Packing for Surprise Trip

[nmmom95]

We are surprising DS11 & DS6 with a trip in November. We had planned to go in May, but had to cancel for health reasons, and the boys were so disappointed! I don't want to tell them about this trip until we are leaving for the airport. For all of you who have done a surpise trip, how do you manage to pack without anyone noticing? I will be packing for 4 people for a week, so it will be a couple of suitcases. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

 

[reservations4five]

I am planning a suprise trip for my family. I think what I am going to do is as I am doing the laundry slowly add to the suitcases.

You know a couple of pair of socks and undies here and there and they will just think that they are stuffed under their beds! LOL

 

[#1 Goofy Fan]

I have found that as long as you don't pack "favorite" outfits until the last minute - no-one even notices that the clothes are missing.

 

[StefaniLyn]

pull things out of the laundry as you get it done, especially undergarments and socks. These (unless they have favorites) will hardly be missed. Also, whatever you are packing these items in, place it back in it's regular spot so DS won't notice that it's out.

Depending on where you live and what your weather is like, you could also do some school clothes shopping for the boys and instead of putting it in their closets, put it into the suitcases before they even see it. They can't miss what they don't know is there! I think Disney t-shirts are on sale right now on their website and PJ pals are as well.

I once surprised my older girls, then 6 and 8 (well, G-pa actually paid for the trip) with a trip to NYC to see a broadway show for their birthdays. I packed gradually after they fell asleep each night starting about 2 weeks before the actual trip. They had no clue as we told them we were going to Milwaukee to see family. When we turned off on the airport exit, DD8 curiously asked where we were going. They honestly had no clue until we were at the airport. And just try to imagine G-ma's surprise when she arrived at the Newark airport to pick up a business collegue of G-pa's only to see her granddaughters walk out the door! It was a great weekend!

Good Luck with your surprise!

 

[nmmom95]

You know a couple of pair of socks and undies here and there and they will just think that they are stuffed under their beds! LOL

I actually have to get socks from under their beds when I do laundry! Somehow, "put that in the hamper" translates to "stuff that under the bed" in my house!

Thanks to eveyone for the tips!

 

[Kim1964]

When I did this with DD#1 I did the laundry the night before and then just left it all in the laundry basket in my room. About an hour and a half before we left for the airport I revealed the surprise. She didn't believe me until I pulled the suitcase out and started packing. It is one of my favorite moments from her childhood (and I need to hang onto those moments because we've entered the teen years and it's already a bumpy ride!).

Have fun!

 

[budbeerlady]

We did it by telling DD we were going to Detroit for the weekend. We packed our family, threw it all in the car and drove to a hotel near the airport. We woke her at 4am the next morning with a note from Mickey that her plane was waiting and to get down to WDW!

Poor kid didn't fully catch on untill we checked in for our flight to Florida, she was too tired and really, really thought she was going to have to go to a boring car museum.

 

[kristinw3girls]

I did this too! I put a suitcase in my bedroom closet. We went in December, so when it was time to switch the kids clothes from summer to fall, I kept out the things I wanted to take and put them in the suitcase ( everyone in the family). Then as the trip got closer, I folded the laundry and put them "away" in the suitcase. My girls had no clue. They went to bed the night before out trip and the suitcases just needed the toiletries added and we were set to go. We woke them the next AM with just enought time to get dressed, brush teeth and hair and the airport shuttle was there! It really worked out wonderfully! Have a great trip!