The gift of Disney!

[VictoriaLynn83]

We are giving my in-laws their first trip to disney and their first vacation in about 15 years as their Christmas gift this year. This will be a major surprise for them and we are looking forward to going with them and treating them extra special...parks, golf, spa time, fireworks cruises and special tours...I'm pretty sure we've thought of it all...but I can't decide the best way to "tell" them. Any thoughts on the est things or thing to wrap up for them to open on Christmas Day to tell them they are going to disney?

 

[Tuvalu]

When I did this for my mom. I created a certificate/ voucher (like you might get in a contest) which listed all the things she "won" in her vacation including:
* Round trip airfare on (airline)
* 5 luxurious nights at (resort)
* 5 day park hopper ticket
* All meals including (listed the ADRs we had)

A few other things too, you get the idea. (I wanted her to be clear that all her expenses were covered.) She loved it! It became part of her scrapbook. I also gave her a Disney frame for pictures from the trip.

We made wonderful memories and you will too! Enjoy the planning!

 

[ColoradoEquestrian]

What an awesome gift! That is going to be so special. Whatever you end up doing for the reveal, be sure to film it

 

[Scott10]

I like @Tuvalu's idea, but possibly add a Mickey and Minnie doll of some sort holding the information which is enclosed in an envelope!
I also second the idea of filming it --- you could then add film of the trip itself as a great memento of the entire package!

 

[JIMINYCR]

Have you ordered the Disney planning DVD? Get one and wrap it up along with a planning guide book and some park maps. ( Passporter and/or Unofficial Guide Books) At the Hallmark store you can get some Disney ornaments to decorate the tree with.
I'd wrap all their gifts in Disney wrapping paper too. With a couple of Disney gift cards attached.
Boy.... you are going to earn yourself some major points for this one. What a great vacation this is going to be seeing that theyve not taken one in so long. After celebrating the holiday youve really got to sit down with them and plan out the perfect park days, the best ADR's and make sure they get to do everything they want. Then maybe the next year they will want to go again.

 

[TXDisney]

You could have fun with it and do it in pieces where they're clueless. Wrap plane tickets without showing the destination. Wrap a disney stuffed animal as another gift. And as a finale actually put the tickets in the last gift.

 

[KLeigh]

What about a Disney picture frame?

You can put a cute announcement about the trip inside the frame, and make sure to get a family picture while you're on vacation for them to put inside when you return!

 

[Disnee4Me]

Wow ... lucky in-laws. Would definitely hope you post their reaction (via pictures or video).

 

[ColoradoEquestrian]

You could buy some super cute Disney luggage tags and wrap them up with a note saying something about packing their bags for the happiest place on Earth

 

[VictoriaLynn83]

Have you ordered the Disney planning DVD? Get one and wrap it up along with a planning guide book and some park maps. ( Passporter and/or Unofficial Guide Books) At the Hallmark store you can get some Disney ornaments to decorate the tree with.
I'd wrap all their gifts in Disney wrapping paper too. With a couple of Disney gift cards attached.
Boy.... you are going to earn yourself some major points for this one. What a great vacation this is going to be seeing that theyve not taken one in so long. After celebrating the holiday youve really got to sit down with them and plan out the perfect park days, the best ADR's and make sure they get to do everything they want. Then maybe the next year they will want to go again.

The most difficult part for me is that I'm having to make all those ADR decisions with out them, so that we get booked before everything is taken. I'm hoping that my choices will be approved and that if we've misjudged something we will be able to change it.

Even our FP selections are needed the night before we tell them. I'm not as worried about that since we are going at a slower time, tho.

 

[VictoriaLynn83]

Wow ... lucky in-laws. Would definitely hope you post their reaction (via pictures or video).

So nervous that their reaction won't be huge and that I'll be really disappointed. they aren't a overly emotional type of family....

 

[UnhealthilyObsessed]

A game show?

Ask them easy Disney-related trivia questions, with the grand prize being the actual trip? That could be fun to film, too!

 

[ColoradoEquestrian]

So nervous that their reaction won't be huge and that I'll be really disappointed. they aren't a overly emotional type of family....

So nervous that their reaction won't be huge and that I'll be really disappointed. they aren't a overly emotional type of family....

Aww! I hope you get the excited reaction, but if you don't...you could always cut the recording, yell out "REDO!" and try again!

 

[ColoradoEquestrian]

The most difficult part for me is that I'm having to make all those ADR decisions with out them, so that we get booked before everything is taken. I'm hoping that my choices will be approved and that if we've misjudged something we will be able to change it.

Even our FP selections are needed the night before we tell them. I'm not as worried about that since we are going at a slower time, tho.

You could book a few ADRs at different times so that you've got some backups if there's mutiny in the ranks!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

So nervous that their reaction won't be huge and that I'll be really disappointed. they aren't a overly emotional type of family....

Mind you, I've never surprised my parents with WDW, but I have surprised my kids several times and their reactions have varied. You already know they're not overly emotional, so even if they love it, you know there's a strong possibility they won't have an over the top reaction. You could try layering the gifts...i.e. starting with more basic things and building to the big gift so that maybe a crescendo in gifts could create a bigger reaction with the big gift.

 

[jengrey]

This is a wonderful gift you're giving them! I'm sure they will be happy and really appreciate it!
To surprise my husband with our trip, I had postcards made on the site redbubble.com with images from the Disney parks on them (one had the retro monorail poster, one had a cool Mary Blair-esque painting of the castle, etc.). I wrote hints on the back of each card and put them in numbered envelopes. I got a gift bag and put his favorite candy and snacks in there along with the cards. He opened the cards in order, and the last one said "We're going to Disney World!"

 

[NonnaT]

All fabulous ideas! What a fabulous d-i-l you are!!!

 

[smk]

All fabulous ideas! What a fabulous d-i-l you are!!!

I am a nonna too! Love being a nonna, seems more popular these days but we are Italian and have always used the Italian names, zio zia, nonno, bisnonna.

 

[NonnaT]

I am a nonna too! Love being a nonna, seems more popular these days but we are Italian and have always used the Italian names, zio zia, nonno, bisnonna.

I'm Gaelic and Garlic, but my Eye-talian genes won out! Love meeting other "nonnas".