Any ideas to surprise daughter

[j_lehr]

We are going to Disney for Christmas (Dec 23-27) and it is a part of my daughter's Christmas gifts. She will automatically think we are spending Christmas in Florida at my boyfriend's sisters house like last year...so she will not think it odd that we are heading to the airport. How/when should i tell her we are really taking her to Disney. She is 13. I was thinking about telling or giving her something in the car to clue her in...

Jessica

 

[Scornelius]

What an amazing surprise!! I like your idea of telling her in the car. Or what about waiting until you actually get Florida, and you head towards the Magic Express booth instead of meeting up with your BF's sister. When she mentions it, tell here there was small change in plans and then toss her an autograph book and pen or some other trinkit that you can have hidden in your purse or carry-on. I can only imagine her reaction. What a cool mom you are!
(Edited)

 

[bdtracey]

I heard about this couple who packed their kids (~10 and 13), woke 30 minutes before the taxi was arriving to take them to the airport and told them that they were going to WDW. Obviously this won't work for your daughter because she already knows that you're going to Florida...good story though eh! My suggestion would be to not tell her anything even when you get off the plane and start driving. If she asks why you're going the different and/or opposite way just tell her that they are doing some major road construction and instead of dealing with the ugly gridlocked traffic you'd rather take the scenic route. This worked on my wife when we were headed to my folks place a few weeks ago; it also helps that my wife has an awful sense of direction!

 

[dyna]

YEAH I go for the not telling her anything and using the excuse of construction or scenic route. Even when we arrived at disney I might be mean enough to say I thought we'd stop here for the day or visit downtown disney on the way to aunties house when she asked what we was doing at disney.

Fill the visit with surprises keep her on her toes

Harmony barber shop on main street will put hair in ponytail with colored gel and pixie dust for 5.00 she might like that.

We did a early bday for my DD's 16th bday at 1900 park fare she loved it and Prince Charming danced with her which was even a surprise to me. If you should decide to do the birthday thing also pick up a birthday button at guest relations in all the parks including downtown disney. The barber shop quartet sung happy bday to dd when they noticed her button on Main St. She got lots of attention all day long. Many bday wishes.

There's many many ways to add to the magic without spending loads of money. You can always forget something in room and have to go back to put suprise on bed or whatever for DD to find when ya get back.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

There's a Disney Store in the Orlando Airport. You could take her in there when you get off the plane & say some like "Oh...I wish we were going to WDW this trip..." Then after a few minutes say "You know what...I think we should just go ahead & go...I mean, we came all this way...what do you think (DD), would you like to spend Christmas at WDW?"

 

[Jennick]

There's a Disney Store in the Orlando Airport. You could take her in there when you get off the plane & say some like "Oh...I wish we were going to WDW this trip..." Then after a few minutes say "You know what...I think we should just go ahead & go...I mean, we came all this way...what do you think (DD), would you like to spend Christmas at WDW?"

Ohhhh I LOVE this idea!!! May just have to jot this idea down and lay it on hubby's pillow!!

 

[IluvDonald!]

Here's what I'm doing for our trip Dec 1-10th....

When we put up our Christmas tree, November 30th (yes, I know that's quite a chore the day before we leave......) there will be a "mysterious" knock on our door. Darling Daughter will open the door to find an envelope.......from Santa (even though she's 11 it's still from Santa) with a quick note saying Merry Christmas and enjoy your time in WDW. Something to that effect. That way, it will be a magical Christmas surprise!

 

[Dizneydaz]

These all sound like great ideas! Makes me wish we were planning a surprise trip. Maybe next time. The closest we got to doing a surprise trip was planning a trip a few years ago and then putting up a "Surprise-we're going to Walt Disney World" banner about a week before we went. My DD6 reaction was great! This was a totally spur-of-the-moment trip. I don't think I could have kept it a surprise for months!

 

[vonderbar]

I surprised my 80 year-old Mom with a WDW trip for her birthday. I created a book using Disney stickers and described some of the sights to be seen ect. The page prior to the last asked "How are you going to spend your 80th birthday?" I told her to read the last page outloud which said "I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD". She was like a little kid filled with excitement. It was her first trip to WDW. I also gave her a Disney photo album and tools for the scrapbook album we created after the trip.

Another suggestion is to give her a Hallmark Disney Ornament with a note from the character inviting her to visit. The ornament will be a nice keepsake.

Last suggestion, ask her to make 3 wishes (of course you have to hope one is a trip to WDW). Then give her card with a picture of Jimminy Cricket or the Blue Fairy with the announcement that her wish is coming true.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I heard about this couple who packed their kids (~10 and 13), woke 30 minutes before the taxi was arriving to take them to the airport and told them that they were going to WDW. Obviously this won't work for your daughter because she already knows that you're going to Florida...good story though eh! My suggestion would be to not tell her anything even when you get off the plane and start driving. If she asks why you're going the different and/or opposite way just tell her that they are doing some major road construction and instead of dealing with the ugly gridlocked traffic you'd rather take the scenic route. This worked on my wife when we were headed to my folks place a few weeks ago; it also helps that my wife has an awful sense of direction!

I agree. The best surprises are when you keep them wondering. We pulled one off a few yrs. ago. Picked ds's up 1 hr. early from school for what they thought was a dental appt. (The teacher knew it wasn't!) and headed out "for an adventure." They kept guessing the whole way to the airport until we got close and finally our older ds guessed it. When we told him "yes, you're right," he didn't believe us and kept saying, "gimme another clue!" After pulling up to curbside checkin, he quickly jumped out to check if there was really luggage in the trunk and kept saying for hours, "I can't believe it!"
It was so perfect we were teary-eyed!
Definitely one of our happiest Disney memories!

 

[BlondeAlligator]

This was a different kind of surprise...my sister was taking her family to WDW along with my Mom & Dad. My Mom kept wishing that we could go as well...well, my sister, dad & I planned for me to fly down halfway through their trip & surprise my Mom & nieces! I rented a car & drove myself to CBR where they were staying. My Dad stayed behind in the hotel room to "take a business call he couldn't miss." Everyone else went on to the MK. When I arrived, Dad called Mom on her cell & told her that he was on his way & to meet him in front of the castle. When we got there, Dad & I split up & he went one way around the hub, I went the other. When my Dad joined them my brother-in-law started filming the group "just for fun." I walked right up in front of my Mom & she just stared at me! I had to actually tell her it was me! She said that she was thinking to herself "Wow, that girl REALLY looks like Allison!" Then my nieces saw me & freaked out! When my Mom realized is was me, she just started crying, & then so did I! The whole rest of the day she kept saying "I just can't believe you're here!" I couldn't believe we pulled off keeping the secret for 5 months! It was one of my best memories!

 

[meeko53]

my daughter and i went to wdw in July for her 30th birthday,i collected a birthday badge from guest relations and everyone who noticed it wished her a lovely day,it also made my day

 

[goofinoff]

You may have to check with the airline that you are flying, but wouldn't it be great if the flight attendant announced it on the plane!! Does you boyfriends sister live in Orlando or is in another part of Florida? If that's the case, just wait until you get to the airport to leave and tell her that you are going to Orlando instead of where ever you went before. I think the flight attendant thing would be awesome!!!

 

[Simba22]

Get her a Christmas card and put her Disney Ticket in there with the resort confirmation or a picture of the resort you're stayng at, and an early "Merry Christmas" wish. When you get on the plane, give her the card.

 

[kirstiebird]

I arranged a phone call from Mickey for my son's birthday last year -- perhaps you could arrange a call from her favorite character?
Try this link:

https://secure.uvoxnetworks.com/wha...0=1&@9=0&@19=66

I thought it was really cute!