This is becoming fun! OK, quick update, I am all in on option #2 now. I also decided to bring in a special helper, despite the risk it carries that she will blow the surprise.
My ds7 is horrendous at keeping secrets…no way he can know about this, the cat will be out of the bag in no time. my dd8 on the other hand can be better at this and loves to be the big helper and be involved in planning things. So this morning I took advantage of some alone time with her and asked if she could 1) keep the biggest secret I have entrusted her with; and 2) be part of planning something special for Mom’s bday.
She jumped all over this and her face lit up with excitement. She is all in, and I think she’s old enough to know how special keeping this a secret is, not just from her Mom, but from her brother as well.
So the two of us and involved in operation bday surprise and she loves the idea. I am letting her make a couple of the decisions and making her feel part of this as well, whcih will even add to the joy for my dw I believe.
Plan so far:
Sunday: Arrival day, still may go Minnie Van, but in the air. ME is already booked, may just roll with it. But, on arrival day I am going to have my daughter get her Mom a Birthday button at check in and we will reveal a special birthday autograph board we will have signed during the week and hunt a frame while we are there for it.
Monday: DD is going to help me pick out matching shirts for dw’s bday and we are going to pack them in secret. Only when she wakes up that morning will she know we have the shirts.
Tuesday: 1900 Park Far day, which is my DD’s choice. Looking for something special to add on to the dinner for my dw (1900 Park Fare Dinner - Any special adds on's available here?).
Wednesday: Fantasmic Dinner Package - Already planned, but this was my dw’s pick as she wanted to see the show again. Fit’s in well with what we are doing.
Thursday: Afternoon pool cabana rental at Contemporary (may still do GF as well, but doing Epcot in the am and staying at Bay Lake. For convenience of being right there, I think we will say at Contemporary for this. An area I got my dd involved with, let her pick the morning session the day we have dinner at 1900 Park Fare (rest day) or the rest afternoon and evening we have planned. After some thought, I loved her answer: hmmm…I think Mom would really enjoy the evening at the pool. Love having her a part of this.
Friday: Kitchen Sink at B&C - She knows about B&C, but we were not planning on Kitchen Sink…until NOW. This will be fun for the whole family.
Saturday: The highlight of the plan, Tomorrowland Terrace Desert Party. Thought about keeping this a secret from even my dd, but she lit up when we read the description together. My wife loves HEA and this is sure to be a great way to spend out last night.
Sunday: Departure day, thinking this will just be a good day to let her buy something special that she normally would not do. Going to keep an eye out during the week on things she lingers on or talks about, but doesn’t get.
Extra: Just keeping my eyes open for anything that will add a little extra magic to the birthday celebration. Ideas like the pick a pearl and others may fit nicely into these extras. Ideas still welcome. It is starting to come together, just need to get reservations made and execute the plan.