Help! Breaking the news to 3.5 yr old surprise

[Mainst]

E are bring our two DS 3.5 and 1.5 to WDW end of Sept. My 1.5 yr old really loves anything and telling him were are going or showing up has no affect on him.

However, my 3.5 year old has been asking us to go to disney for about 6 months. We went last year and he remembers every ride, parade, etc.

Last trip elsewhere we took he stayed up all night before with excitement. I want to surprise him this trip as a big surprise. Hope to tell him along the way.

We must leave our house at 4:30am day of travel. Any ideas?

Ps- his grandma is meeting us at Orlando airport as she lives out of state from us. So double surprise.

Help!

 

[gules]

This could be tricky... Sometimes kids that age don't react well to a big surprise the day of. You'd know best, but you definitely want to make sure he doesn't get hysterical in a bad way because he can't process the shock. A lot of people seem to have better success surprising kids a week or so before the trip-- something like that.

Either way, it might be cute to take one of your videos or pictures (I assume you have something like that) and if you're good with computers, edit a video (make a copy) and then "interrupt" it with a message from Grandma saying she'll meet him at Disney in X days/hours! Then you can have something physical waiting, like his autograph book, a shirt, toy, etc.

Another idea would be to ask Grandma to mail a small gift with a Disney clue inside and let him open it. Or get an accomplice to ring your doorbell and leave a Disney-decorated box on your doorstep for your son to find, with the message or fake tickets/new magic bands inside as a hint to what's coming.

 

[Mainst]

This could be tricky... Sometimes kids that age don't react well to a big surprise the day of. You'd know best, but you definitely want to make sure he doesn't get hysterical in a bad way because he can't process the shock. A lot of people seem to have better success surprising kids a week or so before the trip-- something like that. Either way, it might be cute to take one of your videos or pictures (I assume you have something like that) and if you're good with computers, edit a video (make a copy) and then "interrupt" it with a message from Grandma saying she'll meet him at Disney in X days/hours! Then you can have something physical waiting, like his autograph book, a shirt, toy, etc. Another idea would be to ask Grandma to mail a small gift with a Disney clue inside and let him open it. Or get an accomplice to ring your doorbell and leave a Disney-decorated box on your doorstep for your son to find, with the message or fake tickets/new magic bands inside as a hint to what's coming.

Like the mystery box idea...

Just thinking he will be cranky leaving in early morning. Maybe we could tell him on plane or first time he asks but may cause too much excitement.

 

[MegEliz]

E are bring our two DS 3.5 and 1.5 to WDW end of Sept. My 1.5 yr old really loves anything and telling him were are going or showing up has no affect on him.

However, my 3.5 year old has been asking us to go to disney for about 6 months. We went last year and he remembers every ride, parade, etc.

Last trip elsewhere we took he stayed up all night before with excitement. I want to surprise him this trip as a big surprise. Hope to tell him along the way.

We must leave our house at 4:30am day of travel. Any ideas?

Ps- his grandma is meeting us at Orlando airport as she lives out of state from us. So double surprise.

Help!

We are also going in September with our 3.5 year old and 1 year old. Very excited!

I think surprising a week before might be fun rather than on the day. However, I've really been enjoying sharing my excitement with my oldest DS. We've been watching YouTube videos of the parks and rides together and he's super excited.

Maybe just don't remind him you're going the next day when he goes to bed that night. That might result in a sleepless night. lol. I'm wondering what my DS is going to do if I tell him the night before... Though I know I'm not going to be able to contain my excitement and not tell him "Tomorrow we are going to Disney World!!" haha

 

[Mainst]

We are also going in September with our 3.5 year old and 1 year old. Very excited! I think surprising a week before might be fun rather than on the day. However, I've really been enjoying sharing my excitement with my oldest DS. We've been watching YouTube videos of the parks and rides together and he's super excited. Maybe just don't remind him you're going the next day when he goes to bed that night. That might result in a sleepless night. lol. I'm wondering what my DS is going to do if I tell him the night before... Though I know I'm not going to be able to contain my excitement and not tell him "Tomorrow we are going to Disney World!!" haha

That is funny. Our excitement is getting ready to explode!!
This weekend we went away to a small beach cottage get away just a few hours away. Their excitement exploring the less than 600 sq feet of cottage and playing in the beach has been priceless. They were excited that the cottage had it's own fridge. My DS 3.5 insisted on eating cottage cheese in the cottage. Silly but only time he has heard that word before.
Based on their reaction, DH and I cannot imagine how crazy these two are going to be together first night in the Disney house.

I'm Definetly not informing them early.

 

[Punchy]

My son is the same, he can't handle the anticipation.

There have been times (before Christmas, before trips, before first day of school) that he stays up all night vomiting because of his nerves.

He will be 5 this trip and has specifically requested we not tell him until the day of. We leave at 7am, so we'll have to make up some kind of a story about why we're going to the airport. I want him to be fully awake when we break the news, so we'll likely tell him at check-in.

I plan to give him a backpack with Disney book and stickers, a couple cars, a starter pin set and a snack. It will give him something to focus on while he processes his feelings.

 

[Mommyof2Boos]

Could you tell your kids you are flying to see someone special? Then give them a Mickey or something on the plane to play with? Pack their activity bag with Disney stickers, coloring books, etc?