Hiya David,
I am thrilled you stopped by planDisney with this question. I remember the look on my boys' faces when we would surprise them with the news of an upcoming
Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Be sure to have the video camera ready as it will be a memory you will treasure forever!
At this time, Walt Disney World does not have any welcome videos, packets or letters that they are providing. While I know that may not be what you wanted to hear, I can still pass along a number of great options that I think will make your announcement even more magical. First, if you are a little tech savvy, you could make your own video. There are a number of wonderful Walt Disney World videos and photos available on the
Walt Disney World Resort website as well as the
Disney Parks Blog. It will not necessarily be Mickey Mouse himself welcoming your prince, but it would give you the chance to include the
Disney Resorts Collection hotel you are staying at, photos of his favorite Disney pals he will see and some of the attractions you know he will love.
Another option would be to search the internet for various welcome ideas or kits. There are some really creative Disney Guests out there who have created tons of coloring pages, calendars, puzzles, surprise letters and more. While some of these may have a small fee associated with their use, there are some really inexpensive and adorable options to select from. Lastly, and the one we often went with, you could make your own surprise right at home. One of our favorites was to put together a scavenger hunt of clues. We made sure the clues were geared towards the boys' ages and what they could figure out and often incorporated some nearby family or friends to join in on the hunt. Sometimes the game would end with a big banner or sign announcing our trip. Other times a box would be waiting, filled with autograph books, Disney t-shirts, entertainment for the airplane and perhaps a small Disney gift card, and once we even had a Mickey Mouse "helper" (courtesy of a local costume rental store) waiting to make the announcement.
I hope some of these ideas help you create the most magical surprise. One bonus tip, if this is your son's first trip, make sure you stop by the front desk at your resort and pick up his "My First Visit" button. You can also ask the Cast Member if Mickey has recently signed any welcome photos and if one can be left for him in your room. If I can help with any additional planning questions, please stop by and
see me.
Hope to see ya real soon,
Margaret