Suprising My Grandkids for Christmas!!

[VickynMicMouse]

I need some idea's to suprise my Grandkids with a trip I am giving them for Christmas. We are not telling them til the day we leave. The kids are 9, 8, and 4 Can you give some great ideas on how to suprise them???

 

[LuvMyEAR]

What an amazing Christmas gift! Have they been to WDW before?

if not, please manage your own expectations of their reactions. A lot of young ones are not excited for many reasons, and many are downright stressed or downright unhappy when faced with what is a very abrupt change of plans in their day. It can make for a rough start to what should be a joyful time! If they have already have some magical memories of WDW, they are far more likely to be delighted by the surprise. Not even all adults can react favourably to being told they are being whisked away for an experience for which they have no context whatsoever.

We pulled off a surprise trip for our grandsons’ 3rd visit. They were 7 and 8 at that time.
We had their suitcases waiting at the airport, where they thought they were dropping off their Dad for a business trip. The 8 year old was flat out over the moon, but the 7 year old took about 15 minutes to adsorb the situation. His first thought was that his dad was not going to be coming, as he was supposed to be going on a different trip! Once reality sunk in that we were all going together, he was so shocked (and excited) that he shook for the next half hour! Could hardly even talk.

It was a very different experience for all of us and we frankly missed the shared anticipation of previous and future trips. It is something we still talk about, and they are firm in the conviction that they appreciated the surprise but missed our fun countdowns, planning sessions, and more. The “surprise” element still exists… but it is far more enjoyable when it comes a few months before the trip. So, when the decision is made and the dates and a few other logistics have been settled, we plan an event, such as a Disney-themed dinner, usually accompanied by a small travel-related gift (like new pjs to pack, etc) to make the announcement. We are in that stage now, for a Nov 2021 trip, and we are all having a ball, chatting about all the things we want to do, and getting excited with every announcement that WDW is getting back to normal. YAY for fireworks!!!

Over the coming months, we’ll treat him some of the classic movies, break out our favourite Disney recipes, and take delight in telling one another how many days until…. We always try to do something new, and this time it will be to play golf on a Disney course, thanks to their new interest in the sport. The other very exciting thing is that their other grandmother is coming, too! It will be her first visit, and the boys are having fun thinking of all their favourite things to share with her.

Yes, this is long, but please consider presenting your wonderful surprise even 48 hours before your departure if it is a first visit. Wrap up some little backpacks with some travel essentials, snacks, and activities suitable for the journey. Show them pictures, snd talk about the wonderful adventure ahead.

 

[Wayland10]

We did this with my kids once! We had their bags hidden in the car and were supposed to be going to my sister’s to decorate her tree… when we got there she said that she’d decided it was too soon to get a tree, and why didn’t we just go to Disney World instead? The Uber was waiting to get us to the airport.

…or that was the plan. On our way out the door my dad yelled to me to be sure I didn’t forget the Disney tickets! Busted!

 

[mjkacmom]

We surprised our 5 kids the morning of with tshirts, woke them at 5 am, ages 4 - 11. We told them the night before they were missing school to go to a great aunt’s birthday party at a nursing home hours away. Then their grandparents showed up at our house to let them know they were also coming. After our 6 nights at the BC villas, we were off to the airport, but actually arrived at the cruise port. After the cruise, we told them we were really going to the airport (which was a bit of a nightmare because it was packed and our flight was overbooked, and grandpa was cranky).

 

[VickynMicMouse]

The

What an amazing Christmas gift! Have they been to WDW before?

if not, please manage your own expectations of their reactions. A lot of young ones are not excited for many reasons, and many are downright stressed or downright unhappy when faced with what is a very abrupt change of plans in their day. It can make for a rough start to what should be a joyful time! If they have already have some magical memories of WDW, they are far more likely to be delighted by the surprise. Not even all adults can react favourably to being told they are being whisked away for an experience for which they have no context whatsoever.

We pulled off a surprise trip for our grandsons’ 3rd visit. They were 7 and 8 at that time. View attachment 583191
We had their suitcases waiting at the airport, where they thought they were dropping off their Dad for a business trip. The 8 year old was flat out over the moon, but the 7 year old took about 15 minutes to adsorb the situation. His first thought was that his dad was not going to be coming, as he was supposed to be going on a different trip! Once reality sunk in that we were all going together, he was so shocked (and excited) that he shook for the next half hour! Could hardly even talk.

It was a very different experience for all of us and we frankly missed the shared anticipation of previous and future trips. It is something we still talk about, and they are firm in the conviction that they appreciated the surprise but missed our fun countdowns, planning sessions, and more. The “surprise” element still exists… but it is far more enjoyable when it comes a few months before the trip. So, when the decision is made and the dates and a few other logistics have been settled, we plan an event, such as a Disney-themed dinner, usually accompanied by a small travel-related gift (like new pjs to pack, etc) to make the announcement. We are in that stage now, for a Nov 2021 trip, and we are all having a ball, chatting about all the things we want to do, and getting excited with every announcement that WDW is getting back to normal. YAY for fireworks!!!

Over the coming months, we’ll treat him some of the classic movies, break out our favourite Disney recipes, and take delight in telling one another how many days until…. We always try to do something new, and this time it will be to play golf on a Disney course, thanks to their new interest in the sport. The other very exciting thing is that their other grandmother is coming, too! It will be her first visit, and the boys are having fun thinking of all their favourite things to share with her.

Yes, this is long, but please consider presenting your wonderful surprise even 48 hours before your departure if it is a first visit. Wrap up some little backpacks with some travel essentials, snacks, and activities suitable for the journey. Show them pictures, snd talk about the wonderful adventure ahead.

They Have been before 1 time in 2018 So this will be my Grandsons 4 year old's first time to experience it He was 1 last time. The older 2 talk about it all the time and ask when we are going back. We had plans last year but Covid had other plans. We are going Nov 30th thru Dec 8th Thanks for the ideas.... We are going to probably do the suitcases under the tree idea and unwrap them the night before.

 

[Erica Ladd]

I too would give them a grace period so it has time to sink in - 2 or 3 days. That way they can be surprised and still have anticipation and be part of planning (not hotel or adr’s but packing, activities Etc). Sounds like fun! Also it will give the older ones a chance to really talk to the younger one about all the fun they are going to have

 

[ditchdiggert200]

DW and I did this as a Christmas surprise 2020 for a trip in Jan 2021. Everyone knew but the kiddos. (DS 9 and DD 11) They received all of their Christmas presents and then we had them do a scavenger hunt through the house with Disney based clues to find 3 additional presents. Each of those 3 presents had something in them to tell them they were going to WDW. We originally had decided on a DCL trip, but with C-19... we did WDW instead. The 2 big items were a 2021 1st trip to WDW ornament and a 2021 Mandalorian calendar with the trip marked and a 'Certificate' saying they were going to WDW. DD figured it out right away, but took DS a couple extra second until it sank in. It was priceless to see their reaction.

Happy planning!!!

 

[MICKIMINI]

I love the packed suitcases under the tree idea! Our son was three on his first trip which was a Christmas/New Years visit. He was mesmerized. The next year, we made the mistake of going to DC the same week and the wind was howling as we stood waiting for a Smithsonian Museum to open. Our son said..."well, I guess we won't do this again"! We didn't! He's now 33 and he and DIL go at least 2-3 times a year and we meet at WDW for F & W.

How fun! Have a great trip!

 

[Blondie58]

I need some idea's to suprise my Grandkids with a trip I am giving them for Christmas. We are not telling them til the day we leave. The kids are 9, 8, and 4 Can you give some great ideas on how to suprise them???

YOU ARE THE BEST!!! I love your idea. I have no insight to your circumstances per flying or driving etc but if someone went a day early you could actually have a small tree and/or other decorations in the room at check-in. (Or check luggage with concierge and make an excuse to have one of your party stay behind and decorate while others go to eat or to the parks. (Have a delivery from Amazon waiting on you.) Grandma and Grandpa might need a nap and stay behind to decorate??? Or Mom and Grandma could have spa appointments and stay behind to decorate. You could have decorated cupcakes or a holiday cake ordered and delivered. Matching pjs for the whole family for the trip could also be fun. Matching t-shirts for the parks for pictures is yet another idea. We traveled with adults friends on one trip and I ordered matching Disney pillowcases off Ebay. On arrival all went to get items from Sandy Cove at GF for the refrigerator and snacks. I decorated with the pillow cases, a birthday banner, and Mickey Mouse decorations I hug from the lights. (Friend was celebrating 65 so we skipped the cupcakes but had a great bottle of Vodka for adult beverages waiting when they returned.) We are all waiting on grandchildren but in the meantime having fun at WDW as friends/couples. Going this December for another 65th b-day. I am going to make pillowcases out of Disney fabrics for all. Also going to make a table runner and take a small tree.) Wishing you an amazing time with your gandchildren and family!!! Merry Christmas.