Shh! The Kids don't know but.......

[mjkacmom]

You ideas and stories are Great!!

Setting the summer clothes in an extra container is a great idea! I put our summer clothes away too, so this would be great. The girls have a lot of capri pants, would that be too cool for December in Florida? I might pack a couple pairs of shorts but for the most part, I was planning on jeans and t-shirts; along with "disney" sweatshirts. We will have to take our winter coats with us as we live in eastern West Virginia.
Gramma does live near by and what I was thinking about doing was to take the suitcase up to her house one day and then take small piles of clothes up and "pack" up there. Then the night before, we will load up the van after the girls go to sleep.

Is it okay to be this excited for something 16 months away?!

I had a big bin in my room (looked like the clothing bins I was working on) that I put the rest of the incidentals in (sunscreen, toiletries, books, etc.), and I packed them easily the night before in a suitcase.

 

[proteus]

I watched about 25 videos on youtube where parents surprise the kids. My two favorites were when...

Kids are in car, they were told about a different destination. They are being filmed and you see their reaction as they look outside (WDW signs, etc.) and realize something is "wrong".

Parents (older kids) are at a table planning vacation for next year. Dad says "hmm maybe we should do WDW". Kids are like "yeah, great, when would we go?" That is when he springs it on them, they are going right away!

Unfortunately I can't surprise my DD as my ex wants advance notice of a trip and will spill the beans. If I could do it I would pretend we were doing somewhere else then once she sees something play dumb with a smile "nah, you must be imagining things, what?" until finally I have to give in. Oh to be a kid again!

 

[shortkathleen]

We are surprising our kids with their first trip to disney world this coming December. I love reading all of your ideas of how to surprise them. I especially like the one where Santa is sending us to Disney World! I might have to use that but I think my husband might want some credit! Ha Ha!

I am still tweaking our "secret plan". We have to drive to Oklahoma City to fly out (the flights were a lot cheaper) the night before we go. My sister lives there so we are telling the kids that we are going to spend the night with them (which is true). I am afraid to tell them the night before that we are going to Disney because they will not sleep. They are 7 and 5.Who are we kidding I am not going to sleep! I am so excited! I wish it were tomorrow! We are thinking about telling them when we get to the airport at the magic hour of 4am. I just bought Minnie and Mickey shirts for them and some how want to use those in the "reveal".

 

[kidsicet]

We surprised our DD's a few years ago. My DH took the kids to several neighborhood parks on a Sunday afternoon so I could get the packing done. I was somewhat organized already, tucking some things into a bin as I purchased them before hand (like sunscreen, shampoo, etc.). I made sure to get all of the laundry done on Saturday, and when they were out of the house on Sunday, I packed like crazy! I hid the suitcases in the closet for later in the week. We took them out of school, and made arrangements with the teachers ahead of time. The teachers were great in keeping it a secret! We woke them up early on the morning we were leaving, and told them to hurry up and get dressed because we had to catch our flight to go to Disney World. DH video taped it. I had gotten them cute Disney t-shirts to wear. It was pure delight coming out of them when they realized we were serious! My younger DD usually stalls and takes her time getting up, but that morning she jumped out of bed in 2 seconds flat.

They still talk about our surprise trip, and they want us to surprise them again. I told them it would be really hard to do. We are going in October, and they know about that trip. Little do they know, we are also surprising them with a short trip in 3 weeks! I cannot wait to see their expressions when we wake them up early! I'm working out the details of how to pack for this trip. I think I'll tell them I'm going grocery shopping the Sunday before we leave, and after I leave, DH can come up with some errand or fun adventure to take them out of the house, and I'll come back and pack. I can't wait!!!

 

[ClaraBug]

We are surprising our kids with their first trip to disney world this coming December. I love reading all of your ideas of how to surprise them. I especially like the one where Santa is sending us to Disney World! I might have to use that but I think my husband might want some credit! Ha Ha!

I am still tweaking our "secret plan". We have to drive to Oklahoma City to fly out (the flights were a lot cheaper) the night before we go. My sister lives there so we are telling the kids that we are going to spend the night with them (which is true). I am afraid to tell them the night before that we are going to Disney because they will not sleep. They are 7 and 5.Who are we kidding I am not going to sleep! I am so excited! I wish it were tomorrow! We are thinking about telling them when we get to the airport at the magic hour of 4am. I just bought Minnie and Mickey shirts for them and some how want to use those in the "reveal".

Since the trip is from Santa, he will not leave a big pile of gifts under the tree, just a few special gifts. It would not be fair to the other children who didn't get to go to Disney. Santa is going to leave a special note in the hotel room explaining everything when we get there.

Your right....I am not going to sleep either!!!!

We surprised our DD's a few years ago. My DH took the kids to several neighborhood parks on a Sunday afternoon so I could get the packing done. I was somewhat organized already, tucking some things into a bin as I purchased them before hand (like sunscreen, shampoo, etc.). I made sure to get all of the laundry done on Saturday, and when they were out of the house on Sunday, I packed like crazy! I hid the suitcases in the closet for later in the week. We took them out of school, and made arrangements with the teachers ahead of time. The teachers were great in keeping it a secret! We woke them up early on the morning we were leaving, and told them to hurry up and get dressed because we had to catch our flight to go to Disney World. DH video taped it. I had gotten them cute Disney t-shirts to wear. It was pure delight coming out of them when they realized we were serious! My younger DD usually stalls and takes her time getting up, but that morning she jumped out of bed in 2 seconds flat.

Was it the magic hour of 4am?!?

 

[ClaraBug]

Here is a story for today!

My Mom and Dad are picking up the girls today for the week and then on Thrusday, DH and I are driving up and spending the rest of the weekend with my folks and the girls. I didn't tell the girls that they were going until this morning, and they were very excited!

I had to go to work today so DH took the girls with him to my grammy's house (and the girls' great-gramma & who is closer) where my folks are going to pick up the girls and take them back to NJ. Poor Emma, my eight year old, was sooooo excited that she was car sick when they got to Grammy's house.

What the heck is she going to do when we arrive at the airport to go to Disney next year?!

I will have to drug the kid up with the magic and miraculous Benedryl!!

 

[bear74]

Here is a story for today!

My Mom and Dad are picking up the girls today for the week and then on Thrusday, DH and I are driving up and spending the rest of the weekend with my folks and the girls. I didn't tell the girls that they were going until this morning, and they were very excited!

I had to go to work today so DH took the girls with him to my grammy's house (and the girls' great-gramma & who is closer) where my folks are going to pick up the girls and take them back to NJ. Poor Emma, my eight year old, was sooooo excited that she was car sick when they got to Grammy's house.

What the heck is she going to do when we arrive at the airport to go to Disney next year?!

I will have to drug the kid up with the magic and miraculous Benedryl!!

oh poor kiddo

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I love these sappy stories!!
We surprised our kids a few years ago. They were 5 and 8. I work too so I loaded the trunk the weekend before while dh took them to our local aquarium. We got them an early dismissal from school and told them that am they had a dental appt. (school knew the whole secret and didn't blow it.)
As we drove to the airport, we told them no dentist appt. but guess where we're going? After so many wrong guesses and now getting very close to PHL, my older ds finally said, "Are we going to Florida?" (this was about our 4th trip.)
When dh said yes he kept saying, "not uh, no way, how could we?" then, "well where's the luggage?" Boy did he hop out of the car so fast curbside to check that there was truly luggage in the trunk! lol!
The whole flight they kept saying, "OMG! I can't believe we're going to Florida!!"

We tried to surprise them again but they guessed right away. Nothing like the first time! priceless...

 

[ClaraBug]

I love these sappy stories!!
We surprised our kids a few years ago. They were 5 and 8. I work too so I loaded the trunk the weekend before while dh took them to our local aquarium.

That wouldn't be the aquarium in Camden, would it?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

That wouldn't be the aquarium in Camden, would it?

It sure is!!
We're in Cherry Hill. Where are you?

 

[ClaraBug]

I grew up in Marlton and went to Cherokee High School (many moons ago). And then I went to college in WV where I met my DH and havn't left yet... (the state not college )

Mom and Dad are still there, so we get up to visit a lot.

 

[ClaraBug]

We have been to the aquarium serveral times and even toured the USS New Jersey when I was pregnant for my youngest (who is now five)...it really is a nice aquarium and they really cleaned up the waterfront there too. The scary part was we got lost in downtown Camden. Not the nicest place to get lost in......

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We have been to the aquarium serveral times and even toured the USS New Jersey when I was pregnant for my youngest (who is now five)...it really is a nice aquarium and they really cleaned up the waterfront there too. The scary part was we got lost in downtown Camden. Not the nicest place to get lost in......

too bad we can't just cut the whole city off, float it down the Delaware and push it out to sea.
Anyone know where to get a really big chain saw?

Next time you visit try Garden State Discovery Museum. It's right on Springdale Rd. in CH. My boys LOVED it at ages 5-8ish!
http://www.discoverymuseum.com/intro.html

 

[ClaraBug]

too bad we can't just cut the whole city off, float it down the Delaware and push it out to sea.
Anyone know where to get a really big chain saw?

Next time you visit try Garden State Discovery Museum. It's right on Springdale Rd. in CH. My boys LOVED it at ages 5-8ish!
http://www.discoverymuseum.com/intro.html

The girls are up at mom and dad's right now, so I will have to tell them about the museum!

Where that chainsaw when I need it?

 

[Vility]

my mom did that with us when we were kids.
it was the easter bunny...
She said we really had no clue when she was doing anything.

 

[Vility]

We LOVE the garden state discovery museum!
We go every single mothers day!
And we go to the aquarium every fathers day.
This year we hit the children's garden after.
I thought the garden was a total waste of money.

We are huge storybook land lovers too!
We were just there friday!

 

[ClaraBug]

I have found my people!!

 

[ClaraBug]

my ticket still doesn't look any better saying 15 mos and 4 weeks then saying 16 mos!

It is still a LONG time!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have found my people!!

awww...

 

[ColleenG]

too bad we can't just cut the whole city off, float it down the Delaware and push it out to sea.
Anyone know where to get a really big chain saw?

Next time you visit try Garden State Discovery Museum. It's right on Springdale Rd. in CH. My boys LOVED it at ages 5-8ish!
http://www.discoverymuseum.com/intro.html

I used to live in Maple Shade and worked in Camden, across the street from Cooper. Beyond that small area and the waterfront Camden is another world. A very scary world. Pushing it out to sea is not a bad idea.

We are planning a trip to the World in October and still haven't told the kids. We are thinking of doing the whole wake up at the crack of dawn, get your clothes on, we're going to Disney!!! The older two will get it, DD7 and DS5, but the little 2 will have no idea (DS2 and DS1). I plan on packing when the older 2 are at school. I'm just afraid I'll miss packing something they will want. We are also going to MNSSHP and would like them to be able to pick out their costumes. DS5 has been saying since last Halloween he wants to be a robot and DH has a plan to make it out of boxes. Not going to make it on to the plane. I've been trying to feel them out without letting on. As far as I know they don't know a thing about MNSSHP. We always talk about our next Disney trip so I've got a good feel about what things they want to do.

I definately want to video tape us waking them up and telling them. Oh I can't wait to go!!!