Life happens on a random Tuesday

You know that lyric in the song “Wear Sunscreen” about life being made up of the surprises that blindside you on a random Tuesday?

This Tuesday was exactly one of those but in a very good way. I am beyond excited and honored to have been invited to the Disney Social Media Moms conference taking place in Disneyland in California this spring. The invite took me by absolute surprise and took about 36 hours for the shock and awe to subside back to normal functioning levels.

I was so giddy and so happy that I was terrified we were going to slip up and spoil the surprise for our girls. I wanted to control the announcement and share our happy news with them on our terms. After a chat, Tim and I came up with what turned out to be the most perfect plan for how to reveal a surprise trip to Disney.

All you need to pull our little stunt off for your own family’s next vacation is:

1. a video (see options below!)
2. a bucket of popcorn
3. a slight tweak to our script depending on your circumstances.

Easy and by far the best Disney reveal we’ve ever done!

P.S. How awesome is that Tilt Shift video of Disneyland? You can find the video on YouTube here. They also have a California Adventure one that is great.

How to Reveal a Surprise Trip to Disney

When Tim walked through the door after work, we announced that we were having a random Family Movie/Popcorn for Dinner Night. We set the girls up on the couch and told them it was Parents’ Choice for the flick. They closed their eyes while we queued up “Disneyland Resort: Behind the Scenes.”

Free with Amazon Prime:

• Disneyland Resort
• Walt Disney World

Small rental fee on iTunes:

• Disneyland Resort
• Walt Disney World

Our girls gasped at the opening scenes of the park and then oohed over all the shots of fun rides.

The Peanut asked, “Can we go there sometime??”

Tim replied, “Well, it is pretty far away. We’d have to fly.”

Kids: Groans of disappointment.

Tim: “If only we had a good reason to go!”

Me: “Well, you know, the Disney Social Media Moms Conference IS being hosted there this year.”

Kids: Hopeful looks at mom.

Me: “But, you have to be invited.”

Kids: Disappointed sighs, turns back to the screen.

Tim: “Have you been invited? Maybe you should check your email to see?”

Me: “No way, I can’t believe they would have picked me, but I guess I could check.”

The Peanut somewhat curiously watches me check my messages on my iPhone.

Me: “Guys, No Way. You won’t believe this.” {Hands phone to the Peanut to read out loud.}

The Peanut: “You’ve been invited to the most magical . . .  MOM!!! You GOT INVITED!!!”

Excited gasps from everyone, they turn to Tim: “DAD, Can we go???”

Tim: BIG Fat Pause as he considers. “YES! We’re going to Disneyland!!!”

Little Pea, 3 years old, squeezes me tight and joyfully squeals: “I’m So Proud of you!!!”

Big hugs on mom from all around.

Mommy melts into a puddle of happiness.

The End.