How do i tell the kids? Should i wait?

[ErinsMommy]

Take my advice -- I told my then 4 year DD about our 2011 trip when we booked it (3 months out) and she drove us all crazy asking every chance she got if it was time to go yet. This time around (she's now 5-1/2), she hasn't brought it up much, so we're hoping she forgot....lol

 

[Claudine877]

In 2007 we went in Jan from Philly in the early morning with our then two boys 11 and 7 who knew about it well in advance and the 11 year old upchucked from excitement in the van from the parking lot to the airport itself. DH sacrificed his winter coat to save the van. The coat was then deposited into the trash upon entering the airport!

Hopefully I've learned some things. We're going in October 2012 with DS16, DS12 and two 3 year olds(DS/DD) who will turn 4 while in the park. The 16 and 12 know about it and the little ones know we're going for their birthday, however, we'll be picking them up from school/daycare that day @ 3pm and heading down to the airport with all of them and hopefully a regular day with regular activities and a nap will minimize the chance of excitement overload. We aren't even planning to discuss Disney with the little kids in the days before and while enroute to the AoA!

 

[phillymummer]

When we went in 2010, my daughter knew we were going. It was for her 5th birthday and the grandparents were going. It was fun counting down and talking about the trip, but it got a little tiring answering the same questions everyday! She had a really hard time going to sleep the night before. It made for a very tired day (we flew day after school and didn't get into our room until about 11pm).

We are going again this Oct for her 7th b-day but we are not going to tell her until we wake her up at 4am. I will pack her suitcase while she is at dance class earlier in the week and I will have a carry-on bag partially packed for her as well.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[ljmclin]

Our December trip will be the 4th WDW trip for my kids (DD10, DS7, DD6). We have surprised them for 2 of the last 3 trips. I can't believe we keep getting away with surprises, but it works out every time. We last went to Disney in September 2010. I started planning for our trip this year in January and would love to keep it a secret. I enjoy talking to them about future trips and letting them help to plan so keeping it a secret has been hard. But like someone mentioned earlier, I would love to see their faces when we drive under the big Walt Disney World sign and they realize where we are really headed!!! My husband thinks i'm crazy to believe we will get all the way to Disney (10hr drive) before they find out where we're going. We usually surprise them the day of the trip - way before we actually arrive. We'll see if I can make it until December!!!!!

 

[Salrx95]

I choose option 3 and let them figure it out.

Our boys were almost 3 and 5 on our first trip in Feb/2011. My wife's mom lives in Florida so we told them we were visiting her. We drove as well. When we pulled up to the gate and our 5 year old started to figured it out, his face and reaction was worth it all. The video of it was awesome. To his credit, he did ask "can we visit grandma first".

We are coming again this February but wanted them in on the decision process of where to stay, etc. Plus, the now almost 7 year old is too smart and reads really well so it would be much harder to surprise them.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

We go 5 times a year...

One time we decided not to tell DD8 until the day of.. We put little hints and then a note.. Guess what - NO school we are going to Disney!! (It was only a 1/2 day she missed)

She was in complete shock.... and 1/2 way through the trip she strated crying as she was so overwhelmed.. (Happy cries though)

Either way you decide.. It is magical... after all its DISNEY!!

 

[Karabee]

I would wait and tell them that morning. My parents did that to us for our first trip - we were 5 & 3 - and we still remember that moment more than the actual trip. It was absolutely amazing to be woken up and have them ask us if we wanted to go to Disney World.

 

[Lolsmum]

My kids are 4 (almost 5) and 6 1/2. We told them a while ago, even though we still have 33 days to go. They've really enjoyed being in on the planning, learning about Hidden Mickeys (my daughter is obsessed) and getting all excited to go. They are even enjoying picking out clothes to take.

Some day we'll go for the surprise option, but there was no way we could fly to Orlando from the UK without my son working it out on the way and nobody wanted to be on a plane with him when he did work it out. He tends to get very excited, bounce around for a while and scream even when it's a little thing like ordering pizza for dinner.

 

[Lolsmum]

I forgot to mention the best thing about telling them early.

Whining in lines has basically stopped, after we pointed out they can't go on rides at Disneyworld if they whine in the lines.

My picky, picky daughter is willing to try a lot more food, to practice for Disneyworld.

They aren't even complaining about walking to school and back, since it's good practice for Disneyworld.

 

[jcjen519]

I don't know about the 5 year old but we're going soon and our 3 year old knows but he does not really care. We told him in June after we got back from our trip in May (we're DVC members). He LOVES Disney World and is excited but he does not really grasp time...we're going in one month but unless I can tell him we are going right now it does not mean a whole lot to him. Does that make sense?

I would tell them when you're on your way. Like get them up for the airport drive or car drive and tell them?

 

[bjscheel]

I like the two weeks or so out, because that is what we did. We did our surprise at 10 days out. My kids were older, though, but I think it's nice for them to anticipate a little bit, and help pack. Or maybe since they're younger, maybe just a few days out. They can make sure they get the things they want packed, and they can be excited for a while.

 

[runningjusme]

i'm LOVING these surprise stories!!

we are going in late October (taking DD8 & DS3 out of school for 2 days). we are not telling them until we leave for the airport (6am flight - ugh).

they have no idea - we just got back from a june trip and are scheduled to go back late january, so i dont think they'll even suspect -- even when we are talking about it, we just tell them it's for January.

this past trip, we told my son when we booked (december) - all we heard at least 5-6 times a day was "MICKEY JUNE???!!!"

 

[Nomad70]

We have never kept it a secret from the kids. BUT, I am planning a mom and daughter getaway for her 16th Birthday in December. I am not telling her.

 

[EvilQueensRule]

I forgot to mention the best thing about telling them early.

Whining in lines has basically stopped, after we pointed out they can't go on rides at Disneyworld if they whine in the lines.

My picky, picky daughter is willing to try a lot more food, to practice for Disneyworld.

They aren't even complaining about walking to school and back, since it's good practice for Disneyworld.

This has turned out to be a big benefit for our family too. I have found a way to make lots of things "practice for Disney" and also just using it as general leverage for good behavior. ("Mickey won't want to hear that you were crying")

We're going in November and the kids will be almost 3 and almost 5. They haven't had a ton of exposure to Disney, don't like watching movies, and have no concept of what Disneyworld is. So we told them in order to build excitement and also to prepare them for what the vacation will be like. Up to now, they have only been to the beach, so this will be really different for them. My kids can be completely blase about things that I would think would be really exciting, so I am doing as much as possible to hype the Disney experience, because if they aren't excited by it, I will be really dissappointed!