Celebrate with me!! The surprise is killing me! :)

[triplefigs]

Have a great trip! Make sure to post when you get back home and take LOTS of pictures!!!

 

[Lizzybee]

I just surprised my kids with a WDW trip a couple of weeks ago and I swear the night before I gagged and almost threw up because I was soooo excited and had to play it cool. I know I'm a dork, but in the end it was so worth it. I surprised them at home with an elaborate guessing game (ie: "Question word that rhymes with -picture of a cow= How. Each word had a picture/word clue and it spelled out "How would you like to go to the happiest place on Earth...TODAY"). It was 3:30 am but they were still shocked, ok maybe more dazed than shocked. Anyway, the whole trip they said "our Mom surprised us with this trip" so I got called the best Mom ever lots on the trip (bonus ). Even my Dr. said I was the best Mom ever (I stubbed my toe on my son's shoe at WDW and almost tore the nail off, it got infected so I had to see my Dr.) I guess what I'm trying to say is BRAVO to you , it really is worth it, don't give in at the last minute (I almost did, I just couldn't STAND it anymore), and above all soak up the magic while you are there. Much Pixie Dust to you.

 

[lmhall2000]

Sounds very exciting! The kids will love it! One question, how are you going to hide the luggage from the kids?

This is the GREAT part!!! We have a minivan...we are going to put the suitcases in the back part of the van the night before, with a quilt on top just in case they're looking back there...(they never do)..My great husband is going to drop the kids and me off at the terminal (pretending we're running late so we need to get in quickly)...dh will park the car and take the luggage by himself...this is the tricky part...I have to pack everything in two bags and three backpacks. He will check in the two pieces of luggage and bring the three backpacks with him...my job is to seat the kids in such a way that when he comes to us their backs will be to him and he can stow the backpacks with the flight agent...I'll just have my camera and purse with me...

In their 3 backpacks I've packed their own personal disposable camera, fun coloring/activity books for the flight, snacks to eat on and all our swimsuits so we can go straight to the pool when we check in! We have ADR's for Chef Mickey's that night...and our flight gets in at 3:00pm so we should have a GREAT start for the trip!

I'm sooo excited.....thanks guys for letting me get excited with all of you!! It really really is hard to keep it all in...but the reward will be their faces...they've been such wonderful angels through all the stress Daddy and I have been through being separated for over a year and just the stress of always keeping a house in show condition...each time a realtor called to show the house (sometimes with less than 5 minutes notice)..the kids would each volunteer to pray that this would be the one so they could be with their Daddy again...they really never complained...but they did break down and miss their Daddy on big moments he wasn't there for...so we're ready to put that year behind us and focus on being together!

Lizzybee...what a GREAT way to surprise your kids! I bet they will remember it always! And, OUCH infected toe!!! My daughter has been complaining about a bug bite on her foot...she has horrible reactions to bug bites..so I didn't think it was any different than other times...but I saw it tonight and it was awful! I had to drain it and I felt soo bad that I hadn't checked it before....now I'm anxious that she doesn't get an infection and have a horrible time walking all over Disney. Hoping she wakes up and it's much better.

Tara

 

[daretodream]

Congratulations! You are incredible! I kept the secret for 1 week and couldn't take it any longer. We had to tell our children. They've never been (10,6,3), and they've been bouncing off the wall. I don't know if they will be able to sleep the night before. Thankfully, we're only a six hour drive away from the world. Have an incredible trip!! Counting down to our first family trip 9/12/05-9/18/05 POR.

 

[scoutsmom99]

That is such a neat suprise! Make sure to report when you get back how it went! I will be looking for a post

 

[disneydreamer1970]

We surprised our DS and his best friend with a 5 day trip to Universal and Seaworld a couple of years ago for DS's 12th birthday!! The way that we did it was by telling DS that all we could afford that year for his birthday was some school clothes and his dad was going to take him kayaking for a couple of days (that covered packing shorts, swimsuits, etc.) (His birthday is at the end of July)...The night before we left for the trip we had family and friends over for a surprise birthday party for him, and we saved our gifts for last. When he started opening his clothes, the look on his face was priceless...he was trying to be so good about the clothes but you could tell how disappointed he was that I wasn't lying about the school clothes. I was just dying inside at this point... The last thing that he opened was a brand new backpack stuffed full of school supplies. Tucked deep inside of the last pocket he opened was an envelope for him and one for his best friend. Then came the surprise....they opened their envelopes together which included passes, plane tickes and brochures to Universal and Seaworld....They were a bit confused and speachless at first...I said, "Boys, we are leaving at 4:00 in the morning for the airport!"...at which time my DS's best friend stands up, looks at me and hollors "Are you kidding me?!!"..I said "No"..and at that point these 2 12 and 13 year old boys started screaming like a couple of girls!! It was hysterical and we captured the moment on camera and in pictures!!! It was so hard to keep the surprise from them, but was completely worth it in the end when we saw their reactions!!!!!!

DH and I talk about how we are going to suprise our DD when she is older. She is 4 now...Her birthday is at the end of November so we want to take her to WDW for the Christmas Party at WDW.

Please let us know how they react to your surprise!! I can tell you from our experience, it was worth all those moments of wanting to tell the secret but keeping it in!! Enjoy your trip!!

Trish

 

[lmhall2000]

"Boys, we are leaving at 4:00 in the morning for the airport!"...at which time my DS's best friend stands up, looks at me and hollors "Are you kidding me?!!"..I said "No"..and at that point these 2 12 and 13 year old boys started screaming like a couple of girls!!
Trish

That's what it's all about! Making a moment for our kids. It's just a little snippet in time that they'll all remember....last night my 6 year old was crying because she realized that she doesn't have very many memories. We have a friend who has a 6 month old and my daughter got it into her head that she doesn't remember anything from being a baby...she wanted those memories of me playing with her they way I played with this baby...awwww...

So I tried to think up big events that had happened to her...our last move, getting her new big girl bed, making friends at our old church, Christmas at grandma's...she really couldn't remember too much. I guess most start their memories around 3 or 4. Finally, I hit on a few things that she remembered and she started to smile...so this trip will fulfill a need for our youngest daughter...I'll work hard at creating some memories for her now that she's 6.5 and can really remember...we've been to Disney since she was an infant, age 3 and now...she can't remember the last trip but she'll remember this one!!!!

Tara

 

[milmore104]

Have a great trip. I know how it feels to be away from your hubby during the week and only seeing him on the weekends. I have done it for 5 years now. Thanksfully DH finally switched companies. He know works from 4am -7:30pm everyday but at least he gets to kiss us good night. We too can't wait to spend some quality "family" time together. Good luck w/ your suprise and be sure to tell us all about it when you return. Pixie Dust

 

[debbiedoo]

have a great time!! How exciting!

 

[dtsaos]

If anybody happens to see 3 kids standing along the road in SC you will know that I had enough


Too funny! We'll be driving with our 3 as well and there's a good chance they may be standing next to your kids by the time we reach SC!! Although we're not leaving until the 18th so I guess they might have to meet up on your way home!

To the OP, you actually got me choked up! I wish I could see your kids faces, what a wonderful surprise! Have fun.

 

[Dory41]

What a great surprise! Kudos to you for spreading the magic of Disney to your children. Oh and Happy Birthday!

 

[lmhall2000]

Have a great trip. I know how it feels to be away from your hubby during the week and only seeing him on the weekends. I have done it for 5 years now. Thanksfully DH finally switched companies. He know works from 4am -7:30pm everyday but at least he gets to kiss us good night. We too can't wait to spend some quality "family" time together. Good luck w/ your suprise and be sure to tell us all about it when you return. Pixie Dust

5 years?????? I don't know how you did it!! And still that's a tough schedule for him! Any chance he's in software engineering and would like to move to Alabama??? We'd hook him up! We did the 5am-7pm thing for 6 months when we lived in Washington State...that is as long as we could handle it...I'll be praying that life is good to y'all this year and you can have more time with dh/ddaddy! I actually think it was harder on my dh than the four of us..because we had each other and he was alone every night and really didn't know anyone in Huntsville. It can be soo tough for them!

A little twist I'm thinking of trying...my sister mentioned that maybe I could talk with the check-in agents (telling the kids I have to run to the ladies room) secretly get their boarding passes..but tell them that I talked with a pilot and he said we could go on the plane for a tour....then we'll spring it on them that we're not getting off until Orlando! I'll have to play it different ways and see how the airport is set up in Birmingham...we're soo excited!!

And I semi-salvaged my pathetic tie-dye job with some iron on transfers with the kids names in Disney font and their favorite character with Family Trip 2005 underneath...I'm washing them now...hope it stays on the shirt!!! So you guys who will be there the same time..look for a family of five on 9/13 at MK with HORRIBLE tie-dye shirts but with cool names on them!

Tara

 

[lmhall2000]

Less than 24 hours before we embark on our surprise of the year....kids are still clueless...what's left to do....

Print out ADR's...find shoes/sandals for everyone...clean house....wash dog...and cash...how much cash should we bring? I'm thinking out loud here...tips for the baggage folk, maybe extra for some dining tips/mousekeeping maybe (I don't generally tip mousekeeping), laundry money just in case I underpacked trying to keep this on the low and low, we have our $63 Disney Visa dollars card (that'll just make it one pass through Main street! )

Can't wait to pull this off....the kids are going to go NUTS! Only drawback is ds found out team pictures (football) will be Tuesday night..it's his first year playing and that will be disappointing to miss but we're trying to work a way to "morph" him into the team picture with some graphics help from some friends. Where there's a will there's a way!

Thanks guys!! I'm sooo excited that I woke up at sunrise and am bouncing off the walls! And I don't even drink coffee!
Tara

 

[lmhall2000]

Oh! And a bonus thrill!!! Yesterday the phone rang and guess who it was?? A CM from the Contemporary...I felt like I was talking to a celebrity (okay yes, this Disney anticipation is getting too much value in my life...I will sink back to reality in two weeks)....I was almost stunned..she said they had received my fax (see, they DO read them!!! ) I sent one just to confirm a non-smoking room...ds and dd have horrible asthma that can ruin their fun time....and I also asked in the letter how I could get me a cool birthday cake for Tuesday...

She said they had a bakery onsite and would transfer me over! So I ordered the Mickey Mouse cake with chocolate and they'll deliver it to the room my birthday night...and I'm not even concierge...they took the time to call and help me out!!! The magic is already starting!

This is going to be a GREAT getaway!!!

Leave for Birmingham airport around 9am...arrive at the World around 3pm!

YAHOO!!!
Tara

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Tara - you are a hero of a mom! Your kids are going to be practically giddy with excitement .... and when I say giddy I mean, take your excitement level and divide it in thirds But seriously, the thing that makes your plan so cool is the excitement that you have been able to generate for yourself! So many people think that we do these things just for our kids - but the fact that this is also exciting for you makes it even more cool I'll be thinking of you guys tomorrow morning and wishing you a wonderful time!