Any ideas??? Help me make Xmas Xtra special for my kids

[Recusit8m]

Hi all...Taking the family down to WDW in January 09 (4-11)...I have 2 kids (8yo girl and 3yo boy)...First trip for both...Bought the vaca for Christmas present...Neither have any idea (wife didnt either until she called the bank and did her wifely duty of wanting to know where the money went...go fig lol) Anyways...Do any of you exprienced "Magic Makers" have any ideas on how to present the vaca as a gift to them on Christmas day??? Thought about Dis store and stuffed animals with Dis $$$ but neither enjoy stuffed animals...Give me some hints...Please?...lol...TY Jay in Indiana

[mrp4352]

We've never given/received the actual trip, but my brother upgraded our hotel rooms for Christmas one year. He put together a code and hung the key to the code on papers all over the tree. Your 8-year-old might enjoy something like that.

You might also make a "brochure" with pictures of your hotel and the parks and include a ticket for the dates of your trip.

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

I would order the personalized maps that have your name on them and the planning DVD...have a family night make some hot cocoa and suggest they watch a movie and pop it in and let them see what's in store

[Stitchahula]

I was thinking the disney planning dvd also. You could also get some disney dollars and put them in their stockings. Maybe try to figure out a way to print out "tickets" for disney on the computer and put them in an envelope on the tree addressed to each child.

[BMan62]

Do they have favorite characters? If so, for CHRISTmas (not Xmas, there is no such holiday - sorry personal peeve) you could get them DVDs of their favorite characters and put a card in each telling them to pack their bags 'cause they are going to visit them in person!

[mouseketeer mom]

The past couple of years Disney offered a telephone call from Mickey on Christmas day to let your family know of an upcoming reservation. I wonder if they will do it again this year? We did it two years running.

[EeyoresBestFriend]

We gave my parents a trip to Disney for Christmas last year and it was awesome. I did some certificates based on the year of millions dreams folder and photo shopped it a bit. One was just Mickey for Dad and Minnie for Mom and it said 'you have a date with Mickey/minnie' and the date of the trip. They turned out beautifully! if you want let me know and I can arrange with you to email them so you can see what they look like.
By the way, my parents were blown away - they are in their late 60's and had never been. :-)

[Recusit8m]

BTW...I used the X in Xmas to save for space...I agree with you as well in regards to Christmas...Thanks...I appreciate all of the ideas...

[Recusit8m]

In Addendum: I have been waiting for 3 months for WDW planning DVD...Still not here...

[g8rgirl29]

A friend of mine surprised her children for Christmas one year. She wrapped several items to be opened by the children that were clues to the trip. A few things that I remember were a small toy airplane, Disney toy, mouse ears, and carry on bags. If you get creative it could really be a fun Christmas morning. Good Luck and have a great trip!!!

[disneyfan328]

You could do clues that hang on the tree to lead them to the conclusion of the disney trip or on a scavenger hunt. My friend also did one once where she got a picture of the castle (you could do Mickey or whomever their fav. characters are. She took it to wal mart (or wal greens or any places that have the photo machines and had the picture ( made by clip art ect) made into a puzzle. You can add words to it and let them put it together Christmas morning. Any way you decide to do it will be great.

[Coccinelle]

A disney trip will also be a christmas present for our 3 kids (10-8-5) this year. We are going in april. It will be their first time, first time also for my husband, second time for me (20 years ago...). I am planning a big treasur hunt (Santa will give them the first clue) that will end...i dont know how right now....wanted to have them wach the dvd (found in a treasure chest of course!)as the last clue...but the 2009 planning dvd is not here yet....plan B will be a calendar with disney character and a special message in april...plan c would be a puzzle with disney character and an invitation. Still have some work to do!!!!