Surprising our kids -- HELP!

[Prefam4]

Oh how fun!
We surprised our son and daughter last year for fall break. They were almost 4 and almost 6 at the time.

We planned a big reveal for Friday night and didn't leave until early Sunday am. My parents took my DS and DD to my DS soccer practice. I had a cake make with mouse ears on top that said "We are going to Disney World!". I had shirts made for them off a seller from Etsy (it was their first trip) and then I had someone on the Disign board do an invitation letter from Mickey.
We got a box and put the shirts and the letter as well as a balloon in the box. Printed out a mailing label with their names on it and made it look like the box had been mailed. We put it by our front door and waited for them to get home and see the box. When they got home they told us there was a box, so we brought it in. DS read their names on the box and we let them open it.
When the balloon popped out my DD immediately went for the balloon, they found their shirts and then DH read the invitation letter. DS started jumping up and down and said "I knew this day would come" and was bouncing all over the place. DD was more impressed by the mickey balloon. LOL Afterwards we had friends over for pizza and cake.

I'm already working on how to surprise them for when we go for the Princess Half Marathon.

 

[knottmel1]

Go on YouTube and search "surprise Disney" and let your creative juices flow. Every kind of treasure hunt, surprise reveal, and wild screaming fest you can imagine. I watched for hours just to find my surprise reveal. Our first trip is in November. I am going to pick up DS (5) from school with a big Mickey balloon and his suitcase. I am going to rush up and tell him to hurry hurry we have to go to see Mickey! (His teacher will know ahead of time of course). I can't wait to see the excitement on his little face!

http://www.***********************/tickers/m18s7pkdxs1eeg64.png

 

[oopsiDAISY]

We surprised our kids this past March. We had to fly out at 8am, so we had to get them up early to be at the airport by 6am. We had balloons and a letter in the car...it was a magical moment (video is dark at first, but it gets better):

http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums...eveal Video/?action=view&current=VID00036.mp4

 

[Schachteles]

We surprised our kids this past March. We had to fly out at 8am, so we had to get them up early to be at the airport by 6am. We had balloons and a letter in the car...it was a magical moment (video is dark at first, but it gets better):

http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums...eveal Video/?action=view&current=VID00036.mp4

OMG, I have tears in my eyes...that is awesome!! Can you post your wording?

I think we are going to tell the kids that we are going to Albuquerque (to visit grandparents) and then we will be flying thru Orlando. If I can get them in the car and then have a letter like that...would be great!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

OMG, I have tears in my eyes...that is awesome!! Can you post your wording?

I think we are going to tell the kids that we are going to Albuquerque (to visit grandparents) and then we will be flying thru Orlando. If I can get them in the car and then have a letter like that...would be great!

I will have to get the letter from my girls tonight. I will try to post it tomorrow.

 

[Schachteles]

I will have to get the letter from my girls tonight. I will try to post it tomorrow.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT!

 

[Schachteles]

Here is what my husband came up with...

Hi Camille and Carly,

I am glad to see you are home from school,
Keep up the good work, no matter what anyone says, that really is cool.

You have reached your goal of not eating out,
That is something to really brag about.

So as a reward to the both of you,
Your mom and dad have something really special to do.

They have been working on this behind the scenes,
Well yes maybe, they are a couple of fiends.

After months of planning, scheming and secrets galore,
What is about to happen next will not be a bore.

There are more secrets to come and your parents will share them with you,
But at the moment there is just too much to do.

So now it is time to jump in the car and leave your house,
To come visit your pal, me, Mickey Mouse.

P.S. See you real soon!

We have NINE days to keep the secret and it is getting HARD and there have been a few times I have almost slipped...and there was a point I THOUGHT my 10 year old might know, but I think we are safe!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

That poem is SO GREAT!!! You are in home stretch now...you can do it!!!

 

[Schachteles]

That poem is SO GREAT!!! You are in home stretch now...you can do it!!!

THANK YOU for helping us get started. I sent him your information and that is what he came up with. We mailed it to the house, so we will give it to the girls when they get home from school on Friday the 12th and we are needing to leave to get to the airport...it is the home stretch. Thankfully I am SUPER busy at the office, so I am not dwelling on the time till we go.

 

[blebert]

5 years ago when we took out oldest 2 DDs (at the time they we 4&3) we just loaded them up really early (we live in Fl, so it's not that long of a drive) they were still in their pjs. We stopped to eat and I got them dressed. They didn't know where we were going til they seen the Disney signs and they screamed they were so happy. This time, I am trying to decide to do they same thing (since I have 4 children now) or make bags up with things to occupy their time for the rest of the ride and while there for waiting in lines and waiting for shows) and shirts I am going to make and when we stop for breakfast give it to them so they can but the shirts on then. What way do y'all think I should go?

 

[tianna26]

right now my plan tell him we are going to take my sister to visit colleges since shes going too. when at the airport have the customer service agent call my lil brothers name to come up to the desk and have her hand him a card thats says something like you are going to WDW signed my mickey with a gift card also thought of similar version of this but with flight attendant

 

[Newbie Cruiser]

I'm surprising my DS 5 and DD 3 with a trip to Disneyland & California Adventure in January. My son LOVES Cars so we're going west (we live in Orlando!) so he can experience flying in an airplane (he has just turned 1 the first time) and Cars Land. My mom and I are not saying anything about it until we're at the airport because my kids won't stop asking about something once it comes up. LOL! I have 3 months to figure out what to tell them once we get to the airport. My ex-husband's parents, that live in Oregon, will be meeting us in Anaheim too so it's 3 surprises total for the kids!

 

[Lynn1274]

We surprised our twins last year with a scavenger hunt. It started with the first word in school "We" that the teacher gave to them. A friend of mine had the second clue outside school "What is a pirates favorite letter?" "R" the playground held clue #3 taped to the bottom of the bench "going". They then had to go to their old preschool and run around answering riddles for clue #4 which was "to". The last thing I did was buy a bunch of orange and black helium balloons because we went over Halloween. Each balloon had an envelope attached. Each child took turns opening til the got the final clue "Disney".
This year I took out the Mickey Mouse popcorn bucket that we got last year. I said to it "Oh, Magical Mickey, I need a vacation to come see you. I miss you" Every day my children took turns asking Magical Mickey to please send us to Disney. Each day the child opened the bucket to find a little disney gift (pencil, erasers, stickers etc) Last Friday they opened it to find a card that said "Guess where you're going?" and I pulled out 2 backpacks with books and fun plane ride stuff with Mickey luggage tags! They went crazy!! We will be leaving this thursday. Cant wait!! My DD did start crying that Magical Mickey has left and went back to Disney. Now the popcorn bucket is in her backpack so she can "capture the magic back in it so he will bring gifts again" lol

 

[phillymummer]

I am reading about all the ways people are planning to tell their kids about Disney- goodie bags, scavenger hunts, letters from Mickey, etc. I must be one boring Mom! I was just planning on blurting it out on the way to the airport! LOL (while hopefully getting DDs reaction!). Now you have me re- thinking my plan!

 

[zrabbits]

We are planning on surprising our 4 kids with their first trip to Disney in 9 days. I don't have all of the details yet, but here is my plan so far...

My kids are DS 12 (turning 13 while we are there), DS 11, DS 7 and DD almost 4.
They know we are planning a vacation, as we do every year, and that my parents are going with us, but they do not know when or where we are going. My inlaws live in Colorado and often we leave late at night or early am and they sleep in the car. Since we are driving from OK we have about a 22 hour drive to Florida. We are mixing things up this time just to keep them from knowing. We are planning to leave around 3pm and driving straight through.

I have gone to great lengths to keep this secret. I have packed everything at my parent's house and bought new shirts, socks, etc so they would not notice theirs missing. LOL! I am planning on packing the car the day before and trading cars with my dad (that would not seem odd to them). The next day we will go to my parent's house to "play games". We may play cards, dominos, etc while waiting on my mom to get home from work early. When she gets there I think we will play a game of "Let's Make a Deal" with the final prize being opening a (closet) door with balloons and a sign that says we are going to Disney! When they ask "when?" we will give them their Fairy Godmailer postcards (if they arrive) and tell them that the car is packed and ready to go!!

My oldest son has asked to go for several years now, but with the age difference in the kids we have never felt it was a good time to go. He has said several times recently that he thinks we may never be able to go. It almost breaks my heart seeing him upset, but he has NO IDEA that we have been planning this for 286 days! We are going all out for our first trip. We are doing the Pirate League, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Chef Mickey's, etc. I plan on telling them about those "little" surprises along the way as we drive. For example, I have pirate bandanas and eye patches and my husband will suddenly be a Pirate when they return from a potty break. Our suburban will be "The Black Pearl" and we will all be pirates (an idea I got from momsminivan website). This is when I will tell them about the Pirate League.

They don't know anything about the parks except what they have seen in the commercials so I have guide books, trading pins, movies, etc to inform them of on our LONG drive. I am SO excited about this trip!! I just hope I can keep my mouth shut for another 9 days!! Wish me luck!!

 

[mksbrown]

Creative juices needed. We are surprising our 6 and 4 year old girls two weeks from today. First trip, first airplane , first everything. We have kept this a secret since February. We really want a cute surprise that they both will "get" at the same time. Suggestions???

 

[jpdeg99]

I am reading about all the ways people are planning to tell their kids about Disney- goodie bags, scavenger hunts, letters from Mickey, etc. I must be one boring Mom! I was just planning on blurting it out on the way to the airport! LOL (while hopefully getting DDs reaction!). Now you have me re- thinking my plan!

Nothing wrong with that !

We leave next weekend. We may fly, so if that is the case, I am hoping we can keep it from them until we walk up to the Magic Express.

If we drive, it will be when we drive under the arch.

Thus far, all they know is that we are going to a place called Wilderness Lodge for a vacation, and that there is a lot to do there. My 6 year old thinks it sounds scary. I also think she is suspicious and may know but is playing along.

 

[Viator80]

Surprising my 2 boys at Christmas, 3 and 7. I bought lots of disney stuff, pins, books, etc and wrote this note that will be on the box. (Also putting balloons in box so they will come out when opened)

Hiya pals,
I just heard the great news! you'll be coming to visit me at Disney world in 6 weeks! I can't wait to see you guys. I heard that you would be flying on an airplane to get here. Hot diggity dog! Cinderella wanted me to let you know that her mice will be making you an extra special breakfast to eat in the castle at her royal tables. Oh boy! I've been talking to my friends Donald, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, the Mad Hatter, Alice, and Mary Poppins and they can't wait to meet you! I hope you get to ride some of my rides too. Charlie, I think you'll really enjoy pirates of the Caribbean, the tower of terror, star tours and the haunted mansion. Isaac, I know you'll love dumbo and riding on the walt disney railroad. Don't forget to come to my very own restaurant, Chef Mickeys. I'll come by to see you when you get there! Your mom and Dad and me got together and came up with some things we thought you'd need for your trip. Gosh, I can hardly wait! Dont forget to wear your ears. See ya real soon!

 

[Niewoe]

When my DS was 3, I decided to surprise him since I thought it would be better than him asking every 5 min when we were going. Since he couldn't read, I cut out pictures of all his Disney stuffed animals and made a scavenger hunt. Each animal held a picture of the next one to find... All leading to Mickey and a new Disney rollie suitcase - filled with goodies and games for the plane, along with a note from Mickey!!

Now, if he only didn't cry because he wanted to stay home with his toys and play... Too young for that big of a surprise I guess, or my kid is just weird! lol He's 5 now, and helps plan all of our Disney trips... Maybe one day he'll surprise me! (One can hope!!)

 

[hollypoast]

Great ideas! My daughter has also asked me to surprise her the next time we go. She has laid out exactly how she wants to be surprised. (scavenger hunt, the morning we leave, new carry-on suitcase ) I'm trying to decide if I should do it "her way" or do something different so she doesn't catch on quickly.

I love the idea of saying you are dropping Dad or someone else off at the airport.