How to surprise a kid when they don't know what 'Disney World' is?!

[jsphotography]

I know, its crazy talk to think that a 5 year old disney princess OBSESSED girl doesn't know what Disney World is.. but she doesn't! I've been the nanny for their family for the last 5 years, and in a week my mom and I are bringing her with us for our girls trip to Disney World :0)

I really want to surprise her, but I'm not quite sure what to do or say because if I just tell her "you're going to DISNEY WORLD!" she would respond with "okay, cool! whats that?" I'm not going to have time with her before the trip, so this needs to be a morning-of kind of surprise on the way to the airport or something. Any ideas of what to do or say to surprise her but still get her really excited? She's going to LOVE it, I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees Cinderella's castle for the first time!

 

[mechteach]

I don't have an answer to your question, but I just wanted to say WOW! What a terrific nanny you must be! It's clear that you really care about this little girl. I'm sure that all of us that work out of the home hope to have a caregiver as special and loving as you.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Oh, you are an awesome nanny!!

I think I would tell her "we're going to see Cinderella's castle!" or "we're going to meet 'herfavoriteprincess'" or something like that. That ought to thrill her. Then you can explain that the princesses live in a place called Disney World and in addition to meeting them, there are lots of fun rides to ride and shows to see.

Another idea might be to get a picture book or brochure with lots of pictures of Disney, show it to her and ask if she thinks it looks like fun. Then when she says yes say, "good, because we are going there right now!"

Have fun!!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

How could I have forgotten? Do you have ADR's for either CRT or Akershus?

For my dd's 8th birthday, we got CRT for lunch, I got some fancy vellum paper and made up an "invitation" that I printed in a fancy font on the paper. It was worded very formally, like a wedding invite -- inviting dd to lunch with Cinderella and her friends in the castle. She was a little older and not so princess-obsessed anymore, but still got a kick out of that.

You could show her an "invitation" like that in the car, read it to her and say "well, we can't say no to that, can we? Let's go!"

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would surprise her maybe in a more intellectual way....

Going on a plane..going to restaurants with this type of food--going to a place that let's us have fun with our imagination.

Find what she likes and how WDW ties into that.

If it is any consolation--didn't tell my kids they were going on a Disney cruise until we pulled up at at the doc. They know all about the mouse--been to WDW countless times. New about the mouse boat--but I think the surprise was lost on them b/c their favorite part is the planning and anticipation and we kind of pulled the rug out from under them. They did enjoy the cruise. But at the moment of surprise--they have been more excited to go to the dentist (which they do enjoy!).

I may be silly for asking, but is she familiar with ANY of the Disney stories. I would focus maybe o the princesses. My brother's first "aware he was going trip" at age 3 and character wise--it was a disaster. I think he was expecting Mickey to be short and pipsqueek. Freaked him out that Mickey was bigger than he was and did until well beyond his elementary years.

He is totally fine now nearing the age of 30.

 

[Carriemel]

All I can think of is...wow, Mary Poppins DOES exist!

 

[jsphotography]

thanks for the responces! I assure you I am no wonder-nanny, but I couldnt love this little girl anymore if she was my own! I'm not her nanny anymore as she's in school now and I have my own photography business, so they come spend a week with me during the summers, and needless to say I am THRILLED to have her all to myself or a full week for this vacation :0) I've wanted to take her for years!

I was thinking of showing her some kind of picture book or promo video, but I think its too late now to get the free one that Disney sends you, any recommendations for picture books or other videos I could get my hands on over the next 5 days?

I do have ADR's for CRT, Akershus, 1900 Park Fare, and Chef Mickey's.. so we definitely have lots of time booked with the princesses. She knows ALL the disney movies so she's definitely familiar with all of the characters not just the princesses, but they've just never been to Disney World, and their older kids aren't interested so much anymore, so I doubt her family would ever plan a family vacation there.

Ive gotten so many fun tips and ideas from these boards over the last few months, I did type up invitations from the princesses and Mickey to our meal reservations (although I just put her name on them.. hopefully she wont try and leave me behind since I didnt get an invite too ;P) and I also have fun little gifts for her each night when we get back so instead of her raiding every gift shop we see I can say "well lets wait and see if Cinderella sent you anything after our breakfast with her this morning!" and have a little present there waiting for her when we get back at night. I'm not sure when she'll have a chance to go back to Disney World, so we're really going all out to make this the ultimate girls trip :0)

Any other ideas on how to surprise her or fun little things I can do while we're there for my favorite princess?!? :0)

 

[3_disprincesses]

Try the library. They should have some of the guidebooks and maybe even a trip planning video or two - ours used to have some videos. Or youtube or any of the other video sharing sites will have plenty of things to show her. But I agree that just telling her you're going to see her favorite Princesses will probably be exciting enough.

 

[tigger51276]

I have been in your shoes before. When I was 19 I took my then 4 year old cousin to Disney World for 2 weeks and she had no idea what it was. Honestly she didn't even know who princesses or even Mickey was. It was hard to try to explain it to her, so I showed her pictures and a movie on it.
If you go to Youtube, you will find all kinds of clips on Disney. Here is one I found by typing in Disney World Planning dvd. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=698K96RmRUA

Have a fantastic time and I'm sure she will love every minute!

 

[C&G'sMama]

I would tell her you were going on an adventure. That's what we've done with our kids for years no matter where we're going. Even though our kids know what Disney is when they were 7 and 4 we got on property one year (we drive), DD then 7 saw the Disney buses and proclaimed "Those people are lucky, they're going to Disney" She had no clue.

 

[JUJU814]

I didn't read the other responses, but I don't think any formal "surprise" is necessary. she's 5 and why not allow the Disney experience to BE her surprise? She will have unending surprises, one after another, and be in awe of Disney!

In a way, I think it's a beautiful thing that she "doesn't know what Disney is". She'll enjoy every moment. She's at a great age!

Some kids have been to Disney so many times that they don't appreciate it. Oh, I don't know..like MINE! This last trip was so anti-climactic. I think it'll be a few years before I take them again.

You are a fantastic nanny and this little girl is going to have the time of her life!

 

[wmharley]

failure as a nanny to not teach them about disney world...

 

[CandyHead09]

I know, its crazy talk to think that a 5 year old disney princess OBSESSED girl doesn't know what Disney World is.. but she doesn't! I've been the nanny for their family for the last 5 years, and in a week my mom and I are bringing her with us for our girls trip to Disney World :0)

I really want to surprise her, but I'm not quite sure what to do or say because if I just tell her "you're going to DISNEY WORLD!" she would respond with "okay, cool! whats that?" I'm not going to have time with her before the trip, so this needs to be a morning-of kind of surprise on the way to the airport or something. Any ideas of what to do or say to surprise her but still get her really excited? She's going to LOVE it, I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees Cinderella's castle for the first time!

Either A) if you have a laptop play her the free dvd you get when you plan your vacation on your way there
or
B) go to your local book store, go to the travel section and see if they have Birnbaum's Walt Disney World For Kids By Kids it's a cute book and will show her everything in Disney World I think it even has some info on who Walt Disney is if she doesnt know already?