Surprising Children 10 & 15

[northwest1965]

I have read lots of 'surprising childs' posts but they seem to be for much younger children.
Has anyone got any ideas how we can surprise a 10 and 15 year old. It will be their 1st trip to Orlando so its going to be very special. (They are my stepkids)

Thanks

 

[T1gger]

We have to surprise our 13 & 8yos

Planning to do it at Easter with a scavenge hunt type thing with clues - they will get their Easter eggs with their passports in the box then clues to find out where we are going - havent worked out the details yet!

That said I will be watching this thread with interest for any better ideas so it all might change!

 

[tzolkin]

We surprised our kids for our second trip (they were much younger than yours). We told them we couldn't afford to go to Disney again so soon and that we were planning a trip for the following year. They knew we were going to FL, but thought we were just going to visit Grandma. She lives south of Disney, so they didn't think anything of it until we actually pulled into the parking lot of the resort.

We also had grandma come a few days into the trip (she was just sitting at the bus stop one morning) and we did a split stay and switched resorts so those were also surprises.


It was fun to do the surprise, but my kids and I really enjoy the planning almost as much as the trip. They look forward to each trip so much and we have some great family bonding time discussing restaurants or rides over dinner, looking at pictures of the resorts online, making customized maps with each kid's "must do" attractions, etc. Personally I hate surprises and would much rather know before. But every kid/adult is different so you will know what's best for your kids' personalities.

If we were going to do a surprise with my kids again, I wouldn't make it the whole trip the surprise. Perhaps just some special event during the trip, switching to a surprise resort, etc.

 

[NotUrsula]

At those ages, take them to Universal for a day if you can. It tends to appeal more to teens and pre-teens than Disney does, especially if they are coaster enthusiasts.

 

[northwest1965]

We have to surprise our 13 & 8yos

Planning to do it at Easter with a scavenge hunt type thing with clues - they will get their Easter eggs with their passports in the box then clues to find out where we are going - havent worked out the details yet!

That said I will be watching this thread with interest for any better ideas so it all might change!

Once you've worked it out, you will post it wont you

 

[powellrj]

Sorry to be a buzz-kill, but there is no way I would ever try to surprise a 15 year old. We don't even surprise her with dinner out these days because who knows what other plans she may have. Between sports, choir, church, babysitting, school and friends, she always seems to be on the go and have something going on.

Even tonight, we had plans that had to change because they cancelled basketball practice at the last minute and she had to find a last minute ride home from school because our plans were made with her having practice! There is no way I would ever try to schedule a vacation without her input!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree, no way would I try to surprise a teenager. They have their own agenda. I would involve her from day one in the planning and timing of the trip.

 

[northwest1965]

I agree, no way would I try to surprise a teenager. They have their own agenda. I would involve her from day one in the planning and timing of the trip.

Perhaps I didnt phrase it correctly. We want to tell them next month, giving them and us a few months to plan together. I wanted ideas of how we could tell them, make it special.