Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM Some of you know that I'm taking my whole "fam damily" to DL this summer. I have been sending Disney surprise presents to my nieces and nephew each month since February of 2006 to keep them excited, and to keep them all driving their parents (my sisters) nuts. Well, I wanted the last present that I'm sending in August to be $50 Disney Dollars for each of them. Problem was...I don't have a Disney store nearby, and I really didn't like the gift card idea. A friend of DH lives by a Disney store, but he kept "spacing off" going to the store for me, and since I've been asking him since last July...well, I think my chances of getting Disney Dollars are slim. So, I was tryin' to think of how to give them money for the trip, but it had to be fun, and connected with DL in some way. Viola! All of a sudden I about fell off the sofa. Here's what I did. I went and picked up wooden pirate chests at the craft store, stained and painted them to look really old and gnarly, made a loot bag out of purple velvet that is tied with a gold cord (DH got this idea from a Crown Royal bag), and filled each bag with 50 gold dollar coins so it looks like gold dabloons (sp). I put that in the chest, along with a pirate eye patch, some grody looking fake pirate teeth, and an old looking pirate map rolled up and tied. On the pirate map, I printed the pirate oath from the first movie on it. The pirate chests only cost $2.99, and they turned out really cute. Well, I gotta get back to patting myself on the back..........
Originally Posted By mickeynewe How awesome is that and YOU? OMGosh, lucky little nephews. *joins in on the pat on the back*
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM threeundertwo...that's a deal, DD now charges 5 Disney Dollars for a back scratching. And yes, depending on how well you scratch backs, I may consider adopting you. Hey, Mickeynewe...where the heck you been? Wonderingalice has been quiet lately, too. The craft store had nice, big pirate chests, too. DH said I should get those and fill them with bottles of rum for the sis' and their husbands. Pretty clever, that guy o' mine, but we'd drink up all the rum while we were painting and decorating the chests...not much fun getting an empty chest. However, I could put the empties in the chest, and make up a new pirate map, leading them to the nearest liquor store. Oh, I think I'm on to something...........
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb That was BRILLIANT! And how fun for the kids. Do you think they can hold off on spending their pirate's booty until the Disney trip? Or worse yet, will you be able to get them to part with it when they get there?
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM Well, Deb, I'm not giving them the pirate chests until the night before we leave, so there won't be any chance of them spending it until they get to the park. As far as them parting with the money...I guess that depends on how badly they want something. I'm going to guess that their folks won't be handing over the dough knowing their kid is packing $50 of their own money! I guess that remains to be seen......
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Doh! You DID say they weren't getting them until right before the trip. I was so enthralled with the rest of your message I forgot about the first part, lol. I can see the kids now, "pirate booty/Mickey icecream, pirate booty/Mickey icecream"
Originally Posted By CindyH Cute idea! I cut and paste pics of various disney rides, characters and scenery into my own "disney dollars" that I added "Good for 1 Disney Dollar".
Originally Posted By nevadarebel what great ideas, thank you for sharing!!! I am not creative in the least little bit so I love hearing of ideas that I can "borrow".
Originally Posted By ncnike7 That's the cutest idea ever! How many neices and nephews do you have? That is way more creative than a gift card!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Oh my gosh, you do deserve lots of pats on the back. I LOVE to get a theme and run with it!
Originally Posted By BoyStory What a clever idea, Mollysmom! What a great aunt you are! I think I'm going to borrow the idea for our Nov trip with our 5 boys. Of course, thar be no gold in THEIR pirate chests (LOL!) but perhaps a few trinkets from the village market (AKA: the $ store);-P.
Originally Posted By 4Disnee That is so cool. You are such a wonderful Aunt! Thank you so much for sharing its such a great and fun idea. They are going to have a blast!
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM ncniken...I have 1 nephew (11), and 3 nieces (17, 14, 10) that are going. The only one that knows about the trip is the 17 year old. She's seen all the goodie boxes I've been sending down, but the other kids won't get their things until the night before they go. My parents and my sisters' families have decided to drive down instead of fly, so I have also boxed up a few other things for the kids. I thought that it might be fun to decorate their van, so I got together a box containing Mickey Mouse fuzzy dice, Disney window clings, a Tinkerbell air freshener, and several Disney character bobble heads for the dash. I thought the kids would enjoy vandalizing...I mean decorating...the van before they take off. I also got a hold of the hotel (CCI), and asked if I could send something down that they could make sure the kids got when they checked in. They said ok, so I got Mickey and Minnie stuffed animals that I will send down for them, and they will get them upon arrival. After that, they're on their own...no more presents from me...I'm buying everything for ME...and DD of course.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe Can I start calling you "Aunt" Mollysmom and go on vacation too? *cheeky grin*
Originally Posted By mickeynewe Hands over a pair of mickey ears for wonderingalice and chants, "Auntie! Auntie!"
