Any ideas on how to surprise the kids?

[eeyoresmom]

I would like to suprise my kids with our 4 night Wonder cruise this January.My 17 yo knows about it but the 13,9 and 8 yo don't have a clue.We will be flying out Fr. night ,staying in Orlando (at Cypress Pointe Resort) Fr and Sat night before the cruise then driving our rental to Port Canaveral on Sunday morning.On the plane ,I'm sure they're going to think they're going to Disney AGAIN (we have been many times!) I don't want them to know anything about it until we drive up to the terminal. Any ideas?

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by eeyoresmom
I don't want them to know anything about it until we drive up to the terminal. Any ideas?

Blind fold them?

The ship is visible several miles away from the terminal, so it'll probably be pretty obvious when you're topping that last big bridge - if all the Port Canaveral signs don't give it away. It's sort of like trying to surprise someone with a trip to the Magic Kingdom - you know how you have to pass through all the gates and signs and such before you reach the MK.

I'm faced with the same challenge, except mine are 4 and 6 so it'll be a little easier to manage their questions.

Sam

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

We are surprising our boys too! We have told them that we are going to Disney, we'll be at the timeshare for a week and then we have to "switch hotels". The day that we switch, we can't check in until later in the day, so we will "go to the beach" for the day. he he he!! Little do they know that the hotel we are switching to is the WONDER! I am sure when we get towards the Port and they see the boat, they will be full of questions. Then we will ask if maybe they want to go and "see" the boat. When we pull up and start unloading the luggage, THAT is when we are going to tell them we are checking in to our next hotel! Hopefully it will all work out that way. They have asked to take a Disney Cruise, but we always say that it is SO much money, we just can't afford to do that right now.... Let's hope our plans play out! Good luck with your secret!!!

 

[jellybean87]

My parents suprised me and my brother and sister this past summer for a cruise. We were planning on going to Coco Beach and my dad said we needed to check out the terminal to make sure we know where we were going b/c we were going on the Magic the week afterwards with my whole family(grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins). When they pulled up at the terminal we were really confused b/t they lady asked us to see if we were sailing with them that day and my dad said "yes." Then my mom asked directions to Coco Beach so we didnt know what to think. but after awhile, my dad popped the trunk and said "were going on the Dinsey Cruise!" I found out my parents planned this trip b/c my sister was suppose to get deployed during the Magic cruise, so they planned for us to go on the Wonder too so my sister could come along. It turns out that my sister didnt get deployed until September so we were able to spend more time with her and we got to go on two cruises!

 

[PattiPB]

We are going on the cruise after 10 days in Orlando. My kids know about the 10 days (family reunion), on the day we leave I'm considering two plans:

1. Take off on that last day and tell the kids we are using a different airport, and just drive to the terminal.

2. Buying personalized shirts for everybody, and leaving them on the beds for them to find that morning.

I'll take votes for which plan is better???

 

[eeyoresmom]

Great ideas everyone.I'm thinking of telling the kids we're going to Cocoa Beach or The Space museum,but maybe pretending it's "too early "and suggesting to hubby that we drive to the docks and "check out the ships".I've sailed from Port Caneveral before so I know you can't just drive up to the boat,but I don't remember if security asks you if you're a cruise passenger when they check your ID>

 

[tweetsie]

Eeyoresmom

We did the identical same thing to our daughter when we went on the four-day last October. We spent Saturday night in Kissimmee at our timeshare so she just thought we were going to spend the entire week there like we usually do. She did not know we were going on the cruise until we pulled up to the curve to unload our luggage. We told her that we were going to the Kennedy Space Center. While on the way we saw the ships at Port so I fooled her into thinking that we were going over there to see the Disney ship. My husband was about to burst trying to hold in his laugh. When I actually told her that we were about to go on the cruise it actually bought tears to her eyes. I wouldn't take anything for that day.

Now I have to figure out how to surprise her again since we are planning another cruise in June.

 

[jbbt]

Do you think this will work? My kids (DD10, DD7)have seen me doing research on these boards and reading my Passporter, but we haven't told them we are going yet. I have stopped reading and getting on the boards while they are around. We are going to WDW for a week before and they don't know that yet either. I wanted to go to the terminal the day of our cruise and tell them that we were just going to check it out for a future trip and not tell them that we were actually sailing until we were onboard. I think my husband can handle the luggage without them seeing and I can check us in pretending that is what we have to do to take a tour.

What do you think? Never having gone before I don't know at what point you're asked what?

Thanks!!
Brigitte

 

[tweetsie]

jbbt

My daughter was eight at the time and we really were able to pull it off. She has just turned 10 so I don't know what will happen this time.

 

[Pixie Mom 3]

jbbt

just tell your kids that you have been doing research but cannot afford to take a cruise at this time, however you want to while in the area check out the ship(you could even say that disney is having a special check out the ship day) and then when you board tell them what you are realy doing... when people are asking for papers and ID just explain that you have to have them even if you are just checking the ship out for everyones safety.

even if they suspect something they will not know for sure....

Have fun

 

[CheapMom]

We surprised our kids with a trip to WDW last year and it was great fun. We told them at the airport. They thought we were taking Daddy to the airport for a business trip and when the middle one said, "I wish I could come with you" We said OK- Let's all go. When they realized it was Disney World they were so excited. I know you are talking about the cruise but I just thought I would share my surprise story.

 

[jfis1020]

Originally posted by eeyoresmom
I would like to suprise my kids with our 4 night Wonder cruise this January.My 17 yo knows about it but the 13,9 and 8 yo don't have a clue.We will be flying out Fr. night ,staying in Orlando (at Cypress Pointe Resort) Fr and Sat night before the cruise then driving our rental to Port Canaveral on Sunday morning.On the plane ,I'm sure they're going to think they're going to Disney AGAIN (we have been many times!) I don't want them to know anything about it until we drive up to the terminal. Any ideas?

We just spent the day two weeks ago at Jetty Park which is in Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral. The beach is on the other side of the Jetty where the ships sail out, so you can sit and watch them. If you could secretly pack the car, you could tell them you are going to the beach for the day. You come over the bridge also to get to the park, so you could say "Hey, let's go on a cruise instead"! Have them wear their swimsuits, as they may want to jump in the pool anyway when you board!!!!

 

[Hygiene99]

eeyoresmom

I Think That the U have to switch hotels on sunday Will work..

Just pack up the Car and Say u Are Going to Go To The Beach that Day... If The Weather is Less than perfect u Could say U are going To Space Center.. ..

U would Not notice The ship going over the First bridge if u Are not looking for it.. Second bridge then u See it..

When u pull up u will Be asked for Cruise Doc. and Id's

the Surprise will Be up... At that point I Think it Will Be OK....


peter

 

[jbbt]

Thanks for all of the great ideas!!!!

Brigitte

 

[disney3144]

We are surprising our kids (DS12 & DS 9) next month with a four night Wonder cruise and then 3 days in WDW. We told them that we are going to FL for DH navy reunion. We booked the Radisson for the night before. The next morning we are driving to the port. They think that his navy ship is docked there. Then after the cruise when they think we are driving home, we actually go to WDW. They are going to know what hit them. I'm hoping this will be the best christmas ever for them. One they will never forget. I know I won't ever forget.

Jennifer

 

[PattiPB]

jbbt

I told my kids I am reading the cruise passporter and the cruise boards because we are hoping to go in 2006. They bought it hook line and sinker!

 

[logan1_2000]

I think the consensus here is dead on--just claiming to be going to the beach, or the space center, and the switching hotels (have to explain why you are making sure you have taken every belonging when you check out),then as you see the Port, you can say "hey,let's take a look at the Disney Ship...wanna go on it some time...how about today?" because as noted above, at security check in the secret has to be out. Great idea.

I think eeyoresmom you are on the Jan 16th cruise, right? We are in 7502 w/ DS 8.

 

[russtwinsmom]

We surprised our kids with an elaborate treasure hunt comlete with maps. At the end of the hunt, they unburied a treasure chest (found at a chain craft store) with the news of the trip inside. We videotaped the entire search, and their reactions were priceless!

 

[babsnabbs]

I'm opposed to the idea of surprising the kids. Isn't part of the fun in the anticipation? The surprise will last about two seconds, but the planning and excitement can last for months.

 

[Billinaz]

We have our 3 kids thinking we are going to WDW in Feb 05. They have no idea that we are also on the Wonder right after that!

They remember the down time we had last year when we left the Wonder waiting for our flight out. Maybe I'll just ask them if they want to visit the Wonder while we wait for our flight time.

I'm pretty sure I can get away with that!