Need surprise ideas for adult and child

[My3kiddos]

All my mother has talked about for the last 5 years is wanting to go to Disney at Christmas to see the lights. I keep telling her that I can't afford our summer vacation (she goes with us) plus going to Disney when it's the most expensive time of year. Anyway this year I decided since I have Southwest miles and companion pass I'm taking her, my youngest son, and my fiancé to MVMCP. I think MVMCP is more of what she is wanting and my son will be happy with any time at Disney. My older two don't really want a week at Disney so summer vacation consists of the beach.

So now I need help with the surprise part. As of right now she thinks she is going to Texas to keep me company while fiancé is at a work convention. She knows MCO is a stopover for a lot of places that Southwest flies so that won't be an issue. I don't want her or my son to know that we aren't changing planes in Orlando until we get there. So any suggestions on how to reveal the surprise once we get off the plane??? I was thinking of sitting at the gate and acting like we were waiting to get on another plane and handing them both a "Christmas present" to unwrap telling them it has something to do with our trip to Texas.

Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

 

[Seajam]

You could try slipping away (bathroom break maybe?) and see if you can have them paged over the intercom. Something like "Mrs. So-and-so, please report to the Disney buses, you've been selected to spend Christmas with Mickey!!" I don't know if you could get airport personnel to do that but it might be worth a shot.

Additional thoughts: it may be difficult to hide the magical express tags on the bags now that I think about it. What about a morning of the trip surprise?

 

[NinaBella]

That will be hard to keep from your mom as she check's into the airport and wonders why she doesn't get connecting boarding passes. Why not tell her the night before or on the way to the airport?

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree that waiting that long is not a good idea. What if they are asked at the airport where they are going and their passes and answer do not match? Also, would your mom not want to pack differently for a WDW trip than one to Texas? Nope, I'm not a fan of surprise trips for kids, and really not a fan for adults. I hate lying to people, especially my kids and most surprises can't be done with out lying. I would choose a time, a month or so before the trip, and plan a super special revile. That would allow them to help with last minute plans, pack as they want to (your mom at least), and time to get excited about the trip!

 

[My3kiddos]

We are staying off property so DME tags won't be an issue. I also always print out boarding passes at home so that won't be an issue either. She loves surprises and I'll make sure to make suggestions on what to pack depending on the weather forecast.

I have been thinking about it and I thought about seeing if the flight attendants would deliver a present from "Santa" to them either when they were serving drinks or before we deboarded the plane. No I'm just at a loss for what the gifts should be. I thought for my mom maybe a Disney ornament, but I don't know about my son. Maybe a shirt?

Oh and my son doesn't even know we are going anywhere yet and when we leave we will just tell him we are going on a trip. He usually doesn't ask questions he just likes going.

 

[missmun52]

I would not suggest doing this. I saw a video online of a mother who surprised her children and when they saw they were at disney they were upset and crying because they got there hopes up to go to the place she promised so disney became the let down.

Of course we all think ( including these parents) it's Disney, who would be upset, but they were.

For me personally, planning my trip is just as exciting and fun for me so I would rather be surprised a few weeks before or something not at the airport in Florida.

We are surprising my son with a trip but revealing it in the form or a Christmas present. I bought him planning books and t-shirts and will wrap them up along with the supplies to make our countdown calendar, so he can be involved In The planning.

 

[princesshalo22]

I think the surprise is a great idea, my parents surprised my brother and I with our first trip when I was 9 and my brother was 7. I don't know how old your son is, but I can tell you that there is nothing like that feeling. They told us as we were getting out of the car at the airport (we thought my parents were taking a trip to mexico on their own and leaving us with our grandparents), to this day it is one of the best memories I have.

The second trip was also a surprise, I was 14 and my brother was 12, that time they told us on Easter and we went in July. Both surprises were great but the first time was really cool because we found out and immediately left, by the time I had time to process what was happening we were already on a Disney bus to the cruise terminal (we did the cruise first and then WDW).

Whatever you decide to do I am sure your family will love, have a great trip!