Best ways to Surprise Kids...

[grad_dis_nut]

Hello!

DH and I are taking our 5-year-old niece to WDW for the first time this January. We want to really surprise her....we are planning to arrive very late at night so that she sleeps in the car and doesn't notice all the Disney signs and other "clues" along the way. We are hoping to make it all the way into the MK before she knows where she is. Of course, we are staying at ASMo, so the huge Disney characters gracing the resort may be hard to avoid on our way out in the morning!!!

Would LOVE to hear tips on how people have surprised their kids!

 

[ksoehrlein]

My DH's family had a tradition of going on "Surprise Rides," so we started that with our family. The last time we went to WDW, I planned on it being a Surprise Ride, but after the baby got sick, we drove through a horrible storm that added an hour to our trip, and DD started wishing we could just go home, I went to Plan B and sprung the news on her at the Ocala Welcome Center. It was still a fun surprise for her, and then she really enjoyed the rest of the trip, knowing where we were going.

I know that won't work for you (since Ocala is WAY out of your way), but you might want to have some kind of Mickey-, Princess- or Disney-themed item in the car with you in case of emergency. If you get stuck in traffic or your niece starts getting antsy, you can go to plan B and clue her in with a small surprise so she understands that there will be a huge payoff for being a good, patient girl in the car.

That said, if she does manage to sleep until you get near the MK gates, you might want to have a Disney CD ready to go to help her awake. What fun to wake up listening to Disney music as you approach the Magic Kingdom!

Enjoy your planning!

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

How about a music CD from the Parks for the car? You could tell her that it's a clue to where you're going and let her figure it out. There's a CD called Music From the Parks , I think. If you're really interested I'll dig it out and get the correct name.


Or maybe a note from Mickey and Minnie telling her how excited they are to see her? Or even one of the Princesses? There's a place on disney.com where you can print notes.

Have fun!

Susan