How should I tell my kids we are going to WDW?

[Hemlock]

We met a father on one of our flights down.. He had a 7am flight. Woke the kids up at 3am and asked them if they wanted to go to Disney World. 4 Hours later they were in the air. I cant wait to use this on mine.

My friend took this one step further and woke her kids up early and told them that they had to drive Daddy to the airport for a business trip (the kids were 6 and 8 and didn't question why Daddy needed 4 suitcases for a business trip). They waited until they were inside the terminal just about going through security and then told them that they were actually going to Disney World!

 

[papertraveller]

Thanks to some unused DVC points, DD has two surprise trips coming. The first is in a few days, to MNSSHP. This also falls one week before her birthday, so it'll be a combo. I have prepared an itinerary, which I will wrap up. On our last trip to WDW, I also picked up a few small items: a Halloween lanyard, some earrings in her birthstone (which she's been asking for ever since she got her ears pierced), extra soap from the room (with Mickey's head imprinted), a napkin, etc. I will wrap those items individually.

Then on the day we're leaving, we will be taking her out of school at lunchtime. This will of course be unsettling, since she thrives on routine. She and her dad will pick me up from transit after work, and we'll say we have something to discuss with her. We'll give her the gifts, with the itinerary coming last. Then we'll be off in the car (already packed) and heading south!

Pulling this off a second time might be challenging, but I started planning for that too. I picked up a Disney container at the Orlando outlet mall in the summer, plus a Christmas pin. I'll probably pick up a few more bits and pieces at WDW on this next trip, and I think I'll add a gift card. Then everything will be packed up under the Christmas tree, and we'll open that gift last.

The hardest part about these surprises is keeping my mouth shut. I'm getting so excited!

 

[figment301]

One year I did nesting packages. So I got a HUGE box and then smaller and smaller. You get the idea. But for a twist in each layer/size box I put a gift. Stuffed animal, t-shirt, all things to be used on the trip. Then in the smallest/last box I put maps from each of the parks (you can order personalized maps from Disney) with an invitation from their favorite characters (envelope with each child's name to be opened at the same time).

I am taking my 8 & 7 yr old daughters the first week in December as a surprise and will be taking a half day from work, going home picking up the luggage and loading the car. Then picking up the girls early dismissal from school. Heading to the airport. Still deciding how to inform them. Not sure when/how yet. Might be an invite attached to a gift wrapped package (since it is my Christmas gift to them).

Lots of fun ways to surprise the kids

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

My mom and I made a scavenger hunt for my niece when she was 7 or 8, her second trip. It was Christmas morning and she opened her presents to find, not only her presents, but little note cards with the letters to spell scavenger hunt. We told her that it spelled two words, the first being 9 letters and beginning with S and the second being 4 letters and starting with H. It took her a few minutes to figure the words and we did help a little.

After she realized what was going on, we told her she would need to find the answers to Who, How, Why, When and Where in her hunt. We gave clues to where the clues were hidden and she was off. When she got to the first spot, she saw a picture of the three of us(Who). The next spot had a small train(How). In the next area, she found birthday candles (Why) and then found a calendar with the date circled(When). I was sitting in the dining room with a tin foil covered cake pan with a note on it. She took the foil off and saw a giant cookie with the letters WDW written on it. At first she couldn't figure it out, so I went over all the clues with her and then reminded her that she hadn't figured out the last question, Where.

That was actually the hardest for her and so I told her it was the happiest place. She literally jumped up and down and then said, but we were just there so that can't be it. I shook my head yes that we were and she hugged me and cried, making me cry of course. It was the best reaction ever!

 

[Greyhound22]

I love reading the great ideas! We are DVC owners and go every year now. We have a surprise trip on Christmas night for 5 days. Our daughters 11/9 have never flown. Any ideas for the older more experienced Disney Kids? We're thinking of just having a Disney Christmas (most presents being Disney themed). We aren't going to spring it to them until Christmas morning for sure. BTW - the 9 year old still is a "believer"

 

[bababear_50]

Hi Hon
here is a blank Surprise Disney Christmas Ticket

Just personalize (I can do this if you are not sure how to) and print-laminate .

Hugs Mel


Drop by the DIS DISign thread --we have lots of ideas over there.




Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[fraservalleymom]

Hi Hon
here is a blank Surprise Disney Christmas Ticket

Just personalize (I can do this if you are not sure how to) and print-laminate .

Hugs Mel


Drop by the DIS DISign thread --we have lots of ideas over there.

**********************************************************
What a beautiful tag. I'll be over as soon as I've pressed "enter" Thanks so much!

 

[fraservalleymom]

After she realized what was going on, we told her she would need to find the answers to Who, How, Why, When and Where in her hunt. We gave clues to where the clues were hidden and she was off. When she got to the first spot, she saw a picture of the three of us(Who). The next spot had a small train(How). In the next area, she found birthday candles (Why) and then found a calendar with the date circled(When). I was sitting in the dining room with a tin foil covered cake pan with a note on it. She took the foil off and saw a giant cookie with the letters WDW written on it. At first she couldn't figure it out, so I went over all the clues with her and then reminded her that she hadn't figured out the last question, Where.

That was actually the hardest for her and so I told her it was the happiest place. She literally jumped up and down and then said, but we were just there so that can't be it. I shook my head yes that we were and she hugged me and cried, making me cry of course. It was the best reaction ever![/COLOR][/QUOTE]

OMG, I started to cry at your idea. It is so cute.

Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions. I hope it also gives others idea, too.

I was very excited yesterday when I went to the thrift store and found a piggy bank shaped in Mickey Ears. I will definitely be incorporating that.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Whatever you choose to do will be great and they'll just love it! I'm glad you liked our idea and I teared a little writing it as well.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Last year we wanted to surprise our kids with a disney cruise. I will say the hartest part is not keeping the secret but packing without them suspecting you are going on vacation. I work fill time so the only time I can pack is when they are also home.

Anyway - The night before our trip I packed all the bags in the call (it is not the car they drive to school in). I sent them to school like normal and I also went to school like normal (teacher). I left work a few minutes early and went and picked them up from school. When they got in the car there "travleing backpacks" (ones we only use on vacations) were in their carseats. We told them sit down we are going to FL. They were super excited (we did not mention the cruise (there first one). When we arrived in FL we rented a car and when we pulled up to the port the looks on their faces were PRICELESS.

It was a hard secret to keep but so cool.

 

[tarheelgirl78]

We are going to Disney for Christmas too!!! My plans so far is that we are leaving Christmas Day around 3 pm. I have planned a Christmas morning wake up call from Mickey and friends
I am trying to plan the wake up call and opening gifts from Santa at the same time. So as soon as they open the box of Mickey balloons with a note saying you are coming to see me the phone will ring with the wake up call from Mickey!!!
I really hope my plan works... It is so hard keeping all this a secret.

 

[trishypoo]

My mom and I made a scavenger hunt for my niece when she was 7 or 8, her second trip. It was Christmas morning and she opened her presents to find, not only her presents, but little note cards with the letters to spell scavenger hunt. We told her that it spelled two words, the first being 9 letters and beginning with S and the second being 4 letters and starting with H. It took her a few minutes to figure the words and we did help a little.

After she realized what was going on, we told her she would need to find the answers to Who, How, Why, When and Where in her hunt. We gave clues to where the clues were hidden and she was off. When she got to the first spot, she saw a picture of the three of us(Who). The next spot had a small train(How). In the next area, she found birthday candles (Why) and then found a calendar with the date circled(When). I was sitting in the dining room with a tin foil covered cake pan with a note on it. She took the foil off and saw a giant cookie with the letters WDW written on it. At first she couldn't figure it out, so I went over all the clues with her and then reminded her that she hadn't figured out the last question, Where.

That was actually the hardest for her and so I told her it was the happiest place. She literally jumped up and down and then said, but we were just there so that can't be it. I shook my head yes that we were and she hugged me and cried, making me cry of course. It was the best reaction ever!

I LOVE THIS IDEA! We aare going to surprise our 3 boys for Christmas and have been trying to think what or how to do that...thanks for the idea!

 

[iggler]

I am still considering differnt ideas as well, another one I thought of is giving my children small set of luggage ( they will need to pack their clothes in something) and when they open it it will have a tshirt in it that says I am going to walt disney world!!!

 

[free2div]

we just surprised our grandkids..had a Fairy Godmother send them Postcards and when they got to our house..they drove in from TN thinking they were just coming to visit Pa and Granny..when they got here, I told them they had mail and gave them the postcards. They went crazy!!!