Keeping this from the kids....stories and an airport question...

[ohiominnie]

We fly out tonight for our 3 day cruise. The kids are clueless (ages 9 and 6) They still think we are taking grandma and her dh to the aiport for THEIR Disney cruise. They don't realize we are ALL going.

Two days ago ds wants to wear his sandals, can't find them..."it's pouring rain honey, wear your tennis shoes so your toes don't get wet."

Yesterday ds stumbled on the packed luggage in the closet looking for his pirate sword he had left in there last time the closet was a "cave." Luckily it was him that found it. Sharp-as-a-tack dd would have questioned why it wasn't in the basement storage area and why it was so heavy. Near disaster.

Yesterday ds is near tears...he can't find his "favorite shirt in the whole world" --his one from Animal Kingdom's Dinosaur ride. "Here, wear your Fort Wilderness shirt, that ones nice! THe Dinosaur shirt is in the laundry."

Today, dd wakes up, she can't find two of her little stuffed beanies. She KNOWS they were in bed with her last night. She has searched high and low, they didn't fall out of bed, they aren't between the covers, they are MISSING (insert hysterics here) "now, now, they'll turn up....maybe they are on an ADVENTURE....here's your oatmeal!"

I feel like I want to leave the house for the whole day so they don't discover any more missing items! Our flight doesn't leave until 9:15 tonight. Hopefully they'll find out it's OUR flight, not just grandma's flight, when they call our row number!

Ok, a question....I haven't flown since 9/11. Do you have to be a "ticketed passenger" to go through security and get to the gates? I'm hoping there isn't a big sign that says "ONLY TICKETED PASSENGERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!"

TIA!

 

[Masonpips]

unfortunately, they might find out at Security. Your best bet is to have you or dh go up first and explain the situation to the agent and ask them not to say anything (and then hope like heck there is no sign)

I can't wait for your recap! GOOD LUCK

 

[zalansky]

I can't wait to hear your trip report when you get back! I saw another post of yours, with your plans to surprise the kids and told everyone I know about the plan...I think it is such a great idea...a memory that will last your family a lifetime!!!
Have a wonderful time....

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I believe there are signs, plus you will be asked to show your tickets. Can you say DISTRACTION!

 

[Masonpips]

Also, if they do find out at the security check; it will still be a riot. I bet they'll have every other passenger in line smiling and wishing they were going with them. Just have the camera ready!

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I am surprising my nephew with a cruise too! He is going to have a new baby brother 10/17 (planned c section) and then my sister will tell him that Auntie is taking him to Florida to visit Nana and Papa since he has been such a great big brother. The morning after we arrive in Florida my father (papa) will get us all up early to go on a mystery ride!!! I can't wait to see his little face when he sees the ship and then when he firgures out that it will be his home for the next 7 days!!!

Good luck with the surprise...I am sure whenever they figure it out, it will be great!

 

[Mjasp]

Oh I can't wait to read your trip report! DISTRACTION is the key word when going through security. Just tell them you are handing the security tickets, so you can accompany grandma to the gate. Even if they do find out at this point, it will still be a surprise.

Enjoy
Joanna

 

[CRenze]

We too are planning on surpising my 2 nephews...long story short..SIL's soon to be Xh took his new bimbo on a cruise and didn't take the boys, they were devistated, so SIL decided she want's to surprise the boys. Oh yeah, did I mention that the lobster (that's what we call him..low life bottom dwelling creature) was cheating on her while she was in the hospital delivering their beautiful little girl! How low is that? She had no clue it was coming.
Back to the fun part....
This is where I come in..I too wanted to do a Disney cruise and my DH has no desire so I said I would go with her (wasn't that nice of me to offer). I've made all the arrangements and plans. We plan on fixing a small box for the boys with a bunch of Disney stuff (shirts, pins, water camera and other stuff) to give them at the airport. Here's the best part...they think we are going to my BIL's to go snowmobiling (he lives in upper MI). They are totally clueless! I can't wait to see their faces!

Cindy

 

[absame]

Hope the Lobster isn't your brother!!

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

Well, if it were me, I would tell them on the WAY to the airport. There will be such great 'family' time in the car and all that. Do you really want them to fumble through security and read the signs. I don't know what airport you fly out of, but the security section in Atlanta can be VERY busy. And, I do my best to keep my kids moving with as little distractions as possible.

Anyway, you will have such fun. Congratulations!

 

[hydster]

This thread excites me because we too are planning on surprising our kids (10 tomorrow, 9 and 5 at the time of sailing) with a Disney cruise in May and they are totally clueless. We werent going to tell them anything until we got to the airport but then decided that they deserved to be a little excited so the Sunday before we leave (going to spend a few days before at WDW) that we are going to have a "family meeting" because we need to talk about some things that have happened. Then we plan on telling them then so they can get really excited but not have to wait an eternity (our counter below is still SO depressing) but I agree with some of the other posters to maybe tell them before you leave for the airport that way you can get it on tape or pictures of their faces in a "controlled" environment or even when you get to the airport parking lot. Our kids would question why we were parking in long term or why we were parking in a lot when we were just going to drop off the grandparents. I am so jealous! I wish we were leaving tonight!!

Have a great time and I cant wait to hear your report on how it went!

Heidi

 

[CRenze]

No, the lobster isn't my brother, thank goodness!! I would probably have cooked him, if he was. She is one of the sweetest people I know. She is my DH's sister (and yes amazingly we get along great for in-laws, actually prefer my in-laws over most of my own family). I would have pick her over my brother (if I had one).

Cindy

 

[Colleen P]

We surprised my daughter as well. We went for 2 days to US, then the land/sea package. On the morning we were leaving we were worried about getting her reaction on camera at the airport with all the commotion. We told her we were going to US, but that was all. (We had my mom with us and the original plan was to say we were taking her to the airport). This got her excited, but the fun was later when she realized where we were really going. When we got to security, we were excitedly talking between the 2 of us and my dh could handle all the questions and she was paying no attention to him.
Whatever happens you will have a wonderful time!!

 

[jwann]

We did the surprise-thing as well. We told the boys in the car on the way to the airport. I get so nervous these days flying that I didn't want to be distracted by "hiding" the surprise, meanwhile my husband is being strip-searched.....
That surprise vacation was the FUNNEST thing we've done.
Good luck.
Can't wait to hear the stories.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Just wondering how it went?

 

[RudeMNcruisers]

You know your children best and I'm sure what you plan will work out great. We surprised our dd's ( 4&6) in May for a long weekend in WDW by waking them up to go to the cabin and asked if they wanted to go to WDW instead. The 6 year old was all over it but the 4 year old said "No thanks, I want to go to Papa's cabin". Burst my bubble to say the least!!! Little ones are not good with change. We convinced her and we had a blast!!! Now when we pack up to go to the cabin she is the first to ask if we can go to WDW instead! We have created a Monster!!!! Or just a clone of her disney crazed dad!!!