The Can You Keep a Secret Trip – Pre-Trip Report - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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The Can You Keep a Secret Trip – Pre-Trip Report - Updated 5/26/07
The Can You Keep a Secret Trip - Pre-Trip Report
Cast:
Me (Kim), 35, Big Disney Fan, Loves to plan trips
DSister (Robyn), 28, Has not been to Disney since she was 10
DNiece (Anna Claire), 7, 1st timer, Has never visited Disney due to aversion to characters
DS (Jordon), 6, This will be his 3rd trip
DNephew (Pearson), 2, 1st timer, Will add a new element to my Disney Experience
When:
June 4, 2007-June 8, 2007
How did it come about?
We have always wanted to make a group trip to Disney World, but Anna Claire’s “aversion to characters” has always stood in the way. Our husbands are not wild about WDW, but have strongly encouraged us to go.
Last August we decided that we would go in June 2007. This will not be a commando style trip, so we decided that three full days would be more than enough to take in the Magic Kingdom and Blizzard Beach. I went out and booked our package. We will be staying at Port Orleans Riverside, spending two days at the Magic Kingdom and one day at Blizzard Beach.
We decided to keep the trip a secret for several reasons. The first is that since we were planning so far out there was always the possibility of having to change plans, secondly we both have been mothers long enough to know that 11 months of “When are we going to Disney World” would really put a damper on our enthusiasm for the trip. Lastly? We LOVE surprises in our family!!!
The Surprises:
Keeping a secret this big for 11 months is bound to be a challenge. Having a niece that is surly going to grow up to work for the CIA makes it a bit more difficult. All had been going well until last weekend!! My family was staying at my house for the Mothers Day weekend and while Anna Claire and Jordan were supposed to be playing on the Webkinz website, they discovered a word document that I had accidentally left open. It was a certificate I had created to leave out on the morning of the trip. It said that Tinkerbell had invited them to come to WDW and was dated June 4, 2007. Anna Claire only saw it for a few seconds, so we are not sure if she was able to read all of it. I thought fast and explained that it was something for my upcoming conference at the Dolphin in WDW. (I just got back yesterday) I even called her from WDW to ask her what kind of pin she wanted me to bring to her.
Everyone will stay at my house the night before the trip, so the cover for their visit will be that we are visiting Six Flags over Georgia the next day. We just told them this on Wednesday and they are pretty excited about that.
The Big Reveal:
In order to really throw my snooping little niece off the trail, and since we do not know how much of the invite from Tinkerbell she saw, we are going to go ahead and give them the certificate the night before our trip to “Six Flags” only it will be dated for JULY 4, 2007. Yep, the night before we leave for WDW we are going to reveal that in one month we will all be going to WDW!!!!!!! That should really seal the deal on the size of the next day’s surprise!
When we wake them up at 5:30am the next morning my sister is going to state that she would like to go to WDW today, not Six Flags. I am going to say that I would not mind going either, but it is such a long drive!!! This should catch the kid’s attention, so at that point I will ask them if they want to travel 30 minutes to Six Flags, or 8 hours to WDW. If they pick WDW, we head for the airport, but they will not know that. If they pick Six Flags (really can’t imagine they would, but hey!), then we still head to the airport.
The Big Reveal 2:
Jordan as flown many times and we always go to the same park and ride. (My job is about 70% travel so I will be using my frequent parker points, free is good!) I expect that he will be somewhat instrumental in cluing his cousin in on what will come next.
The Big Reveal 3:
My sister thinks we are taking DME from airport to POR. I have arranged for an SUV from Quicksilver to take us to POR. I can’t wait to see the looks on all of their faces as we ride down the escalator and see our driver holding a sign with both families’ last names on them!!!
The final Big Reveal:
Anna Claire has a 3pm appointment at BBB then we are off to dinner with Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare. Jordan will be making his own light saber during Anna Claire’s appointment.
The Plans:
Atlanta is only a one hour flight from Orlando, the fact that between us we had enough miles to cover all the tickets made the decision for us.
June 4, 2007
BBB Appointment
ADR at 1900 Park Fare
June 5, 2007
Magic Kingdom
ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern
June 6, 2007
Blizzard Beach
ADR at Cape May Café
June 7, 2007
Magic Kingdom
ADR at Crystal Palace
June 8, 2007
Head for home
Well we are now 15 days out. I have a lot of packing and planning left to do. I am addicted to planning, so of course my Passporter is my best friend. I can’t wait to get back and start my first trip report.
__________________
Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down, in the most delightful way!
Last edited by Mary_Poppins; 05-26-2007 at 11:02 PM..
Reason: updated
Great plans, hope you have a wonderful trip. Be sure you watch their faces when you tell them. I will never forget my son's surprise when I told him we were going to DW instead of North Carolina (I told him in the airport just before we checked the flight board).
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Sounds like great plans!!! Can't wait to hear how the surprise goes, it's a great idea!!
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Tanya
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I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world.
__________________
Heather - "I'm Tinkerbell's biggest fan!"
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I hope you have a great time, and the big reveal goes well 
]
Wow!! How do you do it?!?!?! I get sooo excited, that I just can't keep the secret! 
Have a magical time! 
Suzie
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