Surprising the kids

[iloveeeyore]

So, we're goin'! But want to tell the kids last minute.

Anyone ever done this before? I'm welcoming suggestions for springing the news!

 

[Doc and Family]

We have done it--twice

Once, we picked them up from school and started driving. The older one realized something was up because the luggage carrier was on the roof. After about 30 minutes and some familiar scenery he asked where we were going.

When we told them, they couldn't settle down for hours--but it was well worth it.

The last time--the last gift they opened on Christmas morning was their new APs. Again, they were jumping around, happy as could be.

Keeping a secret can be tough--but the end result is well worth it.

Good Luck!

 

[TDS373X]

I did this last May. One night last winter I got sick of sitting in the snow and just decided to do it. Way out of character for me I am an advance planner so 60 days to throw it all together and not tell was a challenge. I did not even tell family what we were doing. on the morning we left they went to their computers and found e postcards I'd written poems on to give clues. They got these each day when they figured it out they had to call my cell. Anyway I managed to pack and pick dd up from preschool and drive to a friends house where we spent the night. dd had been there before so it wasn't that big of a deal we got up early to catch our flight the next. Since she didn't remember being in an airport before there was alot to distract her from the where are we going question. MY plan was to just wait until she figured it out as this was to be her 2nd trip in 6 months however the pilot blew my surprise when he came out and asked all the kids if they were going to visit MIckey. Thanks....she still was really surprised and I think by not telling her we avoided the is it time to go questions that she is asking this year. It's hard to do but I'd do it again

 

[my2boys]

Had a real tough year and we decided to take a trip.....wanted to surprise our boys (then 8 and 3). Woke them up the morning after Thanksgiving (4:30 AM) and began our long trek in the car from NJ. Got their waking up on video.....PRICELESS!!!! They were so surprised!! We spent the first week of December there and it was a wonderful holiday treat........the surprise was the best of all!

Now when my kids watch the video from that trip, they say they want to watch "Surprise Mickey Mouse!!"

A time I'll never forget or regret!!

 

[Fargoman2]

I have never suprised anyone, but i have been surprised twice myself! The first time my parents suprised me and my brother and my sister they put the tickets in our easter baskets and then my parents played dumb until we read them and then began screaming for joy! The second time we got them for valentines day! The surprises were great but the only bummer was that we had to wait!! but it was worth it and you could also say that it still is worth it!!!!!!

I would say that you could either give it to them as a holiday gift, if you want to tourture them and make them wait, or tell them they need to pack because you are driving to stay in a hotel for a few days(make sure they pack enough) and then drive to the airport and then when they start asking questions show them the tickets and then tell them!!!

 

[snookhams]

I was October 1999 when we surprised our boys then 7 (8 at the world) and 3. They thought that we were just going to say goodbye to the grandparents and Aunt and 3 cousins at the airport as they went on there first trip to the world. Whilst having breakfast at Mcdonalds my Dad said to our eldest son that it was such a shame that we could not go with them, and how about going and asking the nice lady at the Virgin check in if she had any spare seats on the plane, so of they went with the rest of us following at a discreet distance, and my Dad handed the lady a note that he had written earlier, explaining that Daniel did not know that we were going with them, and could she help in the plot and pretend to find some seats for them. She was great, played along so well, Daniel was so excited and jumping for joy when she announced that she had 4 seats left and that because he would soon be 8 she would let him have aspecail treat at WDW. He still talks about the free holiday to the world, and it took us a long while to convince him that it had all been planned, and not just spur of the moment. If I thought they would believe it still, I would do it again it was magical to see there faces and the perfect start to a WDW holiday.

 

[mommytotwo]

My friend is planning on surprising her two kids and I mentioned to her about giving them the Disney dollars and letting them know that they can spend it at the place they will be headed to. The girls doesn't know about the Disney dollars but will think that it's cool to see Mickey's face on money.
Maybe you could put together a basket of Disney things for them and tell them that they can use the items in the basket for their trip.

 

[DisneyShack]

We surprised our two girls last May - then ages 2 and 4. They did not know we were going. As we were driving in, DD2 starts shouting "Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse" (she must have seen a picture along the way) but DD4 still did not figure it out. As we were driving to the WL, a Disney bus pulled up alongside and DD4 remarks, "Hey look, a Disney Bus" to which I replied, "I wonder why a Disney bus is here?". DD4 says, "I don't know, it must be lost." We checked into the WL and DD4 still has no clue where we are despite watching the WDW vacation video a thousand times. Finally we are heading to the CR and Chef Mickey's for dinner via the boat when she sees the castle and the CR and remarks, "That looks like Cinderella's castle and the Contemporary, are we almost at Disney?" Truly a priceless moment. We are surprising them again this year...hopefully. DD4 (now 5) can read and may recognize we are there, if DD3 doesn't shout Mickey Mouse first!

 

[momofqandl]

We are surprising our ds 6 and dd 4 this Easter.
They know we are flying to Ft Myers Fl to visit their Aunt and Uncle, they dont know we will be flying out of MCO after 4 days in Disney . I hadnt thought about how or when we are telling them about part 2 of their trip, but I like the idea someone had of putting their park passes in their Easter Basket!! Thanks for the great idea.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

When I was younger, probably 8 and my brother 7, my parents had us go on a scavenger hunt. ... They gave us clues and as we went around the house we found sunglasses, sunscreen, little stuff like that...which all led up to the end which we found fanny packs...we were all confused (of course, parents pretended to) and we opened them up and found brochures from disney world...then we started flipping out....it was a great idea

 

[HANDYMOM]

We're telling ours (DS's 4 1/2 & 2 1/2) that we're going to the beach. We're leaving the night before and driving to within 2 hours of DW. When we pull in, we're going to hand them personalized mouse ears and capture their response on video.

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know who will enjoy the surprise or the trip more, me or the kids.

 

[woodybuzzy]

We did this about 8 years ago to my stepsons. They thought we were taking my mom to the airport and carry in her luggage while she parked the car. We went and sat at a different gate so they didn't see the Orlando sign. They kept asking where my mother was. While sitting there a neighbor from our plan walked past with his kids, he shouted "hey are you going to Disney too??" luckily they didn't get it. We told them right before our row was to board the plan and they started jumping and shouting. We have told that story to their brothers, my two sons, now 6 and 4. They love the story and want to hear it over again. We leave in 22 days and have not told any of the 4 boys yet. The two litle ones are off school for spring break so I think I will tell them that we are picking up their brothers and going to take dad to the airport for a business trip. I'm not sure what I'm going to to at the airport yet. Any ideas????

 

[HANDYMOM]

What we were originally going to do (when we thought my MIL was coming) was to tell the boys that we were taking her to the airport because she was going on a trip. Then at boarding time she was going to say, "Hey! why don't you come with me..... Wouldn't you like to see Mickey?" They would have gone nuts...

Our plans changed because MIL couldn't come (rats! She's actually my very best friend in the world) and we decided to drive to save $ (it's only 8 1/2 to 9 hours)

 

[mom_rules]

The kids thought we were going on a business trip-oh yuck-how boring! Didn't tell them until we landed.