Creative ways to tell the kids?

[xyymom]

We're leaving in 19 days and our kids (8,6&4) don't know about the trip yet. We (OK, dh) had originally planned to plop them in the van and say "we're going to DisneyWorld" but we realize now that probably won't work.

We're hoping to tell them about a week before we leave to allow them some of that anticipation excitement, and for them to help plan what they think they might want to do (obviously I've got most of that done, but they'll be happy to help!) I also need to have a reason for why they have all this extra homework to do. I asked for it ahead of time rather than be bombarded when we got back or be expected to do it while we're away.

How did you tell your kids???

 

[KristiT]

We are taking my 2 nieces(11&6) to WDW in a few weeks. I had wanted to get a Cookies by Design basket delivered that said "We're going to Walt Disney World", but I could not justify spending that much money on just telling them. Instead, we baked sugar cookies and I wrote a letter on each cookie with icing. They had to unscramble the words and find out the surprise.

Just noticed the ages of you kids, so this would not be the best idea for a 4yr old.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

We took a spur of the moment trip in March and didn't tell dd until we woke her up that morning. I got the camera and dh and I went to her room and told her to hurry and get up so that we can go to wdw. I'm so glad we got her expression on camera, it was priceless. She couldn't stop grinning and she ended up running out to the van in her pj's and some house slippers. She was ready to go!!! She couldn't stop asking us if we were sure that's where we were taking her!!

 

[PartyofSix]

We are taking our 4yo girls next month. They know mommy and daddy are taking them to disney world but have no concept of time and such so we don't discuss it with them. We let them pick out there costumes to wear to mickey's halloween party and told them they were going to trick or treat with mickey mouse. And everyday they ask if it's time yet and i just keep telling them not yet. So that friday i'll put them on the bus like nothing special is happening sent them to preschool and dh and i will load the car up and go pick them up from school. We are just still going to tell them we are taking them to the zoo or something. They'll know they are in Disney when they see the castle! And we don't have to hear are we there yet. Oh dh picked them up some new pillows and cases with disney characters on them sunday at wal-mart for me to put in the car to sleep with on the way down. He thought that was silly at first until they flopped over on them on the way home from shopping with him.LOL

 

[fizz13]

i told my kids way too early ( we go New Years Day and I told them in May) and they are driving me crazy (5 and 3) They want to go now! Its bad enough that I've told them its after Christmas. Do you remember how long Christmas seemed when you were a kid? I think I've spoilt Christmas and spoilt what could have been a lovely suprise. They just look like they're gonna explode with excitement. the more I talk about it the worse it gets, which means the only place to talk about it is here, so I fully expect my posting total to go through the roof!
Anyway, enough already! I think a week is a great time to tell them, I really wish I had done.
BTW to get back to the point at hand, we watched the planning video together and casually dropped comments about the rides (ooh, I can't wait to do that, do you think you'll be tall enough to ride that) They got the hint even at their young ages. Most of all, have fun with this.
What about a postcard from Mickey ( or their favourite character), saying, Hi there! can't wait to see you on ......, come and say hi in Toontown! Love Mickey..
Good luck and post back to tell us how you did it,
much pixie dust,Claire

 

[ncbyrne]

I just LOVE the scrambled up letters on cookies idea! I'm taking my 2 DGDs (7+11) the first week in November and I'm definitely going to do this! I will be sure to have the camera ready when they figure it out!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

_ Sorry - LONG _

Some background ... I am taking a friend and his family (wife & 4 kids - 12, 11, 9,9) in January to OKW (1-12 to 1-20) and we are telling them Christmas evening via a game they will play. They are all part of my extended family as this friend lived with my folks as a teenager and is like a brother to me and I am the godfather of the eldest child. The kids have been asking me if they could possibley go to WDW since I purchased into the DVC as they were around frequently when planning my purchase and I had told them I would take them at some point. Getting my friend to agree to this trip took some serious negotiations as he felt I was spoiling his kids "again" (and so what if I am?) and since he doesn't make a lot of money and hasn't been to WDW since with my folks as a teenager and his kids have never been he agreed it would be the only way for his kids to get to experience WDW any time soon.

After much debate and discussion, what we agreed on was that I provide the resort accommodations (Christmas gift to the folks), 5 day passes (Christmas gift to kids), 3-day Universal Passes (birthday presents to kids) and they would pay for the rest including my airline ticket and meals ( i have AP's for wdw and US/IOA, DQ). BUT I also told them not to buy anything else (other than PHP & US/IOA passes for the adults) till we get there to get the "best deals" (they believed me thinking I am the wdw guru of sorts having been 16 times to date)). So what the folks don't know is that I have also purchased DQ and SW passes for them all (this will be an argument later...) as well as Disney Dollars for each child to purchase a souvenir and am also hoping I can reserve an Illuminations Cruise (backup will be a Wishes Cruise) as well as the kids all love fireworks. So all in all, the kids do not know any of our plan and the folks "think" they do but have a surprises coming for Christmas evening as well. Here is the plan ...

We have come up with a "Disney Game" to inform them which is comprised of a scavenger hunt and puzzles. Each clue they find from the scavenger hunt is a Disney themed puzzle (cross word puzzle, jumble, trivia, etc.) each puzzle reveals a clue to the next puzzles location as well as receiving a prize per puzzle (PHP, U/IOA Pass, DQ, SeaWorld, Disney Dollars). The final puzzle will reveal the location of an invitation certificate to be my guest at OKW and be my guest at my home away from home (DVC) with all the details listed out on the invitation. So Christmas evening should be a fun one and I can’t wait to see their faces when they realize they will be in wdw 3 weeks from then!!! I also cant wait to see their parents faces when they see SeaWorld passes, DQ passes, a Specialty Cruise Certificate (self made) and $50 Disney Dollars per child...

I am hoping they take it in stride as I always spoil these kids as I have none of my own and they are use to my antics What better time of year than Christmas to go a bit "overboard". I am sure the kids will love it and I just hope the parents are ok with the portions of the plan they were not informed of... I may be calling for some pixie dust to pull this all off if the parents should by chance become upset with their "surprises". I'm crossing my fingers this all works ... Let the game begin!!!

 

[xyymom]

BostonDisneyKid ~ WOW!

What a lucky family I'm sure they'll all be thrilled with your generous gifts.

Great idea with the game!

 

[suerob]

We have three dd's ages 2, 5, and 7. We are going in December and want it to be a surprise. This is our 4th trip in 2 1/2 years and I don't want to burn them out, so instead of telling them and talking about it for the next 3 months, we'll surprise them. I am going to secretly get their work from their teachers and of course tell the teachers about the surprise. I was thinking that I'll just let them get up for school like normal, then when they go into the kitchen, where the backpacks and lunchboxes usually are, we'll have the luggage sitting there. I may make a sign that says "Surprise, we're going to Disney World". I'll probably add in some other goodies, like disney t-shirts and put out our MVMCP tickets. Then I'll tell them to hurry up because we have to get to the airport which will be a nice surprise because we always drive. How much better could their morning be since they thought they were getting up for school as usual? It will be hard for me to keep it a secret but it will be worth seeing that priceless look on their faces.

 

[lmermaid]

I've been going to Dis since I was 8 years old and wanted our first trip with my dd 5 and ds 3 to be really special. I collected Dis items that they could use on the plane and on the trip (pj's, stickers, coloring books, autograph book, pen, disposable camera etc) from the Dis Store, Dollar Store and other places. Then, I put the items in a box with a letter from Mickey. I found the Disney font on the computer, so it was perfect. I addressed it to them and left it on the porch for them to find. They were thrilled. They knew we were going sometime that week. We didn't tell them until that morning. We woke them up that morning and video taped their reactions. It was priceless. We're going for their birthdays (October 30th and 31st) and plan on doing the same thing. I think it will be a tradition.

 

[jwann]

We just surprised my boys (6 and 9) with a 4 day trip to WDW. We told them the night before by taking them to dinner and playing "Disney 20 Questions". We love to play this game. Someone thinks of an attraction or an event that has happened on one of our trips. The rest of us have to guess. "Is it at one of the four major theme parks? At the resort? Outside? Is water involved? Is food involved? etc.
Well, the night we told them. It was my turn to think of something. Then when it was my dh's turn to ask a question, he said, "Is it some place we are going tomorrow?" "yes" I said. "Is it Disney Quest?" "yes" I said. The boys said "Are we really going to Disney tomorrow?" The looks on their face was priceless.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I've always liked the idea of mailing them a card or postcard from their favorite character inviting them to come visit, saying they're looking forward to seeing them soon. Might be a little young for the 8yo, but the others would probably get a kick out of it!

 

[wilderness01]

BostonDisneyKid~

What a kind and generous person you are. Have a wonderful time with your surprises!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

wilderness01 - Thanks!!!

I am certain it will be a wonderful trip. The looks on their faces when giving them these gifts and playing the "game" will be reward enough. But, also being able to experience WDW with them as well, I will be rewarded ten fold or as I see it, "Priceless"!!!

 

[doodle]

Hi, BostonDisneyKid. I loved reading your post! I am sending you a PM.

doodle

 

[Castlebound]

Our first trip to Disney was last year in September. We made a count down calendar for the kids and they each got to put a sticker on it everyday until we left. We went through a LOT of stickers because we told them around eight months before we left. We also had a Mickey postcard sent to them about a month before we left. When we got to AKL we gave each of them little basket like boxes that had an autograph book, pen, disposable camera, and AK binoculars. Our kids were 6 and 4 at the time and the loved all of this. We thought that this would be our only trip for at least a few years, but as luck would have it we are going back in January. My DH is speaking at a conference being held at CSR at the end of January. We decided that it would not be good for dad to get to go back to WDW and not the rest of us. Our kids know that we are all going to the conference but we told them that we haven’t found out yet where it is being held. They will find out that we are going to WDW on Christmas Eve when they get their park passes as a gift. We have told them that we are going from Jan. 29 thru Feb. 2 but we are really leaving January 25. We hope to fly which would be a first for our kids. On the 25th we plan to wake them up and tell them that we decided to leave for our trip early and hopefully really surprise them when we get to the airport. I hope that I am able to keep it a surprise until Christmas, but I'm so excited that it is hard not to tell them!

Christal