How to surprise kids

[figment3258]

I had posted a few days ago about my mom myself and my two girls ages 6 and almost 3 about going to Disneyland. Well we had a big change in plans. We have booked a 6 day 5 night trip to Disney world staying at port Orleans riverside. We are going Sept 28th- Oct 3rd. Its perfect free dining food and wine and Mickeys not so scary Halloween party all in one! My girls do not know about the trip and this will be the first time we are taking a vacation without my husband.So here is my question. Should I wait until the night before to surprise the girls or should i tell them sooner since we will not be going with their daddy? Thanks for all the help!

Jessica

 

[mdezot]

Hi...I love the idea of surprising the kids. We have done it 3 times and each time was a little different. The first time we just drove to the airport and told them where we were going as we unloaded the luggage. Total shock. DS was 6 and he was speechless. The next year DH picked DS up at school early and we told the kids in the driveway before we left to go to the airport. This past November we woke the kids up at 4:30 in the AM to the theme from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and told them they needed to get dressed so we could go to the airport for our 6am flight. But you don't have the kids counting down for departure, which we are doing right now. After 4 trtips in 4 years we decided to buy into DVC. So we will be at SS for DS's birthday in June. But they don't know we will be back in Dec. with family members that they have always asked to go to Disney with us.

As far as going without DH, I can't really say. Good luck though and have fun!

 

[bcvdreamer]

Surprise them! We surprised our kids 3 yrs ago and they still talk about it. We told them we were going out to dinner at a restaurant by the airport. On the way in the car we played hangman and the answer was "We're Going To Disney!" We had a secondary surprise once we got to the airport - their friends were coming with their families too! It was priceless.

Have fun!

 

[nealsmith]

Surprise them! We surprised our kids 3 yrs ago and they still talk about it. We told them we were going out to dinner at a restaurant by the airport. On the way in the car we played hangman and the answer was "We're Going To Disney!" We had a secondary surprise once we got to the airport - their friends were coming with their families too! It was priceless.

Have fun!

I like that one. This year is our 2nd trip, no surprise. The upside is they do have something to look forward to, we made a paper countdown chain. They take turns cutting off a link each day. If your worried about their reaction to DH not going, you could surprise them a week or so out. Perhaps give them time to accept that he's not going.
I like the anticipation, but next trip for us will be a surprise. May tell them we are going to some museums or shopping.

Heard a radio DJ talk about their first trip with wife and daughter ~4. They didn't tell her until they were driving up to one of the entrance signs at the park. They taped it and he played the audio on air. The parents were asking her questions about were they might be. You could hear the excitement in her voice when she said "that's Mickey!" Those memories are once in a lifetime.

I'm sure you'll do well.

 

[MrandMissVacation]

Surprise them! We surprised our kids 3 yrs ago and they still talk about it. We told them we were going out to dinner at a restaurant by the airport. On the way in the car we played hangman and the answer was "We're Going To Disney!" We had a secondary surprise once we got to the airport - their friends were coming with their families too! It was priceless.

Have fun!

OMG.. I love this idea.
We are going on the Podcast Cruise in 2 weeks and our kids don't know we are headed to WDW for a short 3 day visit after the cruise is over.
We play this game now...and I've been trying to figure out how to surprise them.

 

[figment3258]

Thanks for all the help and advice! Right now they know my mom is going by herself because i had to book it for her but they don't know that we are going. My husband is going to get them out of the house a few days before the trip so I can pack. I may tell them Sunday the day before down at his gram's house we always go there after church on Sunday but i just don;t know how. Thanks for all the help again!

Jessica