Any brainstormers on how to surprise the kids about the trip?

[MagicalMomAZ]

I planned on trying to keep the trip a secret until we get there...but we're driving (7 hrs or so) & the oldest is too smart for her own good.

THe only idea I have so far:

Get a AZ/CA map & (possibly) have it made into a puzzle. DD has to do the puzzle & use the directions given to her to figure out where we're going......then my idea fizzles out.

Anyone have other ideas? Or ways to build on this one? Open for anything. I'd like to include DS too but he's just 3 & a map would go over his head.

 

[PrincessSitka]

When are you going?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

You could confuse them by driving to San Diego first and then up to Anaheim.

 

[DLR29]

You could confuse them by driving to San Diego first and then up to Anaheim.

Here's an idea without having to spend the extra $ on gas.

Assuming you want to surprise them while you're driving, why don't you play some Disney music (if you have any) in the car, or listen to Radio Disney? If you have a DVD player, play some Disney movies. Maybe if you're making a lunch, you can cut the sandwiches in mickey heads (but that may be too over the top). I don't know. Give them little hints about Disney and then have them guess the location.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Hoping to go in January...still attempting to talk DH into it...

Disney music & movies are the only thing played in our car!! LOL

I read this one idea where a mom gave her kids (they were older than mine) small gifts as the trip progressed; a baggy of plastic mice, an apple, a glass slipper, a rose....& so on. They finally got it w/ the glass slipper but I don't think mine would be old enough to truly grasp the idea...well, maybe my 9 yo.

 

[flyinshirer]

I like the idea of the little presents on the way! I would totally do that if I were going on such a long journey.

5 years ago when we took our girls, we did a scavenger hunt. I made hints around the house made into riddles to find the next spot to get the new clue. All of the clues started with a letter that would end up spelling our Disneyland. She had to keep trying to figure out what the word was. The final clue took her to the spot where I had the ticket package! Fun!!!!

Let the creative juices flow.........

 

[Lilypaige]

These are all good ideas. I have a 5.5 year old and a 3.5 year old and DH was just talking about surpirsing them with a trip......we will be flying and I just don't know what to tell them! I will be lurking on this thread!

 

[lilpixie]

Another cute idea -- the morning of the trip (or night before if you don't have time) make some Mickey Mouse pancakes or waffles. Then, have a little bag for each kid (we got tote bags on clearance at the Disney store) filled with Disney coloring books, stickers, crayons, Disney themed snacks, etc (whatever is age appropriate for your kids). My girls *loved* their bags and they really helped with our plane ride. I'm sure they would help out with a long car ride also. The puzzle idea you suggested is cute, too. Do you have an old Disneyland map? Maybe your last clue could be to make a puzzle out of a Disneyland map and then your kids would really know where they were going!!

 

[got2travel]

One of the ways I used to inform my son of an upcoming trip was to have Mickey (or any favorite character) send a postcard saying he'd love to see us soon. I'd do this by asking another DIS'r to get a postcard signed during their visit, then drop it in the mail. In turn, I've done the same for other DIS'rs. Not sure when I'm going to make it back, otherwise I'd offer to send you one.

 

[Pezalicious]

A 7 hour trip is pretty long - I would put together a packet of 10 puzzles. For each puzzle solved, your DD gets one letter of the place you guys are going. When she completes them all, the letters can be in a jumble which she has to sort out for the final destination. If you want to make it tougher (and longer lasting), you can go with Disneyland Resort (17 letters, including the space, so it would be 17 puzzles for her to solve).

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

You can always tell the kids that you are going on a business trip and for whatever reason (mommy/daddy would get lonely) everyone in the family is going.

Then, as you are getting closer to LA, or Anaheim , pull out the puzzles, or favorite character game, and then mention how fun it would be to actually see some. Hey, let's go to DL!

 

[Random Villains]

Heres my idea. Kinda what was said above.

Tell them they have to go along on some stupid business trip, something that they would find horribly boring and miserable.

Dont do puzzles, or music, do nothing. Get to the hotel, check in, go to sleep. Wake them up the next morning and tell them to get ready you all have to go to the business meeting.

Then go to Disneyland. Watch them freak out, and ask 10000 times IS THE BUSINESS MEETING AT DISNEYLAND?!?!!?

I did the same thing with my 2 nephews. They lost their minds. It was awesome.

 

[shoppingmom]

Heres my idea. Kinda what was said above.

Tell them they have to go along on some stupid business trip, something that they would find horribly boring and miserable.

Dont do puzzles, or music, do nothing. Get to the hotel, check in, go to sleep. Wake them up the next morning and tell them to get ready you all have to go to the business meeting.

Then go to Disneyland. Watch them freak out, and ask 10000 times IS THE BUSINESS MEETING AT DISNEYLAND?!?!!?

I did the same thing with my 2 nephews. They lost their minds. It was awesome.

That is totally AWESOME! I thought we were nasty by telling our kids that dad had to go to LA for Business for three weeks (hence) the very large suitcases. I allowed them to take the day off from school to take dad to the airport and while I was getting one last picture of the kids with dad before he left he told them that instead why don't we all go to DL and then he showed them the airline tickets! Oh my god they were shocked! But if we were ever driving down I would have done what you did. Now however our kids no longer trust me but that is okay!

 

[famograham]

We just got back from our surprise trip on Saturday!

Here's what we did:

Weeks back, I found out that my MIL was going to pay for this trip and that it was really happening. We told the kids about the cruise ship portion of the trip. As soon as my DS9 heard we were going to California...he was positive that we were going to DL!!!! I had a VERY long conversation about how we could not afford it...there was just NO WAY...and that I promised that someday, when they are older..we WILL go, but it won't be this trip, so please don't get your hopes up! This was painful to do...but he understood, and accepted it.
Then as the weeks rolled by....we rented the Indiana Jones movies, and watched them as a family...dropped little hints like "WOW.... that is so cool...I think they have a ride like that at DL...would you go on it if you could??"
When I got DD6's inside shoes for school, I got princess ones. I bought them each a journal type notebook to record their trip, DS's was POTC, and DD's was Princesses
Still...they never questioned...
We had a wonderful 4 night cruise. When DS's asked what we were going to do in th U.S., we just told him we weren't sure....we'd just hang out for a few days and see what happens...maybe go shopping or something...lol...just what a 9 year old boy wants to hear!

So...we got off the cruise ship, took our Supershuttle to the BW Anaheim Inn..checked in (at 10:00am...they had a room for us already!!!) and told the kids that we wanted to go for a walk to check out the neighbourhood

When we got outside...Liam (DS) said "It smells like a fair out here...are we close to Disneyland??" We told him that yes, we were close...let's just cross the street and see what we can see!!! We walked into the shuttle-y area where you can hear the music piping in. Dad said we should see how close we could get...and try to take a picture of it...Liam said, with great excitement.."Let's take FOUR pictures!!!" (This was the sweetest, most innocent, clueless thing I'd ever heard...and I nearly burst into tears!!!
Dad says "Yeah....FOUR pictures!!!"

We get to the booths where we are to exchange our vouchers for parkhoppers...the kids still haven't grasped it!!! FINALLY, when we're almost up to the window, we tell them....they are flabbergasted!!!! Jumping up and down "Is this REAL????....Are we REALLY GOING????" We reply..."WE're here for three DAYS.....SURPRISE!!!!" Hugs, and tears ensue!!!

IT WAS MAGIC....absolutely unbelievable!!!

I'm sure this wouldn't work on kids who've been to DL before....but it was wonderful for us....I'm crying now at the memory!!!

I hope you have as wonderful a time as we did...and that your surprise is just as amazing!!!

xoxox

 

[CamColt]

Be sure you kids can handle suprises before you do this. We did this to our DSs, the morning we were leaving to drive to Florida for a cruise the next day. I know DS, then 9, doesnt like surprises (gets that from me), but since we booked this very last minute I wanted to try it. Big mistake! He was not right for the 4 days we were there. He was miserable. So if you think there is a chance it may not go over well, think about it.

 

[lumpydj]

We're actually planning a surprise trip for DD (9) next summer. We decided that we're going to tell her we're going with DH on a business trip. The hotel has a really nice pool. We won't tell her until she figures it out. I think we'll take the SuperShuttle from the airport so we're not getting on the big huge Disney bus... I can't wait to see her reaction. She'll be soooo excited.

 

[jemilah]

last year in the X-mas cards for the boys I had a card saying we're going to Disneyland with the dates in Feb that we were going. This trip I have printed out a card form the sign maker that was posted here a couple of day 's ago with the DL sigh saying surprise you going to DL! I am going next Wed to get them out of school early , claming a family emergency .........the emergency is we need some DL! I plan on giving them the envelopes on the road ....I can't wait! I will have my DL CD ready to go in the car!
This is the hardest secret to keep! I am such an overplanner not being able to share it with my sons especially the 8 year old who is following in my footsteps has been so hard. I am sure the drive for Vegas to DL will be full of planning what they want to do first and which rides to hit! Good luck keeping your secret!

 

[tinkcollector]

I surprised my Son once, when he was around 10 or 11. We were in So.Cal. for a Family Thanksgiving dinner. We told him we were going to run into Downtown Disney to get some things to take to the Family Dinner. He did not get the idea until I was in line buying our tickets. Then this huge smile came over his face, and he was so excited he could not say an audible word. It was so much fun for my Husband and I to see his face.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Be sure you kids can handle suprises before you do this. We did this to our DSs, the morning we were leaving to drive to Florida for a cruise the next day. I know DS, then 9, doesnt like surprises (gets that from me), but since we booked this very last minute I wanted to try it. Big mistake! He was not right for the 4 days we were there. He was miserable. So if you think there is a chance it may not go over well, think about it.

CamColt - this is a VERY valid point & it never crossed my mind. I DO think my DD will be fine, but DS? Not sure...but he's young enough it might go over his head too - I need to think on this some more.

But there are some GREAT ideas being generated here!!! Love them all!!!

 

[BecBennett]

Another thing you need to remember is that there are some people who just wont stop guessing.

No matter how many times you tell them "I'm not telling you, it's a suprise" or "why don't you figure out the puzzles I've given you, then you'll know" they just won't stop with the "Is it Disneyland?" "Is it Hollywood?" "Is it to Grandma's?" and so on until half an hour into the trip you get angry and say "Bloody hell it's Disneyland, just shut up!" and that ruins the trip...

Well maybe not the whole trip, but at least the car ride.