A twist on surprising the kids

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I "owe" DS a birthday trip to WDW, but we'd agreed it would have to wait a while. However, my ex-husband lives in Florida and the kids will be down there with him this summer; since I have to pick the kids up in August, I figured I'd take advantage of the Free Dining and surprise the kids with the vacation before we head home. My ex is on board, but we can't figure out a way to get the kids to WDW without clueing them in too early. So far the best we can come up with is for him to tell the kids that I flew in a day early and spent the night at POP, so the kids need to meet me there. Lame? Any other suggestions?

 

[Samar]

How old are your kids? I'd say blind-fold them if they're old enough After all, it's hard to miss the road signs to Disney

 

[Disneynutbsv]

You could always meet at the McDonalds by Animal Kingdom! And say wow, how cool is it that we are so close to Disney right now?????

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

DD is 11 and DS is 8. Blindfolding won't work - they know FL geography very well, and would know something's up.

It's also tough because I'm considering using a towncar rather than renting a car (right now, the towncar is cheaper), so I may be restricted in the places that I can meet them. I'm staying at POP, and have made an ADR for the Sci-Fi that afternoon. I suppose we could say that we picked up day passes for MGM, and then meet them there with the full surprise...

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I "owe" DS a birthday trip to WDW, but we'd agreed it would have to wait a while. However, my ex-husband lives in Florida and the kids will be down there with him this summer; since I have to pick the kids up in August, I figured I'd take advantage of the Free Dining and surprise the kids with the vacation before we head home. My ex is on board, but we can't figure out a way to get the kids to WDW without clueing them in too early. So far the best we can come up with is for him to tell the kids that I flew in a day early and spent the night at POP, so the kids need to meet me there. Lame? Any other suggestions?

I like your idea - tell them that you are staying at POP, and got a late check out; so if they want to come early, they can come and spend the day and swim before heading back to NY.

Have your room decorated with Birthday banners and then surprise them that way with their IDs card with their names on them.

 

[peas&carrots]

Ooh, I like Cindy's Mom's idea. I bet they will wig out when they figure it out. What a great surprise!!

 

[InstImpres]

How about a character meal....you had a big layover and thought they might like a glimpse of what is ahead. When you are eating and get the whining, I wish we could stay, you casually just say ok! They won't know what to make of it.

Be prepared some surprise trips are great and others are disappointing to the parent. We had a Disney trip planned a few years ago. DBIL drove DD and I to the airport. The plan was when we got to the airport DBIL would ask DN if she wanted to go too? It took a good ten minutes to convince her that it wasn't a trick and she was actually boarding a plan (with DSIL, DD and I) in about an hour

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

How about a character meal....you had a big layover and thought they might like a glimpse of what is ahead. When you are eating and get the whining, I wish we could stay, you casually just say ok! They won't know what to make of it.

Well, I made the ADR for Sci-Fi because back when we were originally planning DS's birthday bash, he'd said he wanted to do Sci-Fi before anything else - character meal ADR's are already made for later in the week.

Have your room decorated with Birthday banners and then surprise them that way with their IDs card with their names on them.

Hmmm... maybe I can combine two ideas here. I'll let the Sci-Fi know it's a birthday celebration and ask them to decorate the table. Then when the kids say they wish they could stay, I'll bring out the ID cards and say OK, let's do that!

Be prepared some surprise trips are great and others are disappointing to the parent...

That is on my mind. Eh, at worst they don't freak out - I still get to vacation at WDW, right?

Thanks for all the suggestions - I think a great surprise is taking shape! Now I just have to keep it to myself for 3 months...