Leaving today...the Big Reveal

[travelbuffnj]

So this trip is a surprise for our DD. We set out all kinds of Disney stuff on our island, had Mickey pancakes for breakfast, Magic Bands, autograph book, pins, the whole 9 yards. So we are all excited for her to wake up and the big reveal. She comes shuffling out and we hear her rummaging around and she walks into our room all teary and says "Does this mean my play date with Emily is canceled?" Too MUCH! You can't make this stuff up. Think I am done with surprises for awhile! DH is kind of dreading the trip too b/c he's not a huge Disney fan (what the what?) and it's a super busy time for him at work. I can't win. Where is the love??? I need some Pixie Dust. Sigh.

 

[Flamingeaux]

They will thank you once they are there. Relax and have a great trip!!!

 

[mom2rb]

She will have a great time. My boys don't handle surprises well at all. After being disappointed a few times, I just quit trying.

 

[okilydokily]

I would never do a surprise trip for anyone. Too much of the fun is the build up and excitement of going. Planning can be a lot of fun too. I get the family involved with all that so we are doing some things they want to do, not just what I want and think is fun.

I am sure they will have fun even if they don't want to go right now.

 

[dvcmom14]

I had the same reaction when I booked us what I thought would be an amazing Christmas trip. I had stalked the DVC website to get the perfect room for 4 days over Christmas and finally got it. When I told my daughter the great news, she started crying because she wanted to be home with our dogs and our tree for Christmas. Every time I think I've figured these short people out, they throw me a curve ball and make me question everything I think I know.

 

[Magpie]

Aw, my sympathies! My kids never handled surprises well, either. I still remember my son's third birthday, when he woke up, stumbled out of his room, saw all his presents piled up on the couch with balloons and streamers and us saying, "It's your birthday!"

He kind of shuddered, then burst into tears and shouted angrily at us, "Don't DO that!". Then he ran into his room and got back into bed. It was an hour before he calmed down enough to grumpily open his presents and eat his birthday breakfast.

This is why I generally recommend against surprising kids with Disney trips (or birthdays, or anything really). You never know if it's going to go over well.

Some kids like surprises - I know, because Youtube is full of surprise Disney vacations that go off awesomely. But it seems there's just as many videos of kids bursting into tears.

Give your daughter a hug for me, and then give yourself a hug, too. I'm sure your trip will be great, and your family will come around!

 

[WillAustin]

So this trip is a surprise for our DD. We set out all kinds of Disney stuff on our island, had Mickey pancakes for breakfast, Magic Bands, autograph book, pins, the whole 9 yards. So we are all excited for her to wake up and the big reveal. She comes shuffling out and we hear her rummaging around and she walks into our room all teary and says "Does this mean my play date with Emily is canceled?" Too MUCH! You can't make this stuff up. Think I am done with surprises for awhile! DH is kind of dreading the trip too b/c he's not a huge Disney fan (what the what?) and it's a super busy time for him at work. I can't win. Where is the love??? I need some Pixie Dust. Sigh.

I know how you feel. One of our trips, we picked the kids up from school and surprised them. Our daughter started crying because she didn't get to say goodbye to our cats.

Other times the surprise went really well. You never know.

Have a great trip!

 

[ruthies12]

Awwww, at least you will have a funny story to tell her when she's an adult. Hope you guys have a great time!

 

[calismic]

I feel your pain! My daughter is a planner so our last attempt at a surprise crashed and burned because she was devastated she wasn't involved. Never again =) Now I stick to little surprises, like which hotel we're staying in.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Just wait until they get there. It will be worth it. Surprises are tricky - you never can tell how they will go over. Don't let that put a damper on the fact that YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!

 

[absolutmey]

I feel ya! Similar thing happened when we tried to surprise DS last year. I think it's because their little selves can't handle all the emotion. Plus, it was our first trip and he just didn't understand what going to WDW meant. Now that he KNOWS, when we surprise him with the 2016 trip, he's going to be STOKED. Hope you have a great time!!

 

[travelbuffnj]

Thank you all for the kind words!! Trying to stay upbeat, we are leaving in a few hours after all for the happiest place on earth, during F&W (yippee!) and the weather forecast is beautiful. At least one of us is happy, hopefully it's rubs off!!

 

[txcorey]

I've surprised my son twice. Once about 9 days beforehand at Christmas and then a few months ago I told him on his birthday in August that we were going to WDW in January. Both times he just kinda took the information in and I didn't get much of a reaction. I bet your daughter will have a great time when she gets there. I've just started leaving my dh at home since he's not a Disney fan. I go with my son and we have a great time! Hope you have a great trip.

 

[tinkerbella16]

You will forget all about it once you are there!

I will see ya there.. I'm arriving TOMORROW!!!!!!!! YAYYYYYY!!!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[cleopenn]

As a fellow parent, oh boy can I relate to these stories of surprises gone wrong! My son is also the type that would NOT like a surprise trip thrust upon him. I remember reading about how those surprise reunions with parents coming home from military deployment and other "epic" surprises are too emotional stressful for kids, that their brains can't process it.

OP - I am sure you will have a great trip once everyone is settled

My mini Disney related surprise was ruined. I ordered special magic bands, matching t-shirts and ears for all of us. My plan was to pull them out the morning of our flight. Well it figures the ONE day my DH and son beat me home, the package is there on porch. I walked in the door to see everything scattered all of the table. DS was thrilled, DH was like "ah, you don't seriously expect me to wear this sh!t do you?"

 

[travelbuffnj]

Lolllllll!! Too funny about your husband cleopenn!!!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I would probably get the same reply if I tried a surprise! You guys will have a blast! Enjoy your trip

 

[Baklava]

I struggle with this. I would have thought a surprise Disney trip was the best thing in the world at pretty much any time in my life... but my kids aren't me. Neither one copes well with surprises or plan changes and what would be a delight for me is a burden for them.

I am sorry your surprise didn't turn out like you imagined it would. That's disappointing, I know. I hope she shakes it off and your trip will be marvelous.

 

[agavegirl1]

Give her time to let it sink in. She's going to WDW! You will still have a great time. I also have never planned a "surprise" trip for my four kids (now all adults). They have always enjoyed being part of the planning. The anticipation builds and they have a great time. I also know their personalities would never have been able to handle it, especially the youngest. He needs structure and scheduling.

I do love the videos and stories of surprise trips that went well. They are so cute. I just knew I could not re-create that with my brood. I did surprise them once by having a Town Car meet us at the MCO with a driver holding a card with our name on it when they were teens and we went to Universal. They thought that was pretty cool.

 

[AngieInOH]

And this is why there won't be any surprising for us! Plus I love being able to talk to my girls about the planning!