Keeping a secret at the border

[Roobear77]

We are leaving next Saturday and this trip is a surprise for my daughter's 6th birthday. We are driving to Buffalo the day before, and flying out at 6 am on Sunday. How do i tell the truth about how long we are going to be in the States to the border officer without my daughter asking "why did you say 7 days?" as she thinks we are only going away overnight?

I was thinking of putting a post it note on the top of the passports saying "Secret trip to Disney World x 7 days" on it.

Any other ideas??

 

[MegaSilver]

I have heard of people handing with the passports a short letter explaining the scenario. You don't want a full thousand word essay, but something quick summarizing where you are going, how long and why you want it a secret, with full details listed below.

Most agents will be happy to play along with you, but be prepared for having to give out details should they be needed.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[thr33boys]

I did this in 2012. I handed over the passports and then a copy of our itinerary and mouthed the words 'kids don't know' and we were set. It was very easy. I included all reservation numbers for flights and hotels. Good luck and have a lot of fun with the surprise.

 

[Momloveshockey]

This is what we plan to do. Stick a note with the where we are going and for how long. Don't plan on telling our son until we wake him up to go to airport Sat morning in Portland Me.

 

[dennise]

My daughter and her husband did this last year. The girls were 6&10. Woke them at 3 Iam and asked them if they wanted to go to Disney, they were so excited they couldn't stop laughing, still giddy when they go to on the plane for their first plane ride ever.

 

[Roobear77]

This is what we plan to do. Stick a note with the where we are going and for how long. Don't plan on telling our son until we wake him up to go to airport Sat morning in Portland Me.

This is what we are planning as well. They know we are going to Buffalo to go to the children's museum, and spending the night in a hotel just for fun. We plan on waking them up at 4 am and once they are conscious springing the surprise on them.

I think we will go with a note on the passports. Will also let them play their leap pads with headphones as we approach the border for a little extra secret-protection.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Blanche_Neige]

I handed them the passport, along with a paper (in bullet point form, at the top I wrote in bigger font and bold) I made sure to tell them what was in the paper and that they read it. They were always good about it, only happened once that the guy didn't read the paper and kept asking where we were going... Politely told him it's all written on the itinary I handed to him. Once he read it he got excited


for example:

SURPRISE TRIP TO DISNEY

-Lenght of stay

-Flight info

-name hotel


BTW the kids never noticed anything, they were far too busy playing with their stuff.

Good luck and have a great trip

 

[redrosesix]

I have heard of people handing with the passports a short letter explaining the scenario. You don't want a full thousand word essay, but something quick summarizing where you are going, how long and why you want it a secret, with full details listed below.

Most agents will be happy to play along with you, but be prepared for having to give out details should they be needed.

Good luck, and have fun!

This. Works like a charm