I wanna surprise the kids

[Isila]

So, I want to surprise my kids who have no idea we are going. They are still saving the money (I told them we would go when their piggy bank is full).

I was thinking about three options

1. Tell them in couple of weeks, give a calendar as a gift, mark the day we leave and let them count how many sleeps left. We did this twice now and they liked it.
2. Tell them on the morning we leave. I bought Mickey t-shirts. Planned to buy Disney goodie bags, a Mickey shaped balloon and leave it as a present.
3. not to tell them until the airport. Pack secretly. Tell them in the morning we're going to visit relatives in another town and spent a night there (so they could back their toys). Get them to the airport to watch the planes and then tell them.

What would you do?

 

[HappyPanda]

I'd personally go for number 1, as I think it's nice to share in the excitement with them for a week or two. With number 3, it depends on your children, I know my DD would not react very well to being told she was going somewhere and then it turns out to be different (even if it something much more wonderful!).

 

[Isila]

I have no idea how my kids would react. On the other hand I do get tired of 100 "how many sleeps?" per day until our trip day

 

[HappyPanda]

I currently have that! Was so excited when we book DLH that I accidenty told DD straight away! So since September we've had 'How long til Disney?' every day!

On our first trip, I told her a month before and then let her design her own countdown calendar and then each day she ticked off another day. Will probably do something like that again when we hit the 30 day countdown!

 

[Isila]

Might be an idea. But I would like to try something different and see how it works out. But if my kids love ticking the days, why not? It's all for them after all.

 

[aobh]

We are also going in march and we will be surprising dd 8 and ds 4. On every other trip they have known for months beforehand. They have no idea that we are going this year. We have told them that we can't afford it as dd is making her communion in April. We have planned to tell them at the airport. My sister in law lives nearby and we will pretend that we are going to visit her. Then we are going to pretend to get a text message from her to say she won't be at home and will suggest going to watch the planes for a while before heading back home. They will be so shocked because I am useless at keeping secrets. Little do they know that I booked our trip last June!!!!!

 

[Isila]

And you will just tell them? How will you pack?

 

[aobh]

I will pack their things on the morning that we go. I will have a list of what to pack. Dh will bring them to the park for an hour to give me a chance to get all sorted. Then we will tell them when we park and open the boot of the car and they see their cases!!

 

[Isila]

For me packing secretly is the most difficult thing to do. I'm bad at packing always take too much and always forget something. Maybe doing a list would help

 

[hazel1975]

We are leaving on the 17th and am not telling the kids until that morning..... Am so excited and cant believe that I have managed to keep this a secret! I
Have also put together a goodie bag but think have got too carried away and will have to leave half of it behind!

 

[PRomano]

I had a work trip to DL (I am in the US) and told the kids that I was going alone. My parents offered to pay for dh and my boys to come. We took different flights. DH drove me to airport and then to work all day. My mother drove the kids to him, they were told they were going to my in-laws for a few days. When they saw the huge suitcase move from one car to another, my mother told them! They were thrilled. So my vote is to wait!