Help on a surprise trip

[ryanmilla]

Ok, so I have posted before that I am planning a surprise trip for my family in Dec, but I need some more help or at least opinions.

Particularly with my DW. The surprise is on her as well. We will be leaving on a 8:45am flight Sun, Dec. 11th. We only live 20 minutes from the airport, so we don't have to leave incredibly early (with 2 young kids our family is up normally by 6:30am latest everyday). So, I am trying to figure out if I should tell my DW Friday night, so that she can pack herself and help me with the kids stuff
OR
Tell the entire family Saturday night that I have a surprise for them the next morning and we have to leave early to make our "reservation". Then on the way to the airport have them all open some WDW gift and tell them where we are going.

The trip is only a 4 day trip, so packing for the kids won't be difficult. It is packing for my DW that concerns me. I am worried I won't get everything she needs. Also, how do I pack her toilitries/make-up without her noticing? Maybe I'm just stressing myself out too much and should just tell her on the Friday night. I'm sure she'll still be just as surprised and love it.

What are your thoughts? Is there a way of packing for her without her knowing?

 

[grimley1968]

I'd tell DW at least the night before. She really needs a little time to pack what she needs, and may well know something the kids would need packed that you may not realize. But surprise the kids as late as possible.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I would tell her the afternoon before or maybe even Friday evening. If she's anything like me she needs a little time to pack and may even need to go out and make a few "purchases" beforehand. I think it's very sweet that you're planning to surprise the family and even sweeter that you're thoughtful enough to consider your wife's packing needs. What a guy!

 

[InstImpres]

I agree on giving DW a heads up. Though I think it is amazing sweet to get this surprise, it may not be as simple as you packing for her.

It looks like your trip is close to the holidays, so DW may have planned part of the time you are away for shopping or wrapping gifts or other holiday things. Also, though minor, you don't want to be throwing out big money in groceries in the fridge that won't make it until you get back. I would tell her the weekend before.

JMHO

 

[isyt]

I agree as a wife I would need a couple of days only because your summer clothes might be packed in an attic and need washing, I know we go through that on our December trips. I would tell the kids that morning, we did that once and it was great!

On a side note I can't even get my dh to plan a surprise dinner, a whole trip I think someone sent pixie dust your way.

 

[Honeybehr1]

Dh just surprised me for the first time 2 months ago with an overnight trip to NYC to see Lion King for our anniversary. The surpise was awesome. But he did tell me that we were going away somewhere so that I could pack. All he told me was that he had everything planned and that I need to pack something comfortable to wear, comfortable walking shoes, and one semidressy outfit. He took care of everything else.
I dont think he would have been able to pack all of my toiletries.

IF you want to keep it a suprise, you could tell her something like my DH did. By knowing we were going away, it didnt diminish the suprise. I was totally blown away when I finally found out what/where we were going.

Have a blast