Need surprise ideas

[miche61]

I am nearing the end of my 18 month super secret surprise trip planning. I am trying to come up with some awesome ideas for surpring my family.
Here's a little back ground:
I'm surpring DH (already has time off then and we're going on his b-day), DD13, DD (turning 11 on the trip), and DS10 (who's b-day is a month b-4 trip).
I will be having a combined b-day party for youngest DD and DS about two weeks before we leave, typical way we celebrate for them since their b-days are so close. I will be inviting DH's family. That is when I want to surprise them.
We have surprised the kids twice in the past- -sort of, they always knew a trip was in the works, but NEVER did they know the dates we were leaving.
I'm trying to think of either a word game, gifts for them all to open (DD13 will also get gifts), treasure hunt or some other fun thing.
No one but my sister knows about the surprise, so everyone will get to see the excitement on their faces.
I'm getting really excited to finally see the results of my secret passion. I don't know if I can wait another 37 days to tell them!!!!
I'm thinking of ordering a cake with Mickey on it- and keep that hidden too. Maybe I could have something baked into the cake....... like their tickets..
Help me please! I can hardly decide which way is best! And I do want to give them those extra days so they can help pack, so I don't want to wait until that day, we've done that one before.
Thanks for any help!

 

[barkley]

how about wrapping one large box-but don't put a name tag on it. keep it till the end and then announce it's for all of them to open. inside it have a smaller wrapped box with a card that sez 'guess what?', open that box to find another wrapped box with a card reading 'the fun is just begining', continue on with boxes and cards that read 'on x date', 'we're all' (and in the last tiny box- mark it 'going to' and enclose the tickets). then if you want a vacation themed gift for them have hidden out a small carry on, tote bag, or back pack for each with a disney themed t-shirt, some disney dollars and some book or activity thing they can enjoy on your travels-pull these out from hiding once the surprise has been announced.

 

[miche61]

Thanks, barkley!
I hadn't thought of having just one big box! I love that idea!!!!!!!

 

[MariDisney]

I'm not that creative...but here goes..

How about getting a picture of you guys on a previous trip along with a cute heading and have it made into a puzzle. You can do this at some office stores or just have it laminated and do it yourself. Then divide the puzzle pieces into separate boxes and wrap the boxes.

 

[yellownovawife]

Sounds like a great surprise! We are surprising our kids so I am subscribing to get ideas!

 

[bedgraynexl]

Instead of just mickey on the cake you could get a photo cake with the icons of WDW. Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Hat and Tree of Life.

Just an idea

 

[supersuperwendy]

My dad wansn't surprised by the trip itself, but he had no idea we were celebrating his b-day! We had a table and chairs in our BWV so we waited until my parents went out for a snack and decorated the place! I had found some cute disney patterns on sale at party city and brought them down w/ me! It looked so cute! We didn't get a cake, instead we had all his favorite snacks!!! Donuts, cookies and orange circus peanut marshmallows! When he walked in my daughter yelled SURPRISE! We had a really nice little party in our room!!! He was so emotional....like we shot him in the heart w/ love!!!!