How do we tell the kids- it's a surptise trip

[pinkerbell]

We leave on Monday and will hold off until it's about to become obvious we're going somewhere. I have been saying I am taking out their warm clothes because it's spring, etc, when really we leave for Disney on Monday

Care to share how you sprung it on your kids??? I plan to pull the packing together on Sunday Night (take out suitcases and fill'em for Monday)

 

[PammieJ]

I'll never forget the time my parents planned a surprise trip. Somehow Mom packed everything, got the car loaded, and made all the arrangements without us kids suspecting a thing. Then she told us all to 'get in the car'. Once we took off...she told us about our surprise trip (not to Disney, but a nice vacation on the lake). We were beside ourselves with excitement.

You could surprise them with a hint....a Disney t-shirt, Mickey pancakes for breakfast, or something like that on the day of your trip, and let them try to figure it out.
Try to hold off as long as possible, so they don't drive you nuts with excitement! LOLOL!

My babies are 20 and 22, but DH and I go to Disney as a couple and have a blast. I sometimes miss the old days, so have a wonderful, wonderful time with your kids!

 

[Belle_princess]

I looked up Disney World Suprise on Youtube. There were many videos of kids being surprised. Some were better than others.

 

[pickyprincess]

We are surprising our 10, 12, and 16 year olds. 22 days to go and it hasn't been easy! We planned our full itinerary in private, made lists of what to pack etc., ordered personalized Disney t-shirts for everyone that are going to be in our room when we arrive (courtesy of DH running in to do the check in)we'll see how that goes ha ha! I'm also putting together a basket of Disney goodies that he's taking in ahead of us as well. Mickey Ears, Disney fruit snacks, you get the idea.

As far as telling the kids I plan to load the car the night before and tell them we are just going to visit Downtown Disney and Disney Quest, imagine their surprise when we pull up to the POR (first time staying on grounds) and imagine their surprise when they get to also miss a few days of school. WOO HOO! Now, if I can just find some tape strong enough to keep my mouth shut around them until then.

 

[pinkerbell]

I'll never forget the time my parents planned a surprise trip. Somehow Mom packed everything, got the car loaded, and made all the arrangements without us kids suspecting a thing. Then she told us all to 'get in the car'. Once we took off...she told us about our surprise trip (not to Disney, but a nice vacation on the lake). We were beside ourselves with excitement.

You could surprise them with a hint....a Disney t-shirt, Mickey pancakes for breakfast, or something like that on the day of your trip, and let them try to figure it out.
Try to hold off as long as possible, so they don't drive you nuts with excitement! LOLOL!

My babies are 20 and 22, but DH and I go to Disney as a couple and have a blast. I sometimes miss the old days, so have a wonderful, wonderful time with your kids!

It is so wonderful you still remember that surprise, makes me feel we are doing the right thing by surprising them I have made t shirts so will encorporate that into the build up! good ideas, especially Mickey pancakes!

I looked up Disney World Suprise on Youtube. There were many videos of kids being surprised. Some were better than others.

yea, gotta do that!

We are surprising our 10, 12, and 16 year olds. 22 days to go and it hasn't been easy! We planned our full itinerary in private, made lists of what to pack etc., ordered personalized Disney t-shirts for everyone that are going to be in our room when we arrive (courtesy of DH running in to do the check in)we'll see how that goes ha ha! I'm also putting together a basket of Disney goodies that he's taking in ahead of us as well. Mickey Ears, Disney fruit snacks, you get the idea.

As far as telling the kids I plan to load the car the night before and tell them we are just going to visit Downtown Disney and Disney Quest, imagine their surprise when we pull up to the POR (first time staying on grounds) and imagine their surprise when they get to also miss a few days of school. WOO HOO! Now, if I can just find some tape strong enough to keep my mouth shut around them until then.

We satyed at POR for the first time in Feb and the grounds were BEAUTIFUL!!! our 4 & 6 YO's prefer values for the over the top themeing but POR was georgous!!! have a wonderful time! have you seen the thres about get me excited for POR - it's great!!

 

[pickyprincess]

Yes, and it worked! I'm totally ready.

 

[momof2minnies]

You are from Agawam right? Oh I am jealous- have a great time, hope the crowds aren't too bad.

Linda

 

[mm1112]

When mu kids were young (7,4,1) they did not realize where we were until we started driving when we left MCO and they seen the signs to Disney World. We told them that I had to go away for business and that I was able to bring them along.

 

[Reese]

The first time we surprised them we I even kept the luggage hidden. For the last week when I did laundry I just kept packing a few things away. We told them right before we headed to the airport. Each one of them got a disney bo from the dollar store with a bunch of disney stuff in it. Pens, stickers, markers,ect. We also included a new Disney hat, shirt, autograph book and we had their boarding passes in the very bottom. It took them a minute to realize that we were leaving right then. That of course was followed by the screams. It worked out well because everyone was so excited and still in disbelief that there was no worrying about the plane ride.

 

[dphie28]

We surprised our kids in 2007...I picked up the kids from preschool/kindergarten and we told them I had a meeting to go to. They fell asleep for the hour car ride to the airport and they woke up to us telling them we were going to watch the planes take off and get dinner. They freaked when DH asked if they wanted to take a ride to see Mickey.

This year, we are surprising them again. I plan to pick up DS8 and DS6 at school at noontime. I will have them get in the car where their baby brother and dad will be waiting, along with a goody bag of stuff for the plane. I have thought about getting them shirts from disneystore.com that say "I am going to the DisneyWorld Resort". DS6 has no idea at all and will be hysterical when he finds out. When we went in 2007, I was pg with DS2. I told the boys then that we would not return until Baby DS was 3...so DS6 has been counting the months until october, the baby's bday. He even said to me on Sunday night --- only 6 more months until his bday! THEN we can go to Disney!!!

America's Funniest Home Videos did a segment on surprise Disney vacations...they were priceless! I have to remember to record THIS one because it will be a doozy!

 

[K&RfromSD]

The last time we went we suprised our daughter in probably the best way possible. She knew we were going on vacation because it was during the school year. But she thought we were going out to Deadwood SD. So we get up the morning of the trip and get in the car and turn on the radio.

We have sattilte radio and she loves "Kids place live" with Kenny Curtis. About a week before our trip I had emailed him and explained the situation and asked if he could play a couple of Disney songs and tell her where she was going.When she heard Kenny mention her name and where she was actualy going she freaked out bigtime.

That was the perfect start to our trip. And the best way I could think of to suprise her.

 

[Kimi313]

When DD was younger we surprised her almost every year. The best one was I had ordered Disney shirts online and got one for her, me, and DH. We leave early in the morning for the 10 hour car ride, so Dh and I put our shirts on and then our robe over it. I wrapped her shirt, woke her up at 4:00 in the morning, we yelled surprise and she opened her present. As soon as she looked at her shirt we whipped our robes off and she us wearing a matching one and she got so excited. She yelled are we going to Disney World. And then after the ride started she fell asleep, she was probably 4 at the time, and she would wake up and say are we going to DW or did I dream that.

 

[SnowandMittens]

We're surprising my Dbf's nephews this next summer and we're not going to say a word until the ME.

 

[Lizzybee]

I know this OP has already sprung the surprise but I surprised my kids on the 3rd trip. I had said I was taking time off of work and we were going to Chicago. Those were not lies as the I DID take time off and the airport IS in Chicago. I had packed the suitcases in the basement as I did laundry. They had no idea. The morning of the trip they knew they'd have to wake up early to "go to Chicago". I had a game for them. It was a picture game like "Question word that rhymes with (picture of a cow)" and it spelled out "How would you like to go to the Happiest Place on Earth - TODAY". They fell out on the floor with shock. By then the cab was there and our bags were ready to go. I vowed never to do it again though because I was soooooooo excited the night before I almost threw up trying to keep my composure while being all excited inside. It was fun to surprise them once.

 

[superme80]

My parents surprised my sister and I when I was about 12. They told us they were sending my grandparents to Disneyland as an anniversary gift, this was the truth. We went to the hotel and my mom said she had to check on some things for the reservations. She came back out and told us to bring our stuff in because we were going to Disneyland the next day. I about had a heart attack!!!!! That was on of the best gifts ever!

 

[brucefan]

We are surprising our kids too! We leave Sat June 5th..they have NO idea we are going. I want to do a scavenger hunt on Friday afternoon when my two older boys get home from school. I have a Disney CD and a few other disney related items for hiding. The last one will be mickey shaped balloons either written We"re going to Disney or they'll have our boarding passes attached. I hope they are excited as I am!

 

[trvlgirlmq]

We are doing a surprise too. They know we are going to WDW but think we are staying at the Travelodge and driving 14 hours like we have in the past. Nope! Only driving 2 1/2 hours to the airport then hopping a plane to our first onsite stay. I can't wait to see their faces as each surprise is revealed. Since we got the FD they will also be surprised at the TS meals which we have never done. I am so excited myself it is hard to keep it all in. I hope I make the next 4 1/2 months without spilling the beans.

 

[dphie28]

We are doing a surprise too. They know we are going to WDW but think we are staying at the Travelodge and driving 14 hours like we have in the past. Nope! Only driving 2 1/2 hours to the airport then hopping a plane to our first onsite stay. I can't wait to see their faces as each surprise is revealed. Since we got the FD they will also be surprised at the TS meals which we have never done. I am so excited myself it is hard to keep it all in. I hope I make the next 4 1/2 months without spilling the beans.

The DIS helps keep the secret a bit more bearable. Imagine if you had NO OUTLET for your excitement??? I can't believe we only have 11 MORE DAYS!! I just spent another $50 at Michaels buying stuff for the trip.

 

[ksc37]

We've got 14 days to go until our surprise... still not sure how to spring it on our boys (7 and 9). We need to pick them up from school early to get to the airport, so I'm thinking of just putting mouse ears on each of their seats in the car, and when they get in say something like 'Get your ears on, we're going to see Mickey!' or something like that.

I thought of a scavenger hunt the night before, but I don't want them driving the teachers crazy in school the day we leave.

We'll see - it's been extremely difficult keeping this secret!!

 

[dphie28]

We've got 14 days to go until our surprise... still not sure how to spring it on our boys (7 and 9). We need to pick them up from school early to get to the airport, so I'm thinking of just putting mouse ears on each of their seats in the car, and when they get in say something like 'Get your ears on, we're going to see Mickey!' or something like that.

I thought of a scavenger hunt the night before, but I don't want them driving the teachers crazy in school the day we leave.

We'll see - it's been extremely difficult keeping this secret!!

Your dilemma and solution is almost EXACTLY the same as mine! My 3 boys (2, 6 and 8) have no clue at all. We will be picking them up at lunchtime and driving with them to the airport. I plan to have their mouse ears in their seats too....and am going to make shirts that I had designed here on the DIS. DH had a great idea...to use window markers and draw Mickey heads on the windows and a note that we are ON OUR WAY TO DISNEY. We will roll the windows down until they are out of school and in the car. Then we will roll up the windows and when they figure out that we are on our way to Disney we will give them their ears and shirts. The camcorder will be rolling!!!