Neat ways to tell your kids they are going to WDW.

[mdinme]

The treasure hunt is a good way to test their problem solving and logic skills too!

 

[jhpatrick1]

We surprised our kids (3, 6, 8) last year. Kept it a secret for 7 months!!! We made up a scavenger hunt around the house and the last clue was to open the box on the table (which I had taken out of the "hidding place" while the kids were searching for their clues). Inside the box was a cake I made in the shape of a mickey head. On the cake I wrote: "30 days until our next trip to Disney". The look on their faces was priceless.

We decided to give them a month notice because part of the excitement of going on vacation (especially Disney) is the anticipation of the trip. This way, we both (DH/myself, and the kids) had our fun.

 

[thisismyhappyplace]

I remember once a while ago my parents surprised our family with a Disney World trip. it was so fun. They made a scavenger hunt and the last clue was a binder with this cute little Disney poem. Maybe I can find it and post it. It was really cool. Then in the binder they had our whole itinerary planned out with our flight times, the restaurants we would eat at, stuff about the rides and parks, the shows we would see, and lots of pictures. it was absolutely wonderful.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

I remember When i Took My 2 DD Before My 2 DS were born, to Disney it was a surprise but when we rolled into the parking lot of our hotel it had a sign that said WELCOME TO DISNEY we showed them it but my youngest DD was asleep and My Oldest DD Was not thrilled that much sometimes things do not work out

 

[SurelyForth]

My aunt and uncle did a Christmas morning scavenger hunt for their trip. Hilariously, my youngest cousin (4 at the time) gave up after two clues ("This isn't a present. This is work!") and then wouldn't let her brother continue. Sensing this might happen, they had another reveal planned at breakfast, via Mickey-shaped pancakes.

 

[Jubilee]

last week, apr. 25-may 1 we were at the world....on the 1st we drove down to s. florida to visit my dad, and then on the way back up to where we live, we decided to stop in orlando instead of using a half way point somewhere else. when we drove back up without telling our daughters (the oldest will be 4 in august) and just let her see the marquee she was squealing in delight!!!!!

she totally knew we were back and was freaking out, despite that we had sort of been talking about disney world (ie. what was your favorite ride?) the entire trip back. we drove straight to MK and the moment we entered under the railroad the spectro music started and we were actually able to find a decent spot to watch. i highly recommend just not telling them at all IF you can get away with it.

if they're older, and you can't do it that way, i think the anticipation for them when they find out just a little before you go is so awesome...i'm sure you'll choose something great!!!

 

[dis75ney]

We will be surprising DS with a trip in June for Star Wars weekend. My husband's birthday was in January, and I surprised him with the trip as well (knowing that he would need more time to request vacation, etc). DS helped me with DH's gift (obviously, not all of it - DH also got tickets for Spamalot), and since DS was so excited about DH's gift presentation, we decided to do the same thing for DS's reveal, but with a slight twist...

Here's what I did for DH's gift. DH (and DS) are huge Star Wars fans. So I took a big-ish box (that once held a paper shredder) and stuffed it with LOTS of tissue paper, Star Wars confetti, stickers, "Birthday Boy" pin...I basically cleaned out the Star Wars section of the party store. I then made up a folder that held all of our trip information (airline confirmations, tickets to Star Wars Weekend made up by a wonderful Disigner whose name escapes me at the moment, invites to Hollywood & Vine/Fantasmic and O'Hana, etc.). I then took last year's SWW poster (with Donald dressed as a stormtrooper) and added a graphic that said "Guess Who's Going To Star Wars Weekend?" with the dates of our trip. I had to wrap that separately and put it in the box so DS wouldn't see what it was...I told DS that this gift was from Mommy and that it was a present to show Daddy how much I LUVED him. DS is at the stage where he gets easily grossed out with all things mushy and lovey-dovey, so this worked to my advantage.

So everything went into this box, along with a Darth Vader helium balloon that I taped to the inside of the box so it wouldn't float away. I then wrapped everything in Star Wars wrapping paper and DS and I presented the gift to DH. DH was thrilled beyond belief at the Spamalot tickets, but was nearly knocked off his CTA seat when he opened the folder and saw the trip info!

Our trip reveal to DS will work almost the same way. I still have the shredder box and will put it to use for this. Since it's not DS's birthday, I will not clean out the Star Wars section of the party store, but I'll pick up some stickers, more confetti, and perhaps a small Star Wars action figure. DS will be getting the SWW tickets, the invite to Hollywood & Vine (O'Hana is a date night ), and a letter from Mickey in an envelope attached to a balloon that, if all goes right, will float up once DS opens the box. From here, DS can read the letter inviting him to Disney in two days!

Also, since DS LOVES getting mail addressed to him, we will be wrapping the shredder box in Star Wars paper, but then wrapping it again in plain brown paper and printing out an address label for the front of the box, so it looks like it came from the USPS. DS thankfully has not learned about postmarks, so he won't realize that this was never mailed... We'll have this out and ready the Saturday before we leave (we leave on a Wednesday), so DS will have time to help pack and say goodbye to his classmates, since we'll be pulling him out of the last two days of school thanks to stupid pre-emptive snow days that never happened .

Hopefully, this will work out and DS will be surprised, but it's been SO hard to keep this under wraps! We've almost let it slip a couple of times, but we're also planning a trip in 2011 with some friends of ours, so if we mentioned something by accident, we immediately refer to the 2011 trip - "So did you make our dining plans for our Disney trip?" "You mean our trip in two years, right dear?"

 

[lizet313]

Great ideas

 

[adctd2WDW]

I am surprising my DD (13) with a trip May 22-26. She has no idea. I am so excited I am about to burst, but I want "THE PICTURE". The one where she has just found out. I will probably not tell her until we actually get to the World. She is very gullible. She thinks I have to go to a doctor in a different city and want her to go with me for moral support. I have not scared her. She hasn't even asked questions. All she can think about is that she is getting to miss one day of school (Friday before Memorial Day) and may get to go out to eat that day before we fly right back. Yes- she believes this. And I have a town car picking us up at the airport and the driver knows not to say anything about WDW when he picks us up. I will tell her en route from the airport. I have a surprise shirt made for both of us:

This is the front of the shirts. These are DISigns from a fabulous DISigner on the DISigns board named Natalie. I have a bag I also made that will have all kinds of goodies in it-autograph book, passport book, customized invitations, etc. that she get during this ride.
Now, I may not be able to wait and may do a scavenger hunt the morning we leave. The wait is killing me!!!!!!!

 

[mdinme]

You folks are all brilliant!

 

[TheMightyOb]

For our trip to WDW in September, I think we're just going to wake the kids up at 4:30 a.m. and tell them we have to be at the airport in an hour. ;o)

It is KILLING me keeping this a secret!

Me too, same month, same situation. Its really really hard to keep this under wraps.

 

[DisneyMagicMommy]

We will be surprising out kids in 14 days. They have been asking to go back to WDW since we returned from our trip in Nov. 2007. They know we are taking a vacation (because i wanted to do a countdown)...but they think we are going to st. louis and aren't really all that excited about it. So, the night before we leave they will put their last sticker on the countdown and go to bed. We have to get up at 3am so we can get to the airport the next day, after everyone is up, ready, and the car is loaded i'm going to pull out the video camera (this is why i'm telling them at home, i want to make sure i get it all on camera)...we are going to say that we decided not to go to st. louis after all and that we are going to go to the airport, fly on an airplane (they've never flown but keep asking to), and go to Disneyworld. They should be so excited. It's been really hard to keep it a secret especially when I think of something about the trip and the kids are around and I have to keep my mouth shut so they don't hear.

 

[pixie dust 112]

Years ago Santa Claus gave each of my daughters a new swimsuit for Christmas, with a note that they suit was for their Disney trip in January. They loved that.

A few years later we told them that we were bringing Dad to the airport to go on a business trip. We had an early flight in the morning and a blizzard was forecast, so we stayed at a hotel by the airport the night beofre. At dinner they were complaining that Daddy got to go away and they had to go to school the next day. We asked them where they wanted to go 2 said WDW. Can't remember what the 3rd said but our answer was ok...we'll go in the morning. My oldest and youngest were sooo excited and my middle daughter who was about 9 kept telling them we were teasing them. She wouldn't believe us until we brought her outside and showed her all the luggage in the van. It was absolutely wonderful! Let me tell you, shopping for summer clothes in the winter and packing their bags without them noticing was a struggle but fun and definitely worth it!

 

[Synndy]

I love the Tshirt idea.... its so cute!

I remember when my parents suprised my brother & I. We were like 6&7 at the time. We were up in our rooms when my Dad (who is very loud) pulled out his angry voice & told us to get down stairs now! We halled butt down the stairs & she told us to sit on the couch.

The couch was our time out spot where we had to sit. No moving, no sleeping, no playing, no talking, no nothing! We'd have to sit for hourssssssss. (or like 10 mins but in kid world thats hours)

My brother & I sat there FROZEN trying to figure out what the hell we did to get in trouble.

After letting us stew for a few minutes they told us we were going on a plane & going to see Mickey.

They had a video camera set up recording the whole thing. I still remember to this day being freaked out because I didnt know what I did wrong!



We were able to turn the tables on him though! We were able to suprise my Dad with a trip in September. I'm copying & pasting my reveal from my PTR.
(I know this is for revealing to kids but our letter idea might be cute for tweens?) We wote him a letter than answered every question he could have & answered it before he could ask it. We suprised my him on Easter & it went over AMAZING.

We finally decided that since we all play euchre we would suprise him through that way.

We bought a deck of playing cards & printed words that said "Congratulations" "You're" "Going To" "Disney World" "Turn Around"

We bought him Mickey luggage & snuck down it so it was sitting behind him along with a mylar Disney balloon & 6 other balloons in a rainbow of colors with all of our names on it attached to the luggage & a envelope decorated with Mickey stickers.


It worked out PERFECT!!!!!

We started playing a game & in the middle of it, my uncle Mark asked my Dad to come with him to drop his car off at the mechanic (which happened to be true, he was just going to do it the next day).

We had my brother "sit in" for my Dad's hand.

When Mark & Dad went up the street we switched the cards & had them laying on the table so the read straight across "Congratulations" "You're" "Going To" "Disney World" "Turn Around"

When Dad & Mark got back, my brother "had to go to the bathroom" so we told my Dad to sit back in. My brother ran upstairs to grab the luggage so by the time he turned back around it was sitting behind him

He turned the cards over and thought it was a joke!

We told him before he was allowed to say a word he would have to read the letter.

I'm posting the letter below... I apologize if swearing offends you. My Dad likes to use those words sometimes so we phrased the letter as if we were replying to every question he would have

CONGRATULATIONS
(On finally finding out you are going to Disney World…6 months after the fact)

We know you have a ton of questions so let us explain before the *****ing begins…..

1. Yes this is for real, we are aware we are all @$$holes but you love us
2. This is all paid for and there is absolutely NOTHING you can do about it
3. Seriously it is paid for, no b!tching, again you know you love us
4. You are probably wondering how this is even F*CKING possible…
a). Amanda has been E-Baying since before Christmas
b) Megan & Brad both saved their money to share this experience with you
c) We have wanted to go on a Buckland family vacation for years now….this is our version of making that dream a reality
5. Hotel has been booked and paid for, Airline tickets have been purchased, park Hopper passes have been purchased as well as the dining plan
AKA…EVERYTHING HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF…DEAL WITH IT!!
6. Timing is an issue for Mark, Carolyn, Emily & Cassie…unfortunately no
matter what time of year we go they can not join in on the fun…they are well aware of the situation and are excited that we have this opportunity
7. We are leaving on Saturday, September 12th on a Jet Blue Airline flight at 7:00am Arriving in Florida at 9:39am (direct flight)
8. We are staying at Animal Kingdom Kidani Villas…a two bedroom villa (sleeps 9 ppl) With a savannah view
9. We have park hopper passes and a dining plan that we can get into details later
10. We will sadly be leaving on Saturday, September 19th at 6:35pm on a JetBlue direct flight
11. We have lots of fun and adventure planned for the trip that we are excited to share With you so if you are going to be a pain in the *** expect an *** kicking from 5 Bucklands
12. We all love you sooo much and are exciting that we were able to surprise you with this trip. You are an amazing father and uncle and deserve this trip so much. We could go on and on with the sappy sh!t but we will cut it short…hahahaha!!!!

Can not wait until September………..153 days to go…WOOHOO!!!!!!!!


WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!



P.S. How could we forgot the most important question of all…PELT….No worries!!!! With your permission Anthony has agreed to stay and take care of the house and your beloved little PELT!!! Yes we realize he is a “dumb @$$” but he is responsible and respectful. And most important…terrified of you…so he will take great care of your little boy!!!!!
He read it out loud & just laughed. We gave him a few other gifts including the Passporters Guide, a Mickey figurine & a gift certificate to get a photo book.

 

[marcyinPA]

We surprised our boys in 2005. We planned a trip to WDW with our friends, who have three boys. We decided to make a video, telling them that we were ALL going to Disney. My friend and I made the video in secret, and wore Mickey Ears. We said how we were going to Disney and we were leaving TOMORROW!

We happened to be together the night before we were leaving (planned! LOL) and popped the video in after dinner. The boys watched, but it didn't sink in right away. Then all of a sudden, it clicked! They were 13, 10, 10, 7 and 6 a the time. They started running around the house, screaming and yelling! The oldest, my friend's son, could not believe we hid this from him for 6 months! LOL (it is HARD hiding things from a 13 year old!)

We are going to Disney again in June, just my family this time. My boys are 14 and 9. We decided not to tell them again, and we've been holding on to this secret since November. It's killing me! We are planning on telling them the night before, as we are driving down to Philly to stay in a hotel the night before our flight. I'm expecting that they will be flabbergasted!! I just hope it doesn't backfire on us, as they think we're going to Williamsburg on vacation this year, and my 14 year old is really looking forward to it I can see this being like a You Tube video I saw with kids being surprised with a Disney trip but crying because they thought they were going someplace else! LOL

 

[Boog's Mommy]

The Disney Online Store just started selling some park merchandise. They have a few different style Mickey ears which they also personalize, so you could buy each child a pair and have his/her name put on them.

Or you can order customized park maps off of the Disney World website. We got them last year for my son as a keepsake and they were so gorgeous. We chose an old world style looking map for all 4 parks. It takes a few weeks to have these come in the mail, so plan accordingly. The best thing is that these maps are FREE.

 

[Cindy F]

For our first trip we put a Disney World "gift certificate" in their birthday cards (their birthdays are 3 days apart-we had one big party) they were ecstatic

Later after we moved to Miami Beach, we told them we were going to Walmart (about an hour away in traffic) about 2 hours later the oldest said "Hey? when are we going to get to WalMart we've been in the car forever"

We told her we never said WHICH Walmart we were going to and we thought the one by Disney World would be much more fun LOL Many Mnay squeals!

This is one of my favorite "Surprise, we're going to Disney" videos

I tear up every time...what a wimp LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oMzvoDLHXU

 

[mi*vida*loca]

When we go next year we are leaving 2 days before DD's birthday and about 6 days before DS's birthday. My plan is to pick DS up from school and tell him that I have an early birthday present for him and his sister. When they open their gift it'll be two shirts that say "Surprise!!! (insert their name) you are going to Walt Disney World RIGHT NOW!!" A fabulous DISer made the design up for me!