It's Official, We're going!!!

[SpoonOfSugar]

I have been talking to my DH a lot lately about a trip to the world. Originally, we weren't planning on going due to financial reasons but I just got my bonus from work and we are able to go!! My 3 DDs have been begging us to go and we have just been saying "maybe next year". and we are going to continue saying that because...

WE ARE GOING TO SURPRISE THE KIDS!!!

Thats right, we have never done this before! normally my DD20 helps us and does most of the planning so I will be coming on here a lot more for advice/tips! Our trip is going to take place August 8th-13th 2011. We are planning at staying on Pop Century but my DD11 really wants to stay at ASMovies. We are going to make a choice by next week.

I have been watching youtube videos of ways to surprise kids however, my kids are a bit older then the ones in the videos. I have DD11, DD15, and DD20. Any ideas?? We are also driving if that helps.

Also, I really want to eat at Crystal Palace because we haven't been in a very long time. I know I'm past the 180 day mark, is there still a chance I could get in for dinner?

 

[ddbowdoin]

congrats! I am missing it already... ughhhhh

 

[bmarkelon]

Thats so awesome and exciting! I think you may still be able to get that dinner. Be sure to call ASAP. We are going the 13-21 and I got all my ADRs but was surprised at how much I had to move things around a little. There was a free dining package available so people are really on top of those ADRs. Good luck and happy planning! But like I said, make that call sooner than later.

 

[SpoonOfSugar]

Thats what I thought. I will try calling today:wave:

 

[WDWmazprty]

We're going the same time you guys are going, August 10-13.
We called yesterday and got every single one of our ADR's, if you call today you should be fine! :sohappy:

 

[SpoonOfSugar]

Just called for ADRs! decided to do Crystal Palace for Breakfast instead but we got the three ADRs we wanted!

8/8/11-Cheak in
1900 Park Fare Dinner (DD20 has been wanting to meet Anastasia and Drizella for the longest time)

8/9/11- none

8/10/11- Crystal Palace Breakfast!!

8/11/11- Le Cellier Dinner, just DH and I!!!

8/12/11- none

8/13/11- Check out

 

[bmarkelon]

Yay! Nice work, we love CP breakfast....we almost always do it. We are trying the 1900 Park Fare dinner this trip for the first time too! Can't wait!

 

[barrettismyhero]

You'll be having lots of fun..

you'll be leaving the word on my bday

 

[bmarkelon]

As far as surprise ideas it will be tougher since they are older and wiser. Maybe tell them you are going to a FL beach destination and build that up to seem like the big surprise. Only you actually drive to Disney? I'll keep thinking, that's not totally smooth.

 

[disneygirl1]

How awesome!!! :sohappy: I surprised my DS10 with a trip to Disney this past Dec as an early Christmas gift!!! It was by far the best feeling to be able to surprise him... 20 minutes after I told him he still didn't believe we were going!!! He said mom are you serious? It was so cute!

 

[SpoonOfSugar]

How awesome!!! :sohappy: I surprised my DS10 with a trip to Disney this past Dec as an early Christmas gift!!! It was by far the best feeling to be able to surprise him... 20 minutes after I told him he still didn't believe we were going!!! He said mom are you serious? It was so cute!

I don't think my DD11 will believe it. I can't wait to see her face. This past weekend we went to New York City and her face was priceless when she walked into the disney store there. She was completely in awe and pointing out every little thing she saw.

As far as surprise ideas it will be tougher since they are older and wiser. Maybe tell them you are going to a FL beach destination and build that up to seem like the big surprise. Only you actually drive to Disney? I'll keep thinking, that's not totally smooth.

I know! It's going to be hard to keep it from my kids. My Eldest is the most likely to find out because she is a disney nut, but she is currently away at college. So my goal will be to get most of my planning done before she comes home from college and then plan whatever is left when she is out with her sisters(she takes them to the park and stuff all the time).

Yup, we have always driven. We wanted to try to fly this time, we would say we were going to Logan to pick up their grandparents, then surprise them there when they called our plane. But Plane tickets have recently become really high so we decided to drive again.

We were thinking of doing something like that. The girls' grandparents live in Orlando so we were going to say we are going to visit them for the week. Then once we got there, we would stay for a night then the next morning drive to Disney.... It's still a rough idea but looking for other people's thoughts too.

 

[ThinkTink721]

Congrats on your bonus so you can visit WDW!!!

We surprised our 2 youngest last year - it was great!

We have stayed at POP twice & we really enjoyed it.
One advantage of POP is that it has its own buses.

Yes, the driving factor will help w/ the surprise. We drove last year when we did our surprise visit. That's a bit harder to do when you are flying.

Where are you telling them you are going?...Or are you going to tell them right before you leave?
We waited until we arrived for our youngest 2 to figure it out...that may be harder w/ older ones though.

The Crystal Palace is great!...We haven't been there in a few years either. So, we are planning to eat there for dinner in Sept.
If you cannot get an ADR right away, keep checking until you leave for your trip or until the day you want to eat there.
The good thing about The Crystal Palace is that they begin serving dinner early - around 3:15pm, I think.
They serve breakfast & lunch too...so, you could always try for one of those.

Have a great trip!!! :wave:

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Congrats on your upcoming Disney trip-how exciting! :sohappy:

I LOVE Crystal Palace. You could probably still get an ADR-call now!

 

[bmarkelon]

I know! It's going to be hard to keep it from my kids. My Eldest is the most likely to find out because she is a disney nut, but she is currently away at college. So my goal will be to get most of my planning done before she comes home from college and then plan whatever is left when she is out with her sisters(she takes them to the park and stuff all the time).

Yup, we have always driven. We wanted to try to fly this time, we would say we were going to Logan to pick up their grandparents, then surprise them there when they called our plane. But Plane tickets have recently become really high so we decided to drive again.

We were thinking of doing something like that. The girls' grandparents live in Orlando so we were going to say we are going to visit them for the week. Then once we got there, we would stay for a night then the next morning drive to Disney.... It's still a rough idea but looking for other people's thoughts too.

Oh, grandparents in Orlando definitely help. Your oldest will definitely be suspicious but I think arriving at their house and staying the night could throw them off. Such a fun idea to surprise them. I don't think I could do it. All we do on the weekends is talk Disney planning it would be so hard for me to keep my mouth shut. I've been thinking about not doing the usual crazy countdown for this one so that it sneaks up on them a little. They know we're going in August but only my 6 year old is starting to understand what that means.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Congrats :sohappy: We were originally going to go the week you're going, but opted for the following week. Glad to see you got all of your dining. I was amazed at how much was available in August. We did a pre park opening breakfast at Crystal Palace back in December and really enjoyed it.

As for the surprise- is there anything else in FL you can tell them you might be doing just to throw them off? Like we're meeting Aunt so and so in FL for a summer get together? Or- assuming you're going down I-95 to get there...you could say you're taking a trip to one of the beach resort areas - then when you get to the exit you could ask the kids something like "how about we keep driving and go to Disney World?"

 

[SpoonOfSugar]

Congrats :sohappy: We were originally going to go the week you're going, but opted for the following week. Glad to see you got all of your dining. I was amazed at how much was available in August. We did a pre park opening breakfast at Crystal Palace back in December and really enjoyed it.

As for the surprise- is there anything else in FL you can tell them you might be doing just to throw them off? Like we're meeting Aunt so and so in FL for a summer get together? Or- assuming your going down I-95 to get there...you could say you're taking a trip to one of the beach resort areas - then when you get to the exit you could ask the kids something like "how about we keep driving and go to Disney World?"

Thats a great idea! Say something like we are going to Myrtle Beach then see if they care if we keep driving. Good thinking

 

[R W B]

Thats a great idea! Say something like we are going to Myrtle Beach then see if they care if we keep driving. Good thinking

I was thinking this very same thing once I saw you were driving. Maybe, you can say Daytona Beach since its further down the Coast then Myrtle beach. Make them think a little longer, lol.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I was thinking this very same thing once I saw you were driving. Maybe, you can say Daytona Beach since its further down the Coast then Myrtle beach. Make them think a little longer, lol.

Funny you say that...I was first thinking Myrtle and then I thought- drag it out longer. Daytona or Cocoa should work...OR- you could play like you're cutting over to the west coast. i.e. maybe even get on I4, pretend like you're going to Clearwater/St Pete Beach - maybe even tease them with how close they are to Disney - before breaking the news that that's where you're really going.

 

[SpoonOfSugar]

funny you say that...i was first thinking myrtle and then i thought- drag it out longer. Daytona or cocoa should work...or- you could play like you're cutting over to the west coast. I.e. Maybe even get on i4, pretend like you're going to clearwater/st pete beach - maybe even tease them with how close they are to disney - before breaking the news that that's where you're really going.

this will definitely throw them off

 

[pixiesteno]

Just tell them the Tampa - St. Pete and then just get off on the very last exit for WDW off of I 4, which is Oseola Parkway. I would also consider looking at the All Star family Suites at All Star Music as there are 5 in your party and most value resort rooms sleep 4. It will get you two bathroom - a must with girls!