KOTS - Do I tell? If so, when? What would you do??

[PrincessasMommy]

I have been KOTS since JANUARY!! I am growing weak!

We will be taking our 4 daughters to WDW in October for a week. They have NO idea. In fact, it is the last thing they would expect because we just had a new baby June 26th and I told them all that there was no way we could afford it until at least 2009 and even if we could afford it we wouldn't want to travel with such a little baby!

So, the original plan was.....DD 11's birthday is Oct 19th. Our flight is Oct 20th. She thinks we are taking her shopping in Buffalo for the weekend! We were going to drive to Buffalo early, shop a couple stores, go to AppleBee's in the outlet mall area and over lunch calmly mention that is was getting too cold here (Canada in October is bound to be chilly) and maybe we should go somewhere warmer than Buffalo!! I KNOW she will say "DISNEY" because she always asks to go! And I'll say "Daddy, I think that's a great idea, can we??" She will think we are teasing her, so then we will all get in the car and drive to the airport and she still won't believe it and I will play it cool like we are in fact teasing her until I show them the tickets AT the airport and watch her freak out with her sisters!!!

Or.........because they are 11, 4 1/2 & 3, maybe I should tell them a week ahead of time?? I think that's still pretty cool to only know a week and I could do a scavenger hunt for things, i bought them matching t's for every park day, light wands, WDW 2007 Name tags with their names engraved, etc. and watch them figure it out the weekend before?

Or.....2 weeks before (Canadian Thanksgiving) when at Thanksgiving dinner we name all the things we are thankful for, Hubby or I will be last and casually say something like this......"I am most thankful for the love of my family and that we get to make magical memories AGAIN in 2 weeks when we go to DISNEY WORLD!!! "SURPRISE"!!!

They will lose thier minds any which way but I wonder if it is better if I tell them sooner, especially for my 3 year old who might not really get it, and that way I can tell their teachers and have homework assigned, tell their coaches as they are all in after school activities (gymnastics & figure skating) and let them pack their own last minute things.

What would you do??

 

[revrob]

OMG! This is so awesome! I love the idea of telling them in Buffalo! If you can hold out that long. I don't know that I could contain myself, but WOW what an incredible idea!

 

[PrincessasMommy]

Thanks for the response.

Anyone else?

 

[Ellester]

I also like the idea of the same day. We told our kids last Christmas we were going in January, but we did toy with the idea of waiting until the day we left. But, the trip was to be a majority of their Christmas so we didn't want them to be let down on Christmas morning. Plus my mom was providing the lodging (DVC) and she would be able to see their reactions at Christmas but not if we waited. (She went on the trip with us, but flew down from NC) But, if we had not had those extenuating circumstances I think we would have done the day of departure. You'll probably only get the chance to spring a surprise like this once, so take advantage of it!

 

[BarbWB]

Oh, definitely tell them the same day!!! You can get the teachers to give you stuff w/o telling the kids!
We did a secret trip 2 years ago and didn't tell the kids until we were THERE! They were completely clueless!! Of course, they were much younger (7, 5, 3, and 1 year). But, still, the older 2 could read! And we made it all the way on the plane, got the rental car, drove to WDW through the BIG GATES, parked at Poly for dinner, went in, ordered appetizers in the bar and FINALLY, dh and I decided we needed to tell them and they STILL didn't believe us! It was hilarious. They knew we were going to see their cousins, but they thought we were in New Jersey!! It was such a priceless moment to see it all click in their heads. I think they were still in disbelief until we sat at our table and saw the MK castle and fireworks from the windows at O'hana!

We are going to try to do it again this year, but they will be wiser. I think we can surprise the younger ones (now 3 and 5), but the older ones (8 and 9) will figure it out. We leave on my birthday and we are flying out of SanAntonio (we live in Austin), so we are wake them up and that morning and tell them that we are going to San Antonio for my birthday. They will think we are going to SeaWorld or Fiesta Texas. Our one rule is that we don't actually "lie", but we just don't give them them the whole truth. So, yes, we are going to SanAntonio, but we will have to go to the airport. After that, we won't answer any questions!!! And we will wink at the older ones when they figure it out so they will be quiet and help surprise the little ones!

Don't tell!!!! It will be great!!!!

 

[chefkellyb]

OP- your post brought tears to my eyes! I can just imagine the excitement from your girls!!!! I would wait until Buffalo (same day) if you can. Teachers and coaches would agree and would want to be accommodating. Also- what could the girls possibly want to pack last minute that you can't pick up while at Disney? If it were any other destination then maybe I would tell them, but come on- it's Disney and I can't imagine them being upset that they left something behind. Enjoy!!!!

 

[NVDisMom]

I'm not the only cry baby?! I like the idea of waiting til Buffalo. That would be way too cool. But, the anticipation might KILL YOU! I know it would me!

 

[Laura.bora]

Wait till Buffalo!!! My parents surprised me and my sisters when we were younger and it was the BEST!!! We drove, and they told us we were going to Myrtle Beach. Once we were down in that area, they said they just wanted to "swing by" and see Georgia since we were so close. (This made no sense to me at all, but I was 11 so I thought what do I know). So "seeing Georgia" consisted of staying overnight at the Knight's Inn. Not my idea of seeing Georgia, but Ok, I went with it. Somewhere in Fl. they finally told us where we were REALLY going (I wasn't with it through Georgia and Florida - Draunamine, I was out cold. They only thing I remember is leaving the parking lot and thinking, "We should turn left, not right to go back the way we came" and then thought "I'm so drugged up right now, I'm just disoriented.") We were SOOO excited when they told us. I remember my mouth just hung open for a while in disbelief and then came the screaming and laughing that we were going to Disney for the first time ever!! I would not give up that surprise for anything!! Wait till Buffalo! You're kids will remember it forever!!!

 

[pixidust1976]

I personally have had my kids saving their change in a jar and keep telling them that when it is full they can go....

The jar is huge... so Tink will do a little magic with Disney Dollars and some glitter in the jar on the morning that we are gonna leave... as a way to help them anticipate, without driving me crazy knowing when they are leaving!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

We've done 2 surprise trips. Our first one we piled the kids in the van, told them we were just "going for a drive" and we drove 6 hours to Disneyland, they were so shocked, we drove to Anaheim, past DL and checked into our hotel before they even asked if we could "go to Disneyland because it looks like it's really close" LOL When we got to our room I gave them the whole package we had purchased and they were quite excited.

This time, we went back to DL in July and we did a scavenger hunt, I wrote up clues using a pirate speak translator and gave them the first clue, after that each clue led to the next one until finally they found the package we bought. They absolutely loved that too!! It was so much fun for them. Then after our 4 days in the park we surprised them again....by taking them back on day 5 to get their pictures taken for the Annual Passes we bought! LOL We really love Disneyland and hope to make it Disney World someday too.

IMO since it's such a big deal, I'd surprise them in Buffalo!! Have Fun!!

 

[Procrastinator]

We're actually leaving Thursday for our surprise trip. Our daughter will be 8 in October and our son will turn 3 the day after we check in. We're driving from WI. We told them we're going to visit their aunt & uncle down in GA. Which isn't a lie. We're driving out Thursday night, getting down there Friday morning, staying a couple days in GA, then all of us are driving down to Disney Sunday very early morning. I wanted to wait until my daughter read the signs for Disney World, but we're thinking we'll tell them the day before. We're having a little birthday party either Friday or Saturday night and I think I'm going to make a t-shirt for my son that says "I'm spending my 3rd birthday with Mickey Mouse!" I'll wrap it up, and while he won't be able to read it, his sister will. That way they'll go to bed early and get a good night sleep Saturday night and be ready and excited to go Sunday morning.

 

[sk!mom]

I would tell them at least a couple of weeks in advance.

The one time that we surprised our DD ( she was 8 almost 9) she cried- not happy tears. It was more- "I can't believe you didn't tell me!" We didn't tell because we had just been the previous summer and the surprise April trip was a bonus and planned rather quickly because DH had a conference at the CR. We thought it would be cool to pick her up from school and head to the airport- never again.

For a trip that is planned way in advance, my DD, now 11, is like me- she loves the planning, research, and anticipation. I wouldn't miss that with her. For last summer's trip to NYC, she had as much fun as me looking up Broadway shows and watching clips to help choose which ones we should go to,

 

[ENSOCK]

I like the idea of not telling until you leave. But I can't hold water so I spilled the beans early!

 

[princess lovers mom]

wait until Buffalo...or even later?

2 yrs ago we did a surprise trip for then 4 and 7yo DD's...everyone practically in town knew however...their grandparents,teachers, gymnastics coaches (as one had to miss states because of the trip !)people at Church etc...

we picked them up from school before Easter break, got in the car and started driving (had the suitcases all packed)...tolds them after they realized we were not going home that we were going on a surprise trip....they had some clues along the way - made up some puzzle peices that they put together that said words such as surprise/warm/sunshine/sand (we were staying at the Poly w/ a beach...) spent the night at the airport, but it was so dark when we arrived they actually didn't know we were at the airport till the am when we didn't get back in the car, but instead shuttled to the terminal..then they knew we were taking a plane..the older one heard on the preboard announcement that we were going to Orlando, but never guess Disney as she knew we would have told her if we were going to Disney!!!

got off the plane...had a limo meet us...they watched a movie in the limo lying down so as we drove into Disney with all the signs they never saw them!! Got out at the Poly and went right up to the front desk and I asked the CM to please tell my kids where they were and she said the Poly...I said no less specific...she didn't get it and finally said Disney World?

the girls went absolutely bonkers with excitement.....we were told we are giving you a special room and were upgraded to castle view and while we were in the park that evening they had a special photo sent signed by mickey and minnie wishing the girls a special surprise trip....

there were so many special happenings that trip...pixie dust was following us all over the parks...

surprises are worth it - but you can only do it once!!! make the most of it....

 

[abbybeth]

I think your first plan for telling them in Buffalo is REALLY cute! I love that "it's getting colder here isn't it? Maybe we should go somewhere warmer!"

and then go to the airport

that's great! That's a brilliant birthday surprise!