It's getting harder and harder to keep the secret!!

[hogsfanwife]

I too am keeping the secret from my DD. SHe turns 5 on 9/20 and that's the day we leave for Disney.
I almost had to spill it in July when we decided to take a last minute trip and asked her where she wanted to go. Her first response was 'Disney cruise' to which I said that I'm sure it was full. Then she said 'Disneyworld'. THen I had to give many excuses about why we couldn't go- it's hot, crowded, etc. So, she started crying that she'd never get to go again and she loved Disney and couldn't wait to go back. I felt bad about her being so upset, but I know when she finds out what we're doing for her birthday, it will be worth keeping the secret for so long.

I've been asking so many questions like 'what dress would you want to wear if you were to have breakfast at the castle with princesses?' Good thing she's just 4 and hasn't caught on yet!

Have a great time on all the surpise trip

 

[poohfriend77]

Pixidust 1976 says: "So.... to sort of keep the secret, I started a Disney Jar. I took a big glass jar and put Disney stickers on it. I told the kids that they could earn "chore money" by doing chores, or behaving exceptionally well, or doing random acts of kindness. When the jar is full, we can change it in and see if it is enough money to go to Disney."

I love, love, LOVE this idea! It seems like the perfect compromise for DH and me. We leave Feb. 7, and I wanted to tell the girls on Christmas morning. I already have new Disney shirts, toys, etc. that I was going to wrap up, along with a "you're going to WDW in 44 days" note and countdown chain. DH suggested we surprise them the morning we leave.

DD4 already starts half her sentences with "When we go to Disney World..." so we talk about it all the time, but DH told them we have to wait until DD2 is much older. I love the idea of giving the Disney gifts for Christmas, with the money jar. They can make plans, psych themselves up for rides, (and do chores! ) but will still have no idea WHEN we're going until the morning we leave.

Thanks, pixidust, you ROCK!

 

[ibouncetoo]

And MARIA -- if you're reading this -- I do have some secrets, don't you worry. You won't be the only one being all sneaky this trip.

Maybe you gals need a third party to tell your secrets to....just so they don't overlap/conflict/duplicate!

 

[Bunchkin]

Good luck to ALL you Secret Keepers!!!


I know I would never make it!!!
I get way too excited about going to WDW! DH is almost as bad. There isn't a day that goes by that we aren't talking about WDW at some point or another. We would totally be found out!!

 

[Gina]

I am soooo glad I found this thread!! You have given me renewed resolve to keep the secret. Mine isn't even near as big as some of y'alls, but I'm so bad at keeping secrets!! Plus, I have felt bad leaving DS out of the planning on this part of it. But I know the look on his face will be all worth it!

We're sailing on the Magic in February, and we're always so sad that last morning when we have to head to the airport and come home. But this time, what DS doesn't know is that the bus we get on will be going to Pop, not the airport -- and we're spending two nights there and two whole days at Epcot. I am always so depressed at that last breakfast onboard -- how will I keep from having an ear-to-ear grin and give it away??

Thanks to this thread, I'm even more excited about my little secret now.

-gina-

 

[Suzerella]

I'm a KOTS too!! But mine is from my DH, not kids...

We have a trip booked for December (that he is WELL aware of), but what he doesn't know is that we're staying deluxe! He thinks we're staying at ASMu, and is going to be SOOO excited when we pull into Animal Kingdom Lodge, thanks to some fantastic AP rates.

I'm not worried about how to keep it a secret from him, but I am worried about how to "reveal" it to him, since he will probably be driving. How in the world do I get him to AKL without telling him why, at 8am on a Saturday morning? Any ideas welcome...

Although, he is pretty darn easy to surprise. On his birthday in March we went to WDW. He wanted to get a hot breakfast because it was his birthday. I convinced him that we had to go to the MK first thing to pick up his birthday button (I had ressies at Crystal Palace -- Eeyore is his favorite).

Well, he knew the park wasn't opening yet, but accepted my "they let you in early to get birthday buttons and then you just leave the park" excuse. I guess I'm lucky he loves WDW, but doesn't come to the DIS!!

We got all the way to CP before I had to tell him what we were doing. Silly DH!

 

[mcqueengroupie]

All I can say is, keep that secret, it is soooo worth the wait!!!! We surprised our 2 sons this past June and it was just precious seeing the surprise on their faces. Well, DS3 really didn't get it, but DS6 did. We waited until his promotion ceremony from kindergarted was over, then we went to IHOP for lunch. Then we gave him a little box and told him it was his gift. Inside were Disney Dollars, he looked at them and said Disney Dollars, how am I gonna use these, we said you can use them tomorrow when we are in WDW. He freaked out, it was a moment I will never forget. Here are some pics from that moment....

So, as you can see, keeping the secret although difficult, is worth it in the end!!!! Good luck.

 

[poohfriend77]

Love the look on your little guy's face! That's the reaction I'm hoping for.

 

[Ilovefozzie]

My DH just sent me this thread. We've gone to Disney twice now with the kids. Each time we tried to make it a surprise, and then for what ever reason they end up finding out.

This next trip we are telling them NOTHING and not telling any of the people who let the secret trip the last two times either. We've laid the groundwork. There is NO WAY we can go to Disney before we see other parts of the world. There are 50 states in this country and gosh darnit we are going to see some of them. So...

We are going to Colorado and the mountains for 3 days (the DD wants to have snow fights) and then driving like mad back to Omaha and getting on a plane for 9 days at WDW. The DH and I are the only two people the kids really come in contact with who know. We are SO not telling grandparents or aunts/uncles. The kids won't know until we get to the airport, and then they will have to figure it out....

The only big problem with this is.....311 days left!!! UGH This is going to be sooooo hard to keep from them but we're going to do it!

to everyone keeping the secret strong!

 

[pixidust1976]

You are so welcome Poohfriend77!!!!!

I really commend all you guys that keep it a complete secret. I just know I would slip up.. or someone else would. "Hey... when does your flight land in Disney on Tuesday?"

I always have an out... "Oh... well the jar isn't full yet, so we will look into flights as soon as the jar fills up"

We also got a post card from our resort in the mail last week, welcoming us and giving us hints for our stay. I mean... I couldn't have explained that one away when my son got the mail out of the box. I had the excuse this way that I checked into this hotel for when the jar was full.

We got to watch the planning video. We got to look over our customized maps and pick our favorite things. And I get to talk with the kids to help get their input... instead of always hushing people... and trying to explain why we are getting calls from the Coral Reef Restaurant on our caller ID (Diver and menu pictures) and post cards from our hotel, and all the mail with Disney Travel Company return addresses.

They will be so so surprised on that morning!!!

 

[Allegro]

My kids don't know there is a Disney World which makes the secret a teeny bit easier to keep but not much.

Our January trip though will be one of their Christmas presents. DD heard me talking to DH about our travel arrangements (not to self: she is old enough to understand must use better subterfuge) and got all excited because she thought I was taking her to Disney on Ice - something we do every year. I talked myself out of that secret slip (whohoo! I pulled the wool over the eyes of a 5-year-old. )

We'll let them watch the travel video as their Christmas present so they know what they are actually getting. I'm so looking forward to seeing their faces (especially my oldest).

Good luck keeping your secret. Have fun.

 

[N&B'smom]

So nice to know there are so many of us making this a surprise!!

We are DVC owners and we told our kids last year that we wouldn't be going again this year because we wouldn't have enough points! So, we've laid the ground work there as well. Any time they mention something about Disney, asking if we can go or something I just gently remind them that we already told them we wouldn't be able to go this year.

It's going to be even more exciting because the friends that are joining our whole family are our best friends and the kids best friends!

Shelby

 

[yxe dad]

For our last trip to WDW I told my girlfriend that we were going to meet my dad and stepmom in Palm Springs. My dad has a winter home there and I don't usually see him for the 4 cold winter months up here in Canada.
She was in Mexico for her birthday and Valentines Day with 3 of her close friends. I hadn't bought her a present before she left.,so I sent flowers to her resort and told her I booked 2 flights to "Palm Springs" departing 2 weeks after she got back.

She was a little nervous meeting my step mom for the first time and then having to stay with them. I calmed her down by telling her that we could take day trips and a overnight trip to Disneyland.

Well I got my stories all mixed up and told her how I was looking forward to EE, Ohona, and the P&P Party. I talked my way out of the stories and she thought I was just missing WDW.

On the way to the airport(@5am) I gave her a gift bag with stuff for the flight. In it was a book, her favorite snacks, and a small Mickey Mouse photo album with pics from our trip to WDW in Oct. I put little notes on all the pics and she almost started to cry she was so happy. The last page was our confirmation for POFQ folded up with a note saying "open me". She was in shock, and didn't know what to say. I think just think she was happy not to stay at my parents for a week.

Needless to say we had a great time and she loved the suprise on the way to the airport.

I've known my girlfriend for 5 years but have been only dating for a year. During that time I've been on 2 trips to DL and 3 to WDW with her asking why do you keep going to the same place all the time. Well after a long day at MGM(way too many cheerleaders) we decided to take the DVC tour. She loved the show suites and was the who said "you know we are coming back, right!!" It was at that point I said ok and bought into DVC. The best part about it is, now instead of saying "why do you go to the same place all the time?", she ask's "when do we get to go to WDW again?"

Well guess what, the suprise is all set up for 38 days from today. She knows we are going but thinks we are staying off site because DVC is booked solid for the Epcot F&W festival and because I'm booking last minute. The suprise is our waitlist came through for a studio at SSR for 5 nights and I got an AP rate at AKL for last 3. It's might not seem like a big suprise, but to a girl who I think now loves the mouse more than I do, It's huge!!!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

We have a trip booked for December (that he is WELL aware of), but what he doesn't know is that we're staying deluxe! He thinks we're staying at ASMu, and is going to be SOOO excited when we pull into Animal Kingdom Lodge, thanks to some fantastic AP rates.

I'm not worried about how to keep it a secret from him, but I am worried about how to "reveal" it to him, since he will probably be driving. How in the world do I get him to AKL without telling him why, at 8am on a Saturday morning? Any ideas welcome...,
!

Breakfast at BOMA! If you haven't eaten b'fast there....tell him you always wanted to and could only get an early ADR. If you have and you loved it, tell him you wanted to make it a new tradition for starting the trip!

 

[pineapplaclaire]

Whew! I am so relieved to have someone to discuss this secret with! My kids are 8 and 11 and have very big ears, so one little slip-up would ruin it!
I have to keep my big fat mouth shut until Christmas morning! We want to do a scavenger hunt or wrap the suitcases as if they were gifts or find some cute way to tell our kids that we are leaving that afternoon to go to Disney! How do I get my hands on those Disney Dollars? They might be a great clue!

 

[Ilovefozzie]

If you have a Disney Store in your area you can get your Disney Dollars there.

Here is a question: How do you deal with the mail? For example all the offical paperwork and magical express envelopes? We've gone to WDW enough that the kids know what those envelopes look like. If they show up with the kids are in school we are ok, but how do you all handle it when they are home? Do you have the info sent to work?

Thanks!

 

[Suzerella]

Breakfast at BOMA! If you haven't eaten b'fast there....tell him you always wanted to and could only get an early ADR. If you have and you loved it, tell him you wanted to make it a new tradition for starting the trip!

I actually got goosebumps when I read that -- you are my new favorite DISSER!! That is perfect!!

We are supposed to be staying with a friend in Orlando the night before so we can get to AKL first thing in the morning on the 8th. But, she's due with a kiddo on the 12th...so that plan may go out the window. If it does, I'm telling him I have lunch ressies.

Come to think of it , I better get on the phone and get some ADRs. If I tell the man he's getting a hot breakfast, he's going to expect it one way or the other. There is nothing much more (other than the mouse) that he loves than getting a hot breakfast on vacation.

 

[mjkacmom]

Another secret here, too - I booked it in December, and we're going in November! I think my 11 year old dd kind of knows, since others have slipped, but she has no idea when. I bought some books, and now my 6 year old keeps saying how much she wants to go to WDW (she and my 4 year old twins have never been, and my 11 and 9 year olds went when they were 2 and 4, and don't remember). I'm going to tell them that their school has a delayed opening, and the van will pick us up about 10 for the airport. My folks are coming with us (and paying for most), so I'll let them hand out mickey ears or something. We're staying 6 nights, and then heading off to a 4 day Disney cruise - which I'll tell them about when we arrive at the port - they'll think they're going home!

 

[EpcotQueen]

For those of you planning 'secret' trips, please keep in mind you can ship your luggage ahead of time. Just think, kids in school, you're packing for them, ship the suitcases about a week ahead of time to the resort. T hen you pile into the car and head to the airport with your Mickey ears on. Make sure you have camera in hand! We're planning a suprise trip in February as a Christmas gift for my son and his family. The kids do not know. Will spring it on them Christmas morning with special sweatshirts. My son and DIL in on the secret. The adults have to arrange vacation or I would have kept it a suprise from them too!!

 

[Jubilee]

How fun that you are keeping it a surprise! It's good for you too that your kids won't be driving you crazy about it, but for me, I also need people to blab to about it for months of anticipation!