Help me surprise my niece!

[Ana~n~Joseph]

Guys, help me! I'm taking my 9 year old niece to Disney World but we are keeping it a secret. How would you surprise your child? Would you wait until you're there, at the airport, the night before? I'd love to hear your stories. We'll be staying at Pop and taking Magical Express.

Thanks!
Ana
aka Disney's Dream Job Princess in Waiting Finalist

 

[TowerDude]

This is a tough one. Some people will tell you that it isn't a good idea to pull a surprise like this for a couple of reasons. One being, the next time you have the audacity to say, "Hey, I have a surprise for you..." that one just can't measure up. But, I say, C'est La Vie.
I've read poems on this site. I've heard that parents said, "You're not going to school today." All sorts of things.
One thing I've had success with is this: at teacher supply stores like KnowPlace, they sell blank jigsaw puzzles, maybe 5"x4". Draw Mickey on one. Or Donald. Or, if your neice is into Ariel, her. Whatever. Just a clue. Or, simply write, "Let's Go To Disney World". And then jumble up those pieces, throw them in a ziploc, wrap it in cool paper, and have her open it and put it together and figure it out.....it's a thought.

 

[myasmum]

Hi well we are going to surprise our 3 kids ages 4,5& 8yrs old) BUT Then again we are driving from Toronto, Canada to Florida but they know we are going to see relatives in CT but I know they are going to wonder why its a long dirve but it will be worth while.

About yur 9yrs old niece does she know your going to FL? IF so thats ok as when you get to the airport she will see your going to FL if she does know wait to you get to the airport, see if you can go to the boarding area and see IF you can write either a letter or some kind of thing and ask the person at that counter IF they can call her to the desk and let them give her the letter and let her read it and give her a surprise like that at the airport (thats IF she doesnt know your going to FL as if she sees your going there shes 9 she'll figure it out) so this way they could give her a message on paper hand it to her and SURPRISE
IF she knows your going to FL for some reason then I would just wait to you get there
Sorry I am one who likes to try to surprise expecially IF they have never been there before my kids are dying and I told them whenever mommy and daddy can save money then we can go but wont be for along time (we have been struglling and alot of problems the last yr I want them to have a great new start to things)

GOOD LUCK
Robyn

 

[jcc0621]

How about getting her a pair of hears and a Disne Shirt and give it to her the morning you are leaving to wear on the trip?

 

[Parla]

We are doing a little of the same thing here. After the last trip we told the kids we would try to go again in four years. That way the youngest would be old enough for RnR. She's way more adventurous than her big brother. I won a trip that we are taking this June and my kids are always moping around saying they wish we could go sooner or they wish I would win a trip (I enter for a lot of things). They were completely nuts for a couple of months before our last trip and we don't want that especially since summer vacation makes a kid nuts enough at the end of the school year. I plan on having all our bags packed and at breakfast the day we're leaving saying something like, "It's too bad we have to wait three more years to go back to Disney. How about we just go today?" I have a friend who thinks I'm robbing them of the excitement and anticipation of planning the trip but these kids talk about a trip three years from now as if it's next week. They are constantly planning and thinking about what they're going to do the next time they go. I'm so excited that I'm the one going nuts, but better me than them.