How long have you kept your trip secret?

[zcomic]

DW and I booked a trip to WL as soon as the FTP came out. After a trip with kids to Mexico over spring break we had no intentions of another big (i.e. expensive) vacation this year but couldn't pass up this deal.

We leave in 2 weeks and haven't told the kids (DS 15, DD10) that we're going there. All we've said is we're going to stay in a lodge like the ones we saw at Yellowstone last summer. We're hoping they don't figure it out until we get to the airport and they see "Orlando".

Has anyone ever pulled something like this off? If so:

1. how did you handle packing? do you just do it for the kids so they don't see what you're packing (all those Disney clothes from past trips would be a giveaway)

2. how did you and spouse control your excitement and not slip around the kids.

Keeping my fingers crossed that we can keep a secret.

 

[FINFAN]

Hi, we've been keeping it a secret since 6/15...kids think we are taking them to the Wisconsin Dells. Our "trick" to keep from slipping is that we are calling it the Big "D"...Dells, Disney so we haven't slipped up yet....it is for DS 9th B-day, we will tell them when the cab picks us up at 4a.m. yikes, to head to the airport. We leave 8/6. I have been tempted to tell tho, as we usually have a few years between trips and would like the kids input. Luckily, going to the Dells costs a fortune so the kids get the "we can't, we've chosen to save for vacation" reasoning I have been needing to use. It was tricky hiding the confirmation package tho...DS races to get the mail each day. This time we booked thru WDTC (FTP) and their envelope is slightly larger and white, unlike the usual gold/black ones. He didn't even notice!
Good Luck!

 

[buddyboo]

I've been planning this trip since mid may. DDs (8 &3) think we are just going to visit their uncle 2 hours away. 8yo will surely catch on when after we visit uncle, we keep driving for 10 hours! She's a geography wiz, too, so I'm sure she'll put together that I've been on disney websites a lot lately. We're going to universal first, though, so maybe I won't tell them about Disney til we actually get there.

 

[zcomic]

FINFAN, our kids are guessing we're going to the Great Wolf Lodge in the Dells because we mentioned we could go to a waterpark. I think we'll just have to keep pushing that. The only problem will be when we leave the house we'll be heading the opposite direction. DD probably won't notice but DS should. Hopefully he'll be in his usual teenage daze and not catch on.

My DD also saw me with the confirmation in my hand but I told her it was just promotional stuff and she could see it later. Fortunately she forgot about it.

I think the only thing the kids will be disappointed with is that we're not doing Universal this trip. They love IOA but mostly they're going to be mad that we're not eating at Margaritaville. Oh well, at least we'll bring along the inflatible cheeseburger we picked up there in 2000.

From one Parrotthead to another, good luck in keeping your trip a secret.

Fins Up!!!!

 

[lailah]

We held our secret from Sept. until Christmas Morning when my daughter was 11. She didn't know until then when she opened a package with a letter from Santa (yeah right) telling her to pack and take the enclosed airline ticket because she was going to WALT DISNEY WORLD in two days! Boy did the tears flood our living room! She was ALL over us! It was totally exciting. Now she's almost 20 in her third year of college and we go every year the week right before Christmas and sometimes on her spring break and she helps me plan everything. She emails me from college with the countdown every morning! How awesome!

 

[soccer mom]

We've done it twice, once for a whole year. Told them the night before we left. The four of them were younger then (elementary age) and it was easier. I made up a word game. Each of them had a piece to solve and when they put the four pieces together it said "We're going to Disney World...tomorrow!" Now they are teens (and older!) and like being in on the planning. I still always have a surprise. i.e. told them we were staying at poly gv, when I really had reservation for poly LV concierge. When they walked in the room and the first thing they saw was the castle, it was disney magic at its best! Once had a limo waiting when I told them Mears bus. Once said they wanted to go to AK on a particular day, but I had a limo waiting out side to take us to IOA (which I told them we couldn't afford to do that trip)

Packing was easy for me because we always go in the winter, so I just pack summer clothes and put suitcases back in the basement. Just save underclothes until the night before.

Packing shouldn't be too hard since they think your're going somewhere anyway. Maybe DH can get kids out of house day/evening before so you can pack things you think will give it away.

The excitement thing is HARD!! So many times I would have a reason that I thought made it necessary to tell the kids. Luckily my DH is the strong on and held my lips together!

Try to keep it a surprise. My kids (15-23 years old now) still talk about those "surprise" trips. Finding out about those trips are probably the some of the most special memories they have.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[zcomic]

It's so encouraging to hear that others have been able to pull this off. DW mentioned last night that one of us needs to have the video camera in hand and ready to capture their reaction. We have so many wonderful memories from our trips there (the kids can recite every line from the 2 hours of video I put together from our first trip in '97). If this works I think it will top them all

 

[girlfriend]

I've done (am doing) it twice - last year I booked in January for a surprise Mother's Day trip. I got my mother's boss involved to get vacation days for her from work. Told her on Mother's Day and we left 2 days later. This year I'm taking my boyfriend. I booked that one in January and we're leaving in August. Since we live together, we took the same days as vacation time to do "something". He knows I've planned a getaway for his birthday in August but doesn't know where. So I've been sending him a countdown daily with a picture of something Disney-related but doesn't give it away (like a picture of a chair, or animal from AK - no characters!)

 

[HookdonWDW]

We pulled this off two years ago. We kept the trip a secret from our kids until the last second... dd (16) figured it out as we were pulling into WDW property, and ds (7) figured it out when the CM who checked us in told him that Mickey said "Happy Birthday", and that he'd be waiting for him in the park in the morning!

DH is in the military, and we were getting ready to PCS (move) from Maryland to Alabama a month before ds's birthday... that meant no time to make friends for a birthday party . It had been a rough year for the kids because we moved 3 times in 18 months (gotta love the military!), and ds was diagnosed with a seizure disorder, and had been spending a lot of time being tested by the pediatric neurologist. We thought they deserved a special treat, so we decided to take them to WDW for ds' birthday.

We waited until 4 days before the trip, and told them that ds' Neurologist wanted us to take him to another Pediatric Neurologist at Patrick AFB in Florida for some more testing (ds had just been to his PN in Biloxi the week before). DD complained that she shouldn't have to tag along, but we said "too bad". It was somewhat amusing to watch her pout, knowing we were going to WDW!

We packed our bags, and I secretly packed the extra stuff we'd need for Disney, and we left after dh got out of work on Friday. Both of the kids were sleeping by the time we reached Ocala, so it worked out great. DD woke up as we entered WDW, and just kept looking... she finally made a squeaking sound when she realized what was up! We motioned for her to stay quiet so ds would keep sleeping.

When we pulled up to the ASMo, the lobby was deserted since it was around 1:00 AM. DS was so tired, he didn't even realize where he was until the CM made her comment! This was definitely one of the best trips we've had to WDW because we caught the kids totally off guard.

The best part of it is that dd has never complained about going on a routine trip somewhere again, once she realized that she tried to complain her way out of a trip to WDW!!!

 

[PieInYourEye]

I've been able to keep is a secret as we drive up to the entrance. Poor sleeping child had no idea!! When I woke her, she danced as much as her seat belt would let her.

 

[jim&laura]

I planned a secret trip last year for DW and I. I had booked in March for our December trip. I then gave her a jigsaw puzzle I had made telling her that she was going to MVMCP in November. She loved it and has now framed the puzzle. She was amazed that I was able to keep the trip a secret for so long.

 

[FINFAN]

Have a GREAT TRIP zcomic! Fins up indeed!

 

[Kteacher]

what's today, Thursday? So I've kept it a secret for 2 days so far I'm telling my sister on 8/2, and I'm going to try to keep it a secret from my daughter for as long as possible!!

 

[harperwi]

My original plan was to keep it a secret (not that we were going to WDW, but which date we were leaving - the kids knew we'd go SOMEtime, just not when), but two weeks ago we caved in.

My intention was to tell them as we got on the interstate and headed east. But because their mother (who will not be going - divorce in progress) loves to steal everyone's thunder and ruin surprises, I figured it was better that I get the joy of telling them now before she does. We had to tell her now, you know, to get her "blessing," and once she knew it pretty much made it necessary for us to tell too.

I'm so envious of all of you who made it so special for your kids (not that our trip won't be special, of course).

I did manage a few secrets, though. The kids have only seen a rough itinerary - it doesn't show that we're going to the Ice Cream Social, or to breakfast with Pooh at Crystal Palace, or on an Illuminations Cruise. They'll still have plenty of surprises along the way!

Congrats on your will power, everyone!

Jon

 

[InstImpres]

My DD8 and I went in Feb. It was a surpise to my DD and my DN7, that my SIL and DN were coming. The mom's kept it a secret until the airport. My niece was upset that she had to "drive us to the airport" and not get to go again. It was of course a rough day and I told my DD you better start listening or maybe when we get to the airport I'll take DN instead. Well, DN was shocked when her Dad said call me from Disney and my DD started to cry thinking she wasn't going. After a minute of straightening things out, both girls were thrilled and shocked (through the whole airplane ride). It was a very memorable trip.

The one downside, DN and DD now think every surprise is going to Disney together. My DN is convinced she is joining us in August. I guess I will need to find a new ride to the airport on the trips she isn't coming.

Enjoy your surprise
Sandy

 

[cbutterfield]

we once were able to keep our trip a secret until the kids woke up at 7a.m. in front of the Cont. Hotel. We were in North Carolina at a family reunion. Told the kids we were leaving for home after dinner. Instead of going north we went south. MY kids 6 and 2 were so happy I will never forget this moment.

 

[poohlover]

How did you all keep the secret?? I WANT to keep our trip we are planning in April a secret from our 4 younger kids.

Our 2 high school DD's are going to be marching in the HS band on Main Street & participate in Disney's Music Days...

Since we just went last Nov. we are telling the 4 younger ones that we don't have the money saved yet to go with the others in April. I'm sure that as the HS band gets more planning & as news gets around town about them going it will get harder to keep "our" secret trip. Especially as some close friends are going to chaperone the band trip!

So other than posting on the boards how do you all keep your secret?? I'm so excited to be planning again I could burst!

 

[Pryncess'mom]

My BIL & SIL kept it secret until the morning of the trip. The kids came down the stairs for school and SIL said (really sadly) You can't go to school today. When kids asked why they said You're going to WDW!! They didn't believe it until they actually saw the plane tickets! They had a great trip at WL. Kids really wre in shock!!

Good luck & have fun!

Deb

 

[wingnut3443]

last year, after weeks of planning, we drove our 9 yearold DS, and 7 year old DD to WDW from near Detroit. we were able to keep it a secret till we reached the FLA state border. They thought they were going to Cedar Point in Ohio, and to account for the longer drive, we told them due to road work, we had to take the long way....to say they were shocked was an understatment.

 

[FloridaCat]

I am good for about five minutes