Surprise - we're going to Disney World!

[bennie]

Family of Four - Mom, Dad and 2 daughters ages 7 and 10.

Three years ago we surprised our two dds with a trip to WDW on the oldest dd's 7 th birthday. Well this year the younger one turned 7 and we had to surprise her with a trip too.

Last time we just woke them up and gave them the news. This year our flight was leaving later in the day so we had to concoct a story as to why we were going to the airport. This wasn't so hard because I travel to Buffalo on business fairly regularly. So on the big day, the kids thought they were going to the airport to drop me off for yet another trip to Boo Fa Low.

As we were on the way there we tried to spring the big news on them. You would think this was easy but it didn't prove to be. I started off by complaining that I didn't want to go to Buffalo, that it was too cold, too snowy and too far from home. Why couldn't we all go somewhere warm?

DH on cue piped in and said "Yeah why can't we go somewhere warm?".

"Oh you mean like Hawaii" says dd 1. (Always thinking big this one)

"How about Florida?" says dd 2.

"Sure, lets go to Disney World" says DD.

The two girls looked at each other, laughed and went back to discussing the details of the Ted Williams Tunnel. "look there's Terminal A, B, C ..why is there no Terminal D blah blah blah"

UHMM Excuse me - did we just get blown off? Our kids are ignoring us!. We just told them they were going to WDW and they didn't believe us. Now what do we do??

We get to the terminal and basically have to drag the kids out of the car. We finally get them on the sidewalk, where they are standing there looking very confused. DD says "Hey we aren't kidding, we are going to Disney World!!" We get a big silence. Nothing, NADA. No reaction at all. The two of them are just staring at us like we have suddenly grown additional heads.

Finally, dd1 says "Wait a minute, now you're scaring me, Are we really going? We're really going to Disney World??? Right Now???? "Get out of town"

DD2 says nothing, spies her suitcase on the sidewalk, grabs it and starts heading for the entrance to the terminal. No way to stop her. She wasn't taking any chances. And with that we are off and running.

Both of them were suddenly full of questions. Where's the dog, did you pack bathing suits, is this why you were on the internet so much, are you still gonna go to Buffalo? So many things to have to explain.

The rest of the trip was great. No delays despite horrible weather on the East Coast. Took a while for the reality to sink in for the girls. Arrived late at MCO, stayed offsite the first night and then off to CSR.

Loved CSR. Was blown away by how pretty it was. Enjoyed the pool, bike rentals, the Pepper Market. Had a great room in the Casitas that was ready when we checked in around 1030am.

Enjoyed Epcot, MGM, Enight, AK and then MK.

Enight was awesome. Highlight of the trip.

Had great dinner at Coral Reef.

Parks were somewhat crowded but with Fast Passes we managed to do a lot.

Kids were big into rides and less into characters.

Took lots of pictures including way too many of animals on the safari that we can't no longer remember what they are.

Dinner at OHana's was so-so. Service was great, appetizers were great, entries were dry.

Can't wait to go again.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Good going about about the surprise - I got giggling over their responses - sounds like a great trip was had by all - thanks for posting!

 

[twinmomto3boys]

I loved reading your story. We are planning on surprising our kids for the next trip, but I don't know if I can wait until the big day. How did you hide the fact that you were packing all of their stuff?

 

[bennie]

Hiding the packing was easy. I just bought all new stuff for them. Not as crazy as it sounds. They will need new spring clothes anyway and were desparate for new underwear and socks. So one trip to Target and I'm all set.

 

[twinmomto3boys]

It doesn't sound crazy, just smart. Thanks for the info - I might try to surprise our kids like that.

 

[LilyLake]

I was laughing out loud at your youngest daughter, when she grabbed her suitcase and headed for the plane. That's so cute. Thanks for the report.

 

[AnnaS]

I did this a few years ago too. I told the kids to pack for a long week-end to Lancaster, PA where we go almost yearly for a week-end trip. It was so hard keeping it from them. When they woke up, they found the luggages all over the living room with Animal Kingdom tags (yes, that's the year they opened when I did this). They did not believe us 'til they actually saw the airport. It was a nice suprise.

 

[bigsis1970]

We have to go to Kentucky for a wedding and the kids think we are just planning a weeks long vacation there.. but i have tickets flying into Orlando and i am not telling them untill they figure out where we are . then i will explain we have to drive to Bowling Green for the wedding and when we drive back to Orlando it will be for a WDW vacation .!! hee hee , so i won't have to hide the packing at all.... Michelle

 

[LAH]

Bennie,

Thanks for sharing your story. I got chills down my spine as I read it ( call me silly). I just love how your dd's responded and how the youngest one grabbed her bag and took off for the plane. I love it!!!!!! It reminds me of when I was young and my parents surprised me with WDW trips.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Wish someone would surprise me that way!

 

[bennie]

I know what you mean about wanting to be surprised. I keep dropping not very subtle hints but so far it hasn't worked. Oh well.

One benefit of the surprise was that we really weren't sure we were getting on the plane that week. Between really bad weather and the elevated threat alert it looked a little iffy at times. There was a small comfort in knowing that if we couldn't make the trip, there would not be any little broken hearts to face. Fortunately we were not delayed or forced to cancel.

By the way I'm pretty sure this will be the last surprise trip. Our next big vacation is most likely going to be either Ireland or California. I want the girls to get the most out of the sights in either place so a little pre-trip teaching will have to happen.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Thanks for sharing Bennie !

I am in the planning stages of a surprise WDW trip for Oct. I have held off booking until I can get my hands on the 2003/2004 school calendar. We are pretty sure the kids will have a short fall break this time around, just have to be sure of when so DH can move his vacation days around too.

I'm going to be surprising my DH and two boys. I am scheming and planning and dreaming of how to spring it on them at the last moment. I can't wait !!

 

[Muffy]

Great surprise! Where you at WDW during presidents week? I noticed you said it was crowded and we are trying to plan for next year. Persidents week is good for my DD but I am wondering about the crowds. Sounds like you and your family had a wonderful trip!

 

[bennie]

The first day at a park was Monday of Presidents Week. We were at Epcot and got there around 3pm. Test Track standby line was listed as 60 minutes. No fastpasses were available. We chose to go to Body Wars instead. There was no line at all. Then Cranium Command with no wait. After finishing this pavilion we walked back over to Test Track. Standby line was still 60 minutes but we decided we'd give it a try. Actually waiting time was 36 minutes. After that we walked onto the boat ride in MX and waited about 15 minutes for Maelstrom in Norway. After that we had dinner so no more attractions.

Second day was at MGM. It was an early entry day but we didn't get there until 10am. Fastpasses for RR and then over to TOT. Standby line said 20 minutes for TOT but I bet it was closer to 15. Then we walked over to Backlot Tour. Signed said 20 minutes and it was closer to 30. After that we went to the playground and it was mobbed. Then it was time for the Fast passes at RR. By then we decided to go back to hotel as crowds were just not fun. The swimming pool was calling out to our DDs. We were doing an Enight later so I wasn't that insistant that we stay. Usually I think you need to spend a lot of time at a park to get your money's worth. MGM was the most crowded park while we were there and the only one that I would say wasn't great.

Enight was awesome. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a ride. Splash Mountain we didn't even get off between rides.

Next day was Animal Kingdom. We did safari, the trail, hair wraps (took longer than anything b/c of the length of DDs' hair), TTBAB, Primeival Whirl (2x) then Dinosaur - all from 9am to noon. After lunch, the crowds were building and the wait for Kali River Rapids was 40 minutes - the longest wait of the trip - so not worth it.

Final day was MK - early entry day. Between 8am and 2pm we did 16 attractions. Fast passes helped us tour very efficiently. We never waited in a line and used the time between passes to ride/see less crowded attractions. At least 60 minutes of that time was spent on breaks, shopping and eating. All in all the park was fairly crowded but very manageable.

I would not discourage you from traveling this week. However I should point out that vacation travel may have been effected by the increase terror alert, the economy and bad weather on the East Coast. I was surprised to be able to get a significant discount on our hotel during this week also. Another indication that it wasn't as busy as it may have been in past years. These factors may or may not be in play next year.

 

[Muffy]

Thank you bennie! Great info about presidents week. We just got back from 2 weeks at WDW on 1/13 and did have some crowds at the start and the end of that trip (marathon). DH complains about crowds. I'm just tring to please everyone with our next trip and it is proving to be a challenge. DD has presidents week off but that may be to crowded for DH. Sigh... Although you did manage fine. Thank you so much for the great info!

 

[monalsw]

great trip report bennie! expressions on your kids faces at the airport must have been priceless!

we were going to surprise dd14 and ds3 on our february trip, but dh and i couldn't take it any longer and told them 3 days prior, lol! similar reactions, dd didn't believe us and ds shouted, 'i can't go to disney, that's not where my home is!'. within an hour of getting the news, they were both ready to go and the trip was great!

btw, i too have almost 2 rolls of 'unknown animals on the safari' film, lol! what was i thinking???

thanks for sharing!

 

[mom2girls29]

We surprised our two girls on our last trip. They thought we were going to go to Myrtle Beach over Easter Break. We changed our plans and decided to go to Disney over Feb. break. I got out the suitcases and started packing but we told them we were trying to see if everything would fit for Myrtle. The night before departure we prepared to tell them by presenting them with homemade i.d. cards to CBR and pins for their lanyards. Before they were to open them we told the girls we couldn't do Myrtle after all. Before we could spring the surprise, the youngest, 6 at the time, burst in to tears and ran to her room. She was so upset over not traveling there that she didn't hear us mention the good news. We had to coax her out of her room to share the Disney trip. Once we got her quiet, she appreciated the news. I love surprising them!