Should we tell the kids or keep it a suprise?

[mickeymousepuppy]

Hi everyone! I am fairly new to this sight and addicted already! We took the kids in 2005 when they were 3, 5 and 14yo. They LOVED it. We have wanted to go back several times, but we kept having to postpone for finical reasons. We are now done paying child support and that money will go to our Disney Fund! Yahoo! We are going 10/16/10 - 10/23/10. We have booked a house in Windor Hills, Disney themed and I can't wait!!!

I was wondering if we should keep the trip a suprise and pick the boys up on the way to the airport, or tell them and let them be a part of the planning process. It's so exciting for me, I wonder if they will miss out without the anticipation.

Any thoughts?

 

[PollyannaMom]

I tend to involve DS in the planning. The anticipation is part of the fun for him.

 

[halikatak]

Surprise! And have the video camera ready!!

 

[ireland_nicole]

Personally, I had a really bad surprise reaction from my kiddos last trip, so I'm a big fan of letting them in on the planning. That being said, we're going next year, and are thinking about putting a present under the tree at Christmas w/ helium filled mickey balloons and an invitation (kind of like the commercials) w/ our trip dates; so they get a surprise, but get to plan, too.

 

[chrissid7]

I think that would depend on how you think your kids will react (I know its hard to judge sometimes). We told our about 3 weeks before we left thinking that would be enough time for the excitement but not so long that it feels like it would never come. It worked out for us. I think either way its huge and they'll be thrilled! Good luck with the decision!

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

Our first trip was a complete surprise. We told them at the very last minute. Of course the very last minute was when the WDW arch was visible. It was AWESOME.

Next trip, they are getting exactly 24 hours notice.

 

[dfchelbay]

Hi everyone! I am fairly new to this sight and addicted already! We took the kids in 2005 when they were 3, 5 and 14yo. They LOVED it. We have wanted to go back several times, but we kept having to postpone for finical reasons. We are now done paying child support and that money will go to our Disney Fund! Yahoo! We are going 10/16/10 - 10/23/10. We have booked a house in Windor Hills, Disney themed and I can't wait!!!

I was wondering if we should keep the trip a suprise and pick the boys up on the way to the airport, or tell them and let them be a part of the planning process. It's so exciting for me, I wonder if they will miss out without the anticipation.

Any thoughts?

With their ages, I'd lean more toward telling them ahead of time. At their ages, in their little minds they have their little must haves. Picking them up on the way to the airport won't give them a chance to bring their creature comforts like gameboy, ipod, certain clothes, etc.

Better safe than sorry.

 

[bjscheel]

We usually plan months in advance and the kids know months in advance and we talk about it the whole time. They like helping with plans. However, last night I booked for 11/4-9 which is just over a month away! I am going to give them at least a week's notice to help pack and prepare at school. They have been in on planning three trips in 4 years so they've had their chance. This one obviously isn't getting much planning, so we'll let it ride for a while with the kids.

They would definitely want to help pack. I would probably forget Clifford the Big Red Dog. That would be a disaster!

Okay, he's big enough I won't forget him, but I think they'll do better knowing some time before departure day.

Since your kids haven't been in a while, I would let them know at least a few months ahead. You can get more mileage out of your vacation by having all the planning discussions and anticipation.

 

[We_love_WDW]

It depends - I like the ideas of wrapping a present under the tree with the trip dates and then still letting them plan. DId the older ones enjoy planning last time? This past summer I made a countdown chart and everyday we put a sticker on there - we got guide books from the library and picked out things and talked about things we wanted to do, and we watched all the Disney specials on the travel channel - this was all very exciting. We are now going on a surprise trip in Nov - our DD 4 thinks the next time we are going is next summer - so we are going to surprise her this time...I can't wait to see how she will react .

 

[California Jenn]

I think the anticipation is a large part of the fun of traveling, so I would definitely let them know at least some point in advance. It sounds like your trip is planned for next October, so you have a while to figure out how to tell them. Planning a special way of letting them know in advance would be fun, too!

A year may be to much notice -- at their ages (they'll be about 7 and 9, right?) it will feel like an eternity, but certainly a few months in advance would be fun and let them participate in which parks they want to go to, which restaurants and activities, etc.

 

[Darcy03231]

I would tell them ahead of time but would wait until it is closer to the trip.

When I took my niece for her first trip last year we told her a week ahead (she was 4, almost 5 at the time). It was just enough time for her to get excited about the trip, but not so far off into the future that she drove us crazy about going.

Given the ages of your kids I would probably tell them a month in advance. Long enough to get excited, but not so far out they drive you nuts.

 

[disney67]

Let me start by saying on my last trip my dd was my partner . with getting the count downs and planning everything with me . But this upcomming trip we are keeping it a secret we are leaving thanksgiving and dd thinks we are going to CA to visit my sister , for the surprise i made shirts for her and my little one cause when i land in MCO i will say we have to change there shirts and they say there surprise trip 2009 , it is going to be worth it when i see there smile from ear to ear this is what makes keeping it a secret the best part for us as parents.

 

[mickeymousepuppy]

Thank you everyone for all the feedback! We certainly have a lot to think about, but we have plently of time for that.

 

[tutter99]

It really depends on how well they adapt to changes in their routine. My DS4 is about as easy going as they come and is a seasoned traveller (30+ flights so far) so he thinks nothing of us packing up and going off the normal routine.

We just got back from 10 days onsite and we didn't tell him anything beforehand other then we were going on an adventure. It was a 9 hour drive and we stopped overnight about 2 hours outside of Orlando. When we got in the van the next morning I had a box of Mickey cookies on his seat but told him it was too early to open them yet. When we were at the stoplight outside the turn for our resort he looked out the window and asked us why Mickey was on that billboard? I asked him who was on his cookie box and where he thought we were. There was about 5 seconds of silence while his brain put it all together before he yelled "I love you!" and spent the next 3 days telling us that he couldn't beleive we were at Disney World.

It really doesn't matter if you tell them 3 months or 3 minutes before hand, just make sure you tape it. I'll never forget my son's reaction but i'm glad I have it on tape to show the family now that we are back.

 

[Ashlander]

We leave for Florida in 21 days The kids still do not know we are going to Disney. They know we are going on a trip to Florida - to the beach. I just didn't tell them it was the Caribbean Beach Resort (lol). It's been tough keeping the secret. Especially every time we talk about our trip they ask if we can go to Disney.

I'm making a DVD right now starting with pictures of CBR and it will eventually tell the surprise. I'm so excited - this is such a hard secret to keep. On the other hand, I am a little glad it is a secret because they are more focused on school and not so crazy right now. Of course I do miss the excitement of counting down the days with the kids. Last year my then 3 year old would tell me a secret every night before bed. She would whisper "are we going to Disney today?" It was so awesome the day I could finally say yes

 

[Chelley00]

Why not surprise them, but a few weeks ahead of time? Then you still get the big "reveal" but they have time to get excited.

Or, you can let them know you are going, but surprise them with details. DD knows we're going, however, she knows NOTHING. She thinks she's staying at Caribbean Beach, when I upgraded her to AKL (she will LOVE it) She has no idea where we're eating, some of the fun things I have planned (Like Pirate League) and I've ordered a basket to be delivered to the room.

 

[svioli]

I vote surprise!

We're leaving on Nov 7. Kids think we're going to Phoenix - of course I told them we got REALLY cheap plane tickets and we have to go through Orlando! we'll have the video camera ready when we get off the plane, and get our luggage. they have absolutely NO IDEA!

 

[xipetotec]

Hi everyone! I am fairly new to this sight and addicted already! We took the kids in 2005 when they were 3, 5 and 14yo. They LOVED it. We have wanted to go back several times, but we kept having to postpone for finical reasons. We are now done paying child support and that money will go to our Disney Fund! Yahoo! We are going 10/16/10 - 10/23/10. We have booked a house in Windor Hills, Disney themed and I can't wait!!!

I was wondering if we should keep the trip a suprise and pick the boys up on the way to the airport, or tell them and let them be a part of the planning process. It's so exciting for me, I wonder if they will miss out without the anticipation.

Any thoughts?

It is MY DREAM to surprise the kids with a trip to Disney. But A) it's always too hard to contain myself. but also, B) We plan so far ahead and go on a pretty set 2-year schedule that they kinda know anyway.

One time, I'd love to plan a trip totally off our usual time that we go and keep it a total secret. ( Maybe even during school time to REALLY surprise the heck outta them )

 

[thebeesknees]

We surprised our kids and they had no idea until we walked up to the Magical Express counter. It was so sweet to see their faces and how excited they got. It was fun to surprise them, but I think next time we would probalby tell them a couple of days before we leave so they can look forward to it. Anticipation adds a lot of fun to trips, as well.

 

[lucyem]

My husband and I are having this discussion right now. It is going to be a surprise no matter what but how we do not know.

My husband wants to wait until the very last minute. He wants to pick our older son up after school and start driving. And not tell him until he sees the "welcome to Florida" sign. Though knowing our son he may not figure it out until he sees WDW signs.

While I totally agree that would be so fun I would rather surprise the kids by telling them at Christmas. They are 4 & 7 so the 4 yr old will just be excited because we are. We have a trip planned for Feb. I have a bunch of reasons to tell our son at Christmas in a big surprise kind of way. 1. We want to keep Christmas very simple so money can be saved for the trip and I want him to know why. 2. With all the planning we have to do (we have a farm) I am so afraid my son will figure it out ahead of time. I almost slipped while on the phone with the pet sitter the other day. 3. I am worried a teacher may slip up and say something 4. It would give grandparents something to do for Christmas - giving money for the trip or a toy for the long car ride (24 hours driving over 2 days) 5. I love giving him the excitement of the time before we leave. Anticipation. Something fun to look forward to and then he can help make plans.