Surprise the kids the day before or at the airport?

[zomama]

Our kids are very young- 5.5 and almost 3. We have been really talking about Disney a lot this year because they really want to go badly, but they think we are going sometime in a year or so because it is so expensive we have to save up money for it. Really we are going in 2 weeks

We have narrowed the big reveal to 2 different scenarios:

1. the day before we leave the doorbell rings and a big box is waiting for them. Open the box and out comes some mickey balloons. In the box are a few disney shirts, etc and a letter telling them that tomorrow morning they are coming to Disney.

2. Wake them up for our early flight and tell them we are going somewhere but it is a surprise. Once we get to the airport let them guess. They will guess right away because the little one associates airplanes with disney.

WWYD????

 

[melifeld]

We are also surprising our DS with a trip for his birthday. We are trying to decide when to tell him. We were thinking that we would have a scavenger hunt for him the day before that ends with a box with Disney stuff and a letter that says we are going tomorrow. We will be driving, and I think we will have an easier time in the car if he already knows where we are going.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I have done two surprise trips. My daughter was 7 when I did the "you're going tomorrow" surprise. When she came back from a playdate I had put a huge Disney display on the couch with all of the stuff I'd gotten her for the trip with a letter telling her we were going.

The following year I planned a trip to Sea World for her fall break. She'd been begging to go there. I didn't tell her at the airport. I picked her up early from school and I let her know when she got in the van where she was going. I put a sign on her window and when she slid the door closed she was staring at a picture of Shamu with the words "You are going to Sea World".

I thought about revealing at the airport, but my child is a squealer.

Our trip last year, they both knew about from the beginning.

I'm trying to decide what to do this time myself now that my younger child is old enough to get excited. When I mentioned summer vacation I suggested the beach. They both started begging to go back to Disney. I caved and it's planned and almost paid for, but they have no idea.

Have fun.

 

[TheSilverTherapist]

No no no, you've got it all backwards.

If Homer Simpson taught me anything, it's that you tell the kids you're going to Disney World and then surprise them with a trip to the dentist.

 

[3girls4me05]

I would do the day before. I would want them to be able to tell me if they wanted their favorite stuff animal to come on the plane with us or anything like that. The day before is still super exciting but gives them a few hours to plan anything they want to bring.

 

[joshsmom]

No no no, you've got it all backwards.

If Homer Simpson taught me anything, it's that you tell the kids you're going to Disney World and then surprise them with a trip to the dentist.

This made me spit out my tea!!! Thanks for the laugh!!

I did two surprise trips for DS:

1. He was turning 8 the next day. Scavenger hunt in the house. Each clue was attached to a plastic key (like the kind you get for babies). Last clue led him to the Disney Planning DVD and he already had the "keys to the Kingdom". We left the next morning.

2. (this one was better) He was 10 and although he begged, told him we couldn't afford Disney, but we could go to Chicago. Got up to go to the airport, he, mom and I dressed in our Disney shirts (just for fun). Got to the airport (he still didn't know) and the skycap said "oh, going to DISNEYWORLD??" He had a sad look and said "no, not this time. Going to Chicago." The skycap looked confused until I winked at him. Got to the gate. Other kids there in Disney clothes. STILL didn't get it. At 7am (plane left at 8am), "Mickey Mouse" called DS to tell him he was going to DisneyWorld. He actually cried--but in a good way.

Point is, however you do it, enjoy it and take pictures of the reaction of your kids! PRICELESS!!!

 

[luvmy2babies]

I would do the day before. I would want them to be able to tell me if they wanted their favorite stuff animal to come on the plane with us or anything like that. The day before is still super exciting but gives them a few hours to plan anything they want to bring.

This is a good point. I knew what my children would want as far as the favorite stuffed animal, but I had to get pretty creative to get my daughter's favorite doll into the van that day. Of course we were leaving after school. One favorite doll...it was show and tell day and I gently suggested she choose the doll for her presentation that day.

If you decide on the day before and they have to get up early for the flight, make sure to tell them early enough so they'll have time to calm down and go to bed.

 

[wrighter]

I have surprised my kids (now 9 and 7) in the airport parking lot before. It was so much fun! (Told them we were picking up Dad from a business trip. Once we parked, I opened up the back of the van, let them see all our luggage, and told them instead that Dad was meeting us at WDW.) Best surprise ever for them!

I considered telling them the day before, just in case there was something in particular they wanted to bring, plan, etc. But really, I still do almost all of the packing and know what extra "lovies" they need. To be honest, I was afraid if I'd told them the night before that they wouldn't get any sleep at all! And my kids need their sleep. I thought that their added "excitement" might interfere with my ability to get everything done. I need normalcy for one last night before the ensuing mayhem! Lol!

You really can't go wrong either way. A Disney surprise is great no matter when it is given or received.

(FWIW, I loved that airport parking lot surprise so much that we're trying to pull it off one more time, since DH wasn't there to see it in person. So this time we're giving them a WDW trip for Christmas, in leau of gifts, and we're actually leaving late Christmas morning. CANNOT WAIT!!!!! I don't know the last time I've been this excited for Christmas morning - and it's still months away!)

 

[Superspectral]

Two years ago we surprised DS 9 and DS 5 with a surprise 3 day trip to WDW over the long weekend. We picked up both early from school to get to the airport. DS 9 was quite surprised; but DS 5 had woken up and seen mom and dad packing and heard us whisper about it the night before so he was not so much surprised! But he did keep it secret for the day!

 

[tcoopman]

We surprised DD5 last time to WDW. We stayed in a hotel near the airport the night before our flight and told her we were just flying back home on the airplane. She figured it out when she recognized MCO (even though she had only been there once the year before).

This year she is 7 and I'm including her in most of the planning...except we are actually going about 2 months before she thinks we are. I'm going to tell her when she gets home from school the day before we leave (we'll probably be heading to the hotel that night). I like that she can be involved and build excitement...and still be surprised.

 

[momof2n2]

I like your first idea. I have two friends who went with your plan B this year and it was a lot of fun. We've done a lot of vacations and most we tell them ahead of time and twice we have surprised them (not all WDW mind you). I enjoy seeing them enjoy the anticipation.

 

[PrincessP]

We have surprised ours on the day OF departure twice....we did not do anything super special for the big reveal.....no time for scavenger hunts b/c we wanted to get on the road as early as possible to maximize Disney time, but Disney is so special itself that they didn't need it. Kids were 6&4, then 7&5 on those trips.

Most recent trip, ages 9&7, we did a scavenger hunt the day BEFORE departure. This was my favorite way to reveal the news. However, My 9 y.o. DS could not sleep that night b/c he was so excited. Starting out a wdw trip already sleep deprived was not ideal. He told us to reveal at least a week in advance next time so he can get over the excitement.....or wait until departure day like we normally do to tell him. Lol

I like to know their likes, dislikes for planning purposes so starting months in advance I ask misc. Disney questions at random times.....like whenever we do go to Disney.....what do you want to ride....which parks do you want to visit, ...which character meals would you want to do, what will you want to bring (plus we let them pack their "riding in the car bag" after we tell them where we're going so they have their fave stuffed toy or whatever). We talk Disney all the time so it is not odd for me to ask those Disney questions at random times....it doesn't give away the surprise.

Have a magical trip!

 

[amydeich]

My kids are the exact same ages as yours, both girls, and they too have been begging to go but we keep saying not yet, we haven't saved up enough money yet... They think all the piggy banks in the house have to be full first! But we're going in a month!
The last day of school is a Thursday and we leave the following Monday morning to drive down. My two surprise options are 1) wake up that Friday morning, first day of "vacation", and have a big Mickey breakfast with balloons, a sign, t shirts, etc and the planning DVD playing instead of their morning Disney Jr shows, or 2) get in the car on departure day to new princess dolls in their carseats and bag of Disney surprises for each... I'm thinking option 1 will be easier so I can have them already know while I'm scurrying around all weekend to pack and stuff. But option 2 would be so fun! They're going to be so excited no matter what!! Oh, and grandparents are meeting us there! An added surprise!

 

[Zooshoveller]

Last year we surprised our kids for their 8th birthday. We checked them out of school after lunch. "Surprise! The van is packed and we are driving to WDW right now!"

The kids think we are going this year over Thanksgiving break, but really we are leaving in 28 days. We will pick them up after the last day of school and "Surprise! The van is packed..."

 

[Wendybird55]

I agree that surprising kids is fun and enjoyable...especially seeing thier reactions...However, over the years (DS is 6 and has been to WDW every year since 2) I find planning the trip and anticipating and talking about it to be more fun for all of us. I try to plan special things and maybe surprises for during the trip, but I like to include DS in planning the trip. Plus I think the anticipation is half the fun. We talk about what we want to do, where we want to eat, the pins and vinylmations he wants to trade....plus we look at rides and such on youtube...

So, I would surprise them the day before...as PP said it gives you the chance to get some info from them and give them some of that special anticipation time....

 

[ttintagel]

You know your kids best, but I wouldn't do either. I'd tell them now and let them be mentally and emotionally prepared for a big trip.

 

[Kat016]

We were going to surprise our kids, DD10 & DS8, the morning we are leaving. We booked our trip for October last October but we lasted about a week and realized how difficult it was to plan it when they are always around. Lol

 

[Wistraveler]

Last year my daughter took her two boys (12 & 10) on a surprise trip & didn't tell them until the day before so they could tell their classmates where they were going. I was to watch their dog.

She confided in me with the plans including al the details, reservation number, flights, etc. I used that info and booked an identical stay and arranged for adjoining rooms at POR. As soon as they left, I took the dog to a pre-arranged kennel and caught a later flight.

I arrived around 5:30PM while I knew they were having dinner at Fultons. When they got back she called me on my cell. I was waiting for them at the pool. A double surprise.

 

[Magpie]

It really depends on your kids! You know what will please them most.

As for my kids, I think the fact that our son greeted his third birthday with copious tears and demands that we "DON'T DO THAT!" pretty much gave us a clue that he doesn't appreciate surprises.

So I wouldn't go with either of your choices for my own kids. But if I had to choose one, then I'd pick the day before. Your guys can help with the packing, and pick out which stuffy is going with them to Disney.

 

[Purrkins]

No no no, you've got it all backwards.

If Homer Simpson taught me anything, it's that you tell the kids you're going to Disney World and then surprise them with a trip to the dentist.

There's also the Jack "Deep Thoughts" Handy approach where you tell them they're going to Disneyland and drive them to a burned down building...

My kid is going to have issues.