Opinion from parents-1st trip

[ChristyJ]

This will be our first trip to WDW (for DH, DD5 & DD8-the last time I went was in 1981 when only Magic Kindom was open)!! We'll be staying at the WL 12/3-12/7, then Poly GVC 12/7-12/11.

So far this is a surprise trip for our daughters. My oldest daughter will turn 8 on 12/5 (DH b-day is also that day!!) while we're there.

My DH would like to not tell them until the morning we leave. I'm just not sure if that will be too overwhelming for them or not...but then again...if we tell them a week before, they will both obsess about it (kind of like I do now... ) for the entire week and probably drive their teachers crazy!

So, for those of you who have kept your trip a surprise...how long did you wait to tell your children? Did you do anything really special to tell them? I'd love to hear other people's stories about this!! Thanks!!

 

[zurgswife]

We had a cruise planned for spring break in 2003. We were going to wait and tell them the morning of....due to my oldest dd being upset that she couldn't spend the night at a friends house we told all the kids the night before....It was very magical...gave them each a gift that sort of hinted at the Disney Cruise....they bounced off the walls....and I'm glad we didn't wait it, there was so much packing to do the night before and it would have meant me staying up way too late if they hadn't been told...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Especially for a first trip I think that planning is 1/2 the fun. I might wait a while to tell them so they don't drive you too crazy, but would tell them enough before that they can look at books and anticipate the trip. I brought my 4yo to WDW in February (he'd gone as a baby, but didn't remember those trips) and waited until 10 days before to tell him. Nothing magical about 10 days--I was trying to wait until 1 week before, but couldn't keep my big trap shut any longer. I figured he understood 7 days as a 4yo, but much more than that was beyond him.

T&B

 

[GeekChic]

for the sake of your sanity, if you can keep it a secret, go for it! LOL

when my daughter was smaller, we did it that way so that in case anything came up (getting sick and having to cancel, etc because i have MS) she wouldn't be disappointed.

I woke her up one morning the week of her 4th b-day, and hummed small world, and said "come on, honey, lets get up, we're going to go see Mickey!" she was half asleep until we were nearly to the airport, and i just remember hearing this little giggle, and i look at her and she's grinning from ear to ear and said "Disney World? take you there, mumma?" meaning 'take me there'. LOL it was precious.

We planned another trip once spur of the moment 3 days in advance and didn't tell her till the day before (packing).

Last year we planned like a month in advance, this year we planned our trip 6 weeks in advance she's nagging me constantly "is it tiiiiiime yettttttttt?" wish we could've kept this one secret as well LOL. oh well!

anyhoo, you'll have a great time no matter how you tell them...can't wait to hear how they take the news and how your trip goes!

geek

 

[kitkatsnindylou]

I took my niece when she was 5 we told her the night before. She was so excited we stayed at the Polly and had a great time. I have a friend who went about the same time as you she wraped the tickets and a book about disney and left it where it could be found Thanks giving day. "Santa came a little early" and left it for them to find. The kids went wild and they did not have that much longer to waite but were able to talk about it and help plan.

 

[clutter]

We had an evening flight, so I told my dd I was picking her up early from kindergarten to go to the dentist. I had a new camera, and wanted a "before" picture. But it was the "you're not going to the dentist, you're going to disney" smile that was the best ever!!!

 

[aimee11621]

cute idea clutter!!!

I don't tell my kids until the night before. WE get all excited then we pack and go to bed early. (not that we can sleep) Giggle and talk about all the things we want to do when we get there.

One time I made the mistake of telling them a week or two before and boy was I sorry.

Give more cute Ideas!!!!

Another year we got up early on saturday 5am . Told her we were going to the zoo. She she was only five. She kept saying were is the sun and are we there yet ???? But when we drove up the mk ramps oboy!!!!!!! scretches and yells were heard for miles

 

[ChristyJ]

I'm teary eyed just thinking about the whole thing...how excited they'll be...we've talked about going to Disney World "someday." Little do they know...

We even have a coin jar that we've said when it's full, we'll go (it's about 2/3 full & we have til Dec.), but, again, we talk about the trip like it's a few years away.

I think I may let DH have his way and wait and tell them either the night before or the morning of. Since DD's 8th birthday will be just 2 days into our trip, I could give her an "early birthday present," then have the Disney World for Kids book and other Disney stuff wrapped up (??)

Thanks for all the info!! I'd still love to hear more suggestions & stories about what others have done!

 

[Grumpy92]

I have heard of many who have planned a scavenger hunt. You can give them a back pack full of the things they will need for the trip, sunglasses, sunscreen, disposible camera, autograph book and big pin (character autographs) and a hat.

 

[purplebelle]

I'm 21 and have been going to WDW since I was 5. My parents have 4 kids and whenever they planned a Disney trip, they would tell us about 2 months before we went (even though they booked like a year in advance). When we were at stores or in other public places where kids like to get mischevious and misbehave my mom would go, "We're practicing for Disney..." And automatically we would behave again. This worked well for my mom and dad. And I liked thinking about Disney and preparing for it. My parents would also let us know ahead of time that we could buy one stuffed animal, a towel, 2 t-shirts, etc. I think it could be very overwhelming for your kids. Especially once they arrive and get a look at the resort store and want everthing in there! Knowing I could only have one stuffed animal didn't allow for any kind of disappointment b/c my parents didn't have to say "no" b/c I already knew one is what I could have. So I suggest telling your kids but leave a smaller surprise out or something.

 

[lasmickey]

Grumpy92 ~ That's what we did!

We have told our two DD's for the past year or so that we will go to WDW "when we save enough money". We always made it sound like it would be several years away.

Well one Sunday afternoon in June, we gathered them together on our sofa, and told them we were going to have a treasure hunt. (We video taped the entire thing!)

We gave them a clue, which was a riddle of sorts, and as they figured out the riddle it led them to their next clue. (I think there were about 10 clues in all.)

When they figured out their last clue, it led them to their "treasure", which was a gift bag for each of them, a paper chain with numbers and Disney characters on each link, and a scroll.

They were told to read the scroll first and this is what it said:

Now that summer is almost here, it's time to start thinking about taking a vacation this year,

I've talked to your Mom & Dad, and they both agree, that on September 29, 2004, you'll be coming to see me!

I can't wait for you to join me in the Florida sun, you'll meet me and all my friends and we'll have loads of fun!!!

Love, Mickey Mouse

Well, needless to say they were jumping for joy by the time they were done reading it! We then explained that the paper chain was for them to use to countdown the number of days we had left until we leave for Disney, and then they were allowed to open their gift bags. They each got a small backpack filled with stuff they could use for their trip, including: autograph books, fat pens, disney princess disposable cameras, disney princess sunglasses, pennies and quarters for the pressed penny machines, disney dollars, tickets to MNSSHP, etc.

This way, they got to be surprised about the trip, but they also have had 3 months to help us decide which character meals we want to do while we're there, the rides they want to do, etc, etc. I feel that doing it this way, we got the best of both worlds. And the paper chain idea has been a HUGE success for both the girls and us! They love to tear off a link each day, and watch the chain get shorter and shorter, and we love to be able to tell them, "go check the paper chain" each time we hear "How much longer 'til we go?"

Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be great for your family! Have a wonderful trip, and be sure and let us all know how and when you decide to tell them!!

 

[ChristyJ]

lasmickey-I like your idea too!! I'll just have to wait and see how anxious I get-if I can even keep it a secret as long as I'd like to!! I love hearing the stories and getting ideas!

Thanks everybody!!

 

[splashfamily]

Back in August 2000 we suprised our kids with a trip to Disney staying at the GF. We did not tell them until the morning of the trip. They knew we were going away but thought it was out east to the beach.
We THOUGHT it would be a great surprise for them. However, we found out, once we got there, that our oldest DS did not adjust to the sudden trip. He did not behave and we actaully thought we'd have to come home early. He finally settled down and we enjoyed ourselves. We've been back since but told them when we were going and had a great time.

 

[beaubeau8853]

Hi -

We are actually surprising my DS (age 5) this Christmas. We are going 12/18-12/23 and what I am planning to do is go into his room the day that we are leaving (we have a 7 am flight) and tell him that Santa came 1 week early.

I plan to have a few small things (like the Disney book for kids, and autograph book and maybe a lanyard with some pins for trading.

He will still be in school the week before we leave so I can pack without him knowing and I am just so excited to see his reaction that I hope it will help me keep my mouth shut.

My parents did something similar when I was growing up - they planned a trip to Florida and we left late on Christmas day and they didn't tell us until that morning. I remember how excited I was...

All the best, hope it works out well for you whatever you choose!

 

[travellady]

When we took our then 5yo twins sons (now 25) to Disneyland the first time, we didn't tell them until we picked them up at school on the way there. They could hardly believe it - it was well worth the wait to see the expression on their faces and their excitement.

 

[jobanana]

my D already knows were going and it's not til sept. 2005!! I can not hold that kind of info in. She doesn't ask too many question of when were going cause she knows we're not leaving til after she turns 6.