How to tell little ones we're going to Disney?

[Phantasia]

Advice on telling my 3 and 2 year old we're going to Disney? The 3 year old especially is a little sensitive sometimes. (Like his mum, he doesn't always do great with surprises.) The 3 year old knows of Disney -- he went twice when he was littler, and we show him pictures -- and the 2 year old knows "Disney", the castle, and allllll the characters.

Today when we were at the travel agent's they both got so excited just to see Donald and Goofy on the ads on the windows!

I'm thinking I don't want to tell them too far out (we've got 45 days to go), but I don't want to spring the trip on them either.

Would love to hear what others have done!

 

[Gracie09]

We told them they were going after some event - they turned five, school started etc. pick seething not too far from the date. They get the anticipation of the trip and will sleep the night before

 

[Phantasia]

I should tell my 2 year old that when she doesn't wear diapers any more, Mickey would like her to come to visit!

We told them they were going after some event - they turned five, school started etc. pick seething not too far from the date. They get the anticipation of the trip and will sleep the night before

 

[msmama]

When my son was that young I would do a countdown chain or something so that he had a visual of how much longer to go. Even a calendar to X out every day would work.

I never did surprises, mostly because I don't like surprises, lol. My son always knew from the planning stages. And I always asked him if he wanted to go.

 

[kcpinwdw]

Mine love seeing the castle emblem at the beginning of disney movies. I told them we can go see the castle, it's where Mickey lives. We talk about going to mickeys house for a visit. They don't ask when. But I can't mention the airplane, because my son gets really excited and wants to leave right then--- an airplane ride it seems more exciting?? Kids are weird.

 

[imthemamahere]

When my son was 2 1/2, we took him for his first Disney trip. (Unless you count when I was pregnant with him!) About 3 weeks out, we explained that we were going to Disney World, which was where Mickey Mouse lives. We talked about the castle and the characters and such. We told him that Mickey and his friends are much bigger in real life than on TV, to start prepping him for character meet and greets. I've seen far too many kids flip out at the life-size characters who they're used to seeing no more than 2 feet tall on tv! I made a countdown chain, and we tore a link off together every day. This way, he could quickly and easily see that there was still X days to go, without pestering me every day to know when we would go. I also explained that we would be getting on a plane (his first time), and I bought him a little toy JetBlue airplane to play with - that was the airline we were taking. My little guy can go with the flow when he must, but he does best when he's prepared for what's coming up.

He's 5 now, and we're going for his 3rd visit in late October. We told him last week, and we're starting a countdown calendar tomorrow. I'll add a few Disney-ish activities to scattered days on his calendar (I did this with his countdown chain as well). So every few days, we'll do a little craft or watch a Disney movie or look over the personalized maps or watch the planning DVD or go back over his autographs from his first two visits.... Little things along those lines. It helps keep him from going bananas with the wait, if he's really just waiting a few days for the next bit of fun. The last day, his "activity" will be to pick a few toys/treats to pack for the plane ride and toss them into his backpack/carry-on, and to sleep in Disney pj's and dream Disney dreams!