***Official Surprise Trips Thread and Planning Tips!***

[DisneySarah80]

Here are some of the items we are putting in our girls surprise boxes!!!! We are leaving on 10/23!

 

[DisMomAmy]

DisneySarah80 - Those are fantastic!! Did you make all of those tickets/coupons?

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Here are some of the items we are putting in our girls surprise boxes!!!! We are leaving on 10/23!

Those are really cute!

Have a great vacation!

 

[FirstTripEver]

Well, today was the DAY for the BIG REVEAL with my daughters!

And it was amazing!

After weeks of planning a Christmas trip, we decided to finally spill the beans today.

How did we do it??! We let the girls find out with a secret message that they discovered while they were carving their pumpkins!

It worked perfectly. And yes, I posted the whole thing on youtube so feel free to share their excitement! Let me know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tWHm-7CeD4&feature=youtube_gdata

 

[blu]

We surprised DD 6 and DS 2, almost 3 in 2009. We picked them up from school and told them we were going to visit their aunt. The hotel that night was horrible and DD confided to me that it was the worst night of her life. Although a bit dramatic it was still crushing since I was planning this surprise for over 6 months. It got much better the next day when we visited with her aunt and gave her a button that said "I'm going to Disneyworld" DS's reaction is priceless. His button said "me to" but that isnt what he thought. That alone is worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-4A3QboraA


we are going again soon and will again pull them from school but this time it will be middle of the week. We still dont know how or when we are going to tell them because a) we have an 8 hour drive and dont want to hear it the whole way and b) we are camping and dont want to wait until the last minute and have them all geared when we get there to set up at 8pm and immediately tell them it is bed time.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Bump!

 

[brookmey]

We've never been able to surprise the kids with a trip because I haven't been able to keep the secret!

But, this time we're really going to try.

We've been back from Disney for about a week and had a great time. It's the first time we've ever been in the fall and LOVED the lack of crowds (except for MNSSHP, but that's a whole other issue!) so much we've decided to go back next year in September. We do have a trip planned in June 2013, which the kids know about, so this is the perfect time to surprise them.

While we were there, the kids were very interested in the pressed pennies. We let them get a couple with their spare change, but that was all.

So, we bought a pressed pennies book for each of them and will put them in their Easter baskets, along with a "challenge" to hunt down and find as many pressed pennies machines as they can on their next trip to Disney World in September. We want to give them a chance to save their b-day money and spare change for Disney, which is why we will give them a little bit of notice. We haven't worked out all the details completely, but this is the gist of it.

 

[Mamapapa]

We surprised DS7 in August by giving him a t-shirt with the image below on it to put on once he got out of the shower. He totally thought we were full of it and didn't believe it! Once we arrived at MCO, he remembered where we were from the last trip and finally got excited!!!

 

[themilesfamily]

We started a tradition with my DD where each year a different character "invites" her to Disney World.

The first year we put out a treasure chest with pixie dust (glitter) all over it. We put in new Disney princess luggage, all packed, and a carry-on bag filled with activities to do on the plane. We woke her up and told her we'd found this treasure chest and a note to her from Tinker Bell inviting her to Disney World. There's a pic of it in my October trip report below.

The next year we put a Mickey balloon, Mickey doll and Mickey goodies in my husband's car. So Mickey had invited her.

Last year we left a note to her in the house where she would find it, addressed to her from Daisy Duck, telling her she was going to Disney.

It's always exciting for us and her. We haven't decided what the plan is for this year. I'm thinking of putting a trail of silver Hershey's kisses from the front door to a Disney doll holding a note. I can't wait!

 

[DisneySarah80]

DisneySarah80 - Those are fantastic!! Did you make all of those tickets/coupons?

They were made by the talented people over at the DISign board. LOVE that place!!!

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Bump!

 

[DisneySarah80]

One week from this morning, we will be surprising our girls - Can't wait!!!! I plan on recording it, so if I have the time, I'll post it on here!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Here are some more details about our surprise. After going back & forth, we’ve decided to have the big reveal on Saturday morning, 11/5, just before we are due to leave for the airport. It will start out with a scavenger hunt, which will lead them to a box. I’ll probably have the box hiding amongst the luggage in the living room ready to go. The box will have balloons & goody bags for each of the boys.

I cut & pasted the scavenger hunt clues onto these cards:

These are the clues (we’ll hand them the first one):
Mom & Dad are celebrating their anniversary
And have invited you to go along!
But they haven’t told you the whole story
They’ve had a secret for oh so long!
Clues will lead you to something good.
Look for the next one where you hang up your hood. (Hooks by our door)


This is so much fun! We hope it makes you glad!
Where would Alex keep a shirt that’s plaid? (Alex’s closet)


To find out what we are REALLY doing,
Go to where we keep the supplies for cutting & gluing. (Shelves in our dining room)


You’re doing great! You’re hot on the trail!
Go see the two little creatures who each have a tail. (Gerbils)


When it’s rainy, some people go to the mall,
But you guys go down there to play ball. (Basement playroom)


On his ice cream, Zach likes jimmies,
Go to the place where he shimmies.
(Doorway in our dining room - Zach likes to climb like a monkey!)


We can put food here to keep it from getting old,
It also keeps popsicles & ice cream cold. (Freezer)


We do it every morning, we do it every night,
This is where mom & dad brush their teeth to keep them white. (Bathroom)


You’re almost done, just one more clue,
Look by the suitcases, red & blue
To find out what surprise we have for you! (Living room)


You know it’s a trip but it’s not North Carolina!
Maybe it’s Mexico, Canada, Germany or China?
We’re going away but you don’t know where…
It’s a place where magic & happiness fill the air,
Make sure you have packed your crocs,
You’ll find out why inside the box!


Here are the goody bags:

Zach’s stuff:

(That is his lanyard in the plastic bag, there are also some new pins for trading that I got from ebay.)

Alex’s goody bag:

I am so excited to share the exciting news with the boys! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures & video. Now I just have to figure out how to post videos...

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

On one of Our October trips we told The kids we were going to pick them up from school and take them out to lunch. We had the van packed and we went to school. In their seats we put there favorite Disney stuffed character in their seats with a sign that said see you tomorrow. Boy were they excited, and the next thing that came out of their mouths was, are we still going to McDonalds?

 

[DisneySarah80]

4 more sleeps till the big surprise, and then off to Disney!!! Everything is purchased, I just have to get the balloons the night before - We are going to put them in the boxes, and they will pop out when the girls open them up - Can't wait!!

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Bump!

 

[jiminyfan]

We had planned surprise trip for our son in november. We had it all planned out, he would come home from school that day get an enveloped that had certificates for
LAVA cakes at the Ireland booth for F&W. All was going great, he had no clue, but then the school decided to give him the legal excuse paper to bring home to us, even though it had a big note on it not to do it as the trip was a surprise.

Needless to say we were not too happy with the school and the procedures.

They called to apologize, but like I told them too late. I asked them if they would mind me going over to their house and tell each of their children all of their Christmas gifts were and allowed them to open them without them being there to see their face and experience their joy.

Only then did they realize how important this was to us.

Oh well, we still get to go and have fun. but, we all missed out on a great family moment.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Here are some more details about our surprise. After going back & forth, we’ve decided to have the big reveal on Saturday morning, 11/5, just before we are due to leave for the airport. It will start out with a scavenger hunt, which will lead them to a box. I’ll probably have the box hiding amongst the luggage in the living room ready to go. The box will have balloons & goody bags for each of the boys.

I cut & pasted the scavenger hunt clues onto these cards:

These are the clues (we’ll hand them the first one):
Mom & Dad are celebrating their anniversary
And have invited you to go along!
But they haven’t told you the whole story
They’ve had a secret for oh so long!
Clues will lead you to something good.
Look for the next one where you hang up your hood. (Hooks by our door)


This is so much fun! We hope it makes you glad!
Where would Alex keep a shirt that’s plaid? (Alex’s closet)


To find out what we are REALLY doing,
Go to where we keep the supplies for cutting & gluing. (Shelves in our dining room)


You’re doing great! You’re hot on the trail!
Go see the two little creatures who each have a tail. (Gerbils)


When it’s rainy, some people go to the mall,
But you guys go down there to play ball. (Basement playroom)


On his ice cream, Zach likes jimmies,
Go to the place where he shimmies.
(Doorway in our dining room - Zach likes to climb like a monkey!)


We can put food here to keep it from getting old,
It also keeps popsicles & ice cream cold. (Freezer)


We do it every morning, we do it every night,
This is where mom & dad brush their teeth to keep them white. (Bathroom)


You’re almost done, just one more clue,
Look by the suitcases, red & blue
To find out what surprise we have for you! (Living room)


You know it’s a trip but it’s not North Carolina!
Maybe it’s Mexico, Canada, Germany or China?
We’re going away but you don’t know where…
It’s a place where magic & happiness fill the air,
Make sure you have packed your crocs,
You’ll find out why inside the box!


Here are the goody bags:

Zach’s stuff:

(That is his lanyard in the plastic bag, there are also some new pins for trading that I got from ebay.)

Alex’s goody bag:

I am so excited to share the exciting news with the boys! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures & video. Now I just have to figure out how to post videos...

I like it!

We had planned surprise trip for our son in november. We had it all planned out, he would come home from school that day get an enveloped that had certificates for
LAVA cakes at the Ireland booth for F&W. All was going great, he had no clue, but then the school decided to give him the legal excuse paper to bring home to us, even though it had a big note on it not to do it as the trip was a surprise.

Needless to say we were not too happy with the school and the procedures.

They called to apologize, but like I told them too late. I asked them if they would mind me going over to their house and tell each of their children all of their Christmas gifts were and allowed them to open them without them being there to see their face and experience their joy.

Only then did they realize how important this was to us.

Oh well, we still get to go and have fun. but, we all missed out on a great family moment.

Oh...BUMMER!!!! That's really not cool...

 

[hops&dreams]

jiminyfan
Daddy, Dreamer and WDWnut




Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Palmyra, PA,USA
Posts: 977

surprised ruin by the school - UGH

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We had planned surprise trip for our son in november. We had it all planned out, he would come home from school that day get an enveloped that had certificates for
LAVA cakes at the Ireland booth for F&W. All was going great, he had no clue, but then the school decided to give him the legal excuse paper to bring home to us, even though it had a big note on it not to do it as the trip was a surprise.

Needless to say we were not too happy with the school and the procedures.

They called to apologize, but like I told them too late. I asked them if they would mind me going over to their house and tell each of their children all of their Christmas gifts were and allowed them to open them without them being there to see their face and experience their joy.

Only then did they realize how important this was to us.

Oh well, we still get to go and have fun. but, we all missed out on a great family moment.
__________________
This makes me not want to tell DD's school (she's in 2nd grade). We will be taking her out for 6 days in Feb 2012, and we told her teacher at parent teacher conferences earlier this year. Her teacher said "do it! What are they going to do, hold her back?" (she's one of the highest scoring students in her grade in the entire school district.) Her teacher will be on maternity leave at that time, but she was already crying about the surprise. She's so excited for us!

We are planning on telling DD that we have to go pick DH up from the airport (we think he'll be on a business trip leading up to our vacation. He'll be driving from Tampa to MCO to drop off his rental and take ME to WL with us!). He will call DD and say he doesn't want to leave Florida yet, and we should just come there.

If DH is NOT on a business trip leading up to vacation... we don't know how we'll tell her. But it WILL be a surprise. It's hard to not tell her friends or other family members (my mom, DH's uncle) who will surely let the surprise slip!

 

[DisMomAmy]

We had planned surprise trip for our son in november. We had it all planned out, he would come home from school that day get an enveloped that had certificates for
LAVA cakes at the Ireland booth for F&W. All was going great, he had no clue, but then the school decided to give him the legal excuse paper to bring home to us, even though it had a big note on it not to do it as the trip was a surprise.

Needless to say we were not too happy with the school and the procedures.

They called to apologize, but like I told them too late. I asked them if they would mind me going over to their house and tell each of their children all of their Christmas gifts were and allowed them to open them without them being there to see their face and experience their joy.

Only then did they realize how important this was to us.

Oh well, we still get to go and have fun. but, we all missed out on a great family moment.

What a huge disappointment!