Have any of you ever done a surprise trip to Disney?

[minivan3]

We surprised our 3 kids (DS13, DD11, DS7) with a spring break/Easter trip last March. We sat them on the couch after my youngest got home from ball practice and told them we had them an early Easter present to open. Inside, I had made shirts that said "Easter and Spring Break with the Mouse!" The older two just stared for a while, and the youngest blurted out "We're going to Disney World!" We told them everything was packed and we would be driving out tonight! They didn't stop smiling the whole week. We then had a guessing game on the way there as to where we were staying. I told them it was a new place to us - they never got it - the CR. We loved it.

 

[mamaprincess]

Reading all these wonderful responses is really helping me channel my hyper energy away from the kids so I am sure I will hold up for the next 2 weeks.

The last time we went, they knew so far in advance that I think they began to take it all for granted like it was so regular. We have decided to cure them of the taking it for granted by the element of surprise. I'm sure they are going to go bananas! Lately they have really been missing Disney World and feeling the agony of withdrawal. I doubt they will stop smiling the whole trip!

 

[winniedapooh]

We started, DH & I, planning our Christmas 2005 trip back in November of 2004. We held it in for 13 months. I did not think we were going to make it, although DS, then 16, found out the day before we were going to leave. It was so much fun. I am now planning a surprise thank-you trip for DH & cherubs for helping me through Graduate school. If all goes according to plan I will have my PhD in about 1 1/2 years-2 years tops. That will be much harder because I can not tell anyone. Well I will be telling DS, now 17, and DD, soon to be 16...they will miss about 3 days of school and girlfriend-no boyfriend for her yet but just in case. I don't want to hear they are confused about whether or not to go. Good luck and have a blast...it will be so worth the look on their faces!

 

[LisaBi]

OK Guys - You're giving me some hope that I too can pull this off. I just planned the trip less than 2 weeks ago, and don't think I can keep my mouth shut for 7 more weeks!

I'd love to keep it secret right up until we land. But last time, when he knew and was excited, he was still mad that I "woke him up in the middle of the night." We had a 7:00 am flight. I'm afraid if I wake him up at 4:30 and he doesn't know why,..... (he is 12 and has Down Syndrome - this is a surprise trip for his 13th bday on April 27. It will just be the 2 of us!)

I travel a lot on business, so I have hinted that maybe sometime he can go with me. Then when I wake him up that morning, telling him that we are going to Arizona (where I work a lot). Then instead, land in Orlando.

Maybe we need a thread to keep encouraging each other to not spill the beans!

LisaB

 

[Soupermom]

I'm about to burst! I've planned this surprise trip for DD11 and DS8 for 18 months. They know nothing! My parents, sister and BIL will be meeting us...a second surprise! We plan to wake them at 5:30 am to leave by 6am for our flight. I have 2 Pal Mickey's to help with the wake up call. Suitcases are packed in the basement, ADR's are made, and since we'll be a group of 8 we get to go on a Grand Gathering Wishes fireworks cruise!

Wish me luck!

 

[mamaprincess]

Good luck Soupermom,winniedapooh and LisaBi!

 

[nhdisnut]

We have actually managed to surprise the kids twice! Once we started our "school vacation" by travelling to a hotel (near the airport) where we could go to dinner and swim. As far as the kids were concerned that was a great trip in itself! The next morning we woke them at 5am, had all Disney clothes laid out and told them that we were "changing hotels." Even with the early start, our son (4th grade at the time) saw the clothes and figured out our destination!

Last year we had been talking about buying into DVC and we brought up the fact (at Saturday breakfast - Mickey pancakes, Illuminations soundtrack playing in the background) that we had decided to buy into Saratoga Springs. I then told the kids that the best part of the whole deal was that we would be able to get a tour of SSR on Tuesday! It took a few seconds and then (in the word of the great Monty Pyton) "there was much rejoicing!" Funny how I just happened to have the video camera at breakfast trying to "fix it." Got the whole thing on tape and it has become one of our favorite Disney moments ever!!

Sorry for all the details - enjoy your trip!!

 

[BrerRabbit_fan]

I surprised my niece and nephew. I told them I was taking them someplace really special, they thought it was a trip to Manhattan. Yeah, right.

 

[bgdiznee]

We have a surprise trip planned for DS 19 for next week(his college springbreak) Its been very hard to keep a secret We are doing our usual March trip to FL(DH has a Aunt who is widowed and lives in CapeCoral and we make an annual visit to see how she is faring) So DS thinks this is just the regular March trip even though we have on occasion added in side trips to WDW or US/IA. And the best part of this secret is he really will think we are headed home because we will be driving to MCO from our Aunts home( but unknown to him )to pickup DD and DSil who will be flying in from Boston for a mini family reunion But here is the absolute icing on the cake, they will also be telling DS he is going to be an uncle Can't wait for next week

 

[Kick Save]

Our surprise is coming to the boys (7 and 3) this August. We have a trip planned in Dec that they know about, but they have no idea about the one in August. The plan is to put them in the car and just leave on "vacation." So far mom and dad have kept their mouths shut.

 

[jade1]

Only the fist time ever, it was XMAS and we went about 3 weeks later. Since then everyone seems to like to plan and anticpate etc.

 

[Popsicle]

Oh, this thread brings back the most wonderful memories...

My DN was 6 going on 7 and LOVED Mickey. The only thing he loved as much was baseball.

DB, DSIL and I planned the August trip for about 8 months. The only thing was keeping it a secret. We drove, and if you know I-75, you know they start advertising Disney while you're still in Georgia. They were building the new Florida Marlins stadium so that was our ruse... We were driving to look at the stadium. (Two days of driving to "see" a stadium. He was only 6. Give him a break. ) It was heartbreaking when he said "Oh, we're close to Mickey World." DB admonished him that we really couldn't go to Disney World, but maybe another year. We would only do the Marlins.

Driving down Irlo Bronson Highway to the "wonderful" Holiday Inn Main Gate East you have to pass Disney's Main Gate. DN didn't say anything, he just looked so pitiful as we drove past the sign. Thank goodness we finally reached the hotel. My brother sat him down and told him. "We're going to Disney World." As long as I live, I'll never forget the look on that child's face. The eyes going wide, the smile, the "oooooo".

I truly envy anyone who gets to surprise a child with that trip. Nothing can make an adult happier than seeing a child as happy as when they learn they're going to Disney.

(P.S. That kid is 20 now and STILL loves Disney World.)

 

[Sparky106]

We went to Disney for the first time last summer-DH(38), DS(15) and myself(36) and our neighbors... We had so much fun on that trip! DH and myself knew that we'd have to bring our two neices down for a week at Disney, so we suprised them on Christmas morning with a trip we are taking in June (96 days...but who's counting?!). We made Disney gift bags (identical) with 10 or so little trinkets and gifts leading up to the big one. All gifts were Disney themed or directly related to our trip...travel blankets, travel toothbrushes, disney dollars, disney candy, walmart gift cards with Mickey, etc.... They had to open the same gift at the same time and they weren't sure what happened to their Aunt and Uncle...why are we getting weird gifts?! Anyway, the second to the last gift was all of the brochures for Disney, Seaworld and Universal. Still unsure of what was happening, we asked them to read from the mini scrapbook that I'd made for each one. They took turns reading the following:

Tinkerbell Flies and Airplanes do To- Get your suitcases packed, we've got sightseeing to do.

Bring comfortable shoes and a swimsuit or two-There'll be time for relaxing in that big Disney pool!

There's Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Pluto...So much to see, I think we'll go cuckoo!

Laughing and smiling we'll make memories last, looking forward to June when we'll see the whole cast! We'll laugh and smile and have lots of fun, when we are in Florida enjoying the sun!

Who: What: When: Where:

It finally sunk in and the expressions that these two girls (ages 12 & 9) had are priceless! We can't wait!!!

Thanks for letting me share!

Melissa

 

[mamaprincess]

These replies are so great! Good luck to anyone who is planning an upcoming surprise! Thanks for all the wonderful stories everyone!

 

[mnasf]

Tell me how you managed to surprise your kids with a trip to Disney World.[/QUOTE]


Okay, I shared the one from last year, but reading everyone's post just brought back so many wonderful memories. When my oldest was in Kindergarten he really wasn't reading yet. We were moving from Dallas to San Francisco and my husband had started working there a few months before we actually moved. So we had been to visit dad a few times. Well, while our belongings were being moved across the country we decided to go to WDW, but didn't tell him. Our daughter was one at the time. We were at DFW and got on the plane. Parker just thought we were going to SF. When the pilot was telling the travel time to the destination or weather, we just tried to distract Parker. When we were leaving the airplane, one passenger looked at Parker and said, "Are you going to Disney World?" He gave her such a weird look like she was crazy. He didn't get it until we pulled into the resort area. He later said that he thought the San Francisco airport seemed different and looked different, but he didn't know. It was just so fun! The lady asking him about Disneyworld as we got off the plane was just the best memory. I think I'll always remember the look on his face.

 

[mom2boystx]

We are planning our boys first trip in October (overlaps bdays for both). On one hand, I think packing for them and surprising them that morning (or night before) we take off driving would be the best thing ever. Then I think about the anticipation and the excitement buildup they will miss by not telling them early.

I know that if we do tell them early it will only be a week or so before and we will do it in a very fun way...I like the scavenger hunt idea. if we do it any earlier I know that all I will see is 2 boys and hear never ending 'when are we going?'. They are 7 & 4 so they will both be VERY pumped about this. heck I am! Haven't been to WDW since 1996 where we spent our honeymoon. We will be celebrating our 10th whille there too!

So I will continue my planning, reading the great ideas and surprises planned by all of you and figure it all out. just can't wait to go..

 

[stemikger]

We did that to our daughter last year. We didn't tell her until we got to the airport.

She was so excited she could hardley talk.

Good Luck.

However, there is a downside to this. This year we really aren't going to Disney and I think she thinks we might surprise her again. Oh well, at least we are still going on vacation.

 

[Pluto's Honey]

We are planning our boys first trip in October (overlaps bdays for both). On one hand, I think packing for them and surprising them that morning (or night before) we take off driving would be the best thing ever. Then I think about the anticipation and the excitement buildup they will miss by not telling them early.

I know that if we do tell them early it will only be a week or so before and we will do it in a very fun way...I like the scavenger hunt idea. if we do it any earlier I know that all I will see is 2 boys and hear never ending 'when are we going?'. They are 7 & 4 so they will both be VERY pumped about this. heck I am! Haven't been to WDW since 1996 where we spent our honeymoon. We will be celebrating our 10th whille there too!

So I will continue my planning, reading the great ideas and surprises planned by all of you and figure it all out. just can't wait to go..

HOW EXCITING TO HAVE SO MANY CELEBRATIONS THERE!! THINK OF ALL THE ATTENTION FROM THE CM'S. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO SURPRISED HER 2 DD WITH A SKI TRIP . THEY LEFT ON CHRISTMAS AND THE WHOLE TIME HAD JUST TOLD THEM -- ALL THEY WERE GETTING WAS 1 BIG BOX TO SHARE. SO ALL THE WAY UP TIL CHRISTMAS THEY LOOKED AT THAT BOX. SISTERS SHARE? BUT IT HAD ALL THEIR SKI CLOTHES AND STUFF IN IT. THEY WERE VERY EXCITED. I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE 1 BOTH WAYS. THEY WILL LOVE IT EITHER WAY.

 

[elan]

We'll be surprising ours (8,6,4) in 28 days...we started planning about 60 days ago. We've talked about our trip but the kids think it's for our trip in nov with my DB and his family. What a hoot. I'll have to pick them up early from school and than pick up DH from work and head to the airport. They think we are going to a vacation condo we normally go to. I'm positive they'll figure it out when they start seeing the planes. I'm planning on having a travel packet to give them at the airport.

I've been shopping like crazy thou. They needed new summer clothes and sandals. Thankfully the retail business understands all us folks planning surprise trips and have all the summer clothes out since jan/feb .(we're from cold country.) I've just told my kids the sales are so great now I can't pass up the deals - as I ask them to try on some new shorts.

Good luck with everyones plans. I feel your pain in keeping it a secret...but it will be worth it.

 

[MrsMud]

I think surprise trips are great!

Our first trip to WDW was a surprise for our daughters (then 3 1/2 and 5 1/2). We had originally planned it for early Oct., 2001. I decided right from the beginning that it would be a surprise (I'm VERY good at keeping secrets). As it turns out, we ended up postponing the trip because of Sept. 11th. Just when the shock had worn off and people started traveling again, don't you know the day before our trip was scheduled, the US invaded Afghanistan. There was just so much concern about retaliatory terrorist strikes, that my husband decided we shouldn't go. Thank God I had kept it a secret! I cried like a baby , but at least I didn't have to disappoint the kids.

We resheduled for early Dec., and it was perfect! We woke the kids up early and told them that it was supposed to be a really nice day, what would they like to do? They said things like "go to a movie, go to Chuck E Cheese", etc. I asked "How about going to a park?" They both looked at me like I was crazy, because early Dec. in New York is not exactly park weather! I can only attribute it to them still being half asleep that they didn't ask why in the world my husband was videotaping them, LOL! Then I said "How about we go to Disney World today?" Well, they must have thought I was out of my mind, because they didn't move, just looked at me like 'what are you talking about?' They finally got it when I said, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get dressed, we're going to Disney World!" I've never seen them move so fast, it was priceless! One of our best videotapes (and one of the last from our old camcorder, which died a sudden death during that trip when we spent a day at Seaworld and it got a little too close to Shamu)

GOOD LUCK!