How can I surprise my kids with WDW trip?

[joyfulscrapper]

I'm new to the boards and have tried searching, but came up with nothing. Does anyone have great ideas to surprise my kids with the news that we are going on our first trip to WDW? I don't want to spend much, but would be willing to spend a little. Trying to save more for the trip of course! My kids are 9, 6, and 4. We are going in November of this year and were hoping to tell them sometime in the beginning of October. I love surprises and doing neat things for them. Any neat ideas? in advance for any help you can give me!!!

 

[mytwinklestar]

You could ask someone to send you a postcard from Disney - a fairygodmailer - announcing your upcoming trip. If I were going before you, I would do it but I know that fellow Dissers would be more than happy to do this. You could make a big deal over something special coming in the mail today... have the oldest child read the postcard aloud... and with camera capturing their expressions, relish in their surprise! Or you could have some special delivery - be it a cookie bouquet or something similar. I look forward to reading everyone's replies. We surprised our two in July - they thought we were going to TN. It worked out perfectly, as we drove this trip and did a favor by dropping a friend off in Destin, Fl. We kept going east/south. Our oldest child noticed we weren't going our usual path to TN but when he questioned, we played it off by saying that we had to detour in order to bring our friend to Florida. DS (10) was fast asleep when we got close. DD (6) had just woken up and said, "Mom, I thought I saw a Disney bus. Mom, I did! There is another Disney bus!" DS popped straight up and the two of them burst into cheer and laughter. It was GREAT! Best of luck to you! I am cheering for you!

 

[joyfulscrapper]

I wish I could keep it that long because I'd love to just tell them we were visiting someone (which we'll probably do on our way down) and then just arrive there. But since it's their first trip, I'd like them to have the anticipation and the chance to help plan what they'd like to do.

A friend of mine said she did a scavenger hunt with clues around the house finally leading them to the TV where they pushed play on the DVD player and the Disney vacation planning DVD started playing. I thought that was good, but wondering if my 2 younger ones would get what we were trying to say.

I like the postcard idea! I have friends going at the end of Oct. but again, don't want to wait that long if I can help it. It's been hard to plan and talk to my husband about it without them around!

I was thinking about buying something like autograph books or t-shirts that they could bring on the trip and say something about needing them on our next vacation. I keep wanting to check out the local Disney store to see what they have that might help.

I found out about Disney Enchanted calls and was hoping I could have Mickey call and announce our trip, but the best I could find was a call from him saying we're leaving that day on a special trip.

I'm really liking the postcard idea, but waiting to hear if anyone else has other ideas as well. I might even combine a couple of ideas I love...

Thanks again for the help! I hope more people put in their 2 cents worth!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I like the scavenger hunt idea. We did that one year. It was sooo fun!! But we did it 2 weeks out and when they realized they had to wait, they were kinda stunned. We usually wake them up that day and tell them or the day before.

If it's their first trip I would think the scavenger hunt would be perfect. I just saw one of those cards that you open and they play the Mickey Mouse song!! It's orange and has a little boy and girl on the front with M.M. ears on!! That would be cute for the last clue. I think I saw it at Wal-Greens or Wal- Mart. It was begging me to buy it for my next surprise trip in January!!!

 

[Happyathome]

I just finished printing off our scavenger hunt clues! We're going back in January, and our kids ask almost daily when we can go back (the last time was 3 years ago) I had thought about surprising them that day, but I'm like the OP, I want them to have the anticipation, too. So, we're telling them in a few weeks, and the rest of the time before we leave will be family planning, re-living our last rip, etc. I'm so excited!!

Anyhoo...I'm planning on the scavenger hunt. I have 8 envelopes with clues, with the last envelope containing separate "airline tickets" for each that I printed off from the Creative DISigns board. They're so cute, and have each kids name on them (as well as mom and dad and grandpa & grandma). Also the date we're going, where we're staying, etc. Here's a link to that thread if you want to check them out. Telynn does a great job!!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1949606

After they open the last envelope, I plan on putting some Disney music on, and I have some older Passporters I bought for each, to open. ( I wrapped them in Mickey Mouse Christmas paper, since our trip is their main Christmas present. I just couldn't wait until Christmas to tell them!!) Then I hope to watch Disney movies, go through their passporters with them (the 2007 passporters were only $1 each on their website, so I got one for each kid, even though the 4 year old can't read...he'd still want one to be part of the group!) and just live in the excitement!!

So that's how we're going to try it! Have fun however you decide to tell your kiddos!!!!

 

[sherreis]

We're surprising ours at the airport in 23 days. If we were surprising them now, I would either do a scavenger hunt or t-shirts.

 

[swald91]

How about making them a halloween bag w/ lots of Disney clues!!! We surprised our kids with a trip in Jan by getting them backpacks w/ Disney appliques sewn on. Then inside it had 1 sheet of Disney YOMD paper w/ dates. Our daughter figured it out!!!! They were so excited!! I wish we could've just woke them up & surprised them-but they were in on alot of planning/ideas-etc. Have fun!

 

[badblackpug]

If you really want them to help planning how about "fudging" the dates a little? Tell them you are planning a trip for next summer vacation, and let them help pick out the things they want to do, and then "surprise" them with the trip in November? You said you were going to visit someone, get in the car and go there and while you are there "surprise" them by just driving on to WDW! The llok on there faces when the go under the WDW sign would be priceless!

 

[matosfam]

I wanted to surprise our kids (9,6,5,2) for our first trip (just a few weeks ago) but I still wanted to have them help with planning a bit and get excited about it so here is what we ended up doing:

STEP 1 : The kids receive a postcard "from Mickey" in which he tells them that Tinkerbell was talking to the tooth fairy and she found out that we were coming to visit them in September. Mickey wanted us all to know that he and the gang were getting everything ready for us and couldn't wait to see us soon! When they got that card I just acted all surprised and said I couldn't believe Mickey spilled the beans about our surprise trip! (But they still didn't know the exact dates.)

STEP 2: The kids got to enjoy planning and even a countdown calendar (to the first of September, of course) without the difficulty of sleepless nights from too much excitement. (This is a major problem for our kids!)

STEP 3: On the eve of our trip, I snuck into their rooms and left a small beanie Mickey or Minnie in their beds with them. When I woke them up to get ready to leave I was able to say "What's that?!" and they instantly knew that it was finally the big day!

Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy every moment! We did!

 

[JoanieS]

We are surprising our kids! But, we are not telling them until the night before we leave!

We are doing a scavenger hunt around the house (I made up clues) and the last clue will lead them to a box with custom tshirts, etc and a big sign that says "SURPRISE! We are going to Disney and we are leaving tomorrow"!!!!

I cannot wait!! Only 11 more days!

 

[traci]

Our kids are only 3 and 4 so they have no true concept of time. They know we are going...just not when.

Mickey comes to visit the night before we leave while they are asleep (kinda like Santa)...he leaves little gifts that fit in their backpack. Things for the room and stuff to entertain on the plane. All Disney related. He also leaves our plane tickets. This means it's our turn to go!!

The kids already wake up every morning to see if Mickey has come

I have fun in the meantime looking for little prizes and such.

Have fun!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Our first trip we just drove them to DL. We are 6 hrs away so one day we just all got in the van and left. They had NO idea where we were going, even when we drove down the street past the parks. LOL It was great, we finally gave them travel packet when we got to our room. They were so surprised but very happy.

Last year we did atreasure hunt, I made up clues and they followed them to the buried treasure. Again, our travel packet. They were super excited and it was a lot of fun!

 

[rcymrcym]

We went for our Forever Family Celebration. Last year we did a scavenger hunt too. I had clues hidden all over the neighborhood at the different places we went to as a family since she has come home. The librarian at the city library had one, the bank teller had one, the manager at ChickFilA, hanging on a swing at the park, the minister at church and finally a worker at the Disney Store in the mall. She was very stunned to find out we were going!

I did give her 2 weeks notice so that she could "help plan" and settle into the idea a little bit. She is 10 so it is a little different for her.

Three days before we left she received a post card from a Fairy Godmailer telling her Mickey was looking forward to seeing her. It only helped the magic!

Good luck in whatever you choose!

 

[joyfulscrapper]

Thank you all so much for so many great ideas!!! Now I just need to figure out which one or combo of them I want to do - and soon! I have such a hard time making up my mind...

 

[sherreis]

Let us know what you decide. I love hearing how everyone pulls off their surprise.

 

[~disneydiva~]

youtube has a bunch of videos of parents suprising their kids with disney trips.

 

[joyfulscrapper]

I went to the Disney Store this morning and bought each of them a Mickey tee shirt. I figured that's a start. And they were all only $5 each! Won't find that deal in the parks, I'll bet. Anyway, I'm leaning toward wrapping up the tees along with maybe the printable journals from the other thread that has the link (can't remember where they were) and throwing in other Disney stuff I can find reasonbly priced in the next week or so. We do surprises often, so I'm thinking I'll do the scavenger hunt to drag it out a bit. Otherwise, just opening the gifts is too fast. Of course, now I'll need some scavenger hunt ideas... if anyone has any, I'm listening!

I still love the fairygodmailer idea and will probably still have someone do that to add to the excitement if I can.

And...Does anyone know where you can still get Disney Dollars? They told me at the Disney Store that they are out and there are rumors that they have been discontinued, but nothing official yet. I would love to give them each a few of them rather than a gift card at this point. I'd rather wait for the gift card until the actual trip. I also really want a Disney Dollar for my scrapbook, they are so cute!

I'll let you know for sure when I've got it all together what I'm doing. Can't I just go over and over so I can use all the ideas?! I so wish I could!!!

 

[sherreis]

Great idea about the t-shirts. I guess I'll need to go over to the Disney Store this week and see what they have before I finish making our t-shirts for our trip next month. Thanks.

Sorry about the Disney dollars - I believe there is a way to get them but I don't remember how. Just post the question and I'm sure someone will have the answer. My store had Disney Dollars when we were there a few weeks ago.

I'll be there 10/15-10/21 if you would like someone to send a postcard during that time period. Just PM me with your info.

 

[jtopp]

The first surprise trip we told them on the way to the airport. If only I remembered to videotape the look on thier faces. The second surprise was this past Christmas, with park passes in thier stockings.

 

[island cricket]

i'll be at the world oct 4-12, pm me if you want me to send something, i'll be sure to bring postage with me. we are surprising ours ages 13,12,11 & 10, they think we are going to calif to visit family, they won't know till they figure it out which i'm hoping it won't be till we connect it atl to mco, i figure it'll go..."mom, why are we going to atlanta?" "oh honey, it's just a connection and it was much cheaper to take this route"... hey, no lies will come back to bite me... so they may just shrug it off till we board to ORLANDO....hellloooooo... oh my my my my my...it'll be good! So if we can pull it off when we board in hawaii, we may be safe...I am in stitches!! I can't wait!!