How to tell the kids about the trip?

[ljca79]

Boys are 5.5 and 2.5.

Tell them in advance flat out and do some sort of countdown?

Leave them small "gifts" from characters without telling them of the trip?

Tell them the morning of when we wake them for the plane?

What is your experience? What do you recommend?

The 5 yo definitely knows about Disney World. The younger one mostly knows there is a picture of a castle that appears before movies, but is obsessed with MM.

 

[dmccarty]

Our kids were 7 and 4 on their first trip. We did not tell them where we were going just that we were going on a vacation. They made all sorts of guesses about were we were going but we did not tell them.

They only knew we were going to WDW when we pulled off I4 into WDW and they saw the WDW arch across the road. Then the yelling and screaming started.

They did as a few times if we were going to be the beach and eventually I said yes since we were staying at Caribbean BEACH Resort. They said I lied about going to the beach until we pulled into the CBR and I showed them the sign to the resort.

We have been surprising the kids ever since. Next trip we are staying at BLT instead of AKV. Unfortunately, the kids know we are not staying at AKV because we wanted to really surprises them about going to a different resort. BLT will still be a big surprise.

Later,
Dan

 

[LSUfan4444]

Tell them in advance flat out and do some sort of countdown?

That's what we have done with ours since before she can remember. Now, daily we check the app on either my phone or the iPad to countdown to our Disney Cruise 144 days away. We have months of fun with it. We pretend to let her help us with the plans and she really loves the anticipation. Sometimes she gets upset because it is so far away, the the daily excitement far exceeds the down times.

Another thing she loves to do is color pictures for the characters she meets. This was last January when she was four but she has been working on some more for our cruise this summer and can't wait to give some of them away.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoQlKZnPlFs

 

[jjas]

The first time we took our girls to Disney (many eons ago) they were 3 and 9. We did not tell them ANYTHING. This was back in the old days when you could go to the gate at the airport without a ticket or boarding pass. My husband traveled all the time for work so I told the girls we were taking daddy to the airport to go out of town for work. We loaded all of the suitcases in the car the night before and our flight was very early so I think they were still a little asleep.

I still to this day don't understand why the oldest one never questioned why we got out of the car and daddy went to park the car - but she didn't. We got to the gate and told them that we were really going to Disney World.

They were so excited - it was amazing. The oldest actually wouldn't believe us until we showed her the tickets.

We walked into the Magic Kingdom minutes before the 3:00 parade was coming down Main Street (back then you could still watch a parade without a FP or getting a seat an hour beforehand) and I swear they thought Disney World threw that parade just to welcome them!!

We have had several great trips to Disney since then but I still love thinking about that AWESOME surprise!

 

[IrishNYC]

We're not telling DD5 anything at all. We're just going to wake her up the morning of the trip and tell her we're going somewhere. Funny enough, she asks almost every day when we can go to Disney, and we tell her, "When you're 7!"

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There's nothing wrong with any of above, but I think planning can be a part of the fun for the kids. I generally lean towards letting them know in advance.

It is also one way to make the trip a bit educational. At that age, our extended family kids got a big thrill from practicing map skills. Disney maps don't require reading to ID things like the castle, and Magic Carpets. Some kids are better at this than others.

They can also pick out a ride in each park they want to ride, then help find it.

I do suggest autograph books! Disney characters sign their names with little pictures - Like Pluto has a paw. So great for pre-readers!

 

[Disneymomma0783]

First time we took our son he was 1.5... So we told him but he didn't get it. Second Time was for 5th birthday...told him we were going so he could help pick ADRs. Third time, he was 7, DD was 1. Told them both and started a countdown calendar and he would read books and watch resort videos endlessly with me! For this next trip, he will be 9 and she will be 3. They found out at Christmas that we are going this fall. DS says he wants to start a calendar at 100 days...as for now he is enjoying the anticipation while DD is excited, talking about takingn a plane to Disney.

However, for this trip...the kids have NO idea where we are staying or what we are doing. Actually neither does my husband! This is a huge trip that my mom is paying a sizeable portion of...huge bucket list trip for her. So we are starting with 8 nights at poly and then 3 at AKL CL... Then to Clearwater for a night and back to Disney for 5. They will not know of the resorts until we pull up! That is how our son wants it, so be it! He gets to help with some planning, but has no idea of where we will be staying!

 

[disnut8]

When we took our then five year old granddaughter for the first time, her parents decided not to tell her until we were going through the overhead sign on World Drive.

We had a lot of fun but after, my daughter-in-law said that she wished she had told the granddaughter so she could help in the planning of things. Maybe not right away but at some point before the trip.

Then a few years ago, it was our then 13 year old granddaughter and our five year old grandson. We were leaving on January 2nd. They found out Christmas morning (we watched on Skype). That gave them enough time to help plan things (before FastPass +).

I would think that telling them either 60 or 30 days in advance (to make FastPass + reservations) and then doing a countdown after that would be good.

 

[IBLarsen]

We've done it both ways and have to say I was a little bit sad the time we surprised them, because I felt like it was fun to plan with them and let them have a little time to build up the excitement. They like to watch youtube videos of the rides, and help plan what they want to go on. It's just fun to have a count down calendar and have something for them to look forward to.
For our upcoming March trip our kids are now 11 and 9, and we asked their opinion in the fall about where we wanted to go for Spring Break, as we usually do DLR, but have done WDW as well. I wanted them to be able to help pick which one we did this time (We are in Texas, so it's not any easier to get to one over the other). So I'm glad they helped choose (WDW it is this time), however I feel like we told them SO far out that they've gotten bored with the waiting if that makes sense. So I'm thinking there is a happy medium between no warning at all and 6 months. I think maybe a month in advance is a great amount of time to count down and have time to plan and build that excitement.
I really think with kids that young it does help to have them watch the youtube videos of the rides to know what to expect.

 

[IrishNYC]

I'm sure I seem like the big ol' mean mom not telling DD before we go, but she's more involved in the planning than she knows. Her cousins went last year and told her all about it, so I know what rides she wants to ride, and we've also watched several videos and travel shows about WDW so I could get reactions out of her. She's also been begging to have lunch with Cinderella, and that's booked.

We're also not telling her because she'd tell the whole world about it, and we aren't telling DH's parents we are going, because they'd invite themselves along, and we don't want them tagging along. DH also has a job where he could be denied vacation at the last minute, and telling her we weren't going to Disney would be the Worst News Ever for her.

 

[bjscheel]

At that age I would tell them a little in advance, whether it is 1 month or 1 week, but some time to let them anticipate, help plan a little, help pack their special things, and talk about what it will be like. Countdowns are fun.

My kids usually know months in advance, but we surprised once at 10 days out. They thought that was fabulous, but I would personally never do a morning-of surprise.

 

[lily2521]

I posted this question myself about a month ago, and after reading through different pieces of advice and tips, we have decided to tell DD about a little over a month before we go. As others have said, I think there's a lot to say about anticipation for DD, and I want her involved in some of the planning as well.

I'm making a countdown calendar, with a different activity for her to do on each day of the countdown. Some of the things on the countdown will pertain specifically to trip planning (like looking up a certain park online, etc.) I'm hoping that will help to pass the time with each day.

And every Friday on the countdown will be 'prize day' where she'll get to open a prize, things I've purchased and wrapped specifically for the trip (like an autograph book, a Disney shirt to wear, etc.), so that will give her something to look forward to as well.

I'm going to wrap the countdown in a big box with balloons in it and give it to her that way.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We went when DS was 3. We told him but he didn't care. He wasn't into Disney. I think he had more fun in Universal that year because he met Shrek.

We went when DS was 8 and DD was 2. We told DS and he was excited. I think he was more excited about the plane ride and pool time. This was maybe 2 months notice.

We went when DS was 9 and DD 3. I amped this trip up. They new for about 9 months. Our first onsite trip, 7 whole days, dining plan, etc. I had them watch youtube videos of rides and all of that. We had a lot of fun and they wanted to go again.

Last trip they were 11 and 5. We did not tell them until the morning we left. EX and I were divorced but he had the trip planned and for me to go too. We didn't want to tell them in case something happened and they would be disappointed. I woke them up that morning and told them we had to go somewhere and Dad was coming to get us. It was 4 am and they were a bit worried. We yelled "we're going to WDW" and gave them Mickey ears. They were screaming and jumping and were stunned when we said we are leaving right now!

Next trip they will be 15 and 9. I'm thinking of telling them the Sunday before we leave. We leave on a Wednesday. That way they can help pack and help clean the house before we go. I can also get them used to the idea of flying since DS has grown a bit anxious about planes. I can go over plans and let them look at the resorts we are staying. Go over our ADR's, park days, FP+. Give them enough anticipation but not enough to drive me crazy for months or weeks. My DD can become quite the stalker.

 

[Sharpdisney]

My DS is 5.5. He has known about this trip as long as I have (probably 200 + days?!?!).
In my mind, it is such an expensive trip, probably once in a lifetime, so I wanted him to be able to anticipate and really appreciate all of the amazing things there. Sometimes we go somplace, let's say a zoo for example, and he could just fixate on one cool thing. I could say wow look at those elephants over there and he might say, yeah, neat. Since I've told him so much about Disney now, he is really anticipating and asking about different things each day. So I feel like it is increasing his enjoyment before and during, and mine too.

Plus, since we have never been, I am willing to bet there will be about 500 things a day that will "suprise" us all, even though I've researched and planned like crazy. I am sure it is like nothing we've seen before so he will still be really suprised!

Finally, he is getting to an age where he likes to tell people around him things that he knows. He has gotten a realy kick out of telling Papa our hotel is called POP and has THREE pools: one shaped like a flower, one like a bowling pin, and one is a rectangle. And he has told people there is a ride with a Yeti on it; he is going to train to be a Jedi, etc. So I've enjoyed watching him become his own little expert.

So, I totally vote for the countdown. Others have awesome ideas about maybe keeping the hotel a secret, or maybe some cool dinner or BBB or something.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My DS is 5.5. He has known about this trip as long as I have (probably 200 + days?!?!).
In my mind, it is such an expensive trip, probably once in a lifetime, so I wanted him to be able to anticipate and really appreciate all of the amazing things there. Sometimes we go somplace, let's say a zoo for example, and he could just fixate on one cool thing. I could say wow look at those elephants over there and he might say, yeah, neat. Since I've told him so much about Disney now, he is really anticipating and asking about different things each day. So I feel like it is increasing his enjoyment before and during, and mine too.

Plus, since we have never been, I am willing to bet there will be about 500 things a day that will "suprise" us all, even though I've researched and planned like crazy. I am sure it is like nothing we've seen before so he will still be really suprised!

Finally, he is getting to an age where he likes to tell people around him things that he knows. He has gotten a realy kick out of telling Papa our hotel is called POP and has THREE pools: one shaped like a flower, one like a bowling pin, and one is a rectangle. And he has told people there is a ride with a Yeti on it; he is going to train to be a Jedi, etc. So I've enjoyed watching him become his own little expert.

So, I totally vote for the countdown. Others have awesome ideas about maybe keeping the hotel a secret, or maybe some cool dinner or BBB or something.

That is so cute.

I've also thought about telling them a month ahead but keeping the split stay a secret. Letting them think it's just a 5 day trip and while we are packing to leave the Poly surprise them and tell them we are now headed to the BC for 5 MORE days. I think they might pass out if I do that!

 

[GatorMama]

We have always told our oldest about big trips. But not little ones.

We have family in central Florida so it's easy to get there without raising suspicions. In June last year we were in FL for a nieces graduation and surprised them with a day at Legoland. Now he expects to have big surprises a LOT. LoL. In 2013, we were in FL to visit friends and fam and I talked DH into going to MNSSHP. We got costumes for the kids, picked up some t-shirts for us to wear and my oldest finally figured it out when we got to World Drive. He had been asking the whole trip and we had said no, honestly. Then changed our minds.

This trip, he was in the room when my husband made ressies. LoL

 

[mummabear]

We have always told them and done a bit of a countdown, this trip however we arent telling them until we pick them up from kindy/school and jump in the car to head to the airport.
Not sure yet how to tell them yet though-any ideas for a surprise reveal?
Our MBs wont have arrived because we live in NZ, they already have earhats, there is no disney store here...
kids will be 6,4 and 20 months.

 

[Crystal824]

We have always just told our daughter when booking the trip. No big surprises for us. We haven't done a countdown either, but this year maybe we will. I think she is old enough to get a countdown calendar now. She is 4 and knows we are going in April after Daddy's birthday.

 

[Monykalyn]

1st family trip the girls were so young (6 and 16 months) that even telling them didn't really sink in ahead of time.

2nd family trip (last year and kids considerably older) told them about 6 months ahead of time (at Christmas for June trip) as we had to prepare them for flying (DH and I were down there for work trip before grand parents came down with kids several days later). They were still "cool, is it time for dinner yet?" about it.

This years trip started out as more of a"hope,dream for it" thought. Now moving into final planning phase (plane tickets purchased-probably by end of the week-makes it "real" for me) Haven't said a word to kids other than general "where should we go on vacation this year if we can?"-oldest daughter:Beach (staying at CBR split stay) middle daughter: Harry Potter (universal days planned with one night onsite); youngest son: Really wish we could do Star Wars Weekend (have Sci Fi Galactic breakfast for weekend IV planned). I will likely work weekend before we leave (on a monday) so thinking of telling them night before by casually saying "since I have a few days off why don't we go somewhere"... This way they can help clean and pack! That is, of course, if I can keep the secret that long!