Need ideas for surprise WDW trip for Christmas

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

My parents are taking the entire family to WDW for Christmas. They don't want to tell the grandkids (3 and 9) that we are going. They just want to come over early in the am and tell them that they are going to the airport with them. Kind of lame if you ask me I am looking for better ideas for my parents- they love this kind of stuff. The 9 year old (boy) has asked questions ("why do you look on that Disney web site all the time") but thinks we are going in two years when our daughter is 5. The 3 year old (girl) may figure it out before her brother! Any ideas would be great! Have a great day!

 

[daisyduck123]

We just spent Christmas week in WDW.
I'm not sure if you're looking for ideas in ways to surprise your kids, or ideas for the trip itself, but things we did that we'd do again:

1) Christmas breakfast with the characters. We ate at 'Ohana. DS9 specifically stated that he wanted to have breakfast there...Stitch is his favorite character. *We had Christmas dinner at Chef Mickey's.

2) MVMCP...We did this on the 2nd night of our trip. It really puts you in the holiday spirit!

3) Wilderness Lodge sleigh ride...this was our kids 1st time in a horse-drawn sleigh. We did this immediately after dinner at WCC.

4) Pre-ordered a decorated X-mas tree & had it delivered to our room on our first full day. Peggy (www.peggyssweetsandmore.com) delivered it while we were out at AK our first morning as a surprise for the kids. Peggy also decorated the room a bit & left Christmas cookies!!

Nothing beats Christmas in WDW...you're going to love it!! I wish we were doing it again, but we're going for Thanksgiving this year instead.

 

[Perditamarie]

Breaking the news: a lot of folks on these boards have done scavenger hunts w/the clues leading to a treasure of WDW items like guidebooks, planning dvds, t-shirts that say "I'm going to Disney", etc.

Another great thread had the parents announce the trip to their grown kids and their children via fortune cookie (I love that story!).

You can also mail an invitation to the kids or have them get grandmas mail and find a huge, oversized invitation or a parchment invitation in a bottle.

Have a family meal full of hidden mickeys and watch the planning DVD and see if they notice a trend!

There is also the "official KOTS" thread where people share their ideas for revealing the surprise.

I would be interested in seeing some creative ideas about this too!! The best part is the planning --- enjoy!

 

[Perditamarie]

Oh, I wanted to add that I packed a 4 ft pre-lit tree for our room at WDW and it worked out great and was very festive.

My kids love to receive mail, so maybe your parents could mail them a series of clues, like put some hints about the trip in a Christmas stocking or santa hat, or write the info on a blank craft puzzle and mail them a piece at a time.

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

I think that the GP's showing up and saying let's go now - We are going to Disney is the best way, no leading up to it, no anticipation, just a complete surprise. I'm sorry, but I do agree with the GP's - totally spontaneous is best!!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[of2dbeach]

I had a few creative ways i told my kids one way way to get helium balloons and tie disney dollars etc to each one and put them in boxes with lids to be opened as gifts. maybe you could get each one a Autograph book and a large sharpee marker, disposable camera , sunglasses etc > I always like the spur of the moment things myself though. But it is kinda fun to plan anyways. just make sure when your GP come over have your camera ready.I'd love to see there priceless exspressions. Wow, can you adopt me as a kid also?? Let us know how it turns out, seems like alot of fun!

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

bump

 

[MinnieNurse]

The first time we took DS we did not tell him anything. We just woke up that day and said we were going to visit relatives. When we got to the airport his eyes got really big (first time to fly he was 5 then) he said "I thought we were going to visit relatives." and we told him we were but they live in Orlando, Florida. We asked him if he new what was in Orlando and he said "There is a baseball player named Orlando" (I have no idea???). He even told the bus driver he was going to visit relatives in Orlando. It was funny when he found out it was Disney he said I thought we were visiting relatives and I said "We are-your kin to goofy aren't you?" He thought it was great. His eyes were huge-I would do it over that way if I had the chance.

 

[hmdavid]

If they want it to be a Christmas surprise, have them wrap up something Disney... pre-order mouse ears with the kids names or get Mickey dolls. My Grandpa was always big on the wrapped box inside of a box thing, which would be fun for the kids and draw out the gift opening a little longer. It would still be a huge surprise for the kids, but everyone would have a great time with it!

Have fun!!! I can not think of a better holiday gift!

 

[Zoebear]

We're doing this 4 weeks from today !
We're waking them up and I ordered personalized Tshirts from www.disneyshopping.com which say Surprise! We're going to Disney World! on them.

We'll put them on the kids and beat it for the airport for 6am!

I think this will work well for ours (7 and 8)
THe 3 yo may not be into it as much at that time, but will wake up along the way....

 

[DisneyTigers]

We're going in Jan, so on christmas day, after all gifts have been opened, we're gonna say well, we have one more and pull out a big box wrapped in disney paper. Inside will be a countdown chain, a kids' guide to WDW, the really cool maps I ordered from the wdw website, lanyards/pins, and some disney dollars (or gift cards) for each kid! that way it's part of their christmas gift, but still tangible - they will know exactly how many more days!

 

[mcqueengroupie]

Last year we surprised our son by wrapping a small box (he had just "graduated" from kindergarten) and in the box were disney dollars. He said disney dollars, what can I do with them???? I replied, spend them! He was confused so I went on to say that he could spend them the next day when we arrive at WDW. The look on his face was priceless!!!!!!

 

[kyhardy]

We are surprising our DD9 with a birthday trip to WDW in Dec. Her birthday is Dec 6th and we will fly out that day. We plan to have a family birthday party on Dec 5th with grandparents, cousins & her Uncle Brett. DH & I will give her 1 large gift. (Friend is keeping stove box for me) I plan to get a bunch of helium filled Disney balloons and will attach Disney related items for the trip to the strings far enough down to let the balloons rise from the box when opened but will prevent them from rising to the ceiling. Near the base of the balloons I will attach a sign saying "Pack your bags Princess Natalie... You're going to Disney" I can't wait.