disney cruise surprise

We waited until the weekend before last to tell Hannah we were going on a Disney cruise. This trip has been planned for a while, but we kept it a secret (which was fun and hard at the same time!) until it was close to time to set sail. My mom gave us some money to go towards a family trip for Christmas last year, so between that and the celebration of Hannah's 5th birthday, I knew what I wanted to do. {Joe wasn't exactly on board at first, but he's getting excited.} You could say a Disney cruise was in my sights since before Hannah's 4th "Fancy Nancy" soiree last September.

I really wanted to make a big deal out of telling her we were going. This is a big deal after all. We got a couple gifts and my mom got a couple little gifts and we (on the plane home from Texas) planned a scavenger hunt. Joe is really good at writing poems and clues, as he's done this to make me search for my present a time or two, so I tasked him with the clue-writing/present-matching. He did not disappoint. 

This is how it went… 

She waited in Joseph's room while I put the clues in place, then Joe gave her a Minnie luggage tag and read the clue on the back:

You're going on a trip and princesses are there,
You'll meet one now on Mollie's chair.

Off to the living room to find the next clue on "Mollie's chair" - a present, too!

We are slowly collecting Disney movies. She was given "Tiana" on her last birthday, and has Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Mermaid (as far as the princesses go). You could say she was excited about this addition:

Now to the jeep to get ready for some fun,

you'll need some accessories for time in the sun.

Your clubhouse is calling so you will look cool.

It's something to wear while in the pool.

In your kitchen you learn how to cook, clean, and bake.

At the table you use these to season with a shake.

…Beauty and the Beast magnetic (and very fragile) salt-and-paper shakers from Meme.

When night comes, quiet means not making a peep.

You might wake the princesses when going to sleep.

Very excited about this one, too…

Head out to Mommy's car for your next little clue.

You and Josey will need these for whatever we do.

Princess and Mickey lanyards (also from Meme).

Love the face as Daddy read the next clue:

Now to the front door, for a gift awaits you there.

When you meet this Beauty, tis something to wear.

My favorite picture of all:

We talked about the things she found on her scavenger hunt and how she would need things like a bathing suit and flip flops, a nightgown, and a Belle costume on her trip. Then we told her we were going on a Disney cruise. She was speechless, actually. Amazed and excited, but also unsure. {What is a cruise, after all?} But she donned her Belle dress immediately and I put in the cruise DVD, and it was. all. over.

We haven't stopped hearing about it since…the same can probably be said for her teachers and friends. She said to me while tucking her in one night soon after she found out, "Why can't we go on our cruise noooooww???" To which I replied, "Because it's not time…It's only two weeks away. You know, Momma and Daddy have known for a long time. We waited to tell you until it got closer to time…" To which she replied, "Then why didn't you just wait until the day before we left?" Love how my child thinks sometimes. But she has been so cute talking about the cruise and planning what she's going to say when she meets Belle (her fav). And all she's going to do…and all her brother is going to do. And so on. 

So we are packing up and so excited to get on the boat. Meet Mickey and Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy, Belle and Tiana, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, and so on. To play in the pools (and on the beach) and go down the slides. To watch the shows and see the fireworks… I think I'm even more excited than the kids. I cannot wait to see their faces!