SHHH it is a surpise, if we can pull it off!

[Overexcited]

SO we are going back to Disney in September from the 17th -24th for free dining!!

Who we are: Me (Kerri, mom, Disney Freak.....)

Phil (Hubby, dad, more subdued Disney freak)
Aaron (Son age 10 ) 3rd trip down
Craig (Son age 4) 2nd trip but won't remember the first


Here is the deal:My close friend lives in Vegas. My kids think I am going to visit her and just so happens she is pregnant (great timing on her part). They think I am talking a class there and helping her get ready for baby

How we plan on making it happen:
They boys will go to school on the day we leave and my husband goes to work for a half day. My little guy will get out at 11:30, husband at 12:00. We then go pick up my older son at school by 12:30 and head to the airport for "goodbyes". After I check bags while they park the car (my mom is picking up shortly after we leave it), we walk to security area. This is when I tell them we are going to Disney!!!

This is also where the plan is not solid. I have a few choices of how to do this.
1. Fingers crossed but not holding my breathe that the magic + bands will be in play for our trip. IF they are I plan on giving them to them at security as a gift.
2. Having a sheet of paper to give them telling them it is a "chore" list while I am gone. When they open it it says "SURPRISE We are going to DISNEY"
3. Giving them our trip tshirts as a gift. (When I mentioned matching Tshirts for this trip my husband just sighed, he knows I woud win that arguement!)

ANY INPUT ON HOW TO PULL IT OFF WOULD BE GREAT!!

We fly out of Rochester at 2:50 PM direct flight arriving in Orlando at 5:30! Then off to CBR for 7 nights and 6 park days!

Follow up of plans and ADR's to come!

Please comment and give suggestions.....We can not wait to see if we can pull it off!

 

[Overexcited]

How can I get people to respond!! Please feedback!

 

[Dsnyfireman]

First off I hope you have a great trip! We went in February this year as we usually do. It was great as always, wife two kids , 3 and 5. was our daughters first trip and first day was her 3rd birthday. I think the t shirt idea is the best if the bands are not available . We surprised our kids a about a week and a half before we left. We wanted them to share in the excitement of the count down! But we were going to tell them the day before we left at DD's birthday party, but changed our minds. So good luck keeping a secret like this that long!!! That will have a blast! Hope you have a great trip!!!

 

[Overexcited]

Not sure if anyone is listening but here we go:

We land at MCO 5:30 and take magical express to CBR, hopefully a quick checkin so we can look around.
We have ADR at 8:30 for Hoop De Doo. We have done this the last few visits as well but the kids seem to get a kick out of it each time. My four year old is the perfect age for some of the corny jokes!

Our first full day we have ADR at 8:45 at Crystal Palace- we are hoping this is a great way to kick off the first park day and introduce characters to my youngest. Planning a lunch at BOG if the line is not awful!!

We plan on being there all day and closing the day with Wishes, if the little one holds up, if not no biggie we go back to CBR a little early and catch a swim and go to bed.

Day 2- We have an ADR for Momma Melrose at 5:00pm for Fantasmic package. I have to admit the last time we did this package 3 years ago appetizer and TIP was included! Bummer! We will spend th entire day at DHS but may not get up early to race there.

Day 3- Another Magic Kingdom day and MNSSHP, dinner at Liberty Tree (my DH favorite), again we don't have to be early birds at the park because we are staying late that night.

Day 4-Epcot day, Coral Reef at 6pm, this is my 10 year olds favorite place so her will be thrilled we booked it. And seeing this is the first year he is an "adult" as far as meals, he can order ANYTHING he wants

Day 5 Animal Kingdom day- not my favorite park but going for the day. Lunch ADR at Rainforest cafe for a special treat for the kids. It will probably be a light lunch because dinner ADR is O'HANA!!! Evening where ever we land.

Day 6- Whatever we want to do day!! ADR at Chef Mickey's for breakfast. I know from past visits the kids have rides they want to repeat. So this day will be that day. Last day in DISNEY, how did that go so fast, just typing it out seemed short

Day 7- Fly out direct flight home, sad, tears...promises to return soon!

 

[Overexcited]

First off I hope you have a great trip! We went in February this year as we usually do. It was great as always, wife two kids , 3 and 5. was our daughters first trip and first day was her 3rd birthday. I think the t shirt idea is the best if the bands are not available . We surprised our kids a about a week and a half before we left. We wanted them to share in the excitement of the count down! But we were going to tell them the day before we left at DD's birthday party, but changed our minds. So good luck keeping a secret like this that long!!! That will have a blast! Hope you have a great trip!!!

Thanks for the post!! My older son has done the countdown before, I will miss seeing that this time but can not wait for the look when we tell them!
We plan on going every two years (although is has been more like 3 years the last two times we went).

Where are you a Firefighter, my husband is one here and I am an EMT

 

[thehowells]

first off good luck on your suprise, we are doing a suprise trip in sept as well, haven't figured out how yet, but we are going on a dcl cruise in jan 2014, so we have told the kids no trip this year


i have one critique, after a day at school and traveling 8:30 might be really late for dinner to start for you little dude

 

[Overexcited]

Thanks for the reply!!

I have thought about the 830 dinner. My youngest only goes to school 3 hours and I am hoping for a quick nap on the plane! He is usually a night hawk! I am fighting with him at 10 sometimes to go to sleep. He takes after my DH!

 

[wiigirl]

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Overexcited]

Hope you have a great trip!

Thanks!

 

[pooksma]

We LOVE surprising our now 12 yr old DS. So much so that in 26 days we will be surprising him again!

Love your idea of the goodbyes becoming surprise.

CP is our tradition since the first trip 9 yrs ago, it is also on the agenda for this time.

Hope you are able to pull this off!

 

[Overexcited]

We LOVE surprising our now 12 yr old DS. So much so that in 26 days we will be surprising him again!

Love your idea of the goodbyes becoming surprise.

CP is our tradition since the first trip 9 yrs ago, it is also on the agenda for this time.

Hope you are able to pull this off!

Thanks! An good luck to you too
We were in a Disney mood and were talking about breakfast one day, my older son says "I am starting to think we are going to Disney"! Yikes! No more Disney chat. He does not have a clue it will be that day!

 

[Dsnyfireman]

Thanks for the post!! My older son has done the countdown before, I will miss seeing that this time but can not wait for the look when we tell them!
We plan on going every two years (although is has been more like 3 years the last two times we went).

Where are you a Firefighter, my husband is one here and I am an EMT

I have worked for a few departments here in Maine and done a lot of wilderness search and rescue work. My dad is a retired Lt. From Portland Maine, about 30 years total for him. I have PTSD and I am currently not working due to it. Hope to be back at some point! It's in the blood ya know!!!

 

[Overexcited]

I have worked for a few departments here in Maine and done a lot of wilderness search and rescue work. My dad is a retired Lt. From Portland Maine, about 30 years total for him. I have PTSD and I am currently not working due to it. Hope to be back at some point! It's in the blood ya know!!!

Sorry to hear you have PTSD. Hope you get back to what you love soon. My DH has done some SAR as well!

 

[thehowells]

Thanks for the reply!!

I have thought about the 830 dinner. My youngest only goes to school 3 hours and I am hoping for a quick nap on the plane! He is usually a night hawk! I am fighting with him at 10 sometimes to go to sleep. He takes after my DH!

fair enough, you know your kids, it would sure be a worry for me, my son who is 5 is out by 8 unless we keep him up, it was just a observation
have a fantastic trip

 

[Overexcited]

fair enough, you know your kids, it would sure be a worry for me, my son who is 5 is out by 8 unless we keep him up, it was just a observation
have a fantastic trip

We having been throwing this one around, it is the first night and we can adjust the other evenings if needed for grumpy kids! Lol

 

[Overexcited]

Really in a Disney mood today! Tough day not sharing the news.
My mother has expressed disappointment that she won't see the kids find out about the trip. She is going to meet us at the airport, I hope her presence to say goodbye to me doesn't tip off my older son.
How can I say no to grandparents wanting to see the kids excitement! My DH is not thrilled about deviating from the plan.

 

[Overexcited]

SO after several days of trying to figure out both how to have my parents present and not change the original plan, I think I got it!!

I really did not want to change the plan of how to tell the kids we are going, a surprise at the airport still seemed the best plan. Plus I am not good with change! My mother asked me to tell the kids at home so they could be there.
So here is my compromise plan: The night before we go I will casually ask my 10 year old if he wants to be picked up from school to go say goodbye at the airport or if he would rather say goodbye in the morning. (Duh! what kid wants to stay in school!!)
We go pick him up (my parents included with their minivan). When I pick him up before heading outside I will tell him that Grandma and Grandpa are with us. They go to Hawaii the day after we get home. I will say since they won't see me for 3 weeks because of their trip, they wanted to say goodbye. On the way to the airport my dad will to ask if they want to go somewhere for lunch after leaving me.
I think this distracts my 10 year old from thinking something funny is going on, and my DH is agreeable to it!!
My son can be either really observant or very clueless, lets hope for the clueless!!

SO what would YOU do?? Would you change to tell at home? Do yoou have problems with change in plans too??

I am ordering our family Disney shirts to wear on the first park day! Can't wait!

 

[Denovagirl]

Oh my! Your kiddos are in for a BIG surprise! I would not tell them at home, I think your plan to wait until the absolute last second possible is brilliant! They will be so bummed thinking you are leaving and then BAM!!! Talk about the most exciting moment, like ever! Stick to it and your reward will be big!!!

If it were me I would do the gift thing, I would give them the t shirts saying 'were going to Disney' to give them in the airport! Id hand them to them and tell them its a parting gift and that you would love it if they put them on now! I think they will be crazy surprised!!!

I am excited for you just thinking about it! Its got to be hard not talking about it 24-7 with them around, but it will make for a marvelous story one day so keep it up!! Can't wait to see more of your PTR!!! I really am itching to do my own now!!!

 

[Overexcited]

Oh my! Your kiddos are in for a BIG surprise! I would not tell them at home, I think your plan to wait until the absolute last second possible is brilliant! They will be so bummed thinking you are leaving and then BAM!!! Talk about the most exciting moment, like ever! Stick to it and your reward will be big!!!

If it were me I would do the gift thing, I would give them the t shirts saying 'were going to Disney' to give them in the airport! Id hand them to them and tell them its a parting gift and that you would love it if they put them on now! I think they will be crazy surprised!!!

I am excited for you just thinking about it! Its got to be hard not talking about it 24-7 with them around, but it will make for a marvelous story one day so keep it up!! Can't wait to see more of your PTR!!! I really am itching to do my own now!!!

Thanks!! The shirts just have Mickey and their name, not sure if they would get it right away. I think it is the way I am leaning!
Since I can't talk about it at home, I am driving my co workers crazy!

 

[Denovagirl]

I am pretty sure they'll get it pretty quick, especially with all the adults looking at them smiling!! Hahaha!