Help me choose "the reveal" for my son!

[awdsmama]

I have a few different ideas running thru my head.

DS is 7 1/2, first time trip.


We will be taking off from the Sacramento area on a monday morning after spending the weekend with high school friend and her family.
I want to be OUT THE DOOR at 6:30am.

Original idea:
I have an "I'm going to Disneyland" tshirt for him that I was going to lay out for him to get dressed in and wait and see if he noticed. If he doesn't I'm keeping my mouth shut until he DOES notice or figure it out via billboards and road signs etc. or a waitress that mentions his shirt at a food stop.


Another idea:
Unroll a roll of streamer and have the tshirt in the middle of it and start wrapping it around, every few wraps putting items like trading pins, gift cards, other disney stuff in it. Give it to him the night before and let him unroll it all and hope he seeps well ;-)


3rd option:
I've got a plus chip and dale (the 2 he loves) and a Cptn Jack and Cptn Balbosa figurine, alongwith a few CArs2 things and gift cards. Put all in goody bag and give it to him when he gets antsy on the road and giive him a hint that everything in the bag is themed for a reason and see if he can guess.


OTHER IDEAS WELCOME

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

I like the first idea Fun if he does notice, but even more fun if he dosen't!

I would be worried, that if he knew it the night before, he wouldn't sleep at all - but hey, then he can sleep in the car

The third is also good, but if it had been me when I was a kid, I would have been SO annoyed not knowing where I was going....


Well... I know I wasn't that helpfull! I think no matter what idea you choose to go with, it will be a great surprise for him! But I would go with #1


- Have a MAGICAL trip

 

[Nintfamily]

I really like the first idea! It's clever Have a WONDERFUL and MAGICAL trip

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I say first. It's similar to what we're doing. Second I'd say no way to because I want one more full night of sleep. it's why we're not telling our kids. They'd NEVER sleep lol Third could be fun but I chose first still for us

 

[abbie13_15]

Check out youtube for additional ideas. There are some really creative ones there!

 

[suevr]

I vote for the first one. I'm sure your son will notice the shirt because it's new. Maybe make it a bright color so it's even more noticeable.

 

[kailuagirl]

I love the first idea, but what I love even more is for him not noticing what is on his shirt and some one else, aka a stranger asks him about it. That would be hysterical!! He would be like, what? what are you talking about, and she would say look at your shirt and he would look down and ta-da! you are going to Disneyland! haha

You have come up with some cute ideas! It is so fun to surprise the kids. We surprised DD4 in Nov at the airport, she had no clue and was tickled pink by her surprise! I think surprises are the way to go, so fuN!!!

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

You've got some great ideas!! I vote for number 1 with number 3 being a close runner-up.

We've surprised our kids a couple of times. They always love it when we do!! Have fun!!

 

[Sew into Disney]

I like option #1 ...

Are you wanting to have video or pictures of his reaction? If so I think option #1 is your best bet.

 

[aussietravellers]

I like option one.

That is actually exactly how I had plan on telling my DS for our next trip. Wake him up in the morning, have his clothes laid out and tell him to get dressed and for him to wear will be either the I'm going to DL tshirt or hoodie. Only we will be going by plane, so as soon as we get to the airport he will know where we are going if he hasn't noticed the top he is wearing

 

[scoker]

Ok, I may be the only parent on earth to have experienced this but I surprised my DD for her 4th birthday and did not get a youtube worthy reaction. We were on a trip visiting my brother in SanDiego and were heading to DL next to celebrate her birthday. We had a little birthday party for her and gave her disney themed gifts, a princess dress, mickey mouse camera ect. At the end I told her we were getting in the car and heading to Disney and got no reaction what so ever.:confused I know this is not the usual just saying that while any of your plans sound fantastic (especially #1) be prepared for anything.

Hope it is great!

 

[awdsmama]

Thanks everyone, I agree I'll be sticking with #1...I too love the idea he may not even notice his shirt - especially since getting up so early! If he doesn't notice, he'll be thinking we're driving 8 hours north to home...wonder how long until he realizes we aren't back in Oregon haha.

Someone mentioned making it a bright shirt -- it's actually a shirt Igot from the Disney Store Online and they had an option of grey or maroon - I chose maroon. It's got the main characters (Mickey/Minnie and friends) on it.

I cannot wait!!!!

And yes, I'll have the camera rolling in case he DOES notice..

 

[lisachrystine]

Ok, I may be the only parent on earth to have experienced this but I surprised my DD for her 4th birthday and did not get a youtube worthy reaction. We were on a trip visiting my brother in SanDiego and were heading to DL next to celebrate her birthday. We had a little birthday party for her and gave her disney themed gifts, a princess dress, mickey mouse camera ect. At the end I told her we were getting in the car and heading to Disney and got no reaction what so ever.:confused I know this is not the usual just saying that while any of your plans sound fantastic (especially #1) be prepared for anything.

Hope it is great!

You're not the only one We had the camera going - and got - nothing. Three kids. Zero reaction. We had to ask them "do you understand? We're going to Disneyland. Right. Now." It's like it wouldn't sink in. My oldest says "Soooo... I'm not going to school today?" They eventually did get excited and we had a great time, but no youtube worthy reaction for us, either.

 

[BryANDJessMom]

I like 1 but maybe let him figure out as you drive where you are going.

Last year I planned for months to surprise the kids...I bought the tshirta from disney.com that said I am going to Disneyland! And, you have to understand, my kids are si crazy about DL...they watch podcast all the time, my 9 year old decided that he wanted ti be an imagineers at 4. We go every year, but had been to WDW only 6 months before...so we had told them we couldn't go for a year and a half. So, I plan and plan, my 7 and 9 year old open their tshirt presents...I tape, and first they are just excited to get a disney tshirt!!! Yah! I thought. Then I said. What.does it say....he reads it..and nothing. I make him read it again. He still doesn't get it. Then I said, the car is packed up, we are going to DL !!they said,,,,...uhhhh, okay...(he thought we were kidding). Later he saidd he didn't believe us and would rather have us just strt to drive and have him figure it out. Whatever...so much for our utube video!

 

[candygirlIRE]

I like #1 - super cute idea!!

If he doesn't notice the shirt, which I bet money he does, he will slowly start figuring it out on the way -- wheels in his head ticking away Love it!!

 

[awdsmama]

ARGH!! I've been so good about keeping the secret.....but now that I'm at the 3wk mark i'm getting antsy. The only thing holding me back is the constant "are we there yets" that I'd be getting --- THAT is a great deterrant hahahahaha.

 

[DSNY4ever]

EEEK! How exciting, I can't wait to do stuff like this for my son
I like idea #1 too. I am not sure if someone else suggested this, but you could also decorate your car with the window paint saying "Disneyland or bust!" or "We're going to Disneyland." And let him see it when he goes out to the car.

Once we put a big Mickey mouse in out back window and he was holding a sign that said we were going to Disneyland and we got so many people honking and waving on our drive down, it was so fun. One guy even yelled out his window "Ride Tower of Terror for me!" That cracked us up.

 

[Isatricia]

Maybe I am the odd one out, but it is so fun watching the excitement build for my 6 & 8 yr old daughters in preparation for their first trip to DL. We still have 6 weeks before we go and I am loving watching them dream of this trip.

 

[jory29]

Maybe I am the odd one out, but it is so fun watching the excitement build for my 6 & 8 yr old daughters in preparation for their first trip to DL. We still have 6 weeks before we go and I am loving watching them dream of this trip.

I agree, the anticipation is so much part of the magic and fun. Looking up things on youtube such as ride-thrus, looking on the DIS boards, and the Disneyland website are something we share as a family.

Even just the excitement of telling them we are going is such a great time.

I think we may be in the minority though, lots of others seem to love the spontaneous surprise, so I respect whatever anyone is going to do.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I like the build up too