How to Tell the Kids?

[amym2]

We're going to Orlando the week between Christmas and New Years (because that's when my sister has her timeshare), so our trip will be our main gift to our kids this year. We'll have to leave here on Dec. 23 for the long drive down, so we need to surprise the kids before then. I was thinking about just getting them into the car that morning and saying, "Surprise!" but the logistics of doing that are stressing me out. I don't think I can pack without them knowing something is up. They're 6 and 9 so they are old enough to know something is up. Plus I have a feeling they'll be asking about Christmas plans before then.

So... any ideas on how to surprise them?

 

[damo]

Send them a letter from Hogwarts? Someone else suggested that. You could do emails directly from the website but I would imagine they don't have their own emails. There are lots of great graphics on google of letterhead and stuff.

 

[coastgirl]

Oooh, I love that. I wonder if I can get an owl post...

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

You could also just tell them when you are packing up that all you are doing is visiting your sister, and then have the Hogwarts letter deliverd to them when you get there...or just not tell them until the day you go to the parks?

 

[mdb78]

You could also just tell them when you are packing up that all you are doing is visiting your sister, and then have the Hogwarts letter deliverd to them when you get there...or just not tell them until the day you go to the parks?

That's a good idea!

 

[mymeow]

We went to DW, SW, US, and IOA a couple weeks ago and didn't tell our son until the day before. I had ordered a custom-made puzzle with Disney characters on it and put on the puzzle (Son's name), we're going to Disneyworld!! We then made up a scavenger hunt and put puzzle pieces in envelopes, along with some little goodies from places we would be going, such as Harry Potter silly bands, a pirate patch (for Pirates of the Carribean), stuff like that. At the end, he opened up all of the envelopes with the puzzle pieces and put the puzzle together revealing we were going. He was sooo surprised and it was a lot of fun. Just a suggestion )

 

[Macgyver91]

We suprised our kids a couple of years ago and they were 7 and 10! Stressed is an understatement, but they NEVER figured it out. You have to have LOTS of support staff...LOL All of our family and friends knew and we still slipped it by them. We had all of our tickets and Disney stuff sent to a friends house, so that the kids wouldn't accidentally get the mail. You need to recruite someone that can take them out of the house just for a day so that you can pack and get things ready, since they won't be at school. We did a marathon clothes wash the day before and packed while the kids were at school. Then we packed backpacks with Disney stuff...color books, water bottles, whatever we could find Disney! On the way to the airport we played the planning DVD for them...priceless! All the stress was so worth it. Have fun!

Oh yeah...If you have a Party City near you, they have tons of little stuff that would work as filler...cups, little coloring books, pencils, you name it they have it!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Just hope this doesn't happen :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MIBxhh_R_w&feature=player_embedded

(Protip: do not take above video too seriously! )

 

[damo]

My kids always loved the anticipation and counting how many more sleeps. A surprise wouldn't have been their favourite thing.

 

[amym2]

My kids always loved the anticipation and counting how many more sleeps. A surprise wouldn't have been their favourite thing.

Ooh, I love the Hogwarts letter and puzzle ideas. I bet I could find a HP puzzle, write "We're going to Universal" on the back of it and make up a scavenger hunt.

I hadn't thought about the anticipation being part of the fun. For me, that is absolutely true! Thinking about Disney and Universal gets me so excited about going. I think what I may do is give the kids the puzzle/scavenger hunt the day we put up our Christmas tree. That way they'll get a surprise but will also have a few weeks to get excited about it.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone!

 

[damo]

Ooh, I love the Hogwarts letter and puzzle ideas. I bet I could find a HP puzzle, write "We're going to Universal" on the back of it and make up a scavenger hunt.

I hadn't thought about the anticipation being part of the fun. For me, that is absolutely true! Thinking about Disney and Universal gets me so excited about going. I think what I may do is give the kids the puzzle/scavenger hunt the day we put up our Christmas tree. That way they'll get a surprise but will also have a few weeks to get excited about it.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone!

I think that is a great idea.