Surprise the kids or not?

[xyymom]

My dh is really keen on getting in the van on departure day and saying "we're going to DisneyWorld!" Me, not so much! I can't contain my excitement, and planning in secret is frustrating! I also am taking three kids out of school (JK, Gr1 & Gr.3) for 6 days so I need to arrange this with teachers, but say "I can't tell you why"????

Please tell me why you wouldn't do this so I can have something to argue with him about Got any horror stories for me?

Or, maybe you think it's a great idea? Tell me why! The kids will be 8,6&4 and have never been to WDW (nor has dh, but he's been to DL).

Thanks

 

[iloveeeyore]

There are a number of reasons NOT to tell them, one being that if they know they are going, they may be distracted. Also, kids tend to not have such a great perception of time, so they may bug you "when are we going?" sort of thing. Plus, surprising them could be really FUN! I'm sure the teachers could keep a secret; just deal with the teachers directly and tell them it's a surprise.

One argumement FOR telling them is if you want to include their choices in your planning.

We're compromising; we're telling them the last day of school; so they don't have to think about it for months and months, but can be included in planning.

 

[carolinagirl]

We have a surprise trip planned for September of this year. Not telling the kids is turning out to be SO difficult!!! Both DH and I have both nearly slipped and let the cat out of the bag.

My plan for now is to pack once they go to bed the night before and when they get up the next morning tell them that we are going on a trip and that it is a surprise. Hopefully they won't know where we are going until we get to Orlando.....I'm sure DD will know once we start seeing Disney signs.

But...one thing I am missing with this plan is the excitement about the trip from the kids. The anticipation of going is almost as much fun as the trip itself...(well, not quite). So, there is one good reason to give your DH. That and it always nice to give the kids a little input when planning.

I don't know if I'm going to be able to hold out. Yesterday we were watching Ultimate WDW on the Travel Channel and DD7 looked at me and asked if we were going to WDW this year. I wanted to tell her so badly....but I didn't.

Also, we went to the Post Office and the man behind the counter asked DD if we had any plans for vacation this summer. She looked at me and I said "Well, no, not yet". I couldn't tell him that the reason we have no summer vacation planned is that we are saving for WDW in September. I bet he thinks we are terrible parents. Keeping this a secret is turning out to be so hard!

 

[minmate]

I think it depends on a few things... 1) have they been to WDW before 2) how your kids react to surprises in general and 3) what their personalities are like. My dd(4) has issues with transition and sudden changes of plans. My dh wanted to surprise them for their first trip too -- but I didn't think it was a very good idea. I was afraid it might backfire on us... so I chose to tell her and her sis -- our dd(5) a few weeks ahead of time -- got out the Disneyland Fun video and pics of my old trips to WDW and DL -- watched Disney movies together -- listened to Disney CD's etc --we anticipated our trip departure with these things -- I wanted to let all things disney sink in so they weren't too shell-shocked when we got there... Now, you (or DH) may be going for the opposite effect -- aniticipating the enjoyment of the surprise itself... if you feel you can confidently plan a trip they'll all enjoy and they will be happy with the surprise -- I'd say it's not a big deal -- however, if you want to "prepare them" a bit -- I'd say tell them and make a big deal about telling them even though it's early -- like with a cake shaped like mickey's ears for dessert one night -- or some fun creative way and it will still be fun... my kids just loved helping planning and going to the disney site and reading the descriptions about all the rides and such -- they liked to rate the rides on what they thought they'd like to do first etc...
good luck!

 

[DisneyJules]

I think it's a great idea to surprise the kids! My parents did that to me and my siblings when we were young and it was very exciting! I'm sure it'll be tough containing all that excitement, but just imagine the look on their faces when you tell them and think of the lasting memories it'll create.

 

[sarahkruse]

I think a surprise is a great idea! My parents did it to us when we were kids. They told us we were leaving on a Friday, when we were actually leaving on Wed or Thurs, I can't recall. The idea was not only that it would be a great surprise, but so we could actually get some sleep the night before without the anticipation keeping us awake. That morning they came into our room and asked where we wanted to go if we could go anywhere. When we said Disneyworld, they just said OK! It was a great surpise and to a kid, it just seemed so cool that Mom and Dad could just make it happen if we asked. It made things even more magical and we were well rested for all the fun to come!

 

[js]

My children, now 10 and 6, have been many times to Disney but we surprised them about 3 years ago. It was so much fun planning the trip, had a limo pick us up to take us to the airport, video taped my kids when I woke them up for "school" at 5 am only to tell them we were going to Disney. I also made a "booklet" and had my dd read it and the last page is when they found out they were going to Disney. I'm glad I did it but would I do it again? Probably not. My dd (the one who is 10), LOVES to plan and actually she, my mother and I just were sitting in my kitchen yesterday filling out our Passporter books for our trip end of November. My ds-6, although he had his Children's Unofficial book while we were filling out the Passporter, became bored but still loves to talk about Disney, what we will be going on and watches the planning cd whenever I put it on. So, IMO, I think it is a great thing to do once but probably won't do again, just for the reasons of my children love the planning just as much as I do. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

when i was younger, my parents suprised my brother and i about a month before we went..it was our easter present and we were sent on a scavenger hunt throughout the house....we still got to help plan and be excited, but were surprised as weell

 

[Skylarr29]

Well this is what I decieded to do for dd 1st trip. I wanted it to be a surprise so bad but agree that anticipation is part of the fun. So the day before my dd will recieve a huge package. There will be a post card with a message from mickey inviting her to come. She will have all day and all to be deleriously happy and that way its not too much of a surprise.

 

[jmet]

I vote for surprising the kids! My DH and I did this with our older son the first time we went - sort of. We actually sent him on a scavenger hunt on Valentines day to tell him that we were going - but then we told him we would go during spring break rather than the actual date, which was a few weeks earlier. We decided to do that because he had big standerdized testing the day we were flying out and we were worried that he wouldn't be able to concentrate at all if he knew we were leaving as soon as he got out of school that day. It was his first plane trip and first time to WDW. The teachers were great about it - most even waived most of his homework so he could really enjoy the trip! His reaction was - well, priceless! He was SO shocked he could not stop laughing! The funny thing is, ever since then he pleads with us not to tell him about upcoming trips - he just loves being surprised! We are planning another trip right after Thanksgiving and he knows the trip is in the works, but he covers his ears when he thinks he might hear WHEN it is - too funny! I agree though - it is VERY hard planning in secret. I guess I wouldn't recommend it though if you know your kids need that preperation/transition time - every kid and evey family is different, but for us, the surprise just adds to the fun!

Good Luck with whatever you decide and have a wonderful, magical trip!!!

Jamie

 

[HollyJoy]

Personally, I think it's a GREAT idea to surprise them! LOL You could surely tell the teachers in confidence, and if you had to tell the kids you were going on vacation (how would you pack w/out them knowing that), just tell them you're going somewhere else... Just imagine their excitement when they get in the car and you drop the wonderful news!!

 

[ziggystardust]

on my last trip to WDW - my friends and i were on the plane, and when we were about to land - the flight attendant says - welcome to orlando the home of mickey mouse. The row of kids behind us start screaming- it seems that their parents didn't tell them where they were going or even that they were going. The mother told me that she packed them all up the night before - woke them up at 6am and told them get dressed. they basically threw them on the plane- and they had NO idea about anything.

The kids were so happy . the entire plane - including myself all wished that that would have happened to us.
It was a great surprise.
I hope you can keep the secret- before witnessing this - i wouldn't have been able to.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I picked my DD7 up from school early on May 21 and when she got in the car, I pointed my camera at her and said we are Going to WDW! She didn't believe me until I told her to look at the suitcases in the back of the van. The look on her face was priceless.

On our trip she told me she loved me a million times. I think the surprise made it extra magical!

Lori

 

[marcyinPA]

Keep it a secret!!! I wish I had! We just came back 3 weeks ago, after planning this trip since Oct. of last year. I couldn't contain my excitement so I told our boys, ages 8 & 4 (turned 9 and 5 on our trip!). They were part of the planning, but it didn't really sink in until a week or two before we were due to leave. Well, my third grader had a horrible couple of weeks. He couldn't concentrate, his test scores for those weeks were terrible, his school work was sloppy, he forgot to bring homework home...I had a pow wow with his teacher, and she basically blamed me for taking him out of school to go to on vacation and that the upcoming vacation was all he was talking about.

He is an excellent student and that is why we planned the trip in May. Never did it dawn on me that the EXCITEMENT of the trip the week before would do him in. Once we returned, he was instantly back on track, and then he only had 3 weeks of school left. Unfortunately, I'm sure his final report card won't be that great...not as good as the first 3 quarters anyway.

I wish I had just kept my mouth shut and picked him up from school and put him on the plane before telling him. I think it would have been a whole lot easier that way!

 

[d96j97]

We just returned for a week trip in May and surprised our 6 and 7 year olds!! I had planned with their teachers and coaches in advance and told as few people as possible that might "spill the beans". The teachers were INCREDIBLE! They loved the surprise! We actually left at 8:30pm from West Virginia so they were asleep by 9pm. We just told them we were going for a ride. They slept for the next 9 hours. When they did get up, they questioned us and we still "played dumb". Once we reached the Florida border...my oldest said "FLORIDA!!! What are we doing in Florida?" He and his brother were giggling so much because every other billboard said something about Disney.

When they asked us if we were going somewhere that begins with a "D", I said "no". They went through the alphabet and when they reached "W", I said "yes". They were clueless at that point because they know it as "Disney"...not "Walt Disney World". Once we got to the gates, they obviously figured it out and went NUTS!!!!! We have it on tape and it is priceless!!!

It was soooooooooo hard not to tell them but soooooo much worth the payoff.

Have a wonderful time!!!!

 

[lasmickey]

We want to surprise our DD-7 and DD-4, but we also want them to be part of the planning. So we've decided to tell them at our 100 day mark (which just happens to be Father's Day). They know we're going "sometime". We've told them that we'll go as soon as we can all save enough money. (This has really helped with the "I wants" when we go to the store, etc.)

We plan to do a treasure hunt that will end with them finding small backpacks filled with Disney stuff for their trip, along with a really cool countdown chain that DH made for them. It's numbered 1 - 100 and has different characters on each link. We're hoping that with something "visual" to help them in the countdown, it will cut down on the "How much longer till we go?" questions!

I can hardly wait to tell them on Father's Day. They've been begging to go for the past year. I know I'd never be able to make it until September!

Nobody knows your kids like you do. I'm sure that whatever you decide to do, it will be great!!! Good Luck!

 

[DumboFan]

I vote for the surprise! My DD gets out of school next Tuesday & we leave for a quick trip on Thursday. She knows nothing about it! I have to keep reminding myself to say "when we go to Disney this summer" instead of "in June"! I'm planning on telling her we'll go out to dinner with my mom (she's going with us) to celebrate finishing kindergarten. Of course, once we get to the airport she'll know where we're going because "airplanes only fly to Disney World!"

 

[MrsJ Henry]

All I will say is that years ago when WDW just opened My best friend's mother and father picked her up from school and said we are going to Disney World.
Many years later (We are both 40) she will tell you that it was the best surprise she ever had and one of her happiest memories.
She loves to tell the story of the surprise and although she loved going to WDW, the biggest and brightest part of the story is the surprise part!!

 

[twoksmom]

This is what we are doing in September. Our 2 dds do not know about the trip. We are planning on doing something that Friday before we leave at our oldest dds class. Our youngest won't be in school yet. We are going to tell them that Friday and leave very early Sunday morning. They will have a full day to discuss what they want to do while they're at DW. I haven't exactly figured out how we'll do it yet. I can't wait!!!! April

 

[beatlebailey]

a few years ago i came home on leave from the navy for christmas on dec 15 on the morning of the 16 my mother and me got my sisters up for school at the normal time of 5:45 am i then gave them there christmas presents wdw t-shirts. there like great disney t-shirts. until i told them they could put them on when we get there then i told them to look under the shirts there was airline tickets hoter ressies and disney passes for a week. we then told them to pack we leave for the airport in an hour. the photo's of that look on there faces is priceless. needless to say they liked there first trip to disney. plus rach the older of the two turned 16 while we were there. when you tell them take pictures or tape it. its worth it for the suprise.plus they will never forget the suprise instint joy.