Booked!

[NEEN09]

We are actually headed to WDW the first week of May! Can't wait to plan more details and take our kids for the first time! Would you recommend not telling until we arrive or like the day or two before we go? The logical part of me says yes. The other part wants to start talking about it immediately. The next 8 months need to fly by!

 

[shanejoseph]

Surprise them!!! We did with our DD on a trip, it was the greatest experience! We were originally supposed to be going to mother-in-law's in Indiana. Plans changed, so we swapped trips and just didn't let her know. Kept the ruse up until the plane landed in Orlando, and the pilot made the announcement! I told her we must have gotten on the wrong plane. She almost started to cry, thinking how disappointed her Grandma Shirley was going to be, cause she had been talking to her about the trip for sometime. Grandma was in on it. I then asked her, "Well we're here now, what do you think we can do in Orlando?" Then she figured it out! It was priceless! At first she was still concerned for Grandma, until we told her she was in on it!

 

[2Kds2K9]

Depending on their ages, if they are under 10, I'd wait. It could be a very long 9 months for all of you. We also did a surprise trip for our kids and it was priceless. It was hard for me to keep the secret, but so worth it in the end. Good luck!

 

[akmolbert]

I would so wait! We're taking our first trip in Oct and plan to keep quiet about it until we're almost there. My oldest DS is almost 4, and he asks every. single. day. if we can go to disney world. We've told him for a while that he can go after he's 4. (I'm kind of dreading the 4 or so weeks between his birthday and our trip!) We're driving, leaving after DH gets off work one night, then staying overnight around Savannah, GA on the way down, so we will tell him we're going on an adventure and then tell him where we're going when we leave Savannah. Hoping the remaining drive will not be too obnoxious with a million "are we there yet" and "how much longer"!!

 

[Heidi K]

Well, I have to disagree with the previous posters, although it does depend on the ages of your kids. We're going in 2 weeks but told our kids when we booked in October. It has been so wonderful planning the trip together as a family. This is our first big vacation in 6 years and my husband had just ended a long stretch of unemployment, so we've been celebrating together that we can go on this major vacation.

My kids are 8, 5, and 2 and we allowed each of them to choose a restaurant before we made ADRs. We also watching the planning DVD together, read guide books, etc. It has just been so exciting planning this trip with them. I feel like I would have been cheating them out of fun and anticipation if we didn't tell them. It would be different if we went to Disney World every year, but we're an every 4 to 6 years family.

However, it has been difficult for the 2 year old to wait this long (EVERY DAY she's been asking, "we go Disney World right now?") So I would be more likely to surprise/wait if they are younger or if you go to Disney frequently, and more likely to tell them if they are older or if this is a rare event for your family.

Have FUN either way!!!

 

[Grannyto5]

Well, I have to disagree with the previous posters, although it does depend on the ages of your kids. We're going in 2 weeks but told our kids when we booked in October. It has been so wonderful planning the trip together as a family. This is our first big vacation in 6 years and my husband had just ended a long stretch of unemployment, so we've been celebrating together that we can go on this major vacation.

My kids are 8, 5, and 2 and we allowed each of them to choose a restaurant before we made ADRs. We also watching the planning DVD together, read guide books, etc. It has just been so exciting planning this trip with them. I feel like I would have been cheating them out of fun and anticipation if we didn't tell them. It would be different if we went to Disney World every year, but we're an every 4 to 6 years family.

However, it has been difficult for the 2 year old to wait this long (EVERY DAY she's been asking, "we go Disney World right now?") So I would be more likely to surprise/wait if they are younger or if you go to Disney frequently, and more likely to tell them if they are older or if this is a rare event for your family.

Have FUN either way!!!

I agree! My grand kids are the same ages as your children and we told them as well. Same as you, they watched the planning DVD with us, we have watched you tube videos, are reading guidebooks, they are earning money for spending money. We are also going in May and are going to enjoy everyday until then doing something toward gettinf ready for our trip!

 

[mediadiva]

We are actually headed to WDW the first week of May! Can't wait to plan more details and take our kids for the first time! Would you recommend not telling until we arrive or like the day or two before we go? The logical part of me says yes. The other part wants to start talking about it immediately. The next 8 months need to fly by!

I love those video's of the parents telling kids literally the morning of I think those are amazing for the kids. I personally could never hold it in that long lol!

 

[Jing]

Surprise them!!! We did with our DD on a trip, it was the greatest experience! We were originally supposed to be going to mother-in-law's in Indiana. Plans changed, so we swapped trips and just didn't let her know. Kept the ruse up until the plane landed in Orlando, and the pilot made the announcement! I told her we must have gotten on the wrong plane. She almost started to cry, thinking how disappointed her Grandma Shirley was going to be, cause she had been talking to her about the trip for sometime. Grandma was in on it. I then asked her, "Well we're here now, what do you think we can do in Orlando?" Then she figured it out! It was priceless! At first she was still concerned for Grandma, until we told her she was in on it!

Just have to say, what a thoughtful, compassionate little girl you have!

 

[shanejoseph]

Just have to say, what a thoughtful, compassionate little girl you have!

Jing, Thank you! She truly is! The most tender heart I've ever seen. We'll be celebrating her Sweet-Sixteen, Dec. 30th, at The World! She's my future Imagineer; no kidding, such an artist, designer, and writer!
Just a bragging father, I know

 

[Spunky946]

I'd compromise and surprise them a couple of months out. That way you don't have to hear the endless questions of when you are going, but they get to plan a little and get excited.

 

[AriesAriel]

We've already told our 2 (currently ages 4/5) and DD(4) is already whining about it not being soon enough. DS(5) is fine.

Probably depends on your kids' personalities!

 

[mirandaperez10]

Go ahead and tell them part of the fun of disney is the anticipation of going to disney. Your kids can help you get ready for the trip!! A great idea is to watch the planning videos with them and also to show them some of your favorite disney movies from when you were younger show them how much you love disney and you can get excited together!!

Faith, Trust, and..PIXIE DUST.

 

[LynnTH]

What about telling them at Easter. You could put stuff for trip in Easter Baskets like Kids Guide Book, Disney Gift Card, Sunglasses etc. That way they can still get in on planning but it won't be too long for them to wait.

 

[NEEN09]

Telling at Easter is a GREAT idea! Thank you so much! I think I will definitely plan on that. Not only will it be fun and still allow for a bit of a countdown/ anticipation, but it will also ensure that I think practical and Disney-oriented for their baskets. Thanks!

 

[msmama]

You don't mention kids ages which I think could make a difference. You know your kids best, too.

My son would NOT be happy to have a trip sprung on him. And, his personality is not such that he'd get super excited and make a big fuss if I did surprise him, so it'd probably be a let down for me.

That said, it's just the two of us, so he helps with planning, and we talk about what we want to do while we're there, etc.