Welcome to planDisney, Jim! I'm so glad to be able to answer your question today. This is such a sweet gift idea, and I've got lots of ideas, so let's jump right in and get started!
The short answer is that standard
Walt Disney World tickets are date-based, so you'll need to choose dates when you actually purchase them. But you can absolutely keep the surprise and still make it feel like a "real" gift now, then pick the dates together later so she's part of the fun and gets the joy of choosing the resort, restaurants, and must-do attractions!
I have some cute reveal ideas that work without locking in dates! Create a "golden ticket" or faux boarding pass that says "Walt Disney World" and tuck it into a card or box with a
Disney Gift Card. You can also put together a planning kit with things like park maps, a planning notebook, a pair of Minnie Mouse ears, or wrap up a
MagicBand+ with a tag that says "Charge me up, your Disney trip is coming!" If she loves to plan, put together a cozy planning date night after the reveal. Get some Mickey-shaped treats, pull up a few resort videos, and pick your top two or three to get the planning ball rolling.
When you're ready to book, choose your resort and dates together, then secure the vacation package to match. If you want to get a step ahead without revealing dates, you can simply budget with Disney Gift Cards now and apply them at checkout later. Until then, the promise is the gift, and planning together is half the magic.
See ya real soon, Jim!
Jessica