***Official Surprise Trips Thread and Planning Tips!***

[MouseEarsForAll]

I think my surprises were just told to me casually a few days before our trips. It was still fun!

 

[tyzzle]

We are taking my daughter in September and we leave the day before her fifth birthday. We are still having a friend party for her on Sunday, we leave on Tues. So do I tell her at the party or wait until the morning we leave? I am going to wrap a box with balloons and some presents with her "invitation" to her party from mickey mouse. When would you do it?

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

We are taking my daughter in September and we leave the day before her fifth birthday. We are still having a friend party for her on Sunday, we leave on Tues. So do I tell her at the party or wait until the morning we leave? I am going to wrap a box with balloons and some presents with her "invitation" to her party from mickey mouse. When would you do it?

Morning before you leave. That way, she would think her birthday was over...But it is not! Plus, her guests wouldn't be bummed that they would not be going on a WDW trip too.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

More surprise trips?

 

[DisMomAmy]

I just posted on my trip report about the surprise reveal for our trip! Here's a link for anyone who is interested. The two surprise posts are on page 2.

We surprised our boys with a trip in November & they loved it so much they've asked us to surprise them again the next time we go. Or as my DS8 would say, "I don't want to know because then I have to wait and that gives me a belly ache!" So we're surprising them again in April!! We usually go to Disney in April but since we took an extra trip in November (for our anniversary), I think they believe us that we aren't going in April this year.

We can't pull off the same kind of surprise because they would figure it out. Last time we made up a fake trip (going along with DH on a boring business trip) so I need to figure out something new. We are planning to wait until we wake them up at 5am to go to the airport to fill them in on our plans.

Keeping everything a complete surprise should be interesting because I'll have to pack without them seeing any suitcases! Wish me luck! I'll be sure to report back here with what we decide to do!

 

[kt_mom]

Our surprise trip is next Monday and it is so hard keeping the secret! Last week I told DD that I had to go on a business trip to Orlando over her spring break and did she want to come with me. She said yes as long as it was only for a few days, she wants to have some time to relax over her spring break.
If she only knew, we will not be doing much relaxing!

But she totally bought it and thinks we are going to conference for my work in the hotel in the Orlando airport. She knows DH went to one there a few years ago. I told her they have a pool and there is shops and restaurants and it will be fun. Not once has she said a word about Disney. But I don't think it has crossed her mind that I would actually be taking her to Disney instead.

The plan is to not really say anything until we are walking up to the ME lines and see how long she takes to notice. I plan to be fooling with my phone so I can actually video her reaction and send it to her dad. He leaves for Vegas tomorrow and will actually be in the Atlanta airport when we land waiting on his flight home. So we'll call him as soon as she figures it out.

I can't believe its really happening and its so close! I've wanted to do a mommy/daughter trip for so long.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

We surprised our boys with a trip in November & they loved it so much they've asked us to surprise them again the next time we go. Or as my DS8 would say, "I don't want to know because then I have to wait and that gives me a belly ache!" So we're surprising them again in April!! We usually go to Disney in April but since we took an extra trip in November (for our anniversary), I think they believe us that we aren't going in April this year.

We can't pull off the same kind of surprise because they would figure it out. Last time we made up a fake trip (going along with DH on a boring business trip) so I need to figure out something new. We are planning to wait until we wake them up at 5am to go to the airport to fill them in on our plans.

Keeping everything a complete surprise should be interesting because I'll have to pack without them seeing any suitcases! Wish me luck! I'll be sure to report back here with what we decide to do!

I'll be waiting! You could become a regular poster on this thread...

Our surprise trip is next Monday and it is so hard keeping the secret! Last week I told DD that I had to go on a business trip to Orlando over her spring break and did she want to come with me. She said yes as long as it was only for a few days, she wants to have some time to relax over her spring break.
If she only knew, we will not be doing much relaxing!

But she totally bought it and thinks we are going to conference for my work in the hotel in the Orlando airport. She knows DH went to one there a few years ago. I told her they have a pool and there is shops and restaurants and it will be fun. Not once has she said a word about Disney. But I don't think it has crossed her mind that I would actually be taking her to Disney instead.

The plan is to not really say anything until we are walking up to the ME lines and see how long she takes to notice. I plan to be fooling with my phone so I can actually video her reaction and send it to her dad. He leaves for Vegas tomorrow and will actually be in the Atlanta airport when we land waiting on his flight home. So we'll call him as soon as she figures it out.

I can't believe its really happening and its so close! I've wanted to do a mommy/daughter trip for so long.

She'll be surprised! It's a good thing she decided to go, when she finds out, she'll think, "I almost passed up a trip to Disney because I wanted to RELAX?!"

 

[luvgoing2disney]

A few years back, I wanted to surprise my wife with a trip to Disney. It was going to be a "special" birthday year.

To surprise her, I had to schedule vacation through her office, searing them to secrecy. Then I began to notice what clothes she wore and made notes of them. I ordered the customized Park Maps with her favorite rides marked on them.

The week before the trip, she had to go to Canada for a job related visit. During that time, I washed and ironed her clothes, wrote some new lyrics to Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, got the maps wrapped up along with the tickets and some other Disney goodies.

When she returned home, I took her to the piano, played and sang "Zip" which explained that we were going to Disney the next day, showed her the packed bags, gave her the goody bags. and the next day she, my son and I were off to Orlando.

And to be truthful, MAJOR husband points scored.

 

[carlah]

I love reading every ones ideas for surprising their families!

We are taking out kids on their first trip to WDW in September and are surprising them. We are going to tell them we are taking a plain to Mississippi (where our family lives) and then tell them in the airport where we are really going. I have figured out exactly how we will tell them yet, but I'm excited!!

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

A few years back, I wanted to surprise my wife with a trip to Disney. It was going to be a "special" birthday year.

To surprise her, I had to schedule vacation through her office, searing them to secrecy. Then I began to notice what clothes she wore and made notes of them. I ordered the customized Park Maps with her favorite rides marked on them.

The week before the trip, she had to go to Canada for a job related visit. During that time, I washed and ironed her clothes, wrote some new lyrics to Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, got the maps wrapped up along with the tickets and some other Disney goodies.

When she returned home, I took her to the piano, played and sang "Zip" which explained that we were going to Disney the next day, showed her the packed bags, gave her the goody bags. and the next day she, my son and I were off to Orlando.

And to be truthful, MAJOR husband points scored.

 

[Cory's Gal]

We probably aren't going until Fall of 2013 but I already know how I want to surprise the kids! I don't know if I heard this idea somewhere or if I came up with it on my own, but hopefully it will be fun! I plan to tell the kids that we have to take DH to the airport (he travels a lot so it won't be out of the ordinary) and I will ask them to take his suitcase and bag out to the trunk. We will "pop" the trunk and have balloons and a sign inside that says "We're going to Disney World!!" We will have all their things packed up and off we will go! I can't wait! (But I have to...)

 

[tchrrx]

Tomorrow morning is the big day!

We are taking DD out for breakfast. Then, DH will comment about how much better a Mickey waffle would be. We figure we'll be clear to the airport (about an hour drive) before she clues in!

 

[cheerupem0kidx0x]

We are *trying* to surprise my son for his 10th birthday in June. If I can make it that long!! Lol. Heres the plan: He gets out of school last day (and a half day) on the 8th. We are leaving early morning on the 9th (driving 9 hrs). His actual bday is the 11th. On the last day of school I am going to have my dad pick him up and occupy him for a little bit while I decorate the house for a surprise party. Everyone will come and then Ill have my dad bring him home. Once he gets over the surprise of the party, we will do cake and everything then Ill give him his present. Im going to get a suitcase and fill it with disney trip related stuff- pins for trading, portable dvd player with some movies, mickey shirt, disney for kids book, disney maps, etc and when he opens it he will find out Im also going to request everyone else get him either disney points or cash instead of presents then he will have his own money to blow on stuff he wants there. I know he will FREAK out the hard part is gonna be keeping the surprise that long. I am like dying inside every day to tell him lol. I already told my daugther but she is only 2 so she doesnt really get it. She did almost give it away though, she told my son she wants to go see minnie's castle lol. I told him she meant on her movie where the castle pops up at the beginning and he didnt seem to suspect anything.
It is our first trip (I went once when I was real little but dont remember much). We are going to disney for 4 days and universal for 1 to see WWoHP.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

We are *trying* to surprise my son for his 10th birthday in June. If I can make it that long!! Lol. Heres the plan: He gets out of school last day (and a half day) on the 8th. We are leaving early morning on the 9th (driving 9 hrs). His actual bday is the 11th. On the last day of school I am going to have my dad pick him up and occupy him for a little bit while I decorate the house for a surprise party. Everyone will come and then Ill have my dad bring him home. Once he gets over the surprise of the party, we will do cake and everything then Ill give him his present. Im going to get a suitcase and fill it with disney trip related stuff- pins for trading, portable dvd player with some movies, mickey shirt, disney for kids book, disney maps, etc and when he opens it he will find out Im also going to request everyone else get him either disney points or cash instead of presents then he will have his own money to blow on stuff he wants there. I know he will FREAK out the hard part is gonna be keeping the surprise that long. I am like dying inside every day to tell him lol. I already told my daugther but she is only 2 so she doesnt really get it. She did almost give it away though, she told my son she wants to go see minnie's castle lol. I told him she meant on her movie where the castle pops up at the beginning and he didnt seem to suspect anything.
It is our first trip (I went once when I was real little but dont remember much). We are going to disney for 4 days and universal for 1 to see WWoHP.

Don't tell the two year old!!!

 

[abcangie87]

We are heading down in a little over a month and as of right now, the trip is going to be a surprise for our girls, dd4 and dd8. We got a dog last summer though and this is the first time leaving him, so we had to tell them something so they could say good bye to Max, etc.

We are leaving after school on a friday to drive to KC and spend the night. Then we catch a morning flight out. So we've told them we are going to KC for a long weekend (which is not all that unusual for us). DD8 said "oh, will you surprise us with a night or two at Great Wolf Lodge, please?!". Mmm. maybe. or maybe something BETTER!!!

I think we are going to tell them that morning when we are getting ready at the hotel. Not sure how yet. I was thinking about making MYSELF a shirt that says 'I'm going to Disney World" and just having it on and seeing how long it takes them to notice it!

 

[lilaurora]

My DH and I took DD7 to WDW for her first trip (not a surprise) in November for her 7th birthday. It was a spectacular time! After we got home, she started saying that it would be good to go back in 5 years - no idea where kids come up with these things!! So we have been going along with it.

Well, in January I decided to quit my job to be a stay at home mom for several reasons, but a major one being able to spend more time with DD. Right about the same time, I thought that I would love to take her back to WDW. My DH and I had been thinking about taking about 2 years between trips, but the thought of going back much sooner was so tempting.

So, I decided to plan a surprise mother and daughter trip for June! (DH says that it's "too soon" for him to go back - there is no such thing )

The plan is that we will leave on the last day of school, June 7th (half day) and come back home on June 17th staying at Pop. We stayed at WL in November, so this will be a new place for DD to experience. Anyway, we haven't decided for certain how we will make the big reveal. DH will be driving us to the airport, so either we take her out of school early for an "appointment" and then tell her when we pick her up. Or, make up a story and tell her at the airport (90 minutes from school).

DH is really pulling for telling her at the airport. My only hesitation is that DD is very perceptive and I don't want to do more lying than absolutely necessary to explain the longish trip to the airport, luggage in the car (we have an SUV, etc. Plus, she'll figure something's up majorly when we get close to the airport and I don't want to have issues trying to record her response.

I am pulling for telling her at school. The day starts at 8:00 and we would pick her up about 8:45-ish. I think I could convincingly lie about an appointment. This would give her an opportunity to say goodbye to her friends. Then, I walk out front with her and my husband is waiting with the video camera and a sign that she's going to WDW. Then I'd give her a new Birnbaum's for Kids and she can read and plan and talk all the way to the airport.

WDW is my absolute favorite place to be and I didn't get to go when I was a child. I plan on taking DD as much as we can swing and for as long as she wants to go.

 

[ban26ana]

We just decided to go for Christmas, and it's going to be a surprise! Our girls will be 3 and 5 when we go. MIL is moving to FL next week, and she keeps telling the girls that the next time they visit her, we'll go to WDW.

We're going to stay in our camper, so we just plan on telling the girls we're going on a camping trip. They'll be excited enough for that lol. I don't think we're going to tell them until we're driving into WDW. I'll have to tape their reactions. I'm so excited, and I have 9 months to go!!!

 

[abcangie87]

Finally figured out my 'big reveal' and worked on it over the weekend. I posted it as another thread, so I'll attempt to share the link here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2897214

Basically, I made them a book. And when we get up at the airport hotel that morning, I'm going to ask DD8 to 'please read a book to your sister while we get ready..." The link (if it works lol!) has all the pages of the book on it!

I can't wait

 

[nannye]

Heading to Disney in just over a week and still haven't figured out how to surprise V

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Heading to Disney in just over a week and still haven't figured out how to surprise V

Maybe you should read through all the stories again, nannye. I'm sure you'll find something!