How to tell the kids they are

[JLTraveling]

This is a little different from the others posted here, since we're local, but it's still my favorite Disney memory. I was 8, and we had 3 season salute passes (the forerunner of seasonal passes) for the first time (prior to this, we went once a year for my birthday). Anyway, we only got the passes a couple of weeks before blackout dates started, and with busy schedules we hadn't gone much.

So my dad normally picked me up from school. On this one particular day, my mom was with him. I was surprised, but sometimes my mom got off work early, so it wasn't "that" unusual. They had also bought me a dictionary. So they kept me busy looking up words so I wouldn't notice that we were on I-4. Finally, my dad had me look up "Magic." I read him the definition. Then my mom said to look up "Kingdom." My jaw hit the floor, and I looked out the window just as we exited at the Magic Kingdom exit. I was soooo excited!!

On a side note, five days later my dad was in a really serious car accident that nearly claimed his life. My mom and I kept ourselves going during his stay in intensive care through memories of that day, and our Disney passes kept us all going through the next two years of his very difficult recovery.

Hundreds of visits later, that's still the one that had the biggest impact on me. It may be tough to keep the secret from your kids, but believe me, it's worth it.

 

[wdwfan_1]

Thanks for your advice. I especially love the stories of those who were the surprisee's ( the recipients of the surprise).

I am still planning on keeping this October trip a surprise- but I have to stop myself from asking my DD's hypothetical questions like "If you were going to Disney world this year, not that you are going, but if you were, would you rather go to Animal Kingdom or Studio's'-hmm, now why is Daddy asking that question for????????????

I mean if you look at our history of trips to Disney World in my signature- this year does end in an Odd Number...

 

[MrToad]

We planned a spontaneous trip to WDW just this past Friday. We live in Colordado and I booked plane and resort reservations Friday morning. We leave May 16th.

My wife and I are keeping it a secret from our DS9, DS7, and DD4. We will likely just wake them up the morning we leave, but may tell them the night before. I just worry about them getting sleep if we do.

-MrToad

 

[wicket2005]

What lovely stories, I enjoyed reading each and every one; though sorry about your Dad's accident JL.

Unfortunately, I have never been able to keep it a secret from my kids, I am just too excited myself and fortunately, the kids have been able to handle the excitement better than me. It is nice to be surprised but it is also nice to have something to look forward to, so I think it depends on your particular child.

 

[Parkhopper]

My DS10 has been to WDW MANY times (about 20!). My DH and I go about 6 times a year (it is my "happy place"), but DS only gets to go 2 times each year because of school. When DH and I go, DS goes on vacation at Grammy's house (almost as much fun as WDW - believe me!)

I worked for The Disney Stores for over 9 years, so I could never take vacations in November and December. My husband wanted to go to a MVMCP with DS and family friends.

We didn't tell DS he was going, it was in December during school so he just assumed that it was an adult trip. We drove DH to the airport and DS of course had to come with us. DH asked DS if he wanted to help him with the luggage and DS said "I don't think so". Then it was clarified that he would be "helping with the luggage" all the way to WDW! Boy was he excited!!

A surprise trip, although often difficult to pull off, is a wonderful experience in itself! Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

Suzi

 

[disneyfanfamily]

We are going July 1-9. We have told DS10, DS8, DD4 that we will not be able to go to WDW for at least another year or 2.

We told them that we are going to Grandma and Grandpa's for a week in July. (So they will not be surprised about the luggage.)

On June 30 we have reserved a room at the Cincinnati Airport Marriott. We will then tell them that we are kicking off the vacation with a night in a hotel. (They rarely go to hotels, so this will be a treat.) My mom and dad will come and meet us for supper (they live in Cincy). We will go to our room and my dad will drive our van to their house. The next morning we will tell them that the van had a flat tire and the hotel will deliver the van to us when it is fixed - so the hotel gave us "tickets" to go watch the planes at the airport. But we will have to take all of our luggage to the airport with us because they need our room for other guests.

We will do the normal airport routine. The kids have only been on a plane once, so they will not question things - hopefully.

Then when they call for our plane seating, we'll say "so, are you ready to go to WDW?"

I can't wait until that moment. (However they may find out before this day because it is awhile off. But hopefully not!)

I am so excited!!!

 

[wdwfan_1]

disneyfanfamily,

Well you can't keep a secret longer than that. Looks like you've planned your secret from all angles. I have to smile just thinking about that moment when they call the passengers for boarding. Is this something someone can tape for you and post somewhere? Got to be more spectacular than Christmas morning.

 

[t-and-a]

GREAT stories!!!
Here's what we did:
In May 2003, we told the kids we were going to the beach in Florida. We loaded up our two boys (then 6 and 9) and our nephew (then 10). We had always gone close to Pensacola Beach, so this was an extra long trip. My husband told them that mom wanted to go to a different beach this time and it was a lot further than where we usually went. We got to Kissimmee and went to Wal Mart. I went to the travel department and bought the tickets (great place to buy tickets), while my husband took the boys on in the store. We had made reservations at an offsite motel in Kissimmee, and my husband told the boys that he just couldn't drive any longer (we had been on the road for 16 hours!). So we stopped at the motel where I had made our reservations. (the kids thought it was a random choice). I checked us in. We got to the room and my husband started the video camera. He pulled out the tickets and said, "Hey guys look what I found!" the boys said "what" and he said "TICKETS TO DISNEY!!!!!" That moment was PRICELESS!!!!!!! None of them suspected a thing until then. Talk about a surprise!!!!

The year before that, we loaded all of them in the car and told them we were going across the state line for lottery tickets. We had sneaked the luggage through the window, and left at night. When they woke up, we were at the beach.

This year, we have 5 day tickets to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We told them that we would go back to WDW next year when Everest Expedition opens at AK. They have no idea that we are actually going to WDW after we finish at US and IOA. They will think that we are heading back home........when we spring it on them!

After the last trip to WDW, we told them that they had gotten too old for us to trick them again, and we wouldn't be tricking them anymore. They won't expect this!

Alison
next trip: June 2005

 

[Cinderella2004]

WOW!!!! Everyone's surprises are great!!!! I never thought I'd be able to pull off a surpirse, but so far so good.....we are going in 59 days for my DD's 7th birthday!!!!

So far, this is the plan. We will pick her up early from school (if all goes well this should be her last day, and she should be getting out early anyways) I will go in and get her, her grandparents and Daddy will be in the car waiting. When she asks where we are going the reply will be "someplace special for your birthday" We are flying out of PVD, we usually fly from Logan, so she shouldn't recognize the route. I will just let her keep guessing until we get to the airport (if she guesses disney I will answer "maybe") When we check in at the airport, she will certainly know where we are going....BUT more surprises to come!!!! My sister and her family will be there (airport) waiting for us!!!!! She will be thrilled. When we arrive in Orlando, I will ask her to go knock on the door at the hotel next to us....guess who's there???? Her Uncle and his fiancee!!!!! (who've never been to Disney!!!)

We are also staying at Pop Century, which will be a big surprise for her. We haven't stayed at a value in a few years, and she LOVES them.

Another surprise while she is there is Discovery Cove. I just can't wait!!!!

This will make her 7th visit to WDW. She's always helped with the planning before, and I am kind of missing that. I'm looking foward to being able to surprise her though!!!

 

[d'Isigny]

Surprise them!! Ours was an awesome experience.
Luckly, we are ~4 to 5 hour drive to DL. We packed at night a few days before going and hid the suitcases in the back of the truck. We left in the early evening and after a few movies later our DD's we sound asleep. We thought we could wait till we were close to the park...but just could'nt. The lobby of our off-site hotel had a huge 'Disney style' Christmas tree. I've got video of my DW asking the DD's how many Mickey's they can count on the tree. When they got to 10...DW asked if they would like to go to Mickey's house. The look on their faces...still warms my heart. The most precoius moment was to come...walking to the gate my oldest DD walked up to a CM and asked ---- with tears in her eyes....is this really DisneyLand?

 

[wdwfan_1]

Well, I realize this thread was started in April, but for those who replied I thought I'd let you know what I decided.

I just can't keep it a secret to the day of the trip. The Trip is in October, so it's at the point where we can say we are going to Disney world next month! Which is good news if you can get it. Also, I thought it would be good to get their input on some of the decisions we have to make- which parks to go to, restaurants, etc.

So- drum roll please- I am planning on a scavenger hunt tomorrow. First clue will be on the kitchen table. At each item will be another clue. Each item will be required on the trip- spoon, toothbrush, camera, snorkel, etc. The later clues are giveaways- Map of Florida, plane tickets, etc. Not sure exactly where they will figure it out, but by the end there should be no question.

Will see what tomorrow brings....

 

[jewellmmc]

Surprise them! I once met a family on an airplane who thought they were going to Toronto (It was a connected flight) to visit thier uncle!

 

[TheMorgans]

My DD and I are leaving on the 22nd and I have not told her yet. We are going for her 10th birthday. I have told her that we are going to spend the night at a hotel and go swimming for her birthday. In the morining I am planning on gettng up and taking our luggage and going out for breakfast and suggesting that we go watch the airplanes while we eat. The next suggestion will be "Lets go to Disney World today!!!!" I just can't wait to see her face when I tell her. My only disappointment will be that DH will not be there to see this since this is going to be our first Mommy and me trip. I am going to try and tape this experience so that the whole family can experience it. Wish me luck on keeping this a secret. It has been sooooo hard so far.

 

[Diznenut]

This is my daughters first trip - she's 8. It's only my 3rd - well second as one trip was a convention and i didnt even get to set foot in the parks. I couldnt keep the excitement so she knows we are going. However, I've been picking on her - I know a disney secret - type of thing (we have booked the MVMCP and Wonderland Tea Party). So it's sort of a half surprise half not. Best of both worlds for us lol.

 

[zzammmi]

My little guy is 4 and we weren't going to tell him about the trip until a few weeks before we left but then one day a commercial for WDW came on TV and he said, "Look, Daddy, I'm going there." Despite our attempts at discretion, he seemed to pick up the info and knew what we were planning. So he's known for about a year! He occassionally says he want to go "Now" but we just tell him we have to wait a long time.

 

[canada_ang]

Well, the time has finally come to tell DD. We've been waiting 6 months to tell her, and since tomorrow's her 11th birthday, we decided to do a scavenger hunt as soon as she wakes up. We leave in 10 days, so that will give her time to get ready and help plan some of the details. Although I pretty much have everything ready for the scavenger hunt, I had a nightmare last night that I forgot to get it all set out (DH thinks I'm nuts!). We're planning to video tape her going through the scavenger hunt - can't wait!!! Yay!

 

[Diz-Mommy]

My DD and I are leaving on the 22nd and I have not told her yet. We are going for her 10th birthday. I have told her that we are going to spend the night at a hotel and go swimming for her birthday. In the morining I am planning on gettng up and taking our luggage and going out for breakfast and suggesting that we go watch the airplanes while we eat. The next suggestion will be "Lets go to Disney World today!!!!" I just can't wait to see her face when I tell her. My only disappointment will be that DH will not be there to see this since this is going to be our first Mommy and me trip. I am going to try and tape this experience so that the whole family can experience it. Wish me luck on keeping this a secret. It has been sooooo hard so far.

That just gives me the chills. I wish I could be there to see your daughters face and I don't even know her!!! What an awesome suprise. She will never forget the birthday that Mommy suprised her with Disney World. You girls have a great time! You should do a trip report so we can all read how your daughter took the suprise

 

[wdwfan_1]

Well, we did the scavenger hunt. The girls actually seemed worn out at the end. Maybe it should have been shorter. I thought they would catch on sooner. Here are the clues-
1. Used to eat lots of ice cream- a trip to the spoon drawer rewards them with another clue-
2. Used to take lots of pictures- a camera- easy..
3. Needed to do lots of walking- sneakers. Lot's of sneakers/ shoe's to search to find the next clue...
4. What daddy uses to find out where to drive the car- a map of FLORIDA- in the side driver's side storage bin- not jumping up and down yet...
5. Find a DVD on Daddy's desk- a WDW travel DVD!!- I thought this was a clear clue. They open the case for the next clue...
6. Find a book with lots of colorful pictures of wonderful attractions- this led to a clue in the WDW guide with kids.- However I didn't realize how many Disney books we had in the bookcase- took a while to find this one.
7. Look on Mommy's desk for what can help you get to where you want to go- a plane trip itinerary from the airlines- 9 year's old aren't sure what these are for I guess- next time will use a model airplane. Onto the final clue...
8. Check the calendar on the fridge for when you should go where you want to go- right there in the month of October- it says travel to Orlando. Tick tock tick tock- no more clues? No. tick tock - Hey are we going to Disney World?- yes! Celebratory jig. How exciting.

Well, we still have more surprises where that came from- lunch at the castle, etc. Will save those for a later time.

 

[Big Fat Disney MaMa]

I am a much meaner mom than the rest of you. Last year I told my daughter we were going to Florida for a few days to visit her great grandmother. She asked if were were going to visit Disney and I said that unfortunately since we were only going to visit for a few days we wouldn't have time. She was extremely bummed because it really isn't a lot of fun for a dd8 to visit a 90+ great grandmother for several days.

I didn't tell her the truth until we got to our hotel and parked the rental car. She was so excited and just waiting to see the look on her face was excrutiating!

This year, we started planning right after our return last November and have been doing a count-down for 9 months. I have been doing special things like once a month I give her a little Disney present (this month it was a Kim Possible bathing suit) and I have already purchased a Disney Pin to give to her on the plane to wear in the park on our first day. It is fun, but not as fun as the surprise!

 

[jtopp]

We surprised our children with a surprise trip one december. We took our usual trip at halloween, and then THE surprise. We left the house to drop our children off at the in-laws so we could go to work Once in the car, my DW was unable to contain herself any longer and told the kids she didn't feel like working that day. when she said 'let's go to WDW' none of the kids believed her. the look on their faces as we approached the airport was priceless, and, now we can never surprise them again. But it was worth it.