Should we tell our kids we are going?

[goofypooh]

We just booked our trip for a week in January. Since we will be going just a couple weeks after Christmas, I was thinking it would be fun to wait to tell our kids as one of their Christmas presents. But........I am so excited that I don't know if I can keep it a secret. And should I tell them now so they can be in on the planning? Also, we are going with another couple & their DS2, so they might end up hearing us talk about it anyway! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 

[Freyja]

I´d tell them sooner than christmas. Building up the excitement before you leave is such a big part of the whole experience and I wouldn´t want to take that from them.

Have a magical time

 

[stacy6552]

Yes! Tell them. We suprised our son once and it was anticlimatic and so totally not worth missing out on the bribe factor. My kids have always earned their own spending money by way of good behavior and helping out. Its time much better spent. I would tell them now.

 

[Elmo888]

I'm in the same boat. Our trip is in January, and we haven't told DD7 and DD2. We are planning to tell DD7 and DD2 at Christmas with WDW for Kids by Kids book for DD7 and the Sing Along DVD for DD2.

We talk about it in that "what if" tone, and DD7 has not picked up! She even saw my new copy of the Unofficial Guide 2008, and she just thinks "Mommy likes to read about WDW", which is true. She hasn't seemed to put 2 and 2 together. I talk about restaurants that we might want to try with DH in front of her, and I have even asked her about restaurants (all ADRs are set). We still watch the planning DVD and the Travel Channel WDW shows, so the excitement still seems there. It is as if she knows that we are going in the future (and that's what we lead her to believe), but not that it is actually planned. I'm just wondering if she'll figure it out before we actually tell her. Right now, we talk about a trip hypothetically.

I'm dying to tell her, but it is just a lot of time for her to wait. We went last January, and she knew from the March before. It just seemed so long for her. I would wait until November at least. Talking to her in "what ifs" seems to work for me and, hopefully, her. She's excited about going again in any case.

(I'm afraid to put a countdown ticker in my siggy just in case she's looking over my shoulder!)

 

[DisMom-2-SSS]

TELL THEM!!! Being part of the planning is SO fun for the kids!
We've made "goal posters" with pics of things that they want to do or buy...that way they can "work" on earning Disney Dollars.

I just created a Countdown Calendar also.... we did this last time and they fought over who got to X out the day! We had to alternate days between the three (DD15/DS8/DD4) of them!

I have it saved in WORD... it's only from December 07 to April 08 but if you'd like it...I'll email it you! You'll just have to customize it to your plans!

 

[belle&beast]

I guess I am in the minority because we are keeping our December trip a secret! Our kids keep asking about when we can go back to WDW and I just keep telling them we are saving because it costs a lot of money! Our trip is early Dec. and we are going to tell them the morning we leave- details aren't positive yet. DH wants to take them to the airport and not say anything, I thought about having a note in their Christmas stockings and packed luggage to surprise them in the morning.

We have been keeping this trip[ a secret since we booked it in February!!! It is difficult, but I know my kids will be really excited and it will be worth the wait!

 

[goofypooh]

DisMom-2-SSS, Yes, I'd love a copy of the countdown calendar! Thank you!

 

[goofypooh]

belle&beast- Wow, you have been keeping the secret a long time! I'm not sure I could do that. I'm still not sure what I will do...I can definitely see both sides of it. I agree that it is fun for them to be in on the planning, but sometimes I don't like to tell them too far in advance because it is so hard to wait. But, our trip is less than four months away, so that is not too bad. Plus, I will have to tell teachers to get homework for DD12 & DD10 so someone might slip and tell them.

 

[belle&beast]

belle&beast- Wow, you have been keeping the secret a long time! I'm not sure I could do that. I'm still not sure what I will do...I can definitely see both sides of it. I agree that it is fun for them to be in on the planning, but sometimes I don't like to tell them too far in advance because it is so hard to wait. But, our trip is less than four months away, so that is not too bad. Plus, I will have to tell teachers to get homework for DD12 & DD10 so someone might slip and tell them.

It has been a long process, that's why I visit the DIS so much--I have other people to talk with about our planning. Your kids are quite a bit older than mine, DD is 6 and DS is 3, so when we decided to go, we knew we could not tell them right away, it was just too far into the future. As we are getting closer, we decided to keep it a secret, but they do have a say in the planning. We are always talking about "the next time we go, what should we do?" So without realizing it, they have given us their input. They have chosen most of their character meals and there will be surprises along the way- like the BBB for our DD and Barber Shop for our DS.

I will have to tell the teachers, too (DD is in kindergarten) so I am hoping they will keep it quiet. I am nervous to tell them! It is not against policy to take kids out of school, but they do not encourage it either. Well, that's a whole new thread! Good luck with your decision.

 

[DisMom-2-SSS]

Hey GoofyPooh....just e-mail me and I will reply back with the calendar. Like I said, it is in WORD and you'll have to customize it for you!

joeydale@gt.rr.com

 

[Michigan]

I say don't tell them until Christmas Eve by having Mickey Mouse call.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We never tell our kids until we're ready to go. This year we did tell them 2 days before we left because DS5 was upset about missing the last day of school.

 

[Freyja]

We never tell our kids until we're ready to go. This year we did tell them 2 days before we left because DS5 was upset about missing the last day of school.

May I ask why?

 

[lynninpa]

You can surprise them AND let them in on the excitement of anticipation & planning! That is exactly what we did last year. Using Fortune Cookies, we surprised my kids (9, 19 & 25) and the older one's spouses and our grandkids with a trip to Disney! We held the secret for quite awhile (which was fun, too!) yet announced the surprise in plenty of time to allow them to share in the excitement of waiting for the day we boarded the plane to Disney!!

 

[solferino]

I'm in the same boat. Our trip is in January, and we haven't told DD7 and DD2. We are planning to tell DD7 and DD2 at Christmas with WDW for Kids by Kids book for DD7 and the Sing Along DVD for DD2.

We talk about it in that "what if" tone, and DD7 has not picked up! She even saw my new copy of the Unofficial Guide 2008, and she just thinks "Mommy likes to read about WDW", which is true. She hasn't seemed to put 2 and 2 together. I talk about restaurants that we might want to try with DH in front of her, and I have even asked her about restaurants (all ADRs are set). We still watch the planning DVD and the Travel Channel WDW shows, so the excitement still seems there. It is as if she knows that we are going in the future (and that's what we lead her to believe), but not that it is actually planned. I'm just wondering if she'll figure it out before we actually tell her. Right now, we talk about a trip hypothetically.

I'm dying to tell her, but it is just a lot of time for her to wait. We went last January, and she knew from the March before. It just seemed so long for her. I would wait until November at least. Talking to her in "what ifs" seems to work for me and, hopefully, her. She's excited about going again in any case.

(I'm afraid to put a countdown ticker in my siggy just in case she's looking over my shoulder!)

LOL, I could have written a lot of this. Which is why my ticker is worded as such. Last trip we told her on Christmas. We don't want to do that this time, but we don't want to tell her too soon though. I'd love to wait until the "family" birthday party, 2 days before we leave, but that's cutting it way too close. (She'll turn 9 on our trip)

Depending on where we go for thanksgiving (my parents or DH's) may determine if we tell then. We go with DH's parents (great fun for all!) and we could easily spill the beans during the meal. Still a little time to think about how to do it.

Sounds like we'll be down there around the same time. Hope your trip is wonderful no matter when you decide to tell them.

 

[laughinplace199]

You can surprise them AND let them in on the excitement of anticipation & planning! That is exactly what we did last year. Using Fortune Cookies, we surprised my kids (9, 19 & 25) and the older one's spouses and our grandkids with a trip to Disney! We held the secret for quite awhile (which was fun, too!) yet announced the surprise in plenty of time to allow them to share in the excitement of waiting for the day we boarded the plane to Disney!!

Wow, fortune cookies - what a great idea!

Anyway, I agree with lynninpa. You can surpise them by telling them in a fun way and they can still help with planning and enjoy being excited about the trip. In May, we booked a last minute trip for Aug. I had thought of surprising the kids, but I was so excited I knew I couldn't keep the secret, even for just two and a half months. So I made little clues and hid them around the house. The clues had riddles on them that would lead them to different locations in the house. The final clue led them to the computer. I had typed "We're going back to Disney World!" on the screen and let DD7 read it out loud to DS5. They went crazy!

Have a great trip!

 

[goofypooh]

Ok, I love the idea of surprising them now in a fun way & then having fun with planning, countdown calendars, etc. I love the fortune cookie idea or the scavengar hunt! Now I just have to decide the best way to surprise them!! We had been planning to go in March 2009, so now that we have already booked a January 2008 trip without telling them will be a surprise for them in itself!