Disney Trip as Christmas Present - Ideas on how to unveil it?

[sapereaude]

So we feel as if we are overrun with toys and decided this Christmas to try to do a "no toy" (read very few toys) christmas. This happens to coincide with our plans to go to Disney in January. The kids don't know about this yet. We want the Disney trip to be the big present. There will be other presents, but since we are toning down on the toys, not a ton, so we want to present the trip to the kids in a way that will be exciting and really maybe help them understand this is a HUGE present. (We have talked to them about the no toy thing and asked htem what they would want that isn't toys, and they boy say a trip to disney world, so this is what they want)

Any ideas for what to wrap and put under the tree? I don't mind buying a few disney items to wrap up too, I've already gotten my daughter a new princess costume to wear for example.

 

[kstgelais4]

What about visiting the "creative disigns" forum here on the dis. You can make some tie dyed mickey T's and other family tees and put them all in bags for each of the kids.

 

[budbeerlady]

Santa is giving us a Disney cruise this year instead of all the "stuff" we usually get. I was going to put the Disney cruise DVD in a big box with our reservations. Then I found ALOT of silver foil confetti wrap stuff on clearance at Target to stuff with box with and fill the top off with Mickey shaped balloons blown up.

But I think our tree will be lonely, so I was going to put a couple of small " numbered" gifts under the tree to make a scavenger hunt out of it a little. Then DD won't freak because there are only 4 boxes under the tree that you normally couldn't see in prior years! So box 1 is under the tree and directs her to small box 2 on the dryer, box 2 sends her back to the tree for the red wrapped box that sends her to the closet in our room and that small box sends her back to the tree for the blue box that sends her to the spare room where the Giant box is sitting on top of the chest freezer with the cruise inside. Or something like that...

 

[scrapbookmommy]

I picked up Disney swim trunks when they where clearanced. Plan to buy Mickey ears, trading pins, make each a tshirt and a Disney gift card. Last week when Walgreens had free photo collages I made one for DS with a few pics of him and some of the characters. At the top of the print I titled it "You're going to Disney May 2011". They where told and believe it will be 2012 before we return. I need to print another one for my DD but waiting to see if they have another freebie.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I'd wrap up things they'll need for their trip -- on another thread, someone had a great list going. I'll see if I can find that one and link to it.

Things like beach towel, flip flops, sunscreen, travel games, etc. Then they'll have something to open, you won't have purchased unnecessary stuff, and they'll see how everything contributes to the big trip.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[amylynne01]

Another person on here said they had a big box filled with helium ballons that would pop out when opened. That is kind of cool too. What if could find ballons with Mickey and Minnie on them?

 

[Plumeria9]

Has anybody seen the Disney commercial w/ the dad opening up the pizza box in front of the kids, and the pizza has Mickey ears and the dad tells them they are going to Disney World (or Disneyland). Pretty cute!

We are giving our 2 girls the trip to WDW at Xmas too. But I decided to tell them we are going in June (or something) and get them all excited about that. We are actually going in mid January, and on that day we will get up and get ready for school as usual. But I'm going to tell them, eh, let's not go to school today. Let's go to Disney World instead! They are going to be so confused. I have to get it on video because their reaction is going to be hilarious. One might cry because she will be "missing school". Crazy kids! I bought us each Mickey watches on the disneystore site a few months ago, and some other stuff that I'll give them at Xmas. Have fun planning your surprise!

 

[design_mom]

I saw a cute "reveal" once that involved a custom jigsaw puzzle. Once the kids assembled the puzzle, they could read the message about going to Disney World.

How many people are in your family? Maybe you could create a very simple, homemade jigsaw puzzle with large pieces. Each person could unwrap a piece, then when you all put your pieces together, you'll see the whole message?

 

[amyren]

Another person on here said they had a big box filled with helium ballons that would pop out when opened. That is kind of cool too. What if could find ballons with Mickey and Minnie on them?

My SIL did this for her girls (at the time 4 & 6). She put a note on the string of a Mickey balloon and wrapped it in a huge box. It was really cute.

 

[JennLK]

I found a cute disney princess suitcase - packed it with my dd's clothes (we were leaving the day after christmas) and wrapped the suitcase.

It was hilarious - my dd (then 6) opened the present - thanked me for the suitcase. I had to prompt her to open the suitcase. When she did she whispered politely in my ear "Mom, I already have clothes like these". So then of course I had to explain to her that I packed her clothes in this neat suitcase because we were going on a trip. When prompted to guess where to she takes one look at her Disney Princess suitcase and shouts "Hershey Park!" Oh boy ... it was so funny. I told her to guess again and she was stumped... so I told her. She was so excited she jumped into my lap and we almost took out the tree !

 

[mblaesing]

I bought some character figures from the disney store online and an ornament that you can take the top off and put something inside. I am going to wrap each character separately with a note that will lead the kids to the ornament and the trip inside.

 

[elilala]

For my 9th birthday(which wasn't too long ago believe it or not) my mom got me a trip to Disneyland for my present. Somehow she found a way where she could call a cerain number, and you could schudule a time for them to call you (or something like that) and it will be a recording of some Disney character(my mom let me hear Ariel, my fave Disney princess) telling you happy birthday(or whatever the holiday may be) and that they can't wait to see you on your next trip to DL or WDW. I freaked when I heard that

 

[beansmom]

For my 9th birthday(which wasn't too long ago believe it or not) my mom got me a trip to Disneyland for my present. Somehow she found a way where she could call a cerain number, and you could schudule a time for them to call you (or something like that) and it will be a recording of some Disney character(my mom let me hear Ariel, my fave Disney princess) telling you happy birthday(or whatever the holiday may be) and that they can't wait to see you on your next trip to DL or WDW. I freaked when I heard that

this is what we are doing for dgs on the 29th...we'll have mickey call him at the airport when we're changing planes to go to Orlando. I also have a suitcase packed with lots of 'disney' clothes and a carryon bag of disney things and toys to keep him occupied on the plane.

 

[Janepod]

Usually Santa brings a train for our little boy and sets it up around the tree. This year, it will be the monorail instead (along with the castle & a couple of other playset things). Plus a box of Disney DVDs and some pins. Be sure to have the videocamera ready!

 

[Evi]

Another person on here said they had a big box filled with helium balloons that would pop out when opened. That is kind of cool too. What if could find balloons with Mickey and Minnie on them?

I don't use helium balloons for anything anymore. Helium is a dwindling resource that cannot be replenished. Scientists say because of our love of helium balloons helium may be gone within 20 years and there is no way to make helium its a natural gas that took millions of years to make once its gone its gone. I'd start teaching your kids about helium and home that when they are older its still around. I planned to make a storybook for dear nieces in which the story would end with Mickey and Pals saying how they couldn't wait to see them on our date of arrival. Unfortunately before I had the book printed Brother in law told the girls we were taking them with us to Disney.

 

[budbeerlady]

I don't use helium balloons for anything anymore. Helium is a dwindling resource that cannot be replenished. Scientists say because of our love of helium balloons helium may be gone within 20 years and there is no way to make helium its a natural gas that took millions of years to make once its gone its gone.

Wow, very interesting. I had to google this and I had no idea most of the helium comes from Texas. I never thought about "how" it got here or that its a non-renewable resource.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/s...e-world-is-running-out-of-helium-2059357.html

Thanks for the heads up!