Going to POP in 2 weeks and kids don't know yet!

[mousefanmichelle]

I will be at POP in 2 weeks with my 3 kids (12, 10, 8). I am pulling them out of school for this trip and they don't know anything about it!! I am so excited!!

I think that I am going to have to tell my 12 year old since we have to get his homework and have his teachers sign off on the form - I can't see anyway of getting around not telling him. Any ideas on this one?

My 10 and 8 year old shouldn't be too much of an issue I can just get the form and have the office handle it. Does anyone have any good ways I can suprise the kids? We are driving there and I really want them to be suprised!!!
And I would like to wait til the last minute if possible. I was thinking of getting them up and saying we are going out for some errands and just keep diving and driving and driving...LOL!

TIA
Michelle

 

[italianfamilia]

I like your idea of saying we have errands, lets' go! Definitely have the car all packed and I just like the "errand" thing. They will be in heaven. BTW, what is POP???

 

[mousefanmichelle]

POP is one of Disney's Value Resorts - POP Century Resort.
2 weeks from today and we will be there! I am very excited - it is going to be hard for me to not spill the beans to the kids. They are used to the "errands" thing so that will be an easy one for me to pull off - if I can keep my big mouth shut!!!

 

[Janeen]

Oh my gosh! We are doing the exactly same thing. We leave May 5. I haven't told my kids yet. They are 9,7,6, and 5. We are also staying at Pop (Two rooms for the 6 of us). I have been planning for a while.

My plan is to tell them this weekend. I honestly don't think I can get everything packed without them noticing. I have been able to have my mom make them special car bags with their name and a mickey face to carry their things to do in the car. We have an 18 hr drive. I figure if I wait to tell them until a week before we go, it will cut down on the questions about when are we going? I do however like the idea of making a paper chain to count down the days.

I am also taking my kids out of school. I have emailed their teachers and figure I will just get their homework to complete the day before we leave. You might see if you can email their teachers and maybe have them leave their assignments in the office for you to pick up on the sly the day before you leave.

I think my kids will be excited, but honestly they have never been to an amusment park so they won't have a clue how much fun awaits them!

Have a great trip!
Janeen

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Janeen - You have a great trip too! How much fun your going to have with the kids!!

I, too, have a long drive - about 19-20 hours. That is a great idea to email their teachers - I might do that instead because I want to suprise my 12 year old since he is beginning to feel "old" so to speak (too big to play at the play place in McDonalds, knows about santa etc...).

I really am going to try to hold off on telling them until the very last minute if I can. But yesterday in the grocery store I was buying some things for the trip that I had to pass off as stuff for when we go camping and my daughter (8) kept nagging me - when can I eat it, when can I have it? and so on - I hope she forgets about it til the 4th!!!

Have a safe drive down and back home again!!

Michelle

 

[italianfamilia]

I see....all of you should have a great time. I just can't wait to be able to spend the time with the kids in the Happiest Place on Earth. Surprises are the best. I am planning on packing up bags for the airplane ride, usually give them plenty to do. It might have been nice to be able to surprise them, but they are always listening. Hope you have a happy time!

 

[hangaboli]

How exciting for you all! I'm very jealous!!

We surprised our then 7 year old twin girls and our then 5 year old daughter with a trip there last August! We told them we were going to the beach for a week so they knew we were going on a mini vacation (that way I could pack!) and we told them that if we saved enough money we would go to Disney in November. So they were TOTALLY thinking November. They didn't even want to order pizza for dinner so we could save LOL!

The morning we were leaving we woke them up about 3:30 am (plane left at 6:50 am) and made them come downstairs. I made a poster that said, "We are not going to Ocean City ... then on the back said, "We are going to Disney World!" They started screaming and were so excited! We video taped everything so it's a great memory to look back on. One of the best surprises in life!!

Now what to come up with for the next time we go ...

 

[jcc0621]

What about calling the school and speaking to the principal or vice principal and filling them in on what's going on and how you want it to be a surprise. Maybe he/she would be willing to help out with getting assignments and stuff for your kids.

 

[chb]

Wow!! Good for you for keeping the surprise!!

I am waiting to tell dd about our September trip for her bday in June. She keeps saying she wants to go for her bday, but there is no way I am going then! I can;t wait to tell her so she can help join in the planning!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

I would totally try and keep it from the 12 year old. Maybe you can talk to the school secretary? He or she might be able to collect the assignments and get the teacher to sign off on things and you could pick them up. The only trouble might be if your Dc doesn't bring all their books home with them.

As far as just getting in the car and going. Hmmm not sure on that one. It would be ok for the little kids but, I remember being 12 and I sure would have wanted my 'stuff'. They start getting particular around that age. Certain music or shoes or something.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I knew that I would have a hard time keeping it a secret - and yesterday I told my DD-8 that we are going to maybe go somewhere fun in 2 weeks and maybe I would take them out of school for a day or two.

She kept asking where and then she said "Well it's not like we're going to Disney or anything like that cuz it's just too expensive" she said it with the saddest look on her face . I told her - yeah that's where we're going - She said - yeah right as if that would happen!!! Will you take us to Great Wolf Lodge? So I said we can go to GWL in 2 weeks.

So she thinks we are going to Ohio or Traverse City, MI for a night or 2!!!

I can't wait to see the look on their faces as I keep driving onto Kentucky!!! and then onto Tennesse, Georia and then FLORIDA!!