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!
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[minimandymouse]

sorry but i would tell them *** i wouldn't be able to contsin myself
and i love all the excitement and build up
we are going in April 2010 and i plan on telling them at Christmas
each to their own
and good luck with it all you deserve it

 

[minimandymouse]

should have been "because i could not contain myself"
sorry

 

[Manda]

I just had to pack a little every night after my son went to sleep and then put the suitcase back away each night, so he wouldn't see it in the morning. On the day before we left, I sent my husband out with my son to get dinner and kill time so I could have the chance to do all the last minute packing without my son noticing. Then, after he went to bed, we loaded the car.

 

[mjkacmom]

It was pretty easy - every fall, I pack up the summer clothes in bins, to put in the attic, to hand down to the younger kids. I had a big bin in my bedroom, and in it I threw everything we needed. For the clothes, this time of year, I'm also making goodwill bags, so I had a hefty bag for each person in my room, which the kids thought were the regular goodwill bags. Instead of putting the summer stuff in bins for the attic, I packed them for the trip. We went in November, and needed long sleeves in the morning and night, short during the day, so we just layered.

 

[bellebud]

i've had to do this a couple of times... it certainly gets harder as they get older. I did the toiletries little by little in my closet behind my door, somewhere my kids don't really look. For their clothes, I'd have in my mind or an actual secret list for each person, and keep up w/ laundry that week we were leaving so all clothes were available. then the day before, have the kids go somewhere (friends house, my moms, out w/ dad, etc), pack up quickly and throw the luggage in our luggage thing on top of the car.

good luck and have fun!!

 

[TinaLala]

I hear you all the way - this trip is a surprise trip! My kids have no idea. I packed DD7 just shirts and shorts and then pushed the suitcase under my bed. Honestly I had to pack something and she has so many clothes I knew she wouldn't notice a few missing. Now I have to wait until the Girls are out of the house for the day because DD10's ears will perk up if she notices me pushing things under the bed or in a pile in my room. I've secretly put things into a duffle bag behind my door (hat, lightup fans, penny tubes) but I have major packing to do = DD7, DD10, myself and accessories. I told DH that he was on his on this trip. I think I've only made 3 packing lists!

We're not telling the kids until we drive to the airport at 5am and they see that the plane is going to Orlando - SURPRISE

It's killing me not telling them! Usually I'm packing the day we book the trip (which could be 1+ years out) and we all work on the planning together. I just helped a friend book her surprise trip for her kids - she waited 2 days!!

 

[dsnymomof4]

I did this last year - it was a lot harder than I thought it would be! I had to pack for my 3 girls (12,10,7) and since it was November, they didn't miss the summer clothes, but I also had to "swipe" some of their favorite winter clothes without them noticing that they were "missing". I just kept stashing things in my closet until the day before when I actually got the suitcases out and started putting everything together. It helped that I was able to get my sister to take them to the movies the day we were leaving, so I could finish last-minute things without them being around. We told them about 30 minutes before we left, that way they could take the things they wanted to have with them for the car ride (I had already charged their games and ipods for them). I think the hardest part was just keeping organized and making sure I packed everything they would need. It was fun surprising them, but definitely a lot more work for me! It was worth it though - just keep thinking about how much fun it will be when you finally tell them!

 

[nmmom95]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[littlefoots]

When we went in 2007.. My mom and I told the kids we were staying at the jersey shore..(not at my dads shore house). They were excited! So this way they packed and knew they were going tohave fun. About 15 minutes before our airport pickup arrived.. we gave them their birthday card which said.. they were going to WDW.. It was quiet.. then LOUD!! They couldnt believe it. LOL
I am planning our trip now.. as they think they are going to South Carolina..LOL We leave in 45 days!!!

Very excited!!!

 

[whenuwishuponastarr]

We r in the same boat. We just returned from Disney in june so my kids would never expect to go back this year. We had extra airfare that I had to use so we decided to go back in sept. during free dining/mnsshp which falls on my dd 7th bday. Other than you guys only a small amt. of people even know we r going. I m trying to keep the surprise going. It is killing me and I feel like I m going to slip any day now. I was wondering also how I m going to pack. I work M,T,W(long hours). We leave on Fri. So that only leaves thurs that week. It is only Sept. so the kids might still wearing summer clothes. I was going to tell dd that morn with an enchated call from Cinderella(which I still am giving her). But enchanted calls can only be done between 6am and 10pm. We will have to leave b4 6am and they know the route to the airport. So I decided to give her her bday present early(she will turn 7 while in Disney). I am making a tshirt with the help from MARION on Creative DISigns(thanx) and some other Disney stuff the night b4! Good Luck with ur Surprise!

59 days till Surprise Trip!!

Ps. Littlefoots- R U a Philly girl! I see Cheesesteaks and Hoagies! lol

 

[tzolkin]

We surprised our kids in May. They knew we were going on a trip and even helped with the packing. It was easy for us because we told them we were going to see grandma in FL (so they weren't suspicious about bathing suits, etc). We did see grandma, but she met us at Disney.

Would you feel comfortable telling them you're taking a small trip (somewhere else) since you missed out on Disney in May?

Otherwise, as others have said, you'll just have to be very sneaky. Maybe send the kids somewhere for the day, pack everything, and store the suitcases in the garage? at a relative's house?

 

[mickey0930]

I love hearing everyone stories, it gives me butterflies. I have been wondering for days how I will get this surprise vacation together and reading everyone's ideas I have come up with: We were at WDW this past Jan/Feb and I am in the process of planning another trip for next year. In the mist of all that planning DH said he thought it would be a good idea to surprise DD with a birthday trip in Sept/Oct. All he had to do is tell me once! He wont be able to make this trip so, it will be me, DD and my mom. I am not telling DD a word. I manage to get her out the house for a couple of hours to pack. We are leaving the day of her 6th birthday. My plans are to tell her I have to go somewhere's for my job and her and her grandmaw are coming tag along. She will have no idea until we go to board Magical Express, so prior to that I want to give her a birthday card from her father and I with a Disney Gift Card inside. I am also planning on having one of those Mickey Head cakes in our room at WL. If anyone has any other idea on how I can make this a more magical, please feel free.

 

[stephie1012]

we are surprising dd in sept for her bday. she would notice me packing, but im just ordering her all custom made outfits for the trip, she wont even know about them till we get there. Once they come in the mail, in my closet they go lol.