Do you tell your young children you are going or surprise them?

[Julia Ann]

ok so i've got about 4/5 years till we have the money to go back and my DD will be 6 or 7....what do you all do about telling your little ones about going to see Mickey Mouse - do you get them excited as the build up to the trip or wake them on the morning of going to the airport and tell them....or at the airport...be interested to hear wot u all do?

 

[wilma-bride]

We told our DS about a year before we went the first time as I wanted him to have a chance to input into the plans and what he wanted to do. The second time, he and the others (Nat's kids) were involved right from the start in all the planning and everything

 

[darthtatty]

we're the same as Joh, get our son involved right at the start. he can add his ideas and help with the planning, its so much fun doing it together.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

First time we went DD6 DS4 (at the time) knew,they were excited but not too excited as they didnt really understand the holiday that awaited them.Second time they knew a year in advance and they went on and on and on about it,telling me exactly what they were going to do,and in what order they were going to do it in.It was exhusting to say the least.The amount of nervous energy they used up was silly.By the time we got there DH and i were mentally done in.So the last time we went (May just gone) we didnt say a word.They knew,at some point we would be going back but we said it would probably be 2011.That meant that we could discuss it together,but it was always far far away.

On wednesday 19th May we woke them up at 5.30 in the morning,they just thought it was time to get up for school,we told them they had to go downstairs as their was something for them to see.When they opened the living room door they saw three suitcases.With the video camera shaking in one hand i said ,where do you think we are going, they said Wales?So i said try again,and they said Disney? We said yes,in one hour the taxi is taking us to the airport.
It was the most precious moment,their faces were ones of pure disbelief,shock and amazement.It was the best thing we ever did.Totally stress free(apart from the volcano)and a moment that will stay for us for the rest of our lives

 

[2Tiggies]

I think having your kids involved in the planning is very special. However two years ago, after someone let the cat out of the bag DD had an 11 month wait before we went. It was just a bit too long!

I think 6 months advanced notice is plenty for her to deal with at this stage. However this year IS a surprise. I know that for the reasons stated before it is the kind of thing that will be a one off as a surprise so I wanted to do it at this stage (she is 8). If you are able to do it as a surprise I think it is great, but I would only do it once as a surprise - at least for a very long time. Also, some children don't deal well with surprises and that needs to be carefully taken into account as well.

 

[PoppyAnna]

In the past we have kept it a complete surprise, apart from our first trip with both of them when to be honest they were so young, they didn't know what it meant anyway. Eldest DD is very sensitive to excitement and such things can totally take over her world, affecting her sleep patterns and learning and with her dyslexia we've needed to keep her focused in the past.
We are going back next April and although we haven't told them yet we have decided we will tell them nearer the time. Although she isn't a "show-off", youngest DD does tend to let everything will tell her run out of her mouth constantly at top speed and I don't want her going to school telling everybody where she is going on holiday when we haven't even approached the school for time off yet
I have enjoyed their reactions of absolute pleasure in the past when we have surprised them but this time I think I will also enjoy involving them

 

[T16GEM]

I have told ours that we are going again, they are only 4 & 3 though, so they have no idea of when we will be going!

I like to make a countdown with them, that we stick on our kitchen door, then we cross off a mickey every week, it's good fun (and I actually quite enjoy doing it - probably more than the kids do!)

 

[dixonsontour]

I'm very impressed with those that can do the surprise - it must be fabulous but I know I couldn't manage it.

Last trip DD was 3 and knew 3 months prior which was long enough. We did a mickey countdown which me and DD liked doing.

This time we booked 6 months out and told DD who is now 4, straightaway. I've enjoyed planning with her - she is alot more willing than DH to look at DIS food pics and we look at rides on youtube together. It's interesting what she remembers and wants to do again.

If you ask her what is happening in October she says it's Daddy's birthday, we're going to mickey's and Auntie Carolyn's baby is coming!

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

All the times we've been we always told the boys. I've always made a paperchain countdown which we hang up in the kitchen as soon as the holiday is booked. Sometimes it was a "little" one ... only 200 links, and sometimes it was a big one ....... 626 links !!!! When they were younger they used to fight about who was going to take a link down each day, now it's normally me that has to take it down

When they were smaller we used to watch the WDW planning DVD every sunday morning all in bed together and chat about what rides we wanted to do before getting up but now they're 12 & 14 those days have passed as they need an atomic bomb to get them out of bed


This time round when we were planning out ADR's for our up coming trip they certainly had very definite opinions about where they wanted to eat and as we get nearer to our leaving date the little comments about what they want to do and what they plan on spending their money on are become more frequent.

Having said all that I guess the gist of what I'm trying to say is that I think that telling your children is all part of the fun and involving them in the planning process gets them and you in the right frame of mind and helps build the excitement. They will participate at whatever level is right for them and each time you go that level will change and that in itself is all part of the magic of making Disney holidays

 

[PJB71]

We always tell DD's once it's booked

We love to plan our holiday as a family(well me and DD's do, DH just leaves us too it and carrys the suitcases) and now they are older they even have input with booking the villa, park tickets etc, etc.

We always make a countdown calender for everyone as soon as weve booked starting with weeks then once they get to 6weeks away they make a daily one.

I really admire people who can keep it as a surprise, but I know its something that I just wouldnt be able to do

 

[Dimplenose]

I'm the one who gets over excited in this house. I have always involved the kids but only because I don't like surprises myself. Anyway more than half the fun is in planning the holiday together.

 

[joolz1910]

My kids like surprises, so I've already decided not to tell them until the day we go. I think the time spent travelling will be more than enough for them to plan.

 

[wayneg]

You know your own children and what kind of family you have. Personally I don't like suprises myself, I am a planner and want to be in full control.

 

[2Tiggies]

You know your own children and what kind of family you have. Personally I don't like suprises myself, I am a planner and want to be in full control.

Were you like that as a child too? I'm partly serious - some kids are like that!

I agree though, that not only do you know your own children, but you also know what stage they are at. A 6 year old who loves surprises might hate the idea at 9.

 

[wayneg]

Were you like that as a child too? I'm partly serious - some kids are like that!

I don't remember a great deal about my childhood, its a long time ago I guess for presents (Xmas & Birthdays) then yes I liked the suprise but as long as I can remember I have never enjoyed being put on the spot, in my teens(16 & 17) I was a bit of a recluse, hardly ever leaving my bedroom for about 2 years, fear of going out. I have changed a lot in the last 25 years, although still a very shy person I hide it a lot better now. As some might have noticed at the DISmeet on Sunday I have no problem holding a conversation 1 on 1 but still find it difficult with a crowd, I tend to go quiet and step back.
Now we have analyzed my life I don't remember suprising Matt with anything regarding holidays, he has always known from booking and planned with us. Only suprises I can remember to do with holidays are flowers in a Spanish hotel and Chocs & Champagne on a cruise. Everything else we have planned as a family.

 

[joolz1910]

I hate surprises. I'm a born planner and I too like to be in control. My eldest does not cope well with countdowns and anticipation, my middle daughter is soooo impatient and the youngest, well who know how she will be in 2 years I would agree with what others say - everyone should judge their own family and how they might react to a surprise.

 

[PudseyChancer]

Our two little 'uns will be 5 and 8 at the time of travel, they've got no idea that we're going, and it's their first time to Orlando.

The plan such as it is at the moment, is I'll be taking the suitcases to Bewley's at Manchester on Friday lunchtime, they'll finish school and Caroline will bring them over straight after - they think I'm working in Manchester and staying over for a couple of nights. I'm going to meet them, take them for tea and then give them an envelope each with an invitation to WDW from Mickey.

It's been a killer keeping it secret, but it'll be amazing to see their faces - we went to DLP last year and they absolutely loved it. We've got a 'holiday fund' jar in the kitchen and they've changed their preferred destinations from DLP to Scarborough (!) and back again numerous times!

 

[2Tiggies]

The plan such as it is at the moment, is I'll be taking the suitcases to Bewley's at Manchester on Friday lunchtime, they'll finish school and Caroline will bring them over straight after - they think I'm working in Manchester and staying over for a couple of nights. I'm going to meet them, take them for tea and then give them an envelope each with an invitation to WDW from Mickey.

That is such a clever way to do it. I am still toying with whether to tell DD the night before or on the morning. We are also sleeping at a hotel at the airport the night before. DD loves hotels. Her idea of fun is just being at a hotel Anyway, I am also going to get her from school on the Friday and we may go straight to the hotel, but it might be better to tell her we are going to sleep out and let her stop at the house first in case there is a special toy or something she wants to take.

Don't know if I tell her that night if she will be awake all night .... and if I tell her in the morning if it might just be too much for her to take in.

 

[DISWolves]

My DD was (and still is) Princess mad. She had been doing a school project on castles at the time (how convienient!) so I compiled a DVD of things that we could do during the school holidays. This covered everything from swimming, bike rides etc. She watched it without much interest until it came to the section on to visiting castles. It started with places local to us, building up to Warwick and Windsor. Finally came............."or we could visit this one"..........which was some video that I had shot of the princesses in a show at MK castle..............Priceless!

Doing things for the first time I like it to be a surprise, such as our first Disney cruise,
Although Wayne and Mart (burt) came close a few times to spilling the beans!

 

[Julia Ann]

Thanks for the feedback - some of your surprises have made me fill up! ....the envelopes with invitations from Mickey and the dvd showing the castles... how lovely and how original. Guess i will have to see what type of little girl she is growing up to be to gauge whether we can surprise her or not....i like the idea of telling her on the morning, like somebody said that the flight is long enough for a youngster to do their planning. And being a planner myself, I think for her first trip (where she will probably be about 6yrs old) and not knowing what to expect i think i would like to plan it out for her.....which ever way i can't wait...keep them coming they are lovely to read