Need ideas on how to surprise the kids

[naynay80]

Our main christmas present to our 2 kids this year is a trip to Disney 1/14-1/21/09. We want to give them a "present" on christmas to tell them we are going.

I need your help - what are some fun ways to tell them we are going?

Thanks
Jeanne'

 

[drivencrazy]

Ours had one wrapped gift that inside had a clue... it lead to other clues... on the back of each clue was a leter (D I S N E Y) and they had to find all clues and then put them together and figure it out!

They had a blast doing this and most of all the other gifts were Disney related or something good for the plane ride.........

How old are the kids? Ours were 2, 4, 9 and 12 at the time.

 

[koolaidmoms]

We have done boxes with t-shirts, WDW DVDs and maps now that they are older.

I wrapped a globe (they needed one anyway) and put a note on it that said, " Where in the world are we going?" They each could each take a turn asking a yes or no question until they guessed the place.

We did a certificate for being great children when they were little and I had made reservations for dinner at CT and it was redeemable for a meeting with Cindy in Disney.

Have fun!

 

[dmccarty]

Do you have to tell them were you are taking them?

The Oct 2007 trip we drove to WDW. Did not tell the kids were we where going. They made lots of guesses but they did not pick WDW and hound us to death with the guess. They did guess but we said we were not saying. Grandma/PaPaw live in FLA so they guessed that was were we where heading. Then they said the beach. Since we were staying at CBR aka Caribbean Beach Resort I said we might be going to the beach.

Driving through Orlando was tough. The DW and I had to point to one side of I4 or the other to distract them from the WDW signs. They did not figure it out until we turned off I4 and the kids saw the big WDW sign arching across the road!

This was their first time to WDW. It was a great surprise for them. And us.

Later,
Dan

 

[DisneyTigers]

We are surprising them on Christmas day by putting helium-filled disney balloons in a box that will float up when they open it and will say We are Going to Disney World on each one. The box will also have a countdown chain, a guide book, disney dollars, t-shirts, etc!

I can't wait!

 

[margiemc]

We are surprising our DD11 with a trip in January. I bought her a travel toiletry bag and are filling it with everything she would need and normally get in her Christmas stocking (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc). I am taping an envelope to the very bottom of the bag that says "Open me to see when and where you can use me!" Inside will be a $25 Disney GC!

Two years ago, we put WDW maps in the bottom of a big box that was covered with an old crocheted blanket that someone made for me when I was a kid (it was made of red, orange, and purple yarn That was the style in the 70's!). She opened the box and didn't know what to say about the blanket . She did however, scream when she saw the maps!

Have fun!

 

[marathonmommy]

We have a surprise Christmas trip as well. Not sure how to tell the kids . . . or when. Or if Santa will come before, after, or while we are there.

 

[mrsannb]

I think it would be cute to do some stuffed Disney characters and t-shirts.

Get some tinkerbell wrapping paper and wrap up the gifts in that, with a tiny little letter written on a fairy mail set (look on etsy) from Tinkerbell telling them where they are going.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

You can get personalized maps of the parks for free on Disney World's website. They're very big, fancy and colorful, too.

 

[SarahD]

Ours is a Christmas surprise, too. I found a big poster of Phineas & Ferb (my kids' favorite Disney show) at the Disney store for $4. I'm going to write "See you at Disney World etc..." on it and cut it into large puzzle pieces. I'm going to attach one piece to each clue and send them on a hunt around the house on Christmas morning. Even when they realize who is on the poster, I don't think they'll clue in right away that it's a Disney trip - not like they would if it was Mickey or Tigger, until they put it together and read the message.

Right now, Target's dollar section has dry erase boards (princesses, camp rock, cars and HSM). So for $1 each, my kids can count down the days until our trip (we're going January 17th). Then they can take them on the plane to entertain themselves. I've also got Phineas & Ferb t-shirts, WDW for kids book, the customized maps from Disney (which are GREAT!) and a few other little things to box together.

There are a lot of posts on youtube of people surprising their kids...some didn't go so well!