How to break the news ...

[sdwrdt]

We are going to give the girls the trip as their Christmas present. We're planning on wrapping boxes inside boxes, etc. until they get to their tickets. I thought it would be neat to have them get a clue inside of each box (without being too obvious - they are 9 1/2 and 11 and know that Mom's favorite vacation destination is WDW). Unfortunately, neither hubby nor I is too creative and hubby doesn't like the idea but will put the clues if I can come up with something.

So, what are some good ideas?

 

[boucheresq]

Could you start by saying it's going to be an "Incredible" present?

 

[MrShiny]

Another idea might be a treasure hunt. Give them a box under the tree that says something like, "Go where the the Mickey's favorite food is." Then put a clue in the fridge by the cheese saying, "Now go where your dreams are made." Put a clue under their beds, etc. You could even have each one going in different directions. Then have them both end at the tv and have a note on the vcr/dvd saying "Press play" and have the WDW planning video come on.

 

[CanadaPT]

I did this before for my sisters. I put three boxes in side of each other. The first box contained newspaper clippings/brochure regarding orlando and Florida. The second box contained the Unofficial Guide. The third box had an Envelope and in that envelope were their airplane tickets!

Have fun with the surprise!

 

[Roo'sMom]

We are giving a trip as a present to our boys too!! We are wrapping paper "chains" and they will open one for each day until we go (they are used to counting down the days til vacation or xmas this way!) The first one they open will just have the number "7" on it..and then "6" etc, and they can put together the chain as they go, until they get to the last one which will say "1" and "day until WDW!!!"
I can't wait to see their faces!

 

[winniedapooh]

We gave each of the kids a small box with a Disney t-shirt and a GOH badge attached. Under that was a Disney map and an annual pass. At the bottom was a note from Santa asking each child if they wanted to join Mom and Dad in Disney for 11 days leaving in 9 hours! DD13 almost 14 got to the note first and I have never heard such screaming and excitement out of her mouth.....by the time the others had read it themselves and to the youner ones it was a screaming fest and tears were streamin down DH & my face.....priceless memory. I still have no idea how we kept that a secret from them for 278 days!

 

[golfgal]

We are giving each kid a suitcase, a toy airplane and something with Mickey on it and see if they figure it out.

 

[ILuvWDWorld]

My parents are giving a trip to our family for Christmas - me & my brothers & sister, our spouses, and all the grandchildren - 21 of us. Anyway, I'm the only one who knows because they needed some help with the planning. They bought all the grandkids a personalized sweatshirt from the Disney store online. (Each shirt is a different color and has a different character on it - they turned out great!) The grandkids will open those first. Then they have wrapped brochures of the parks that they picked up on their last trip for each of the couples to open. Then I have made a "DVD" with pictures set to the music of "When You Wish Upon a Star." At the end of the "video", all the information about the trip scrolls like credits with pictures of the hotel, etc., and at the very end "Merry Christmas from Papaw & Mimi" fades in.

They're so excited. They've been planning this since last May and are ready to bust!

 

[winniedapooh]

OK ILuvWDWorld that is the coolest.....you should have a video recorder set up so you can see everybody's faces later. What a memory. I love reading about the creativity people have on these threads!

 

[TSirgey]

You could start with 'vacation' items. Generic map, camera, suntan lotion, etc. I wouldn't be too Mickey specific until they open the final present, the tickets. If you keep it generic, it might be more exciting.

 

[FINFAN]

We taped a WDW special off the travel channel when we surprised DS for his Bday trip 2 years ago...we had the kids watch the show, and had chinese for dinner that night and we had doctored the fortune cookie DS got to say he will be in a magical place for his birthday, and then had him open a present early which was a t-shirt w/Pluto on the front tat said Top Dog (from TDS) and on the back in fabric markers I wrote "Today is my birthday and I'm at Disney...COOL! Imade the 2 letter O's in the mickey shape. I was fun.
You could tape the Holiday Special that is on the travel channel and as soon as it ends tell them how many days until they are there, we are going in 6 days and are giving the kids their own carry-ons and I sewed a patch of their favorite character on each bag, you could do that as the BOX that is holding their tickets...this is fun!
You will have such an awesome Christmas !


Pam

 

[bizeemom4]

We are giving a trip as a present to our boys too!! We are wrapping paper "chains" and they will open one for each day until we go (they are used to counting down the days til vacation or xmas this way!) The first one they open will just have the number "7" on it..and then "6" etc, and they can put together the chain as they go, until they get to the last one which will say "1" and "day until WDW!!!"
I can't wait to see their faces!

That's cool. We'll have 17 days from Christmas Day until we leave. I was going to do a chain already put together in their big box of stuff (with the Pal Mickey, helium balloons and plane tickets) so they would know how long they have to wait.

I think I'll 'borrow' your idea and wrap the links individually so they are all out of order. They'll have to work together to figure out how long til we leave.

 

[Wiggle]

We're doing the exact same thing with our boys - 11 and 9. We've been many times, so we can't be obvious. We've decided to do a scavenger hunt through the house on Christmas morning using generic items. We're going to start with fanny packs, then a roll of film, then a mini M&Ms container filled with quarters and pennies (for pressed pennies), etc. The final stop will be at a box that is plugged it. When they lift the box off the table, the WDW planning DVD will be playing on a portable DVD player.

We want to be as sneaky as possible, and I really like the chain out-of-order idea. Maybe we'll do a letter at each "stop" on the hunt, then they'll have to unscramble them.

Any more ideas would be really helpful. We're going in January during MLK week. Flying. Staying at POP. We're going to Cirque de Soliel. Let me know if you come up with anything else. You all are great!!!

 

[Mom2RinJen]

For the past year, everytime we get into the car and the kids don't know where we are going, we always tease them and tell them we are taking them to Disney World. We tell them we packed their suitcases and they are in the trunk. They always know we're kidding. We are usually going to Wallymart or dinner etc. We have told them since Feb that we can't afford our yearly Disney trip this year and will be going back in 2006. They are disappointed but they understand. I'm off on the Friday that we are leaving and Im going to pack their bags and the car while they are at school and when they come home, they'll eat dinner and we'll go to the car. They will have no idea where we are going. Of course they will ask and of course we will say Disney World and they won't believe us so we'll pull over, take their pillows and car game/goody bags out and then the excitement will begin! or at least I hope so. LOL I don't know who's more excited, me or the girls. LOL

 

[DisDarling]

Put Disney Dollars in their stockings
D.D.

 

[minkydog]

We did this once, too. We told our kids we were going on a trip to visit relatives in NW Florida. Since it's a long ride anyway, they slept most of the time. Not until they saw palm trees did they think something was weird but they didn't figure it out until we got to Kissimmee. We ate dinner on the strip and then drove into the park--I thought they were going to wet their pantz!

Cathy--mom to THE most naive and trusting kids on the planet :space:

 

[Roo'sMom]

I think I'll 'borrow' your idea and wrap the links individually so they are all out of order. They'll have to work together to figure out how long til we leave.

I like that idea better! I think I'll do it that way too!
Hope they are surprised and you all have a great trip!!