SURPRISE!!!!! um...now what?

[Bektasmic]

So excited for our Feb trip, and almost as excited to tell the kids! We want to catch them completely offguard and still allow time for the middle schooler to use winter break to work ahead on schoolwork (which we'll need to ask teachers to guestimate which chapters the week before break starts), which puts our surprise THIS WEEKEND!

We are doing an "oops, we forgot to put up an entire bin of Christmas decorations! Let's see what's in there" with balloons, an invitation, and a countdown chain springing out of the bin when they open it.

So then what? Looking for something to do right after the initial surprise so that we stay in the Disney surprise moment for as long as possible before returning to our normal wknd activities. I have a bunch of stuff I'm working on for them to open Christmas morning (DISigners have been so great helping with t-shirt disigns, coupons, tickets, restaurant invites, etc...). Because of that, I'm wanting to keep the details of where we are staying and restaurants and such for Christmas morning. Also, the countdown chain has stuff like "watch a pov Splash Mt video" and "play a Disney board game."

Ideas for a Disney activity that keeps us in the Disney moment after the surprise?

Maybe I put one of the board games in there? (we have an older Magic Kingdom game that takes your pawn all around MK)

Other ideas?

 

[Mikie]

Sounds like you already have a ton of great stuff planned. I think if you just make it so you remove the first countdown link and it's the board game, you're doing a family together activity that gives you a chance to talk about the park and rides, then you'll have something each day on your remaining links.

You're already killin' it, I don't think you need more! Hope the surprise is a ton of fun!

 

[Bektasmic]

That's PERFECT! Make the first link the activity we're going to do! Brilliant! See?! I knew I was asking the right people.

Thanks for your pats on the back. I'm just giddy thinking about this wknd. Thanks for sharing my excitement

 

[Maggie Lizer]

Open it right before breakfast and make Mickey-head pancakes!

 

[Bektasmic]

Ooooh! LOVE it! Will make Mickey waffles!!

 

[vhamilton]

Firstly, no suggestions here.

But I just asked a question today about ideas to announce to and surprise my daughter that I'm taking her for her birthday in January. I considered telling her Christmas morning, but thought since it's just a trip with me and her, I didn't want it to be on Christmas - an occasion where the whole family celebrated together. So I'm saving the announcement for her birthday (2 weeks after Christmas) to tell her so it'd be her own special day. I'm debating how to tell her ... thought about a scavenger hunt or just telling her we're visiting my friend then she find out when the shuttle picks us up from the airport. But I also wanted her to be able to tell everyone at school she was going - then have her break into her piggy bank for some funds for souvenirs since we've been saving since she was a baby (and I've spent way too much already - eekgads).

But I'm going to follow this so I could get some ideas if I go the scavenger hunt route.

 

[Bektasmic]

We just told the kids!!! It went great!!! Few pieces of advice:

1. If you get the giant Mickey head balloon, planning for it to pop out if a box, make sure your box is big enough. Those suckers are HUGE!!

2. Have a backup plan in case your poor son is so exhausted by his busy week that he falls asleep at 7pm on a Saturday.

3. Have Kleenex ready for when your five year-old tells you, "Mom! Im so happy tears are coming out of my face!"

We did the surprise as described in the first post and then played the Magic Kingdom game as our first countdown chain activity. Then afterward, they wanted to talk more about it so we watched the 2014 planning video (and then the 2009 video from our last trip)

Now snuggled up on the couch, watching Little Mermaid. Blissfully happy!!!!!

 

[rainboots]

Happy tears just came to *my* eyes, and I'm not the one going to WDW! Your surprise is awesome! We are surprising ours next Christmas & I can't wait!!!

 

[WhispyPixie]

WTG! Your surprise is GREAT!!! What a fantastic way!

We always let our kids help plan, by picking certain things. Also, we had a huge countdown (kinda like an advent) calendar that we made. Filled it with Mickey candy. socks, sunglasses, bubble gum, autograph book and trinkets. It is really easy stuff to find over the holiday season. Small stuff that they could pack for their trip!

Good luck and congrats!!

 

[Mikie]

Glad your announcement was awesome! I like that you told them in advance & they get to enjoy the anticipation!

My poor friend surprised her kids last year by telling them on the last half school day before break "how about if you don't go to school today and we go on an adventure?" Her 11 year old was so insistent she didn't want to miss pajama day at school, she eventually put on her coat and tried to go out to the bus stop. . . After much cajoling and hinting, my friend finally said "we're going to Disney world! You can wear pajamas to school another day!" And the daughter pouted 'til they boarded the plane and finally got in the spirit.

 

[Bektasmic]

Thanks everyone! Was describing the surprise to some friends, but they aren't Disney people (weirdos!) so they didn't get it. Thanks for sharing my Disney joy! I'll share it back with you when you do your surprises, too

I'm already planning for how to surprise them the next time (if we are so lucky to get to go again in a few years). We've been enjoying the countdown chain. Each has had a different Disney activity. Last night was " design the magic bands" and we all sat around the computer making up goofy names for each other to put on the insides. I was so excited these past few months planning the trip, but so glad to share it with them now. It just multiplies the anticipation for me. I couldn't imagine not sharing that. For my own selfish reasons. And I would be worried about backfire surprises, too. No way I wanted to risk that. How crushing for the poor parents.

Pixie Dust and Dinglehoppers to all!