First-ever WDW Trip - tell the kids or surprise them?

[AJRitz]

We're planning our first-ever trip to WDW for a week in early October, 2010. The trip will be over DD7's 8th birthday. We have been planning to surprise the kids with the trip, not telling them about it until we wake them up on the day we fly out to Orlando. But after spending a good amount of time on the planning, I'm starting to second-guess that decision.

In favor of the surprise route:
1) It makes for a darned cool birthday surprise.
2) Avoids the daily (hourly), "How much longer until . . ."
3) Prevents disappointment if something comes up that forces cancellation or delay of the trip (DW and I are both attorneys and we both do trial work. We're doing our best to keep the time clear, but judges don't always care about vacation schedules).
4) October 2010 is a long time away. If we tell them now, some of the "magic of the moment" may bleed away.

In favor of telling them earlier:
1) They get to participate to at least some extent in the planning
2) No need to lie to DD7 when she starts wondering why we're not planning a birthday party
3) Opportunity to do YouTube "previews" of rides and get a better idea of what each of the kids will be able to handle/want to ride
4) Can talk openly about trip plans, without having to make sure kids are distracted/otherwise engaged/asleep

What say you DISboardians?

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

With a 7 and 3 year old, I would make it a surprise. Especially work may force a delay. Watching Youtube videos of the rides kinda goes over the little ones heads. My 7 yr old is TERRIFIED of all of the 3D shows. He'll go on every ride...RnRc, SM, BTMR, EE, everything...but The Muppets 3D will send him into hysterics. He's seen videos...but it's different in the moment. You should watch and make decisions. I wouldn't worry about having to fib about the birthday party...think of it like you are having a surprise bday party.

I was just having a similiar discussion with dh this morning. We were unsure whether we would be able to do a trip this year. The kids have been a little bummed. We decided yesterday that we would go ahead and book for September. I thought it would be cool to keep it a surprise. DH thinks that with dd being in 5th grade and ds being in 3rd next year, it would be difficult to surprise them during the school year without it causing trouble making up their work.....it will probably be the last non school vacation vacation we will be able to do.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Sounds like you need to surprise them or atleast wait until a week b4 to tell them. A weeks "notice" will give you time to tell them about the plans, hotel, any dinner reservations for character dining, etc...My kids really liked looking at the maps I ordered from Disney. It was a good way to explain to them about the trip. The you tube videos help too. Maybe you could get their suit cases and put a mickey mouse stuffed animal or disney t shirt in it along with the maps and *surprise* them that way...

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I'd say tell them a month ahead of time or so. I think for their first trip they should get to experience the excitement of it all. But don't tell them to early or they will drive you nuts!

 

[mjkacmom]

We surprised our kids when they were 4, 4, 6, 9, and 11, and it was great! To get them somewhat involved with the planning, I told them we might be able to go in a couple of years, and that's why I had some books and websites. Dd11's teacher didn't give work out ahead of time anyway, and ds9's teacher let me come in after school to get his work. Dd6's teacher said have fun, and gave her no makeup work (they ended up missing 4 days of school for a 10 day vacation thanks to jersey week).

I just booked a cruise for us in November, and they happened to be by me when I was on the website, and heard me on the phone (last minute idea for jersey week 2010 from my mom). They were excited, but dd7 just asked me "why the heck did you tell us so early when we have to wait so long?" They are now disinterested. I know things will be more exciting 8 months or so from now!

 

[tzolkin]

My kids were heavily involved in the planning for our first trip, so I can see the value of that. It was a lot of fun talking about Disney daily and watching their excitement. We researched online, made the customized maps, earned Disney dollars, and watched the planning DVD more times than I can count. We even started packing almost 4 months before we left.


We knew we were going to go again even before we got there, so we were always "planning" for our next trip. We told the kids we couldn't afford to go last year, but we were always talking about Disney. We went to "visit Grandma" in May-- she lives south of Disney, so they really didn't suspect a thing until we pulled into the parking lot of the resort.

That trip was full of surprises... grandma checked in before the kids woke up a few days later and we just happened to run into her at the bus stop when we were headed to MK for rope drop. We checked out of Pop and the kids thought our trip was over after 7 nights, so they were very excited when we drove to CSR for 4 more nights instead of heading home.

It was difficult for DH and I to keep quiet for months and we were about to explode during the 23 hour car ride, but it was worth it.


Although the surprise was fun, my kids really enjoy the planning. They will be actively involved in planning our next trip, but we may surprise them with something another time.

 

[ginnymack]

We do both - at the same time! For our first trip, we told our kids that we were going about a month before the trip, could have fun planning and discussing what they want to do. It also gave us time to prepare them for anything they may be scared of. The trip to Disney was given as a Christmas gift, but they were told we were going to "wait" until spring to go, so the weather would be nice. No one questioned my "gathering" things up for our trip, so we would be all set when spring came...Of course, the got a huge surprise one January morning when we woke them up with the news that they would be eating lunch at Disney that very day! PERMA GRIN ALL DAY!!! My DD still laughs about how well we tricked her. I told her it was a shame that it would not work a second time...of course this December she is going to have quite a surprise!!!

 

[poohscrew]

Keep it a suprise!!!! My best friend kept it a suprise from her kids 2 years ago until the morning they left. She had their bags packed secretly the night before and then woke them up the morning of the trip. They could not figure out where they were going. She had a Disney figure on the antenna of her car to see if anyone would notice. (I can't remember if they did or not). She also had disney t-shirts for them to change into at the airport and even had disney snacks (i.e. fruit snacks, cookies, etc) to bring on the plane. She had so much fun planning this and keeping it a secret and her kids had the time of their lives.

I can't keep a secret to save my life and we go every year so my kids kind of expect it. But if I could plan is secretly I would.

They are only young once so enjoy it and have an awesome time in Disney. Make sure you tell reservation at the hotel (if you are staying on property) that it is your DD's birthday and also get her a button when you enter the parks!! We were down there last year for my DD's 7th birthday (we stayed off site with my DS's baseball team) and only went in to the MK for her birthday but she was treated like a princess by the Disney staft all day!! It was a magical birthday that she will never forget (she thinks we need to go there every year for her birthday!!).

 

[growinupdisney]

Every year we go I say I'm going to suprise them and every year I don't. I get toooo excited plus all year long they keep asking when are we going to disney again, so I'm always excited to tell them when we makeour decision! Maybe next year I will suprise them! I know maybe my dh needs to suprise me! lol well up to a week before so I can pack and make my lists!

 

[MinnieGi]

For a FIRST time ever trip, I'd tell the kids before hand. That way they get to help plan a little and get to ANTICIPATE the trip!!! I think for a later trip it would be fun for a complete surprise, but for this trip I'd do the telling maybe two months before the trip. Order the free planning DVD and buy them a DIsney kids guide book so they can start getting an idea of what fun will await them and you can get an idea of what might really be on their "must-do" lists! I think the building of the anticipation is sooooo much fun and with count down chains or calendars it makes the time fly by and the kids look forward to it sooooo much.

Besides it is also sooooooo much fun to talk about the trip as a FAMILY before the you go!!!! (especially the first time)!

 

[crisi]

A lot of kids - particularly in that pre-school age - do better when they are prepared. Disney can be pretty overwhelming. You know your kids, but if your kids are tentative, it might be best to prep them a little - we had a disasterous trip with friends who didn't do an adequate job of prepping their kids (older than yours, but somewhere on the autism spectrum). Also, that allows you to develop plans around your kids interests.

If you were getting on a cruise ship - where you could go with the flow and it was pretty much like home - I'd be all for surprising them.

 

[naomi78155]

We took DS last year (4 at the time) for his trip and it was a total surprise!
He had asked us since he was old enough to talk if we could "go to the place with the castle". We had told him, when he is big enough we would take him.

So, last April, we woke him up early in the morning and told him that we were going to take a plane ride (his first). He was very excited. Grandma dropped us off at the airport and at our connecting destination he kept asking where Grandma was. I guess he thought we just flew in a circle for fun. We got to Orlando and boarded the Disney Express and the Disney video started. He kept looking at us and then back at the tv. I think he sort of got it, but then we got to WL and he asked if we could stay a while. He suggested we stay for 30 minutes. This is when we took him to the room and told him this would be our "home" for the week!

It was amazing. We are planning another surprise trip soon!

Good luck.

 

[sk!mom]

I would tell them at the point that you are sure that it will not be cancelled. Maybe a month in advance.

I've done both and honestly the surprise fell flat. DD8 (at the time) actually got emotional over the things that she had planned for that weekend that would be missed and "mom, what about school?". Once we explained that all was taken care of then she was over the moon excited but really the trips that we've planned together have been better. The anticipation is part of the fun.

 

[Melknor]

On our first family trip last year (April) we did the surprise thing. We woke them up in the morning and they did a scavenger hunt ending with "Surprise, we are going to Disney" (we had a later morning flight, so this worked).

We did tell them that we were going that year, but not until later in the year so that way they were able to hear us talk about it and we were still able to get their input on rides and what they were interested in. I had also bought a Disney for Kids book that he was able to read on the plane as well, so that is another idea for your kids to look over if you go with the surprise.

The only downside to doing it that was was that DS9 didn't believe us that we were leaving that morning until I brought down the suitcases.

Would I do it that way again for our first trip? Definately!! They know about our trip this year and aren't as into the planning as I would have thought, but they are definately excited.

 

[tscrapper]

Surprises are good, the month mark may be the way to go. We are telling our girls 13 and almost 16 this Sunday it is their Valentine's Day Gift. Gift cards and M&M tubes with quarters and pennies for pressed pennies. And some chocolate to eat now. It will be about 41 days until our first trip.

 

[fluffycow333]

I think the day before you should ask them "What do you want to do tomorrow?" And they can say something and then you can say "Well, I was thinking about going to Disney. How does that sound?"

 

[Reese]

We've surprised our kids a couple of times and their reactions never get old. The first time we told them right before we left for the airport. They screamed and jumped. Next time they thought we were going for a two day Niagra Falls trip. At a Tim Horton's we gave them each an itinerary with their 14 days of Disney. They were screaming so loud that even the truckers were looking at our van.
I love surprising them. They don't have the "I can't sleep....I'm too excited." Or the countdown that seems to last forever. I asked our kids if they prefer to know or be surprised...they all said surprised.