Ideas for telling kids (elf on the shelf style)

[TeamH5]

So, we're leaving on 9 Dec. The kids kind of know, but not really. I have this idea for them to wake up that morning, and see a note from their Elf on the shelf. I want to do a scavenger hunt, ending up with them finding their suitcases in the back of the car with their little coupon books on top saying "You're going to Walt Disney World!" I just haven't come up with any cool ideas for all the points of the scavenger hunt yet. That's where I need help. Lol They do have school that day which we aren't pulling them from (going to drive at night). So I'm debating if I want them to wait till after school for the hunt, or do a few things (or 1 or 2) before school... It doesn't have to be super duper long and drawn out either. I'm thinking maybe 1 clue before school, that will lead them to their after school clue and maybe 1 or 2 more clues (so maybe 3 or 4 total).

Any ideas?

 

[tee11]

Hmmm...Dont know your kids, but I'd have a very hard time getting them to school after a big fun reveal/scavenger hunt start, etc.
I would do the whole thing after school!!

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

I agree with after school! As far as the scavenger hunt, you could just send them on a wild goose chase throughout the house (Go to where the bread sleeps, look under Mommy's favorite place to sit, ect.), or you could have something to collect at each stop like a word (We're - leaving - for - Disney - World - NOW!) in a random order and have them figure out what order the words go in after finding them all. You could also hide three black circles, red half circle, two white buttons, two gloves, and two yellow shoes and not give them the final clue until they have successfully assembled Mickey. There are a lot of different things you can do! I would look online a little, I'm sure there are other fun ideas.

 

[DisneyOma]

I thought the evil Elf was Santa's spy? Why would he be in on a Disney trip? Wouldn't that confuse the kids?

 

[Jajone]

We used the elves for a surprise trip once. The kids knew we were taking a mini vacation and driving at night. When we went to leave, the elves had changed our GPS to different coordinates that even mom and dad didn't know. Surprise, they never knew until we pulled into the resort. That was a small miracle since they figured out right away it was Florida and the drive would be 24 hours!

 

[TeamH5]

I thought the evil Elf was Santa's spy? Why would he be in on a Disney trip? Wouldn't that confuse the kids?

I should have caveated that with the fact that this trip is their Christmas present. So, using the elf would make sense, as he's 'relaying a message and early present from Santa'.

I agree with after school! As far as the scavenger hunt, you could just send them on a wild goose chase throughout the house (Go to where the bread sleeps, look under Mommy's favorite place to sit, ect.), or you could have something to collect at each stop like a word (We're - leaving - for - Disney - World - NOW!) in a random order and have them figure out what order the words go in after finding them all. You could also hide three black circles, red half circle, two white buttons, two gloves, and two yellow shoes and not give them the final clue until they have successfully assembled Mickey. There are a lot of different things you can do! I would look online a little, I'm sure there are other fun ideas.

I like the word Scramble idea! They'd figure out the Mickey as soon as they had 2 black circles.. Lol I actually even like the idea of maybe giving them 1 letter at each stop, and at the end it just spells out DISNEY - that'd be enough for them to figure out what was going on.