Anyone ever surprise your children

[nhmomx2]

Why lie to your kids about going one place then taking them to Disney World? I had asked my son one night what he would think would be a great surprise. He told me if we planned a trip to Disney World without telling them, waking them up in the morning and saying "guess what?". So that's what we did. Our kids are Disney spoiled. They have been as many times as they are old. So, when he said this we thought it was a great idea.

We used the "cover" of a trip to Maine (all of 1 1/2 hours away that we can do anytime) so I could pack without drawing suspicion. Someone said pack when they are at school or at a relatives. Sorry...not everyone has the luxury of having that time available to them. Did I enjoy decieving my children...not by a longshot. I really like planning our trips with them. This one time we really wanted it to be a surprise. It backfired on us and I'll never do it again. That said, if your children are flexible, go with the flow kind of kids, then heck yeah - go for it. The surprised faces are priceless - I got one out of two of my kids

Keep in mind...there's no need to be condescending to another's choice of how they chose to live there lives or raise their children...

 

[kristen17]

We decided at the last minute to go in Sept. because of the "free" dining package. Since we hadn't planned to take our kids for their first trip for at least a year, I got the idea to surprise them. They don't even have an inkling. They've never been to WDW and we've only talked about it in, "Someday we'd like to maybe go...."

Here's how we're going to tell them: I ordered from Disney Direct a Disney-gram plush Mickey who's holding telegram that says, "See you at Walt Disney World!" The enclosed card says, "Surprise! We're going to Disney World!" We'll wrap it up, let them open it (in front of grandparents and video camera).
After we revive them, we'll load them up and take them to the airport.

I'm also planning a number of surprises along the way -- new Disney PJs under their pillows at the resort, new Disney swimsuits and beach towels all wrapped up and ready for their first dip in a Disney pool, wake-up calls from characters, lunch in Cindy's castle, MNSHHP, etc. (I'm not really that extravagant--DisneyDirect sales) Since they don't have any expectations and have no idea what's in store for them, I think they'll really be dazzled.

But you have to have the right kind of kid at the right age, so that you know they can handle all the excitement. Our kids are 7 and 8 and are pretty cool customers.

By the way, it's all pretty much going to be a surprise for DH, too. He knows we're going, but has no idea what we're doing. Because his eyes glaze over every time I try to talk about our ADRs, touring plans, etc.

 

[AC7179]

This Easter when we went we suprised my oldest daughter. We told her her dad was going out of town for work and we were driving him to the airport. On they way to the airport, we had her do a word search. The word search, when completed, spelled out a message, which we had made to read, "Colleen, you are going to Disney World!" It was awesome.

 

[Tinkerchele]

This Easter when we went we suprised my oldest daughter. We told her her dad was going out of town for work and we were driving him to the airport. On they way to the airport, we had her do a word search. The word search, when completed, spelled out a message, which we had made to read, "Colleen, you are going to Disney World!" It was awesome.

That is so clever!

 

[goodferry]

We surprised our kids last June, it was so fun! We had a hotel room reserved for the night before our flight. We weren't going to tell the kids until we got on the plane, so we told them we were driving to pittsburgh because Ikea was having a big sale and then we were going to go spend the night at a hotel in Pittsburgh (explaining the luggage) They hate going to Ikea, which is right near the airport, so much that the youngest burst into tears because she didn't want to go! We decided to tell them then what was going on and there were no more tears, they were so excited! I didn't tell them everything, like that we were staying at the Polynesian or that we had rented a limo, I just kept surprising them every day with something new, it was so much fun!

 

[GuitarInChrist04]

My mom suprised my bro and I one trip i think in 1999, to Coranado Springs. my mom said we were going to a beach, but then I was the tower of terror, and I knew something was up. Then one christmas...2003???...They supriseed us in staying until new year's. That was a great trip! First Christmas in the world!...Disney world, that is!

Andrew

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

every time I see this thread I think the title is "Anyone ever SUPERVISE your children"

Yes, I supervise him but I could never surprise him with a Disney trip because I can't stop talking about it!

I'm going to attempt to surprise him with the Illuminations cruise but he is rather inquisitive (OK, nosy!) and he may figure it out!

 

[momshark]

This past April we surprised my DS7. We also have a DD14 who we could/would not surprise. I could never pack all of her clothes or other necessities without her having a major meltdown, so we let her in on the secret a few weeks ahead.

It just so happened that DD was going on a school trip to D.C. a few days after we returned so having 6 suitcases around the living room didn't phase DS at all. He knew a trip was coming up for sis, but 6 suitcases... hmmm.
Anyway, the night before we left we said that we had to drive Dad to the airport in the morning to go to NJ for work. We all got there and Dad asked us if we wanted to all go with him and spend the rest of the day in NJ. Of course we all said, "Sure!" Dad asked DS what he wanted to do in NJ and he said,"Go bowling." (?? Bowling??) Anyway, we got into Orlando and DS said that this airport looks like the one near Disney. (He had only been once before) We got into the limo and started looking for bowling alleys on the way to Disney. The limo driver was cracking up, silently. DS started seeing all of the ride billboards and said,"Mom, I think they have a DisneyWorld in NJ!" Finally, we were pulling into the DisneyWorld entrance when it hit him. Too cute, and priceless. DD was so excited too when we pulled in to the Poly.

I agree that you have to know your kids and how much surprise they can take. Have fun planning! It did get easier to not blurt it out the closer we got to the trip. (for some strange reason)

 

[kessieann]

We are attempting to do the "suprise" thing for our trip in Oct. I have been really lucky because dd7 knows that a friend of mine is going to Disney. Of course since I am Disney crazy I always help my friends with their plans so she doesn't suspect a thing when I am looking everything up.

We took her for her birthday in 2004 and had a great time planning it with her. This time I want to see that magical moment when she finds out we are going back to one of her favorite places on earth. Right now she doesn't think we are going back until she is at least 12.

I have a 50th Anniversary Pal Mickey on the way right this moment. I am going to put him out in the car in her booster seat with a note attached saying "I'm going to Disney World". She knows about those ads where famous people would be asked where they are going and they would say that. I am going to pack her suitcase while she is in school (probably the last time I can pack clothes for her without her having to much of a fit over what I picked ) I am really excited and just hoping my mom doesn't blow it because she has already slipped twice but I was able to fix it.

 

[Drizzo67]

When my DH and I decided to plan our first family trip to WDW for February 2004 we also decided not to tell our DS(then 8) and DD (then 5) right away. Christmas 2003 was a "Disney" christmas. Santa had brought the kids each a piece of luggage, DS had Goofy on his, D had Tink on hers. Each luggage was filled with Disney shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, Disney dollars and on the bottom was a photocopy of the castle at MK. My DS fell to the floor and started to cry. He turned to my DH and said, "Dad, We all must have been really good this year, Santa bought us Disneyworld." Priceless. My DD thought she had gotten her own castle snce she is a princess. Since we had six weeks before we left the kids helped to plan activities, dinners etc. It was fantastic.

This year we added more family to our next trip. Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, Aunt and Cousin. This will be our best trip yet.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

We're planning on surprising ds with our next trip which is in May 2006 (ugh so far away). Last trip was April 2004, it was ds's first. I started planning in November so we had 5/6 months to wait and it was pure torture on us all! That is the main reason I'm surprising ds this time, so he doesn't have to be tortured, I'll be tortured on my own! lol We're not waiting until the day we leave though, we plan on telling him a week or two before we leave so he has some time to build up anticipation plus he likes to help plan a little and look at pics of the parks online to get ready.

We still haven't figured out how we're going to tell him yet though so I'm using this thread for ideas! We told him that we will have to save money to go back to WDW and said it probably won't be anytime before 2007, I keep catching myself talking about it though, ugh this is hard!

 

[christinou]

We are leaving in 9 days and still have not told the kids, we are going with our motorhome and staying at Fort Wilderness, the day we leave we plan to ask them where they want to go camping that week-end, and I am pretty certain they will say Disney so we will just agree with them and go there.....
We do a lot of week-end camping where we leave after work on Friday, so it is not s big surprise to see me cleaning and loading the motorhome.