A Surprise Disney Cruise

“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” -Dalai Lama

We like to celebrate the small things in our home. It’s our way of making the ordinary seem exciting and to make sure we are living each day to the fullest. Which means we celebrate things like half birthday’s. It was something my husband starting when we were just dating and it just kind of stuck.

This year the hubby is turning the BIG 4-0! So I knew I needed to plan something pretty epic, but what could I do when: 1) he would probably be expecting something and 2) we have two small children? I knew my options would be somewhat limited since we don’t do too many things without them. I also knew trying to throw him a surprise birthday party was out of the question. I tried to do that for his 30th birthday and he ended up proposing to me at the party. He claims I am terrible at keeping secrets, which I guess is not such a bad thing, but hard when it comes to trying to plan a surprise party.

So what do you do when you can’t plan a surprise party, you have two young kids but your husband is turning 40? You be as sneaky as possible and book a surprise Disney Cruise to Alaska and plan to tell him on his half birthday when he would be least expecting it. So that it exactly what I did. I booked a 7-night Alaskan cruise for our family (and even some of our extended family has decided to go as well to add to the party). The excitement was killing me, but I was determined to keep it a secret until the big reveal.

The day finally came and I planned it all out. We were to go on a big scavenger hunt that began at home getting dressed in our finest Mickey gear and heading to Downtown Disney. The first clue into our surprise Disney vacation.

The first stop at Downtown Disney was to Trader Sam’s; a cute pirate/tiki themed bar that comes to life with sinking ships and volcano eruptions. A clue that our adventure might include a ship.

Then we made stops at Haagen Das for ICE cream (get it, because Alaska is going to have ice) and even a stop at the Disney Vacation Club booth (to dream about all our future adventures).

Finally we ended up at The Grand Californian Hotel where they have a model of one of the cruise lines in their lobby.  I handed him a small ship that said “you are not going to believe this” and on the back it said “we are going on a Disney Cruise.” 

I think it took him a while to let it all sink in, but as we started to look at our ports and talk about the adventures we are going to have he got even more excited. And I felt pretty proud that I was finally able to keep a secret!;) Thanks to everyone that helped me keep this a surprise and even to our good friends who helped me with the scavenger hunt.

And how cute are these suitcases my parents got the kids for the cruise?!? I’m kinda obsessed and want to get the matching set for us big kids!;) I linked the Mickey and Minnie suitcases and the Minnie Mouse Ugg boots in case you love them as much as me!!!

So tell me, have you ever been to Alaska? Would you ever plan a surprise Disney Cruise? This will be our first time and the first really big trip with the kids. Feel free to leave me any and all advice on things to do, port adventures that are a must (with young kids) and anything else you think I should know. I would so appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

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*Affiliate links have been used, but only to make your shopping easier just in case you want to plan a surprise Disney Cruise too!;)