Ideas for surprising daughter with trip?

[Erin M]

I've been trying to search the internet for ideas. I've seen some things on Pinterest and YouTube but nothing just sticks out as the right idea for us. I know some of you have done surprises for loved ones and I'd love to hear what you did! Or see if you have any ideas for me. She will be turning 6 while there, she is afraid of nothing and Ariel is her favorite princess, though these days Captain Marvel is running a close second. She can't quite read well enough for us to do a letter or sign. But I suppose that could change in the next few months too.

My current plan at the moment hinges on her growing in the next four months and I just don't want to risk that not panning out. Basically her life goal has been to ride Indy, she is .33 inches from the height requirement with normal shoes on. She's been growing like a weed so we thought it would be fun to measure her one morning, us knowing she'd reached the height limit, and then to nonchalantly say something like "Well I guess we should head to Disneyland now." Of course this doesn't work if she doesn't grow at least .5 inches before the end of September (I want to make sure she's well above the mark so they don't tell her no). Any advice on getting kids to grow faster??

 

[TheMickeyManiac]

You could wrap up a big box with a bunch of Disney balloons, so when she opens it they fly out. Hopefully she grows!

 

[WonkaKid]

@Erin M - Let me know if you'd like me to send you some park maps. Many posters here use them to surprise their children (I may have actually offered this to you already -- I send about 12 maps per month and don't always remember who they went to ). Let me know via direct message.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I don't think anyone can give tips on how to make kids grow faster per say, but maybe feed her more? Otherwise no tips on growing faster.

 

[ExcitedMama]

A couple of years ago I surprised the kids with a scavenger hunt that was Disney themed. You could do a visual only one, like a picture of Ariel and ask where she should look for her and she checks the bathtub and finds Olaf and gets the idea of how to play and searches the freezer.

When my son was too young to read we had great fun surprising him with a trip to Disney. Now I know you’ve been with her so you might have to change it up if she remembers from your trips. He had no idea where we were going when we got on the tram from the parking garage. He thought his big surprise was going to a movie. Little ones who can’t read can be a lot of fun to surprise since they can’t read the signs giving things away on the road. Do you ever go out of town for work? I still like to trick mine by saying we are going with Dad for his work trip but then we surprise them with the reveal or even don’t and wait for them to get it.

I love your height spontaneous idea! The only danger of meeting height requirements is the letdown of not meeting the requirement at the park so I’m a big believer in not going for something like that until firmly over the number required. My kids haven’t always liked the rides they were so excited to get to though. It’s a fun right of passage to get there so enjoy the anticipation of it before it’s reached and don’t worry about getting to it!

 

[Nonsuch]

...My current plan at the moment hinges on her growing in the next four months and I just don't want to risk that not panning out. Basically her life goal has been to ride Indy, she is .33 inches from the height requirement with normal shoes on. She's been growing like a weed so we thought it would be fun to measure her one morning, us knowing she'd reached the height limit, and then to nonchalantly say something like "Well I guess we should head to Disneyland now." Of course this doesn't work if she doesn't grow at least .5 inches before the end of September (I want to make sure she's well above the mark so they don't tell her no). Any advice on getting kids to grow faster??

You might want to get some "thick sole" shoes to add a little guard band, since the height measurement at attractions can be slightly off.
I have seen kids not pass the height check just before loading on Indy, and there were tears

 

[Erin M]

You might want to get some "thick sole" shoes to add a little guard band, since the height measurement at attractions can be slightly off.
I have seen kids not pass the height check just before loading on Indy, and there were tears

Yes I plan to avoid this at all costs, so we'd only do this if we knew she was well over the 46". There is no crying at Disneyland!

 

[Erin M]

A couple of years ago I surprised the kids with a scavenger hunt that was Disney themed. You could do a visual only one, like a picture of Ariel and ask where she should look for her and she checks the bathtub and finds Olaf and gets the idea of how to play and searches the freezer.

When my son was too young to read we had great fun surprising him with a trip to Disney. Now I know you’ve been with her so you might have to change it up if she remembers from your trips. He had no idea where we were going when we got on the tram from the parking garage. He thought his big surprise was going to a movie. Little ones who can’t read can be a lot of fun to surprise since they can’t read the signs giving things away on the road. Do you ever go out of town for work? I still like to trick mine by saying we are going with Dad for his work trip but then we surprise them with the reveal or even don’t and wait for them to get it.

I love your height spontaneous idea! The only danger of meeting height requirements is the letdown of not meeting the requirement at the park so I’m a big believer in not going for something like that until firmly over the number required. My kids haven’t always liked the rides they were so excited to get to though. It’s a fun right of passage to get there so enjoy the anticipation of it before it’s reached and don’t worry about getting to it!

Scavenger hunt just might work, she loves things like that. Maybe finish it up with a map from WonkaKid!

She would totally figure out where we're going if we attempted to just drive up to the resort, but maybe we could wait until we're at the airport to do it, under the guise of a work trip. I do take them from time to time! I hadn't really considered that.

 

[Erin M]

@Erin M - Let me know if you'd like me to send you some park maps. Many posters here use them to surprise their children (I may have actually offered this to you already -- I send about 12 maps per month and don't always remember who they went to ). Let me know via direct message.

Yes! I will message you! Thank you!

 

[WonkaKid]

Yes! I will message you! Thank you!

Got your message and will respond this evening. How about two of the new park maps that include SWL and one for DCA?

 

[Erin M]

I just wanted to provide a little update about how our surprise played out. It was great! She had been seeing commercials for the park every morning while the news/weather was on and had said on more than one occasion how she wanted to go to Galaxy's Edge and see Oogie Boogie for Halloween. We had just kept saying things like "That would be fun, maybe next year".

DD woke up like normal on Tuesday morning. She snuggled into the couch with our dogs and watched the weather report for the day while dad and I got a little pile ready to set in front of her. My DH asked her if she'd like a birthday surprise a little early and she nodded sleepily. We had her close her eyes while we set out her pressed penny book, her new ears, and the maps @WonkaKid kid was so kind to send. then we told her to open her eyes and she just lit up! DH asked her if she'd like to get on a plane today and she looked at us and grinned the biggest grin. "Today?!?!" She grabbed the maps and immediately started making plans, Space Mountain, then Galaxy's Edge. I think she bounced around like Tigger until we had to sit down for take-off. It was so fun! And lucky her, with shoes on she was tall enough to ride Indy! So thank you to all of you for ideas!

 

[Malcon10t]

You might want to get some "thick sole" shoes to add a little guard band, since the height measurement at attractions can be slightly off.
I have seen kids not pass the height check just before loading on Indy, and there were tears

I just wanted to add I have personally measured all the sticks with my trusty Stanley measuring tape. All the sticks were EXACTLY accurate, with the exception of Jumpin' Jelly Fish which was 41".

Yes, it was fun going ride to ride and measuring, even some of the CMs got into helping me by holding the bottom of the tape and showing one lady "See, they are right!!!" My daughter was not amused though....

 

[Indiana Scott]

Any advice on getting kids to grow faster??

Yes, go out and buy her hundreds of dollars worth of new cloths that fit perfectly.
Guaranteed to work!

Hope you all have the time of your lives!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I just wanted to add I have personally measured all the sticks with my trusty Stanley measuring tape. All the sticks were EXACTLY accurate, with the exception of Jumpin' Jelly Fish which was 41".

Yes, it was fun going ride to ride and measuring, even some of the CMs got into helping me by holding the bottom of the tape and showing one lady "See, they are right!!!" My daughter was not amused though....

You didn't happen to get photos, did you??

 

[Malcon10t]

You didn't happen to get photos, did you??

No, but I may need to do it again just to get pics. And embarrass my daughter....

 

[theluckyrabbit]

No, but I may need to do it again just to get pics. And embarrass my daughter....

!

 

[Babystitch]

This story is adorable!! I am so glad the surprise worked out- and that she got to ride all the rides!! The mouse ears and maps were such a cute idea We're surprising my daughter, too, who kind of gave up on even asking to go. We've struggled for so many years that, right now, she is extremely excited about 'just a really small party at home with pizza' (the fake out) this weekend. Granted, now she will be like 'ok, so where's the resort trip?!' on her birthday for the rest of her life... anyway! Love inspiration on how to spring the surprise!

 

[WonkaKid]

We're surprising my daughter, too, who kind of gave up on even asking to go. We've struggled for so many years that, right now, she is extremely excited about 'just a really small party at home with pizza' (the fake out) this weekend.

You’re taking her to the park this weekend or that’s simply when you’ll spring the surprise? I’m simply curious because I go virtually every Sunday. If you’ll be there this weekend, I suggest rope-dropping at DL at least on Sunday. It always makes for a great start to the day. You should have at least two hours when crowds are relatively low. Whenever you take her, I’m sure you’ll all have an amazing time!

Incidentally, I’m sure you already aim to grab her a birthday button. She’ll get dozens of birthday wishes as you know so the earlier the better, obv .

 

[Babystitch]

Yeah, we are going to tell her on Friday and then be there for the weekend. We will be there on Sunday for the rope drop! Really excited about it. Thank you for the warm wishes! We are going to get the birthday button for sure I am so jealous that you get to go so often!!