Anyone surprise kids w/ trip to WDW?

[kangaroodle]

Hi!

We're planning to surprise our kids (DD10/DS7) with our next trip to WDW in December. Planning to send them to school as usual and then show up around noon and call them out of class. I'll tell them they have a dentist appt that I forgot to tell them about My husband will be waiting in the car for us. My kids will be grumbling and we'll probably tell them where we're really going when we are half way to the airport. I'll talk w/ the teachers at the conference in November so I can get all the homework. They'll only miss 2 1/2 days.

Has anyone else surprised their kids with a trip? If so, how did you do it and what was their reaction?

Thanks! Can't wait to read the stories!

Kathy

 

[Al and Kate's Mom]

I want to hear as well. We're surprising DD5 this year for New Year's - we can't decide if we should tell her at Christmas or just wait until we're pulling through the entrance...any ideas will be appreciated!

 

[giftcard]

When I was little my parents surprised me w/ a trip to Disney. It was fabulous. I still remember it. It was a great memory and if I ever have kids I'll make sure I do at least one "ambush" trip.

This November we're taking our first family vacation in 10 yrs (two adult kids and mom and dad) and we're going to WDW!!!! I can't wait!

 

[DISFANSHAN]

We did this with my DS twice. Once, when he was 3, we woke up one Sunday morning and sprung it on him that we were leaving in a few hours!!!!
Another time, he was in Kindergarten. That particular trip my mom was coming with us, so I picked him up early from school and said, " Grandma is at our house. She told me she had something VERY important to tell you, and to come get you out of school." So I brought him home and my mom got to tell him we were turning right back around and getting in the car, going to the airport, and flying to DisneyWorld!!!!!!
Slightly OT, that was a very special trip, as my mom passed away less than 2 months later. She actually became very sick while we were in Disney and spent most of the trip in the room....she only made it to the parks one day. But it makes it so special to my DS because that will be one of the last memories he has of his Grandma, that she surprised him and took him to Disney!!!!!

 

[mackeyapp]

The past two years we surprised our boys - first year we made it a game where they had to read the first clue and it led them to another scroll and the final clue led them to the computer. We had a picture of a plane, followed by several other photos and comments and the final picture was the castle. The looks on their faces as they ran through the house finding clues and reading the write-ups on the computer was priceless. When they finally got to the castle all they could say was "Really"? "Is this real"? DH and I had tears in our eyes watching their excitement grow.
Last year they didn't dream they would spend another New Year's there so we decided to surprise them on DH Birthday in early December. We had chinese food that night so I purchased fortune cookies at the bulk barn store and put new fortunes in everyone's cookies. One said you will soon visit your three favorite mountains, one said you will soon say Hi to your two favorite dogs, DH said you will run a race with a mouse and my said that I will walk through my fav. castle. We had the video camera set up (off side) just to capture the video portion and it was priceless. They were reading them and looking at us wondering if it meant what they were hoping it meant. It was another Magical Moment.
This year they have no idea again-thinking two years in a row was the max. Still trying to decide how to surpirse them again. Still have some time to decide.

 

[frndofpooh]

We surprised our son with a Disney trip when he was 4. We were vacationing in HH (staying with my MIL and FIL) and we'd led him to believe that we were staying there for the week. The day after we got there, we woke him up at 5am to drive down to Disney. We expected this huge reaction but he just got a small smile on his face and said, "really?". Very anticlimactic!!! But, his excitement really grew as we drove and by the time we got there he was extremely happy!

 

[paintnolish]

oh, I wish I could, but I get too excited! Can't keep my mouth shut!

 

[metsfan11]

oh, I wish I could, but I get too excited! Can't keep my mouth shut!

Same with me! DM and I tried to keep it a secret from DS, but about 10 minutes after we booked I blurted it out.

OOPS!

 

[Disney Ella]

We surprised our two DDs last November. (I had read them posts about surprise trips before and asked them if they would ever want to be surprised sometime and they said yes.)

I knew something was bound to come up with some activity during the time we were supposed to be away, so I had to tell them we were going somewhere so they would understand why I said they couldn't go to the birthday party or the school skating party. I told them that DH was going to Kansas City for work and we were going along to swim in the indoor pool. They were not very excited, but a swimming pool is always good!

The morning of the trip, we went in to wake them up and DH said, "You know, I don't think I want to go to Kansas City. Let's just go to WDW instead." The kids were half-awake, thinking this was a bad joke. At the top of the stairs, there was a sign that read, "That's right" and at the bottom, "You're going to" and on the dining room table "Disney World" with their gift bags.

DD said, "You're serious! We're really going to Disney World?!" They didn't jump and down and scream, but they were very excited and told us that they really hadn't been that excited about Kansas City, but didn't want to say anything.

 

[IandGsmom]

You guys are giving me ideas My boys dont know about the Christmas trip we have planned for the day after my graduation. We didn't want to say anything until we are in the car on the way to the airport. I REALLY dont know how I have managed to keep my mouth shut- It is the hardest thing I have ever done. I really want to tell them.

 

[hopelea]

My DD's were 5 & 3 when we surprised them with a DW trip. We told them we were going to Michigan to visit family. They knew it was a long car ride. They were excited about going to MI. Well, luckily they were to little to know they were going south instead of north. It was raining a little when we went under the Disney World sign, they missed it. We pulled into Dixie Landings, opened the van door, asked if they knew where they were.....they said, "well, Michigan, Mom".........I told them to walk around and see if they could figure it out. It didn't take them long. It was even better when they spotted grandma & grandpa sitting in the lobby waiting for them. IT was the best trip ever!!!!

 

[pdarrah]

Well... I can let you know on Monday! We're surprising DS7 this Thursday afternoon DH & I will be waiting at the busstop to pick him up after school. DH is going to tell him we are going to a party and since its a long way, we need to get started driving there right away. We're just going to wait and see when he figures out that we're headed for the airport!

This has been the most impetuous trip we have ever planned. DH & DS loved MNSSHP last year and really wanted to go again - but we had decided not to since we are cruising in January. Then DH found a REALLY good airfare on Southwest about 6 weeks ago and we were able to get the hotel discount at WDW (not free dining - but good rate at AllStarSports) and suddenly said - "why not - let's do it!"

pdarrah

 

[Honeybehr1]

We booked in March of last year and kept it a total secret from everyone till the night before we left. Ds use to have a severe fear of flying, so if we told him, he would of made himself sick with worry about it. I didnt tell anyone in the family because I didnt want any of them to accidentally let it slip.

The day of his birthday party, the last present he opened was a box that had a Mickey Balloon in it so when he opened it up, it floated up and attached was an invitation to go Trick-or-Treating with Mickey and the gang tomorrow night at WDW. In the box was two shirts - one for him and his brother that I had made. 2 golden ears and two goodie bags for the plane. I was all packed and the luggage was hidden.

I can say he got upset because he was afraid of lying but once we were on the plane and he actually got over that fear, he was so excited. Would I keep it from him next time? probably the shock and excitement was really fun.

 

[violetshelby]

We are planning on surprising our 2 daughters 7 and 10 soon, we are going Oct.22 for the Land and Sea package. I can't believe we haven't let it slip yet, it is so hard since I'm thinking about it all the time and some times I just have to bite my tongue . We haven't decided how to tell them yet or when to tell them, the night before or wake them up real early in the morning before we go to the airport. I am almost as excited to see their reaction as I am about going.

 

[P-Dust]

We leave Tuesday morning. I haven't told my girls who are 5 & 7. My plan is to put them to bed in their clothes, wake them at 3:00 am and go to the airport. I am curious to see how long it lakes them to figure it out on their own. Heh heh. I love the anticipation!!!!

 

[Sooze]

What a fun thread. I've never even thought of surprising the kids with a trip... now the wheels are turning.

Just LOVE the scavenger hunt idea

Thanks everyone!

 

[Becky521]

We were going to surprise our girls (13 & 19) with a Christmas trip this year. We had several ideas of how were going to wait until the end. Including picking our oldest up from college and going directly to the airport. then one day in July when we made the reservations.....we got so excited we told them

They like helping to plan and my 13 year old and I look at the picture of the day thread daily. So good for you those of you who can keep a secret. there's always next time.

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

What great stories!! I've always wanted to. We tried last time, but we spilled the beans and told them. I'm such a nerd, I get so excited myself I can't keep it in. Dh is the same way. We talk about the trip for months before we go.

 

[kldmom2000]

My friend and her DH are down there RIGHT NOW after doing this with their kids!!!! They were planning to drive her DH to the airport for a business trip w/ the kids' luggage in the car and then when they got to the airport, have the kids get out too and head to Disney!!! I'm dying to hear how it all played out, but they come home day the day we leave so it'll have to wait til we get back!

 

[MK2thcleaner]

I surprised my DS December 2004 when he was 9. I planned the trip for a year, all the while letting him figure I was planning it for when Everest opened. I packed the night before, while he was at my parents house, and put him to bed like normal. I'd let the school know and had all his homework for him to do while we were gone. I woke him up at 5AM and had his clothes laid out for school. He wondered why it was still so dark when he woke up, but I told him that's what happens in the winter. Then he saw the clock in the kitchen and I told him that the power had turned off in the middle of the night, so it was just messed up.
Finally I said, just put on your clothes already. I had a T-shirt for him to put on that gave away all the details, that I'd made on Disneyshopping.com. After picking up my parents, we flew to Orlando and stayed in a Marriott resort for a few days. We visited Universal Studios but he kept wondering when we were going to Disney, since we always stay onsite. Little did he know we weren't going to WDW next, but on a Disney Cruise. We drove to Port Canaveral, telling him we were just going to Kennedy Space Center. Then when we past the ships, we said we thought we'd just see if they'd let us in to see the ship before everyone came to get on. By the time we were in line to register, he had it all figured out. After the cruise, we told him we just wanted to drive to Disney for a day, before we had to return home. We checked in to POFQ, and mistakenly he overheard the castmember say the dates of our stay, so that surprise was given away. Instead of 1 day, he knew we were staying 8. The last suprise was for the whole family. I had booked a Hummerzine ride back to the airport on our last day.

I would advise everyone to try to do this for your child some day. It doesn't have to be grand and expensive, just something to shake things up. My son still talks about it to this day. We're cruising this December and doing WDW, and my son said to me, "I wish you would have kept this one a surprise too." He always tells me he's going to surprise me the way I did him some day. This time, I'm surprising him by splitting our stay at the Beach Club Resort!

Here are some pics of when he realized we were going.