Question for those who have surprised kids

[Sacha_L]

We have been to WDW once and DL multiple times. Each time the kids knew ahead of time. This time DH and I really want to surprise them But we can't decide how . DH current idea is to see if a stewardess would be willing to make an announcement on the loud speaker when we are on the plane directed at the boys. I like the idea of laying out custom shirts with the "I'm going to Disney World" on them. Then there is also the treasure hunt idea. It's lots of fun to think about but I do need to decide. Have you surprised your kids? How did you do it? What was their reaction? Our kids are 9 & 12 and are sad we don't have DL AP's this year so I know they will be very excited when they find out

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I have to say the best way we told our kids was to play the game Clue. It is their favorite game so it would be easy to get all four of them to play. Our oldest was 14 at the time. If you know the game of clue - there are three cards put in the envelope. So when my daughter went to solve the game - she made her accusation and opened the envelope. I had made three cards - One with Cinderella's castle, one was Captain's hook and the last was Pluto. Then on the card with the castle - it said turn over the card. The back said "We are going to DISNEY". When she opened the envelope she was confused and then they all read the back and started screaming and jumping around!!! We did this a week before we were going because I knew they would want to plan something.

Now it is a family joke many years later. One of them will say "Mom and Dad - I think we need to play Clue!" We all laugh. The next year all we did was pull out the Clue game. We have done letters that came in the mail. We have done scavenger hunts as well. Telling them is almost as fun as going.

Since they are older - I would tell them before they got to the airport. My 12 year old would figure it out once we went to check in. I would tell them before they could figure it out.

Enjoy!

 

[wdwgoofydaddy]

We surprised our 2 boys (7&9 at the time) a few years back with a trip to WDW and a Xmas cruise on the Dream. I think we were more surprised with their reactions. Our family has been to WDW and several cruises in the past but always wanted to spend the holidays in a Disney style. The Xmas cruise was our Xmas gift toe the kids but that meant that we needed to have our extended family over for dinner prior to Dec 25 as we were leaving for WDW by Dec 20th and in the cruise for the 23rd.

Long story short, we told both kids at the same time after dinner and told them that we were leaving the next day. We were expecting them to jump with joy and excitement. This did not happen at all. We told them that we were going to WDW first. My oldest jumped up with joy. My youngest started to cry. Then we told them that right after a few days at the parks we would be going on the Disney Dream. Well, my youngest started to jump with joy but my old started to cry now. When we asked why the reactions, they responded that one of them liked the parks and the other liked the cruise. But both did. It like to be surprised because they did not have time to participant in the trip planning process.

Lesson learned for me..... My kids don't like surprises....

 

[anniemck]

I would not ask the flight attendant to make an announcement, to me that would seem like someone bragging about the fact that you are going; think about any other kids on the flight that may not be going to Disney.

Do a scavenger hunt around the house and let them figure it out, or just tell them outright what you are doing.

 

[pad406]

We surprised the kids on both trips. The first time we had done up a calendar based on pictures of the parks/restaurants etc that we were going to. We gave them that and let them figure it out. This worked well as it was our first trip and they didn't immediately recognize them.
The second time we had gone to New York first for a 'long weekend' and they thought we were just flying back to Dublin. After going through check in the kids and I walked ahead looking for the 'Dublin' gate. DW stopped at the Orlando gate and I sent the kids back to her to see what she was doing. Then we just waited until they figured it out. Really enjoyed that one, have it videoed on my phone and still watch it if I need a quick cheer me up moment. Only problem was made me miss Disney more, but now at least we're planning the next trip so I don't mind

 

[chrismb22]

I was planning on surprising my son at the airport but then thought better of it. He is just not that kind of kid. He will want to pack his own backpack for the plane and pick his "friend" for the trip (a stuffed animal) and watch videos etc. so we will tell him a week before. (Actually, I might have our "elf" do it when he shows up this year. ) Surprises are awesome, for some kids

 

[quigs3]

I waited until the last minute to tell the kids about our trip one year. I surprised them the morning we were to leave by creeping in their rooms with the Magic Kingdom Welcome song playing, and I sprinkled fairy dust (pink glitter) over them while they were in bed. When they woke up, I said they had an hour to get ready, because we were on our way to Disney World. My daughter loved it so much, that it's how I have to wake her up every time we are leaving for Disney now, and she's 17!

 

[bigbabyblues]

We surprised our boys a few times. We picked oldest/both (depending on the trip) up from school like always, and told them then. We had the van packed, DVD players ready, and got on the road as soon as school was over for the day. The first time we did this, we were going for DS' birthday. We gave him two gifts--a new camera and a WDW for Kids book, and he figured it out.

 

[SweetMissy]

Whatever you do, don't surprise them by just showing up at the airport at 5am. We did this a couple of years ago and not only did they not know where we were because it was still dark out, so they couldn't see the airplanes when we were pulling into the airport but they were super tired and didn't give the excited reaction we were hoping for, lol. Making an announcement on the plane would be cool but he/she may not do that. I like the t-shirt idea. Going by our experience with surprising the kids, we're never surprising them again, lol....all that planning for months and the secrets and it was wasted, lol. I should say...once we got into the airport and they really realized where we were going they were of course super excited.

 

[Lilliputian]

We surprised our kids on our last trip. We told them way ahead of time that we were driving to Florida because Daddy had to go to a convention there, which was true. What we didn't tell them was that the convention was at the Swan and that we were leaving a week early to have a family vacation at WDW before it started.

We left in on a Friday afternoon from St Louis and stopped that night at a hotel about 8 hours away. We typically pass out small gifts at various points on trips, so they didn't think anything was out of the ordinary when we gave them each gift bags that morning before we started driving. We told them what order to open them in. The oldest 2 both got books about WDW, which didn't really surprise them because they love reading about WDW. The 3 year old got a Micky Mouse Clubhouse DVD. Our 6 year old opened his bag last. It had our Magic Bands and maps for each of the parks in it. They didn't really get it until we told them what was going on, but they were really excited after we did. (We do also have a 5th child, but he was 14 months and didn't get a gift bag because he would have eaten it.)

It worked out really well for us because they knew about the trip ahead of time. We didn't have to hide the fact that we were packing or buying stuff for the trip. They hadn't been looking forward to anything at home and then getting disappointed when we left town. I would have never been able to pull off the entire trip as a surprise.

 

[Sacha_L]

Thanks guys, great suggestions and feedback

 

[#1 Goofy Fan]

Surprised kids twice:

First time - they we 3 and 4 - told them we were driving DH to work (he works at the airport) and then taking them to school - when we got to the airport we told them to look in back packs and it was plane activities and not "school" stuff. (Wouldn't do that again - DS didn't want to go back to "school" he wanted to only go to Disney)

Second time (7 and 8)- we drove and told them we were going away for the weekend and told them 3 places - NY, Kings Dominion or GA to visit family. DD realized it wasn't NY we were going south. When got to GA - they knew we were visiting family. Told them to look out window at FL state line and I think I am still deaf from the screams.

They no longer want to be surprised they want to help in planning.

 

[anniebabymu]

We surprised our two DD's (5 and 23 months at the time) with our 2nd Disney trip last April! We did it the night before and started at our house with a scavenger hunt that led us to grandma and grandpa's house (45 minutes away and closer to the airport!). I made up my own clues and with each clue was a puzzle piece. Once she had all the puzzle prices she had to out it together and her final clue was on the back of it. That clue said, "Cinderella had a coach, we have a car. If you find where we keep it you'll get a big gold star!" That took her to the garage where there were Mickey balloons, a present and new shirts for them. There was a sign attached to the balloons that said, "Addison and Harper, you're going to Disney World!" Her reaction was priceless. She asked when and I told her tomorrow she said, "TOMORROW?!?!" My most favorite thing ever! But now she wants me to surprise her with a scavenger hunt every time we go! Silly girl!

 

[Pesky]

We surprised our 2 going to DLR this last year. Luckily our ILs live a bit away from DLR but close enough that we were able to say that we were going to see the ILs and going to show them a bit of where we used to live (true). The next day we drove down. Both of them fell asleep in the car. We got caught in horrible traffic exiting to DLR and DD woke up. I gave her my phone to play with, which is rare, and the kid was so absorbed, she didn't even notice the monorail passing overhead. We waited until we got to the hotel, kept them away while FIL and DH parked the car and then walked in and asked if they knew where they were. DS promptly replied "the hotel" (duh). DD looked around carefully and asked me very quietly if we were at Disneyland. I told them yes and they jumped up and down and gasped and looked around and kept asking really.

Next time will probably do a scavenger hunt but in advance so they can help plan it. For WDW, I will have to tell them WAY in advance because they already have very definite ideas of where we should stay.

 

[ButWhyIsTheRumGone]

We've taken DD (4) to DL several times so she knows what WDW is--plus they've been hyping up FP+ around here. We're going Jan. 2015 for her first WDW trip and we're planning to surprise her the morning of. I'm planning to have Mickey pancakes ready for her for breakfast. We're leaving on a Thursday, my normal day off, & it's not out of the ordinary to ask her what she wants to do with our day, so I'll probably say "We could hang out here, OR we could go to Disney World." [Insert jumping for joy here...hopefully.]

Then maybe have her go find her Monsters University rolling luggage (that she loved when she saw it at the Disney Store--and this momma secretly bought on clearance), already packed w/ her pirate princess Mickey ears sitting on top? We got her a matching backpack (also on clearance--woot woot!) so we'll have that filled with in-flight activities sitting w/ the luggage.

It'll either be one of my favorite videos of her, or a total epic FAIL.

 

[WarriorMom2850]

We've surprised our kids 3 times - each one has been a little different but all have been memorable and went well!

November 2012 - we were leaving the Sunday after Halloween, so after the kids went trick-or-treating (on Thursday), they came back to the house and found a large present sitting in the kitchen. They opened it and it was new luggage, mickey & minnie plush and an itinerary. We have it on video, they didn't get it at first, but when they did - WHOA screams of joy!

September 2013 - we ran into their room at 4am saying "did you hear that? I think someone is at the door" (err, in a nice way, not scary!) and when they went to the door, there was a glitter covered envelope from Tinkerbell that gave them their brochures to Disney, and a letter from Mickey saying he missed them, wanted them to come back and that they had 1 hour to pack as they were leaving TODAY! DD7 pouted at first because she wanted to help pack, but quickly got over it.
-Double surprise was that 3 days into the trip, when DS5 was getting ready for his Jedi Training appearance, Grandma & Grandpa (DH's parents) walked in. LOTS of shrieks and "Grandma?!?!?! Grandpa?!?!?" from the kiddos.

February 2014 - We have a fridge calendar that gets updated each month, and put the trip on - but hadn't told the kids, figured we'd tell them if/when they saw, or a couple days before. One morning DD8 comes into our room "mom, are we going to Disneyland next week? I saw it on the calendar?!?!?!". Then 2 days into that trip, Grandma & Grandpa (my parents) and Great-Aunt & Great-Uncle walk into Goofy's Kitchen and ask if "the food is good here?". There was some squeals of "what are you doing here? YOU'RE HERE!!!" from the kiddos.

November 2014 - We're doing couple days at WDW, couple days at US/IOA and a short Disney cruise. The kids know and we've been helping another family plan their vacation as well. No surprises this time, I think we're surprised out!

 

[luvmy2babies]

I have surprised mine a couple of times, but only the last one did my son understand what was going on. Mine have been pretty simple though. First time was a display on the couch with all the stuff I bought for the trip with a note “from” Tiana telling her I was bringing her and her brother to see her and her friends for a week. It said “the bags are packed and the plane leaves tomorrow…”

It took her a minute. I asked her where she could meet Tiana and she said, “does it start with a D?” When I said yes, it sunk in. Lots of jumping and screaming and thank you mommy. Then singing which prompted clapping from ds who was then just 10 months old.

2013, I told them 3 days ahead because I wanted them to help pack. I’d bought everything and all the clothes were together because she wears uniforms to school her summer clothes hadn’t been touched at all. I had a detailed packing list ready like I do any time we go anywhere. I told them though I was printing a summer chore list and for her to wait at the printer for it. At the top though it had in big red letters, “Disney 2013 Packing List”.

Me: What does it say?
Her: (looking down at it smiling) “Disney 2013 Packing List”
Me: Really, let me see.
Her: Are we going? Are we really going?
Me: Yes we’re going.

Cue the theme music. Screaming and jumping around. Then she grabbed her brother (age 3) and told him we were going to Disney World. So he joins in the screaming and jumping around. Then a pause.

She asked, “When?” The answer was Thursday, which was 3 days away.

I’m surprising them again next month. I haven’t decided how yet. My daughter now says she prefers to be surprised with the trip. She loves surprises, but the main reason is because it means less waiting. She says she’s fine with me doing all of the planning because she always has fun, but the one time she was in on it from the beginning it was hard to wait. I can’t do anything really elaborate for the reveal as my daughter has watched so many of those videos on youtube, she’d figure it out really quick.

We are leaving the Sunday after the school year ends. Last day of school is May 22nd. We are leaving May 25th. We have a 9:40am flight so I could do the day of departure, but I am not sure I want to wait until that day because I don’t want anything to delay us getting out of the house and on our way to the airport and I want to be sure she has everything she wants to take. I am thinking of the morning before because we’ll have errands to run that day, one of which will be getting ds to the barber (not her favorite thing to do) and it will probably be much more fun sitting at the Barber shop with ds knowing he’s getting his vacation haircut. Plus we'll have some last minute items to pick up then and while having her in on the planning I can do without, I do love those last minute errands before a trip. We are all so excited picking up toiletries and stuff, it's so much fun.

I’m getting them each new backpacks for the trip, so I’m thinking of loading them with what I’ve bought so far (autograph books, plane activities, small Disney toys) and putting them in either gift box or bag. Dd will be completely thrown off receiving a backpack as a gift just after school is over, but once they open them, and figure out what is going on, I’m sure it will be the best gift ever.

 

[jms]

My kids are ds 9 ds 8 and dd 2. This will be the boys 4th trip and my daughters 2nd. Part of the fun is the planning and their excitement of looking at the rides online. Therefore I told them at Christmas last year that we are going to Disney in July. We are actually leaving next week! This way they can help plan but I can still surprise them.

I ordered autograph books and Disney shirts online when they had the 25% off sale for park merchandise. I am wrapping them with a copy of the flight itenary. I will give them the presents the morning that we leave. I am excited as I have never done a surprise trip

 

[AshleeH]

We don't do anything big - we've just driven up and told them where they were going to be spending the week. This has been hit and miss - for WDW (seeing the sign over the road) when we had a surprise trip, my boys were 8 and 5 - the 8 year old had a great, very excited reaction. The 5 year old complained he wanted to go to the hotel - it's an amusing video .

For our DLR trip, all the kids knew was that we were going to California. We pulled up to the Grand Californian and told them this was the start of their surprise - they were both so underwhelmed, even though we explained it multiple times that we were in Disneyland which is like Disney World, but they were both basically saying, "That's it?" Once we got to the entrance to the parks, the oldest got very excited. When they saw CarsLand for the first time, they went nuts.

We're hoping for a better reaction next year when we pull up to the Disney Wonder - they've been asking for years if they can go on the "Disney Boat", so maybe the instant gratification of immediately seeing the boat will go over better than Disneyland .

 

[esquared221]

You could always visit the Fairy Godmailer thread and have someone send your kids a postcard from Mickey (or their favorite character). I tried to do this last time with a message along the lines of "Can't wait to see you!" or "Please come visit!" but my postcard was lost in the mail. Luckily that is a rarity so I'd do it again!