Going off the "how to tell the kids" post....

[ShortyNBug]

I've said this 100 times but for those of you who haven't read it yet, I was planning on telling my kids at Christmas about our Oct 2010 trip by giving them savings jars with disney dollars. It is just about 9.5 months too soon so I can't do that. It would be perfect because they always get money for their birthdays (Nov and Dec) that they put with their Christmas money and buy something they really want.

I told my mom it'd be easiest to tell them at the airport because they ask 8 million times if it's time to go to grandma's house if we tell them in the morning we are going to grandma's and we go there a couple times a week so I know they'd drive me mad with,"is it time yet?" since it's a lot bigger deeal.

So, I came up with the perfect how to tell them at the airport strategy but now I'm wondering how I can still give them the jars and disney dollars for Christmas? I really want that to be part of their Christmas presents because i can justify spending a little more than if I was just going to give them to them because. KWIM?

They know we are going sometime but they've heard it for so long I'm sure they never think twice. They ask a lot when we are going and I just tell them, "sometime that would be fun, wouldn't it." Maybe I could just tell them our "sometime" can come sooner if they save their money and help us. They aren't going to have to pay for anything but their own suveniers but they don't need to know that yet. Or is that dumb? Any good ideas? Has anyone had to deal with something similar?

[tjbaggott]

Give them the jars at Christmas and maybe have a sign on the jar that says "Saving for Disney". Have them think that if they start now, then in a year and a half you can all go to Disney. They still get the jar thing that way, but the real trip is still a surprise.

[mrsbornkuntry]

Personally I think my kids would be really disappointed to get a jar to save for a trip for Christmas without even knowing we were going on one. I would give it to them, but not as a suprise or a gift or anything. They would open it thinking they were going then when you repeated "someday" it would be a letdown. JMHO.

[DVC Sadie]

Originally Posted by mrsbornkuntry

Personally I think my kids would be really disappointed to get a jar to save for a trip for Christmas without even knowing we were going on one. I would give it to them, but not as a suprise or a gift or anything. They would open it thinking they were going then when you repeated "someday" it would be a letdown. JMHO.

I agree with your post! Talk about a big let down.

[mickimousemama]

I would suggest going to the Creative DISigns board and finding a Disney Christmas Invite to have someone personalize with a Letter/Note from Mickey Mouse himself that says something along the lines of, Hey Kids, I've heard that you have been very excited to come visit me and thought maybe if we worked real hard at saving we could get there much quicker I've sent along a little inspiration to get the savings started and now its your job to fill up your jar! or something like that.

I know my kids would LOVE that You could even do them from each of the kids favorite characters!

We will be doing a surprise trip in Nov 2010, my kids see me in my Disney Fantasy land ALL THE TIME, and we talk about going ALL THE TIME.. as in a futuristic day, they know/hope SOMETIME we will go again but have no idea when

We will be surprising them on the way to the airport at breakfast... atleast that is my thought as of right now!

Good Luck!

[poohfriend77]

We're going right after Thanksgiving, but we're not telling the kids until a few weeks before. (I could never pull off the "at the airport" surprise. I'm about to burst already! )

It might be hard to convince them to save this year's birthday money for a year, even if they knew they are definitely going to WDW. Maybe they could get next year's money a month early to spend on the trip (with the understanding that they won't get anything big on their actual birthday), or you could buy some souvenirs and save them for birthday/Christmas gifts.

[ShortyNBug]

Thanks for all the input. I love the idea of a note from Mickey (or the Princesses maybe) and also of getting their bday/Christmas money early. I'll see what I can do.

I was also thinking about maybe getting some stickers or something and letting them make their savings jars themselves so they are a little more involved. Than I can tell them the disney dollars are just something to get their jars started. Is this a better idea?

I told my husband about the telling them at the airport thing and he thinks it's great but doubts I'll be able to keep my mouth shut that long. So, now I have a challenge to prove him wrong so it may be easier.

[1stvisit0909]

We leave on Thursday and we've managed to keep it a secret. I'm about to lose it though, cus I really really really want to start packing and can't!! And I REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT TO TELL!!!!

We were going to tell our kids at the airport, we have to be there at 11am. Now we've decided to have a special bfast with invitations from Mickey and Cinderella.

We chose not to tell our kids so they wouldn't drive us nuts!!

[Ldynred812]

We booked our trip this year on Jan 31. We leave Nov 21 and my girls (ages 6 and 3) have known the whole time. We have watched the vacation DVD and bought a few books. Never really drove them crazy...and they haven't driven me crazy either.

In fact, they have chosen NOT to do some summer things (CRAPPY rides at a local fair) so that they can do more in Disney. I never have regreted for a minute telling my kids from day one.

[ShortyNBug]

Well, we (the girls) made their jars today. We couldn't find the stickers that they want in our town so the next time we go to Target they are looking for Disney stickers to finish decorating. My 6 year old did hers all by herself and used stickers to say, "Saving for Disney 123" not sure what the 123 is for but it's her jar so I let her do what she wanted. She had some Hannah Montana stickers she put on but needs something more. I said about 10 different things my 3 year old could use and she chose, "Pinchin' Pennies 2 See Princesses" since the Princesses are her favorite Disney thing. I handed her the letters she needed and she stuck them on. She had a few Princess stickers she put on for now. Boy are they pretty!

So, now they are looking for loose change everywhere! I hope this lasts until next Oct when we go to cash it in.

My oldest came to me and said she's asking Santa for $7 so we can go right away. That's what made me decide to bring up the jars now. It was perfect! They wanted me to hide them so Daddy doesn't take any...like he really would.