Surprise trip...how did you do it?

[Disneytwinsmom]

We are planning to take our twins again this fall, although we told them that we weren't going this year because we have two other vacations planned. The first year we went they knew we were going, when we went to Aulani we did a scavenger hunt, Santa brought us our Disney cruise and then in 2015 we did another scavenger hunt that ended with a big box in our back field filled with balloons and a sign attached that said, "We are going to Disney", about 6 months prior to our trip. Now since they really think we are not going, I want to surprise them. I know lots of people surprise their kids with trips, but I would love to hear yours! I need ideas! Our twins will be 7 ( boy/girl). Please share!

 

[AshleeH]

We've done three surprise trips and kept all the reveals low-key.

2011 - We had two vacation options fall through because of weather and I told my husband we should just go back to Disney. It was a spur of the minute trip and we told the boys they were guaranteed a theme park (that promise was initially made for Hershey Park). They played on their games through the whole stretch that shows all the billboards for Disney - thank goodness. I have a great video of seeing the WDW sign over the road and telling them to look up and see where we would be vacationing that week - my then-8 year old went nuts! My then-5 year old said, "Aww, I wanted to go to a hotel." He got excited when he realized he got to go to a hotel AND Disney World .

2013 - We had a California trip we had been planning for years. Baby #3 decided her due date should fall on the exact date we were going to be driving into Anaheim. We decided to bump the trip back - my husband wanted to push it back a year, I wanted two push it back two months (I'd much rather travel across the country with an infant who sleeps most of the time than a one-year old who needs entertainment, toys, snacks, more time out of the carseat, etc.). And I didn't want to have to tell the boys we were pushing the trip back another year. They didn't know we had plans for Disneyland, but they had this iconic image of California and couldn't wait for that trip. DD ended up being a preemie, so didn't stick to her due date, but that didn't influence our new trip dates. We crossed the country and pulled up in front of the Grand Californian and told them where we were spending the week and got a lackluster video that was so disappointing I deleted it on the spot. Well, I should've taken a video when they actually saw Disneyland - I know better, if kids have never actually seen a location, they don't know what to expect. Once they saw the entrance to the parks, they went nuts. It was one of our best vacations ever.

2015 - We told them very early on that we were going to Alaska. They thought we were driving - which we were, to Vancouver (we drive everywhere - saves us thousands). We got turned around and almost blew the surprise when we drove right by the Disney Wonder - I directed their attention out the opposite window (it was like an office building or something lol!). We made it into the parking garage, got turned around twice about what level we needed to be on - almost saw the Wonder through the windows of one level) and finally got to sea level and walked outside - that one is my favorite videos ever. I told them that's how we were getting to Alaska - they'd been asking for a Disney Cruise for over a year since we watched a special. They went nuts. It was so great. They were informed that would probably be their last surprise trip. Little sister might get a few, but how can I possibly top a Disney Cruise to Alaska??

So I guess my moral of the story is keep expectations low .

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

Thanks for sharing, loved reading your post!

 

[Little E]

We had 4 WDW trips in four years under our belts and my DH and I told the kids we were not going to take any more Disney trips for a while. Instead, we secretly spent almost a year planning our next trip for the first week of March, 2015. After a ton of research, I booked a resort, tickets, and the dining plan, and the kids had NO idea!

As the time drew near, I talked with the principals and teachers at both boys' to let them know they would miss three days of school and to gather work they would miss secretly. I had to stalk the mailman to make sure our magic bands box didn't arrive while the boys were home to tip them off.

When the time came to start packing, I had to pack at night after the boys went to bed, and I had to hide the suitcases and any trip evidence during the day. That was really difficult!!

Our flight left at 5:55 am from the airport an hour away from our house, so we had to wake our boys at 2:30 am. We literally woke them and said, "Get up! We're going to Disney World!" Both were so shocked they didn't know what to think. Our youngest was convinced we were playing a Jimmy Kimmel style prank. We had to show both boys the suitcases with the Mickey Mouse resort tags to prove to them it was for real. They quickly got excited, got dressed, and threw a few books and things in a backpack, and we were off! We spent 5 days at the Art of Animation resort, and we had a ball! The weather was great, the crowds were low, and we loved our Cars suite at AoA.

I discovered a few things about the secret trip process:

1. It was really fun to keep a secret, especially when the boys mentioned-every now and again-how sad they were that we weren't planning a trip to Disney.
2. It was so much fun to actually "reveal" the trip at 2:30 am. It made getting up in the middle of the night worth it.
3. It was hard to keep the secret, and I kind of missed soliciting the kids' input on things they wanted to do at Disney. There were many times I nearly spilled the beans!!
4. When we asked the boys what they thought of the surprise, both agreed that it was a great surprise, and they had NO CLUE that it was coming. However, they both emphatically agreed they didn't ever want a second Disney surprise trip. They like the planning process too much, and they missed not being able to take part in the planning.

The take away: I'm really glad we did one surprise trip like that. It was so much fun planning, the reveal was fantastic, and we had a great time at Disney.

 

[smd8z]

We've done the scavenger hunt and box filled with Disney "stuff". This year we made a movie trailer using iMovie on our iPhone. Easiest app to use and our movie trailer was about our 4 adventurous kids and where they were going on vacation. They loved it!

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

These are all so great! We thought about not telling them until the day we leave but they love to help plan it also so I'm so torn!

 

[southernprincess1]

We surprised our boys at school one year. We had the car packed with suitcases and everything was ready to go. When our sons went to lunch we met them in the hallway with a poster that read "We're going to Disney!" They were shocked! It was the best surprise ever.

We are trying to decide how to tell them for our upcoming trip. They also like to plan.

 

[LISmama810]

We surprised the kids with a trip in January 2014. We live in Illinois and had told the kids for weeks that we were going to a Green Bean Festival in Wisconsin (yeah, in the middle of January). I needed some kind of destination so I'd have an excuse to pack things and prepare for the trip, but I needed it to be somewhere boring enough that they wouldn't actually get excited about it I kept playing up all the educational activities we were sure to encounter at the Green Bean Festival.

The morning we left, I sat the kids down on the couch and handed them each a bag. The bags contained our Disney luggage tag and mouse ear hats I had crocheted for them. They were very happy not to be going to a Green Bean Festival.

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

We surprised our boys at school one year. We had the car packed with suitcases and everything was ready to go. When our sons went to lunch we met them in the hallway with a poster that read "We're going to Disney!" They were shocked! It was the best surprise ever.

We are trying to decide how to tell them for our upcoming trip. They also like to plan.

Love this! How fun!

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

We surprised the kids with a trip in January 2014. We live in Illinois and had told the kids for weeks that we were going to a Green Bean Festival in Wisconsin (yeah, in the middle of January). I needed some kind of destination so I'd have an excuse to pack things and prepare for the trip, but I needed it to be somewhere boring enough that they wouldn't actually get excited about it I kept playing up all the educational activities we were sure to encounter at the Green Bean Festival.

The morning we left, I sat the kids down on the couch and handed them each a bag. The bags contained our Disney luggage tag and mouse ear hats I had crocheted for them. They were very happy not to be going to a Green Bean Festival.

A Green Bean Festival! That is awesome! I am sure they loved the "alternative" plan!

 

[Little E]

I will say that once we got in the car to go to the airport, while we were waiting in airports, and on the plane, our boys helped plan the "must do's" what QS places we'd pick for meals. It made the travel time fly by!

 

[LISmama810]

A Green Bean Festival! That is awesome! I am sure they loved the "alternative" plan!

I actually got the idea from a friend of mine who lives near Disney World. She used the ruse to trick her kids once, but it was easier for them since they live near there.

The problem is that I'm always dragging my kids to werid places, so a Green Bean Festival is probably something we'd really do. I'm worried that someday we will legitimately be going somewhere like that and they'll assume we're really going to Disney.

 

[tchrrx]

First time- DD knew we were going to WDW, but not that her favorite aunt was coming too. While at our layover spot, we were videoing DD and asking where she was going. When she said, "Disney World" my sister popped up behind her and yelled, "Me too!"

Second time- We told DD that we would go to WDW sometime, but we weren't sure when. This allowed us to get her input, but still have a surprise. Finally, we blared Mickey Mouse Club March followed by Leaving on a Jet Plane at 3 am one morning and headed to the airport.

Third time was the best! Took DD to breakfast at IHOP. DH had waffles like usual. After we ate, I asked him if the waffles were good. He said they were ok, but not as good as a Mickey waffle. He then droned on and on about how he missed Mickey waffles and wanted to go get one. We drove all the way to the airport (an hour drive) before DD finally believed him.

 

[Pesky]

DLR, we didn't say a thing. We said we were going to visit family in California but were having to fly into LA because it was cheaper. We spent the night in LA and visited the beach and stuff. Then we headed down to Anaheim and hit traffic. DS was napping and I managed to quickly get DD engrossed in my phone while a monorail went overhead. Neither noticed a thing. We got to the hotel (VGC) and asked if knew where they were. DS's response was factually accurate ("the hotel!") but DD was the one who figured it out. Not going to lie, it was a bit underwhelming, with some gasps from DD and they finally got more excited. The next day when they actually saw the parks, THAT was more exciting.

DD loved being surprised so much that she wants to be surprised again. They know we are going some day but not when so I've gathered their input without them knowing. And we've pretty much lied -- too much going on this year and now it is we're going to PHX to visit relatives. I'll do a scavenger hunt for the WDW with the last clue being received at the gate. For our USO portion, they will have no idea until we get there that we're going there first and THEN to WDW.

 

[julieFitz]

We surprised kids this morning by making pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse and then had our itinerary and maps of the parks on the table when we called them to breakfast. They put it all together and are soooo excited! We are going tomorrow and debated when to tell them. Worked perfectly to tell them today so we could set some expectations and get input on certain things. Good luck!

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

I just love reading all of these great stories!

 

[shm_helene]

Not as much or a suprise plan...but we took dd's (3 and 5) last summer. We told them that we were going on a practice flight to see if they could handle flying before we decided if we could go to Disney. 5 yo loved the airport earlier so we thought that it would be a hit,I have a great video of her rolling her eyes and complaining about going to a "bavaction spot" (it was not funny at the time as we had got stuck in front of train tracks on the way to the airport where the train literally just stopped). We got in at midnight, stayed at a throw away hotel. Drove there the next morning and the 5 yo was definitely suspicious as we went through the pay stop for parking. When we finally got to Poly we were waiting for the bus (monorail was down!) we got out the Magic Bands and asked them if they wanted to stay at Disney for the week AS the bus pulled up to take us to MK (pure luck). They were super excited

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

Thanks everyone for sharing, here is how we have decided to surprise them...
We have made a video of all of our photos from out trip last fall and at the end there is a page that asks "Do you miss Disneyworld?" then another page that says "You won't miss it for long because we are going back" ( which they think is in 2017) then the last page says "In September of THIS year". Hope they are surprised!

 

[jtopp]

Our first surprise trip was a long 6 days at the Poly in early December. The kids were clueless, thinking it was just another school day as we were driving. Once we passed the school, DW dropped the bomb on them as we were heading to the airport. DD cried the whole way, and both DS's had grins ear to ear.
Based on that success, a few years later we surprised them again on christmas morning. The last gift to open was a gift bag that you could program a message on. The bag said "get dressed, you're going to Disney!" That year we drove, and they were happy the whole trip. For years after, if we were all in the van, if for any reason I made the turn onto I-95, they assumed we were on another surprise trip.

 

[Corey510]

We are planning to take our twins again this fall, although we told them that we weren't going this year because we have two other vacations planned. The first year we went they knew we were going, when we went to Aulani we did a scavenger hunt, Santa brought us our Disney cruise and then in 2015 we did another scavenger hunt that ended with a big box in our back field filled with balloons and a sign attached that said, "We are going to Disney", about 6 months prior to our trip. Now since they really think we are not going, I want to surprise them. I know lots of people surprise their kids with trips, but I would love to hear yours! I need ideas! Our twins will be 7 ( boy/girl). Please share!

I was wondering the same thing. Thinking about doing a scavenger hunt for my 5 year old!