Need a neat way to tell girls about Disney Trip?

[mrs. magnolia]

We are bringing our girls to Disney World May8-May14. They are 4 and 8. I wanted a really neat way to break the news that we are going...and wanted to see if y'all had any ideas?? Thanks so much!

 

[mommyceratops]

What about wrapping up a Mickey or Pal Mickey with a letter that says can't wait to see you.

Or an autograph book?

 

[SnackyStacky]

We are bringing our girls to Disney World May8-May14. They are 4 and 8. I wanted a really neat way to break the news that we are going...and wanted to see if y'all had any ideas?? Thanks so much!

Don't tell them.

Pack their little suitcases for them.

The day before you leave, tell them they're going somewhere, but it's a surprise. When they go to the airport - they may catch on when they see and hear they're going to Orlando.

Or, if you're not nearly as sneaky and nasty as I am (if my wife and I ever have a kid - I plan on doing that!!! )....

You could have sort of a scavenger hunt one morning. They wake up - you tell them there's something on the couch for them. It's a clue that tells them where to go next until they get to the last note that gives them hints to Disney World.

 

[scorpad99]

You can buy them each their favorite princess`s costume and a card from their favorite princess inviting them to come visit them at their home.
I would also try and book a breakfast with princesses ....very sweet thing to do with them at their ages. Either at askerus in epcot or at the castle with Cinderella, both were very good (we`ve did them both!)
I personally wouldnt do it last minute.........the anticipation of waiting for it is just as much fun as being there. When my neice was 6 , they threw her a surprise swimming party at our indoor health club and she was so overwhelmed, she didnt enjoy it................
Funny b/c I had my son`s party there 2 months later, and she loved it...........still talks about how that was the best party she had ever gone to.
And we remind her that she had her party at the same place, and she said but that was a surprise party.............LOL
So just beware at their ages , it would be fun to plan and talk about and get them excited months before the trip
Good luck what ever you decide and have a great trip!

 

[ktulu]

I agre with the "get up and get in the car, we're going somewhere" thing. Surprise swimming party is one thing, but WDW cannot compare

I wish someone would just up and drag me to WDW

darrrrrren

 

[my4kids]

I don't agree with the not telling them until they are there thing...my good friend did that last year to her DD8 and DD6 and it was weird for them...It didn't really sink in that they were at WDW until after about 2 days..they were just going throught the motions....plus it is sooo much fun for small kids to do a countdown chain or "x" off days on a calender counting down to the trip. I would give them mickey necklaces or something like that....and make them guess the surprise...I also loved the scavenger hunt idea....we did that for DD7's birthday when she finally got her long awaited American Girl Doll....

 

[MinnesotaChill]

I agree with giving the kids time to anticipate. We surprised our kids a few years ago and they had no idea what was going on. Like the post above said, it took a few days for them to figure it out. They were just so excited to go to the airport and get on a plane that they were satisfied and didn't care about anything else.

Our family has an adventure theme song. It is any version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Can't remember why it's that song, but it is a really fun song. What we usually do with the kids now is let them find a golden ticket somewhere (Easter Basket, inside a Christmas present, pocket of their bathrobe, etc.) They loved the original Willy Wonka movie, so this means something to them. They then know they are going but not always when until they hear the theme song. It might be playing when they get in the car after school, we have even blasted it at 3am when we needed to catch an early flight. There is no easier way to get them going than to play that song (us either, you just can't resist).

Now that they are older, they usually know because homework has to be sent home early. They still ask for the song each time we go to the airport, though. We also use it for other special "adventures." It is a really fun, free way to get everyone excited.

By letting them know they are going, but it will be a surprise you avoid the "how many more days?" whining and you also get to keep part of the surprise to yourself, yet they get to anticipate.

 

[mrs. magnolia]

Thanks for all of the neat ideas. I originally thought about putting something in their Easter baskets..but that would only give them a little over a week to anticipate...which they will love the anticipation. I also decided that I will let them know early so that they can earn Disney Dollars instead of allowance for the weeks leading up to the trip and that will be lots of fun for them, and good way to earn their spending money! I am still open if anyone else has ideas. I thought about about putting it in a fortune cookie when we go to their favorite Chinese rest.

 

[DawnaJean]

What about fixing mickey pancakes at breakfast one Saturday morning with a little note rolled up and tied with ribbon from....Mickey or Cinderella or Tinkerbell that they can't wait to see them in May. You are right that anticipation is part of the fun. We made a "Disney Jar" out of an clear plastic container with a lid that we had received candy in one Christmas. I drew pictures of Mickey and Little Mermaid on it with a Sharpee and we save our extra change in the jar. Then we cash it in and use it for Disney "specials"....treats or souvenirs each trip. It is a fun way to save!

Have a wonderful time planning!!
Dawna

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm jealous of those that can pull this off. I'm no good at keeping a Disney trip a secret. My girls know when I know! Then we countdown together.

Well, we've been 9 times now so now it's not all that 'exciting' since my girls are spoiled and have been so many times. So this year, I haven't told them that we're going in Oct.

I'm going to try and keep it a secret and have them think that we're not going this year. But I also like to countdown myself and I like packing early so I just don't know how long I'll be able to control myself!!

How can you keep the packing a secret?? Where do you keep the suitcase? Or do you pack at the last minute?

Wish me luck!! I can't wait to see how long I can keep it a secret!

 

[WDWNewbie]

I thought about about putting it in a fortune cookie when we go to their favorite Chinese rest.

That sounds like such a fun idea--let us know how the surprise turns out--however you decide!!

 

[mrs. magnolia]

I just started planning the trip about 1 month ago...I have shared it with everyone but the girls. I also feel like I need to tell them...because someone else is accidently going to spill the beans..he he.

 

[The Sweetness]

I agree that the best is to wake them on the day you go, and tell them move it, brush those teeth, you'll be taking lots pics today... at WDW! If you can keep the surprise, the packing should be a sinch while they are asleep or in school. And you could always hijack a few items at a time from their laundry

 

[krissyre]

You could have sort of a scavenger hunt one morning. They wake up - you tell them there's something on the couch for them. It's a clue that tells them where to go next until they get to the last note that gives them hints to Disney World.

Yes!!! This is exactly what we're doing for my DS just this week!!

I originally thought about just waking him up Wednesday morning, and getting him dressed like it was an ordinary school day, then saying "I feel like doing something different today... let's go to Disney World!"

But because I am an obsessive planner, I had to do something a bit more complicated to fill up my time, since I can't talk/plan openly about the trip. LOL.

So I've devised 6 clues that spell out DISNEY. When he wakes up I'm going to give him his new fanny pack with the first clue. Each of the clues is going to lead him to something he needs to pack in the fannypack for Disney -- a small bottle of water, Disney chapstick, some Disney coloring books for the plane, etc... and the last clue will be our Disney luggage tags.

Seriously, I cannot wait to see his face.

Hopefully we won't have the trouble that the other posters had with the surprise-thing. I hadn't thought of that.... but I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[cheerbop]

What we did was NOT tell our kids at all...
We had everything packed and ready to go. The morning of, I brought in 2 postcards that I had someone send from WDW (Stitch sent them, of course ) telling them that they are excited to see them when they come.
We woke up DS8 and told him he had some mail to read...
BOY was he shocked and SO excited!

We chose not to tell DS 8 so he would stay focused IN school... we did not want him distracted at all and that is why we chose to not tell him.

We have since asked him if we go again how he would want to find out and ya know what...HE chose to find out as a surprise again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regarding the Disney dollars, he had been earning Dis Dollars anyway just to spend at the Disney Store (what HE thought!!)

Only YOU can know and predict how your kids may react to finding out.

Enojoy your trip!!!