Favorite ways to tell kids about trip?

[ExcitedMama]

Last time we went to DL was in 2014 when our kids were 4 and 2 and we are going back at the end of September this year when they will be 7 and 5. I'm really excited for them because they really want to go back. Last time our oldest was 4 and couldn't read and when we said we we had a surprise for him he was so excited and was convinced when we got on the tram from the garage that we were going to the movies. It was so much fun when he realized what was really going on. That time we were at a motel so it was easy to surprise him. This time my DH has a conference at the DLH so it's going to be obvious when we check in. Plus he's older and super nosy so I don't think we could keep him from finding out in advance nor would it really be worth trying. I am planning on a surprise outing one of the days to Universal since he loves Harry Potter but since he can read now I'm sure he'll see signs along the way and figure it out before we get there. I was thinking maybe I'd wrap a Harry Potter Costume for him to open along the way. I was thinking of doing a scavenger hunt and have the final be a box they can open with Disney goodies and Halloween stuff and tell them about the trip. That way they can enjoy the excitement and know we will be watching movies and preparing for the trip. I'd love to hear how you told your kids and think about doing something more creative. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[danielocha30]

This year we are taking my 10 and 9 year old to Disney and will be missing some school, so they usually ride the bus but this time we are making a excuse to drive them to "school", the plan is to have the car loaded and see how long can we drive until they ask where are we going, we usually play the Good Morning theme from MK old opening ceremony and surprise them, but this year that's the plan to surprise them

 

[bdiddy]

We did a little Scavenger Hunt when the kids were 3 and 5 with Disney goodies at the end. It was pretty basic since they were so little. Another thing I saw online that we did that really helped them with the "how long until the trip" is we made a Mickey Countdown Chain. We told them when we were 30 days out and I found the template online and it just had Mickey's head on it. But it was also in the box with the goodies and we hung it up on the mantle and they took turns pulling one off every morning.

My best friend picked her kids up from school one day and when they didn't make the turn for home and asked where they were going, she said Disney. That was a big hit of course! Her kids were all older though.

 

[bcla]

Well - this was years ago but my cousin was about 6 when she thought that she was going on an international trip with her family. They thought that she was too young for the trip and asked my family to take care of her until they got back. So we all went to the airport to send off her family, and that's where they told her that she wasn't going. She didn't take it very well and we had to hold her from trying to bolt through the gate onto the plane. It was also before going into the secure area was generally restricted to ticketed passengers or employees.

This was back in 1983. We did tell her that we were going down to Southern California and specifically Disneyland. She had a blast with us at Disneyland. We also saw Return of the Jedi while we were down there.

 

[Frozen2014]

We just told our kids yesterday. I set up a whole scavenger hunt with suttle clues on each (e.g. picture of Harry Potter). Then the last find was a page of pictures...a few Disneyland rides, characters, a few from Universal and a couple of California stuff. It was lots of fun. I was ready with the camera for the end.

 

[MrsIncredible725]

Nothing makes me happier than waking my kiddos up at 4am and telling them to hurry up and get dressed, we have a plane to catch. It's so hard keeping it a secret until the day we leave, but so worth it

 

[Frozen2014]

Nothing makes me happier than waking my kiddos up at 4am and telling them to hurry up and get dressed, we have a plane to catch. It's so hard keeping it a secret until the day we leave, but so worth it

That's really cool! Must have been a challenge hiding the suitcases and packing up without them knowing.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Last time we went to DL was in 2014 when our kids were 4 and 2 and we are going back at the end of September this year when they will be 7 and 5. I'm really excited for them because they really want to go back. Last time our oldest was 4 and couldn't read and when we said we we had a surprise for him he was so excited and was convinced when we got on the tram from the garage that we were going to the movies. It was so much fun when he realized what was really going on. That time we were at a motel so it was easy to surprise him. This time my DH has a conference at the DLH so it's going to be obvious when we check in. Plus he's older and super nosy so I don't think we could keep him from finding out in advance nor would it really be worth trying. I am planning on a surprise outing one of the days to Universal since he loves Harry Potter but since he can read now I'm sure he'll see signs along the way and figure it out before we get there. I was thinking maybe I'd wrap a Harry Potter Costume for him to open along the way. I was thinking of doing a scavenger hunt and have the final be a box they can open with Disney goodies and Halloween stuff and tell them about the trip. That way they can enjoy the excitement and know we will be watching movies and preparing for the trip. I'd love to hear how you told your kids and think about doing something more creative. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I agree about not trying to keep the whole trip a secret. My DS likes to be in on the planning, and I think he'd actually feel a bit cheated if we surprised him. (Not that any disappointment would last long at Disney!)

I like your idea for a scavenger hunt in advance, and I second a PP's idea for some sort of countdown chain/calendar. We've had:
a caterpillar (wearing Mickey ears) that wound back and forth across the playroom wall
a traditional paper chain
a "flip chart" type calendar made from an acrylic picture frame

There are some great ideas on Pinterest as well.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are surprising my kids who are much older (16 and 14) with a Christmas trip to DLR. We fly out on Christmas Eve and staying until New Year's Day. DH and I have been planning this trip since October and I am surprised that neither one of us has spilled the beans yet. DH and I thought it would be fun to tell them on my birthday (which is 2 weeks before Christmas) and wrap them each up a present that will have specialty made shirts that will say something to the effect of "Disneyland Christmas Vacation 2017" on it, and I am hoping that disneystore.com will have Christmas Minnie ears that I can buy to put in the package along with Disney gift cards for each of the girls. I originally wanted to tell them right after they take their last semester final, which will be 2 days before we leave, but then I thought about it...2 teenagers are going to want to have a couple weeks to figure out what they want to pack .

 

[YukonMommy]

Except the 2nd time, we have surprised our kids every time! The first was clues and luggage from Gramma who gave us the trip. The second time they knew. The third time we surprised them the night before (talk about mass chaos and no sleep!). The fourth time we surprised them at xmas with picture clues. Each time we have done a countdown (a chart with Disney stickers to put on each morning that hangs in the kitchen). They also can earn Disney Dollars leading up to the trips. I found a great sight on Etsy and printed off the money and laminated it. For allowances, extra chores they earn the money and that's what they have to spend of souveniers for themselves and their friends. I am already plotting for this Xmas and I think I will purchase a simple 24 piece puzzle, paint the pic black and write the message on the other side!

However you surprise them it will be magical! Happy Planning!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I am already plotting for this Xmas and I think I will purchase a simple 24 piece puzzle, paint the pic black and write the message on the other side!

That is so clever!!

 

[Indiana Scott]

As a kid back in the 60's, I remember looking forward to our DL trip for weeks. The anticipation was really part of the magic and we watched the Wonderful world of color and all the other wonderful Disney shows with even greater zeal.
It would not have been nearly as memorable had they simply dumped it on me in an effort to create a picture opertunity.

 

[poptart90]

My husband surprised our son (and me for our 10th wedding anniversary) with a suitcase standing in the kitchen. A note on the floor said "Open Me". I let my little guy (he was 5) open it and a big balloon came floating out with Disneyland tickets attached. They were old Disney tickets that my husband had saved, but you could make some or print a sign, etc. It was really fun. After that we made a paper chain and started counting down. My son is another one that likes to know ahead of time. He loves the anticipation and being involved in the planning.

We just took him to Universal Studios this summer. He's a big Harry Potter fan now too. I found this website:

www.housaholics.com/harry-potter-bedroom-reveal/

She had some amazing ideas for DIY Harry Potter room decorations. But we used the template she provided (half-way down the page) for the custom Hogwarts Admissions Letter. I bought a small white owl for Hedwig. We tied the letter to the owl and hung it from the ceiling in his bedroom as his "clue" we were going to Universal Studios. He freaked out.

Good luck choosing your reveal ideas! Thanks for starting this thread...so fun to read what everyone has done. I've already gotten some great ideas from people here!

Please let us know what you choose!! And how it goes!

 

[superme80]

I am super lame. "Hey kids! Daddy finally approved mommy booking a Disneyland trip. Want to help plan?"
My parents surprised my sister and myself a trip back in Jr. High. We were going to San Diego to visit my dad's family. My mom had us plan a trip for her mom for the next year. My dad had retired from the military not too long before, and had suffered some unemployment for about 6 months. We were excited to plan a trip for my grandma. When we got to a hotel, my mom said she had to run in and check on something for grandma's trip. Sounds legit in 1993. She came back and told us to get out of the car because we were staying the night! Hotels were a huge rarity, so we were excited about staying in one for the night. Then she announced that because we had taken the budget crunch so well, we were spending the next day at Disneyland!!!! I think we might have cried. It was a fantastic trip.

 

[ExcitedMama]

Thanks everyone! And thanks sooooo much Poptart!! I LOVE your Harry Potter idea!! I think that will be so much fun!