Surprise or Anticipation for the kids???

We surprised our girls last year, we actually didn't tell them where we were going until the morning we were to arrive to our Disney resort. Our girls are anything but patient, I knew the anticipation would be too much for them and it worked out really well springing the news the day of, even though the waiting just about killed dh and me (no suprise where our kids get it from! Lol). For our trip next year we're thinking of surprising them again, there's just something about telling them and then being able to be there right after that makes it that more special, IMO.
 
sahm2two said:
I have lots of time to decide, but I thought I'd get some thoughts. We're planning a trip for a year and 1/2 from now (I know... a long way out!), we have 3 girls (5, 5, and 6). They'll be 6, 7, and 8 by the time of our trip. I think it'd be fun to surprise the girls and not tell them where we're going- just let them figure it out and watch the look on their faces! We went 3 years ago, but they were so little they don't remember and would be SO excited to go back!

So, which is better? Building the anticipation with themed movie nights, giving gift certificates for park shopping for Christmas/birthdays and things like that? Or having it be a total surprise and driving onto the property/videoing their response.

Anyone done it both ways?
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We've done both. I'm 18 now, so here's an idea from a kid's perspective ;)
When I was 12, my parents booked a trip a year in advance, but didn't tell me or my 7 year old brother. Instead, on Christmas morning, they gave us a big box. They told us to open it together, and inside for each of us were Disney T-Shirts, mickey ears, sunglasses, some toiletries, and we each got a Disney Gift card. That was my parents' way of surprising us. I wouldn't wait til last minute to tell them. But since you're booking it a year and a half from now, maybe this December you could try this as a holiday gift! Good luck!
 
Not WDW, but we are going to Aulani in June and I told my kids a long time ago. They are young, 3 and 4.5, and they LOVE "watching Aulani" on You Tube. My 3 year old especially seems to love the planning as much as I do. Now, they don't know the day to day plans, but they talk about "this summer when we go to Hawaii" quite a bit. My 3 year old sees a lot of trees and says "Look- there's Hawaii!" all the time. It is pretty cute!
 
What did you decide? I keep wavering!! DD was just in a production of the Little Mermaid and my step-daughter was Belle in Beauty and the Beast. It was all I could do not to jump up and shout it out. It's been torture :)
 
We love watching all the videos, doing the countdowns and making all the reservations but I would just LOVE to suprise my girls. I don't think I could keep it quiet though.
 
mandis77 said:
We love watching all the videos, doing the countdowns and making all the reservations but I would just LOVE to suprise my girls. I don't think I could keep it quiet though.
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We're in the "home stretch" of surprising our kids! Kept it "hushy" since autumn 2014... No clue how we managed THAT, but... Can't wait for our "reveal", just days away!
 


My kids so enjoyed the anticipation. I'd love to surprise them to see their reaction, but I also don't want to deprive them of the fun of knowing they are going. We made a big deal of the "announcement" last time and will do something similar this time so they have the fun of the surprise combined with the fun of the countdown.
 
We were originally going to have our February trip be a Christmas gift for our kids. But we've since decided to drive to Anaheim (from Calgary, AB), and thought we'd surprise them instead. Tell them we're going on a road trip (which we are) to Vegas and the Grand Canyon (which we are... making a stop in both those places). Then when they think we're leaving Vegas to go home, we'll drive the 4 hours to DL instead. Our 13 year old son will figure it out, I think, when we keep going South (he's really good at directions), but I'm not sure what my 3 (will be 4 then) year old will do. I'm SO excited for this surprise. It's so hard not to talk about it, especially in front of my 13 year old who's Disney obsessed, but I think (hope!) it will be worth it!
 
We have done it both ways. Our last trip we packed the car while they were at school. We told them we were going out to dinner (which we do often) lucky for us they both fell asleep on the way to the airport. When we got to the airport we snuck out of the car unloaded the car curbside, my Mom was with us to drive the car home she got into the drivers seat. Then we woke them up and said were here!!! "at dinner" no the airport, "the airport?" yes were going to Disney Wold, They both had a blank look on their faces. It took a little bit for it to sink in, then they both screamed. It was priceless. This trip were going to wrap the Magic Bands and have them both open them. We want them to have time to be excited for this trip. They are both tall enough to go on most of the rides. so we want them to have time to plan their attack.
 
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