Planning a trip and NOT telling the kids!

[Magic Man]

We just did this last July. We were on the road for 3 hours before we told the kids we were NOT going to the beach...we were going to the Beach Club! The Disney Beach Club! They were a little shocked that my wife could plan the trip without their input, especially DS10. DD8 said she couldn't go because all her princess dresses were back home. DW said "No, they are in my suitcase where they have been for a month!" We had as much fun keeping the secret as the kids did finding out.

 

[Kat in GA]

We just went the last week of September -- and are already planning another trip the first week of January that is going to be a surprise. Originally I wanted to not tell my girls (8 and 5) at all -- just put them in the car and go -- and use it as a surprise for my oldest's birthday (which is New Year's Eve)...but after a little more thought, I think this will be a Christmas gift for both of them (I don't need my youngest expecting a trip to the world on her birthday, too!). But...I haven't figured out the logistics of it all. I am awful at keeping secrets -- so I have you all to conspire with (and to tell all my secrets!).

 

[paper1225]

I am right there too. I am HORRIBLE at secrets, but want to keep this one! We only have 57 days until we leave and I still do not know how we will handle it all-they have school until 11am on 12/21 and during that time, DH and I will pack their clothes. We are thinking about sending them on a scavenger hunt and then giving them a box of disney presents to open. Since we will be there for Christmas, we still have that part to figure out also-DS is 5 and still believes. Disney is our present to them, but Santa will bring a few others. I just hope I can do this-I have found that if I just do not talk about Disney to them, it seems to be easier......

 

[Rudy6]

We did it two times. The first, they did not know until we were in Orlando. We told them (then 4 & 7) we were taking the plane to Valleyfair. Of course we were taking the plane from Minneapolis/St. Paul, but they did not realize we could have driving to Valleyfair in a half hour or so. We do not live right in MSP. The next time, only a year later, we told them we were flying to Six Flags - our son only needed to see the Orlando sign at the departure gate and called our bluff. It is fun.

 

[tinkertastic]

Just love all you parents out there that are surprising the kids with a trip!!!!! We don't have any little ones of our own just yet but reading this thread takes me back to the days when my parents would pull these surprises on me. I just loved it. My mom would just run in the room and drag me out to the car, saying we had an errand to run and the next thing you know we're on the turnpike heading to WDW. One time she even surprised me while I was in the middle of a shower, she ran in yelling "honey i'm sorry i got called into work, have to drop you off at the sitters"!!! I totally fell for it. I just LOVED being surprised.

 

[CathrynRose]

YAY! Im doing this too!!! January 25th - 28th!

We *just* got back from WDW on October 4th - there's no way he think's we'd head down again, so soon.

Plus - it's just going to be my 10 y/o and me! My 15 y/o wasnt as "into it" anymore... teenager. And my fiance? Well he's jealous... BUT someone has to watch the 15 y/o, right???

So, just me and my son! I cant WAIT to see the look on his face. I cant decide: night before or morning of???

 

[Kat in GA]

YAY! Im doing this too!!! January 25th - 28th!

We *just* got back from WDW on October 4th - there's no way he think's we'd head down again, so soon.

Plus - it's just going to be my 10 y/o and me! My 15 y/o wasnt as "into it" anymore... teenager. And my fiance? Well he's jealous... BUT someone has to watch the 15 y/o, right???

So, just me and my son! I cant WAIT to see the look on his face. I cant decide: night before or morning of???

I am having the same issue of night before and morning of...I am actually leaning towards night before -- I just think it will be calmer and I should get a better reaction then (and of course any Disney trip stuff they get for Christmas will now make sense!). I'd love to hear HOW people are going to tell -- especially if it's a Christmas gift.

 

[lazydazy8]

I am holding so much nervous excitement for our surprise trip in THIRTY SIX DAYS!!! My DD7 and DS5 had NO IDEA. NOT A CLUE. I feel like a freak... it's all I think about! My DH thinks I am losing it. I bring the subject up of "THE" surprise and I start sobbing. SOBBING. My shoulders start to jump and I have trouble catching my breath. I watch the Million Dreams ad and feel the tears coming on. We have had this trip in our minds since our honeymoon 8 years ago. We vowed to come back the same week, with kids!

Anyway, we've been officially planning it for about a year and a half. Booked last April.

Most of my kids' friends have been multiple times. They frequently ask, "Mama, when will WE get to go?" We simply say, "someday". Last weekend, we told the kids to get into the car we had a surprise. I get out to the car and I hear the word "Disney". I asked them what they were talking about and my DD said, "I told TJ that if we started driving right now, we could get to Disney in a couple of days." Then, my DD7, in a very somber tone, said, "Mama, do you REALLY promise you'll take us to Disney someday?" I had to fight back the tears to say, "Mallory, it is Mommy and Daddy's favorite place on earth. I PROMISE you, we will take you... SOMEDAY." I wanted to tell them SOOOOOOO bad!

I am channeling my excitement into getting ready for the trip! Are you crafty? I have been sewing and scrapbooking (not to mention shopping) to get ready. I made my DD a dress to coordinate with Minnie. I am in the middle of making both my kids' autograph books.

As for the shopping, I have been buying pins on eBay for them to start trading with, Disney mini-fans, clothes from the Disney store and from disneyshopping.com so they'll have a new Disney wardrobe while we're there...

Our flight takes off at 7:30am, so we'll be yanking them out of bed around 3:30am to get to the airport on time! We are hoping to tell them on the plane... I don't know if we could POSSIBLY drag it out until we are just about to board the Magical Express! That would be so cool...

Thank you N&B's Mom for letting me go on and on about it! It's such a relief to talk about it, isn't it?????

 

[CathrynRose]

I am actually leaning towards night before -- I just think it will be calmer and I should get a better reaction then .

Im leaning towards night before, as well. This way my fiance can see his reaction, too. And he can pack what HE would like to bring - any pins he may want to trade, etc.

I think I might do night before. How am I going to explain to an 11 y/o (I wrote "10" yesterday.... ???? ) to an eleven and a half year old, why I'm getting him and me both up at 3am??? He's not THAT naive.

I usually - the night before school tell him "Lunch and Outfit"

I think THAT night, Ill say "No lunch and outfit tonight... youre not going to school"

He'll be confused - and Ill say "I need you to pack your bag for 4 days"

And THEN Ill tell him. And he wont beleive me...cuz Mom has been known to be a practical joker, quite often.

So, Ill whip out the reservations, and plane e-tickets...

I cant wait!!!

 

[Mrs.PrinceCharming]

I've been keeping the secret since last Feb as well. We will be going to WDW on Dec 26 and dd11 and ds14 have NO Clue. We will be visiting other relatives so we will tell them our family Christmas will be a little late. Then we won't tell them until we leave to go to the airport.

I paid the last payment on the trip last night and went to the local Disney Store alone today to celebrate by picking up Disney Dollars for thier spending money. I bought them each rolling duffles in their school colors that I will pack with Disney shirts I bought for 4.99 each at the Disney Store sale and have had hidden in my closet since July. We will give them those gifts and head to the airport. I am so so so soooooooooooooooo excited.

 

[N&B'smom]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one!! I am so excited about this but I have so far to go! You all only have a little while yet before you get to spill the beans. I have 11 months! I'll be booking on Monday!! The day I book will be the hardest day not to say anything. Then when I start making ADR's it'll be really hard again not to speak up.

On our last trip we went to Ohana and Chef Mickey's for breakfast. My son was disappointed that we couldn't go again during our trip. I explained that you have to arrange it far in advance. So, I know he'll be thrilled when he finds out we'll go again next year!! Too bad I won't be able to tell him!!

This actually adds to the excitement. I won't tell them until I wake them for the airport. It took my son so long to fall asleep knowing the nxt day was a Disney day. So, this way my little ones will be well rested for their surprise!

Shelby

 

[lpbm4]

I've been planning our trip since January and we leave in 5wks. OMG...I almost blew it today!!!! We're not telling them until we leave either.

 

[tinker-belle]

Last January we completely surprised the kids. We were taking auto train to florida. We had told the kids our friends had a baby in Baltimore (which is very close to the auto train station). I even had a 'pretend' phone call from the people who had the baby to give me decorations to the party.
We packed the car while the kids were sleeping. I wrapped two pal mickeys in baby wrapping paper that said 'congratulations' on it.
We drove...
We got to the auto train station & my son says, 'do you think they have a bathroom, I need to go.' So we 'went'. When he was done & he saw the car had been 'loaded' onto the train he still didnt get it, he thought it was an accident. We went on board the train & the kids still thought we'd be getting our car off and leaving & we were just looking around.
When we told them, they STILL didnt believe us. I pulled out our park tickets and the train tickets and they freaked out. It is a moment I will never forget.

 

[mystic_path]

My aunt took my 2 cousins there last year and didn tell them till they got to the airport. She said they were going for a drive, but secretly had the luggage in the trunk of the car.