Please help with ideas for suprising a 4 year old with a birthday trip!

[WDWSuperFan]

We have gone to WDW for the past 3 years with my DD on her birthday in December. We had planned not to go this year, but we will go afterall. She has no idea and I would love to surprise her and tell her that we are going. Please share some of your wonderful and creative ideas.
Thanks in advance for you ideas!

 

[bridegirl]

here are a few:

- princess tea at GF

- wonderland tea party

- pontoon birthday cruise

- private dining party on the beach at poly for fireworks

- party at winter summerland

- party at boardwalk water park

- treasure hunt from gifts of a lifetime

- kitchen sink at beaches and cream

- shopping spree with disney dollars at DD

You can't go wrong with a birthday at disney!

 

[Miniefan]

I don't know where you are coming from or who all is coming with you but I read a thead about a week ago that said Disney was now doing Bday parties for around $200 or so, if you are interested do a search and maybe you can find out more.
Other than that I would maybe suggest doing a character meal, I have heard a lot of good things about the Princess Storybook Breakfast in Epcot, or if she's not into the Princesses, maybe Crystal Palace, or Chef Mickey.
Also, something a little less expensive, they have the ice cream social at the Garden Grille in the Land at Epcot. $7.99 per person,
Hope I helped
Kim

 

[WDWSuperFan]

Thanks for the suggestions... keep them coming. I will use some of them while we are there.
I wanted to surprise her and tell her about the trip prior to leaving. I was not clear in my post but did edit it to show it.

 

[trola2]

We surprised my 4 year old in February. If I'm understanding, I think you are looking for a creative way to spring the surprise?

We ahd a few friends gather here before breakfast and my hubby went up to wake the girls. When they came down, we had Princess balloons that we had written on, "Surprise, you're going to Disney World!" and of course a happy birthday balloon.

I had some Mickey birthday party-type favors on the table and then I made mickey icon pancakes for breakfast for everyone and then it was time to start packing to get ready to leave, etc! It was fun and exciting and the girls' faces showed such surprise!

You could also wrap something as a birthday gift for her to open early....park maps, a Mickey (or other character) beanie baby, or an invitation to a character meal, etc. The possibilities are endless!!

Have fun!
~~Beth

 

[Strings]

I surprised my daughter at Halloween. I wrapped a Cinderella coustume and made an invitation from Cinderella inviting her to breakfast at the castle. It was priceless.

 

[WDWSuperFan]

what great ideas! Thank you so much for your help!
I know she will be so excited... now if I can just keep it a secret until December!

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

I don't know if I would surprise her as a previous poster did with a "few friends" there, that just seems kind of cruel unless you're taking everybody, or they are old enough to understand.

Anyway, we have 4 kids and we're surprising the older 3 (ages 9, 7, 4) by giving the baby a pair of Mickey ears for her 1st birthday in July with a note from Mickey and Minnie inviting the family to Disney.

It will really be a shock since we're doing some major remodeling on our house this summer and have told the kids we're not taking a vacation this year.

I think I may be more excited to tell them about the trip than actually going! Well, maybe not


Being a parent is really a tough job, and it's not always fun. One of the perks is getting to see their little faces light up when you make their dreams come true.


Have a magical trip!

 

[carolinagirl]

Sounds like you have gotten some great ideas. How about buying a Mickey T-shirt or a shirt or outfit with her favorited character on it and wrapping it up, then including a note that the outfit is for her to wear on her trip to WDW?

I am struggling with this myself. We have a trip planned for September and the kids don't know it yet. But DH has come very close to letting it slip! DD just asked me yesterday as we were watching Ultimate WDW on Travel Channel if we are going to WDW this year. I'm not usually one to fib, but I don't want to spoil the surprise, so I told her that I didn't think we were going to be able to go this year. She just said, Oh well, maybe next year.

I can't decide if I want to surprise them the morning that we leave and tell them where we are going, or just get them up that morning, tell them we are going on a trip and not tell them where until they see the WDW signs. Decisions, decisions!!!

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

Carolinagirl,

How old are your children?

 

[trola2]

BTW, the "friends" were adult family friends and a couple of grandparents. It was a family moment...not a kids event...

I'm sure that sounded confusing.

Have a magical trip.

~~Beth

 

[WDWSuperFan]

Thank you for all the great ideas!
I think I'm going to surprise her a couple of months before so she can help with the planning and enjoy the anticipation of the trip.

 

[carolinagirl]

SuzieQ,

I have a DD who will be 8 at the time of the trip and a DS who will be 4.

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

Trola2, you're right, I was confused. I could just picture 5 9-year-olds crying because they weren't going to Disney! I'm glad it was a family moment. I think when we surprise our kids we'll have the grandparents there, too.

Carolinagirl, we surprised our kids last time we went on the morning we were leaving and I don't think I would do it again. They were 8, 6, and 2 at the time and they were more dumb-struck than excited. Don't get me wrong, they were very happy to be going from February in New Jersey to sunny Florida, but there was no jumping up and down like I expected. This time we're going to give them a month to plan and get excited.

 

[trola2]

We also sprung the surprise the day of the trip last time. I think that was hardest on my 9yo who has trouble just going with the flow. I agree with SuzieQ that for my family, I wouldn't spring the surprise on the day of the trip again. Think about your childrens personalities and do what is best there. For our next trip, although everyone knows when we are going, I'm purposefully not bringing it up and I'm putting in surprise elements into each day. Things we haven't done before, and old favorites that we want to do again. This will be our last Disney trip for 4 or 5 years, so I do want it magical!! Our Dec 2003 trip, we had weekly family meetings, did the countdown chain and I think we had all talked Disney and planning for so long that we all (especially the kids) got there and wondered where the magic really was. So....anyway....my long drawn out point is this....I think some surprises will be good for my family. I also want to avoid talking the trip to death with everyone due to my obsessive compulsive vacation planning!!lol. I give general answers to questions when asked, but nothing specific and I haven't asked for input. Now I've got to come up wth creative ways to spring the daily surprises!

~~Beth

 

[daisy112878]

Hey,

You have some great suggestions on the thread for how to surprise her. I just wanted to add that my niece turned four at WDW in Dec. We took her to CRT for breakfast. It was the best time of her life. She still talks about how the princesses sang happy birthday to her and gave her a cupcake with a candle. And how the table was decorated and no one else had a decorated table. She loved every minute of it. We also got her the happy birthday button from MK town hall. So all day CMs were saying happy birthday to her. She loved all the attention. And you are a strong lady if you can keep a secret until Dec. No way could I do that.

 

[SamanthaL]

My girlfriend wrapped up her DD's luggage and gave it to her as a gift. Inside was all kinds of Disney stuff, like a new disney bathing suit, disney sunglasses, sunscreen ect. She didn't guess right away but then mr friend asked her "Where would you need this stuff?" and then she got it.

 

[janie91]

I'm also looking for exciting ways to tell your children about our trip as well as advise on how soon to tell them. I have 2 DD 11 & 9, and one DS 7. My youngest daughter will turn 10 while we are there. I don't want to tell them until we make the final payment and are definately going, we are pretty sure, but a lot can happen between now and then. They know we are planning a trip to WDW but they think it is in 2 years so we have to work hard to start saving money now. They are very excited about that but I want to have a great way to suprise them with the news. Any Ideas?
Thanks!

 

[WDWSuperFan]

Thanks for all the responses--great ideas! I knew I would get some creative responses. I'm going to have a very hard time keeping this secret! She has always known about our other trips from the time we made reservations. We showed her a picture of the hotel, starting talking about all of the fun things in store, character meals, etc. It would be so exciting to see the expression on her face when we tell we are going this year. We really thought that we would not go back for a few years and have told her this, but I can't stand to go somewhere else when I know how much all of us enjoy Disney.

 

[Tinkerbrooks]

Last month we did an early surprise for my dd's-4/9. We sent them on a scavenger hunt and it was a blast. We are not going until Dec. but 4 yr old has a bday coming in a couple of weeks, other has one in Sept. I wanted them to be able to get Disney $ instead of more TOYS, TOYS TOYS for her bday. Here is what we did...
At my mom's house, we planned a dinner and made up rhymes, clues and wrapped them up. First one opened said..SURPRISE! What is all the buzz? Its a wonderful surprise to you from us. A hunting you will go, there you will find all you need to know.

Clue 1-I wish I may, I wish I might have this wish I wish tonight..where am I? Answer: The wishing well-My parents have a well cover that is like an actual well-there they found wrapped up in Disney boxes the WDW tickets- BOY DID THEY SCREAM!

Clue 2-Oh where oh where have the dolphins gone, oh where oh where can they be? I searched the waters all over and this is what I found...where am I? Answer: The pool-Seaworld tix wrapped up!

Clue 3-Going high, going low, where I stop no one knows. What an adventure I can be. What am I? Answer: Swing Set-Universal/IOA tix wrapped up

Clue 4-Decorations and bright lights to be seen, look for something that is green. Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, how pretty are your palm leaves. Answer: Palm Tree-MVMCP tix

Clue 5-Big wheels keep on moving and pop music keeps us grooving, getting there is half the fun and I’ll be waiting for you when you are all done. What am I? Answer: Our van-a pic of Pop Century-place we are staying

Sorry so long, had to share that awesome memory with you all...it was great, after we finished the girls started turning flips in the yard, jumping up and down, etc. Then the last present they opened was the Disney Princess walkie talkies.

There is an idea-a scavenger hunt. Good luck in whatever way you decide to tell...lots of great ideas on the board

Sandi