Ideas to surprise the kids

[dizzyr]

I just booked a trip for Jan 22-28 and I decided to make it my kids Christmas present because I'll be too broke to get them anything else! LOL

Any ideas on how to do the reveal on Christmas morning? I'd like it to somehow incorporate/include small presents I can put under the tree.

 

[coolbrook]

It will depend on the ages of your kids, but we did this with some little things I ordered on Amazon like a Mickey string backpack and lanyard. We put a note in the backpack saying we were going on a Disney cruise. There were some other little things in there, but I can't remember what they were right now. Have fun planning the surprise!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Budget friendly, hmmmm. Well, thank heavens there's no dearth of Disney merch out there. I would hit Walmart for the least $$$. Maybe tee-shirts they can wear at the parks, not necessarily matchy matchy, unless they're into those things. A Disney gift card each with a limited amt of spending $$$ for them to buy their own souvenirs. Disney luggage tags. And if you're going on magical express, they will send your tags, so you could wrap them. I would try to get things they will use on the trip do you aren't spending on useless items just to put gifts under tree. Maybe Disney Sox {everybody needs sox-lol). I'm sure other folks on the board will have some great ideas! Have fun on your trip! What a great mom you are!

 

[hstrickland]

Not sure if your Magic Bands will be there by Christmas, but that's how we surprised our kids. We wrapped each individual MB, and they opened that. Thank goodness I had another "Disney" type present because all 3 were a little baffled by the MB...they weren't quite sure what to make of it I printed a picture of the resort that we would be staying, and then I glued it to the bottom of a box and wrapped that. When they opened that present, they understood!

Good luck! Your kids will love their Christmas present!!

 

[JimmyBean42]

Not sure if your Magic Bands will be there by Christmas, but that's how we surprised our kids. We wrapped each individual MB, and they opened that. Thank goodness I had another "Disney" type present because all 3 were a little baffled by the MB...they weren't quite sure what to make of it I printed a picture of the resort that we would be staying, and then I glued it to the bottom of a box and wrapped that. When they opened that present, they understood!

Good luck! Your kids will love their Christmas present!!

Love the magic band idea right here by @hstrickland . I agree with @coolbrook as well, it depends on the kids ages. You can also go to your local Disney store or if you don't have a local Disney store order online and order the Autograph books. Get the ones with the picture sleeves so you can print the pics of the kids with the characters and they can keep them in their rooms and maybe the dated 2016 one. If there are a reading age there are a ton of things you can do. You can put their Park Day and FP+ schedule on a print out in the present box. Mickey Ears also work too. Great idea for a present and have a great time!

 

[Arielismyfave]

Check out Target dollar spot and the dollar store for items too. I bought coloring books, stickers, etc. these would be inexpensive and give them something to do on the way there.

 

[DizDaD7]

Scavenger Hunts are always a fun idea.. A Xmas one could be cool. 1 clue leading to another one etc. etc. You can get some good ideas from some browsing on youtube.com

 

[italian alps]

we had a train set up under the tree..told the kids to hold down the remote to bring train forward. Mickey and Minnie were riding in the train with a letter and a plane ticket for each! (googled airplane ticket to print pseudo ticket)

 

[gatormom2tots]

I think we are custom making a puzzle....I have a collage created of previous Disney trips and and some prep work we have been doing for this one (Mickey and Minnie change jars). We are planning a 500 piece puzzle to give to them on the last day of school (a Wednesday) for a departure on Sunday. They KNOW we have a "megatrip" planned but we told them it is planned for summer 2017, yet we leave May 29, 2016 for 2 1/2 weeks! On the puzzle are the words "The time has come... To pack your bags... Cuz we are going to Disney!"

 

[DizDaD7]

I think we are custom making a puzzle....I have a collage created of previous Disney trips and and some prep work we have been doing for this one (Mickey and Minnie change jars). We are planning a 500 piece puzzle to give to them on the last day of school (a Wednesday) for a departure on Sunday. They KNOW we have a "megatrip" planned but we told them it is planned for summer 2017, yet we leave May 29, 2016 for 2 1/2 weeks! On the puzzle are the words "The time has come... To pack your bags... Cuz we are going to Disney!"

)) AWESOME ((

 

[dizzyr]

Ooops ages help I guess lol! They are 9 and 13 (the 9 year old will turn 10 at disney!) both girls.

I bought new carry on luggage for them and was thinking of wrapping that up under the tree with some little things inside. I did think of something similar to the puzzle idea but I was going to write we're going to disney and cut it up into puzzle pieces and put one piece in each present and have them put it together but I was worried that as soon as they got one or two pieces they'd figure it out. I much prefer the custom puzzle idea with our first trip photos!

We should have our magic bands in time I think but I do have our first set still so I could wrap those up. I like that idea

 

[gladgirl]

when I was a kid, 'Minnie' let us in on the surprise. My aunt came with us, and she dressed up as Minnie to give us the big news.

 

[cemeb4dk]

put helium filled ballons into their new bags, with a note attached to the strings. Maybe in one kids say "Surprise we are" then the others "going to Disney" so when they see the suitcases, they open them and the balloons with the notes pop out.

 

[dizzyr]

put helium filled ballons into their new bags, with a note attached to the strings. Maybe in one kids say "Surprise we are" then the others "going to Disney" so when they see the suitcases, they open them and the balloons with the notes pop out.

Love this!!

 

[disnut8]

My son and daughter-in-law did this for our grandkids on Christmas morning for their surprise trip as they were leaving in seven days. And we got to watch it all on Skype. My daughter-in-law enrolled both kids in the marathon things (it was the first week in January) and then sat them down after all their presents were opened and explained that she knew they were both into taking care of themselves so she had entered them into some running and fitness things in a week. My son handed the envelope of information to my granddaughter and she opened it and saw she was running the Mickey Mile and my grandson was doing the kids' things. But, it didn't register with her (at the age of 15) that it was Disney World and she didn't see the dates. Once my son pointed out the location, she screamed with excitement. And then he pointed out the date. She jumped up and down. My grandson was clueless until my son said "you are going on an airplane!" Then, he jumped up and down.

So really, whatever you do will be special to them.

 

[c3h3a3r]

We wrote a letter to our boys from Mickey and friends, inviting them to come stay. It was awesome hearing my eldest read it out to my youngest

 

[Tash87]

Love all these ideas. Cannot wait to surprise my kids.

 

[KEVD]

We got some Disney confetti, wrote an invitation letter from Mickey, put it in a box, made it look as though it came in the mail (printed Florida decal and put it in the return address area). Then, after they opened all of their gifts my wife went outside, came in and said we received a package in the mail. If you'll have your magic bands by then you can throw those in there too.

 

[Tash87]

We are planning on telling them on the way to the airport so I think I might print a template or invitation to hand to them.
We aren't going to tell them at all about where we are staying and watch their faces as we pull up . We usually stay at the same place, off site so they will not be expecting GF

 

[Mousemommy1]

We surprised our girls with a Feb Disney trip for Christmas once. They opened all of their regular presents and then we had "I'm going to disneyworld!" Tee shirts wrapped as their last presents.