I totally blew it :(

[Ardenne]

I've been carefully planning this surprise trip for DD (and for DS, but she's been asking and wishing and hoping for a trip for the past year), and I had a special plan for how I was going to let her know at the last minute... So here we are, a week from leaving, and I totally blew it.

She had been upstairs in her room with the door closed for the past hour... until JUST as I was explaining to one of her classmate's mothers on the phone that I'm sorry she won't be at her friend's birthday party, but we'll be out of town then because I'm taking her on a surprise trip to Disney.

To make it worse, she was really excited for about a minute, then realized that I had meant it to be a surprise... so even though I keep assuring her it's ok, she keeps asking if I'm sad because she found out early, and she doesn't want to let herself be excited about the trip

I'm going to watch the planning video with her later so we can be excited together, and see if that helps her feel better about it. She's at least excited about the prospect of golden Mickey ears -- we'll definitely have to pick some up as soon as we get there. (Is there a best place to get them, or are they pretty much the same everywhere throughout the parks?)

 

[littleprissboutique]

I was curious too. We are going in Jan 2006. Will they still have the golden ears then? I want my dd to have a pair. Can you get them customized too ( childs or adults name on the back )???????

 

[ButterflyJen]

Oh, bummer! I hope watching the planning video helps your DD get more excited. or, at least, act excited.

 

[Arkiegirl]

Well, first let me say I hate surprises.

Second, I kind of feel sorry for the people who are being surprised with trips to WDW--be it kids or adults--because preparing and planning for the trip is part of all of the excitement (and I seem to think a MAJOR part of it). I mean look at this board and the activity on it--most of which are adults who have become like children planning, researching, and anticipating a future trip to the magical place.

So, I am glad you daughter has a week to dream, anticipate, plan, and look forward to her big day. I think there is a lot of joy in looking forward to something.

 

[DVCLiz]

I blew my surprise this year, too. I had kept our Key West vacation a secret for months, until I typed out some reply to a question on the DIS and my older DD16 read over my shoulder. When she saw what I'd written, she said, "Oh, is that where we're going on the Mystery Vacation?" I was so mad, until she confessed they'd both figured it out weeks ago - something about my leaving a guidebook next to the bathtub???!!!

Hasve a great trip anyway!!!!

 

[Ardenne]

Arkiegirl -- I can see where that would be the case with a lot of people, and it's why the rest of the family has been involved in the planning every step of the way. My daughter is only 7, however, and though I'm sure some 7 year olds are planners, mine isn't... and she also doesn't have a lot of grasp of the passage of time yet. She's very smart in a lot of other ways, but anticipating the length of a week/month/year just seems to baffle her. (When the local pool closed at the end of August, for instance, and I explained that they were closing for fall, she started jumping up and down yelling, 'Hurray, it's almost time for Christmas!!!!') I carefully explained last night that we'd be leaving in just over a week, and gave her the dates, and showed her the calendar, and she seemed to understand -- and she still got up at 5am this morning asking if we could leave today!

The good news is she did quickly decide that it's ok to be excited. She's especially thrilled about seeing the castle (I'm still going to let her be surprised that we're *eating* there -- she doesn't know they have a restaurant), riding Dumbo and Splash Mountain, going on the AK safari, eating at Coral Reef (something she had said she'd like to do after seeing pics of it, but until last night she had no idea that it was at Epcot!), and getting golden Mickey ears.

I think it'll be a good week for her, even though waiting is going to drive her nuts!

 

[princess mom of 4]

We didn't make the trip a surprise - My DS-14, DD's 5 & 4 all know we're going and are excited, planning rides, shows, etc, but we still have a few surprises in store for them. they don't know about any of the character meals (LTT, CP, and 1900 Park Fair) that I have obsessively planned...

 

[trayletha]

Golden Mickey Ears are great - the best place to get them IMHO is MK on Main Street - "La Chapo" (prob spelled that really really wrong)...and yes you can get them personalized. Sorry I don't know how long they'll have them.

 

[mjkaferle5]

Golden Mickey Ears are great - the best place to get them IMHO is MK on Main Street - "La Chapo" (prob spelled that really really wrong)...and yes you can get them personalized. Sorry I don't know how long they'll have them.

Let me see if I can remember my French from high school - I believe it is "Le Chapeau". Le (masculine) instead of La (feminine).