KOTS no more...we told the kids last night! (long)

[Disneyforus]

Well, we had kept our Disney trip a secret since February. My DH and I had decided once we got to April, and we were actually "in" the month we were going ,then we would tell our kids.

I made up a scavenger hunt, and put pieces to a Mickey and Minnie puzzle in envelopes...that was their "treasure". I was actually able to hide everything Sunday when I got home from work around 1:30, and my two older kids that weren't napping didn't have a clue. My DH and I kept smiling and giggling just anticipating what was going to happen in a few hours. Of course my two "nappers" picked that day to take power naps so we finally had to wake them up at 4:00. My DH got out the video camera and I said to the kids "So, do you guys want to play a fun game?" That got their attention quick. We had put the first clue in the refrigerator and told my 3 yr old to go look in the fridge and see if there was anything unusual....He went zipping in there and looked, and looked, and looked...(it was sitting right there! for what seemed like 5 minutes...finally my husband says, "How about that paper buddy?" He smiles and grabs it to give to his brother to read....they had sooo much fun....the first couple clues went kind of slow but by #3 they were "on it" and my DH could barely keep up with the video camera
They finally got the last clue which told them to open the envelopes. They spread them all out, and my Daughter was the first to notice they were Mickey and Minnie pieces....I had written on the puzzle in black marker "WE ARE GOING TO SEE....." and had it end right at the picture of Mickey. My 7 year old immediately notices there are words and starts putting the sections together that have words and he says "WE ARE GOING...". My daughter blurts out DISNEY!!! MY 7 year old says "NO", I think we are giong to our Cousins house! I'm like...PUT THE PUZLE TOGETHER!! They finally get it all together and realize yes, they are going to DISNEY!! They all start screaming and jumping up and down....I pulled out a Disney shirt and pair of Disney Crocs for each of them and they are just wild with excitement!! SO, basically we spent the rest of the evening pouring over Disney Maps, Looking at Disney on Google Earth and Talking about Disney! It was great! I am so glad we got to Keep the secret, and then give them a surprise, and now have time to anticipate the trip with them....It's perfect! Before bed, we made a paper chain for the days left so we can count down! They woke up this morning talking about Disney! I ordered tie dye stuff to make Mickey Head T-SHirts and it should be her sometime today so I am sure we will be doing that this week since we are on spring break. Fun!! Can you tell I am excited????

Thanks for letting me share with you all, and good luck to all of you who are keeping secrets and planning surprises! It's sooo worth it!

 

[Princess Roo]

You are so creative! I LOVE that idea. Sounds like a wonderful day and lots of fun anticipation ahead.

 

[mabenoab]

Awesome!! What a great way to tell your kids! and I can tell that you and your dh were just as excited!

You are going to have a wonderful time!!!

 

[tadamom]

That's great!! I love how your son says "no, I think we are going to our cousins house" - hahahahahahaha! Too funny!!

Have fun planning with them!

 

[LaraK]

I'm a little verklempt! how wonderful! (You're still in the club!)

 

[jenrein]

Wow- that sounds so cute! We were planning on keeping ours a secret until Grandpa started talking about it in front of them

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

That was cute how you told them. Our kids are still clueless. I am trying to figure out when and how I want to tell them. I have thought about not saying anything, and seeing how long it takes them to figure it out....does that sound cruel, we are flying so I would think that the sight of the airport would give everything away.

 

[swillis]

Awesome!!! Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[kstinw19]

that's so awesome!!

We are doing the same thing...but not telling them until we are getting on the plane!

My dd has been complaining all winter that both sets of grandparents have gone to Disneyworld this year, and she doesn't get to go (even though my spoiled children went in Sep 06 ). We keep telling them that we can't go b/c Mommy is pregnant and we will have to wait until after the baby is born to go to Disney again.

Literally she talks about it EVERY DAY! Why can't we do to Disney? Boo hoo...I want to go to Disney.

We aren't going to tell them a thing...I will pack at night and we will put them in the car and drive to the airport. I think dd will figure it out when she sees Orlando at the gate, but that's okay....I want them to be excited then.

Now if I can only keep a secret that long...I get so excited I blurt things out...so far, so good.

 

[Ellasgirls]

Sept of 2005 we decided to take the kids on the 3 night Disney Cruise. We got it all booked, the flights arranged and never told the kids. We did tell them we were going with Daddy to a seminar (lie ). We flew all the way down there and stayed in a hotel by the airport so we could go back to the airport and take the Disney bus to the ship. My son kept saying "I wish we could go to Orlando"...never hearing them say over the loud speakers "The temp in Orlando is 80" or "Welcome to Orlando". The next morning we sat them both down on the bed and got the video camera out and told them Mickey called and Daddy doesn't have a seminar so we will be going with Mickey and Minnie on their boat. Jack started jumping on the bed screaming and Grace (just 2) at the time looked at Jack and started laughing and screaming (she just didn't know why!). We had a great time! Unfortunetly we did have a seminar to go to the next month and they were both sure we were headed back to the "Mickey Boat"....Atlanta was not as exciting! We just booked our trip to DisneyWorld for August (over my daughters 4th bday) and told them at dinner we would be celebrating in Disney...again more screaming and very excited kids! Gotta love Disney!

Sheri