How are you surprising them?

[disneydreamer21]

last year we did this to our dds (11 and 6 at the time) we told them poppop(my dad) was going to pick someone up whos a friend and we were going to go with him. when we got to the airport they asked why are we here i told them we are going away for a week and they were both alittle upset(thought they were staying home) till they seen their luggage being taken out of the van with the disney tags on it. (then i wished i had a video camera )they were screaming "were going to disney" people at philly airport were laughing at them but it was so worth it

side note when we got to mco dh and dd's took ME and i picked up our rental car they said ME was "cool" i wasnt thinking and didnt bring cash with me for tolls the guy from enterprise gave me toll money and told me he loves disney also and have a great time

I'm kinda worried about the airport people thinking we are crazy! My kids are bound to react with some loud screaming! We plan on attaching the tags at the last minute... this will take awile, so we are planning on an extra 15 minutes before we would normally arrive at the airport!

 

[disneydreamer21]

I am taking my youngest godchild (8 yrs), her little sister (7 years) and their Mom. We have been planning since last June and our departure is just two days away. Each year we go to a different zoo but last year we went to Kings Island (Cincinnati, OH) so we didn't do a zoo. We never tell the girls where we are going. This year their mother will tell them on Sunday that I've asked them all to go somewhere with me and that we will be staying overnight. We're leaving on Monday and driving to Valdosta, GA to stay the night. I'm going to tell the girls we're going to Georgia (they don't know enough about geography yet to realize how close we will be to Florida) and we are going to a zoo (Animal Kingdom) and the largest aquarium they could ever imagine (Sea World). On Tuesday morning when the girls are taking their showers, I will lay out their clothes for them on the bed. First a black headband with Mickey ears. On top of that a t-shirt face down (I'm going to a Walt Disney World Resort). On top of that, their shorts. We're hoping that when they put on their shirts there will be screams of excitement and that their four days at Disneyworld and one day at Sea World will be a vacation for them to remember for a long time.

Hope you have a wonderful time! Please report back and let me know how they react to their surprise!!! How exciting!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I am taking my youngest godchild (8 yrs), her little sister (7 years) and their Mom. We have been planning since last June and our departure is just two days away. Each year we go to a different zoo but last year we went to Kings Island (Cincinnati, OH) so we didn't do a zoo. We never tell the girls where we are going. This year their mother will tell them on Sunday that I've asked them all to go somewhere with me and that we will be staying overnight. We're leaving on Monday and driving to Valdosta, GA to stay the night. I'm going to tell the girls we're going to Georgia (they don't know enough about geography yet to realize how close we will be to Florida) and we are going to a zoo (Animal Kingdom) and the largest aquarium they could ever imagine (Sea World). On Tuesday morning when the girls are taking their showers, I will lay out their clothes for them on the bed. First a black headband with Mickey ears. On top of that a t-shirt face down (I'm going to a Walt Disney World Resort). On top of that, their shorts. We're hoping that when they put on their shirts there will be screams of excitement and that their four days at Disneyworld and one day at Sea World will be a vacation for them to remember for a long time.

I would suggest not doing special clothing. Coming down I-75 there are almost no signs until you actually get within a mile of WDW, and no billboards.

Go South on I-75 to Exit 328 which is the Turnpike. Continue South to Exit 267 which is the Western Expressway. Go South to Exit 8, which is Western Way. Follow the signs to Disney World and you will (in less than a mile after exiting) go through The Gate (This is a full Gate with an arch over the top that says "Walt Disney World" and there is a giant Mickey standing on one of the posts and a giant Minnie on the other). Western Way ends at Buena Vista Drive at a traffic light at a "T" intersection.

For AK, AKL, All Stars Resorts or BB turn right. For everything else turn left..

 

[justgeorgi]

We have done this two different ways

Once we told my daughter (who was 7 at the time) that we had to fly to Tennesee to visit "old people" and that she would be very bored. I picked that state because she had a great grandfather who lived there. For several weeks we talked about how she would have to sit quietly, not run, not talk loudly and that if she could do all those things we would try to find something interesting to do during the trip. Needless to say she was NOT very excited about the trip but looked forward to the flying. We even "offered" to let her stay with her godmother while we were gone. Eventually the day before the trip she said "I think I'd really like to stay home" and just stay with her godmother. We told her we were sorry, it was too late since the plane ticket had been purchased. She pouted.

Our original plan was to fly out at 5pm from our local airport and see how long it took her to realize we were flying to Florida. We figured if we kept her busy enough on the plane and gave her headphones and a portable DVD player in the airport she wouldn't even figure it out. We even planned to tell her that we had a layover in Florida (NY to Florida to get to Tennessee but what do kids know?) HOWEVER that plan was messed up when we got to the airport and our flight was rescheduled for the next morning because the plane had a technical problem. The airline attendant leaned over the counter and said "Don't worry sweetie, we will get you to Florida by 9 am tomorrow morning so you can see the princesses." (She had a princess sweatshirt on.) My daughter said "I'm going to Tennesee to see old people" and looked up at me. Of course my face said it all and she said "I'm going to Disney?" She was ECSTATIC of course! Jumped up and down and screamed! We had to stay at a hotel that night near the airport and since it was early we got room service pizza and she asked us 100's of questions. We barely got her to sleep and she walked around the parks for the next few days quieter than usual. When we asked her if she was ok she just kept saying "I can't believe we are here, I really can't." It was PERFECT!

We were also part of a much larger surprise the following year when our closest friends decided to FINALLY bite the bullet and go to Disney with us. Her husbands kept saying "I don't have a $1000 bucks to give to a darn mouse" but she took a bonus he had coming and started planning it with me. It was myself, hubby, daughter and daughters best friend and my best friend, her hubby and their 3 kids. They drove to our town (about 2 hours from them) and told the kids that we were going to NYC so that the two moms and 2 of the kids could fly to Florida for a competition. This wasn't too terribly unusual for them. Their oldest who was 11 at the time was MISERABLE and had no interest in going, kept complaining how UNFAIR it was that her 6 year old sister "gets to go in a plan before me" and we of course played this up. Even the promise of the Daddy's taking her to NYC for lunch after dropping us off at the airport did nothing to appease her. She was a royal pain lol!

We made hoody sweatshirts for each of us that had the dates we were going and our names and favorite characters on the back. We wrapped the hoodies up and when we arrived at the airport we gave each of her children one of them. Their mom told them that she got one for the 6 year old to wear on the plane and told the other two she got them for just "being good and understanding why they all couldn't go on the trip." The 11 year old opened hers and it had a dumbo on the front. She said "oh Mom, dumbo is my favorite, thank you!" I then said hey what does the back say? She flipped it over and read it, looked up at her mom, looked back at me, looked down at the sweatshirt and whispered "Are we going to Disney?" I think she whispered it because she was afraid to say it outloud and have it not be true. Her mom was in tears, we were all in tears! Her 6 year old sister had just figured it out and her little brother who was to young to really understand just squeeled because the rest of us were so happy! It was a great, great surprise!

 

[iteach7th]

Green Machine - you are the man !

We suprised our kids in 07. We had been in 06 and were planning an "every other year trip" but due to a sudden death of a close friend (he were hit by an out of control school bus when the driver had a stroke !) - we decided why wait a year.

This ranks up there as one of my most memorable moments as a parent that will stay with me forever. We always travel with my parents, my sister and her family. We started out by telling them that this year Grandaddy was planning our fall trip. Grandaddy was in on things and began telling them that he couldn't wait to take them to old war museums and Spanish forts. The trip had to be to the central Florida area because he wanted it to be warm enough to swim. I told them that I had rented a 4 bedroom house but it only had one bathroom and all 11 of us would just have to adjust.

We stopped at the Florida welcome station and my dad had so much fun picking up the travel brochures on the "world's largest flea market" and other things that he couldn't wait to do that he knew my kids would hate. My kids were about to die but I talked to them in the van on the way down and told them that Grandaddy was so proud of this trip. I expected them to act excited and do this for him because he was so supportive of the things they do.

When we pulled up at Pop Century and they realized where we were, I had to keep my sunglasses on to hide my tears of excitement. They jumped up and down and screamed. All of the sudden, my DD who was 8 at the time stopped - pulled me aside and said in a very concerned voice "what about Grandaddy - I don't want him to be disappointed because he was so excited about planning his trip !" Once Grandaddy assured her that everything was o.k. - the celebration resumed !

 

[disneydreamer21]

Green Machine - you are the man !

We suprised our kids in 07. We had been in 06 and were planning an "every other year trip" but due to a sudden death of a close friend (he were hit by an out of control school bus when the driver had a stroke !) - we decided why wait a year.

This ranks up there as one of my most memorable moments as a parent that will stay with me forever. We always travel with my parents, my sister and her family. We started out by telling them that this year Grandaddy was planning our fall trip. Grandaddy was in on things and began telling them that he couldn't wait to take them to old war museums and Spanish forts. The trip had to be to the central Florida area because he wanted it to be warm enough to swim. I told them that I had rented a 4 bedroom house but it only had one bathroom and all 11 of us would just have to adjust.

We stopped at the Florida welcome station and my dad had so much fun picking up the travel brochures on the "world's largest flea market" and other things that he couldn't wait to do that he knew my kids would hate. My kids were about to die but I talked to them in the van on the way down and told them that Grandaddy was so proud of this trip. I expected them to act excited and do this for him because he was so supportive of the things they do.

When we pulled up at Pop Century and they realized where we were, I had to keep my sunglasses on to hide my tears of excitement. They jumped up and down and screamed. All of the sudden, my DD who was 8 at the time stopped - pulled me aside and said in a very concerned voice "what about Grandaddy - I don't want him to be disappointed because he was so excited about planning his trip !" Once Grandaddy assured her that everything was o.k. - the celebration resumed !

How sweet of your DD to be worried about his feelings... and what a great surprise for them! The brochures on the flea market was hilarious!!!! I'm glad "Grandaddy" was in on the surprise. We are doing a similar surprise involving my mom. It will be a great day for us all to remember!

 

[Advntur2Disney]

These stories are AWESOME!!!!

We have surprised our DD's for the last 2 trips. First time we woke them up at 4 and just kept whispering to them... "Let's go. We're going to Disney World."

Here is the 2nd time we surprised our girls (last September). We gave them a card with a picture of MK castle on it w/ MM on the corner and it said "See you on Sunday"

Here is the video... you might want to lower the volume around 22 seconds.... we all got really excited

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klgt0W5mHv

 

[Amunet]

Oh wow, I love this thread ... I've told DH about it so he could get some tips to surprise me (he can never surprise me lol). We don't have kids yet but we do plan on it in the future and I can't WAIT to do this for them!!!

I even got teary at a few of them ^_^

Advntur2Disney ~ The link doesn't work Says that the link contains a "malformed video ID"

 

[disneyjr77]

I'm so glad i found this thread! We're surprising DD who will be 3 days away from 5 with a trip for her bday in December. I'm stuck on exactly how to do it though, so any help will be greatly appreciated!! I have a tink suitcase that i want to use, am thinking about getting a Duffy to go in there but am not sure what else. She's going to be 5 so shirts won't work (i think), i'm just stuck lol. the plan is to get the van packed up and when we pick her up from daycare tell her then and get on the road.

I'm loving the way you guys have done your surprises!!!!

 

[iteach7th]

disneyjr77 - 5 is the perfect age for WDW clothes - especially if it's a girl! The pictures that I have of my DD in her outfits are priceless! If you want to find something to suprise her with - or if you want to go all out, now is the time. Now the only things my boys would wear were the t-shirts from the Disney store or the gift shops but DD was a different story.

If you are looking for shirts - I always went for handmade with my DD. She is now almost 13 and is planning her shirts for our trip. When she was younger - I went all out with the matching shorts/capris and everything. There is a thread in the "Disney For Families" section for those that sew to share their ideas and pictures of the things they have made. There are some over on that thread with lots of creativity and wonderful sewing skills.

I also would look on etsy.com and Ebay to get ideas. If you search custom Disney on those websites - that will give you endless people that you can order things from. I know people that have had great experiences with different sellers on both websites. I would get the ideas and then attempt to make it myself or get someone local to make it for me because I was always worried about the fit - plus I could get it done quite a bit cheaper than what they were charging. Hobby Lobby puts their t-shirts on sale for $1.50 quite a bit and if you can find someone locally to applique or sew ribbon - you aren't out of pocket much! I have also bought sweat shirts and long sleeve T's and had custom things done on them as well.

WONDERFUL park pictures and people stopped her all the time to find out where on property she bought the outfit. DD has packed all her outfits that she has outgrown away for when she has a daughter. Friends have asked to buy them but we have had to tell them no. She wants to take her little girl back and make pictures in the same place where she had her picture made in that outfit

 

[disneyjr77]

disneyjr77 - 5 is the perfect age for WDW clothes - especially if it's a girl! The pictures that I have of my DD in her outfits are priceless! If you want to find something to suprise her with - or if you want to go all out, now is the time. Now the only things my boys would wear were the t-shirts from the Disney store or the gift shops but DD was a different story.

If you are looking for shirts - I always went for handmade with my DD. She is now almost 13 and is planning her shirts for our trip. When she was younger - I went all out with the matching shorts/capris and everything. There is a thread in the "Disney For Families" section for those that sew to share their ideas and pictures of the things they have made. There are some over on that thread with lots of creativity and wonderful sewing skills.

I also would look on etsy.com and Ebay to get ideas. If you search custom Disney on those websites - that will give you endless people that you can order things from. I know people that have had great experiences with different sellers on both websites. I would get the ideas and then attempt to make it myself or get someone local to make it for me because I was always worried about the fit - plus I could get it done quite a bit cheaper than what they were charging. Hobby Lobby puts their t-shirts on sale for $1.50 quite a bit and if you can find someone locally to applique or sew ribbon - you aren't out of pocket much! I have also bought sweat shirts and long sleeve T's and had custom things done on them as well.

WONDERFUL park pictures and people stopped her all the time to find out where on property she bought the outfit. DD has packed all her outfits that she has outgrown away for when she has a daughter. Friends have asked to buy them but we have had to tell them no. She wants to take her little girl back and make pictures in the same place where she had her picture made in that outfit

thanks for the help! I went to Etsy last night and found the CUTEST minnie tutu and a custom minnie bday tee, so she can have that as her outfit for her day i'm so exctied about the outfit, i'm going to tell her it's special from mickey and minnie and she has to wear it for her birthday

 

[vleeth]

After watching the surprise videos on youtube for an hour yesterday, my DD6 tells me we should surprise her.

We normally talk (alot) about upcoming trips and make plans and she helps me pack, so I asked her if she wanted to give all of that up to be surprised and she said yes.

Luckily she is still young, so if we stop talking about it, she'll forget.

We are planning a trip in a year, but I'm toying with the idea of making a trip between Thanksgiving and Christmas to see all the Christmas stuff.

If that happens, I'll surprise her.

We'll be driving (I'm pretty sure) and I'm trying to decide...is it better to tell her the day before or wait until we are on our way?

 

[the_green_machine]

Man...Keeping a secret is ALOT harder than I thought it would be though....Cant wait!

 

[RogueMom]

These ideas are so great! I definitely want to try in a few years when my daughter will understand (she's only 2 now).

We are going in December for her 3rd birthday... and we've already told her... and she keeps saying "I'm going to Mickey Park for my birthday on an airplane" it's adorable, and I'll take 6 months of it anyday! Now, when watching TV or commercials, previews to Disney movies, etc., and she sees Cinderella's Castle, she gets so excited and screams "I'm going there, I'm going there" She really has no idea what's in store for her... I CAN'T WAIT!

 

[FlyTriPacer]

I cut 1" of my right thumb off 2 weeks before our 2008 trip (in August), needless to say, I wasn't very magical on that trip. So in 2009 we took the kids (son 10, daughter 11) back as a do-over trip. My wife's grandparents live in Ocala and we decided to go visit them before our trip to Disney. Her sister's family did the same trip as us a week earlier (leaving WDW the day we arrived at WDW).

As we left the grandparents' house I kept telling the kids that FL was a big state and we were just going to start driving and see what we could see. I took the back roads onto Disney property and they didn't have a clue where we were until the boy saw a Mickey logo and started asking a lot of questions. That's when I told him were were going to try and visit his cousins before we started our adventure. He bought it and I caught them by surprise when I told the guard that our family was checking in. I don't think I've seen grins that big before (or since)!

Doubt I'll ever be able to get them that good again...

Chad

 

[lmillercrew]

I'm planning on surprising DD11 on Aug 16!! I am SO excited about this trip. She hasn't been since she was almost 6, and says that she doesn't remember anything. When my DH suggested that she and I go for a trip, I jumped on it, of course. Then I thought how bored she would be for a week with just mom, and I knew that her BFF and her mother have wanted to go, I called the mom and asked if she would be in for a trip. She said YES and so we are sharing a room and taking the girls. It was supposed to be a surprise for both girls, but BFF's mom couldn't keep her mouth shut and so BFF knows. I have threatened certain death if she tells DD. I plan on telling DD that we are going to aunts house in WI so that she will pack her own clothes (she's picky), and she will have "conveniently" left her phone at BFF's house from the night before, and we will have to pick it up. So we will pick it up and that's when the surprise will happen. I have been collecting stuff for their carry on's. New flip flops, Minnie Mouse watches, sunglasses, lotion, hand sanitizer, Pooh Pez dispensers, Mickey hair rubber bands, I made a paper bag scrapbook album for each girl, Mickey head shaped suckers, mini Disney puzzles. Anyway, you get the idea. I stuck all of these items in a reusable bag from the Disney store, for each girl. I am WAY excited for this trip. I hope I get the reaction that I want. I've been planning for so long that I can't believe that my trip is only 47 days away!!

 

[txblondie99]

I just love these ideas.. we are still trying to decide to tell mine a month out on her birthday or the day we get there... We are just leaving on a 7a flight so we all mght be a little out of it at first! hehe

 

[the_green_machine]

I am planning on surprising my wife this Christmas with a 7 day trip to Disney World near the end of Jan. 2012.

This, literally, has been her life's wish for the 16yrs we've been together and this year Im going to make it come true.

So here's how Im doing it, that being said with help from all the Dis'ers that have given me their opinions on my posts.

Christmas morning she will open a few gifts initially, ideally each gift will be somewhat specific of one of the theme parks. So perhaps slippers for Magic Kingdom (Cinderella.....get it?), A new camera (Epcot, travel), perhaps a new Blu-ray (Hollywood studios)...Im stuck on Animal Kingdom, but I'll figure it out. Lastly there will be 2 gifts remaining.

The largest one (hopefully the box will be at least 3 to 4 feet tall) will contain something attached to foil helium ballons that will float to the ceiling once opened revealing the surprise (still working on that one).

Lastly, once she has caught her breath or regained consciousness there will be a smaller box which, when opened, will contain a parchment scroll sealed with wax inviting her to Cinderella castle for supper (written in calligraphy) one night during our travels.

I know it may seem over the top but shes worth it and It will mean the world to her.

...In a related story, I just booked our trip. Jan. 20th to the 27th, 2012....HOLLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The wheels are slowly being put into motion

 

[Tres Vegas]

This was for my 2009 trip, my boys ( then 9 and 7 ) had been doing really well in School and dealing with their mother playing games ( divorced 4 years ) so I promised them a road trip if they did well that School year well they excelled (A's) so I planned a WDW trip. As the trip got close I sprung on them two days before we were going to a Quilting Convention her in Ca. ( yeah quilting ) they were like ummm okay....
I said trust Dad he always puts a good road trip together so they were more willing. The morning of our flight during breakfast at home I gave them a small speach how proud I was and said I lied there is no convension then I put a small toy plane on the table for them to look at and they picked it up read the side "Walt Disney World" and looked at me and I said " Our plane leaves in 4 hours we are going to Disney world and Florida for 3 weeks" boy they started balling as well as I since it was alot of sacrifice to pull this off. It was a blast!!!

 

[poohbear8]

I love reading how others have surprised family for their trips. I have done it 2x and have #3 in the works.

In 2009, I took DD(11) alone for 8 days and booked a bounceback offer for the same time in 2010. I managed to keep the 2010 trip a secret from her for a year (!!), until the day I picked her up from school. I told her I had an appointment and she HAD to come with me. She was sure I was tricking her into getting a shot, since she had had blood work done the day before. As we were walking to truck in the school parking lot, I complained it was SO hot and took off my hoodie. She glanced over and saw my shirt (a DISigner helped me plan it), which said, "Life is good! I'm going to Disney!" DD asked when since we had plans to go that July. I told her we were leaving NOW! She wanted to know if her dad knew. ("yes, he is taking us to the airport) DD starting jumping up and down and started to cry when she saw her shirt in the truck that said, "Been There, Done That, and I'm Going Back!" She could not believe I had kept the secret for a whole year! (and that her dad, brother, and teachers knew also!)

Surprise #2 was last year for my niece and nephew. Their mother made them sit down to watch Toy Story one day, saying I thought it was a great movie. The movie started, complete with the WDW commercial I grabbed off another movie. About 4 minutes into it I inserted a "breaking news" screen. I had a slide show of our past vacations together next and ended that with a slide that said it had been too long since we had seen them and I invited them to go to WDW with DD and I in Sept. I ended it with a slide show of the many pictures I had taken of the characters, MNSSHP, and sights at the parks. I also used Boo To You and the music from Fantasmic for the slide show. They both were very excited.

Surprise #3 will be this year for DD again. She will be a freshman in HS in the Fall and I had told her last year I couldn't do a bounceback offer since she could not miss that much school. She has no idea that the teachers have 2 days off in November. With the break, she will only miss 2 days of school, but get 6 days at the parks! Her big surprise will be I am taking her to Universal to see the Harry Potter world. I haven't figured out when, but a friend has offered to make a formal letter for me to tell her she has been accepted to Hogwarts. The funny thing is, she has asked to take a friend for her 16th birthday in 2 years and we said yes. I asked if she wanted to include HP and again, she said yes. So she will now be helping me plan for her Nov trip and have no idea.