Since I'm a Disney Vet...been there five times in the last ten years, with one stay being a three month internship, and I live on these discussion boards, I knew that for our family reunion, I couldn't just let my family hop on a plane and go to WDW...I had to make the trip start coming alive way before that! Here's what I did!...
For my parents and brothers, 15 days before our departure I brought over a case of Mickey drink pouches and a count down chain. On each link of the chain I put a picture of a character or logo of a ride and typed a memory from our first trip as a fam 10 years ago, a packing reminder, or something new I know they'll want to try at WDW. My mom went nuts with it and wanted to read each link right away, and my dad, who is a pretty laid back guy, remarked, like a little kid, about my comment about trying to get him to go down Summit Plummet, "I'll go down Summit Plummet at 60mph, I might even go two or three times...in a row!" My brothers, twins who are 21, even make comments.
My Great-Aunt, who has no kids of her own, and who had always dreamed of taking us to WDW as a fam, and did so in '91, is also going with us at a young 77 years of age. Since we booked the trip in late Jan, I've been sending her computer made cards with Disney characters and notes. She loves to play cards, so this week I sent her a pack of Dis character cards and a hand-held fan to cool off with.
But the one that takes the cake is what I've done for my husband. His first trip ever to WDW was last year for our honeymoon. I'd never seen anyone so blissfully happy in my entire life! He's just a big kid at heart. On our trip I learned, quite surprisingly, that he LOVED Sorcerer Mickey. The first night we were there he tried on a SM hat and really wanted it, but decided against it. I made a trip to the Disney Store and bought a SM wash cloth, which I set in his bathroom with a note last week, and a plush SM during their sale, which I placed in his spot in bed the other night...boy was he surprised!!! He got so excited!!!! And what did he say, I wish I would have bought that hat last year so I could wear it on this trip. Well....my best friend just returned from WDW last week and I had her pick up the hat! I will give it to him the morning we leave....I can't wait to see his reaction because he will NEVER expect it!
I love bringing Disney magic into the lives of others! What a joy planning for this trip has been! The trip itself will be incredible!
Thanks for reading!
db
For my parents and brothers, 15 days before our departure I brought over a case of Mickey drink pouches and a count down chain. On each link of the chain I put a picture of a character or logo of a ride and typed a memory from our first trip as a fam 10 years ago, a packing reminder, or something new I know they'll want to try at WDW. My mom went nuts with it and wanted to read each link right away, and my dad, who is a pretty laid back guy, remarked, like a little kid, about my comment about trying to get him to go down Summit Plummet, "I'll go down Summit Plummet at 60mph, I might even go two or three times...in a row!" My brothers, twins who are 21, even make comments.
My Great-Aunt, who has no kids of her own, and who had always dreamed of taking us to WDW as a fam, and did so in '91, is also going with us at a young 77 years of age. Since we booked the trip in late Jan, I've been sending her computer made cards with Disney characters and notes. She loves to play cards, so this week I sent her a pack of Dis character cards and a hand-held fan to cool off with.
But the one that takes the cake is what I've done for my husband. His first trip ever to WDW was last year for our honeymoon. I'd never seen anyone so blissfully happy in my entire life! He's just a big kid at heart. On our trip I learned, quite surprisingly, that he LOVED Sorcerer Mickey. The first night we were there he tried on a SM hat and really wanted it, but decided against it. I made a trip to the Disney Store and bought a SM wash cloth, which I set in his bathroom with a note last week, and a plush SM during their sale, which I placed in his spot in bed the other night...boy was he surprised!!! He got so excited!!!! And what did he say, I wish I would have bought that hat last year so I could wear it on this trip. Well....my best friend just returned from WDW last week and I had her pick up the hat! I will give it to him the morning we leave....I can't wait to see his reaction because he will NEVER expect it!
I love bringing Disney magic into the lives of others! What a joy planning for this trip has been! The trip itself will be incredible!
Thanks for reading!
db
