe I can combine a few....

Thanks!

 

[auntsue]

Gifts of a lifetime has some great ideas. Check out their website and see. I almost used them for my niece's birthday but it was a tad more than I wanted to spend. Maybe you could get an idea from there and make it your own.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I would go with the spa day for a girl that age---manicure, pedicure, facial, etc.

And the Discovery Cove idea also sounds great!

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

How about if you get hr involved in the planning and let her completely plan out one day. That way she can lead the family for a day...

 

[MAACdisney]

i am 15 y/o so just around the same age. I love doing the Aqua Sea Tours that was a lot of fun but it can get pricey if a lot of pepole want to go along also. I would aslo reccomend getting her involed with the planning let her pick something the group can do that sounds interesting to her and that she will enjoy this will allow her to feel better about the trip and getting her involed as well. HOPE IT ALL WORKS OUT!

 

[karebear1]

I have one suggestion for DN 10's b-day celebration. If you can't get the breakfast, then go for dinner about 45 minutes before WISHES is planned for that night. We had dinner there for my DN (20) b-day in january. Ordered a birthday cake from them and had it delivered. They sat us right next to a window and WOW! Were we surprised when those fireworks started going off! We didn't even think about the time we had reserved- just took whatever time. It was a wonderful- pleasant magical evening.

Now- for DN 14. I really like the spa idea! Make it a special day with mom and dad. Spa with mom, a really nice dinner with dad. Maybe make a ressie a Narcoosee's or somewhere like that. They can use this oppurtunity to express their love for their sweet 14 y.o. Maybe they could take her somewhere to pick out a special Disney remembrance that will be their secret. We did something like this when our DD's turned 16- while it was for their b-days... it doesn't have to be. We bought each girl a diamond tennis bracelet because daddy wanted to be the first man in their lives to give them a diamond. Now that our youngest DD has her own diamond engagement ring from the love of her life, her dad can still say that HE was the first to give her a diamond. (One, that I am sure, she will be wearing on her wedding day as well!)

 

[minmate]

Sounds like there will be enough of you (8 or more) to make a Grand Gatherings event. Which one would appeal to dn14 more? The Magical Fireworks Voyage w/dessert buffet and meet&greets w/Hook, Smee and Pan... the Illuminations Dessert Party or the Safari ?Dinner? -- or just renting out a boat to do an Illuminations Cruise w/o dealing with Grand Gatherings, might be fun... Could print up invitations "formally" inviting all the family to be a guest at ds14's Cruise Party! You can even get the Illuminations Boat or just plain Wishes Boat (un)Birthday package with balloons and such. I'm sure, whatever you do will be great! Have fun!

 

[Micca]

What a cool trip There are so many good suggestions here, but I love the Un-birthday idea. It is perfect for Disney.

 

[Leigha]

Wow! How many men would be sooo thoughtful!! He sounds wonderful! If you have at least two kids, I think you see where he's coming from. My DD, recently 15, would love the spa idea. A new hair cut and manicure and she would be a happy girl. Maybe Mom, Grandma or you could go with her the day of the ceremony. If you think she's really feeling left out, I'd go with mom/spa, dad/dinner. Hang in there!! You can do this!! And surely not much more can be added to this trip!!! Then again, he's so nice, you might want to plan a special surprise (race car experience) for him too!!!

 

[dizagain]

Wow...never met a guy who was so "into" the planning thing! I guess I keep thinking your niece will already feel magical just being a part of special things for her family...she is taking part in all of it. So, IMO, I agree with the posters who suggested giving her a day to plan for everyone. The spa thing sounds really cool to do when at home, but at WDW she may rather be at the parks....that's just based on myself and my sisters. Perhaps a welcoming gift basket would also be a nice touch if something "material" is needed.

You are so great to lead the pack in such a fun adventure!! Sound as though you're already having fun and you're not even there yet! Good luck!

 

[LemonFruitChew13]

If she's intrested in maybe trying surfing you could try and get her lessons at Typhoon Lagoon. I'm 15 years old and thats one thing i really wanted to do my last trip to disney.

 

[CinderellaIam]

Thank you all for your great ideas! I am getting some really good inspiration! While the spa thing sounds great, she gets to do that at home quite a bit with her mom. They go together once a month for manicure/pedicure & facials for special one on one time.

I think I am going to go with the Un-Birthday idea, let her plan the day, and then surprise her first thing in the morning with a gift basket that will announce her "Un-birthday Celebration". Maybe this night we can do the Dinner at the Castle closest to wishes, and this

If she's intrested in maybe trying surfing you could try and get her lessons at Typhoon Lagoon. I'm 15 years old and thats one thing i really wanted to do my last trip to disney.

is an AWESOME idea. We live in a beach community and all the kids are into surfing. She was just talking yesterday to my DD about learning how to surf on a regular sized (she's been using a boogie board) this year, so this would be perfect. THANKS!

And to those of you who have commented, yes, my BIL is a pretty great and generous guy, I will have to come up with something special for him. Although his idea of special will be simple. Just send him to the ESPN Zone alone for an afternoon and he'll be happy!

Thanks again to everyone who has responded. I knew I could count on the Disers for inspiration! You guys are the best!!

 

[CinderellaIam]

We bought each girl a diamond tennis bracelet because daddy wanted to be the first man in their lives to give them a diamond. Now that our youngest DD has her own diamond engagement ring from the love of her life, her dad can still say that HE was the first to give her a diamond. (One, that I am sure, she will be wearing on her wedding day as well!)

This is great. My Dad did something similar for me and DSIS, only he gave us diamond stud earrings, but said the same thing, I gave my girls their first diamonds. He has also bought diamond studs for all of his grand daughters, all 6 of them.

 

[debbiedoo]

I would let the 15 year old plan the day. Where to eat, which park, etc. Make her feel special. Have a gift basket done or a trip to the spa is always nice!!!(pedicure, manicure)