How to tell Daughter about surprise Christmas Trip to NY?

[Terry36]

I need your advice! I have been planning since June for me and my 8 yo DD to go to New York 2 weeks before Christmas. Now I am trying to determine how to tell her? Any creative ways of telling her would be most appreciated....

 

[crazyme5kids]

Give her a "I Love New York" Tee-shirt (Disney has NYC shirts too). Or an ornament. What sights will you be going to? You could give her a few things having to do with what you will be seeing or doing. How about a subway map?

 

[Malificient Tater]

I am soo impressed that you have kept it to yourself for this long. Will your tree or what have you be up before you go? Maybe you could take a small box put some marbles so it makes noise and then write a note or put the ticket in it and let her open it before you leave.

 

[Terry36]

Yes...it has been very hard keeping the secret. We are going to 2 plays and of course the American Girl store. I will put up a tree before we go.

Keep em coming...

 

[IluvDISNEYLAND!]

Maybe you could watch Home Alone 2 Lost In New York . After the movie or during the movie you could make a random comment like, "I hope New York will look that festive when we arrive" or "I can't wait for our Christmas trip to New York. Do you think it will snow?".

 

[LuvIt]

I think ANTICIPATING the trip would be half the fun for her so tell her at least a couple weeks ahead of time so she can enjoy thinking about the trip. Maybe wrap a gift from the "Thanksgiving Turkey" and give it to her the evening of Thanksgiving or the day after...a box with a NYC related item or maybe just even a simple paper "certificate" that announces the bearer gets one free trip to NYC with her Mom, trip to American Girl store, play, etc.
If you can, go to Serendipity, a great casual restaurant/ice cream shop that, if I recall correctly, is within walking distance of Bloomingdale's and has FANTASTIC frozen hot chocolates. We went just for this dessert! Enjoy.

 

[scottny]

get a snow globe of NYC and when she opens it, shake it and say "maybe we will see some snow on our trip". then she how long it takes to register.

 

[clh2]

I think ANTICIPATING the trip would be half the fun for her so tell her at least a couple weeks ahead of time so she can enjoy thinking about the trip. Maybe wrap a gift from the "Thanksgiving Turkey" and give it to her the evening of Thanksgiving or the day after...a box with a NYC related item or maybe just even a simple paper "certificate" that announces the bearer gets one free trip to NYC with her Mom, trip to American Girl store, play, etc.
If you can, go to Serendipity, a great casual restaurant/ice cream shop that, if I recall correctly, is within walking distance of Bloomingdale's and has FANTASTIC frozen hot chocolates. We went just for this dessert! Enjoy.

I agree with the anticipation part of the trip. Do you ever do anything for St. Nick, which is around December 5th? Maybe you could put the play tickets in her stocking?

 

[jjj444]

How about a scavenger hunt. Get some cute items and clues and have her end up finding the tickets. Items could be an apple, t-shirt, map, american girl doll item etc.

 

[Terry36]

Great ideas...keep them coming.

 

[Ashley Kees]

I have to disagree with the people who are saying the anticipation is so great. My husband and I have woken our girls up the morning of a trip and announced that we were hitting the road right then! You cannot believe how excited they are!! Plus, they don't drive us nuts beforehand, they don't wear themselves out the night before, and they absolutely CANNOT build it up too much before we get there. I think the "anticipation fun" is more for the adults than the kids.

 

[Eviie]

I have to disagree with the people who are saying the anticipation is so great. My husband and I have woken our girls up the morning of a trip and announced that we were hitting the road right then! You cannot believe how excited they are!! Plus, they don't drive us nuts beforehand, they don't wear themselves out the night before, and they absolutely CANNOT build it up too much before we get there. I think the "anticipation fun" is more for the adults than the kids.

Actually that isn't true. When kids are young maybe from as little as 1 to 6they won't really care when you tell them but sometimes with a girl they'll get dissapointed if they forget something. I think you should tell them at least2 days before the trip

If you have any relatives close to where you live how about asking one of those relatives to go out with your 8 y/o and take her to a store and maybe you can give your relative money to buy her an American Girl outfit. While she's out make a little Gift Basket of some sort with things related to NewYork even print some pictures. Then write a note that she won't get instantly, but eventually. Then when she comes home tell her 'That clothes for 'American doll's name here' will really look great next to the statue of liberty or maybe if the clothing she got the doll is not winter material say something among the lines of I don't think she'll hold up in New York's winter weather. I'm 13 y/o as of now if my parents ever suprised me with a trip like this i'd flip. Give her at least 2 days though before telling her you wouldn't want anyone forgetting anything now would ya?

Have a fun safe trip!!

 

[Teacher03]

I took my daughter years ago when she was 13. I told her exactly one hour before we left. The look on her face was priceless, and she still talks about it 10 years later. I say tell her (in whichever way you choose) that day.

 

[loveabargin]

Wake her up that morning with "Start spreading the news....I'm leaving TODAY...I want to be a part of it...New York, New York!" blare it through your house, she'll think you've lost your mind.

 

[Terry36]

Wake her up that morning with "Start spreading the news....I'm leaving TODAY...I want to be a part of it...New York, New York!" blare it through your house, she'll think you've lost your mind.

I love it...priceless!

 

[Ashley Kees]

Actually that isn't true. When kids are young maybe from as little as 1 to 6they won't really care when you tell them but sometimes with a girl they'll get dissapointed if they forget something. I think you should tell them at least2 days before the trip

If you have any relatives close to where you live how about asking one of those relatives to go out with your 8 y/o and take her to a store and maybe you can give your relative money to buy her an American Girl outfit. While she's out make a little Gift Basket of some sort with things related to NewYork even print some pictures. Then write a note that she won't get instantly, but eventually. Then when she comes home tell her 'That clothes for 'American doll's name here' will really look great next to the statue of liberty or maybe if the clothing she got the doll is not winter material say something among the lines of I don't think she'll hold up in New York's winter weather. I'm 13 y/o as of now if my parents ever suprised me with a trip like this i'd flip. Give her at least 2 days though before telling her you wouldn't want anyone forgetting anything now would ya?

Have a fun safe trip!!

Perhaps I should have also stated that I had already packed everything for them and had it in the car. Since I knew about the trip, nothing was forgotten. The point of the surprise was that they didn't have to do anything.
As far as it "not being true", my kids DID love it, and I loved it when my parents did it for me when I was a teenager.

 

[Terry36]

I could never wait and tell her the night before or morning of...I would explode with excitement!